Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
project grow's snazzy new website!
http://projectgrow.rso.wisc.edu/
check it out to see what i've been up to this year!
check it out to see what i've been up to this year!
a week in the life...
i ADORE my life right now. seriously, i am so overwhelmingly blessed and surrounded by fun and love and support and encouragement. i'm living the life. and here's what that's meant this past week...
i bought a new journal! and it's gorgeous. i got a flat tire, but dealt with it and survived :) i had cookies and a salad for dinner. in that order. i got an adorable little space heater for my blustery bedroom. i chased a girl a block and a half to return her student id i saw fall out of her pocket. i spent lots of hours learning with, laughing with, and loving on preschoolers. i cried but it felt amazing. i laughed so hard i spewed water all over the floor- thanks cec! i finished two great books. i had my first full week of classes of the semester and fell in love with my major all over again. i re-arranged my room. i caught up with a few great friends. i changed my blog. i LIVED.
gosh, soo so good.
i bought a new journal! and it's gorgeous. i got a flat tire, but dealt with it and survived :) i had cookies and a salad for dinner. in that order. i got an adorable little space heater for my blustery bedroom. i chased a girl a block and a half to return her student id i saw fall out of her pocket. i spent lots of hours learning with, laughing with, and loving on preschoolers. i cried but it felt amazing. i laughed so hard i spewed water all over the floor- thanks cec! i finished two great books. i had my first full week of classes of the semester and fell in love with my major all over again. i re-arranged my room. i caught up with a few great friends. i changed my blog. i LIVED.
gosh, soo so good.
Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis
Ultimately our gift to the world around us is hope. Not blind hope that pretends everything is fine and refuses to acknowledge how things are. But the kind of hope that comes from staring pain and suffering right in the eyes and refusing to believe that this is all there is.
oh, life.
sometimes i do stupid things, and sometimes stupid things just HAPPEN to me.
example of a stupid, yet nicole’s-fault kind of thing: yesterday morning trying to get myself out the door to make it to the preschool on time i was multitasking like crazy. at one point i found myself brushing my teeth, getting my coffee ready and also trying to pack a little lunch for myself. all at the same time. the result of too many things going on in my brain and me rushing to clean everything up? coffee creamer put back in the bathroom cabinet and my toothpaste and toothbrush put in the door of the refrigerator. good one nicole. (note: this clicked in my brain after i had already walked out the door and started my car so i had to quickly run back in to right my silly, silly wrongs)
example of a weird, stupid thing that just happened to me: i apparently drove through a not-yet-thoroughly-cleaned-up police chase scene. the result of this? a police spike strip stuck in my tire!! ha only to meee would this happen.
so after noticing that one of my tires was definitely driving funny and letting air out i not-so-calmly called everyone i know that might know more about cars than myself to ask their opinion of what i should do… but eventually just did the easy thing and called AAA. thank the lord for AAA. problem- sort of- solved. i’m currently driving around with my dweeby looking spare tire on :)
ohh, life!
example of a stupid, yet nicole’s-fault kind of thing: yesterday morning trying to get myself out the door to make it to the preschool on time i was multitasking like crazy. at one point i found myself brushing my teeth, getting my coffee ready and also trying to pack a little lunch for myself. all at the same time. the result of too many things going on in my brain and me rushing to clean everything up? coffee creamer put back in the bathroom cabinet and my toothpaste and toothbrush put in the door of the refrigerator. good one nicole. (note: this clicked in my brain after i had already walked out the door and started my car so i had to quickly run back in to right my silly, silly wrongs)
example of a weird, stupid thing that just happened to me: i apparently drove through a not-yet-thoroughly-cleaned-up police chase scene. the result of this? a police spike strip stuck in my tire!! ha only to meee would this happen.
so after noticing that one of my tires was definitely driving funny and letting air out i not-so-calmly called everyone i know that might know more about cars than myself to ask their opinion of what i should do… but eventually just did the easy thing and called AAA. thank the lord for AAA. problem- sort of- solved. i’m currently driving around with my dweeby looking spare tire on :)
ohh, life!
hosanna
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
no.
