Resurgence: Principles for Young Women

Found this article on theresurgence.com.  It is some amazing truths for young women!  Seriously, read this every day!  The official link can be found here: http://theresurgence.com/2012/03/19/for-the-gals-8-principles-for-dating
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For the Gals: 8 Principles for Dating

Jen Smidt»

I recently came across a 20-year-old photo of Phil and me when we were dating. I started thinking about how very little I knew about relationships, men, and marriage then.

Formulating a list of what I would tell myself back then, my advice began with a stern warning to stay away from any man with a mullet . . . but then again, it was the ’90s—every man had a mullet!
On a more serious note, these are eight principles that would have taken much confusion and heartbreak out of those tumultuous dating years. I hope they help you:

1. Repeat after me: “You are loved.”

I am not kidding. Repeat. After. Me. Out loud, often, with conviction. These are such simple words to say, but they have the most deep and resounding impact on our souls if we would just believe.
God says to his daughters in Jeremiah: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." Until you have tasted God’s eternal, steadfast, redeeming love, hold off on looking for a man. You may just end up settling for a quick love that cannot fill your core heart’s longing. Even if you are not currently being pursued by a man, you are constantly being pursued by Jesus.

2. You are less beautiful than you think and more beautiful than you believe.

Our sin makes us ugly. No amount of makeup, clothing, or confident, flirtatious façade can change that fact. It takes a humble, redeemed woman changed by God to admit the ugliness of her sin and rest in her beauty in Christ. We must repent of our pride, our shame, our obsession with our looks. We must believe and embrace who God made us to be: beautiful in his image.

True beauty emanates from a woman who boldly and unabashedly knows who she is in Christ.

3. Consider what controls you.

Is it fear, loneliness, demand for a man, seeking approval, career, money?
Let the love of Christ control you. Pay attention to what is controlling your heart as you wait for a date, are in a dating relationship, or even into marriage. We settle for lesser gods than the one who died for us and love us unconditionally.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who might live no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

4. Address your daddy issues.

Most of us have them—wounds on our hearts from our earthly fathers and their shortcomings. Whether yours was absent and uninvolved or abusive and abandoning, don’t let him define who you believe your heavenly Father to be. Even if you have a godly and protective father, he is not God.
You are not looking for a dad-duplicate or a dad-replacement in a man. You have a perfect heavenly Father.

Let Scripture reveal to you who God is as Dad and what kind of care he gives his daughters.

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

5. Charm and beauty are not a good dating plan.

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Often, our grand scheme for how to snag a date goes only skin-deep. We put massive pressure on ourselves to pour on the charm and look cute wherever we go, not realizing that a godly man will also be concerned about inner beauty. God certainly is.

"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4

A woman who fears the Lord is one who, despite her desire for a date, fears being far away from God more than she does missing out on a man who is easily fooled by her exterior.

6. Realize you are already submitting—or are you?

Submission is not only for wives. God asks for a submitted heart now, one that trusts in his provision and plan for your life, including dating. Ultimately, dating, and all of life, is about submission—waiting and trusting God and saying as Jesus does, “Not my will but yours be done.”
This does not, however, leave you helpless, hopeless, and hamstrung in the relationship department. A godly woman can express friendly interest in a brother in Christ.

• It is OK to mingle—but don’t manipulate.
• Peruse—but don’t pursue. Let him initiate.
• Take notice of the godly men serving Jesus around you—but never stalk. It’s creepy.
• Cross paths with a man who interests you—but don’t tackle him.

7. Dress to kill . . .

. . . your evil desires and his. We all know what it’s like to be noticed for what we wear. Your desire to draw attention to yourself is vanity. Do not falsely advertise what is not available to anyone but your future husband. Don’t open the door for men to make assumptions about you by what you wear. Help your brothers in Christ by dressing modestly and appropriately (and by all means, neatly, cleanly, and fashionably!) Check your heart for your motives when you dress.

8. Guard your heart.

Guarding one’s heart is still an issue even if no one is overtly vying for it. Watch out for the “might be” snare, as in, "He 'might be' flirting with me and so I’m going to get carried away thinking about every possible place [read: marriage] that could lead."
It is entirely possible to honor God, yourself, and a brother in Christ on a date. Don’t elevate him or the relationship to the place that God alone should hold in your heart. Enjoy, don’t idolize . . . and for goodness sake, relax! A cup of coffee does not necessarily mean a diamond ring is soon to follow.

As a single woman, give your heart fully, wholly, unabashedly, and devotedly to Christ alone.

Be active, vigilant, and careful about how much of your heart you give to a man. Be able to walk away from a dating relationship with your whole heart intact so that your future husband is not robbed of part of it down the road. Prayerfully consider what, when, how much to give away.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

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Happy Birthday, Samantha!

My sis is 19 years old! (:

Find Your Greatness! (:

3rd Grade & the Prophet, Elisha!

It's that time of year again!  Especially this past evening, this August weekend is cool as can be.  Summer is winding down, days are getting shorter, the air is getting crisper, time for school shopping, new shoes and new pencils.  School is around the corner!

I finally received my placement for my internship for the school year.  I will be at Propel McKeesport {learning how to} teach 3rd grade!  So blessed! 

