Does This Describe You?

So I heard on the radio the other day that January 23rd tends to be "the most depressing day of the year" (according to "them" - whoever "they" might be).




Apparently, by this time of the year, almost everyone has broken their New Year's resolution (almost all of us staff in the Cafeteria at school), the after-Christmas debt is starting to hit hard, and the lack of light is getting pretty old to most (ESPECIALLY Lisa McGary). With all of these factors, the average American gets to feeling pretty "down in the dumps."


Thus, don't think there's something seriously wrong with you if you happen to feel rather less-motivated, and more-cranky than usual. :) All the more reason for us to extend grace to each other, and comfort ourselves by cozing up to the hope that Scripture holds:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, although for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." ~ 1 Peter 1:3-7 ~

This passage was read at church this past Sunday, and I believe it to be a timely Word that the Lord has been using to grant me much-need "perspective check" in this, my more somber mood, as of late.



I'm looking forward to classes starting again, and the hope of Spring is very real. I'll look forward to seeing everyone's smiling faces in the cafeteria Monday morning. :)

Something I've Got to Say

Since coming here to Seminary, I have to confess, from my own personal experience, I have truly experienced a ton of "gentlemanly" guys, and I just feel like you all deserve to hear it said outloud (and they're not just "Southern boys" either).




As a daughter of the Lord, I have to admit: there's something sensationally moving about a man of God who treats his sisters like "princesses." Whether they're married, "attached," single as they come, fathers, brothers, friends, or total strangers: I have seen so many guys taking advantage of an opportunity to show us ladies what to look for, "wait for," and expect from our male counterparts. When one of our Christian brothers goes out of his way to hold open a door; devulge his heart in honest confession; or take the initiative to be Christ's hands and feet in humble service - at that moment, you have secured my earnest respect and appreciation. You show us all that you are TRULY practicing what you preach, and that you want your lifestyle to shout the Gospel louder than your intentions.

SO...for all you GENTS out there: THANK YOU!!! Please continue to grow in the Lord, and behave as the MEN you are. On a personal note, thank you for reminding me of the kind of woman I long to be for Christ - and setting a proper example to follow. We need you! We look up to you! And we support you!

Surprise Contact: "NO WAY!"

The COOLEST thing happened to me today...

(DISCLAIMER: This may be useless info for some readers, so please pardon this personal and zealous post. I'll try to think of something more controversial or contemplative later. Right now, I'm overcome with nostalgia...)

So I'm checking thru my e-mail as usual, and I have this message waiting for me on my sister blog-site from some girl named "Ashley," of whom I haven't a clue (I don't recognize her from her picture).

So I go to my blog, read this girl's message, and she says that she wanted to know if I'm from "Terre Haute, Indiana." Apparently (according to her message), she says I "look familiar."

Well, I don't give this a second thought, but out of cordiality, I decide to write her back and give her a brief autobio: "Oh, yeah... I grew up there... Graduated from South... Went to ISU... yadda-yadda-yadda." I even told her about my six-year stint at the local Cracker Barrel, in which I hosted more tables than I care to recall. :)

So, the next day, I'm checking my e-mail again, and this "Ashley" girl replied to my reply. She says that she "spent part of her childhood in Terre Haute," and that she "had a best friend named JENNIFER WOJAK that she played with all the time until her parents divorced, and she moved to Evansville."

At this point, my jaw hits the floor.

NO WAY!!! ASHLEY ADAMS!?! MY LONG-LOST, I-HAVEN'T-THOUGHT-ABOUT-YOU-IN-SO-LONG, LONG-LONG-LONG-LONG LOST FRIEND!?!

Please, understand: I have not spoken to this girl since the 3rd grade! As a matter of fact, I can still remember when she first told me her parents were splitting up, and that she and her brother were moving away with her mom. We cried and cried because we thought we'd never see each other again...

Will reunion wonders never cease? Could I possibly count all the memories that have come rushing back to tease me? Will Ashley and I ever be able to catch up on the past 17 years? I guess only time will tell...

In the meantime, don't you EVER let people tell you that Blogging doesn't bring people together! EVER! EVER-EVER!

We Collect Memories

So the holidays have come and gone. Reflecting back on 2005, it just seems like there's too much to say - you've taken too much in - so it's easier just to sit in silence, and feel overwhelmed...but in a good way.

As of right now, I'm not sure what 2006 will bring. As always, a new year seems to whisper the hope of so much potential, and I can already sense myself getting a little lazy - thinking I have all the time in the world.

I'm someone who like to be prepared, and though there's nothing inherently wrong with this, I take it to extreme; and attempt to swallow the rest of my life with each day that passes. But God is so gracious, and lovingly reminds me that each day is a gift - meant to be rejoiced over with song, and each day brings its own precious lessons meant to be learned...and remembered well.

My challenge to you: brand each day of 2006 firmly in your mind, and make individual memories that will set those days apart as you proceed to collect them all. We have only a handful of time compared to the warehouse of eternity. Make it count for Christ.