August 31: Speak through Me

Exodus 2:14 "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

This is the verse I am trying to memorize this week, and again, God has revealed himself to me through scripture. I like the way it is phrased, starting with a simple command, "go" and encouraging us that he will provide what we need. Like Moses, we all doubt are abilities until we are reminded that they are God-given talents--he's with us and makes the most out of all we offer him. And in the past few days, this has proven to be true. Something God spoke through me to a friend has led her to a better mindset and situation. I could have never given her those words of wisdom without listening to God and going. If we go, he will handle the rest.

August 28-30: Complaining

It's easy to get wrapped up in the bad stuff--when it's too hot, or too crowded, or too boring--but when we're filled with these negativities, they overpower the positivities. And when we voice our complaints, a moment becomes less enjoyable for everyone.

I was talking with a friend on Friday about a challenge to spend 24 hours not complaining and see how it affects her outlook on life. After that, I found myself consumed in all that was going wrong: I'd been working on a project before heading over to a friend's house to get ready for our senior toga night at the football game when I was called and asked to bring hair spray and reminded that "I was missing all the fun." So I stopped working, packed up my stuff (including the hairspray), and headed over to the party. I arrived, walked in, was quickly asked for the hair spray, and found that there was trouble ordering pizza, so I offered to call and pick it up. And that's what they wanted, so that's what I did.

But as I left, I felt dejected--it seemed like barely anyone had said hello to me, though they seemed excited about the arrival of the hairspray and the soon-to-come pizza--so I drove away and continued to "miss all the fun."

Fortunately, we have a humorous God. I'd barely made it 50 yards when I saw one of my friends walking up to the wrong house. I called out my window and prevented her from walking into some random person's house to the party that wasn't there. Laughing, I drove to get the pizza and made note of the way the timing had to work out for me to have been there. God always has a bigger plan than we can see even though sometimes the circumstances seem to only be worth complaining about.

So for this weekend, I've had that on my mind. Complaining just isn't worth it.

August 26-27: God-xplosion!

The last blog I wrote was about how I wasn't seeing/feeling God, but since then, I've been experiencing the complete opposite. The past two days, I feel like I have been in constant contact with God, and it's a good thing. Every where I turn, it seems he's right there. I don't know what has changed, but there's something there that wasn't there before, and I'm excited--I've had a God-xplosion!

August 25: Not Obvious

I guess today was just a not-obvious day. While I don't doubt that God was present during the day today, I am not clear about where I saw Him, at least, not yet. Maybe in a day or two, or weeks or months or even years, I will look back and realize it, but for now, I can only trust that God, like always, is with me, while rechecking my ability to "see."

August 24: Value of a Gift

I feel like all day long I have been writing or talking about the value of nature and its importance in society. I've written an essay in Spanish, read a poem in English, and even experienced nature first-hand today, so let me say, we have a lot to be grateful for. Nature is a reminder of the pure beauty of God's gifts, and any damage to it is a reminder of the corruption of this world. And that extends beyond nature, into our lives and our hearts. I feel refreshed and reenergized in this thought that we were pure and we are able to be pure again through Jesus's crucifixion. And oh! How valuable a gift!

August 23: Pay Attention

I gave my "speech" about hospitality this morning. It went pretty well, and it certainly helped me focus on being hospitable. However, just as the day seemed to be coming to an end, like my hospitality responsibilities were over, I found myself having missed a girl who had distanced herself from the activities at youth. So I went over and started talking to her, and by the end of our conversation, I'd gained an understanding of her life story which had certainly not been easy for her. I think it made a difference to her to have someone to talk to, and I can hope that God used me in that way tonight. But he also showed me, again, how easy it is to get caught up in our own activities that we miss an opportunity to serve. I almost missed my chance to talk to her, so I'm going to strive to keep it on my mind (and I hope you will too!) to be on the lookout for ways to serve.

August 22: Good from Bad

This morning I went to a service project at a widow's house. She is a single mother with two elementary school-aged girls, and her yard needed some work, so we were there, helping to tidy her yard. But God worked through her story more than he worked through us.

She lost her husband eight years ago, after he committed suicide. She grieved by gardening, but has since, developed an organization and now a book to lead grieving widows through athletic training as a way of strengthening their families and bodies. Because of the tragedy she went through, God has been able to use her to help many other women. It would've been easy for her to be angry with God and reject him, but she didn't; she continued to trust him and his will, despite the tragedy. And God worked, and he made good from the bad.

August 21: Inhale. Exhale.

