Two words: busy week. Five more words: it will just get busier. Usually the days are long, but, fortunately, the weeks go by quickly. By now, I have fallen comfortably into my new routine of classes.
Basically three major things took place this week:
1. I do not know if I will major in biology or not. I think I might major in Biblical and theological studies for sure, and maybe Family and Human Resources, but I am not sure yet. More than likely, my mind will change again.
2. I feel like God is calling me to interact more with other Christians and fulfill the fellowship part of Christianity. Because of this, I've joined a passion group, which is a small Bible study group.
3. I feel like I actually desire God from within. Spending time with God is not just something I do anymore because it's the Christian thing to do. It's something that I look forward to and enjoy.
A few of the many interesting words and phrases learned: out and out, ossuary, calumny, emendation, paschal, concomitant, masochistic, card sharp, tie one on.
Some favorite quotations from the week:
"So I pray, Lord, that you would give me things to pray about."
"Just because it's the way we are doesn't mean it's the way we're supposed to be."-Hannah Wright
God is ever faithful. He has never failed me yet (and He never will)!
I'm always interested to hear what is going on in each of your lives, so send me an email at butterfingerleah@aim.com, since I only go on facebook on Sundays now. I especially like to hear what God is teaching you. We're in this life together.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support!
Leah Jarvie
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Week in Review Jan. 9-15
Wow! So much has happened this week. I feel like I have learned so much in just three days of classes! On Monday morning, I flew back to JBU. I am glad that my flight was in the morning because I was able to see the ground from the airplane. God gave me a new picture of His Sovereignty. It was overwhelming to look out the window because the land just seemed to stretch on for miles. I pictured the earth as God's dollhouse, and God as the person playing and moving the people.
Monday afternoon and Tuesday were spent unpacking and preparing for the upcoming semester.
On Wednesday, classes began. It was great to get into a routine again. Wednesday is my busiest day of the week in term of classes; I have 5!
8:00-8:50- New Testament
9:00-9:50- Honors: English II
11:00-11:50- Plant Biology
12:00-12:50- Introductory Psychology
4:10-6:00- Student Leadership
I am looking forward to the New Testament class, just because one of my passions is the Bible. One problem that I noticed with my schedule is that my New Testament and Honors: English II classes are at opposite ends of campus, so I have to walk really fast to be on time, and I am so used to getting to classes really early that I feel like I am late, even if I am right on time. My Student Leadership class is bound to be the most challenging, just because it will get me out of my comfort zone.
To make up for all of the classes on Wednesday, I only have one class on Thursday: Honors: Western Civilizations II at 11:30, which is right after chapel. Speaking of chapel, it felt great again to worship with such a large body of people again. It just felt great to see lots of people raising their hands in worship.
On Thursday and Friday afternoon, I had work-study at the Boys and Girls Club from 3:00-6:00. I always feel so blessed whenever I go there. Just the smile and excitement of kids playing tag make my day.
Other "small" blessings that God gave me this week: pecan pie for desert, my friend Janeen, chocolate milk, sunshine.
This semester, I am currently roommate-less, which is turning out to be quite beneficial in terms of seeking the Lord. I don't have to worry about waking my roommate up at 5 in the morning. (Unlike most college students, I like to go to bed at 9 and get up at 5.)
Words I learned this week: philology, extant, lacuna, inconcinnity, putative, lackey, adumbrate, cowl, conjugal, deleterious. Now let's see if I actually remember all of them 2 months from now!