1 in 6 american children live at or below the poverty level.
one in six. american children. right here, in our country… our states… our cities.
i’m NOT okay with that.
here’s the face of one.
this is tayvion. this morning at preschool while i was helping serve lunch he, silently sobbing, whispered in my ear that his mom didn’t have enough money to feed him over the weekend and did i think it would be okay if he had a few extra raviolis today?
i’m NOT OKAY with that.
one in six. american children. right here, in our country… our states… our cities.
i’m NOT okay with that.
here’s the face of one.
this is tayvion. this morning at preschool while i was helping serve lunch he, silently sobbing, whispered in my ear that his mom didn’t have enough money to feed him over the weekend and did i think it would be okay if he had a few extra raviolis today?
i’m NOT OKAY with that.
more than a conquerer
i love the book of romans. reading through it again this morning, i decided to let chapter 8 remind me of exactly who i am, or who i could be. and here’s what i found…
i am:
uncondemned
free
of a mind set on the spirit’s desires
controlled by life and peace
alive
obligated
a daughter
a child
an heir of god and a co-heir of christ
someone who must share in christ’s suffering but also in his glory
uncontrolled by sinful nature
his creation
frustrated
hopeful
groaning
eagerly waiting for adoption and redemption
saved
weak
unsure what to pray for
called according to his purpose
predestined
conformed to the likeness of his son
firstborn among many brothers
justified
glorified
graciously given all things
being interceded for
unseparated from the love of christ
a sheep to be slaughtered
MORE THAN A CONQUERER.
brutally honest but BEAUTIFULLY honest.
i am:
uncondemned
free
of a mind set on the spirit’s desires
controlled by life and peace
alive
obligated
a daughter
a child
an heir of god and a co-heir of christ
someone who must share in christ’s suffering but also in his glory
uncontrolled by sinful nature
his creation
frustrated
hopeful
groaning
eagerly waiting for adoption and redemption
saved
weak
unsure what to pray for
called according to his purpose
predestined
conformed to the likeness of his son
firstborn among many brothers
justified
glorified
graciously given all things
being interceded for
unseparated from the love of christ
a sheep to be slaughtered
MORE THAN A CONQUERER.
brutally honest but BEAUTIFULLY honest.
this is me
my friend laura, with her snazzle dazzle new camera, took this picture the other night while we were out in the snow playing and attempting to sled/ dining-hall-tray-board.
looking at it just now i was hit by two things:
a) that i’m not even paying attention to laura
b) what i like to call my “concentration face”, which ALWAYS includes this goofy tongue-out thing.
risking criticism by someee for making another cheesy metaphory connection between life-ish things and my faith, here’s another cheesy metaphory connection between life-ish things and my faith!
justtt as i’m totally oblivious of laura taking my picture here, i think i sometimes SO easily become blind to the cross and allll that it means. in my blindness though, there is not (just like in the picture!) a lack of concentration or effort or me, as paul would describe it, attempting to “run the race”. i simply become blind to the bigger overall picture (get it, picture?!)
but seriously. i’ve found myself lately “concentrating” on my relationship with the lord but maybe being totally distracted away from the cross. i sometimes (in all honesty) approach quiet times with selfish motives, read christian-y literature with selfish motives and even pray with entirely selfish motives. but i’m oblivious temporarily to the cross and the beauty and grace and love and forgiveness and hope that’s to be found there!
AND THAT’S SILLY. as foolish as i look in this picture, this concentrated distraction i’ve noticed in myself lately is foolish and silly looking and completely non-sensical. one might even deem it: shenanigans.
but that’s all i have for now. in other news, here’s a cute picture from the night of laura, one of our other roommates quinn, and i :)
maya angelou
A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.
rush hour
psalm 139: 23-24 “search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
it’s a new year, a new semester, and looking inside of me a little bit lately i’ve found some new-ish things that i kind of adore about myself but also some things i really want to work on and change. one of those things i’ve decided to make a conscious effort to change is: driving the speed limit. seriously. i speed ALL the time. and while i’ve never gotten a ticket for it (thanks to my excellent talking-myself-out-of-bad-situation skills), it’s still not a good thing.
further than pushing myself to just slow down on the road, though, i’ve done a lot of thinking lately about how i would just like to slow myself down in general. driving-wise and life-wise i rush from place to place. i speed from one thing to the next. i’m entirely destination obsessed and not at all journey focused sometimes.
proverbs 16:9 says “in his heart a man plans his course, but the lord determines his steps”
lately i’ve been doing a LOT of course-planning and have been anxious and jittery to just “get on the road” to working my way through the plans and goals and future i’ve invented for myself.
i truly don’t know why, but sometimes i almost find myself wanting to speed or even fast-forward through this part of my life to get to the “good” part or to start “real” life. which is CRAZY!
i love my life right now. i’m excited to- cheesily but honestly- one day be a wife and a mom and try to make the world a better place, but where i am now is MAGNIFICENT in so many ways, too.
i need to put on the brakes sometimes. i need to enjoy the journey of life, the adventures, the detours, the slow country back roads, and not constantly try to zoom to wherever it is i’m headed next.
proverbs says “…the lord determines his STEPS” and i looooove that. right now a prayer for myself and i’m sure a million other people is that we let life just be us lazily but joyfully going out on a evening stroll with our father, enjoying the time spent together step by step rather than us running to our car, programming a destination in on our gps and speeding to that pre-set place on auto pilot.