This morning, as I was on my bike, climbing the last hill before my house, I was tired and having trouble catching my breath. I kept breathing harder and harder until I realized that I had inhaled too much and really just needed to exhale deeply. I exhaled and inhaled more slowly, and I felt just like new, ready to go. Inhale. Exhale.

I should've seen this as foreshadowing for the rest of my day. Inhale. Exhale.

My day began with stress. I'd needed to finish some homework assignments from the night before, so I found myself sprinting to catch up. Of course, it wasn't as urgent as I'd made it seem; I was inhaling more than exhaling. Inhale. Exhale.

In the evening, I decided I had a lot of homework and not enough time to do it. So, I started to get stressed and anxious about finishing it all, but then it hit me--I need to exhale. I need to let it go. Inhale. Exhale.

Sometimes, we get wound up in the little things. But that's not what God wants. He's got it all under control, we just need to remember to give it to Him. Inhale.

Exhale.

August 20: Welcome Home

During the day, I was working on my presentation for Sunday school on hospitality. I had hospitality running through my mind all day, but I was reminded of what it feels to be welcomed by a simple accident. I came home and the sign we had sitting in our yard that once said "O'NEAL PARKING", now, after rain which caused it to rip in half, read "O'N PAR." And hospitality is just that--a random act of kindness upon arrival. That's all it takes.

August 19: Surprise!

Something about random kindness makes it seem even more generous.

This morning, I was able to celebrate my teacher's birthday with her by joining with the leadership team to surprise her with cake and a gift. She was blown away. We decorated her room yesterday, so another birthday celebration was not expected. She was thrilled--it really made her day.

This afternoon, I was working at church when one of the maintenance crew, Mitchell, let me know that he'd found a balloon and set it aside for me. When I found it, I saw that he had added post-it notes to make the balloon read "welcome back" rather than "welcome baby." It was such a random thing, and yet it made my day.

Both of these were little things, simple actions to make someone's day a little better. How can you surprise someone with kindness? Let's be fireworks of kindness, surprising everyone with bursts of beautiful light in a sky that seems too dark without them.

August 18: Speak Up!

Just through the day today, God has given me chances to speak up and encourage my fellow believers. I was able to give a message of inspiration and encouragement to the overwhelming number of high school students who woke up early to learn about a Christian service club (and get donuts)! Right after that, I was asked to speak about hospitality this Sunday in youth Sunday school. This is something I've been passionate about for years, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to speak. I've definitely received the clear message that God is paving the way for me to speak up about my faith.

August 17: The Storm

This evening, I was walking my dog (it seems a lot happens during these walks), and some dark gray clouds began to fill the sky. I enjoy looking at clouds; they're interesting and dynamic: just a glance away, and they're different. So as I walked around the lake, I could see this massive, dark gray cloud moving towards me, and as I strolled along, the air got heavier and the light dimmed. A few minutes later (I was now past the half-way point), it began to drizzle until it became a steady rain.

Within seconds, the scene became really dark. The wind kicked up. The rain poured (sideways of course). The thunder rumbled.

Pause. There are several ways to react to the situation:

1. Call home for a ride and walk to the road.
2. Get under shelter and wait it out.
3. Pick up the pace and walk home quickly.
4. Just outright sprint through the rain, nearly blinded, through the muddy path towards home.

I picked #4. So I called out, "let's go!" to Harmony (her queue to start running), and laughing and cheering, ran home. You may disagree, but I'd call that the best possible way to enjoy a storm. Don't get me wrong, my shoes were soaked and my legs covered with dirt, and I could've fallen or slipped, but I didn't. I accepted the storm as a gift, not a roadblock. 

Satan puts obstacles in our paths. If we trust God, he can turn these "obstacles" into playgrounds. If we depend on ourselves, it might appear hopeless. Have faith! Let God make the most of these situations.

August 16: Their Only Taste of Jesus

There was one line of the sermon this morning at church that has really stuck out to me. We were talking about living as a Christian 24/7, about bringing Christ into work, into the car, into the grocery store, etc. But when he said, "you may be the only view of Jesus someone gets," I really understood the importance of living as a Christian. 

We don't have special glasses that allow us to see what people are going through, the pain or stress their suffering from, their grievances or worries, but I think everyone can use a friendly gesture of love. Maybe your simple helping hand could introduce someone to the love of Jesus Christ. I think that's a pretty cool thing--definitely worth bringing Christ into your life. 

August 15: Beauty in Friendships

Today was a day of making, maintaining, and remembering friendships. Each of us has so many people in our lives that make us who we are, and we are those influential factors in others' lives. I know I've talked about this before, but I again stand in awe of the perfection God brings out between friends. I am so blessed by the people in my life.