Do you remember what you learned in 3rd grade?  It is an important year!  3rd graders are 8 going on 9 years old.  They learn fractions, area & perimeter, division and multiplication.  They learn state history & geography as well as important holidays and history of the United States.  They develop a greater note-range in vocal music and are capable of playing simple instruments.  3rd graders transition from learning to read into reading to learn.  They still love school, too!  3rd grade is awesome!

My devos were crazy this morning.  Crazy in a great way.  In My Utmost for His Highest, Oz uses the account of Elijah being taken up into heaven by whirlwind.  Much of the focus that I received from this reading is much less about Elijah and more about Elisha--the eyewitness & successor of Elijah as prophet to God's people.

"And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  And Elisha saw it and he cried, 'My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!' And he saw him no more.
Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces." --2 Kings 2:12
This is Elisha's time to shine.  He has been walking with Elijah for so long, learning from him, striving to be in the likeness of him.  Earlier in the chapter several times, Elijah pleads with Elisha, "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me over there."  Yet Elisha consistently responds, "As the Lord lives, and as you live yourself, I will not leave you."  Elisha was fully committed to his role model, Elijah.

Oz says that it's not WRONG to depend on "your Elijah (fill-in-the-blank of who/what that is in your life)" as long as God gives him to you, but remember that the time WILL come when he will have to go.  When he stands no more as your guide & leader, be not disheartened, because God did not intend  that he should.

You say, "I cannot go on without you, {Elijah}."  God says that you must.
Sometimes we are sent to Jordan, where you are sent ALONE, taking on full responsibility that you've never yet had.
Sometimes we are sent to Jericho, where I've seen {my Elijah} do great things.  I would prefer for someone else to do the job, we tell God.  Instead, we need to take the initiative & trust in God.  In this way, God's nearness will be made known.
& Sometimes, we are sent to Bethel, where you are at your WIT'S END, running out of ideas, in desperate circumstances.  This moment at Bethel is the beginning of God's wisdom.  We would prefer to succumb to panic!  Yet if we remain standing true to God, He will bring His truth out in a way that will make life a sacrament and glory for Himself.

I just have this feeling that this year will be amazing! Propel is an inner-city charter school with some great habits toward greatness: Academics, Attitude, Behavior & Pride, No Excuses, Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated, and Teamwork.  I have heard nothing but great things about this district and am looking forward to Monday, helping my mentor teacher, Valerie, set up the classroom and get the room ready for young students!  It's time to GO!  Pray for us (:

{Words from one of my favorite artists, Steve Moakler!}

Be determined in this; trust in the Lord.
If God is truly the God I have faith to believe Him to be, we will succeed.  Do great things alone, dependent only upon God.

She Reads Truth

Want to memorize this verse with us this week?  Do it!

www.shereadstruth.com
(Thanks, Tara!)



This is what I've been learning this morning:
Matthew 5:20 says "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This means we are not called to be righteous just in our living, but in our motives, in our dreams, & in the recesses of our minds.  Sound impossible?  By our own efforts, yes.  But that's what Jesus came here to do.  By the supernatural grace of God, we can achieve this purity of heart.  Wow!

Cabin 1!

Can you be praying for these little gals?  Each and every single one of them are back at camp this summer!!  They were a HANDFUL.  It was the first time at camp (let alone being away from home for two weeks straight) for the first time.  Lots of homesick tears, neglecting veggies on the plate, but lots of joy, prayers to receive Christ in their hearts, and fun.  One of them is especially in need of extra love and the Lord.  I heard that one of them threw up at dinner last night!! :( There's nothing like throw up to make you want your Mom.  Lift up their counselors, Sarah and Holly, as they care for them!

The Bible in Poem.

-Courtesy of Pinterest searching!  I had to share!

God Made.

Adam bit.

Noah arked.

Abraham split.

Joseph ruled.

Jacob fooled.

Bush talked.

Moses balked.

Pharoah plagued.

People walked.

Sea divided.

Tablets guided.

Promise Landed.

Saul freaked.

David peeked.

Prophets warned.

Jesus born.

God walked.

Love talked.

Anger crucified.

Hope died.

Love rose.

Spirit flamed.

Word spread.

God remained.

About Me!

So since I'm revitalizing my Blog because of SheReadsTruth, I thought I'd reintroduce myself via photography!

I'm Nicole (Left)!  This is myself, my (twin) sister, Meg.  We are officially Pitt Grads!!

These are a few of my friends, crammed into my Living Room on my (& Meg's) birthday this year. Climax of my life! My roommates surprised us with a Surprise Potluck with ~50 of our friends to piggy-back off of what my friends call "Living Room Worship" nights. LRW began when a few of us realized we loved The United Pursuit's idea of hosting worship nights in Living Rooms...so we did so as well!! Looking forward to a Retreat with these great friends in a few weeks!! (:

These were the awesome roommates I was referring to above.  Life has taken them ALL to Colorado!! I need to get out there asap, I love them to death!

I studied in Valparaiso, Chile last year. I climbed a volcano.  I love South America, but love where God's calling me currently more-- Pittsburgh!  Love my family, they came to visit!

I love my city, the Burgh, PA!  So much.

This is Summer's Best Two Weeks.  I've spent many summers here.  It is Heaven on Earth!

