Random Happenings...

Wow! Its been a long time since I've posted anything. Sorry to those of you who faithfully follow my blog and read my stories. The lapse in entries is due partially to my own lack of discipline and laziness but also in part to the fact that my internet access was extremely limited for the last few weeks and I haven't been able to get online much.  So in an attempt to try to catch you up on my life in the last 3 weeks (which is almost impossible), here is a list of some of the random happenings in my life lately.

1) Spent a couple days exploring the beautiful country of Scotland with all its historical buildings, beautiful lochs, glens, forests, hills,  and castles that made me feel like I had stepped back in time.

2) Worked in the cafe onboard

3) Celebrated my 26th birthday and felt very blessed with the many friends that God has given me on this ship that helped make my day special.

4) Celebrated Easter Sunday with a sunrise service out on deck 9 followed by an amazing brunch with all of ships company.  Was a great time to reflect and remember the sacrifice God made in sending His Son to die in our place so that we can live with Him by faith because of His grace.

5) Spent more time working in the cafe

6) Set sail for the Faroe Islands and tried to enjoy the couple days of relaxation despite the uncomfortableness that sailing seems to bring me.

7) Spent 16 hours with some locals being taken all over the islands.  Saw some historical sights, beautiful scenery, had a picnic lunch, climbed along waterfalls, saw lots of sheep, had a successful whale hunt, went bowling,  climbed rocks and hills,  jumped on a jumping pillow, and had an amazing dinner and time of fellowship with a Faroese family.

8)Work, work, and more work.

9) Tried whale meat for the first time.  Wouldn't really recommend it but at least I can say I've tried it.  My trip to the Faroe's would not be complete without trying whale :)

10) Going out tonight to a women's gathering with 3 other girls from the ship and we'll be sharing some testimonies, ship stories, doing some special music (done by me), and just enjoying a time of fellowship and encouragement.

And there you have it.  A brief summary of my last 3 weeks.  For whatever reason, the internet is not letting me post any pictures on here right now but for those of you who are interested and haven't already seen them, I have most of my pics in different albums on my facebook.  All my Scotland pictures are up there and my Faroe Island pictures will hopefully be there within the next week or two.

Deeply Engaged

There are times when I find myself deeply engaged in thoughts of God and my life in Him.  Deep thoughts that take me to new places and help me in beginning to discover more of who God truly is.  Today has been one of those days and I am choosing to share my ponderings in hopes that they will encourage you to think more deeply and to take time to discover anew all that God is and wants to be in your life.  In my writing, I do not mean to draw any sure or solid conclusions, but rather to simply share where my mind has been and would openly receive any of your reactions or thoughts on the matter.  

The phrase 'the unconditional love of God' has become cliche and is something I think we use all too often devoid of any real meaning, and it therefore loses its power and we end up with hearts that remain unchanged by its truth.  It is so easy to gain intellectual knowledge of God without allowing it to affect our hearts.  "Until the love of God that knows no boundary, limit, or breaking point is internalized through personal decision; until the furious longing of God seizes the imagination; until the heart is conjoined to the mind through sheer grace, nothing happens.  The wild, unrestricted love of God is not simply an inspiring idea.  When it imposes itself on mind and heart with the stark reality of ontological truth, it determines why and at what time you get up in the morning, how you pass your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, and who you hang with; it affects what breaks your heart, what amazes you, and what makes your heart happy."  The thought that God loves me as I am and not as I should be requires a re-thinking and a readjustment of my thoughts of myself.  As I grow in my life of faith, I feel a shift in my images of who God is and who I am.  How radically my image of God is changed when I begin to take seriously how deeply and passionately and unconditionally He loves me.  And how radically I must work through my own self image as I try to accept myself as loveable by God.  Christ emptied Himself, cried out from His heart with nails in His hands, and poured out His blood for us that we might believe in His deep love for His children.  How is it that we have come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God?  Our Christianity should never begin with what we do for God, but should always begin with what God has done for us and what He has achieved for us in Christ Jesus.  In a moment of prayer to my Father this morning, lifting my hands to Him and declaring myself as belonging to Him, I felt myself being embraced in His loving arms and being given the desire to live in His smile and to hold tight to His every word as I continue engaging in the battle of letting go of myself and clinging to the one who loves me unconditionally and has come to claim me as His own!  Abba, I belong to You!