August 14: A Limited Time on Earth

On the radio today, the 29-year-old host was talking about the recent loss of his college friend. He explains that at 29, he doesn't really consider death as a possibility yet--his days don't seem numbered. His talk wasn't about the sadness of losing his friend (who knew the Lord), but rather the realization that life on Earth is limited, and he wouldn't have been ready to stand in the presence of Jesus--there would've been too many "if only I'd"s.

I guess our time here is like a trip; we're only here so long and while we're here, we might as well make the most of everything presented to us. I can't believe I'm saying this, but YOLO (you only live once)! But it's more than just making your life the best it can be; we also have the responsibility of giving others the gift of eternal life. Don't get stuck with the "if only"s; follow and act on God's word.

August 13: Encouragement (again)

Just another piece of evidence of how simple yet how significant encouragement can be: today, I was riding my bike. I'd been about 9 exhausting miles, and I was peddling my way up a hill at the top of which waited about 20 middle schoolers for the bus. As I got closer, I heard one do a little cheer. You know how middle schoolers are--one does something, and they all follow. So pretty soon I had 20 middle schoolers cheering me on up the hill. That gave me just the boost I needed to make it to the peak.

While I was physically climbing a hill, some people may be figuratively struggling to climb a hill, maybe even a mountain. All they need is a boost of encouragement, and we can be the ones to give it to them.

August 12: The Right Kind of Fuel

I've enjoyed listening to 91.5 FM Victory station today. I heard a devotion about when we're running on empty that has stuck with me. Just like a car, we need fuel, but we can't just pour any liquid into our tank, we can't fill up on junk; we need to fill up with God's spirit. Sometimes we run on empty and the easiest thing to do is just grab the most convenient thing whether that's popularity, money, chocolate, etc. However, this fuel won't sustain us; we'll quickly fall again. The only thing that will continually provide for us is God. Go to him to fill up and stay filled up.

August 11: 525,600 Minutes

Today was the second day of senior year, but really it was the first day of the rest of my life. Many times today I was presented with questions or tasks to prepare me for May, for next August, and even for many years after that. Someone even started playing the "graduation song"..."five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes..." Goodness, people! I can't see that far ahead! I don't even know what's going to happen tomorrow. It's one thing to be prepared, but it's another to worry about details we can't control. Lucky for us, we don't need to control it because we have this awesome Father who can see what will happen tomorrow, next week, next May, next August, even next century. We don't need to worry. We've been asked to live in the moment--to make each minute valuable. Let's take it one minute at a time, not 525,600 at a time! Plus, this year's a leap year--we certainly can't plan that extra 1440 minutes.

August 10: You've Got a Friend in Me

I know I've emphasized this a lot, especially in the past months, but the people we surround ourselves with can be a blessing and can be an opportunity for us to be a blessing. Today, I was able to minister to a new student at school just by welcoming her and going out of the way to show her around. I was able to ensure her the presence of a friend, and tonight, at a dinner with many of my close friends, I was reminded of the blessing friends are. God designed us to interact with each other, to sympathize and support, to encourage and inspire. Who needs your reminder: "you've got a friend in me"?

August 7-9: Christian Fellowship

Have you ever experienced true joy? It defies all description; though to me, it feels like I'm an unopened bottle of soda with the perfect amount of fizz built up inside, ready to be opened to bring enjoyment another. And no amount of sadness or worry or fear can disrupt this state of being--this is joy. I believe each of us experience joy in different moments, but I have found that I often become joyful when I am with others in the presence of God through worship or Christian fellowship, and now, as I sit writing this, I am filled with joy.

Over the past few days I have been blessed beyond anything I could have asked for. The ActingUp family is amazing. I cannot use words alone to describe what every member means to me. Each person is a thread to a blanket that has been woven through the generous giving of support, encouragement and love. And though this show has ended, the blanket stands strong. A blanket to provide warmth in cold times, comfort in times of pain, and a source of joy in times of sadness. The relationships that have been built are strong. They will not falter. I can trust every person there, and I know that no matter where I go (if I go) in the next years, they will welcome me home at any time. Thank you God for providing me with yet another example of perfect fellowship--the fellowship that is now the source of my joy, overpowering any sadness from the end of yet another show and inspiring me to be a source of light and love to all those around me.

