What it means to truly LOVE...

So previously I posted about the "love of my life" here at Briercrest(which was obviously a joke if anyone didn't catch that... haha). However, this is unrelated to that and is something I've given some very serious thought to, lately. My thoughts are not completely gathered on this so it might be choppy, but I'll give it a try.

I've always struggled with the idea of being taken advantage of. Ok, that sounds wierd... but let me continue. But first here's an example(this is NOT a real story!): Lets just say that one day I bought this new car. It wasn't an amazing one, but it was new to me and really necessary for me to have. Then one day I hear about a need. Someone desperately needs to go somewhere and has no way of getting there. I know that I don't have time to take the person, yet I do have the car. So, thinking this is something God would want me to do, I lend the person the car. It comes back ok and I feel like I have helped someone. However, fast forward to a couple of weeks later. This person comes to me again. The need to go somewhere isn't quite as desperate. In fact, the person probably could find another way. However, I had let the person go once so it was easier for him/her to ask again. It's a fight within me, yet I can't find any reason to say no...... except that I feel taken advantage of.

This brings me back to my former point. Again this is a completely made up story and I don't have a car(sadly). Maybe it wasn't a great example, because cars are expensive and usually if ppl need to go somewhere we drive them. People sometimes "take advantage" of situations. I probably do so myself, although I really hope I'm careful not to. But the point is... how come it is so difficult for me to lend my stuff or let people take advantage of me in other ways? I think what it comes down to is pride. I hate to say this, but I'm so proud that it drives me crazy to think that people can take advantage of me. I never want to look like a fool. I never want people to think they can "put one over on me". However, what does Jesus call us to do??

Proverbs 25: 21,22 says "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

Now, you think the burning coals is something that hurts the person. However, I learned somewhere that people used to carry coals in baskets on their heads so it was easier to make fires when they would stop. However, sometimes their fires would go out and they would have to go ask for some coals from someone else. Therefore you'd be heaping coals on their heads(in their baskets). You might not want to do that. But our reward is not here. Whatever the situation is, we are to help people. This may involve being taken advantage of. Someone may be using you for something material you have. Someone may be using you for some emotional reason to fill a void in their own life. There are tons of different scenarios where people might be taking advantage of you, whether they realize it or not. And we are to feed them, clothe them, befriend them as well as we are able. Therefore my pride has no place. I am to be a fool for God, for that is what it means to truly LOVE others.

Gratitude

I think this is an incredible song about how God provides for our every need. Joy (my little sister) brought it home and played it non stop! And I would just laugh at her and say 'yeah, yeah... good song'. Then when I was on my way out west, I finally actually listened to what the words were saying.... There I was, scared of being so far away and one my own, having no idea how I was going to pay for the full year.... Yet, I had so much to be thankful for! God had already provided for me in so many ways and has continued to do so as the weeks have gone by.

One thing I am extremely thankful for is my amazing family! They have all been such a big support to me, especially as I was getting ready to come to school. So this blog also serves as a big THANK YOU to them! I love you guys and miss you like crazy! Thank you for always being there for me! I know I don't express my gratitude half as often as I should. But, again, I love you all more than I can say. (I'm gonna publish this before I start crying!)


Gratitude -Nicole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Contentment

Bible school has forced me to really think about where I'm at in my spiritual life. There's so much on my mind that I don't even know where to start in dealing with it. However, what comes to mind first is the idea of contentment(This really doesn't have much to do with what I've been learning here... but it relates a little). Anyway, before this summer, I felt like I was always looking forward... almost waiting for something exciting to happen. I was looking forward to such things as: finishing highschool, going to camp, meeting "Prince Charming", etc... However, this past summer I finally realized that I was no longer doing that. It was incredible to realize that I was finally LIVING in the moment! I was completely content with what was happening in my life. I wasn't counting down the days to finish my job, even when it was stressful. There I was... I felt like I had finally reached something long sought-after. It was amazing! Yet I was scared.... What if I lost that feeling? I had no desire to go back to being discontent and living for the next good time. I didn't even want to go to sleep, when I first realized it!

Well, it really didn't take long for me to get over the anxiety. I realized that now that I had more control over it now. I still got down, but I learned to realize that I could be unhappy about something, yet still have joy deep down because I had God in my life and God is amazing!

Ok, now I'm going beyond that. So, I've had a couple months to live in the contentment. I love my life right now. I love Briercrest! I love my new friends! And I'm having an awesome time! You could say that I'm content with life. Things couldn't get much better right now, right? That's what I thought anyway.... however, now I'm not so sure. Yes, God wants me to be content with life. But that does not mean I can sit there and just enjoy life! God pushes us to do more than that. I can't just think that I've finally "arrived" so I can relax. I still have so much to learn..... My goal now is to push beyond the contentment and genuinely seek God's will more than ever before. God's plans for me are bigger than my own will ever be! So, how about I let him be in charge? :)

Dear Mom and Dad,

How are you doing?? I just thought I'd drop you a little note to tell you how I'm doing. I LOVE BRIERCREST!! This place is awesome! And it has the cutest guys, too!! Ok... I'm really just writing this cause I really wanted to tell you about this new guy I met. He's such a great guy! We have such deep conversations. We like all the same music.... he's even in a band. It's called "Pierce". Very cool. So, I'll just describe him for you. Don't be judgemental, though. He's an awesome guy! Ok, so he's got dreads.... red ones. (A very nice shade of red I might add. Really matches his complexion). And he likes to wear a little bit of makeup. But don't worry, it's very tastefully done. And he may have a piercing... or two... or a few really. But mom, remember what you said about not judging by appearance?? I'm just going by what you taught me... Oh... and he likes to wear those dog collar things... but not all the time. Sometimes he doesn't.

Anyway, I'll include a picture for you. So, that's about the most excitement for me at Briercrest so far! I'll let you know how things go....

Love, Janet

PS- Here's the picture


PPS- Do you mind if I bring him home for Christmas?

Saskatchewan vs. Ontario

Ontario
Saskatchewan


Yeah... the difference is fairly obvious! So, I wont bother continuing this post. :)

Relating to People

Ok... so this blog is experimental... as in, I have no idea where I'm going with this and I totally confused the last person I tried to explain it to. But here's another shot.

Lately I've thought alot about how I relate to people... especially male people. (Haha!) I was thinking about how frustrating it is sometimes to have good, meaningful relationships with guys, without being seen as flirting with them or having an interest in more than just friendship. So this led me to thinking about how guys and girls relate in general. I've often noticed that girls will hang out with guys when they know they are available... and vice versa! However, that might quickly end if they find out that this person of the opposite sex isn't available. Does this make any sense?

Well, my main point is (and I actually got this mostly from a friend!) God did not make guys and girls solely to look at each other as potential mates(or whatever you want to call them)! I believe that we should consider the opposite sex as we would a brother or sister. If God has plans for you to become more than that, He will make that clear to you. That doesn't mean we can't have crushes.... who doesn't?! haha! However, for myself, as a single girl, I don't want to walk in to every situation and look around to see which guy I might be interested in! I think God intends us to befriend everyone and lift each other up. The rest will happen in due time...

So I hope this made sense... let me know what you think.

LOVING IT!!!!

So, I think my last post has been up there for far too long!(sorry, Sabrina, I forgot to update! haha!) So, I thought I should throw out there that I really haven't been depressed for the last two weeks! Bible School is awesome!!! I love getting to go to chapel all the time! I love starting class with prayer and scripture! I love getting scripture memorization for homework!! Crazy! so yeah.... I don't have internet yet... so I can't do pictures... but I'll be back soon!!