abba, help me slowtheheckdown today :)
it’s a new year, a new semester, and looking inside of me a little bit lately i’ve found some new-ish things that i kind of adore about myself but also some things i really want to work on and change. one of those things i’ve decided to make a conscious effort to change is: driving the speed limit. seriously. i speed ALL the time. and while i’ve never gotten a ticket for it (thanks to my excellent talking-myself-out-of-bad-situation skills), it’s still not a good thing.
further than pushing myself to just slow down on the road, though, i’ve done a lot of thinking lately about how i would just like to slow myself down in general. driving-wise and life-wise i rush from place to place. i speed from one thing to the next. i’m entirely destination obsessed and not at all journey focused sometimes.
proverbs 16:9 says “in his heart a man plans his course, but the lord determines his steps”
lately i’ve been doing a LOT of course-planning and have been anxious and jittery to just “get on the road” to working my way through the plans and goals and future i’ve invented for myself.
i truly don’t know why, but sometimes i almost find myself wanting to speed or even fast-forward through this part of my life to get to the “good” part or to start “real” life. which is CRAZY!
i love my life right now. i’m excited to- cheesily but honestly- one day be a wife and a mom and try to make the world a better place, but where i am now is MAGNIFICENT in so many ways, too.
i need to put on the brakes sometimes. i need to enjoy the journey of life, the adventures, the detours, the slow country back roads, and not constantly try to zoom to wherever it is i’m headed next.
proverbs says “…the lord determines his STEPS” and i looooove that. right now a prayer for myself and i’m sure a million other people is that we let life just be us lazily but joyfully going out on a evening stroll with our father, enjoying the time spent together step by step rather than us running to our car, programming a destination in on our gps and speeding to that pre-set place on auto pilot.
abba, help me slowtheheckdown today :)
some morning coffee and coffey… nothing like it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE57VcA8E_M
this is a new artist a few friends turned me on to a few weeks ago and he is seriouslyyy amazing! he takes hip, current songs and rewrites the lyrics to have really cool but simple christian messages.
an amazing and soothing voice coming from a joyful man of the lord. i’ll take it!
he’s on itunes now, has his own website http://www.icoffey.com/, get into it.
this is a new artist a few friends turned me on to a few weeks ago and he is seriouslyyy amazing! he takes hip, current songs and rewrites the lyrics to have really cool but simple christian messages.
an amazing and soothing voice coming from a joyful man of the lord. i’ll take it!
he’s on itunes now, has his own website http://www.icoffey.com/, get into it.
outdoorsy afternoon adventures with laura and her new camera!
yesterday, on a total whim, my friend laura and i decided to go hiking in freshhh snow at devil’s lake state park. here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day but for more you can check out her new blog at laurakonkol.blogspot.com
dweeby? perhaps a little...
i’m still right on track! today is day 7 and book 7 in my quest to read the chronicles of narnia series in a week.
snow-dusted windows, coffee, magical fantasy worlds and c.s. lewis’s creative genius. wahoo!
for narnia!
snow-dusted windows, coffee, magical fantasy worlds and c.s. lewis’s creative genius. wahoo!
for narnia!
goodness from a.w. tozer
There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.
fanciness
this morning while out shoveling a light but beautiful layer of fresh snow i got a simple little compliment by an adorable old lady walking by with an umbrella (don’t you LOVE when old ladies bring out their umbrellas in wisconsin snows?! so do i.) she stopped just for a second, looked at me with a genuine smile and just said, “dearie, wonderful job. this looks really excellent.”
and i think that made my day. (granted- it’s only about 9:30 now so i still have a lot of day left…) but it was simple. it was sweet. it was short and to the point. and because of that it was so beautiful.
thinking about this while drinking coffee out of my newly beloved french press i realized my interaction with this woman could not stand more starkly in contrast to my prayer life lately.
lately i’ve noticed myself doing this thing where when i’m talking to or even about the lord, i try to get… fancy.
he is my father, my friend, my savior. someone who knows every corner of my heart and someone who i try everyday to get to know more and more intimately. yet, in my prayer life to him, in my discussion about him with friends, i sometimes feel the need to be a certain someone, to talk a certain way, to be a little bit fancy.
colossians 4:2 says “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
it does not then go on to recommend that we pray with big or snazzy words, to always eloquently and formally try to express what we’re feeling or to even follow any sort of regimented prayer thing.
it merely asks that we devote ourselves to prayer, which simply means being in constant communication with the father- in constant true and honest communication- and then to be watching for and thanking the lord for the way he will answer our pleas and requests.
just the way the kind old umbrella lady used simple, yet heart-felt words to brighten my day, i think it gladdens and glories our god most when we’re just… us in prayer to him. simple, fumbling, going-off-on-tangent-y us. enough of the fanciness.
