I thought I would give a little laugh for you all!
So, our right sink in our apartment bathroom has always been slow to drain, but we've never bothered to get it fixed. Then yesterday, the tub starts filling up while I am in the shower. Of course, I determined it must be that the pipes in general just need unclogging. So, I submitted a work request for it to be fixed.
Later that night, Hannah yells from the bathroom and informs me that it was just that the drain pull was pulled shut.
Haha.
:)
Easy fix, hey?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
I'm the Janitor
The other day we were watching a movie in one of my education classes. It was a very insightful movie about how segregation still rears its ugly head in modern day America. There were a lot of things I agreed with.
And yet, something gnawed at me the whole time. The movie talked about how it was often assumed that people of certain ethnic backgrounds would be better off working with their hands, doing jobs such as janitor work or construction or potentially a trade. Consequently, in schools those people were often put into lower track courses, and did not end up going on to "bigger" things.
While I do agree that it is atrocious that a person be academically categorized by his ethnic background instead of his intellectual capabilities, I was very sad to see the disgust displayed for jobs like being a janitor or working with your hands. Our society has slowly shifted to see a college education followed by a "good" job as the only respectable track for a person. Being a janitor, a maid, a fast food worker, a physical laborer, a factory worker - all these things are looked down on as jobs.
As Christians, should we really let ourselves get pulled into that thinking? Why should we find a job mopping floors any less respectable than a job in an accounting firm? This system of "respectability" is something that we've created. Janitors, maids, fast food workers, and the like are a vital part of our society.
Am I suggesting that we shouldn't encourage students to reach high and get the most out of their education? Of course not! What I am suggesting is that we rethink how we view different jobs. Shouldn't a Christian be able to be content flipping burgers and do that for the glory of God? Now, when we've been given gifts in another area, great, let's use them. However, let's learn a little more respect for the jobs everyone else looks down on.
A thought for the day: If you were given a new job as a janitor in a high school, could you do it without feeling ashamed? Could you do it for the rest of your life and praise GOD with your work? Maybe it's time for us to double check how much of the world's way of thinking has entered our own thought patterns.
And yet, something gnawed at me the whole time. The movie talked about how it was often assumed that people of certain ethnic backgrounds would be better off working with their hands, doing jobs such as janitor work or construction or potentially a trade. Consequently, in schools those people were often put into lower track courses, and did not end up going on to "bigger" things.
While I do agree that it is atrocious that a person be academically categorized by his ethnic background instead of his intellectual capabilities, I was very sad to see the disgust displayed for jobs like being a janitor or working with your hands. Our society has slowly shifted to see a college education followed by a "good" job as the only respectable track for a person. Being a janitor, a maid, a fast food worker, a physical laborer, a factory worker - all these things are looked down on as jobs.
As Christians, should we really let ourselves get pulled into that thinking? Why should we find a job mopping floors any less respectable than a job in an accounting firm? This system of "respectability" is something that we've created. Janitors, maids, fast food workers, and the like are a vital part of our society.
Am I suggesting that we shouldn't encourage students to reach high and get the most out of their education? Of course not! What I am suggesting is that we rethink how we view different jobs. Shouldn't a Christian be able to be content flipping burgers and do that for the glory of God? Now, when we've been given gifts in another area, great, let's use them. However, let's learn a little more respect for the jobs everyone else looks down on.
A thought for the day: If you were given a new job as a janitor in a high school, could you do it without feeling ashamed? Could you do it for the rest of your life and praise GOD with your work? Maybe it's time for us to double check how much of the world's way of thinking has entered our own thought patterns.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hymns in the Dark
This week has been very, very busy. I think the honest truth is that I am a person that likes to have space in the day with nothing going on. I like a schedule, but not for every moment that I am awake. Probably, to the average person, this week would not have been daunting. However, being that I am an April, it was tiring.
One night this week, I was feeling particularly helpless. So, I called my dear friend Rosemary and we walked down to the soccer field. We sat in the dark and sang a few hymns. I love that. I love that part of being a Christian. I love that part of going to school with other Christians. I love how worship (be it prayer, singing hymns, or reading the Word) always brings you a sense of peace and joy. Not that any of those things are magical in and of themselves: but there is a powerful God that we encounter in a very real way through those means of worship.