August 6: Remember Who (and Whose) You Are

Part of Bye Bye Birdie is based on Kim getting "pinned" by Hugo, so as of today, on my jacket, I have a pin. The pin says "Remember Who You Are." What a great tip that is for acting--stay in character, remember who you are. Better yet, what a great tip for life! We hear so often: "be yourself," "don't conform to society," etc. Remember who you are. But not only that: remember who you are in Christ, whose you are. Don't become jealous of someone else and don't become boastful. If you were the only human to exist, God who still have sacrificed His son. You are so important. Even though you may see yourself as worthless or undesirable, remember that you are so dearly loved. And by knowing that, you also have the responsibility of sharing that with others. You are loved.

August 5: Thank the Lord!

Last night was a pretty rough dress rehearsal for Bye Bye Birdie. People dropped lines, missed queues, confused harmonies; it was a little scary, especially for two days before opening night. It occurred to me that our biggest star and the foundation of Acting Up had accidentally been left outside. No wonder the show was falling apart! Realizing this, I sent a message to our director--something along the lines of "the most important part of our show is missing. Could you please help organize a cast prayer tomorrow night?" And that's exactly what we did.

Tonight, a cast member said a well spoken prayer, thanking God and giving the show back to Him for His use, and then the show went on. And it went amazingly! Never doubt anything if it's in God's hands. His will is good. Trust in it (and don't forget to thank Him too!)

August 4: Encouragement

I know I've mentioned this before, but I cannot emphasize any more how important encouragement is. It's like oil in a car engine; you can't go anywhere without it. It's the same with people. Without encouragement, the parts squeak and squeal and rub until the machine just falls apart, people become angry and frustrated and relationships fall apart. We are called to be servants, but encouragement is taking the step down while also lifting someone else to the step up, and if everyone is encouraging, everyone keeps moving up. Who can you help up to the next step?

August 3: Can't Be a Coincidence

Just yesterday, after providing me with a great trip location, Glen Arbor was plowed through by a tornado. Shops we visited and streets we drove on are now blocked by fallen trees and debris. All this just 24 hours after we left. A simple change to the family reunion dates or a flight schedule could've caused our family to have gotten stuck in the storm. Luckily  Because of God, however, we weren't. Every member of the family arrived home safely. Just another piece of evidence that our God is a God of miracles, not a God who takes credit for coincidences.

August 2: Miraculous Creation

I was repeatedly amazed by the perfect creation all around me today. I see God's masterpiece in the way the sunlight falls beautifully on the trees, the sparkle of dew on flowers, and the talents he has given those around me. I was reminded that our God is a God of miracles and with a strong faith, these miracles become more and more recognizable. So today, I am thankful for the miraculous creation.

July 25-August 1: We Are Family

I spent the past week in Glen Arbor, Michigan at the family reunion of my mom's maternal extended family: basically her mom's siblings and all of their descendants, 44 people in all ranging from more than 70 years old to less than 2 years old. It's been three years since I'd seen most of these people. A lot can happen in three years. In three years, our family had increased by 3 children, babies had become kids, kids had become teenagers, teenagers had become adults, couples had become parents, parents had become empty-nesters. Three years can make family seem like strangers. 

In other words, this time last week, I was sitting watching the sunset with familiar faces but otherwise unfamiliar people. However, what separates family from strangers is that the uncertainty and unfamiliarity quickly disappears. With family, it no longer seems to matter whether we know each others' recent events; we're family and that's all we need to know. Instantly, all barriers that have developed over three years disappear and bonds of trust develop from encouragement and kindness. That's family. And when you know that these bonds need to last another three years, a week becomes precious time. 

Therefore, over the past week, I have gotten to know many of my cousins, aunts and uncles, and I have become more and more grateful for the amazing family I have. I have witnessed some families that have been shattered by divorce, death, and illness, but my family stands strong, and I cannot ask for anything greater. This week I have been inspired by the kindness of everyone around me. I was continually welcomed by warm smiles and hugs. I was in awe of the loving parent-kid relationships. I was motivated by wise and encouraging tips for my future. I am proud to call each of those 43 people my family. And though the events of this week and the relationships I have formed are ones that will continue with me for many years, what sticks with me most is the beautiful image that could one day also represent the family of God.

"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity." 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Timothy encourages us to treat every person as family. Can you imagine a world where sitting watching the sunset with strangers feels the same as sitting and watching the sunset with family? After this week, I can, and it's beautiful. Is it impossible to accomplish this? Yes, if we were alone.

But we're not. We have the God of the universe on our side, and I think He would gladly support the reunion of the family of God. One day, it won't matter who's watching the sunset because every person will be family.