friends are friends, not food...or is it fish?

This year I have met so many wonderful people and I would like to show some of my favorite pictures of my favorite people. This blog is really feeding my withdrawl more than anything. All these people you see in these pictures are absolutely amazing and I love them to death. It starts off with some of my favorite group "family" pictures and then the rest are random and mostly funny.

oh...the experiences

So the post is a random assortment of pictures that reflect on some of the great memories of my freshman year. They are in no particular order. here we go...

I had lots of tea parties

had one of the best birthday's I have ever had

made a new family

really...actually...saw and experienced the snow

blessed with the most amazing best friends


spend lots and lots of time on the quad

got a tattoo

fall was amazing and beautiful

saw some amazing shows...

and many many more memories. I never thought I could fall in love with a place so much. The Lord had blessed me immensely. I cannot wait to go back for another year of....

The Beginning of a New Era...or maybe just a new summer

Well, as you can see below this used to be my Old Testament blog for class. It is now turned into my Africa/maybe ongoing blog. We will see. I am so excited about Africa. It is still surreal that I am going. The Lord has blessed me abundantly and I am continually overwhelmed by His grace. I already miss Belmont sooo much. I never thought I would fall in love with my school so much. I have met the most amazing people that I love to death and that love me just as much, if not more. It is so different that home though. I like home, but it is hard being away from Belmont. Who knows what is in store for me when I get back from Africa? I am curious to see where the Lord leads me in Africa and afterward. Well I am trying to think of my top 25 or so memories from my first year of college. Hopefully I will get that posted soon. ok that is all for now.

peace and love

Esther 1-10

Summary: King Xerxes is angry when Queen Vashti will not come before him and removed her from her throne. A Jew named Mordecai allowed Hadassah, his cousin, to be taken to the kings palace as a prospective new queen. She changed her name to Esther and found favor in the king's sight. She became queen and a banquet was thrown for her. Mordecai found favor with the king when he warned him of a plot to kill him. King Xerxes gave Haman a higher honor, but Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman then set out to kill the Jews. Esther found out what was going on and told Mordecai to gather the Jews and fast for her. She was going to tell the king the truth, even if it killed her. Esther went to the king and requested to have a banquet with the king and Haman. King Xerxes agreed to spare the Jews and Haman ended up being hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai. Mordecai was honored by the king and the Jews were now feared among the people.

Response: This story of Esther is really interesting to me because it is almost scandalous in a way. This young beautiful girl lied about herself to become queen and the Lord used her to save His chosen people. Also, the lifestyle of the people in this story is so elaborate. It is quite a transition to read about the Israelites and their suffering and then to read about the people of Susa and their luxurious lives. It is amazing to see how the Lord used Esther in her situation. She remained obedient to the Lord and because of that, the Lord was faithful to the Jews. Not only that, but people in Susa were introduced the Lord, the God of the Jews, and they feared them. Haman had the complete power and authority to kill the Jews, but the Lord reigned over Haman's power and the Jews won.

Judges 1-4, 19-21

Summary: Israel captures Jerusalem. Israel rebels and the Lord rebukes them. Othniel takes over Cushan-rishtathaim. The Lord calls Ehud to deliver the Israelites. The Israelites rebel again. Deborah, the prophetess leads Barak to Sisera. Jael kills Sisera.

Response: My overall reaction to this passage what a state of disgust. Adoni-bezek got his toes and thumbs cut off, Ehud stabbed a fat king in the name of the Lord, and Jael nailed a man's head to the ground. It is hard to interpret these stories into some kind of application. In chapter 2, the Lord allowed the Israelites to suffer, but He was only doing that to teach them something. He was still merciful and watched over them. It was hard for me to understand this passage because all the grotesque violence and hatred.

Joshua 1-2, 6-9, 23-24

Summary: (1-2) The Lord commands Joshua to lead the people into the land. Joshua sends two spies to Jericho, where Rahab hides them from king of Jericho. (6-9) The Israelites marched around Jericho and the overtook and destroyed it. The Israelites run from the men of Ai and turn their backs on the Lord. Through the Lord, Joshua picks out those who have coveted and the people stoned them. The Israelites tricked Ai and burned their city and killed everyone of them. Joshua is tricked into a covenant with the inhabitants of Gibeon. (23-24) Joshua encourages and commands the people to be obedient and stay faithful to the Lord. Joshua goes over Israel's history and commands the people to serve the Lord only.

Response: In Chapter 1, one reoccurring phrase is "Be strong and courageous". I don't think that the Lord would have repeated this if things were going to be easy. It is also cool that the Lord is saying that no matter what, the people can find strength and courage in the Lord. I have always been fond of the women in the Old Testament. The story of Rahab is comforting to read because the Lord used a harlot for his purposes. Here, the Lord uses the bad for the good. In 2:11, the power and glory of the Lord is displayed. The people's hearts melted and Rahab could not deny that the Lord was the almighty God above all things. It is hard to read and understand the destruction that the Lord commands. But what is so cool, is that among this destruction and anger, there is grace. God saved Rahab, a sinful woman. She recognized the glory and the power of the Lord. Chapter 7 is crazy! I was not expecting an end like that. In today's world we are so grace minded that it is hard to wrap my head around the will of God being for them to be stoned by the people. Chapter 8 is similar to chapter 7 in that the people seem ruthless. Violence and hate seem to run through these chapters. Chapter 23 is very encouraging and instills a good fear. Joshua reminds the people that God has been faithful and to not turn away from Him because He will punish them accordingly.

Numbers 10-14, 20

Summary: The Lord tells Moses to make the two trumpets. The Israelites are led out of Sinai. The fire of the Lord came down. The Spirit came down onto the elders. The Lord spoke to Moses, Aaron and Miriam. God sends men to explore Canaan and they report back.

Response: One small observation in the beginning of this passage is the use of music. It is cool to think that they already had instruments thousands and thousands of years ago. I also love the cloud of the the Lord. I wish I had a cloud of the Lord over me to lead me everywhere! In Chapter 11, God listen to Moses' cry and lightened his burden. He was faithful to Moses and did not let him bear anything he could not handle. When the people begged for meat, it did not really satisfy them. This is evidence that nothing can truly satisfy but God. What the Lord says to Moses, Aaron and Miriam is so cool to me. He says that he will not speak to Moses in mysterious ways, but speak to him clearly. How cool to have such a communication with God! All of chapter 14 is evidence that God honors those who fear them. He is also forgiving and sovereign at the same time. He rewards those who are faithful. Chapter 20 can be hard to read because of God's punishment. Although He does punish, He does not stray away from his covenant with Moses and the Israelites.