and i think that made my day. (granted- it’s only about 9:30 now so i still have a lot of day left…) but it was simple. it was sweet. it was short and to the point. and because of that it was so beautiful.
thinking about this while drinking coffee out of my newly beloved french press i realized my interaction with this woman could not stand more starkly in contrast to my prayer life lately.
lately i’ve noticed myself doing this thing where when i’m talking to or even about the lord, i try to get… fancy.
he is my father, my friend, my savior. someone who knows every corner of my heart and someone who i try everyday to get to know more and more intimately. yet, in my prayer life to him, in my discussion about him with friends, i sometimes feel the need to be a certain someone, to talk a certain way, to be a little bit fancy.
colossians 4:2 says “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
it does not then go on to recommend that we pray with big or snazzy words, to always eloquently and formally try to express what we’re feeling or to even follow any sort of regimented prayer thing.
it merely asks that we devote ourselves to prayer, which simply means being in constant communication with the father- in constant true and honest communication- and then to be watching for and thanking the lord for the way he will answer our pleas and requests.
just the way the kind old umbrella lady used simple, yet heart-felt words to brighten my day, i think it gladdens and glories our god most when we’re just… us in prayer to him. simple, fumbling, going-off-on-tangent-y us. enough of the fanciness.
who doesn't love c.s. lewis?
Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.
11 things i'm very thankful for less than 11 days in to the year of 2011
1. the way the lord has moved in my life. i am NOT the same person i was starting college, starting school this fall or really even before this new year. and praise him for that! for growth, for change, for maturity, for joy and for hope!
2. discovering good, new, soul-happying music. lately this includes songs by virginia coalition, bebo norman and dave barnes.
3. incredible friendships and all that comes with that- endless hugs when you need it, real (even if sometimes hard) conversation, laughing until you think you might pee… gosh, sooo, so good. also, friendships and relationships that seem to say “separated by states and states? and thousands of miles? months apart? whatevs.” people that just know your heart and make it smile the second you’re reunited, no matter how long it’s been.
4. french presses. really, who knew?! coffee has just attained a NEW level of love in my life!
5. photography blogs. of all kinds. i have zero cute/artsy photo-taking ability but i SO enjoy wasting sometimes hours (oops!) scrolling through beautiful snapshots of others’ lives. here is one my friend laura just started, i’m already diggin’ it!
www.laurakonkol.blogspot.com
6. the chronicles of narnia!! truly, i’m obsessed. i have set the goal for myself to read all seven books in seven days or less and i am RIGHT on track- day three, book three.
7. funny old family pictures and memories. reminiscing. remembering. there is nothing better than stumbling across a silly old picture and being able to almost celebrate that moment in time all over again. for example-
8. the excitement of possible upcoming adventures! spring break 2011, road trippage, hiking and camping, the (supposedly) breathtaking grand canyon?!
9. the ministry of young life. it is always amazingly and awesomely humbling to me to see the way god works through yl through crazy connections between people, beautifully changed-life stories and just unending fun and silliness. mmm, so good.
10. modern family. i’m sorry but it’s true. it is HANDS DOWN the funniest show i’ve ever seen. watch an episode now.
11. discovering the little nuggets you know the lord has planted in your day just for you. sometimes it’s reading scripture differently or more deeply than you ever have before, sometimes its feeling romanced by him as you soak in the way the sun makes fresh snow twinkle.
2. discovering good, new, soul-happying music. lately this includes songs by virginia coalition, bebo norman and dave barnes.
3. incredible friendships and all that comes with that- endless hugs when you need it, real (even if sometimes hard) conversation, laughing until you think you might pee… gosh, sooo, so good. also, friendships and relationships that seem to say “separated by states and states? and thousands of miles? months apart? whatevs.” people that just know your heart and make it smile the second you’re reunited, no matter how long it’s been.
4. french presses. really, who knew?! coffee has just attained a NEW level of love in my life!
5. photography blogs. of all kinds. i have zero cute/artsy photo-taking ability but i SO enjoy wasting sometimes hours (oops!) scrolling through beautiful snapshots of others’ lives. here is one my friend laura just started, i’m already diggin’ it!
www.laurakonkol.blogspot.com
6. the chronicles of narnia!! truly, i’m obsessed. i have set the goal for myself to read all seven books in seven days or less and i am RIGHT on track- day three, book three.
7. funny old family pictures and memories. reminiscing. remembering. there is nothing better than stumbling across a silly old picture and being able to almost celebrate that moment in time all over again. for example-
8. the excitement of possible upcoming adventures! spring break 2011, road trippage, hiking and camping, the (supposedly) breathtaking grand canyon?!
