- let us adore -

I've been thinking a lot about this passage in John 14 ::

11-14"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it" (MSG).

Have you ever stopped to think about the significance of this passage? Here Jesus is, right before his betrayal, telling His disciples that He is in the Father, and the Father is in him and that His disciples, with nicknames like "doubting Thomas" or such followers with names like Philip's having no incredible etymological meaning but "Lover of horses" are going to do GREATER works than the Messiah,? "You can count on it."?

Then Jesus says :

15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

18-20"I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you.

Ok doubting Thomas and [Insert your name here] What does this mean today? On the other side of the cross it means we've come alive, It means that the world doesn't have Jesus in the flesh anymore, It means that you are in Jesus, Jesus is in you, which means the Father is in you, which mean you have the power to do great works.
This world is broken and abandoned. What does the Father do? He loves, and adores his kids. The world doesn't have eyes to see him, and don't know what to look for. They really haven't experienced Jesus, or the Father. They aren't looking for that. What they are looking for and what they do see is you.

When I think about the poetic statement :: "I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you" I think about the glory, the love, the compassion, the grace, the tenderness and adoration of the Father in me, in you; through me, through you. I think about all those that are broken and don't understand the adoration of ANY father, let alone THE Father. And i think about the action that Jesus is commissioning.

Within the context of adoration, there is an action.
Today, my goal is to see and run to the broken, the unlovely, the abandoned, and be a work of the Father's adoration to them. Hopefully they see the adoration of the Father in me, that their heads could be lifted, and that the King of Glory could come in. According to John 14:14, I can count on it happening! And "greater works"? I can count on that too...

There's revival!

::meg

[ Let God be God ]

Right now I'm working on my final speech/sermonette for my Biblical Comm class...

I'm studying John 14 and came upon some amazing word truth... I may go into further detail of the challenge and application in John 14; but 4 points in this chapter right away (vs 1) are to believe, adhere, trust, and rely on God.

To BELIEVE is to have confidence which comes from the root of "confide" which is to impart secrets trustfully; discuss private matters or problems

To ADHERE is to stay, to be consistent

To TRUST is very similar to believing. It is to again, confide

To RELY is to depend which is to to be subordinate to another linguistic form in the same construction; to form a part of a construction other than the head

Just a little piece of the Jesus-theme in my life.
As I was declaring in my last post :: {I Believe} :: which means I consistently believe, confide, abide, believe, trust and depend. THAT'S my role and part as the daughter...(other than, meaning, NOT the head) :)

... Let God be God.

::meg

{I Believe}

I believe you, God
I believe that you are who you say that you are

I believe your love never fails- which means that YOU never fail because you are love

I believe in the power of the cross- that you died for my sin and for my sickness
I believe that I'm your daughter and I have a spiritual inheritance of
life, love, hope, peace, healing, and joy
I believe that you want to bless me abundantly
I believe that you have a plan and a purpose and that you work all
things for my good and for the kingdom

I believe that I have a testimony and thank you that it can't be found as faulty

I believe your word over the word of doctors, specialists, lab
results, symptoms and pain.
You created this body- you know how it is perfected
I believe in your truth, and your truth has set me free, and your
freedom not only delivered me from the past, but the now, and the
later.
I believe the report of the lord

I trust in you
My hope is in you
My faith is in you

I'm made perfect in weakness and made glad in victory. Victory of the
cross which means my total victory has already been declared.

I live on the other side of the cross and walk in the power and
authority of the cross. I'm not bound in sin or burden or curse but
made alive by the blood, sustained by mercy and identified by grace.

Do you believe?

::meg::

Down memory lane...

I was organizing documents in my computer when I came across a paper I wrote last year for an Intern assignment. I barely remember writing it!

What was cool about reading through this paper, was that it relates so much to the sermon series right now! "DO!" The assignment was to literally DO several "random acts of kindness" to total strangers. My fav memory of a random act I did was writing a sticky note that said something like...

" i don't know your name, or your life story- but i do know Jesus loves you and has a plan for you"

...going to my local bank drive through, sticking the note in the tube, and driving off. :) maybe not the SMARTEST random act being a bank and all; but fun none-the-less.

In honor of literary memory lane, and because I've been very bad at blogging lately, here are some excerpts.

( i realize 98% of readers will leave my blog at the sight of such a long post, but oh well) :)

:::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Kindness" ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"As was said in an old Irish Proverb, “A kind word never broke anyone’s mouth.” In the same sense it is true that a smile never truly “cracks”, and at least in my experience a simple “hello” has yet to instigate personal bodily injury. So why then does it seem almost a sub culture for anyone to truly confess ownership of these so called “random acts of kindness”? While business and the monotony of everyday life can seem a good excuse, as Christians this is not so. Kindness is not an action but a quality of man’s character. The action of kindness is birthed when the reality of Christ-like behavior is conceived. Christ was not restricted by time or convenience or degree of relationship with others; His character was inherently kind.

Our time is very valuable; there is no doubt about that. Yet we compartmentalize our time into categories of “work” and “leisure” and “ministry.” We put on our work hat, busy with schedules and paper trails. When it comes to leisure, we would rather keep that personal and sacred. When ministry time finally comes around we almost have to switch gears in our minds to accommodate the now visible need rather than recognizing that our ministry is through our relationship with our Father

“Not our will but yours be done.” If our hearts cry truly is that Christ would dwell inside of us with close intimacy, how can we justify the fabrication of terms and conditions so that His purpose fits within our time constraints? This negates the influence our kindness possesses.

