Known and Read of all Men

A few months ago, I listened to a sermon that Elder Wilson preached at one of the general conference meetings. It was entitled, "Remember Your Name". What name? Seventh-day Adventist. He said, "You preach a sermon every time you say, I am a Seventh-day Adventist." The sermon was inspiring, but I don't think I really 'got it' then.

I've heard, even read in the Bible, that our lives as Christians are supposed to represent Christ. It has made sense to me, mostly. Obviously, we don't do everything that the world does because we have something so much greater to live for.

I read the good book this summer, Do Hard Things. One thing that has really stuck with me is that I shouldn't be known for what I don't do but rather, by what I do.

This last fall was my first experience in "real school". I was pretty nervous- cause it was college. I started out kind of shy even though I really don't think of myself as shy. I wanted to witness for the Lord, but I really didn't know what was allowed or what would be accepted in that kind of public setting. I didn't really have a clue how to practically share Jesus with my teachers and classmates.

Fast forward a little bit. I was sitting in my English class. The teacher had just announced that the next assignment was supposed to be about an argument against someone's idea that we did not agree with. Right away I thought about mission trips. I had an acquaintance that had suggested that short term mission trips were not a  worth while endeavor (taking in consideration the expenses ect.) I felt differently about this because of how mission trips had affected my life (I'll save this for another post). I actually didn't want to use this topic for my paper because I would have to express a lot about how God had worked with me and stuff like that. I didn't think my teacher would really understand, and at first when she heard what I was going to argue against, she didn't get it. Anyway, I couldn't think of anything else to write, so I wrote about mission trips. As I explained why I felt that they were so important she started to see them from my perspective. Somehow, through this paper my teacher and I started talking after class about missions, extra. We became really good friends. I started to just be who I was at school. I began to write papers that weren't so blah to me because I was writing about what I was passionate about: God and missions.

Okay, now I'm starting my second quarter in college. I know a few people. I've learned to be more out going, and I'm even more determined to live for Jesus no matter what.

First day of school was Wednesday. Our first assignment for communications class was to ask someone in the class a list of pre-assigned personal questions, answer the same questions for that person, and then get up and introduce each other. The last question was kind of icky: "What would you want people to say about you in your eulogy?" I found it interesting though that almost 50% of the people said they would want to be remembered as "nice". Umm... I guess that's better than mean, but I really hope that's not all my life would stand for.One or two people said that they would want to be remembered as fun or hard working, and pretty much everyone with children said that they wanted to be remembered as a good parent.  I wanted to be honest, but I really felt intimidated by telling everyone what I would want my eulogy to say. I  said that I would want  to be remembered as a true Christian- someone who knew Jesus. It might seem silly, but I was nervous to be the only "different"one, and I was.

Day two of school: Thursday. I was sitting in my English 203 class -shaking in my shoes a little bit again.(note: I have a different English teacher now)  The assignment wasn't going to be graded, but our teacher just wanted us to write a paper in class that would give her some idea of where we were in our writing/grammar skills. The writing prompt was: "If you had a hundred days with unlimited resources to change the world, what would you do? How would you do it? What the world look like in the end?" My first thought was: teach everyone to truly know God, help them to understand His great gift to humanity, and then give them a vision of missions, of service, of a life of giving. These are really the only things that could and will someday (when this world is made new) change the world for good, so that's what I wrote about.