9. the ministry of young life. it is always amazingly and awesomely humbling to me to see the way god works through yl through crazy connections between people, beautifully changed-life stories and just unending fun and silliness. mmm, so good.
10. modern family. i’m sorry but it’s true. it is HANDS DOWN the funniest show i’ve ever seen. watch an episode now.
11. discovering the little nuggets you know the lord has planted in your day just for you. sometimes it’s reading scripture differently or more deeply than you ever have before, sometimes its feeling romanced by him as you soak in the way the sun makes fresh snow twinkle.
Luke 18:16
“…Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”
these are a few of my favorite things...
getting me through finals week this semester are a few of my favorite things:
-the fact that pandora knows how much i ADORE this song
-tazo passion tea
-my go-to yet very, very worn turquoise patagonia fleece and goofy, puffy, feet-sleeping-bags slippers
-looking up DIY crafty projects on designsponge.com
-a few last fun plans with some of my young life girly girls
-a funny yet slightly inappropriate at times website my roommate showed me today
-the million and a half movies i feel like i’ve watched with my roommates in the past week to avoid studying and snuggling onto our big, comfy couch to do so
-knowing i get to go home to an incredible family to celebrate the birth of an incredible savior SUP DUP soon :)
-the fact that pandora knows how much i ADORE this song
-tazo passion tea
-my go-to yet very, very worn turquoise patagonia fleece and goofy, puffy, feet-sleeping-bags slippers
-looking up DIY crafty projects on designsponge.com
-a few last fun plans with some of my young life girly girls
-a funny yet slightly inappropriate at times website my roommate showed me today
-the million and a half movies i feel like i’ve watched with my roommates in the past week to avoid studying and snuggling onto our big, comfy couch to do so
-knowing i get to go home to an incredible family to celebrate the birth of an incredible savior SUP DUP soon :)
nicole's recipe for a perfect morning
one large down blanket-y body cocoon
3 cups light classic christmas carol waftings
2 snow-dusted windows
a hefty heap of psalm 86
zero days left of class this semester
1 cup sweet and warm coffee
*for additional flavor, feel free to add two turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree
combine all ingredients in a warm living room around a beautifully decorated and wonderfully-smelling christmas tree and allow to marinate for 30-45 minutes of peace and solitude.
3 cups light classic christmas carol waftings
2 snow-dusted windows
a hefty heap of psalm 86
zero days left of class this semester
1 cup sweet and warm coffee
*for additional flavor, feel free to add two turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree
combine all ingredients in a warm living room around a beautifully decorated and wonderfully-smelling christmas tree and allow to marinate for 30-45 minutes of peace and solitude.
father abraham
romans 4:18-21 says,
against all hope, abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations… without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about 100 years old- and that sarah’s womb was also dead. yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of god but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to god, being fully persuaded that god had power to do what he had promised.
most of us know this oldie-but-a-goodie story of abraham.
our huge god tugged at his heart is SUCH seemingly outrageous ways. yet abraham never wavered or doubted that that calling was of the lord and that he would absolutely deliver.
some days i think i couldn’t be more opposite than abraham in this way. even if i feel the lord nudging me in a certain direction or truly believe that he is desperately trying to reveal something to me, i so often second-guess myself. and him! i doubt. sooo, so often. i fear and hesitate to relinquish myself to trust his powerful promises and to hope in him.
abraham was able to faithfully believe that the lord could deliver on his promises, no matter how seemingly NUTSO. why, then, can i not trustingly turn over things in my life i know god so desperately wants to take care of?
praying now to be made more like abraham. to be able to hope in my father against all hope. to not waver in unbelief but rather to be strengthened in my faith. to be fully persuaded that a god i know to be good has the power to do what he promises.
against all hope, abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations… without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about 100 years old- and that sarah’s womb was also dead. yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of god but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to god, being fully persuaded that god had power to do what he had promised.
most of us know this oldie-but-a-goodie story of abraham.
our huge god tugged at his heart is SUCH seemingly outrageous ways. yet abraham never wavered or doubted that that calling was of the lord and that he would absolutely deliver.
some days i think i couldn’t be more opposite than abraham in this way. even if i feel the lord nudging me in a certain direction or truly believe that he is desperately trying to reveal something to me, i so often second-guess myself. and him! i doubt. sooo, so often. i fear and hesitate to relinquish myself to trust his powerful promises and to hope in him.
abraham was able to faithfully believe that the lord could deliver on his promises, no matter how seemingly NUTSO. why, then, can i not trustingly turn over things in my life i know god so desperately wants to take care of?
praying now to be made more like abraham. to be able to hope in my father against all hope. to not waver in unbelief but rather to be strengthened in my faith. to be fully persuaded that a god i know to be good has the power to do what he promises.
