Friday, February 25, 2011

Little fun on Friday

In an old house on the Hill, not really covered in vines
Live four single girls with very busy lives.
They leave the house way before nine
In heels and rain boots and sneakers so fine.
By God's providence, I call this house mine.
LY is not afraid of mice
JJ plays piano and even shovels ice
To gluten, eggs, and dairy foods,
JR just says "pooh pooh!"

Throwing it back to old school bedtime books for a little sneak peak into the awesomeness that is - very originally named - The House.

Hugely thankful to live with three women who love the Lord supremely, watch over my life carefully, and help me fight sin daily. Not to mention, who have super sweet dance moves, that very much resemble this:

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Romans 5:1-11
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT US, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone dies for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through this life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

A few weeks ago TG spoke on Sunday evening and asked “if you are discouraged, what is it that you are putting your hope in?” To put this into a statement: what discourages/disappoints you shows what you are putting hope in. The cause of disappointment is hoping in what can and does not deliver what’s expected. But Romans 5:5 says, “hope does not disappoint, (why?) because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” If my hope were in God, I would not be disappointed. That I am discouraged/disappointed reveals the truth that my heart hopes in things other than God.

Disappointment comes when I hope in something that cannot and has not promised to hold the weight of my hope; it is because I have put my hope in things that cannot deliver, cannot withstand that hope. MD often reminds us that Christians must lean the whole weight of their lives, all their hope, into Jesus. He is able and willing to support that weight, and proved it by bearing it on the cross and then rising from the grave, reigning victorious over that weight. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… we have now been justified by his blood…saved from God’s wrath through him!”If you are a Christian, your hope is not just a wish or an ideal that you want to come true. No, the Christian’s hope is secure, it is a promise – Christ has died for you, you are justified by his blood, saved from God’s wrath. The Christian’s hope is a sure thing, hope does not disappoint.

Psalm 42:5 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

A way to give - The Cohesion Project

From the man who brings you peanut butter italian ice, lets you park in his lot when the beach is packed, and only really works about 7 months out of the year, comes an inspiring documentary about three men who have cerebral palsy. One of them teaches special education in New Jersey and climbed Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. Another won NBC's Last Comic Standing Season 4 and is a member of the U.S. Paralympics Soccer Team. The third was a successful VP at Merrill Lynch before founding IPS, which has partnered with PepsiCo, Target and Goldman Sachs.

While this might not be as yummy as a squeeze cup of pistachio ice and vanilla soft-serve, it's just as refreshing, and doesn't get your hands all sticky when it melts. (if you live on the Jersey Shore then you know what I'm talking about).

Watch the video below, and click here to donate. For all you hipsters out there, if you give, you could say that you contributed to a hip and up-and-coming documentary, which gives you the same number of points as rocking a pair of skinny jeans with a vest.

Happy giving!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Mr. C.H.

"We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. 
Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy."

- Spurgeon

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Giving

The inspiration for this blog comes from my work – yes, I just heard your “blech,” but hang with me… So work is work, and while there are many blech feelings, there are five million and 3/4 reasons why I love Razoo. Here are just a smidgen…

1. Coffee: If you’ve seen our electronic “barista”, you know what I’m talkin' bout. Kind of high maintenance, but keeps the office running on soy cappuccinos.
2. Snacks: Chocolate covered pretzels, dried mango, smoked almonds, milano cookies, nutella, Kashi, yuummmm.
3. Attire: I’m automatically overdressed for work in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, since at least I leave my shoes on all day.
4. Office supplies: Superflulous amounts of florescent sticky notes and retractable sharpies, but always lacking pens... yet another of life’s great mysteries.
5. Furniture: Exercise balls to sit on when restless and a broken couch dressed in a questionable shade of green
6. Décor: pictures of smiling children, subtle lime green accents and random yellow coat racks
7. Location, location, location: 12 minute (10 min 12 sec if I book it) walk to Trader Joes!
8. Resources: My own techteam on hand to fix the newest crisis involving any piece of plastic that plugs in, runs on a battery, and/or connects to the internet
9. Did I mention snacks and coffee?

Aside from the obvious perks, one of the best parts of my job is exposure to incredible people who are selflessly spending their lives serving others. This is also one of the hardest parts of my job. I am a do-er, but job requires that I be a sit-er. I live behind a computer screen twice the size of my TV, and read amazing stories of people that are doing things - teaching English in Cambodia, building houses in Honduras, rescuing orphans in China, healing the sick in Vietnam, creating a sustainable economy in East Africa, restoring hope in Pakistan, while I just sit. Many days I get fluttering of anxiety “why am I just sitting here?”

This can be a healthy encouragement to consider the needs of others and do what I can to help, an exhortation to stop being self-absorbed, but more often than not, this anxiety reveals my lack of trust in God's sovereignty and sufficiency.

I am prone believe the lies that I have to "do" to earn God's favor, that I have the ultimate power to fix things, and that my life is all about me. The truth is that my every breath is give to me not because I have merited it, but because I have been created by a good God. A God who has prepared good works for me to both walk in, as well as at times to “sit” in. God made me a human being, not a human-doing, and thus did not pick me due to my abilities or even potential. He does not demand performance as if he is holding a cosmic scouting combine, He lovingly equips me to be faithful with that to which He has called me. That may mean that I pack up my life, get on an airplane, and spend the rest of my life overseas. Or not . Regardless of location or position, I am called to be a loyal and faithful citizen of God's kingdom. Right now, that looks like sitting behind a computer screen, respecting my boss, loving my co-workers, serving our clients, and helping others to be faithful in other places.

I hope this blog will be a place where I can brag about the amazing things that people using Razoo are doing around the world, and here at home. I hope it is a place to praise God for all that He has given us to faithfully steward. Whether this inspires you to go, or whether this inspires you to remain where you are, I pray that it will encourage you to be faithful and remember that it's not all about you (or me).

Happy giving!