I can admit that I am quite good at randomly being kind to the people that I know and have a close relationship with. When I was pondering this assignment I thought about how challenging it was to consciously make an effort to be kind to people I do not know at all. We must have a willingness to acknowledge a stranger. Matt 8:1-4

As I seek to develop the character of kindness, I am reminded that in my training and until my perfection in heaven, I am representing the Lord Jesus, the perfect example of kindness. Jesus was one who was not hindered by ethnic and cultural prejudice and who sought out opportunity."

::::meg

I'm challenged! AGAIN!

Are you related to...

NOTICE: The following description and it's contents are true. Any resemblance to real persons, is purely NOT coincidental.

Sweet lady says to me :: "Are you related to Meg?"

Me :: "Oh! Hmm Meg... who?"

Sweet lady :: "Oh you just look so much like her!"

Me :: "How funny, what's her last name?"

Sweet lady :: "Ooh it's, Meg... Meg ... Umm Meg....MURPHY!"

Me :: " ................ oh! well....... that IS me!"

This was an actual conversation with someone this weekend. Apparently I've changed soooooooooo much in the last year"! :)

I hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving, I know I did! I had so much fun just hanging out with the family, catching up on LOST, and relaxing. :) I'm so thankful for my Savior, my family, my friends, the church, and the list goes on.

Tomorrow I will be posting parts of the outline I've created for a speech I'm giving in my Biblical Preaching Communications class on the book of Micah!

{meg}

...THEN it's worth it

:: I was at the store a couple of months ago when two guys, probably early 30's walked by me and one of them said ::

"I've been trying to tell him, If the good times outweigh the bad, then it's worth it!"

I instantly wondered what the story behind that statement could be. A marriage or relationship? A job? Whatever the case, what a sad statement! "THEN it's worth it." As though there is an option of value.

I'm so grateful that Christ doesn't have this outlook on me. "When Meagan is doing the right thing... THEN she's worth it." "When Meagan's not sinning...THEN she's worth it."

Christ's value for me spilled out at the cross.
["I am worth the life of Jesus"]

My mind turns to the nation. Whether you voted for Obama or McCain, the outcome is decided! I believe the church body is on sandy ground if we aren't careful of our response.

A reaction may be: "I'm moving"
A response should be: I'm praying

A reaction may be: to say that Obama will soon be assassinated.
*I could camp out on this point for a while. This statement enrages me!
A response should be: I'm praying for his safety and soul.

A reaction may be: "I don't understand"
A response should be: God understands, I trust and pray in faith, not fear.

In 1 Peter 2:13 we are told to respect authority:
" 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right."

Notice the theme of prayer. Value has been decided. Value of prayer, value my life, value of this nation, value of leaders, value of President Obama's life and value of his authority.

It's not WHEN it's "worth it" to pray. It's BECAUSE it's "worth it" to pray.

I didn't vote for Barack Obama, but I support him IN PRAYER as the 44th President of the United States of America. Not only because "the Bible tells me so" but because I understand and trust the value of the statement, "Christ is Supreme"

::God Bless America::

::meg

No matter the outcome...

[In light of the election]

I believe that tonight is a monumental landmark in the time line of our great country. However GREAT this country is, it so does not compare to the greatness, the holiness, and the sovereignty of our great and ALmighty God.

I am at such incredible peace and filled with joy. God is sovereign. I'm not undermining the need for intercession and repentance on behalf of this nation and the state and degree of spiritual sickness it is in.
Today I intercede for the body of Christ: to take up the mantel of intercession for our nation. I pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to raise them out of their apathy and lethargy. To purpose themselves consecrated to God and dedicated to their destined function.

I also intercede for those that do not have a relationship with Christ. I believe that through this season in America there will be testimonies of salvation. I say all that to say--

I was stopped in this passage of scripture tonight, Colossians 1:11-23::

"11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,^[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom^[d] and forgave our sins.

Christ Is Supreme

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,^[e]
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.^[f]
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it."

I love this... CHRIST IS SUPREME!

amen!
::meg

JOY

God's really good, ya know? Before my awesome plan for lunch and the so appreciated Sunday nap, I had to to take a minute to talk about something I've really been thinking about and have been challenged in!

JOY

What is joy? Have you heard the statement that Joy isn't happiness?
I've always totally agreed with this statement; but it's not until I experience challenge and change in my life that my idea of joy was really tested.

Webster defines JOY as :::
{ 1.a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight
2.something or someone greatly valued or appreciated
3.the expression or display of glad feeling
4.a state of happiness or felicity}

Joy is the SOURCE, VALUE, EXPRESSION, and STATE of happiness. Joy isn't simply being happy! Happiness comes FROM joy. It's pretty true that when you study through the Bible, you no doubt stop at Job to visualize joy in action. But even Job needed a little reminding. In Job 33:26, Elihu is speaking to Job reminding him of God's faithfulness.

"26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state." vs 28 says :"He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, ^[g] and I will live to ENjoy the light.'"

Webster defines HAPPINESS as :::
{ 1.delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing
2.characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy
3.favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky
4.obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated }

Happiness is delightful, and pleasing; but it's limited to a particular thing. It's characteristic of joy, but it's often a quick, obsessive action stirred on by fortune.

