What Does God think about you?

Yesterday in my Spiritual Formation class (which is amazing, by the way) Dr. Curtis asked us to journal about this question:

When God is looking down on you what do you think He is thinking about you and your life?

Here is what I wrote (and then I'll describe what I was thinking about when I wrote it):


As much as I forget this fact, the first thought that came to my mind was that great and overwhelming sense of love and joy God must have in looking at my life. I hesitate to say or even think that because I know very well all of my many faults, sins, and failures. I also know that God can see the the depths of my disparity and all of those shortcomings better than I ever could. Though, when I think about my life from God's perspective I can only step into the memories I have had over seeing the joy and development in the life of others. It brings me joy to see the process and growth in the life of others and God must have a similar feeling about my life especially as part of His creation.



I was thinking about this story Dr. Curtis told us about his morning walks with his dog Abelard (which if you know about obscure theologians is a funny and yet fitting name for the dog for a professor in the religion department). Dr. Curtis loves those walks, you can tell by the way he calmly repeats while gazing into the distance "Its a wonderful way. No! Its the the best way to start the morning".

He told us about the golf course about half a mile from his house and then he would let Abelard off the leash to run around. Then how Abelard would chase two tennis balls (because he wouldn't let go of one until he saw the other), which was more fun, amusing, and just plain joyful for both Abelard and for Dr. Curtis. There was plenty of fun to be had for Abelard and Dr. Curtis seemed to enjoy that time because he was able to observe his dog play and enjoy/soak up what his life, as a dog, had to offer him. Everything from chasing squires to playing with other dogs to scoping out coyotes was part of what brought Abelard to life, and part of why Dr. Curtis enjoyed the morning... because he got to see his dog live and develop and enjoy merely living.

He didn't say it, but I think Dr. Curtis meant for us to connect this idea to how we think of God and how we relate that to how God thinks about us. He said that it is important how we view ourselves because that influences how we view how God sees us and how we view God.

God is forever gifting us with the Grace of His presence. Grace, as Dr. Curtis put it, is the air we breath.


After all of this, I'll ask you to think about that same question: What does God think about you? Truly reflect on that, and feel free to comment what you came up with! I would LOVE to see what anyone else has to say! :)

I need to read more Kipling.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Spring semester is on the horizon!

I am really excited for what I am going to learn in my classes this semester. I have four religion classes (for I am a Christian Ethics major!) and I also have one psychology class (for my psych minor). The Psychology class is one that I am NOT looking forward to: Biological Psychology. Bless my professor, who (I've had for a class once before) has perhaps the most dry personality I have ever encountered, though, he is a very sweet man and genuinely cares about the students. Not to mention, although it is fascinating and important... I'm just not as passionate on the subject of neurotransmitters.


As far as religion classes I am taking:

-Christian Ethics
-Spiritual Formation
-Martyrs, Mystics, and Saints
-Jesus and the Gospel in film (8 week night class, whoo?)


I am especially excited for the first three! My books for those three have started coming in and I've even started reading them, believe it or not!
This one that I've started is for Martyrs, Mystics, and Saints!


I had the same professor for M,M, and S in a class last semester and I really learned a lot from her, so I am excited to have a 3 credit class with her and to hear more of what she has to say. Part of what I love about the religion department is not that I agree with everyone 100% (because I don't), but I love the respectful atmosphere. There is so much to learn from in seeing the other perspectives that my peers and professors have, and to look at where they are coming from in their approach to each subject. It is glorious. Truly. :) There is something so unique and powerful about looking at things from other perspectives, especially in the realm of Christianity. I love to see where God has met other people and how they respond to His loving presence.

Sorry this might be a really boring blog post! Haha. I'll try to have something more interesting to read next time! :)

Hiding Place

I love the Redemption Songs album by Jars of Clay. I love this song and can relate to it very much so I thought I would share! :)


Hiding Place



Amidst the sorrows of the way
Lord Jesus, teach my soul to pray
Let me taste Thy special grace
And run to Christ, my hiding place

You know the vileness of my heart
So prone to act the rebel's part
And when You veil Your lovely face
How can I find a hiding place

Hiding place, hiding place

Lord, guide my wandering feet
Draw me to Thy mercy seat
I've nought to trust but sovereign grace
Thou only art my hiding place

How unstable is my heart
Sometimes I take the tempter's part
And slight the tokens of Thy grace
And seem to want no hiding place

Hiding place, hiding place

But when Thy spirit shines within
Makes me feel the plague of sin
And how I long to see Thy face
'Tis then I want a hiding place

Lord Jesus, shine and then I can
Feel sweetness in salvation's plan
And as a sinner plead for grace
Christ, the sinner's hiding place
And as a sinner plead for grace
Christ, the sinner's hiding place

New Blog New year! :)

I wanted a more.. well public blog I guess. One to document of my life better.

Its a new year... and a new decade at that I have several "resolutions" in mind since I'm all for the movement and progress of life and the development of learning the things of life, so the idea of resolutions sounds good.

Here they are:

-Be more transparent.
- Figure out what I need/want in life and be a bit more upfront with others and myself.
- Continue to work hard, and yet retain joy and passion for life/work/school/people and relationships.
- Actually use this blog and update it on at least a semi-regular basis! (Keep me accountable, and we'll see how it goes!)
- Go to more shows!!
- Find a good balance for all of the seemingly contradictory aspects of life (AKA, hard work vs. rest, altruism vs. standing up for myself, and many, many more things). As Martin Luther says "But if these contradictions could work together... how perfect and beautiful it would be".
- Have fun and to see/experience MANY beautiful and interesting things!
- Definitely a closer relationship with God... I love to study theology more than anything, but I need to pray and actually talk to God more. Its the most important thing to me and I never want to neglect that.
- Find a time that will work and commit to a bible study/ small group!!
- Meet new people/ friends and to reconnect with old friends, which I hope will open my eyes and broaden my world.
- To broaden my world in general.
- Grow in love for life, God, people, and well... just everything. :)

This could probably be a longer list if I thought about it more or if I got into more detail, but I figure that these cover the basics and its more than long enough for anyone to read!

I pray that this year will bring a lot of growth, new understanding, optimistically bright eyes, and joy.

Stand back... Off for a new adventure! :)




P.S. Thank you for reading! Bless you in this new year, for you are loved and beautiful!