One of my StrengthsQuest is "Input," which means I like to collect things. For me, that "thing" is information. I just love quotes. Here are some that I enjoyed and found thought-provoking this week:
Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's family
Can do it as well as you
"God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters." John Henry Jowett
"Loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength does not mean just getting by. It means we are going at life with the intent of getting something of God out of it. If we are letting life happen to us, we are not finding God in it. Life does not 'happen' to anyone. We either find God in it or we muddle through somehow. There is no middle ground." John Fischer
The last quote is from my Plant Biology textbook: "The concept of intelligent design has recently been proposed to explain many complex phenomena. Its fundamental concept is that many structures and metabolisms are too complicated to have resulted from evolution and natural selection. Instead, they must have been created by some sort of intelligent force or being. This may or may not be true, but this does not help us to analyze and understand the world; instead, it is used as an answer in itself that prevents further study. Photosynthesis is certainly complex, and it may have been designed by some intelligent being; however, believing that does not help us to understand photosynthesis at all, and it does not help us to plan future experiments. In contrast, the scientific method is a means through which we are discovering even the most subtle details of photosynthesis." James D. Mauseth
Of course, I believe that God created the world, but I really enjoyed the author's point that we can't just assert that God is the Creator and stop there. No, we are still required to carefully study this world and the things that God has made. Too many times, we are often afraid to ask questions and study things, because we may enter into unknown territory, which makes us uncomfortable. It's okay to not have all of the answers; however, I also believe that God wants us to seek those answers by seeking Him.
One thing that I have been thinking about lately is the issue of prayer. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, "Pray continually." However, it seems that once you pray for something, and you pray for it again, it could be seen as a lack of faith that God heard you the first time. So, if you'd like to respond and give me some of your input, that would be greatly appreciated. What does the discipline of prayer look like in your own life?
Blessings to everyone! Thanks for your love, prayers, and support!
Leah
Monday afternoon and Tuesday were spent unpacking and preparing for the upcoming semester.
On Wednesday, classes began. It was great to get into a routine again. Wednesday is my busiest day of the week in term of classes; I have 5!
8:00-8:50- New Testament
9:00-9:50- Honors: English II
11:00-11:50- Plant Biology
12:00-12:50- Introductory Psychology
4:10-6:00- Student Leadership
I am looking forward to the New Testament class, just because one of my passions is the Bible. One problem that I noticed with my schedule is that my New Testament and Honors: English II classes are at opposite ends of campus, so I have to walk really fast to be on time, and I am so used to getting to classes really early that I feel like I am late, even if I am right on time. My Student Leadership class is bound to be the most challenging, just because it will get me out of my comfort zone.
To make up for all of the classes on Wednesday, I only have one class on Thursday: Honors: Western Civilizations II at 11:30, which is right after chapel. Speaking of chapel, it felt great again to worship with such a large body of people again. It just felt great to see lots of people raising their hands in worship.
On Thursday and Friday afternoon, I had work-study at the Boys and Girls Club from 3:00-6:00. I always feel so blessed whenever I go there. Just the smile and excitement of kids playing tag make my day.
Other "small" blessings that God gave me this week: pecan pie for desert, my friend Janeen, chocolate milk, sunshine.
This semester, I am currently roommate-less, which is turning out to be quite beneficial in terms of seeking the Lord. I don't have to worry about waking my roommate up at 5 in the morning. (Unlike most college students, I like to go to bed at 9 and get up at 5.)
Words I learned this week: philology, extant, lacuna, inconcinnity, putative, lackey, adumbrate, cowl, conjugal, deleterious. Now let's see if I actually remember all of them 2 months from now!
One of my StrengthsQuest is "Input," which means I like to collect things. For me, that "thing" is information. I just love quotes. Here are some that I enjoyed and found thought-provoking this week:
Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's family
Can do it as well as you
"God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters." John Henry Jowett
"Loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength does not mean just getting by. It means we are going at life with the intent of getting something of God out of it. If we are letting life happen to us, we are not finding God in it. Life does not 'happen' to anyone. We either find God in it or we muddle through somehow. There is no middle ground." John Fischer
The last quote is from my Plant Biology textbook: "The concept of intelligent design has recently been proposed to explain many complex phenomena. Its fundamental concept is that many structures and metabolisms are too complicated to have resulted from evolution and natural selection. Instead, they must have been created by some sort of intelligent force or being. This may or may not be true, but this does not help us to analyze and understand the world; instead, it is used as an answer in itself that prevents further study. Photosynthesis is certainly complex, and it may have been designed by some intelligent being; however, believing that does not help us to understand photosynthesis at all, and it does not help us to plan future experiments. In contrast, the scientific method is a means through which we are discovering even the most subtle details of photosynthesis." James D. Mauseth
Of course, I believe that God created the world, but I really enjoyed the author's point that we can't just assert that God is the Creator and stop there. No, we are still required to carefully study this world and the things that God has made. Too many times, we are often afraid to ask questions and study things, because we may enter into unknown territory, which makes us uncomfortable. It's okay to not have all of the answers; however, I also believe that God wants us to seek those answers by seeking Him.