My challenge has been to declare with my life that ALL my delight is in the Lord and I read that "In the Lord there is fullness of JOY" (ps 16:11) The word doesn't say fullness of happiness, or fullness of fortunate obsession.

It's lasting. It's steadfast. It's not moody. It's not conditional.

God's good!!! YA KNOW?!

Now i'm going to joyfully eat, and joyfully tap a nap, and joyfully... and joyfully... and JOYFULLY. :)

//meg

{ the things people do }

:::::GOPHER NOTES:::::

This morning in class I found myself laughing at... well... myself! And my classmate next to me.

Since the beginning of the semester we have both sat in the same seats next to each other in the front row. (yes, I'm one of "those" students) :) Unfortunately, right in front of us is a podium of some sort. (my prof doesn't actually use it, ever) This is ONLY inconvenient when the professor writes on the board behind it. I find myself doing what I call taking "Gopher Notes"...

"Gopher notes" is a way to describe the silly up-and-down/ side-to-side head bobbing me and my classmate must do to read the notes written on the board.

:::::THE OFFICE CHAIR SCOOT:::::

I ALSO found myself laughing at what I like to call the "office chair scoot." This is when you don't actually get up off your chair to organize and find things in your office, but scoot and rotate and spin around to get where you want to go. I have a cubicle, so my space is small, which makes it even MORE funny scooting, rotating, and spinning in a small circle....

:::::POSTURE:::::

I leave you with a humorous cartoon i found about office chair posture. Something i also laugh at
//meg

Psalm 51 (MSG)

1-3Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down.

4-6 You're the One I've violated, and you've seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I've been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.

16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice.

18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in,
repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls.
Then you'll get real worship from us,
acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
they can heave onto your altar!

{.TODAY.}

.TODAY.

I give up ::
the idea of my entitlement....{to give (a person or thing) a title, right, or claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim}

...to recall His sovereignty

I lay down ::
my self given rights...{a just claim or title/the interest or ownership a person, group, or business has in property}

...to give room for His righteousness

I let go ::
of my pride...{a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem}

...to glorify Jesus

I get over ::
my weaknesses...{a self-indulgent liking or special fondness, as for a particular thing}

...to remember His strength

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I pick up ::
my cross...{a structure or monument in the form of a cross, set up for prayer, as a memorial}

...to recall His sovereignty

I remember ::
the splendor of His majesty...{supreme greatness or authority}

...to give room for His righteousness

I act ::

in immediate obedience...{obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority}

...to glorify Jesus

I wait ::
in the His presence...{The area immediately surrounding a great personage}

...to remember His strength

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

.TODAY.
:: I abide ::

{to remain; continue; stay :: to have one's abode; dwell; reside :: to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship :: to accept without opposition or question}

.Who is with me?.

//meg

{Clinging to You}

There seems to be a theme about perspective this week, Tracy wrote specifically about perspective just yesterday (read HERE), and even Derek wrote about remembering God's faithfulness (read HERE).

This morning, I woke up excited about the day. I should wake up with this perspective every day, but sometimes I don't. So here I insert, in the right context, the question "WHY?"

This morning I open my One Year Bible to October 9th, which starts off in Jeremiah. I get to Jeremiah 13 and read about a linen belt. God told Jeremiah to buy a linen belt, wear it, and then go bury and hide it for a while. The Bible says A LONG time after, the Lord told Jeremiah to go un-bury the linen belt only to find it:

"...mildewed and falling apart. The belt was useless" (13:7).

“This illustrates how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship idols. Therefore, they will become like this linen belt- good for nothing! As a belt clings to a person's waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me," says the Lord. 'They were to be my people, my pride, my glory- an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me"(13:9-11).

What should be my position today? CLINGING to my Jesus; not following my own desires. I for sure don't want to be "good for nothing!" What a perspective!

As I ABIDE in my Savior, my Father, My Lord; I live as {His daughter, His pride, His glory, and an honor to His name}

{In honor of Tracy's "Song of the Day" dedications; I've decided today to dedicate "Clinging to the Cross" By Tim Hughes}


//meg

Aaat last...

The day has come when I drive up to the Starbucks drive through and the Barista says "Hi! Don't you get a chai?!"


I wasn't quite sure whether to be pleasantly surprised or finally conclude that Chai and I have become a little too close. hmmm.

NEXT time I'll mix it up and get a Carmel Apple Cider...

That'll really throw them off.....!?

::: FUNCTION KICK OFF :::

ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS! ::: THIS IS FOR YOU!
October 2, 2008 :: 8pm

[FREE Food......................................................

Worship&Word ..............................................Relationships

..........................................................Hanging out! ]

Starting THIS Thursday, October 2nd we are kicking off our Function Night for all BSU/College students! We DO have ASBSU Status and are affiliated with Capital Christian Center, in Meridian, ID.
Our vision is to see hundreds of College students radical for the kingdom of God, discovering and effectivly FUNCTIONing in their purpose and just having a ton of fun "Doing Life Together"! Or as one student on campus put it "Good, Sober fun!"


I'm SOOO excited about Function this year! Not only is it just alot of fun, it is so amazing to meet together with Students; creating relationships and really working together to reach our campus!