I'm going to be an elementary teacher, because of these little guys!

I love my church.  Seriously.  North Way Christian Community.

& God is just so good.  So wildly good!
Thanks for stopping in!

{She Reads Truth}

I'm back! Dusting off the cobwebs of my Blog from my summer break.  Because...I recently stumbled upon this awesome idea!  Join myself and fellow women in reading Truth together!  The idea is that we read the same study together and write about what God's teaching us.  Right now we're in the middle of Prayer from the youversion.com app-- Instagram it, Journal it, Tweet it, whatever!  You seriously have to join us!

GO! www.shereadstruth.com

Moving-Out & Built-Up

                My family is in the process of moving!  My parents just sold my childhood home of ~20 years a few months back and are planning to rebuild on some farmland in our neighborhood.  It has been exciting to see them dream and plan!  Our house sold in roughly 48 hours of being on the market!!  Wowza.  Needless to say, we just settled in to a townhome which is “home” until the house is built in the fall.  It’s been a fun and rejuvenating process to go through my old bedroom and throw out just the weirdest junk that I’ve collected over my childhood!

                It was bittersweet saying “Good-Bye” to 206 Delano.  After moving out the furniture, my Dad & I drove over to the house for one last look before turning in the keys.  It was so eery seeing our rooms empty; they were the same rooms but felt disproportionate.   So may memories struck me with every room as I walked through them one last time—so emotional!!  Our family did so much life—the ups & downs, defeats & victories--in those walls!

This morning is Day 6 of Soul Detox & the 30-Day Challenge!  Today’s Scripture was in Hebrews 3:6—“but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.  & we are His house if indeed we hold fast our confidence & our boasting in our hope.”

Remembering that God is the builder of all things, including our lives, is such a powerful thing.  Christ is committed to our lives as if he were a son watching over a house built by His Father.  Earlier in the passage, Christ’s greatness trumps Moses’ greatness, because Moses’ role was a servant to the house.  If we are to hold fast our confidence & boast in our hope (in Christ), Jesus is faithful to our lives.  He is more than a servant, here to serve our needs.  A servant dusts & cleans, cooks, & keeps a house maintained and well-kept.  As a servant, Moses’ role to the house of God was to testify to the things that were to be spoken later. 

But Christ is a son of the house.  He has inheritance, investment, & plans.  He first takes ownership over every piece of furniture and every room of the house, declaring all “Mine”.  He invests in His house, spends quality time in His house, & truly enjoys His house.  Finally, he has big plans for His house.  Plans to renovate old & broken parts of the house; plans to do some serious gutting of useless plumbing & pipes; plans to expand His house, to add on more rooms filled with practical things & things to delight in.

Jesus is so faithful!

Revving Up for Summer!

Summer is here!  I can't wait to get ready for two new studies that my Small Group & I are embarking on together.  We start June 1st, and I'll be trying to keep this blog current throughout the projects.  Please join us!
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1. Soul-Detox (5-weeks)
This plan has wrecked all my friends who have gone through it (in the best way).  Here is an excerpt about it:

"We are not a body with a soul.  We are a soul with a body.  While the world rightly teaches us to detox our bodies, sometimes we need to detox our soul.  This 35-day plan will help you identify what's chipping away at your soul, & what's getting in the way of you becoming the person who God created you to be.  You will learn from God's Word how you can neutralize these damaging influences & embrace clean living for your soul."

You can find this plan on youversion.com, provided by LifeChurch.tv.
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2. 30-Day Challenge:
This Challenge is owned by one of my awesome High School gals, Rach!  It embodies several components:

1. Physical
-Either Hike or a Brisk Block Walk, Jog, Swim, Cycle, or Trampolining!
-Avoid all caffeinated drinks for 5 days out of every week for 30 days
-Drink 6-8-oz cups of water every day
-Eat 1 veggie & 1 fruit a day

2. Emotional
-Blog 2+ times a week about the experience!
-Do an extra chore 3x a week
-Call someone you haven't talked to in a while in the next 30 days
-Get up at sunrise, pray & do devos 2x in the next 30 days
-Send a friend or family member a letter via snail mail
-Treat yourself to something you love to do but rarely have time for
-Prepare a meal for your housemates 4x in the next 30 days
-Write 4 letters to a pastor or missionary

3. Mental
-Choose 3 to read or listen to:
Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, Ishban Conspiracy by Randy Alcorn, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges, Ragamuffin Gospel, Knowing God by J.I Packer, Guys are Waffles Girls are Spaghetti, Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed by a Radical Love.
-Choose two of the following: Go a week without TV, Go a week without computer, Listen to only Christian music for a week, Go a week without social media, Have a family/housemates-game night old fashioned style (Board Games galore!)

4. Spiritual
Memorize the following:
-Isaiah 26:4, Deut. 6:5, Micah 6:8, Psalm 46:1-3, Galatians 6:14, James 1:19-20, 1John 5:14, & 1Corinthians 13:4-7
-Read a Proverb a day & 2 on Day 30
-Prayer journal every day
-Start 30 Ways in 30 Days Bible reading on youversion
-Live out your faith by volunteering to help someone in need
-Share your faith

5. Financial
-Treat someone to icecream or another treat
-Tithe 10% talent or income
-Give something away that is in good shape but you no longer have need for
-Memorize Matthew 6:19-21
-Tithe your talents 3x in the next 30 days
-Host a car wash to raise money for a desired cause
-Join an event already available to raise money for a cause.