Today, I was standing outside my classroom for communications waiting for the door to be opened. I was shuffling through my backpack looking for something when a guy from the class says hello. I said," hi" and turned back to what I was doing. Then he said, "So, do you go to a church around here locally? This was not what I was expecting to hear right then. I was like, "Ahhh what?"
"Do you go to a local church?" he repeated.
Oh, ahhh...no... I go to the Cashm*r* Seventh-day Adventist church. The guy looked at me and said, "that old little church there? I said, "Yea, well, we're rebuilding right now." Then he said, "That's where I met..." I didn't hear the last thing he said. "You what?" I asked. "That's where I met God." I must of just stared at him funny because he began telling me that he had been there years ago when he was eight years old ( he looked over 30). He said that the pastor was having a big long sermon, but in the middle of it, he had stopped and said, I just feel really impressed to tell you the simple steps to salvation right now, so he did. The guy said, 'That was for me." I said,"Praise the Lord!" Then I asked him if he had visited since. He said he hadn't it was a time when his family was struggling that they had come. I invited him to come visit again. The conversation was cut short as the door to our classroom was opened and we walked in, but the exciting thing is I have a whole quarter  in the same class. Could this be a divine appointment?

I'm learning to trust the Lord. I'm learning what it means to live wholly and unashamedly His. I'm in awe that God could use even me. I'm realizing what my name really means: I am a Seventh-day Adventist. I am learning that living the Christian life is not about what I don't do. It's about what I do. It's about what I do because of what Jesus has done for me. I am learning that my life is an epistle know and read of all men. (2 Cor. 3:2)

This is a long blog post, but I'm just so excited to see how God is working in my life and in the lives of those around me. He is giving me new opportunities everyday. I'm so excited!

Generation of Youth for Christ Convention

Well, Its been a week since I arrived back home from GYC dead tired but on fire. It was a long exhausting trip since our flight, on the way there, was canceled leaving us in the airport for six hours until 5:30 for an all night flight. We also traveled all night coming back home, so I still feel like I'm kind of recovering. The trip was priceless though. I learned so much, had so much fun meeting my old friends again, and just really appreciated the strong spiritual atmosphere. I especially enjoyed spending time with Daniella who I miss so much since she left to Bible work in another state. I wrote just a little snippet of what GYC is all about for our church paper. This is it:

 

GYC. The name really captures what this movement is all about. It truly is a generation of Youth for Christ.

About 5000 young people from about 41 countries attended the convention in Baltimore this past week. It was really an inspiring privilege to be apart of it-not because of its big numbers but because of the dedication and commitment to Jesus that so heavily permeated the atmosphere. We met so many young people serving the Lord in many diverse ways. Some were working at an Adventist hospital in Ethiopia; many were Bible workers that my friend Daniella***Pusic had trained with; some were involved with evangelism programs such as ASI Youth for Jesus, and some were just living ordinary life like me-going to school, working at home, and trying to live for Christ where they were. Many of the speakers were young, but their messages were urgent, practical –what our generation needs not only to hear but to live today. The main theme was No Turning Back…I have decided to follow Jesus…No Turning Back.

The most exciting thing to me was that as this army of youth had come together to become more inspired and equipped to serve God. The leaders of our church were there right behind us, supporting us, discussing with us, teaching us, and just being apart. Our general conference president Elder Ted Wilson had the sermon on Sabbath. He called for us to be more committed to Christ and His church, to be more involved with ministry in our churches because if we truly believe that the Seventh-day Adventist church is the end time movement and that Jesus is coming soon, then we can do nothing but be involved working with all our hearts to prepare for that day. The young president of GYC, told us that on Christmas Eve, Elder Wilson had called him and said he was praying right then for GYC and for the young people that would come. Before he hung up, he said, “Save me a seat on the bus for outreach.” So, in the 72 buses that brought people to go door to door were leaders, true leaders of our church. One girl shared on Sabbath night that she had had a partner with a little bit of experience. It was Mark Finaly. She found it funny to walk up to a door, introduce herself and then say,..”and this is my friend Mark.”

Next year, GYC will be held in Texas, and I hope that more of us will be able to go. The theme is on the Holy Spirit- “Fill Me, Our Earnest Plea”. It’s time. We need the Holy Spirit in our personal lives. The charge given to all of us was to begin praying now.

I just want to tell everyone this great news: the year after next, GYC will be held in Seattle. I’m elated. We all can go!!!! Plan ahead. You will be blessed!!

