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Thursday, September 27, 2007

Surgery


Scott will need to have surgery today to place a pin in his toe. So, they are heading to Bismarck. His surgery is scheduled for 2 PM. Please PRAY. Even if you read this after 2. Pray that the surgery goes well and that Scott will be able to heal quickly.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Upper Room

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
~Psalm 28:2
WOW!! Upper Room was awesome!!! I wasn't intending on going, but I went. And I am so glad!!!! It was awesome! I have never worshiped God in a more honest, open way. I loved it so much! You could really feel the presence of God. Did I mention that I loved it?!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Prayer Request

Sunday night Scott had an accident while kicking a ball in the basement. He broke his big toe and tore the bottom part of the toenail. Needless to say, he is in a lot of pain. He and mom went to the clinic yesterday, and Rosemary put his toe back into position and fixed his nail. There is a lot of bleeding though and he is in a lot of pain. Please pray for him.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Friday, September 21, 2007

Hooray!!!

I got a C+ on my drawing assignment! Did you notice that it said C PLUS?! YAY!!! It took a long time to do, so I am quite pleased. The teacher is really good, but it is hard to get a high grade. Pretty much impossible to get an A (although, ALL things are possible with God :) On the plus side, he says that perfection is over-rated. :D (But I'll still AIM for perfection! ;)

I also have another reason for being happy. I got TWO packages from home today!! Yeah, that's right-- two!!! :D I was overjoyed!!! Among other things, she sent dried pineapple (*licks lips*), and a skirt from Christopher & Banks (which I am wearing right now :)!!! My mom definitely knows how to send a care package, that's FOR sure!!

And my RA just dropped off a cookie! How much better can it get?

Extreme Sacrifice


Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
~ Romans 12:1






They huddled inside the room while hearing the screams of fellow Christians being butchered outside. Pastor Hendrick

Pattiwael and his wife were helping to lead the Indonesian

youth camp, and they felt responsible for the young people

in their care.









The camp had been a joyous time of spiritual growth and

worship. Then they were attacked.

When the radical Muslim mob surrounded the building

where they hid, Pastor Pattiwael went outside. Distracting

the bloodthirsty mob’s attention away from his wife and the young

people, the pastor was attacked while the others escaped.

“Jesus, help me.” They were his final words.
His wife next saw him lying in a coffin.

Ugly wounds crisscrossed his torso and arms. In shock and

anger, Mrs. Pattiwael cried out to
God.
“How could you let this happen? Why didn’t you protect my husband?”
But the Holy Spirit reminded her of her husband’s words

only days before the attack. “If you love Jesus, but you love me or

your family more, you are unworthy of Christ’s kingdom.”

He told her that he was ready to die for Christ’s kingdom.
Remembering those words, she refused to become bitter.

She still works with her church in Indonesia. The advice that she

would give Christians in free nations is simply this: “Seek

God more earnestly, so that you can stand in the midst of

more trouble.”














We don’t have to go looking for trouble. It already has our

address. Jesus often reminded his disciples that trials are

part of daily living. Seeking God more earnestly does not

mean seeking more trouble for our lives. No, the

benefit of seeking a deeper relationship with God is to

better prepare us for the inevitable. We don’t have a

choice about what troubles come our way. However, we

can choose to have a relationship with God that

prepares us for trouble. Some trials may mean losing our

lives for Christsake. Yet this is not the real sacrifice. The

extreme sacrifice must come long before. We must

sacrifice selfishness at every level in order to develop

intimacy with God ahead of time. When we have

sacrificed all to pursue a preeminent relationship with

Christ, we will have already done the hardest part.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Have you applied it today?

While in church today, I was thinking. Do you have any idea of how fortunate we are to have Bibles in our pews? So many countries have people thirsting for God's Word. And we, who have countless Bibles in our churches and homes, hardly give it a second thought. Sure we will read it occasionally. And many page through it's wonderful words every day for devotions. But what about after that? Do we really apply it? We have the tools, but do we really use them? We need to get beyond just reading them, and actually apply it to our lives. We would be so changed, so altered, so...transformed. Our minds would be focused so much more than on this world! I challenge you (and myself) to apply God's Word, meditate on it, memorize it and apply it.



"The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible, 'In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.'"
~George Washington Carver

Friday, September 14, 2007

Jesus Freaks Around You Now

"Christianity has become dramatic with us," wrote Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, a leader of the underground church in Communist Romania. "When Christians in free countries win a soul for Christ, the new believer may become a member of a quietly living church. But when those in captive nations win someone, we know that he may have to go to prison and that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought someone to Christ is always mixed with this feeling that there is a price that must be paid.