Disclaimers (:
-Reciting Scripture can be to others or aloud by yourself
-Must be done in 30 Consecutive Days
-Chocolate does not count as caffeine!

Indelible Grace

Indelible (in-del-i-ble) adj:

• making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or the like;
• that cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like.

Grace (grace) n:

• a gift freely given; undeserved.

Indelible Grace (in-del-i-ble//grace) adj & n:

• Grace that be neither erased nor removed, not eliminated, forgotten, nor changed.

Gracious Uncertainty: Graduation!

I read this passage from Oz's Utmost for His Highest on the morning of April 29th, the day of Graduation from Pitt!  It is wildly relevant!

Pictured above is myself, Samantha, & Meg on the Union Lawn in front of the Cathedral of Learning--couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

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The Graciousness of Uncertainty
 "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." -1John 3:2

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says--"Well, supposing I were in that condition..." We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.

Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately, we abandon to God, and do the dute that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said, "Except ye...become as little children." Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.

"Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not--"Believe certain things about Me." Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.
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PTL!

Falk School!

Check out this wonderful school that I had the opportunity to visit and interview this morning! (:
http://www.falkschool.pitt.edu/

Trusting the Lord!

10 Truths in Trusting the Lord!

1. He knows my name.
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." -Isaiah 43:1

2. He sees my every move.
"Where shall I go from your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence?" -Psalm 139:7

3. He is with me."Have I not commanded you?  Be strong & courageous.  Do not be frightened, & do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

4. He will fight for me."The Lord will fight for me; you need only to be silent." -Exodus 14:14

5. He made me in His own image.
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them; male & female." -Genesis 1:27

6. He is my safe place.
"He only is my rock & my salvation; my fortress I shall not be shaken; on God rests my salvation & my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Trust in Him at all times, oh you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." -Psalm 62:6-8

7. He has a plan for me.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, plans to give you a future & hope'". -Jeremiah 29:11

8. He is GOOD!
"You are good & do good; teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:68

9. He is FREEDOM!
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, & where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." -2 Corinthians 3:17

10. He is ALWAYS with me.
"'& surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:20

22 Reasons to Celebrate!

This is a list of 22 Reasons to give God glory in what He has done in the past year of my life-- the best one yet!  Thank you to all of you who were a part of my life in the past year!  In no particular order...
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1.  Learned to love community & worship with brothers & sisters in Christ on Living Room Worship nights.

2.  Heard a calling to ministry through Hillsong’s “Awake My Soul”, with the sunrise on the Atacama Desert, Chile.—Danika Foster & Ruthy Lopez

3.  Head-coached the Romans, sailed around the Que, jumped off the Screamer, among other awesome things at Summer’s Best Two Weeks, Heaven on Earth.—Meggy Carey, Rachel Montavon, Sarah Asher, Bradon Carey, Rachey Prong, Keely Reichel, Ash Han, Metz, Dev, Grace, TB, Mama T, & Jeunnette

4.  Launched a church in the East End of Pittsburgh.—Freedom Blackwell, Bryan McCabe, Luke Zappa, Christina Shaffer, Corrie Passavant, Dana Hunter, Sherman Leeper, Luke Cypher, Sandy Weiss, & Doug Melder

5.  Taught orphans at a Chilean Girls’ Home about Jesus!—Ariana Cook

6.  Woke up with the Sun with my roomies to pray together, play guitar, & train for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.—Bethie, Holls, Kate, & Meg!

7.  Lost my wallet in Argentina & had to trust the Lord for provision until my family arrived in Chile.—Amy & Becca Miller, Chris Swift, Danika Foster, Mom, Dad, Megs, & Samantha!

8.  Celebrated with my parents in selling my childhood home of 206 Delano after less than 24 hours of being on the market!—Mom, Dad, Meggy, & Samantha!

9.  Led a white-water rafting trip with Legend high-school Seniors down the Youghigheny River.—Ashton Songer, Rachey Prong, & Sarah Asher

10.              Was able to pick up where we always leave off!—Alicia Timmins, Sarah Nitchkey, Rachel Tobias, Emilie Liadis, Alina Meden, Kimmy Palmer, Jenna Fallert, & Morgan Byrne

11.              Hung out with my LAMP mentee, Emary.

12.              Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh to pursue the MAT Elementary Ed program at Pitt.

13.              Battled homesickness and celebrated with angels in heaven about little ones receiving Christ into their hearts in the youngest Cabin 1.—Sarah Bowman, Metz, J-Utz!

14.              Became a member of Fresh Fruit more widely known as SWAG for Blitz/Extreme East End—Snoop Strawb, Wakka-Flaka Watermelon, Apple in the APL, & LeGrape!—Chelsea Henderson, Alec Hawley, Jordan Ferrero & the awesome Student Ministry Leaders of the East End!

