Satisfaction
Are we ever going to be satisfied? What does that even mean? The dictionary defines the word satisfaction like this... 1) gratification: the feeling of pleasure that comes when a need or desire is fulfilled, 2) fulfillment: the fulfillment of a need, claim, or desire, 3) happiness with something: happiness with the way that something has been arranged or done, 4) freedom from doubt: the assurance that something has been fully explained or settled. Gratification. We need God and hopefully we want Him. Do we feel pleasure from that? We should. Just knowing that we are dependant on God, that we need Him should be a constant reminder of our satisfaction from the Lord.Fulfillment. God fulfills everything, every expectation, want, need, and desire in a way that is just for us. There is no fulfillment apart from God.Happiness with something. Trusting God enough to allow Him to do or arrange something for us is being satisfied.Freedom from doubt. Jesus came into this world so that we could know God on a personal level. Satan has no place in our lives because where light shines darkness cannot live. That can't be taken away. That is satisfaction in the Lord.So what does this all mean? It means that true satisfaction comes from the Father and from knowing Him. It is impossible to be completely satisfied apart from God. This means that when we look to the things and people of this world they can never completely statisfy us because they can't fulfill all of those requirements. Why don't we feel satisfied when we do have God? We're not letting God be our gratification, our fulfillment, our happiness, or our freedom. God's desire is to be these for us, but we have to let Him. It seems so simple and it can be, but as humans we complicate it. We need to let God be God. Letting the Spirit in gives the Lord our lives. Don't take it back. I don't think God likes takesies backsies very much. :o) I say all of this as a reminder to myself as well as others. How many times have we tried to find satifaction in our friends and family, the opposite sex, and our possesions only to be dissappointed? This is why we MUST allow our satisfaction to come from God. He has given us these things while we are here because He wants us to be happy and He wants us to enjoy ourselves. But he knows that they are temporary things. The Father is forever. I hope you're satisfied in Him today.
Baby Kayla
Kayla Nicole, 6 months
Kayla Nicole, 9 months. Yeah, check out all that hair! She has a fro!
one crazy weekend!
Crazy doesn't even begin to describe my weekend. I headed up to IL on friday... a trip that should take 3 and a half hours, took 5. I picked up my niece, Kayla and headed to my sister's house. Terry (my sister's fiance) and their neighbor decided to build a bonfire pit out of an old barrel, so obviously we had a bonfire from 7pm-2am. However, I didn't get to bed until almost 5am. There was a pleasant, yet unexpected visit from a person that I'm "getting to know better". Let's just say it was a really good time. ;o) I got up 3 hours later on Saturday morning because Kayla always gets up early. We hung out with the neighbors for a few hours once they all dragged themselves out of their beds. Anyway, after that we got ready and headed to my cousin's house for their daughter's 3rd birithday. I got to see all of my family I haven't seen since last Easter, I think. It was great. It's always entertaining when my dad's side of the family gets together. After the party my cousin drove me home to my sister's place and we hung out and babysat while Liz and Terry finally got a night out. My cousin, Jenniefer and I were like best friends growing up, she's 4 and a half years younger than me, but we always got along. It was great to hang with her because since I've been at college we haven't really kept in contact.Sunday I went into the city (Chicago) to see Peter, an awesome friend from high school. He's doing grad work at Northwestern right now and they're providing housing... it's huge! There's 3 stories and a roof to hang out on... it's amazing. It may not seem like it was a crazy weekend, but I can't go into too many details here, you'll have to ask me about it. Other than that, life is good. I'm almost completely healed from my back injury, classes are alright, and I finally have a facebook account! I'd love to hear how things are with whoever reads this so leave a comment or give me a call.