We are meeting every First Thursday of the month, at 8pm at the Biblical Studies Center on Broadway and Belmont. If you need more information, directions, etc, contact me at 888-1060!

Meagan
President/Function BSU
meaganrae1@gmail.com
888-1060 ext 286


//meg

CHECK IT!!!!

It has finally happened! Stephanie, my roomy, has joined the blogging world!

Go read her blog HERE!

//meg

The very first test

This morning was a school morning as usual. Yes, check your google calendar, it is Saturday. I, in my brilliance, enrolled in a Saturday Philosophy class from 8am-11am. While I really enjoy school, the Saturday thing seems to be throwing off my groove. Granted it is my ONLY class at BSU this semester, so I can't complain. However, I decided that it's actually HARDER only having one class because during my week I'm thinking more about work, church, etc than my "one class." Then there is the fact that a Saturday class ALMOST eliminates any "weekend study," because after class is over at 11am, I either accidentally fall asleep again or head to work, or ok I just don't feel like doing the homework right away; and Sunday study is even more so like pulling my own teeth. All those things I need to get over; this is fact.

TODAY was my very first test as a college girl. Philosophy 101. Aquinas, Anselm, Pascal, Hume, Perry and Leibniz put me to the test. I gladly accept this challenge because so much of their thought has shaped culture's view about God. OoOh how I'd like to talk to these Philosophers face to face :)

Anyways, I kind of like test days. Outta there in an hour flat rather than 3. It IS always a crazy thought that an hour of my time (after HOURS of reading and studing) effects SO much of my grade. Hmm, I feel a spiritual analogy coming on...

Here's to test days!

//meg

[ kenwilde.com ]

This is important for everyone. You can follow this information to kenwilde.com . There is some really divine direction on what to pray for our nation.

[ "Dear Pastor, Leader and Prayer Partner,
As we see this crisis in the economy of our nation there is a great need for concerted prayer and the calling of leaders to a time of prayer and fasting. We are in Washington, D.C. with a prayer team and today we met with a Senator who is on the Banking Committee. He proceeded to inform us of the details of the crisis that we are now in and its ramifications. Last Thursday we were hours away from a total collapse in our economy, which was barely averted by taking some steps to bolster the mutual fund accounts. This Senator has been in coordination with his committee and with the Treasury Secretary, the Federal Reserve President, and with the President in attempting to come up with a plan that will bring our economy back to solvency. This is a serious and major concern for all of us because it affects all of us. I think that this is no less a threat than the attack by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Once again it is time for Christians and Americans to humble themselves and pray that God would hear from heaven and heal our land.
I felt the Lord speak to me that it is time to call for Sacred Assemblies to be held across the nation and that we in concerted effort cry out to God in humility and repentance to heal our land. It is also time for a Benjamin Franklin moment. As you probably recall during the Constitutional Convention he spoke these words:
"All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?"
We are now at a moment in time at which we need someone to stand up once again and call our leaders to a time of prayer and repentance and acknowledgment that we surely cannot survive unless God himself intervenes.
With all of the crises facing our nation it appears that a "Perfect Storm" of spiritual darkness and plots is brewing in the atmosphere that surrounds our country. Think of it! The phrase perfect storm originates from the 1997 book The Perfect Storm which refers to the simultaneous occurrence of weather events which, taken individually, would be far less powerful than the storm resulting of their chance combination. Such occurrences are rare by their very nature, so that even a slight change in any one event contributing to the perfect storm would lessen its overall impact. If you take even a brief look at the various events in today's headlines you begin to see that we are on the brink of a spiritual perfect storm. The recent terrible hurricanes earlier this fall that ravaged the gulf coast give us a glimpse in the natural of the raw destructive power of storms. It was declared on many newscasts by reporters and governmental officials that our gulf coast infrastructure cannot take much more of this! We must gather our spiritual meteorologists, reporters, aid workers, appointed officials, and financial resources and prepare to push back, offer aid, and strengthen the spiritual infrastructure to withstand the chaos that threatens to swirl around us.
Take a look at today's headlines from several fronts and look at the context for this weather forecast.
The economic storm:
John McCain halts presidential campaign for economy crisis talks
U.N. Head: "Global Financial Crisis Threatens Fight Against Poverty
Bush: "Our entire economy is in danger"
The storm of evil plots:
Iran's Ahmadinejad Addresses United Nations, Declares 'American Empire' Reaching 'End of Road'
EU Warns Iran Nearing Ability to Arm Nuclear Warhead
North Korea Removes Seals From Nuke Plant, Bars Inspectors
Russia arrived with it's Navy in Venezuela for exercises today
Looking at all of these Perfect Storm parts there is no doubt that we are in perilous times.
During these difficult times I have been comforted with a scripture out of Psalms:
I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the lovingkindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)
Today we are meeting with more Senators and Congressmen. Would you please pray that God will give us favor and that they would have the courage to call for a time of prayer and repentance in which all leaders would join them.
These are critical times—the time to pray is now. Please join us in prayer and call your people to a season of prayer until we see breakthrough for our nation.
Prayer Points:
1. Pray for a spirit of humility and repentance among our leaders.
2. Pray for an answer to this economic crisis.
3. Pray for favor for Pastor Ken and the team when meeting with Congressional leaders.
4. Pray that Congressional leaders would catch the need for "Solemn Assembly" Prayer at this moment.
5. Pray that Christians would understand the signs of the times and begin to activate prayer at a new level.
6. Pray for wisdom for our President, Congressional Leaders, and Financial Leaders.
7. Pray that God would hear our prayers and heal our land as we humble ourselves in repentance before Him.
Later today we will have added information and reports on www.kenwilde.com.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel would benefit from it and would be interested in praying.
Thank you for your concern and prayers.