15.              Saw some awesome live music!  Needtobreathe, Good Old War, Steve Moakler, Anthony Mossburg, Ben Rector, JUBILEE with Cornerstone, North Way (in general…), William Fitzsimmons, Living Room Worship

16.              Led a Bible Study for the first time!—Trishelle Duke, Virginia Lee, Hannah Baker, Abby Fair, Chelsea Davis, Lauren Dodds!

17.              Launched an inner-city Student Ministry for kids of the East End with a bunch of my friends & church family!

18.              Found beloved Pittsburgh community with new & forever brothers & sisters in Christ!—Luke Zappa, Kate Blumberg, Anne Neuhaus, Stefan Brooks, Ellie Wiesel, Jeff DeWalt, Jake Shure, Jaden Studeny, Britt Behr, Hannah Bashor, Kayla Hess, Malissa Seman, Brittany & Tiffany Dawson, Brittany Brock, Dylan Smith, Steph Mangold, Justin Cooper, Swaney, Scotty Moore, Rheena Ware, Jon Luchansky, Meg Magee, Andy Armstrong, Dylan & Justine, Dan Andrews, Luke Cypher, Sarah Musial, Price Kinney, Cookie & Cory Miller, Chelsea Henderson, Jordan Ferrero, Kristen McMullan, Brendan Cavanaugh, Kent Poole, Jon Jorgenson, Amanda Adametz, Meggy Carey, Bethanie Donovan, Kate Jacobs, Holly Asher

19.              Coffee dates with some beautiful mentors in Christ!—Sandy Weiss, Dana Hunter, Kassi Hemerka, Corrie Passavant, Katie Smith, Ellen Johnston!

20.              Had the opportunity to invest in some awesome youth!—Maddy, Rach & Jake, Sophia, Ariyonia, the Blackwells, Scotty, Laurelville with Wexford, Summer’s Best!

21.              Saw the best & worst, tears of joy & tears of pain, strength & godliness in my housemates of 354 Atwood—Beth, Hollys, Megs, & Cool-Girl Kate.

22.              Fell in love with the city!—Pitsburgh, Somerset, & Valparaíso!

"Joy is the echo of God's life in us." -Ionus

Ascend the Hill

This excellent band, Ascend the Hill, released their newest album, "O Ransomed Son", a few days ago!  They believe "that the gifts, talents, energy, resources, & songs entrusted to them, serve a purpose that bears far more eternal significance than the temporary,  fleeting joys of record sales & sold-out shows."  Aka you can download this beautiful work free of charge at their website!

www.ascendthehill.com

Happy Listening!

The Book of Judges, Community, & LRW

I found myself in the Book of Judges this morning.  Not gonna lie, every time I'm in the historical part of Scripture, I sometimes read it to just get through it.  There are heritage lines, battles, and a bunch of kings that fail, turn away from God, turn to idols, and pay for their sins.  It sometimes makes for a dense, intense, heavy read!

This morning, however, God wanted to teach me using such richness in history!  In Chapter 18, entitled, "Danites Take the Levite & the Idol", this story is about the religious corruption of a tribe, where a band of treacherous men from the tribe of Dan decide to ambush the country of Laish.  This is what happens:

"But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, & the priest who belonged to him, & they came to Laish, to a people quiet & unsuspecting, & struck them with the edge of the sword & burned the city with fire.  & there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, & they had no dealings with anyone." It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob.  Then they rebuilt the city & lived in it. -Judges 18:27-28

Three things jumped out at me as I read:
1. The ambushed city of Laish were a people quiet & unsuspecting.
2. They had no deliverer because it was far.
3. They had no dealings with anyone.

These three things were their downfall.  It sounds like they were just carrying on everyday life in their normal routines.  They lived in a land spacious, "a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth" (v. 10).  They were comfortable, pursuing their own wealth, with their guard down.  They secluded themselves, shut themselves far away from others, neglecting trade & relations with anyone else.

Community is so important!  Without it, we'll be ambushed.  We are created to have fellowship with each other, it's an innate need.  We are to firstly have fellowship with our Maker, and secondly, fellowship with brothers & sisters.  WE NEED IT.  I need it.  I've had to break the yoke of pride I've been carrying to admit that, because I believed that through my own independent strength I could do everything on my own, without God and without others.  But, I need it.

"& let us consider how to stir up one another to love & good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, & all the more as you see the Day drawing near." -Heb 10:24 (ESV)

So, Living Room Worship.  It's a gathering of friends that meet in a Living Room, where we praise God all night with music, the Word, prayer for each other, and a collective act, like washing feet, breaking fasts, & encouraging each other.  It basically started with a bunch of us recognizing our need to be meeting together and building each other up.  There's one this Friday.  Please join.  You need it.  We would LOVE to have you.

& Strive:
1. To be ready!
2. To be near to God & others
3. To invest in time and space for God & others

Taking Heart

Waiting for Tomorrow,

Morning is Coming!

We had the opportunity to sing these words, yesterday, at North Way's Good Friday services.

Below is a moment captured by our Production Director, Jonathan Cooper.

See you at one of our services on Sunday morning!



