RockinforJesus123's Xanga

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Sun, 06 May 2007 10:56:06 GMT

Wow. This year is quickly racing towards the end. I have my AP French exam tomorrow, family coming on Wednesday, JSB Friday, final soccer games, last projects to turn in, SATs and finals to look forward to in these next few weeks. Though it is a busy time of year, I enjoy it over all the others. Partially because of the beautiful weather and the promise of summer memories and travels, but also because it gives me a time to reflect upon what i have learned this year. I can truly say that this year has been the hardest and richest year of my life. So many lessons learned, so many hardships endured, joy and sadness, pain and the gift of being healed, friendships lost and gained, losing pride, gaining humility, learning patience and trust, realizing how small i am and how big God is. The thing that stands out to me most as i remember what God has taught me, is that His grace is sufficient for me. I can never do enough to deserve it or try to merit his gift. That's why it is called grace. I've learned that God is more loving than disappointed, more forgiving than judging, more kind than angry, and more Father than Power.
I feel that I have been set free this year, from a lifetime of trying to be enough, to the liberty of delighting in my insufficiency. It was not by my own doing. I did not go to God and ask Him to draw me to Him. He sought me out as a loving Friend and kept knocking on my door until I woke up and answered. He is an awesome God.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:50:41 GMT

Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Hold her tight for us, Jesus.

Spring?

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:23:28 GMT

Here it is April and I'm "home" in Fuessen. We've had some lovely weather here. Lots of sunshine. I've been outside a lot, reading on the back porch, going on walks and bike rides...Mom and Tim planted flowers yesterday and wouldn't you know it...it snowed. hmm...Spring was here...where did it go? Nonetheless it is still quite beautiful. Where else can you be downtown and have a postcard view of the alps and Neuschwanstein? If only traveling didn't cost so much... I'd have all my friends come out here and visit. It's breathtaking!

On Friday we leave on a charter bus to go to Italy...Tuscany to be more specific. I hope it's fun...even if the bus is full of senior citizens..=) And then the following Friday I'm going up to Hannover to visit with old friends.

That's what's going to be happening...but seeing as i haven't updated in over a month, let me fill you in on what's been going on...
The last couple of weeks at BFA have been stressful, overwhelming, exciting, fun, hard, rich and blessed.
God's been teaching me a few things about grace and I've had good conversations with people about that. He's also showed me through others how much He cares for me.
School stuff was getting pretty tough...too much to do and no end in sight for quite a while. But I did get the chance to hang out with friends i hadn't hung out with in a long time. Very meaningful talks....I hadn't had very many of those in some time. And then of course...soccer. It's sooo fun. I love getting out on the field in snow, rain or sun and just forgetting about everything else, pushing myself, and just having fun. I LOVE it!

That's all folks!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:34:01 GMT

It has been a while.
The weather has just been too beautiful lately to spend time in front of the computer.
Oh yes. I've been to Spain recently. It was lovely. I had so much fun and I miss it. Miss V did an awesome job organizing everything. I applaud her...standing up.
SO....I've been running the beautiful hills of Kandern lots lately. It's good fun. Mainly to get ready for soccer, but when the weather is so wonderfully sunny and warm, I am mucho more motivated. The other day I thought I was in heaven for a moment while I was running....but then I noticed my sore legs and realized that I couldn't be in heaven after all...but I did get a glimpse of it, for sure. I usually like sunrises more than sunsets, but this one...whew! It took my breath away (or maybe it was the hill I was running up). Seriously...even the TREES shimmered pinkish in the glow of the sun. wow. so pretty. It makes me wonder how people can choose not to believe in a Creator. Something so incredible...a coincidence? I don't think so. Anyways all that to say, I am very happy at this early spring (if it stays this way) and I am getting SO excited for soccer...good times, lots of laughter, days getting longer, weather getting warmer, creeking... wow. ahh. (that is a satisfying sigh, not a scream.)
there have been not so joyful things happening, too. But I shall not dwell on them....one of them being my lousy English grade on the essay. I hate it when you completely miss the point. oh well.
I am going home on Thursday. I am happy to finally get to see where my parentals live these days. And I am praying for snow, so we can ski. That would be lovely...or prodigious. or prodigidous in that guy from October Sky 's words...well, word. it's a happy word. and it's a vocab word. I like it.
Ok...moving on now. Miss Young (math) is back. This makes me happy. Just in case you didn't know yet.
Well, my friends, I think I shall rap this up. Have a lovely day.