Pastor Ken Wilde
National Prayer Center
Washington, D.C." ]

//meg

Stephanie ["the first shall be last"]

Next is my other roomie Stephanie. (She doesn't have a blog YET, but she WILL!)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephanie is an ENFJ which stands for "Extroverted/Intuitive/Feeling/Judging" :: Otherwise called an "Idealist Teacher"

To describe her in a few phrases::
"They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage"

"are global learners. They see the big picture. The focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many have tremendous entrepreneurial ability."

"know and appreciate people"

"feel closely connected with those around them, and thus show a sincere interest in the joys and problems of their employees, colleagues, students, clients, and loved ones."

Famous People with Stephanie's personality::
David, King of Israel
Abraham Lincoln
Ronald Reagan
Michael Jordan, NBA basketball player
Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Matthew McConaughey (The Wedding Planner)


Stephanie's personality doesn't list any fictional characters! While we were both kind of sad; I told her this is because there is no fictional comparison to her genuine, sparkling personality!!!! I think we can all agree on that one!


//meg

Keila [aka Ariel with a silly switch]

::: To continue my adventure of personalities, we turn our attention to my good friend Keila. (Keiks, Ke-Ke, Keiks-a-nation, Keik-a-licous, Keikers, or as my 2 year old friend Eden would call her, "Meagan") :::
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keila is a "ENFP" which according to the Jung Typology Test stands for :: "Extroverted/Intuitive/Feeling/Perceiving" :: Otherwise called "an Idealist Champion"

Here are some hard hitting quotes :)
"They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. they are warm, affectionate, and disconcertingly spontaneous."

"have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence."

"are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions."

Famous People with Keila's personality::
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
Theodor "Dr." Seuss Geisel (The Cat in the Hat)
James Dobson ("Focus on the Family")
Dave Thomas, owner of Wendy's hamburger chain
Regis Philbin

Fictional Characters with Keila's personality::
Ariel (The Little Mermaid), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Steve Irkle

I find much joy in her fictional characters. Mainly because she has been referring to me as "Rabbit" (who I never liked, even as a child) :) So, feel free to give her a "WHAT up Fresssh Prince."

//meg

Ps. This is all in fun. I love Keiks :) check out her BLOG and her recent "love letter" to her car!

[ Rabbit?! ]

::: Today I learned some interesting things about some of my friends...an even myself! It has been a quiet day at the office... Umm, I mean, we were researching our personalities to better understand how efficiently to work together!!!! :) A few of us took a personality test and here are a few things I learned about myself. I can't help but laugh at this :::
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TYPE- ESFJ (Extraverted/Sensing/Feeling/Judging) "Guardian/Provider"::

"enjoy being in charge. They see problems clearly and delegate easily, work hard and play with zest."

"wear their hearts on their sleeves"

"As caretakers, sense danger all around--germs within, the elements without, unscrupulous malefactors, insidious character flaws."

Famous People with my personality::
Desi Arnaz ("Ricky Ricardo")
Don Knotts ("Barney Fife")
Sally Struthers (All in the Family)
Mary Tyler Moore
Dixie Carter (Designing Women)

Fictional Characters with my personality::
Donald Duck, Rabbit (from Winnie the Pooh), and Monica (from Friends).

NOW, before the isidious name calling begins. Take a look at a few of my friends and their personality results... :)

and if you want to take this personality test in the meantime you can do it HERE. (Click on Jung Typology Test).


//meg

"I am worth the life of Jesus"

"I am worth the life of Jesus"

a statement powerful enough to bring a man to tears

true enough to make the son-of-man weep

[ Position-> Perspective->Perception->Behavior ]

Last night at my Effective Communications class our Professor had us repeat "I am worth the life of Jesus", twice. We were talking about value and commitment and love and understanding our value as a speaker. Since this class has an emphasis on preaching we fortunately have the liberty of discussing this idea from a spiritual angle.

After repeating that phrase twice, he asked how that idea affects us. One of my classmates, Justin, was brought to tears. Such a simple idea yet so powerful! I was thinking about the significance of this moment in a class of 6 people felt called to preach. If we aren't ourselves positioned to understand and perceive our value, we cannot effectively communicate to a generation so broken and searching for value.

//"You won't and CAN'T behave in a way that you do not perceive"//

It all goes back to the cross. Jesus stamped you with irrevocable value when he gave His life for you. We MUST understand our position in Christ. It affects our perspective, our perception, and our behavior. I imagine Christ's heart breaking when one of His kids refutes their value. I also imagine his overwhelming joy when they have a moment much like Justin did last night.

Just a simple thought for you today...Do you recognize and realize and understand that YOU are worth the life of Christ? It's not a theory or even just a nice thought; it was proven and illustrated on the cross.

//meg

*caramel*apple*spice*

The mornings are cold,

The sun stays in bed longer and goes to bed earlier.

[i actually had to turn the heater on in the car this morning!]