leeland, opposite way
living in the same town for all these years, doing the same old things, hanging with the same crowd.
and its starting to get crippling, You’ve never felt in place.
and you tell yourself its all okay, but something is different today.
you want to run the opposite way and it seems like you’re locked in a cage and you need to find a way of escape.
when everyone is setting the pace, it’s okay to run the opposite way.
and its starting to get crippling, You’ve never felt in place.
and you tell yourself its all okay, but something is different today.
you want to run the opposite way and it seems like you’re locked in a cage and you need to find a way of escape.
when everyone is setting the pace, it’s okay to run the opposite way.
just courage
i just finished a great book called “just courage” by gary haugen. it was interesting and convicting and really thought provoking. and through this book, and some other things that have been on my mind and stirring in my heart a lot lately, i really think the lord is at work in silly little me right now, preparing me for some crazy and unimaginable adventure.
in the book haugen references mother teresa and one of the most famous things about her work ethic- that she often worked no more than 20 or 30 minutes without prayer. the idea behind this is that there are a million and a half things we could all do on our own power. with our own energy, using our own knowledge and our own strength. fully submitting to the lord, though, and answering whatever calling he has for our lives will be HARD and we will absolutely need to cling to him and be in constant communication with him. and whatever work he calls us into, he doesn’t want us to do alone.
pg. 17 says “our heavenly father offers us a simply proposition: follow me beyond what you can control, beyond where your own strength and competencies can take you, and beyond what is affirmed or risked by the crowd- and you will experience me and my power and my wisdom and my love.”
on my heart so much lately has been a tug that i need to love. i need to serve. i need to help. i’m currently working on filling out an application to the peace corps. that means 27 months of overseas service by myself in culture completely different than my own speaking a foreign language. i’m scared, though. and in this season of thinking about and praying about if this is truly what the lord wants for me, i can already so evidently see that i don’t on my own have the skills or strength for something like this. and while i could absolutely not be accepted, i’m willing to apply. i’m willing to try, to go, to do this. i’m willing to be open to see if this is what my father wants for me in the next year or two.
i want to life a live characterized by so many things… great friends, crazy adventures, the most romantic love story every written. but above all i want to live a life that brings the lord glory and praise. and while i don’t know what exactly that will consist of, i’m praying now for the courage to gladly say “yes!” to love and serve the world in whatever way he has planned for me.
in the book haugen references mother teresa and one of the most famous things about her work ethic- that she often worked no more than 20 or 30 minutes without prayer. the idea behind this is that there are a million and a half things we could all do on our own power. with our own energy, using our own knowledge and our own strength. fully submitting to the lord, though, and answering whatever calling he has for our lives will be HARD and we will absolutely need to cling to him and be in constant communication with him. and whatever work he calls us into, he doesn’t want us to do alone.
pg. 17 says “our heavenly father offers us a simply proposition: follow me beyond what you can control, beyond where your own strength and competencies can take you, and beyond what is affirmed or risked by the crowd- and you will experience me and my power and my wisdom and my love.”
on my heart so much lately has been a tug that i need to love. i need to serve. i need to help. i’m currently working on filling out an application to the peace corps. that means 27 months of overseas service by myself in culture completely different than my own speaking a foreign language. i’m scared, though. and in this season of thinking about and praying about if this is truly what the lord wants for me, i can already so evidently see that i don’t on my own have the skills or strength for something like this. and while i could absolutely not be accepted, i’m willing to apply. i’m willing to try, to go, to do this. i’m willing to be open to see if this is what my father wants for me in the next year or two.
i want to life a live characterized by so many things… great friends, crazy adventures, the most romantic love story every written. but above all i want to live a life that brings the lord glory and praise. and while i don’t know what exactly that will consist of, i’m praying now for the courage to gladly say “yes!” to love and serve the world in whatever way he has planned for me.
the love of the lord is just like... snowpants. duh.
walking down the street earlier tonight i saw a young family, all bundled up thanks to the already outrageously cold madison weather. just as i was about to pass them, their little boy who was bundled head to toe and couldn’t have been more than 2 or 3 years old tripped and ate it on the sidewalk right next to me. i gasped, horrified, and instantly bent down to see if he needed help up. to my surprise, though, he just popped up, unfazed and kept bumbling along.
what saved him? his snow pants. those awkwardly puffy, only-come-in-disgusting-neon-colors, sweat-while-you-try-to-put-them-on torture devices. for my southern “snow is a foreign and fascinating concept to me” friends like the beautiful megan liss, here is a visual of what i’m talking about.
maybe this was just me but i HATED these things when i was little. i hated the concept of pants on top of pants. i hated that they only came in a dweeby suspender format. i hated how they swished when you walk, or should i say hobbled, around. i h.a.t.e.d them.
seeing this little boy take a tumble, though, got me to thinking: living a life that seeks the lord and his unfailing love for us is a lot like snow pants. stick with me here.
a few days ago i was eating caflouti (yes, that’s a real word and not another nicole-made-up one, feel free to look it up) and having deep lifey discussions with my great friend katherine “smushy mcsmushsmush” usher. talking we hit on something really simple, but really real.
life gets hard sometimes. it gets dark and cold and scary and uninviting just like wisconsin winter weather can be. and when this happens we have two options: we can “bundle up” and brave the weather or we can stay secluded inside, intimidated and inactive.
