When Will it Click?

There's been a lot on my mind recently. A number of things I could've blogged on too. But sometimes, my brain is so full, that I can't blog. It's probably better that way.
But tonight I can't put off writing down somewhere other than my journal what's on my heart, what's mulling around in my head.
A good verse that helps start things up, I think, is Matthew 6:19-21. I actually came across this verse today on biblegateway.com, where I go throughout the day when I'm busy with University stuff, and want to keep my mind a bit more focused.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The very last verse is the one that got me.
Recently, I've found myself reaching for that comfortable life, you know, the one most Christians are aiming for. The one where all that matters as far as Christianity goes is that we attend Church once or twice a week, pay our tithe, etc. And the rest of the time, oh, that's dedicated to our daily lives, you know. And what's so different about the "daily lives" part of our week? Ahh, that's the part where we light up and smile right? That's the time when we open our mouths after having sat quietly and oh so spiritually at Church, paying our dues. Now all of a sudden, as soon as the Pastor finishes the Benediction, we all of a sudden have a whole lot to say. We talk animatedly about the latest TV show, and how unexpected the turn of events were in the latest episode. "Wasn't that girls outfit a disaster on the pew to our left, and did you see the boy with...?" We stop in the middle of our sentence and meekly shake hands with the pastor. Oh why didn't we sit in the balcony today? We could've been outa here hours ago! Within seconds of Church time, our minds are wiped of anything remotely spiritual.
So I said earlier this is the life I've been reaching for recently... but I must clarify what I meant. It's not that I want to be like that. Far from it. I'm fed up with it. Sick of it. Nope. I don't want to be like that at all. But I was raised with this unconscious motto: Don't make waves.
Deep in my heart, I want to be free of all that smoggy, earth-filled, self-seeking and world-pleasing Christianity that I see on my right side and on my left. And that is what I'm striving for. But when one comes up against the code of "don't make waves", suddenly not conforming and allowing the smog to engulf you is so much harder.
That is why part of me recently has been wanting to make a truce ("The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" comes to mind right now). With work, full-time school and multiple flu's trying to take my immune system down, there's not much energy left to spend in active battle spiritually speaking. Satan makes sure to make the truce as appealing as possible.
But this week, just as I was beginning to allow some numbness into my heart, God gave me a push. A well needed jolt.
On Thursday morning, at 11 am I got to hear Rachel Joy Scott's sister (Dana Scott Bollwerck) talk. I fought tears the whole way through the presentation. I went again to the presentation at 7pm, and that time I didn't fight the tears.
To try and share what Dana shared would take too long. But one of the many things that moved me was the spirit of Jesus that Dana had. I can't explain it. I guess what made it even more outstanding was because she was surrounded by 2,000 plus young people, at a christian University, who profess to be Christians looking forward to Christ's soon return. And the majority aren't. I know that we all have inestimable worth in Christ's eyes, etc. I know that everyone of those people have it in them to be remarkable life changers like Dana and Rachel, but what's been heavy on my heart is this... When will they realize it?! When will they at least stop, and listen, and take action? How many tragic stories like that of Rachels' will we have to listen to before it clicks in our heads? How many more presentations will we have to hear before we get it? Even as I'm writing, I'm realizing that a lot of my frustration and sadness right now is stemming from my experience at my University, so maybe older people wont be able to relate so much to what I'm sharing... But just the same, I have to share.
It made me so sad watching young people get up and move on to what was for lunch right after the 11 am presentation. I wanted to weep. Here, we had just heard the same challenge about starting a chain reaction, about treasuring and appreciating even those who might look or dress differently than us. About getting rid of prejudice and doing little acts of kindness. We had just seen flash across the screen clips of the Columbine high school the day of the shootings, and now we're talking and laughing 10 seconds later about Pasta day at the Caf?
I could go on and on about how saddened I was by my fellow peers. My christian family.
But I wont. I shouldn't. Because I know the truth in my heart. I know that this is exactly what Jesus warned us about. He knew that His people would be few and far between. He knew the dangers of the cares of this life, and how easily they can consume and take control of our lives.
I can better understand tonight why Jesus spent so many nights in prayer. He had to. He was surrounded by all sorts of garbage, unfortunately, mostly from his own peers and spiritual leaders.
I feel like shaking my friends. I feel like crying out to them and telling them that they need to just STOP. Stop and listen. Listen to the story of a girl who lived for God, and let the tragedy of her death sink in, and let it move you! Maybe, just maybe it'll move you to some sort of action. But at least let it sink in. It's good for you to cry about it. This is reality. This is Christianity. Life isn't always (if ever) about the latest movies or music.
Just as I'm ready to shake my fellow classmates, I suddenly realize that I'm the one that's being shaken--by God. And it's clicked.
It's me. My little theory of "don't make waves". God's finally gotten through in a much bigger way than before. He's concerned about me. He sees the danger of my little motto, and how it'll keep me from fully being smog free. It's either all, or nothing. He doesn't want me to live with regret, which is what my safe little motto has brought to me with unending faithfulness.
I feel like jumping for joy. I feel like how I think I'll feel when I finally understand Algebra.
Actually I feel even better. He wants me to be willing to make waves if necessary. He wants me not to worry about the outcome of following His still small voice.
O man, has this ever been a long blog. I guess when I write what's on my heart, I write.But all this rambling gave me the clarity I hadn't been able to get for a couple days.
I'm not even sure how the Matt. 6 verses tied in to everything right now, but they got my wheels turning so I guess I'll leave them for now and go back to them at a later time. And how fitting, I'm listening to Matthew West sing "The Motions". Please listen to it, whoever happens to read this post.