Fall is coming! Not quite upon us, but well on it's way. While I really am saddened that the hot summer days are almost gone and was disheartened this morning at 7am when my alarm went off and it was still dark outside, I DID find simple joy in one of my 2 favorite fall/winter drinks. Grande Caramel Apple Spice. I had forgotten all about it until Monday night! The cold weather literally triggered my memory and I got all excited...
There's just something about this drink makes me love fall and cold mornings/afternoons/nights. It just says "Fall!"

Ok so maybe I jumped the gun a little since the temperature still reaches 80 degrees this week, but I couldn't resist. Steph and I grabbed a Caramel Apple Spice on our way to night class.... MmMmmm!

[the first caramel apple spice of the season!] You should try one!!!//meg

[ terrifically alive ... filled with deep joy ]

Sometimes I like to let the Bible just speak all on it's own... This is one of my all time favorite verses.

"Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,

'I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.'

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details.

People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all" 2 Corinthians 6:1-10(MSG).

//meg

Analyze much?

My bestest friend and roomie Keila (who has a rad blog BTW) once told me that I analyze everything.

EVERYTHING.

Some of you are are laughing already because you know this to be true; but oddly enough I didn't REALLY know I analyzed in an abnormally intense way until Keila "tested" me.

One day we had been kinda talking about how I analyze things until they can be analyzed no more and I believe I was being stubborn (what?! stubborn?!) and refuting the idea that it was abnormal...

UNTIL SHE ASKED ME MY FAVORITE COLOR.

My answer, without even thinking about it, was ::

"Hmm, well. I don't really have a favorite color. Well ok, I used to like purple but UGH I painted my room ALL purple once and now I can't stand the color purple. I sorta like green. And I sorta like blue! Well, I don't really like GREEN-green, or BLUE, blue. I actually really like... like a greenish-blue.

so like...TEAL! yeah, I like teal."

this was normal to me. and Keila just started laughing.

Point proven. (thanks Keiks for shedding light for me) :)

//meg

Effective Communication + Speed Dating

Last night me and my roomie Stephanie went to our very first "Effective Communications" class down at the Biblical Studies Center. This class is communications but with an emphasis on preparing and giving sermons!

Biblical you say? Sermons? aaand you mention the term "speed dating"?
Scandalous right?

Well, here's what happened. We walked into the Biblical Studies Center and into the class to find our 3 classmates. All guys ranging ages from age 14 to 22ish. Alright I guess there's not really a "range" with 3 people. One was 14, the other about 20, and the last was about 22.

So a class of 5 people...(i know, it's a small program).

Professor Kevin Skidmoore gave us this exercise where we partner up with another member of the class and create dialogue about a certain question he was to give. There was a time limit and then we were to switch partners until everyone had partnered with everyone.

[As if being the only girls in a class all about preaching wasn't funny enough.]

Needless to say, it seriously felt like a version of Christian Speed Dating... especially with the question "what are 3 of your personal goals you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years" and 2 of the 3 guy's answer being "I hope I'm married."

//meg

[ pupper borroweR(s) ] installment 3

He came, He took care of business, He conquered.

[ if you missed the previous blogs about Agassi, visit puppy borroweR (s) and poop tally to get caught up! ]

It's our second day with Agassi. This mini sized but fully confident pup has taken over our hearts&home(I said that for dramatic effect), taken ground(tally it up), and taken.... an orange feather duster?

As with little children, when it's quiet they're most likely up to something. I came around a corner to find Agassi proudly holding a feather duster. I don't know where-- YET SOMEhow, SOMEwhere the lil guy found this orange feather duster and surprised me with it!

//here is a pic by pic of his conquest//

First he ran around with it...

then he chewed it a little...








like this....

// and so goes the story //

//meg

[Chicken buzz]

Yep, I said it. CHICKEN-buzz. I also call it a Chicken 'hangover', none the less, it's real. For me at least.

I am 'allergic' to chicken.
Yep, I said that too. 'Allergic'. As in... when I eat it I get a bad headache either 5 min after eating it or the next day! Weird, right? I know!

[explanation]
BASICALLY and simply, because of my blood type, when I eat chicken my blood reacts to a protein in chicken; and it thickens my blood causing a headache.

Do you you know your blood type?? It's actually a wonderful piece of information to obtain and learn from! I never knew my blood type until about 6 months ago and it wasn't until I started noticing certain health patterns connected to my eating that I even paid attention, really! My mom and I have the same blood type (which, if you have studied Biology at all, is not all that common!) We are both B Negative. We both get headaches from chicken, aspartame, MSG and various random things like, some cheeses. :)

If you've never checked out the book "Eat Right for Your Type" you should stop by the local bookstore and take a look! It's actually crazy how accurate it is! I don't LIVE by it, persay, but I have DEFINITELY benifited from knowing what foods react with my blood type!

Click HERE for a general overview of blood types:: check it out!

//meg

puppy borroweR (s)

This is 6:22 am...










This is Agassi...on our adventure to Starbucks before work...



[Look at his sweet lil face!]





This morning (at 6:22am) I woke to a knock at my front door. Well, there's a possibility that it was several knocks, but I am SUCH a hard sleeper that I really don't know.