“bundling up” or putting on our snow pants, is a lot like discovering the love of the lord in a hard time i think. sometimes, like i said, you literally sweat trying to get the darn things on. trying to get them on and comfortable is the last thing you want to do. it’s hard work. and sometimes, when wearing them, you stick out a little bit. you’re different.
that aside, once your snow pants are on and you’re headed outside, they provide a protection unlike anything else. even in the coldest winter weather, snow pants provide a warmth and joy and safety and freedom unlike anything else. as proven to me by the little boy, snow pants can protect you from even the scariest and most seemingly dangerous falls. the layers and layers of fluff fight off any scraped knees or bruised butts. snow pants also give you such joy and freedom. someone wearing jeans and tennis shoes wouldn’t think twice about trouncing through piles of fresh snow, but snow panted-up, you have the freedom to race through waist high snow or lay down on your back, face to the sky flapping your arms and legs trying desperately to make a snow angel.
so, what i think i’ve gotten from this silly analogy and my conversation with kath, as well as just what i’ve seen in my own life, is that things gets hard sometimes. plans don’t work out as you’d anticipated they would, people hurt you, you just feel scared or anxious or unsure about something- you name it. but in those times, if only you decide to seek out the peace and love the lord is dyingggg to offer you by “putting on your snow pants”, there is complete safety and reassurance and pure, simply joy to be found.
what saved him? his snow pants. those awkwardly puffy, only-come-in-disgusting-neon-colors, sweat-while-you-try-to-put-them-on torture devices. for my southern “snow is a foreign and fascinating concept to me” friends like the beautiful megan liss, here is a visual of what i’m talking about.
maybe this was just me but i HATED these things when i was little. i hated the concept of pants on top of pants. i hated that they only came in a dweeby suspender format. i hated how they swished when you walk, or should i say hobbled, around. i h.a.t.e.d them.
seeing this little boy take a tumble, though, got me to thinking: living a life that seeks the lord and his unfailing love for us is a lot like snow pants. stick with me here.
a few days ago i was eating caflouti (yes, that’s a real word and not another nicole-made-up one, feel free to look it up) and having deep lifey discussions with my great friend katherine “smushy mcsmushsmush” usher. talking we hit on something really simple, but really real.
life gets hard sometimes. it gets dark and cold and scary and uninviting just like wisconsin winter weather can be. and when this happens we have two options: we can “bundle up” and brave the weather or we can stay secluded inside, intimidated and inactive.
“bundling up” or putting on our snow pants, is a lot like discovering the love of the lord in a hard time i think. sometimes, like i said, you literally sweat trying to get the darn things on. trying to get them on and comfortable is the last thing you want to do. it’s hard work. and sometimes, when wearing them, you stick out a little bit. you’re different.
that aside, once your snow pants are on and you’re headed outside, they provide a protection unlike anything else. even in the coldest winter weather, snow pants provide a warmth and joy and safety and freedom unlike anything else. as proven to me by the little boy, snow pants can protect you from even the scariest and most seemingly dangerous falls. the layers and layers of fluff fight off any scraped knees or bruised butts. snow pants also give you such joy and freedom. someone wearing jeans and tennis shoes wouldn’t think twice about trouncing through piles of fresh snow, but snow panted-up, you have the freedom to race through waist high snow or lay down on your back, face to the sky flapping your arms and legs trying desperately to make a snow angel.
so, what i think i’ve gotten from this silly analogy and my conversation with kath, as well as just what i’ve seen in my own life, is that things gets hard sometimes. plans don’t work out as you’d anticipated they would, people hurt you, you just feel scared or anxious or unsure about something- you name it. but in those times, if only you decide to seek out the peace and love the lord is dyingggg to offer you by “putting on your snow pants”, there is complete safety and reassurance and pure, simply joy to be found.
nuggets of goodness
the last few months i have spent far more time in the old testament than ever before in my life and you know what: it’s beautiful.
sure, it’s dense and feels like it could never be applicable to my life sometimes but stumbling across little nuggets of goodness have brought me such joy recently.
our god is a big god. and he is gooood. but for a long time i think i thought of the god of the old testament as a different, more cruel, and in all honesty more boring god than the father and friend and lover i’ve discovered in the new testament.
but the lord is constant. everlasting. he does not change. i’ve been discovering this more and more as i read through books like isaiah and jeremiah. and this morning i found yet another little baby testament of that in lamentations.