The Founder of Salvation

We have the opportunity to remember what Jesus conquered on the hill of Calvary many years ago that remains and presides today.  He stretched his arms out upon the cross and conquered death for us!  I have heard, year after year, the greatest story ever told.  I was reminded, yesterday, of how necessary it is to ever and always be in awe of the cross, no matter how many times I've heard the Story.  Myself, my pastor, and a few others climbed up on the rooftop of our church, in the heart of the city, under the hot Sun, to pray for this holy weekend of celebration and also for our city. 

Pittsburgh, particularly, the University of Pittsburgh, has been under attack with lots of bomb threats in university classrooms and dorms.  As I sat down for a 10am Recitation in the Cathedral of Learning yesterday, a bell resounded the halls, indicating yet another threat had been received to the building (#23 to be exact).  I looked around at the other students as we walked down the steps and out the doors.  Frustration and fear were in the eyes and conversations as we all exited.  My class resumed our discussion on the lawn of Schenley Plaza, yet my peers and I couldn't help but look up anxiously as sirens rang and groups of people passed near our gathering of chairs.

There was definitely temptation to give in to fear at these times.  But we have already gained victory under the providence of the cross.  Death has been defeated by love!

This morning was a wonderful gathering in Homewood called Prayer for Peace, where community members walked side by side on the streets of Homewood in prayer and unity.  Many violences and insurrections have crossed the very streets we tread upon.  As we finished our walk, Franchise reminded the walkers, that Homewood is the city of God.  Under Him, all things are reconciled.

Hebrews 2 reminds us Who has already saved us.  Speaking about Jesus,
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.  But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (v. 8-9).

Because of the work finished by Christ, we can remain fearless in any circumstance.  He's got us.  We just need to claim what he is already offering us.  Saved from fear; founded by the Savior Himself.  Happy Good Friday!

#3: Warby Parker

"Eyewear with a Purpose"

Here is Warby Parker's Story!

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We believe that everyone has the right to see. Unfortunately, millions of people around the world today don’t have access to proper vision care. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with renowned non-profits, such as VisionSpring.org, to deliver one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that we sell. In doing so, we enable you to share the gift of vision with someone who can’t see today and give them the opportunity to read, to work and to live a fuller life.

-----

Shameless plug, my sister, Meg, and my sweet friend, Kate both have Warby's!

"When you buy a pair, you give a pair!"

Visit their site at www.warbyparker.com
*Note: This non-profit is Hipster-Friendly! (:



#2: North Way East End Christian Community!

My beautiful church family!
Take a look at this link! (:
http://vimeo.com/37117607

Non-Profits That I Love! #1: Sseko Sandals

Over the next couple of posts, I will be posting some of my favorite non-profits out there!

Number 1: May I present Sseko Sandals! 
My sister, Meg, had the opportunity to visit this great organization during her travels to Kampala, Uganda!

Here is their story!
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If you happen to find yourself in Kampala, Uganda, make your way to the Old Taxi Park. From there, grab a taxi van to Matuga. Jump off at the end of the line, and hop on a boda boda to the Cornerstone Leadership Academy. After a (bumpy) ride along a dirt road, you will find yourself in the company of some of the most intelligent and committed young women in Uganda.
These women are graduates of the Cornerstone Leadership Academy and employees of Sseko Designs.


Sseko \say-ko\ Designs was created to help these bright young women continue their education. The Ugandan school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.

Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for this nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war.

Sseko Designs is a not-just-for-profit enterprise that recognizes the power of business and responsible consumerism to support sustainable economic development, which in turn affects a country's educational, justice, and health care systems. The goal of Sseko Designs is two-fold: provide university tuition for these promising young women through a sustainable monthly income, while also contributing to the overall economic development of Uganda.

Although consumerism makes many empty promises, responsible and proactive consumerism has the ability to change lives. Like the lives of Mercy, Mary and Rebbecca.

Every sandal has a story. This story has only just begun, but with your help, it will be a story of hope, success and change.
-----

These sandals are so neat!  They are simply made of a rubber and leather bottom with your choice of colored fabric that you can create into numerous styles.
Visit their website here!
http://www.ssekodesigns.com/

Sparing Bagels

Yesterday morning started off like any other morning. I woke up early, devos, went running, got ready for class. The Sun was extra bright, life's pretty good at this point! Ran into my friend, Steph Mangold, who told me they evacuated the whole Cathedral of Learning (for the 4th time this week), so classes were cancelled for the morning!! To celebrate, I decided to grab a Chocolate-Chip Bagel with Hazelnut Cream Cheese from Panera Bread (I'm such a girl!). As I was walking home, thinking about the endless possibilities of spending my morning (reading the Word, eating my awesome bagel out in the Sun on my roof), I also asked God to open my eyes and ears to what He wanted me to see and hear, out of the whims of excitement from my free morning. As I rounded the corner on Atwood, the homeless man that sits by the mailbox almost every day, caught my attention. He has a long, gray beard, and sits at the corner wrapped in old blankets and a sleeping bag, rain or shine, whether it's 80 degrees like today or 8 degrees. He never heckles or make eye contact. His presence there, though, screams that is in need and helpless. "Give him your bagel", I hear deep inside me, the Spirit prompts me. It took me a while for this message to even come to my conscience out of my morning plans. I wish I could have ended this story in victory, to tell you that I knelt down beside him--regardless of whether I think if he is REALLY in need, whether he can find help and food elsewhere, whether he's just too lazy or not to get a job, or whether I support Obama-care or not--I wish I could to tell you that I gave him my bagel with a smile on my face, ask him if I could pray for him, and share the Gospel with him if he's never known Jesus.