Anyways, I eventually stumbled to the front door (sorry Trace). I opened the door to beautiful Tracy and VERY excited-about-life-&-morning Agassi :) Me and my roommates (Keila and Stephanie) are puppy sitting for a week; HOWEVER this morning it was just me...but that's a minor detail.

I've personally ALWAYS wanted a little puppy to call my own. Perhaps a Yorkie, or a Malti-poo like Agsters; and this week I feel like I'm on some version of "Baby Borrowers." This morning it was more like Puppy BorroweR. (singular) but the (s) will come... (right roomies?) :)

It's like having a child! Up early, feed, monitor-while-outside, pack up all his belongings for a day at the office; but I really love the lil pooch. We'll have a good week. Look forward to pics of our adventures with Agassi!

//meg

:: a world of presence ::

"To experience presence is to enter that far larger world of reality that our sensory experiences point to but cannot describe- the realities of love and compassion, justice and faithfulness, sin and evil...and God. MOSTLY God. The realities that are Word-evoked are where most of the world's action takes place. There are NO "mere words."

Last night I got caught up in the book of Micah, a book of metaphors. A book filled with prophecy and remembrance, teaming with the power and justice of God. The opening excerpt is a portion of the forward to this book that so beautifully and eloquently records the masterful composition of the words of Micah:: "A master of metaphor. This means that he used words not simply to define or identify what can be seen, touched, smelled, heard, or tasted, but to plunge us into a world of presence."

The most brilliant aspect of the book of Micah is that is wasn't just the book that was filled with prophecy and remembrance, and teaming with the power and justice of God; but Micah's very life beat to that anthem. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks"(Luke 6:45). I want to plunge into and live in this world of presence; I want my words to be purposed as agents of change as Micah's were. In that desire there is the element of prophecy required to sustain it. Too often we rely on our senses to equate our reality.

There is SO much in this book that catches my attention, and challenges my spirit. Even more so challenges my dependence or outlook on sensory dependency, even what we call "sensing in the spirit."

In the next several days I'll be writing on a few of these ideas swimming in my head; but in the meantime perhaps Selah on the challenge of Micah's words, as I am. Purpose your words to be agents of change to "rebuild what human disobedience and mistrust demolished."

//meg

::this morning::

Sorry subscribers. blogspot can be frustrating when it POSTS a post as i'm still working on it? or maybe it's my MacBook. Either way, a combination of buttons prematurely posted my "::this morning::"...so you probably see two. :)

Aaannyways, as i was saying, THIS MORNING
I am headed to "non traditional" orientation for the fall semester classes at BSU...which I find inconvenient.

I'm also going with my aunt. :)
"How?/why?" you say? "are you afraid //meg??"

No no, yesterday I found that my aunt (respectably, yet not extremely older) is ALSO just beginning her adventure to a degree. and she needed a ride. In respect I must say that this is also inconvenient.

As the alarm went off I was just thinking to myself, "This is going to be interesting. Today is SUCH a non traditional day!" Then I was convicted about the love of God.

It's NOT traditional. If it were, non of us even deserve it. Alot of times In our humanistic minds, our first response to love is to love those that give us a reason to love them...or when it's convenient.

How selfish. I'm glad Christ doesn't love us only when we give him a reason to. I want my life to be Non traditional in the sense that I LOVE unconditionally, like Christ does. In my job, in school, in my family, with my friends...with complete strangers. I want to MAKE that my tradition. Not so I live by tradition, or condition; but that I live in SUBMISSION to the example of Christ. I believe that there is a level of God's love that we can't understand until we begin to practice it.

I love the message translation of the Bible. It also is so non traditional.
John 3:16-17"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

Have a NON TRADITIONAL/NEW TRADITIONAL day!

//meg

Look!

I think it's a giraffe?!
...
No.
...
It's a...well it's a shadow puppet of some kind?!?
...
NO! no! oh i see! It's a WAVE! She's waving back at me!

Precious.

Have you ever tried to wave back at someone when they let you into the next lane? I was on the freeway, trying to squeeze my way into the right lane and the man behind me was kind enough to let me in...

So, naturally I tried to wave out of courtesy... my windows were rolled up so i resort to waving to the back window; but i realized that what my wave probably looked like was a very disfigured-flapping hand.

Next time I guess I'll resort to the "bro wave."


//meg

the blog clog

So I've discovered something about blogging. Sometimes it's really difficult to keep up with my thoughts! I've literally had 3 or 4 ideas to blog about in the past week, but they just keep piling up without action.

And when I DO sit down to blog, I discover that all my thoughts are clogged.

I need a blogging cleanse. Do they have those Abbreviator?

HOWEVER! I'm cracking down, so to all those who subscribe, I apologize for the influx of posts. :)


//meg

$4.80

Hi, my name is Meagan...and I have old clothes.

*silence*

In unison: "Hi Meagan."

Thank you, thank you for the warm welcome.

I just left the proverbial "nest" and am settling into my newly found home. You know, the kind where it's not free and you realize it doesn't come with food. Well, today I set out to sell some really old clothes, that i haven't worn in literally... years. Not really FOR the money but hey, if you're gonna get rid of it you might as well make a profit! I dropped the clothes off for a few hours while they sifted through to pick and choose. And then i made the call...

me:: "Hi! I'm just checking on the clothes i dropped off earlier this afternoon! The name is Meagan."