“because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. i say to myself ‘the lord is my portion; therefore i will wait for him.’ the lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” lamentations 3:22-25
for a few of my other favorite old schoolio nuggets of goodness check out…
-zephaniah 3:17
-jeremiah 31: 3-4
-and of course, the psalms. mmm the psalms.
sure, it’s dense and feels like it could never be applicable to my life sometimes but stumbling across little nuggets of goodness have brought me such joy recently.
our god is a big god. and he is gooood. but for a long time i think i thought of the god of the old testament as a different, more cruel, and in all honesty more boring god than the father and friend and lover i’ve discovered in the new testament.
but the lord is constant. everlasting. he does not change. i’ve been discovering this more and more as i read through books like isaiah and jeremiah. and this morning i found yet another little baby testament of that in lamentations.
“because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. i say to myself ‘the lord is my portion; therefore i will wait for him.’ the lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” lamentations 3:22-25
for a few of my other favorite old schoolio nuggets of goodness check out…
-zephaniah 3:17
-jeremiah 31: 3-4
-and of course, the psalms. mmm the psalms.
this school year i am volunteering through americorps with something called project grow. this is an initiative to work with at-risk and under-privileged preschoolers to develop social and literacy skills in an attempt to catch them up to their peers and to help them be ready for kindergarten. each volunteer is paired with one individual child, but also assists in a classroom with about 20 cutie patooties.
here are a few pictures of my “little buddy”, arika. she has snuggled her way into my heart big time.
and, while so far this year i’ve helped her sort out her colors, learn which letters make up her name and be able to recognize that “cat” rhymes with “fat”, i truly think i have more to learn from her than could ever be possible in the reverse order.
a few fun lessons i've learned this fall
the word “shenanigans” can be used in nearly any context. mice are annoyingly smarter than most mouse traps. pandora radio is amazing, yet stingy. it is NOT a good idea to put pans with plastic handles in a hot oven. i like bananas. i also like eggplant casserole. sometimes when trying to start a fire, lighter fluid simply won’t be enough. i hate jim carey. modern family is absolutely the funniest show ever made. my roommates secretly enjoy my random interruptions even if they’ll never admit it. twister is NOT only fun as a little kid. needtobreathe is surprisingly good music to work out to. the movie meet the robinsons is amaze-balls. people get loco when the president comes to visit your campus. journaling is suchhh a release. i absolutely cannot bake. camping inside is warm and fun. traveling about 30 hours to virginia only to be there for about that long just to see people you really love is totally worth it. scrambled brownies= gross. i love bmm and i can’t even explain why. i will never cease to find beauty and peace in reading the psalms. waiting backstage after a concert like a creeper sometimes pays off. mod podge is a phenomenal invention. i really enjoy reading donald miller. i live with some incredible girls. three and four year olds say THE funniest things ever. sushi is AMAZING. i cannot do the running man and probably will never be able to. the us postal service does not deliver mail to a watermelon. there are a handful of jokes i’ll probably laugh at until the day i die. i think i want to adopt one day. i drink too much coffee. i love disgusting and shocking old school young life skits. we have a great and good god.
i blog?
blog. bloooooog. bloggy blog blog.
it’s a funny word and kind of a funny concept, too.
i’m not sure i’ve fully embraced the idea of blogging. i’m not really sure what one’s supposed to blog about and i’m trying to remind myself that realistically this could be one of those baby projects i tend to pick up, i become totally preoccupied with for a few weeks and then eventually i forget all about.
either way, i’ve decided: i blog. i’m giving this a shot. i don’t know exactly where this will go or what it’s all about but… here we go!
i am such a work in progress of a friend, a student, a daughter, a sister, a roommate and a child of god. but i’m learning. bit by bit. and while i’ve still got a LOT to learn, maybe from time to time i’ll also have a little to share. and that’s what this is all about.
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it’s a funny word and kind of a funny concept, too.
i’m not sure i’ve fully embraced the idea of blogging. i’m not really sure what one’s supposed to blog about and i’m trying to remind myself that realistically this could be one of those baby projects i tend to pick up, i become totally preoccupied with for a few weeks and then eventually i forget all about.
either way, i’ve decided: i blog. i’m giving this a shot. i don’t know exactly where this will go or what it’s all about but… here we go!
i am such a work in progress of a friend, a student, a daughter, a sister, a roommate and a child of god. but i’m learning. bit by bit. and while i’ve still got a LOT to learn, maybe from time to time i’ll also have a little to share. and that’s what this is all about.
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