But I didn't. I kept walking. I clenched my bagel bag tightly and walked home, up to my roof, and ate it in the Sun.

This makes me flashback to something I had the opportunity to witness in Valparaiso, Chile. Pontificial Catolica, the university I attended, is in the heart of the city. Naturally, there are a lot of homeless people in the city, just like in any city, even our city. The homeless in Valpo are even more marginalized and visible there. They often suffer physically or mentally, with missing teeth, dirty faces, dirty clothes, and missing limbs. Okay--maybe they are pretty similar. I try to keep loose dollars on me to give to people freely. If they are at a point in their life where they are on the streets, begging, they must be in need. I would try and practice this while in Chile as well, having loose change on me to bless another.

There was one day that will always resonate with me. As I was waiting to catch a bus home from class, I saw a guy, my age, knelt down and eye-level in front of a homeless man that I would pass practically every day to and from class. The homeless man was sitting up, engaged, listening intently to this guy with a smile on his face. The guy my age had a Bible propped on his knee, gesturing excitedly to the homeless man, clearly sharing the Good News. This homeless man wasn't receiving money or food from the world, but Everlasting Life!

It's so evident in Scripture how Jesus feels about our attitudes toward the poor.  He tells the rich young man, in love, that he lacked one thing: "go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." -Mark 10:21 (ESV)  This isn't a suggestion or room for opinion--it's a command.

Seeing this guy really challenged me. The Lord gave the opportunity to present the Gospel to a girls' orphanage there through a VBS involving the salvation bracelets with different-colored beads to represent each part of the Story. I loved every second of it, but I also realized that I was in my comfort zone. Here was a guy, probably a few blocks from his own university, by his friends and peers, knelt before the lowest of us (who, when we stand before God, will be before us), in his hometown, by his home school, and near his home friends. Such guts!!

Praying for greater boldness in my own city of Pittsburgh. Challenged, without condemnation, but definitely challenged!

Currently Reading...

Reclaiming our Prodigal Sons & Daughters: A Practical Approach for Connecting with Youth in Conflict.  By Scott Larson & Larry Brendtro who dedicated their book "to the children we have parented & to the children we have re-parented".

My Pastor gave me this book to read, and said that it is one of the best books he's read on working with today's youth.  Wow!  I'm so pumped to get reading!
Thanks, Pastor B!

Wholeheartedness

Two things that I've read about recently: the endemic contagiaty of the Lukewarm versus Wholeheartedness.  For me, I've recently wrestled through a lot of living wholeheartedly in the present, and instead, looking to the future, too far.  Certainly, there is a time & place for planning in order to see a good work carried out, but it also must not rob the beauty of the present.  "Cancer is a bad day", a man by the name of Bob Goff once said.  It's almost scary at how quickly little naggings can rob the presence of grace in living in the moment, a walk which I think Jesus meant, in part, when he said that his yoke is easy & his burden is light.  Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed?  The taste in your mouth is extra bitter, & you're just hit with a ton of life-bricks.  I once heard a devotional led by one of my mentors & camp director, Scott Steltzer.  He taught me how to do "Heart Checks" in the morning, where you confront & call out the little torpedoes, waiting to destroy your day, in writing them down and casting them down.  They have no place in my day.  Oftentimes, my heart checks are met with Scripture in my morning devotionals specifically & directly.  To live & rest easy, knowing that the Lord knows the BEST ways for me, can shape life out of lukewarm complacancy or unwarranted worry.  He renews us day by day!

But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me,
I will come forth as gold.
-Job 23:10 (NIV)

The Glory of Sabbath

I loved every second of my Spring Break last week.  I realized how important rest coupled, not simply with doing things that I enjoy, like shopping and watching movies and getting icecream, but also the need and delight in spending time with God.  I'll be taking a Sabbath from Blog-Writing for a week.  Can't wait to share with you when I get back!
Peace.

A Poem by Amy Carmichael

When stormy winds against us break
Establiksh & reinforce our will;
O hear us for Thine own name's sake;
Hold us in strength & hold us still.

Still as the faithful mountains stand
Through the long silent years of stress,
So would we wait at Thy right hand,
In quietness & steadfastness.

But not of us this strength, O Lord,
& not of us this constancy;
Our trust is Thine eternal Word,
Thy presence our security.

You Can Heal My Heart



"You Can Heal My Heart" by Kassi Hemerka!

You can buy my sweet mentor & friend's beautiful album on iTunes for $9.90!

She has the voice of an angel who blesses so many through leading worship at North Way's Oakland campus! Go K! (:

Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats

I love oatmeal.  I eat it for breakfast practically every day.  This healthy snack will stick to your bones and keep you fueled up for a long day!  Labor, especially in the Lord, can be hard without the proper equipping, both physically and spiritually.  But take heart at this verse God showed me today:

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. -1Corinthians 15:58

These words are sweeter than any baked good out there. (:  Be encouraged by how near God is with you in your work for Him!

