the best (last) Sunday

What does it take to make my last Sunday here this summer into one of the best days I've had? A combination of God, friends, fun, and food, that's what.

This morning at church, I had the privelege of being shown how God took care of my recent roommate situation in a way that surpassed all of my expectations. Here's the short story: we lost one of our housemates because she transferred to another school, and we needed to find another roommate or we'd have to pay for an extra room in the Spring. I immediately thought of a girl I know who was in need of housing, but I wasn't sure if I should ask her to live with us in the theme house or not. I talked to my remaining housemates and prayed about it, but never did feel sure as to what to do. Then, the other day, Jessie called me and said she'd found some other girl for our house... she had been set up with a single room in Arend (a dorm), but would rather live with us at the house. I said it sounded good, and assumed that the roommate situation was wrapped up and done with.

But God had something more up his sleeve. At church I talked to the other girl's mom and asked if her daughter had found housing. And she had: just a couple days ago she was able to get a single room in Arend, right as she was deciding whether or not to return to school. Coincidence? I think not. But wait, there's more: singles cost more than doubles, and that same day a man that she barely knows (and who knew nothing about the situation!) gave this girl a gift of money for school, in the exact amound she needed. God clearly had his hand in this one... what an incredible blessing.


This afternoon, Greg, Beth, and Nate came over to my house (G&B for the first time!) and we had a delicious meal of fruit (lots of fruit) and Mom and Dad's amazing hamburgers. They got to see the house, the motorhome, and the trailbikes. Beth took this picture when we were standing out on the road... how she managed to perfectly frame it and get her head in there I'll never know. She's amazing.


Nate rode the Honda Passport over when he came, and he and I went on a ride all around the island. It was really fun - I love going fast with the wind in my face (although Nate is ahead of the game - the goggles are really helpful). I think I may have done some damage to his intestines, though, when we passed an ATV and a scooter while going down a huge hill. I can't wait to practice riding around on the Phantoms... it's really too bad that they're not street legal, or I'd want to take one to work.


And here are Greg and Beth. I really don't have words for this picture... I've got a grin on my face looking at it.

We left on the 5 to go to youth gruop... Nate gave me a ride there (grin) and we played some foosball as we waited for G&B. Nate slaughtered me... really slaughtered me. I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason I was so incredibly bad is that I was laughing so dang hard, but I guess I'll never know.

At youth group we played some Extreme Duck-Duck-Goose (if you've never played, it's pretty darn funny) and then watched a DVD of Louie Giglio speaking on the Indescribable tour. He spoke about how God's glory is displayed in the cosmos, and emphasized how very, very, very, very small we are in the scheme of things. I remembered alot of stuff from when I took Astronomy (it's always been something I've been interested in), but it was really thought-provoking to realize, once again, how impossible it is to wrap your head around the numbers and distances involved. And that's only the known universe. God created all of that, he knows each star by name... and yet he loves us so much that he came here and let us forsake, mock, and murder him, all in order to save us from the sin-and-death mess that we'd gotten ourselves into.

Two things really struck me during the video: the first is the completeness of forgiveness. After considering the (literally) astronomical distances involved in the cosmos, it's mind-blowing to know that "as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:11-12). When I find myself trapped in the same sins that I've been struggling with for awhile, I get discouraged and think, how can you take me seriously, Lord, and keep forgiving me when I keep screwing up!? It's just so hard for the idea of a completely blank slate to permeate my heart. But it's right there in scripture: my sins are gone, as far away as the east is from the west.

The second thing (which is closely related to and inseparable from the first thing) is the idea that God loves me. I know, I know: this is old hat, right? I've been singing "Jesus loves me" since preschool; you'd think I'd have the concept down pat by now. But I don't. Every time I quiet myself and really think about the fact that God (who created both the ridiculously enormous universe and each bacteria that grows on an ant's antenna) loves me (who sins and fails to measure up to God's standards on a daily basis), I do a huge mental double-take. And not only does he love me, but he delights in me. It's beyond my comprehension... what a beautiful God.

As usual, there's a song that has come to mind that describes what I'm thinking: "Beautiful", from Shawn McDonald's album Simply Nothing.

I guess I'll leave you with some of Psalm 18, which I've been working (slowly) on memorizing.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call up on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.