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lahv_to_sing
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Name: Catherine
Gender: Female
Interests: God, people, music, singing, laughing, taking spontaneous trips
Expertise: procrastinating
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Member Since:
12/16/2004
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| I am blissfully in love with God, my Creator, and let me say that His love is the greatest love of ALL!
I hadn't spent time with God on Mountain Campus for a while, and for the past few Sundays at church I've felt like I couldn't fully express myself in worship. So yesterday, I had a date with God at the Pew Observatory. It was simply AMAZING! I love it up there, and I haven't danced so freely in a while. I really love listening to Shane and Shane's "Psalm 118 (This Is The Day)" and Phil Wickham's "Divine Romance."
I love how God's peace can calm our fears and push away our stress...it's SO liberating! Yeah, I stayed up until 4:30 last night writing my English paper that was due at 9, I've only gotten 2 and a half hours of sleep, I have a jury at 11:10 and am not as prepared as a I could be, I have a yucky Ed. Psych. exam at 1:30, and then I have to write 2 papers for Sociology (one of them's an 8-pager) after that and turn it in before 5...
BUT, today's a beautiful day! I am so blessed to have this abundant life! God doesn't have to give us a new day, He can take our life at any time...He's the Creator, after all, but we have woken up to see another day! Thank Hiim for that and everything else He has done! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) I'm not stressed about getting everything done like I was a few days ago, and I know that exams will be over soon! I can get through them with God's help! "Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
This is such a great verse: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
I am SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED to have this life...to know Christ...to see His beauty and glory poured out in His creation...to have y'all as friends...to have the most amazing roomie in the WORLD (Happy Birthday, Jeannene! I love you!!!)...to be in God's amazing Kingdom and have brothers and sisters in Christ - isn't that so COOL? It still amazes me! Y'all are my family...LITERALLY!
God is the only one that can truly fill us. Don't let go of Him!
I love y'all! | | |
| I just got done reading "I Survived Hell," an article in my Ignite Your Faith magazine. In it, Grace Akallo from Uganda tells her story about how rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a twisted group that mixes Islam, Christianity, and spirit worship, kidnapped her and forced her to kill other children. Thankfully, she escaped, finished high school and now attends Gordon College in Massachusetts, still working with former child soldiers.
This article shook me up...I had to do something, so I wrote my Congressperson (go to house.gov/writerep to write yours) and read the whole article, which can be found online at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/january/18.30.html
Here are some excerpts from the article:
"Sixty years after Allied soldiers liberated the Nazi death camps, the world stands silent in the face of another holocaust—one so horrifying that U.N. officials call it "one of the worst human-rights crises of the past century...Since 1986, the LRA is estimated to have abducted as many as 50,000 children. Many more Ugandans have been maimed and traumatized. About 1.6 million have been driven from their homes. The death toll from the conflict is estimated at more than 30,000 children."
I would ask you to please read this article and write your Congressperson. There are also other ways to help...check out Far Reaching Ministries (farreachingministries.org) and Save the Children (savethechildren.org). But another great thing to do is pray. Prayer works miracles. Pray for the child soldiers of Uganda, and pray for Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, that he would abandon the violence, turn and repent from his wicked ways, and become a true believer and follower of the one true Savior, Jesus.
Thank you. | | |
| I have been putting off writing this, because, well, I'm lazy. But I need to share what I learned on the mission trip to New Orleans. I got inspired just a little while ago from reading my Sociology book about the homeless...what a great textbook! (I'm not being sarcastic)...although it contains many of the world's lies, it really shows what life is for other people around the world.
Over spring break, March 10th through the 17th, I went with people from Berry and Shorter Colleges' Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) on a mission trip to New Orleans. I was really excited, because it was my first mission trip.
We stayed at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), which was a pretty cool campus...it had a cool playground and amazing food. Four of the five days, we worked with Habitat for Humanity, building houses in the Musicians' Village of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. The houses are so cute that they make me smile...bright colors lining the street...bringing hope to people who have lost it because of Katrina.
Our team of 51 worked on two different houses. When we got there, all that was done was the foundation. At the end of the week, the walls were done on one house and was pretty much finished on the other, there were steps, and some of the inside walls were done.