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. -Hebrews 10:36

Ingredients you will need:

½ cup rolled oats (not quick cooking)

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

2/3 cup milk

1 tablespoon chia seeds

2 to 2 ½ tablespoons strawberry jam

1 small banana, mashed

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl or jar, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and allow the mixture to sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, stir in the mix-ins of your choosing.

I found this recipe at www.pepperlynn.com Her recipes are fabulous! Check them out for sure.

Thinking of Tanzania

About one year ago today, my sister, Meg, spent 6 months in Arusha, Tanzania!  To celebrate all that the Lord did in and through her, here's a link to her Arusha blog.  She has such a gift of words and wisdom, and God's hand was upon her words and experiences!  Praise God.

http://megancarey.tumblr.com/

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip!

Here's a healthy & yummy recipe I found on "Chef-In-Training's" Blog.  Just call me Elvis Presley!  He loved bananas and peanut butter or something. (:
www.chef-in-training.com

Enjoy!

PEANUT BUTTER FRUIT DIP

• 2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 1 (3.4 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup sugar

Whisk milk, sour cream & pudding mix together until smooth. Next stir peanut butter & sugar into the pudding mixture & mix until well blended. Serve with sliced apples, bananas, strawberries or whatever fruit you choose!

To Be Restored!

          Have you ever read the last sentence of a good book?  If you’ve ever “spoiled the ending” for yourself, to find out that the protagonist survives in heroic ways, aren’t you relieved?  I’ve never read the last sentence and not wanted to read the whole book; it’s so exciting to see how the journey peaks and falls and unfolds.  It helps me get through the tough pages of hardship knowing the ending.  Friends—we know the ending.  We are living in the greatest love story that Earth’s ever seen!  Jesus is coming back—to restore the brokenness of this world. 

The Future Glory of Israel (Isaiah 60:19-22)
“The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
& your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
& your days of mourning shall be ended.
Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
The least one shall become a clan,
& the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the LORD;
in its time I will hasten it.”

Yet Redeemed!

        2Peter 1, We are PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (v 4).  We were saved, we are being saved, & we will be saved because of Christ’s cross!  Because of this, we are to make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, & virtue with knowledge, & knowledge with self-control, & self-control with steadfastness, & steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, & brotherly affection with love (v. 5-7).  Whew!  What a daunting list.  But The Lord refines us & continues His good work within us to build upon the last, from the inside-out.  I love thinking about the progression of this list, how the last one—love can’t really be done completely until qualities like godliness and self-control have been added to your faith.  Mother Theresa spoke about doing small things with great love!

        From Redemption, God now walks with us & is ALWAYS at our side!  In His Great Commission, Jesus assured us, after claiming all authority in heaven & on earth that surely He will be with us ALWAYS, to the end of the age.  Like Abraham who had to take off his sandals in the presence of God, we know that where God is, the ground is holy.  From this, Jesus says, “NOW, GO!”  And we go, right?!  Or do excuses start, like Abraham?  Excuses, like “I’m not good enough; send someone else.  I’m not sure I trust You, that I don’t have enough credibility, eloquence, or talent.”  I know I need some major work here for sure.

        Here’s God’s response to Jacob in his dream: “Behold, I am with you; & will keep you wherever you go, & will bring you back to this land.  For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep & said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, & I did not know it.” –Genesis 28:16-17 (ESV) 

YOU walk on holy ground!  Let’s go & live in this reality with great love!

Fallen,

Sin ruined the Earth’s Shalom.  Shalom is harmony with ourselves and God, harmony with ourselves and other people, harmony with ourselves and the environment, and harmony in our own selves.  It’s been wrecked by sin.  CS Lewis once wrote that God is in charge of all that is music while the enemy rules over noise.  Life is so noisy and often far from harmonic.  I think about first moving to Pittsburgh after spending a summer in the quiet Laurel Mountains.  Of course, not having air-conditioning warranted me to keep my windows wide open at night (hard to imagine this as I sit writing this in 28-degree February air!).  I just remember finding myself unable to sleep well for the first several nights because of the city NOISE.  But I’d just get used to it after a while, to the extent that the 700am school bus that blares its horn for the kids across the street, I rarely notice.  We are so used to the noise of sin!  But the truth is that we ALL have depraved hearts because of the sin in and around us.  It’s what has wrecked the Shalom God intended for our hearts, for our environment, for others, and for our relationship with Him.  Let’s make no peace with our sin, a part of reality in our fallenness.  We weren’t created to have the capacity to fight in our own strength—we need God’s strength and the community and fellowship of others to fight the powers of darkness, a fight which is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:10-20).  We are both able and called to fight in community!

“The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is. Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of man. And so it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this. In the presence of a psychiatrist I can only be a sick man; in the presence of a Christian brother I can dare to be a sinner. The psychiatrist must first search my heart and yet he never plumbs its ultimate depth. The Christian brother knows when I come to him: here is a sinner like myself, a godless man who wants to confess and yearns for God’s forgiveness. The psychiatrist views me as if there were no God. The brother views me as I am before the judging and merciful God in the Cross of Jesus Christ.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

                We are fallen, yet redeemed.  We have so much to rest in (but more on that tomorrow), in each other and in Christ.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, & is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” –Hebrews 12: 1-2 (ESV).  Take that and run with it!