One thing that I have been thinking about lately is the issue of prayer. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, "Pray continually." However, it seems that once you pray for something, and you pray for it again, it could be seen as a lack of faith that God heard you the first time. So, if you'd like to respond and give me some of your input, that would be greatly appreciated. What does the discipline of prayer look like in your own life?
Blessings to everyone! Thanks for your love, prayers, and support!
Leah
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What God has been Teaching Me
Hey y'all,
I'm just so excited about what God is teaching me at John Brown, that I had to share it with you. This morning, when I was spending time with God, I realized that God often uproots us from the familiar in order to teach us something. The familiar for me would be LCS, my family, and the city of Howell, Michigan. The unfamiliar is JBU and Siloam Springs, Arkansas (even though I've been here for about a month and half, the place is still not "familiar" even though I know it much better than I did at first). Before I came here, I was apathetic about my spiritual life; I wasn't really spending time with God. Now, however, God is the only One whom I have (certainly I'm making friends, but it's not the same).
The first few weeks or so that I was here, I didn't spend any time with God. However, through September 16-17, I went on a retreat, and I "got in touch" with God again. I've been spending time with Him regularly each morning, and He is certainly teaching me a lot. One thing that He seems to keep on reiterating is the idea of being wholly surrendered to Him and what He would want for me. For spring break, I am thinking about going on a mission trip to Guatemala. As for the summer, I am thinking about working at one of the camps down here. However, I am not quite sure what I am doing for Christmas break yet. Certainly, it would be totally awesome to come home (and that's what I really desire). However, I'm not quite sure if that's what God wants me to do yet; He hasn't told me what direction to take. It may seem simple enough that I should just come home for Christmas, but it's not. As of now, I strongly believe that God is calling me to be a doctor, targeting mentally and physically disabled people in foreign countries. Certainly, I won't be able to come home and visit my family for Christmas when I'm in that occupation! So, I feel like it would be great preparation for the future for me to stay down here or go "home" with some other family, instead of going to Howell (if that is God's will).
I must admit that for the longest time, I was having doubts about whether I made the right decision to come here. Homesickness greatly contributed to these doubts. However, now I have absolutely no doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be. I am seeing some of the fruit of why God brought me here: to awaken me spiritually and to have a closer relationship with Him and to learn to trust Him more. If those were the only reasons that God brought me here, it would be well worth it! Don't you think? I am thoroughly convinced though that God has much more in store for me here!
Some specific things to pray for:
1. That my desire would be to desire God, and God only.
2. That I would be obedient to whatever God calls me to do.
3. That God would reveal to me what He wants me to do for Christmas break (whether come home or stay here)- and that I would be able to discern what He is telling me to do.
Thanks for all of your love, prayers, and support!
I'm just so excited about what God is teaching me at John Brown, that I had to share it with you. This morning, when I was spending time with God, I realized that God often uproots us from the familiar in order to teach us something. The familiar for me would be LCS, my family, and the city of Howell, Michigan. The unfamiliar is JBU and Siloam Springs, Arkansas (even though I've been here for about a month and half, the place is still not "familiar" even though I know it much better than I did at first). Before I came here, I was apathetic about my spiritual life; I wasn't really spending time with God. Now, however, God is the only One whom I have (certainly I'm making friends, but it's not the same).
The first few weeks or so that I was here, I didn't spend any time with God. However, through September 16-17, I went on a retreat, and I "got in touch" with God again. I've been spending time with Him regularly each morning, and He is certainly teaching me a lot. One thing that He seems to keep on reiterating is the idea of being wholly surrendered to Him and what He would want for me. For spring break, I am thinking about going on a mission trip to Guatemala. As for the summer, I am thinking about working at one of the camps down here. However, I am not quite sure what I am doing for Christmas break yet. Certainly, it would be totally awesome to come home (and that's what I really desire). However, I'm not quite sure if that's what God wants me to do yet; He hasn't told me what direction to take. It may seem simple enough that I should just come home for Christmas, but it's not. As of now, I strongly believe that God is calling me to be a doctor, targeting mentally and physically disabled people in foreign countries. Certainly, I won't be able to come home and visit my family for Christmas when I'm in that occupation! So, I feel like it would be great preparation for the future for me to stay down here or go "home" with some other family, instead of going to Howell (if that is God's will).