When asked how Generation of Youth for Christ would be described in one word or what kind of legacy we would want it to leave for others (if Jesus has not yet come), the president of the conference answered, “Faithfulness”- Faithfulness to Jesus, Faithfulness to truth, Faithfulness till He comes. The convention is inspiring, but thankfully we can be apart of this group even if we can’t attend the conference. Faithfulness is something you and I must live out for God because of His faithfulness to us. Let’s be faithful with no turning back! 

All Things Work Together

I last wrote on the seventeenth about how I was learning to trust God more and more to leave my school, tests and everything else in His hands. It was a great reminder to myself the next day.

I had to register for my classes Wednesday. Being in class when my registration time started, the internet working way to slowly, and being on the last section of those in line to register (because I have only a few credits so far) made for a little bit of stress. All my classes were full with huge waiting lists, so I just started clicking on random classes trying to see if I could find some kind of class with spots available. I kept giving it over to the Lord, and in the end, I found a math class that was open. That was the most important thing! I am also on very small wait lists for a communications class and a English class, so hopefully I will get into one of those. I won't be able to get started on the sciences for the nursing prerequisites right away.All it really means for me is that I will have more credits toward my AA and I will have to finish up the nursing prerequisites later. It just changes how I prioritized my plans before. I know I will appreciate the system of registration later on in my game, but for now it really doesn't hurt me to learn to flex. It's also good for me to have my plans crossed so that I continually realize that 'all things work together for good to them that love God and them that are called according to His purpose.'

I have more to write, but I'll have to save it for morning. I'm completely exhausted due to a mama cat who has no milk and hungry kittens that have to be fed in the middle of the night. All things work together, right? yep, it's good character building.

Can Hardly Believe It!

 Before you read this take note: I sometimes think it's weird just writing all my day to day happenings for everyone to see, but then I think of how I would like to be able to look back later at all the years of school and family life and see all the ways that the Lord has lead me. This is why I blog. Please, if it boars you don't read it.

 My first quarter of college is almost over. I'm really excited, even though I have enjoyed school, to be finishing these classes and to start new ones soon. If I can pull through this last stretch of tests as I have so far, I think I will have an A in all my classes! I've had to work hard this quarter, but really, school is not as hard as I thought it might be. I know that God has really blessed in my schoolwork. I'm always amazed that He gives me just enough time, just enough focus, and all the help that I need in every aspect of life. I also recognize that as long as I do my very best He will continue to help me in all my studies. It's amazing! I think it is partially because of getting used to doing tests in a formal setting and this knowledge that God will continue to lead me and guide me as He's done before that has helped me learn to not stress out over every quiz and test that comes along.

So what's the homework agenda for the next week or two??
1. I have two more math tests; one is on Thursday. Then I am done. I can redo a test on the day of finals if I want to but I don't see a need to do that- at least not yet.
2. I have one more paper to write for English. Actually, it is just a revision of a previous paper that I wrote. My reading journal that I have been working on all quarter is also due soon as well as my portfolio. For English finals I have to write a whole paper in 2 hours in class. I'm definitely not a fast writer but because I know what I will have to write about already, I can start planning it out in my brain.
3. I had a medical terminology test yesterday. I have my final for that class next Monday.
4. I have piano jury coming up. I'm a little nervous about it since I haven't had much experiance playing for a judge. My piano teacher has been drilling into my head that I can choose to focus and not let the circumstances get in the way of my enjoyment of the piece. It's quite silly to be nervous about playing some long piano Ballad. Really no one will live or die because of it. It has little impact in the big picture of life, so I choose not to worry.


Besides, I'm on God's side why should I worry.

I can trust Him.

Safely through another week.... Just enjoying the beginning of the Sabbath hours. We've been having a few families over for Friday evening supper and worship. Lots of little kids! We can identify with these families though. Fellowship is more rare for large families, and we see so much in common especially with our friends that have a couple of foster kids right now.