The Holy Spirit has been working in some crazy ways. Firstly, in making me more and more aware of my sin. It stinks...., but it's great. The less confidence I have in the flesh, the more I trust in my True Anchor. It's painful to see how unrighteous you are. Secondly, the Spirit has been leading me exactly where He wants me. I can't tell you how many times that He has (literally) redirected my steps through some random event so that I run into someone that needs to talk. Even when I am not aware, He is at work.
I have a Living Hope. Awesome.
If you're praying for me, here are some ways you can pray:
1. Pray for my walk with the Lord. Ask Him to challenge me, to stretch me, but to help me hold on. Ask Him to break me off all the pride left in me and give me confidence through Jesus.
2. Pray for my little sister! She's doing great here at Covenant. Please keep praying for God to grow her.
3. Pray for my grandpa. He's been in a lot of pain from his back lately.
4. Pray for my relationship with my boyfriend. Ask the Lord to help us see how to best support each other, and just to guide our relationship where He wants it to go.
5. Pray for the students down in the apartments. Pray that God would pull our community together. (We have picnic on Sunday!)
6. Pray for my future, that God would take me wherever He wants me. Pray that I would truly be willing to go wherever He leads.
I hope you're all doing well!
One night this week, I was feeling particularly helpless. So, I called my dear friend Rosemary and we walked down to the soccer field. We sat in the dark and sang a few hymns. I love that. I love that part of being a Christian. I love that part of going to school with other Christians. I love how worship (be it prayer, singing hymns, or reading the Word) always brings you a sense of peace and joy. Not that any of those things are magical in and of themselves: but there is a powerful God that we encounter in a very real way through those means of worship.
The Holy Spirit has been working in some crazy ways. Firstly, in making me more and more aware of my sin. It stinks...., but it's great. The less confidence I have in the flesh, the more I trust in my True Anchor. It's painful to see how unrighteous you are. Secondly, the Spirit has been leading me exactly where He wants me. I can't tell you how many times that He has (literally) redirected my steps through some random event so that I run into someone that needs to talk. Even when I am not aware, He is at work.
I have a Living Hope. Awesome.
If you're praying for me, here are some ways you can pray:
1. Pray for my walk with the Lord. Ask Him to challenge me, to stretch me, but to help me hold on. Ask Him to break me off all the pride left in me and give me confidence through Jesus.
2. Pray for my little sister! She's doing great here at Covenant. Please keep praying for God to grow her.
3. Pray for my grandpa. He's been in a lot of pain from his back lately.
4. Pray for my relationship with my boyfriend. Ask the Lord to help us see how to best support each other, and just to guide our relationship where He wants it to go.
5. Pray for the students down in the apartments. Pray that God would pull our community together. (We have picnic on Sunday!)
6. Pray for my future, that God would take me wherever He wants me. Pray that I would truly be willing to go wherever He leads.
I hope you're all doing well!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Where am I going?
Where am I going? It's not at all that I feel at loss with what to do with my life. Well, at least not for lack of options. There are SO many things I would love to do. I would love to teach in the States. I would love to be a missionary to another country. I would love to go to school again and get another degree in counseling. I would love to work with kids in a non-school related program too. I would love to write. I would love to just be a mom and a wife. I would love to work with youth in a church. I would love to do so much.
But where is God going to take me? The honest truth, my friends, is I don't really know. I hoped that maybe this summer He would just put a place on my heart and I would know where I was going. I think we all just like to know what's going to happen next- it's a little bit of responsibility mixed with our sinful desire to play God and control and understand everything.
Today during Convocation (woohoo! 2010-2011 school year!), Dr. Haddad, a professor I highly respect, read from Hebrews 11. Verse eight stuck out to me: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Even Abraham did not understand what all God was up to. He did not even know where He was going! God does not always give us those hints as to where we are supposed to be. I was just so encouraged to hear that. I've just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other, pursuing a closer relationship with my Lord, desiring His will and His glory. Then, I will end up where I am supposed to be.
I realize that that is not the necessary main interpretation of that verse, but I think that I have every reason to draw huge comfort from it. Life is busy and good. Better yet, God is good.