I must admit that for the longest time, I was having doubts about whether I made the right decision to come here. Homesickness greatly contributed to these doubts. However, now I have absolutely no doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be. I am seeing some of the fruit of why God brought me here: to awaken me spiritually and to have a closer relationship with Him and to learn to trust Him more. If those were the only reasons that God brought me here, it would be well worth it! Don't you think? I am thoroughly convinced though that God has much more in store for me here!
Some specific things to pray for:
1. That my desire would be to desire God, and God only.
2. That I would be obedient to whatever God calls me to do.
3. That God would reveal to me what He wants me to do for Christmas break (whether come home or stay here)- and that I would be able to discern what He is telling me to do.
Thanks for all of your love, prayers, and support!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A Challenge to Thank God...
I have a challenge for all of you: think of one situation, whether it be eating breakfast, or talking with a friend, etc., and thank God for all that went into it. Today, I want to thank God for everything that goes into mowing the lawn. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the way that you created me. Thank you for giving me two arms and two legs. Thank you for giving me the strength to get up. Thank you for the strength to mow the lawn. Thank you for the lawn mower itself. How blessed we are to have one! Thank you, Father, for good-working ears that can hear the music my Ipod plays. Thank you, Lord, for the Ipod itself. Thank you for the opportunity to serve my family by mowing the lawn. I am so incredibly blessed, Lord! Thank you for your love, O God! Amen.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Chapel 5/31/11
Today, the last chapel song of the year was "Here I am to Worship." It was during this song at Camp Michawana that the Spirit broke my spirit, and I became really emotional. I ended up praying with a counselor and accepting Christ into my life. Thus, this song is very special to me. Today, when I was singing it, I was just praying in my spirit that whoever wasn't a Christian there would accept Christ, especially a certain someone. I know that God is working in that person's life and drawing the person to Himself. I hope one day the person will be able to proudly call himself/herself a child of God. Then I believe that the person's life will be a whole lot better than what it is right now.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Why I Need to Keep my Room Clean
Well, I need some motivation for keeping my room clean, so I thought that I would come up with a list of reasons for why I should keep it clean and organized. Here they are:
1. It will save me a lot of hassle in the future. I will be able to find my belongings faster.
2. It will be good practice for keeping my room neat in college.
3. I don't want to be embarrassed if people drop by unexpectedly.
4. It will honor my parents.
5. It will help me to be more disciplined, and maybe that discipline will flow over into the other areas of my life.
1. It will save me a lot of hassle in the future. I will be able to find my belongings faster.
2. It will be good practice for keeping my room neat in college.
3. I don't want to be embarrassed if people drop by unexpectedly.
4. It will honor my parents.
5. It will help me to be more disciplined, and maybe that discipline will flow over into the other areas of my life.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Makarios
This evening, I had the privilege of helping a lately depressed boy with his math lesson. God had given me a love for this boy. He usually goes to after-school care, and one of the lady who runs it asked me if I could help God's special created being with his math homework. I readily agreed. There was some stuff that was hard for me to explain to him, but we pushed through. He had been assigned 2-48 even, and we got the problems done before 5:00 (when school gets out at 3:20, and I probably didn't start helping him until 3:35 or so)! I had such an awesome feeling afterwards. I felt so privileged to be able to help this young man, even with something as simple as helping him with his homework. I don't know for sure, but I don't know if he knows Christ. Hopefully I planted a seed tonight. And hopefully things will keep looking up, as they are right now (at least, I think they are). Hopefully I showed this boy Christ's love. I felt blessed afterward. I wonder if this is what "makarios" is. If so, then I am makarios. What a wonderful way to spend my time. I don't regret it at all!
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