Tuesday night, we went to downtown New Orleans. I've been there quite a few times before, so it wasn't new to me...I was excited about getting beignets at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter, though (they are amazing)! We had to stay in groups, so I was with a group of people including Kaye, Ida, Mallory, and a few others. Kaye suggested that we go hang out and talk to the people smoking dope by the river. I was all up for it. The thing was, we needed a guy to go with us, and we couldn't find one to go with us. Soon it got dark and even if we had found a guy, they would be so messed up from the drugs that they would not understand or be receptive to whatever we were saying. I was pretty bummed for a while. That whole idea may sound really scary to some of you, but when God changes your heart, He really changes it. He changed mine.
Anyways, we continued walking and went to Bourbon Street, because most of the people in my group hadn't seen it. When we arrived, I saw that street in a whole new light. I had always thought it was bad, but I didn't ever really see HOW bad it is. There is so much sin just on that one street...so many people that need Jesus, that need someone to genuinely care for and love them, that need to have Christ turn their life around a full 180 degrees. We were shopping in a few random stores. I tried to pretend like I was interested in the merchandise, but the truth was, I wasn't...I have seen it all before and God was burdening my heart (an answered prayer). In one store, I had finished walking around and came and stood by Kaye, who was at the front of the store waiting on us. Kaye is one of those people who can read me EXTREMELY well. She knew what I was thinking..all of a sudden, I just burst out in tears...we went outside onto the street and I cried so much...my heart was just broken for all of these lost people. And the thought crossed my mind that a few months ago, I would be going to the same place that they would probably be going to when they die. (That's a hard thought...but I am thankful for Christ.) I felt like there was no one there to minister to these people. My heart was broken for these people (and still is). After I stopped crying, I walked to Cafe du Monde with Kaye, Ida, and Mallory. They tried so hard to cheer me up...most of it didn't work until Kaye said that God has it...the Great Commission WILL be fulfilled. That truth allowed me to enjoy the rest of the night...but I keep praying for New Orleans, that God would send missionaries on the streets to share Christ with them.
Another story...one day during work, I was holding the ladder for Katrina and trying to think of a new worship song to sing, because I had gotten tired of singing the same ones over and over again. I forget if I had even prayed for this...but the Lord gave me a song! It was so cool. There was 1 verse at first, then He just kept giving me more stuff. If any of you want to hear it one day, let me know...but here are the words to it:
V1:
The Lord is my rock and my fortress,
the Lord is my strength and my deliverer.
(Repeat)
Chorus:
Glory, honor, praise to the Lord!
Glory, honor, and praise to the Lord!
V2:
The Lord is my light and my joy,
the Lord is the song in my heart.
(Repeat)
Chorus
V3:
The Lord is my hope and my comforter,
the Lord is the lover of my soul.
(Repeat)
Chorus
It was pretty much one of the coolest things ever...the first is coming to Christ and the second is being baptized in February.
While we were in New Orleans, we also got to tour the Lower Ninth Ward. I had been to New Orleans twice after Katrina before the mission trip, but just saw the Upper Ninth before...
The Lower Ninth Ward is SO much worse. It looked like Katrina just came yesterday. After more than a year and a half, it looks pretty much like a barren wasteland...like a third-world country with hardly any occupants...hardly anyone has come back. There are a few signs saying, "I AM COMING BACK. I WILL REBUILD. I AM NEW ORLEANS!" which gave a glimmer of hope. If you want to see pictures of the Lower Ninth, check out album #4 from the trip. It desperately needs to be rebuilt. If you get a chance, please go...
There is so much more to say about the trip...but I will wrap up with this AMAZING verse in Isaiah that was on the back of this guy's shirt working at Habitat. It totally describes the whole situation. We are called to help these people!!
Isaiah 58:10-12 -
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
I LOVE my Shorter people! Sherry and Border Colleges! haha...y'all are so much fun!
I am really thankful that I got to go on this mission trip! If you get the chance to go to New Orleans (or anywhere else) and help, please do so...it's so rewarding and God works everywhere. I also am thankful that I got the position of Missions Coordinator serving on BCM's council next year...I can't wait to plan and go on some more mission trips!!
God is good...beyond good...He's amazing...beyond what words can describe...and He deserves all our praise! I cannot wait to see where He will send me next! | | |
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This is to everyone who, like myself, is single.