Loving. Living. Loving living,
April
But where is God going to take me? The honest truth, my friends, is I don't really know. I hoped that maybe this summer He would just put a place on my heart and I would know where I was going. I think we all just like to know what's going to happen next- it's a little bit of responsibility mixed with our sinful desire to play God and control and understand everything.
Today during Convocation (woohoo! 2010-2011 school year!), Dr. Haddad, a professor I highly respect, read from Hebrews 11. Verse eight stuck out to me: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Even Abraham did not understand what all God was up to. He did not even know where He was going! God does not always give us those hints as to where we are supposed to be. I was just so encouraged to hear that. I've just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other, pursuing a closer relationship with my Lord, desiring His will and His glory. Then, I will end up where I am supposed to be.
I realize that that is not the necessary main interpretation of that verse, but I think that I have every reason to draw huge comfort from it. Life is busy and good. Better yet, God is good.
Loving. Living. Loving living,
April
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Little Sister's Here!
Well, I'm starting to feel good. The apartment is fully unpacked, we're just waiting on getting our curtains up. My little sister is here and in middle of orientation. I've gotten to see a LITTLE more of my boyfriend. :) Life is good.
The other night I was reading through Ruth. Originally, the plan was only a chapter, but you just can't stop in the middle of a story like that. It was really neat to ponder just how incredible the story really is. Ruth rejects the chance at a "normal" life with her own people to follow a foreign mother-in-law into hard circumstances. Not only that, but she also chooses to leave behind the gods she knew and follow the God of Israel. Throughout the book, Ruth's loyalty and dedication are hard to believe. I cannot fathom the amount of hard work that she willingly took on.
The the coolest part though is how you see the hint of Jesus, as the book ends with her descendants all the way to David. What an awesome way for God to honor her, by letting her be part of the line of Christ! Of course, there are many deeper parallels to the gospel, but I think we'll just scratch the surface for now.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A Week In
I have been in Georgia for a week now, just about. Wow! RA training has kept me super busy, just today I finally got all of my stuff unpacked in my apartment. (Pictures will come soon!) There are a million things I could say, but I want to get to bed early.
I do want to ask for your prayers quickly. Please just pray that God will help me to learn well during the rest of training, and that He will work through me. Pray that He would enable me to do a good job as an RA, but also keep me incredibly humble. Pray that the cross would be ever before me. Pray for my sanctification and God's glorification.
More stories and information on life will follow as soon as I get a chance. God is good!
I do want to ask for your prayers quickly. Please just pray that God will help me to learn well during the rest of training, and that He will work through me. Pray that He would enable me to do a good job as an RA, but also keep me incredibly humble. Pray that the cross would be ever before me. Pray for my sanctification and God's glorification.
More stories and information on life will follow as soon as I get a chance. God is good!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Home
I've been home for six days now! It's hard to believe. It feels like I just got here. Life has been really busy for the past few days, and it doesn't really settle down.
I just had surgery on my knee yesterday. Praise God, it was much less serious than anticipated! I am looking at a quick recovery! Right now, of course, I am struggling to be patient with being out of commission, so I would still appreciate prayers! Please also pray that I can figure out how to squeeze in a doctor's appointment before I leave for school next week.
I am planning on continuing to blog this next year, about once a week. I may not be in Mexico anymore, but GOD still continues to teach me on a daily basis. I love to share all that I am learning. Any of you that would like are welcome to continue to follow my blog.
I am also working (slow but sure) on a summary of the summer. I hope to post that on my blog for you all, but I will also be sending it out to those of you that so generously supported me financially and in prayer this summer. Thank you for being part of what God has done!
Until later!
April Joy
I just had surgery on my knee yesterday. Praise God, it was much less serious than anticipated! I am looking at a quick recovery! Right now, of course, I am struggling to be patient with being out of commission, so I would still appreciate prayers! Please also pray that I can figure out how to squeeze in a doctor's appointment before I leave for school next week.
I am planning on continuing to blog this next year, about once a week. I may not be in Mexico anymore, but GOD still continues to teach me on a daily basis. I love to share all that I am learning. Any of you that would like are welcome to continue to follow my blog.
I am also working (slow but sure) on a summary of the summer. I hope to post that on my blog for you all, but I will also be sending it out to those of you that so generously supported me financially and in prayer this summer. Thank you for being part of what God has done!
Until later!
April Joy
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