" When I was still living behind the Iron Curtain, I had met a Russian captain. He loved God, he longed after God, but he had never seen a Bible. He had never attended religious services. He had no religious education, but he loved God without the slightest knowledge of Him.


" I read to him the Sermon on the Mount and the parables of Jesus. After hearing them, he danced around the room in rapturous joy, proclaiming, ‘What a wonderful beauty! How could I live without knowing this Christ?’ It was the first time that I saw someone jubilating in Christ.


" Then I made a mistake. I read to him the passion and crucifixion of Christ, without having prepared him for this. He had not expected it. When he heard how Christ was beaten, how He was crucified, and that in the end He died, he fell in an armchair and began to weep bitterly. He had believed in a Savior and now his Savior was dead!

" I looked at him and was ashamed that I had called myself a Christian and a pastor, a teacher of others. I had never shared the sufferings of Christ as this Russian officer now shared them. Looking at him was, for me, like seeing Mary Magdalene weeping at the foot of the cross or at the empty tomb.


" Then I read to him the story of the resurrection. When he heard this wonderful news, that the Savior arose from the tomb, he slapped his knees, and shouted for joy: ‘He is alive! He is alive!’ Again he danced around the room, overwhelmed with happiness.


" I said to him, ‘Let us pray.’


" He fell on his knees together with me. He did not know our holy phrases. His words of prayer were, ‘O God, what a fine chap You are! If I were You and You were me, I would never have forgiven You Your sins. But You are really a very nice chap! I love You with all my heart.’


" I think that all the angels in heaven stopped what they were doing to listen to this sublime prayer from this Russian officer. When this man received Christ, he knew he would immediately lose his position as an officer, that prison and perhaps death in jail would almost surely follow. He gladly paid the price. He was ready to lose everything."

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Homework Report

Okay, so last night (well, actually this morning!) I went to bed at 3:30!! I was studying my psychology chapter. And tonight I have a feeling it will be pretty late night as well. :P I have to draw someone's eye for at least 20 minutes. If you think that it doesn't sound like a lot, just try it! Your arm about falls off. Let's see, a chapter in my NT textbook, about 40 pages in Shadow of the Galilean (which is actually fairly easy reading-- narrative story of Jesus) and a chapter in Design. That's what is due tomorrow.

For Friday, I have a personal reaction paper to type (1-3 pages-- YAY that it isn't long!) Some drawings due on Monday-- supposed to take 10 hours in all. :P And I need to read the next chapter for another psychology quiz next week.

Today I watched Star Trek for the first time-- for my New Testament class. I'm sorry, but that show is BOR-RING (and kind of hard to follow-- kept getting planet's and people mixed up! :)! But when you are with friends, it is much better, because then you can all make fun of the characters and ask questions like, "What is the name of the planet they are on?" and "What is the bald captain's name again?"

Tonight is room inspection. I guess that means I should vacuum, huh? :)

And today is my room-mate's birthday! Yay! Happy Birthday, Allie!!!!!!

I almost forgot!-- on the way back from supper tonight, I saw the hugest racoon that I have ever seen in my WHOLE 19 years of existence on this planet! It was HUGE! I had to look again to make sure it wasn't a badger, but it wasn't! I'M POSITIVE!!!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

The many faces of Megan

Posted by Picasa

My closet


...well sorta.

Chicago!

We went to Chicago today with our mentor groups today for a boat cruise and going out to eat. It was sooo much fun! (I forgot how tall everything is! :D) We ate at a Thai restaurant. I wasn't too thrilled about it since I normally don't like Chinese food and the like. But it was so much fun there! Had a blast! I wanted to try something totally different (all right, I admit it, I didn't have the squid salad), so I tried the oyster beef. It was really good, but there was not enough beef and wa-a-a-y too many mushrooms!! I had enough to make pizza!!!! (And I'm totally serious-- NOT being sarcastic!) Then after waiting around a while, we went on our boat cruise. There were fireworks, but I think I've taken enough for a while, and I wasn't in a good spot, so I don't have any to share. Sorry. :(




Christine and I

Trying out the peppers in the Thai Restaurant

Pretty self-explanatory

I took a zillion (okay, 129), but I figured you didn't want to see that many pictures of the Chicago skyline/architecture. Although, if anyone from Judson is reading this, they are probably an architecture student...

Friday, September 07, 2007

Make ’em Curious!