I don't know
how many of you are anti-Valentine's Day. But, I have some really
exciting news...I'm no longer anti-Valentine's Day!
It hit me on
Monday, and I don't really even know how...but God just made me realize
how much He loves us! He has blessed us with so much...grace, peace,
friendships, hope, and the list could go on and on...
He is not just all we need, He is all we HAVE...and His love is more than enough!
I
used to be one of those bitter single people who would look at all the
happy couples with jealousy. I've only had one boyfriend, and for years
and years, I had been searching for a guy to 'complete' me. I was
searching for love and acceptance from a member of the opposite sex. I
pursued guys often, which was totally not Biblical...but then, that was
before I came to Christ. Ladies, our desire to be pursued and loved is
not in vain...God put a desire to pursue and love us for a reason!
(Read "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge and/or "Redeeming Love"
by Francine Rivers!)
Although I do have a small crush on
someone, now I find that I won't be totally devastated if it turns out
that he doesn't like me as more than a friend. I want to be with the
man that GOD has for me.
Ladies, listen to this...it's something
that Kemi told Rachel L. her freshman year: "Do you really think that
God would let you miss him?" Men, do you really think that God would
let you miss her?
Wow...what a mind-blowing, truthful statement. We need to trust God with our love lives.
But
first, we need to be filled by God! Nothing on earth...drugs, sex,
lust, a significant other, a child, shopping, money, power, food,
wealth, technology, you name it...can completely fill that empty void
in our heart like He can with His love!
Here are some notes from church on Sunday, which I know contributed to God's renewing of my thoughts about love:
God
completes us - not anyone on earth! We aren't half a person! We didn't
receive half a salvation! "For it is by GRACE you have been SAVED,
through FAITH - and this is NOT from yourselves, it is THE GIFT of God
- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)...The
salvation God gives us is COMPLETE...WHOLE...not lacking in anything!
His love for us is whole! He wants to fill our hearts FULLY, not just
partially!)
Song of Songs 2:7 - "...Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires." This just calls us to be patient...wait on the
Lord and who He has planned for you to be with for the rest of your
life...
Tonight at Communion, Mrs. Bissonette mentioned the
verse 1 John 4:9-10, which says "This is how God showed his love among
us. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live
through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." He loved us
first!! How cool is that!?!
And he longs for us to love Him back
and honor Him: "The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for
He is your Lord." ENTHRALLED! WOW! That is just such a reassuring verse
to me...girls, you know how much we care about how we look because of
what the media tells us? Well, God tells us that our beauty enthralls
Him...captivates Him! We are beautiful in His sight!! : )
"Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved
us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 5:35-39)
And all this is just a GLIMPSE of His love!!
Only God can completely fill us! He will not let us miss the future spouse that He has planned out for us!
I
hope you had a great Valentine's Day so far! If you haven't, go spend
some quality time with God and time with your single friends.
Love comes from God! : )
I love y'all!
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| For the past few weeks, when I'm talking to two of my good friends Rachel and Vicki, the subject of baptism seems to come up - not about a certain person being baptized necessarily, but just baptism from a Biblical perspective...how followers of Christ were baptized after they accepted and had begun to follow Christ.
Then one day last week, one of my RAs, Saxon, wrote me a really sweet card saying how she was so glad that I came to Christ. At the end, it randomly said, "Have you thought about baptism?" It was really weird because I had started thinking about it recently.
Fast forward to this Wednesday, and I was in Ford in the restroom...there was a new Stall Wall Weekly and I got excited because I love reading them. Well, one thing stood out. It said they were having the Mount Berry Church service on Sunday at 8, which is normal, but it also said that it was a baptism service. I thought to myself, "That's really weird! Who's getting baptized?"
Then yesterday (Thursday), I got an e-mail from Pastor Dale McConkey of Mount Berry Church (a great guy) about the service - it is open to anyone who has surrendered their life to Christ but has not yet been baptized, and those who want to rededicate their life to Christ with a symbolic re-enactment of their baptism. That was just God opening doors for it to happen! So, I am extremely excited to say that I (and a few other people) will be baptized at the service on Sunday at Richard's Gym Pool at 8 PM! Of course I was baptized when I was little, but I couldn't comprehend Christ or know what it meant to follow Him when I was an infant. I really am excited about being baptized now that I accepted Christ a little over a month ago.
YAY! | | |
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