Anyway, we have been just discussing short stories from the Bible. It's a blessing. Tonight we talked about the centurion and his servant that Jesus healed by simply speaking the word. He was one of the few people where it is recorded that Jesus commended his faith. Faith. It's so abstract, yet it is so real. Unmanufacturable, but offered to everyone that will receive.

Tomorrow, we have to go to church on the east side again. We will be so thankful when our church is finished. The day will come soon. Soon just seems so far away.

That's all for now. Vanessa

Life of Me on Random

A worn out pencil

A stack of scrap paper

A dogeared math book

 Another good quiz

Flashcards cluttering a desk

Long unpronounceable medical terms

A pretty"fried" brain

The test marked 2/3 done with the class

A bunch of ideas sloshed onto a paper

Something about lifeguards

Oh, just not enough time

Early mornings, brainstorm time

Piano music
Sticky notes
metronome beside
Harp too
Oh just wait Christmas music crisis just around the bend

Precious moments

Kneeling in my bed

Talking with the Best Friend 

Through every difficulty He'll always stick to me

And don't forget the little things that also make life joy

Smiles

Apple pies

Grocery store visit with Mom

Walk with the twins through the orchard

All the things that make life- life

Living for Jesus

Vanessa

Mom says, "Write."

So I'm writing. I'm making one more attempt at being a blogger. I really admire bloggers, and my Mom just happens to be avidly involved in the bloggy world.  My problem is that I have trouble taking the moment to sit down and write. Anyway, here I am once again.

Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. It's Canadian Thanksgiving, and since I actually live in the states, there's not much happening except school and work. I'm still thankful though-thankful for another year of life (my b-day landed on Thanksgiving last year), thankful for an ever learning and growing family, thankful for challenges, for tough times that God taught us through, thankful for new experiences (like going to school for the very first time), thankful for friends, thankful for nature, thankful for hope, thankful for God.

What are you thankful for today?

I mentioned school. I really like it! It's challenging me. It's growing me. Everyday I learn so much, and I have to work hard. Math is downright hard for me. I enjoy working through the problems though it can be extremely difficult, and I usually set aside a couple hours everyday to work through my problems in the tutoring center.  I really love the tutoring center. It helps me understand the concepts better, and having other students who are proficient where I am lacking available to help me when I'm stumped is just tremendous! I'm still so weak though in this area. I hope and pray that I'll pass the class. I have always done pretty well in English. I had an awesome teacher for several years before I started at the college. She taught me the fundamentals so well! I am learning a lot from my classes at the college though. I would say it's more abstract than I'm used to, but maybe that is not the right wording for it.  My new teacher focuses more on formulating ideas, looking at other essay writers, and asking the questions: "So what?" and "Who cares?" I feel that this class will broaden my understanding of writing. I think it has already. I'm having to read a lot of articles from the New York Times. They are well written articles. I don't have a keen appreciation for all of them, but some of them interest me and taking notes and understanding them is pretty fun. The other class I'm taking this quarter is Medical Terminology. I like it pretty well especially because I think I got on A on my first test! I like the medical kind of stuff (obvious considering my career choice). Learning about the body and diseases and just how everything works is like a big puzzle to me. This class is helping me put some pieces in place. Plus because I'm learning lots of terms, I can understand more conversations using medical names and stuff like that.
I have classes from 8-10 am daily, and then I have one three hour evening class every week.  I generally stay and study at the college library or in the tutoring center for several hours after classes. Then when I go home I can do my hobbies- cleaning house, cooking, playing with the twins, and practicing music.

I really enjoyed this weekend. I stayed busy every moment, but I did have a blessed Sabbath in nature with my family. I'm not sure if I'm ready to hit the grind of things again, but ready or not Monday is almost here! I'll be grandparent sitting this week, so won't be home until next weekend. Thankfully, their house is close to school, so I'll enjoy that convenience, and one of my best friends will be helping me, so it will be fun! There's no place like home though. I'll be happy to come back!

Busy week ahead! Looking forward to it in God's strength.