A Jesus Freak whose joy overflows is a puzzling thing to a watching world. But that’s not a bad thing. Let your light make ’em curious! Let people see your peace under pressure and wonder what your secret is. Maybe they’ll work up the courage to ask you about it. Joy in the midst of suffering always confounds those who don’t possess it.

One day, on the way to visit some friends, Englishman John Denley was stopped and searched by the authorities, who found his written confession of faith. Denley believed the church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as its head. He also believed that the present state of the church, the Church of England in the 1500s, was not part of this true Church. At that time, many of its teachings were contrary to the Bible.


For his beliefs he was turned over to a local government official, who turned him over to the bishop for questioning. Denley would not back down from his statement of faith, so he was condemned to die.


Within six weeks he was sent to the stake to be burned. When they lit the wood beneath him, Denley showed no fear. He cheerfully sang a psalm as the flames rose around him. One of his tormentors picked up a piece of wood and threw it at him, hitting him in the face. He hoped to anger or silence Denley, but Denley only responded, "Truly, you have spoiled a good old song." Then he spread his arms again and continued singing until he died.

`

"Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds."


Jesus Christ, Matthew 5:11-12 The Message

Another sixteenth-century Englishman also found a reason to rejoice through his hardships. And, like Denley, he was willing to give his life for the sake of the gospel.


John Bradford stood boldly before the Lord Chancellor. "I urge you," the young man said, "don’t condemn the innocent. If you believe I am guilty, you should pass sentence on me. If not, you should set me free."


Bradford, the well-loved pastor of St. Paul’s in London, was thrown into prison for his beliefs that differed from the state church during Queen Mary’s reign. While he was in prison, so many of his congregation came to visit him that he continued to preach twice a day. He also preached weekly to the other men in prison, the thieves and common criminals, exhorting them from the Word of God and often giving them money to buy food.


Bradford’s keepers trusted him so much that he was often allowed to leave the prison unescorted to visit sick members of his congregation. All he had to do was to promise that he would return by a certain hour. He was so careful about keeping his word that he was usually back well before his curfew.


After a year and a half, Bradford was offered a pardon if he would deny his beliefs, but he would not. Then after six more months in prison, the offer was repeated. Again he refused.


"John," his friends warned, "you need to do something to stall for more time. Ask to discuss your religious beliefs with Queen Mary’s learned men. That will take you out of immediate danger."


John replied, "If I did that, the people would think I have begun to doubt the doctrine I confess. I don’t doubt it at all."


"Then they will probably kill you very soon," his friends said sadly.


The very next day John was sentenced to death, and the keeper’s wife came to him with the news: "Tomorrow you will be burned."


Bradford looked to heaven and said, "I thank God for it. I have waited for this for a long time. Lord, make me worthy of this."


Hoping to keep the crowds from knowing what was going on, the guards transferred him to another prison in the middle of the night. But somehow the word got out, and a great multitude came to bid him farewell. Many wept openly as they prayed for him. Bradford, in return, gently said farewell and prayed for them and their future.


At 4 a.m. the next day, a large crowd had gathered at the place where Bradford was to be burned. Finally, at 9 a.m., an unusually large number of heavily armed men brought Bradford out to the stake. With him was John Leaf, a teenager, who also refused to deny his faith. Both men fell flat to the ground and prayed for an hour.


Bradford got up, kissed a piece of firewood, and then kissed the stake itself. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: "England, repent of your sins! Beware of idolatry. Beware of false teachers. See they don’t deceive you!" Then he forgave his persecutors and asked the crowd to pray with him.


Turning his head toward John Leaf, he said, "Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord tonight!"


What is the difference between joy and happiness?


We are told in Nehemiah 8:10 that God’s joy is our strength. How can joy be strength when all around us is terror or sadness?

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

My project

Okay, before you say anything witty about my "art," let me remind you of a couple things. I have never taken an art class in my life. I have basically no talent in drawing. And I spent a long time on this, so be nice! ;)

We had to go around in the building and draw stuff that we saw, but off-center it a little. Then on a sheet of paper, draw nine of those drawings and on the other side of the paper switch the colors (where the marker was you were supposed to leave white and vice versa). Since I couldn't erase stuff, I have a couple errors, but you probably can't see them since it is only a picture of my art. Ha!

Can you tell what some of these pictures are?
I hope so! :)
So, what do you think?

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Genesis 9:12-16



And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
`
Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.
`
Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
`
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Sunday, September 02, 2007

My new glasses

These new things on my face

are so entiely different from my other ones!
The inside part is so cool! :)
Fake smile!