Random Post

So I found this post on someone else' blog, and I thought I'd post it as well... All the ones in bold are ones I've done. (I didn't make these questions up, in case you're wondering)

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain ( I think it was a mountain:D)

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang/played a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied ( I guess I should be satisfied, no matter what)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62.Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64 Donated blood, platelets or plasma - haven't been able to, thanks to my journeys overseas

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check um yeah, one too many times

68. Flown in a helicopter - i want to, sooo bad

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (depends what you consider speeding, i guess)

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Survived a hurricane

89. Saved someone’s life. (maybe i have?)

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous (some people I've met, other people might consider famous, but according to me, no, I haven't)
92. Joined a book clu

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Made a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Wow, I haven't done very many of those things at all!

But any how, on a real happy note: Sam graduated from RIP on Dec. 19th! We're so proud of him... Unfortunately, we didn't take many pics of his ceremony at all, but here are the ones we did take

Thanks to sneaky Andrea, we got this picture

Sams at home with us now, and we're thoroughly enjoying having him here:) He's worked and trained so hard, he deserves a couple weeks of break.

~The latest news in the kittyland is that Pards older sisters General (pictured howling)

and Boots had the adventure of their lives last week~ Andrea took them to Church, and tried to find homes for them. As you can see, they didn't enjoy the ride... But thankfullly, little Boots, the oldest of all of them, got a home... A real nice chap adopted it. So General came home by herself, and we thought that was all that came of Andrea's trip to Church... But the very next day I was awakened by a phone call from a guy who had been at the Church the day before. He talked to his parents about the kittens that needed homes, and they decided that they wanted one... And guess which one! - Yup, little Pard. For some strange reason, they decided that they wanted her, even though they've never actually seen her. The sad part is, she'll be going to Oklahoma, where I'll probably never see her again... But the good part about her adoption is that for one, she'll actually have a home (a good home) and that she'll be a farm cat-- she deserves to be a country cat.

So anyway, that is my little story about the kitties.

I will miss Pard, but I am so glad that she got a home. I'm just hoping that when they come to pick her up in the beginning of january, that they wont change their minds when they see the other "cuter" brother and sister.

Anyhow, this blog is awfully long.

Hope everyone reading this gets at least some snow~ If so, enjoy it for me!

Pard

Meet Pard, the most darling babe ever...

This is Pard again (on the left) and her sis General. They love climbing up on the book shelves

In this pic their brother Ranger is wanting to join them.

Kittens!

It's been a good month and 3 days since the babes were born, (they were born on veterans day)and for various reasons, I haven't gotten any good pictures yet... But this picture was taken by one of us during thanksgiving break, and I finally got it downloaded today... I couldn't resist putting it up any longer.

This one's name is Ranger. He's the only boy.

Till I get some more pics of the rest, enjoy this one! ~ And if anyone reads this tonight, go and look a the moon! It's gonna be the biggest full moon of the year i believe.

Happiness Is...

Happiness is-- having Sam home! He totally suprised us, the sneaky guy. I talked to him just yesterday, and we talked about the possibility of him coming down for the weekend. It sounded highly unlikely that we would see him... And then poof! He's here! And I'm so glad. I don't think I could've waited to see him till mid December. We love you SAM! Even though you are too sly and sneaky.
Wish one and all an awesome, refreshing Thanksgiving weekend.

P.S. Happiness is... not only having Sam at home, but also: not having any school for 5 days!

Moon and Stars

The moon is so beautiful tonight... And the stars- they're so clear and bright! I can see them so clearly! ~ Just had to document it here. Hope I'm not the only one who saw the sky tonight...

Nursing School

So I'm officially accepted into the Nursing program for January 09... I am still in Shock. I didn't think I was going to get in until next fall because I hadn't met one of the requirements. But I had to try. So they had a meeting and decided to let me in! Yeah.
And Sam is the middle of the most intense and difficult 4 days of his training. If any one reads this, please pray for him.
Kitty is hugely pregnant, but so far no babies have come. We've decided to name them Obama, McCain, Palin, and Biden. If there's more than four, well, maybe we'll name the 5th one Hillary.
That's all the news I can think of right now.