NLT's, NIV's, and a few plugs
It's been a while. It's been a crazy week. This past weekend we had a variety of house guests all of whom I love! Blake came up from Nashville, Steph came up from Indy, and Holly came down from Warsaw. We had a great weekend which actually started Thursday. We saw the Exorcism of Emily Rose which was good. The heart of the story is very real, which is what makes it scary. It wasn't scary for a scary movie though, if that makes any sense. Anyway we had a little dinner party here on Saturday night, which was awesome too. It was great to see friends that I haven't seen in a while. It made me feel better to see all of these people that have already graduated. While it was a great weekend, it was exhausting too, but completely worth it. Week 2 of class is almost over and I can't wait. I've never been a huge fan of school, but this year has started out horribly. From problems with advisors to not being for sure on an internship I was guaranteed by those advisors... it's been a mess. Only about 14 weeks left though, right? Um, yeah.Other than that things are going really well right now. I may get to go home this weekend (to Naperville) to see my niece and all my cousins and their kids. It's going to be a good time. Hopefully I'll make it into the city (Chicago) to see one of my favorite friends too. :o) Last night I started reading the gospel of John out of my NLT bible that I used all through high school. It was so interesting to read all of the stuff I had written and to see what I highlighted and try to remember why it was highlighted in the first place. I'm definitely not into bashing certain translations, but the NLT is way more simplified than I remembered, but I guess it was good for a new Christian trying to understand. I love that bible, but I really would like to get a new NIV. I have about 4 NIVs, but they are either pocket-size or a teen study bible. God is good anyway you read His word and He'll speak to me no matter what bible I'm reading from. Just thought I'd throw that out there.Also, a little book plug. I've mentioned Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli before and I'm going to highly recommend to to everyone. It's an easy read, but there's so much to it. One more item, I'm really behind the music world right now, mostly because I'm poor, but I just bought Caedmon's Call, Share the Well. If you're a Caedmon's fan I think you'll really like it. They have such beautiful hearts. Now that Andrew Osenga (formerly with The Normals) is a part of the band he's added his own style, but it totally fits Caedmon's style. I think they've done a brilliant job not only with the lyrics, but the music, as always, in incredible. You probably didn't think it was possible, but they've added even more instruments. It's good times.
NYC and Dance!
For a week that didn't start out very well, it sure has ended well. My parents came this weekend and it was probably the best weekend I've ever had here in Marion. They are awesome people and I love them so much. My dad was impressed by the campus and they both loved the apartment, which is now 100 times better due to some recent purchases! It just feels good to be reminded that they are so proud of where I'm at. Anyway, now that everyone is back at IWU I am constantly reminded that classes start in about 36 hours. Boo to that. Only two more semesters though, I have to keep that in mind.On a different note, I was just talking to my friend about her trip to New York City and I've decided that one way or another I must get there by the end of this year. 3 of my close friends have all gone in the past year and I'm completely jealous. I've always wanted to go so I'm hoping I can find someone to go with because I obviously don't want to be wandering around alone. How is it that I've been to every other major city in the US and a few in Europe, but I've never been to NYC? I just don't know. I've been in Indiana so long that I've forgotten what it's like to go to a REAL city! (I'm just kidding... I know some people love Indianapolis, it's just not my fave. I don't have anything thoughtful to say right now... I'm still in the thought process. It's been a thinking to myself kind of week. :o) I'll let you know if I come up with anything great.And now for your viewing/reading/singing pleasure, Dance by Caedmon's Call:My name is Mary and I'm from Greenville, Mississippi But this is where I live here in this old folks' dormitory Every Sunday night Sarah comes to see us And she plays that old upright But Sarah always seems to leave us
When she plays something comes over meGoes from my head all the way to my feet
And I wanna dance I wanna snap my fingers all night long and dance I wanna move around the room just like a woman in a trance All night, I wanna dance I wanna wrap my arms around your neck and dance I wanna listen to the music that's been ringing in my ears And one day I’m gonna dance right outta here
I had three girls and a boy but now one's gone up to Heaven She's with her papa now 'cause he left for lack of penicillin The older that I get I figure everyone is dying They're all dying for a change I know I'm dying for some action
But days like these Sunday seems so far away So until then I'm gonna sit right here and here I’ll stay
I wanna dance
I wanna snap my fingers all night long and dance
I wanna move around the room just like a woman in a trance
All night, I wanna dance
I wanna wrap my arms around your neck and dance
I wanna listen to the music that's been ringing in my ears
And one day I’m gonna dance right outta here
I'd marry you, if you could dance, that's what I said
Cuz where I'm going they'll be dancing everyday