IT'S SNOWING!

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:05:31 GMT

Life is simply beautiful. I have so many reasons to be thankful right about now.

God is the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me. I have never felt so unworthy, and yet so accepting of His love. I wish there were words that accurately describe Him to the fullest.

My life is so blessed. My heart is full.

He really cares. For me. He really knows me. My heart. He really wants to heal. My soul.

Fruit is delicious

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:09:02 GMT

I had five oranges today. and an apple. and like three plums. yummy.

Merry Christmas

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 11:15:47 GMT

Another Christmas comes and goes...

It's been lovely being with family. For the second time in a row! Yesterday we did our traditional Christmas Day activities...basketball, football and soccer! It was good to finally get some exercise again. I've missed running and such, cause of my back, and i'm actually sore today...pretty sad, but it feels good at the same time.

We had our "Verabschiedungs Gottesdienst", our farewell in church today. It was really sad. I was able to hold back tears, but when my dad was up at the pulpit giving a final blessing and his eyes watered up, as I looked back to see my older sister blinking furiously and my mom dabbing her eyes, my vision became blurry, too. Lord, I'm going to miss this place.

Please, if you would, pray that I have a good closing time here, these last couple of weeks, with friends I have known and loved all my life. Helen Pak, I'm thinking of you and praying for you!

The clouds are like dust beneath His feet

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:08:41 GMT

Today was simply beautiful.

I walked out the door into a delicious world of color. As I made my way down the Feuerbacherstrasse a verse came to mind. "The clouds are like dust beneath His feet."

Beams of early light were creeping up over the hills, gently extending their long fingers and tickling the clouds, making them blush into shades of gold, soft rose, salmon pink, lavender, and deep violet. I walked slowly, drinking in the beauty of the sunrise. The sea of pastel clouds enhanced the silhouette of the usually so murky trees, making their bark perfectly black, as though carved from ebony.

A hazy cloud of fog deliberately wound its way around the church steeple, a spiral staircase, lent to those majestic feet. A velvety carpet to cushion His steps as He rose to the top of His temple, where He perched, observing the beauty of His creation, His greatest love, His children.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 18:47:06 GMT

I had fun in Freiburg. I didn't really get much Christmas shopping done...but it was fun anyway. It made me long for Hannover, though. I can't wait to go shopping in Hannover. A place that isn't so crowded (or won't be when I go shopping, cause all the german people will still be in school!!), one that I'm familiar with.

Our outreach was good, too. Our second time performing the mime got a bit interesting, because a car pulled up and parked right in front of us....but we managed. I got to talk to some people, too. After the first time, I talked to a group of guys who were probably just a couple of years older than I...not to put them in categories or anything, but they were the intellectual type...you know people who have thought issues through and aren't in the least bit oblivious. A couple of them were pretty inconsiderate, but two of them were actually respectful. They didn't agree with me, but weren't caught up in defending their points of view like the others. They obviously thought about everything I said, and weren't just in it for the discussion....you know the who-can-defend-their-opinion-the-best kind of deal. But let me tell you, there was some serious spiritual warfare going on. At first it was really hard...then I started praying. and i heard another bfaer who wasn't out talking to people say to others...pray you guys. And the words came. Verses kept popping into my mind, and i had no idea where they were coming from. I kept talking and afterwards thought about it and said to myself...what was I saying? How did i come up with those analogies? How in the world was I able to counter that argument?....and i know the answer. I wasn't. GOD gave me everything I said to those guys. That was the coolest part of my weekend. And I asked the guys if I could pray for them, and I can, and I do.

After that, I talked to this guy and his mother...IN FRENCH! It was exciting.

All I want for Christmas, is for God to water those seeds that were planted yesterday. Please, Lord, answer my prayer. Put godly people in the lives of these individuals, people to come along side of them and draw them to You. Your will be done.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:29:45 GMT

So...

I had a lovely time at Christmas Banquet. I know I got a bunch of pictures with a lot of people...but not on my camera....so if i got one with you, i'd appreciate it if you could send them to me... ellenm.mcadam@googlemail.com ...yeah...thanks.

Anyways. I've been thinking a lot about peace lately. I've come to realize that when i'm not at peace, i don't function well in other areas. And that peace only comes through trusting God fully and completely.

The baptisms today were amazing. I love witnessing how God compels others. And watching people gladly profess their faith. God is such a good God. I'm filled with wonder.

My daddy wrote me an email at Christmas Banquet. I cried. Thanks, Dad. I love you.