Highlights from Don't Waste Your Life

finished reading Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper the other day. lots of good truths in that book. the following are all directly quoted from the book.

• You get one pass at life. That's all. Only one. And the lasting measure of that of life is Jesus Christ.
• Newness is no virtue and oldness is no vice. Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist. Nothing is inferior for being old, and nothing is valuable for being modern.
• If my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God's passion.
• The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness.
• All heroes are shadows of Christ.
• The sunbeams of blessing in our lives are bright in and of themselves. They also give light to the ground where we walk. But there is a higher purpose for these blessings. God means for us to do more than stand outside them and admire them for what they are. Even more, he means for us to walk into them and see the sun from which they come. If the beams are beautiful, the sun is even more beautiful. God's aim is not that we merely admire his gifts, but even more, his glory.
• Be pleased which way soever things shall go, for that the scales are still in God's hand.
• Love is not Christ's making much of us or making life easy. Love is doing what he must do, at great cost to himself (and often to us), to enable us to enjoy making much of him forever.

Day 1 & 2 of owning a bicycle

owning a bicycle in boston is kind of frightening!! yesterday was day 1 of having a bike in my possession. pretty rough. hit my leg pretty hard while trying to stop and get off the bike, got grease all over (both legs, mid-thigh, both hands) and experienced the anxiety of possibly getting hit by something for the very first time. I've been walking it a lot--yesterday because I didn't have the lights/reflectors and it was evening when I picked it up, and this morning to work because I've been using the sidewalks and wanting to get off to cross the road. the other bikers in boston probably think I'm a joke! haha! but I'd rather be safe and hold off on the use of the bike lane until I feel more comfortable...

rode it to work this morning, which did save some time, I think, until I had to lock up my bike to those intensive bike racks, oy. took about 6-7 minutes to lock it up because the key wouldn't turn (something must have been lose?). I'm praying it will become more of a help than a burden! I do feel like I exerted less energy getting here though. will continue with bicycle adventure updates (aka me trying not to wipe out and break everything). that all being said, happy morning.

Deep breath

taking a deep breath tonight... because tomorrow brings the beginning of another long stretch of work and school work (to come). here I am... summing up my time at home in a list...

• watched bachelor pad (why why why and how did I get suckered into this?)
• purchased amazon mp3 download of the hillsong live album, a beautiful exchange
• baked apple crumbles (two attempts)
• threw together a lightly breaded sweet mustard flavored chicken entree
• learned how to make mochi balls with my mother, added them to a hobbak juk (butternut squash porridge)
• finally went to forever 21 and made a few purchases (and tried on a million $14 jeans to no avail)
• ate a lot of junk food... (I'm coming back a fatty)
• went to the playground with asher, my sister & bro in law
• cried, whined, raised my voice, screamed, laughed
• felt desperate for God
• received news about my financial aid, finally (thank You God)
• drove to the farmer's market and bought 7 apples for $2
• spent quality time with my cute cute nephew
• helped prepare for his birthday party... making things are fun...
• dyed my hair brown (but it looks the same)

ah. I'll miss being here... I'll miss the suburban setting. family. sleeping in. and being completely unaware of what the clock reads. now it is back to Boston... city life, waking up early, and mega loads of responsibility. prepare me, O God... I don't feel rested enough, but I'm about to plunge back into such a busy lifestyle! equip me... and go before me... in Jesus' name.

Reflecting on home

being home is more often than not a sobering experience. it fills my portion of the day-to-day slow paced, slow going reality of life. oh my Lord, things are not as they should be. You know this more than anyone. somehow at home this truth is more evident than I could ever prepare myself to know. I know I've grown because of my capacity to yet embrace this time for what it is. yet will I praise You, Savior, Christ Jesus.

"Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save." Isaiah 46:4

The sun shall no longer be your light by day
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
and your God your glory.
Your sun shall no longer go down
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.

Also your people shall all be righteous;
They shall inherit the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation,
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.

Isaiah 60:19-22

I ache so desperately for the day of no more tears and no more pain. no more darkness. an end to these samples of poverty. no more blaming myself. no more insecurities and discontent with the level of my abilities (or lack there of). no more self-inflicted wounds. maranatha

wedding daydreams

all images have been gathered by various other authors' talented entries.

I have been experiencing heights of joy these days. sometimes though I've been surprised by this edginess that randomly surfaces; it just comes and goes so swiftly that I find it hard to avoid. a reminder that I am in need of so much grace.

life contains a rich spectrum full of beauty. and that is an understatement still. though the ill circumstances remain... I am not phased. I have been endowed a greater understanding of God's provisions and awareness of His perfect character now. and that is the recipe to finding life's beauty. the absence of fear. to live with vision. to learn how to love Christ more and to radiate that love into the world. these things give me a healthy appetite for what the days ahead have in store.

went to watch othello in the commons on sunday. so good. I love spending days outside and feeling a sense of community with people I don't even know. a well spent summer day. I am excited for the arrival of autumn and new faces bustling about the campus. autumn breeds a feeling of nostalgia and romance that tickles my consciousness. but for now, it is august! I refuse to miss a moment of the fun.