Plato:: "Hey Meagan, well it looks like you had some really great stuff, but we had to pass on alot of it because it was more then 18 months out-of-style and a few items had holes. But it looks like we can give you four eighty for a few of the items."

me:: "Oooh. awesome....? "

Four eighty? did she just say four eighty? Like $480.00?? did Jesus multiply the clothes? Did he give me supernatural favor?? Was i REALLY that stylish of a 15 year old????



no no... not quite. more like "$4.80-here-go-get-a-starbucks."
i like starbucks. it's all good.

oh well...needless to say me and my large white plastic garbage bag of brand name rejected clothes and $4.80 took the "Plato's closet walk of rejection." Out the door, and past the employees in their "gently used brand name" wardrobes.

:) //meg

.:testimony moment:.

//contend in faith, hope in healing, rest in grace//

The faithfulness of God leaves me speechless and there aren't many things in life that do. In opposition to my analysis about everything under the sun, the will of God is unmatched and to fully comprehend it sometimes seems impossible. I'm so thankful that the sovereignty of God overcomes my sin, and that my faith response overcomes science.

I'm not sure that I could fully explain how God has been moving in my life the past month, or even 10 years; but I can start by a little background. I was diagnosed at a the age of 1 with a form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my left wrist and it flaired 2 other times in my knees between the ages of 7 and 14. As a little girl, i remember praying every night that Jesus would heal me. Thinking back (not in pride, but in amazement) i think about what God formed in me during that time and HOW in the world a 12 year old girl would even think to intercede in this capacity. I'd wake up every morning and either jump out of bed and look at my knees to check if the swelling was gone, and some days just slowing move back the sheets, only to continually find almost soft-ball sized knees. Simple child-like faith, that had to be developed into an adult. Such a process.

I declared my supernatural healing when i was 15, and it wasn't until this last month, at 20 years of age that science has submitted to it's maker in my body. I already knew i was healed, but the doctors wanted to "double check." I received blood work back confirming that i no longer even have a trace of rheumatoid arthritis! Praise God!

In addition to physical healing, God's been doing alot of heart-healing too... and heart testing ...and heart conditioning. Needless to say with faith should come obedience, and with obedience is revealed truth, and with truth is the greater revelation of God's presence in my life and his hand on my destiny, and in the presence of God there is freedom.

2 Cor 3:16-18

"Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."

//meg

:: moment(s) of affirmation ::

I can admit that like most Christians I wait for this moment. The moment when by affirmation or encouragement through people or pastors or leaders I feel the smile of God, confirming that I'm in the place He wants me to be. When someone would say "Meagan, God is pleased with you." Or even when by some divine, tear-shedding encounter with Jesus I audibly hear his voice. Like some, having grown up in the church, I think I've been "trained" to wait for that prophetic moment, or some public applause.

This morning I got up and, in the busyness of my morning, began to ponder the promises of God for my life that have been both accomplished and frustrated. In the middle of my prayer of "have your way in me today" I realized, maybe more than ever before, that this moment I wait for time and time again, is found in the moment I wake up each and every day. The warm sun giving a "good morning!" What an assurance that I'm right where I need to be; alive, for one :), and walking in step with the leading of the Holy Spirit. His mercies and graces are new each day; His love and faithfulness are steadfast. My faith response every day should be "YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH FOR ME!" More than by feeling, I love my Savior for who he is THROUGH me.

.:Ps 91:1-3:.

"What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings."

I know this is not a great epiphany, but I believe intertwined in the beauty of grace are the gentle reminders to wait and be still and know that He is God in my ministry, my health, my relationships, and my destiny. He is God over the promises and prophecies spoken, and mighty to restore, encourage, and complete.

.:Ps 92:4-8:.

"You made me so happy, God
I saw your work and I shouted for joy.
How magnificent your work, God!
How profound your thoughts!"

.:meg:.

:: aaand YOU'RE done... ::

:: the wind-up ::
ever had that on of those moments... the real funny ones that you so desperately want to share with someone? Of course you have, so you do the whole head-thrown-back-in-laughter right into the quick-look-around, face frozen in a giant smile, for a receiving pair of eyes that just experienced the same moment??

yes. i have them often and yet, somehow, i rarely find those eyes.

:: the explanation ::
Instead, you meet a pair of eyes looking at you like you're making a weird face at them [ok, so those are common with laughter] and it's as if they've never seen you before [maybe because you're making such a weird face.]
...and you try to explain. Everyone does it. You start out in the stage of a mumbled mess of words in between chuckles, then it dies down into a fading smile and a quiet voice, until you finally cough to suppress the gargling sound coming from your mouth- and look the other way.

:: the moment has passed ::
aka:: "retreat"
you failed. now they're confused. lately i've decided it's just too much work to explain; because if you do, it BETTER be funny. it's not even funny by now. I like to resort to the slight smile, the quick wave of the hand, and the change of subject.

aaand you're done.

..thank goodness that moment has passed.

:: first post ::

"Welcome to the world of blogging!"

Thank you! Here it is, I've officially given in. Actually, besides the obvious pressure to blog, due to it's popularity, I've had a lot of blogging ideas the past few weeks with no where to put them! So here you go world! I would like to begin by explaining my blog, and giving you a few sardonic thoughts on the subject of the moments passed.


This blog is dedicated to the funny moments, The one's that make me think, the ones that challenge me, the moments that define my day, etc.

Here we go!