It's all meaningless.

::a blast from the past::

I love finding old stuff. :) i wrote this my second year of Interns for a "mini sermon." The word of God is ALWAYS relevant though!

**the only thing i would add here is there is amazing, wonderful purpose in the life God put us here to steward... read through before you jump to theological anger ;) to explore that is another post... just sharing my find :)
-----------------------

It’s all meaningless! Wait, it's ALL meaningless?? The book of Ecclesiastes clearly states that our day-to-day work is not only completely meaningless but also wearisome “beyond description”(Ecc 1:8). The sun rises and sets, generations come and go, the ocean tides rise and fall; yet regardless how many mornings we see the sun faithfully rise, or the miracle of a new life come into the world, we are never truly satisfied. We are never content. Nothing is new under the sun. What is Solomon’s point? What then is there to believe in and if we find an entity on earth to believe in, is it truly reliable? God had revealed to Solomon a most intimate glimpse the only steadfast reality in this life; his relationship with the Sovereign Father. The dictionary defines “trust” as : “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.” We know it is the creator that causes the sun to rise, and commissions generations. He is the only one to give the ocean it’s boundaries and His covenant with man is everlasting!

In Mark chapter 5 verses 21-43, Jesus meets a man named Jarius and agrees to go and heal his sick daughter. When Jesus stops to confront the woman with the issue of blood, his daughter dies. While doubt had it’s chance to defile his promise Jesus tells Jaruis “Don’t be afraid, just trust me”(vs 35). Jesus then went to raise his daughter from the dead! How much more faith did Jarius have after Jesus raised his daughter from the dead? Likewise, the woman healed of her issue of blood had even greater faith after Jesus asked “Who touched my robe?”(vs 30) It’s not that Jesus needed to know who touched his robe; but that he wanted her to go beyond knowing that He can heal her by touching his robe and truly realizing that it is Son of Man she must put her trust in. Trust is going beyond the robe; behind the veil. Christ wants to show us his power in our lives! We have to take the step of trust! 1 Peter 5:6-7 says:

"6-7So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs.

God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right

time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you"

(MSG).

I love this picture of God. I can rely on him because he is most careful with me.

I can truly believe and trust in God’s promises even as I am “still and know that He is God!” Trust is a daily surrender, and lifetime of faith. The surety of Christ in me is my hope for today. The trust in Christ for tomorrow is my conviction lived out.

::meg

A Kingdom Cityscape

A 5pm, rush-hour "prayer drive" is great for your faith, AND your ever refining patience. :)

As I drove down the connector today I took a minute to focus past the cars ahead, above the traffic signs, over the tree line and just look at the mountains. I forget to do this A LOT; but when i do, it reminds me of so much: like how God is SO much bigger than my "traffic view" of life.

In the traffic view of life it can get crazy, unsettled, bottle-necked and uncertain. We lose patience, trust, and sometimes control: helplessly stuck in a mess of road rage. Even if we aren't the source of the madness, we have to respond. [Stick with me here] :) so many situational thoughts running through my mind; but it's great to know that God puts a few red lights in front of me; He causes me to wait.
Getting past the sheer inconvenience of slow-merging vehicles; I find myself grateful for the slow downs that make me think about someone else; or make me thankful that no matter when a person finally "merges" (aka salvation); God's gracious to lead us to the same place. :)

Yes, It is SO cheesy yet SO relate-able!

Through it all what greater promise to hold onto than "I will never leave you or forsake you." I love the picture in Psalm 61: "... as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Whatever the circumstance/slow down/red light/merging it takes; God keep my eyes fixed on You, my heart transfixed in Your grace, and my hope steadfast in Your will!

So I find myself looking up and I'm so grateful for his grace to even be able to see this Kingdom Cityscape.

{Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me? }

yet another moment passed; so graciously given with hope and peace and joy

::meg

RE-VI-VAL

Have you stopped to think about what's this word "revival" means that we keep hearing...?

Websters dictionary defines "revival" as:
"restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength or the act of reviving."

What does this mean to me? This means that its not just a "one week/month/moment feeling" of excitement or purpose. It's the ACT of RESTORING the kingdom principles on earth! I got this picture of CPR or reviving someone's heart. How effective would that be if you only gave a dying person ONE chest compression. ONE breath? After wards, if they happen to come around you just give them a high five and tell them "well good luck with that!" No, there is a long period of rehabilitation and NEW ways of doing and sustaining life!
Or how about restoring an old car, or a piece of furniture. We (as the church) don't want to be THAT person who start a project just to leave it tired and neglected months later.

So we keep PUSHING, we keep praying, we keep ACTing on the kingdom restoration principles!

I've been so excited about our GCDowntown services. {Thursday Nights, 8pm, at "The Center"}
Seeing College students really finding themselves smack in the middle of God's love and finding their purpose in Him! But I WON'T be found driven by HYPE. I'm constantly asking Jesus to re align my spirit to be driven by HOPE. Christ in me the HOPE of Glory... HIS glory on earth.

My life hope is this: that my life, my mantra would be to reflect God's heart and ACT as an agent {a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf} of revival.

SO I keep running, I keep praying, I keep Hebrews 12:1-3 in my spirit:

"^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

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

I've been MIA from the blogging world for months now- but its definitely NOT because I haven't thought about anything for months. HA! {see previous post "Analyze Much?"} :) Therefore, in advance I apologize (in an un apologetically, sardonic sort of way) for the onslaught of thoughts that have either been cooped up in my head or sitting idly in my blogger drafts :)

::meg

All for nothing.

You know the scripture in Luke that says "NOTHING is impossible with God"? Let me tell you I believe it! God has redeemed my life, he's healed my body from a crippling disease, and he's given me a song!

God is in the business of working with a whole bunch of nothing. Better yet:

"First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness." (Gen 1:2 msg)

ALL you see (present purpose) and ALL you don't see (promise).

Luke 1:37 says:

"For nothing is impossible with God

For nothing will be impossible with God.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

For with God nothing shall be impossible

God can do anything!

For no word from God shall be void of power"

Luke 1:37 in the Message version says:

"Nothing, you see, is impossible with God" (MSG)

To me, this is one of the most beautiful promises given to us. I don't need writing on the wall to believe that God is shaping something out of my nothing. He displayed that on the cross.
I also don't need a dove to dive daily into my room; holding a promise that He'll never leave me or forsake me. He took care of that with a rainbow.

Think on this:If NOTHING is, will be, is ever, and shall be impossible with God :: It is impossible for God to DO nothing when he is on the throne.

SO selah on this for today:{"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."} Phil 4:6-7



::meg

A blog to follow

Hello all! Sorry i've been kinda MIA. Heck, i don't even know how many people read my blog! :)

I want you all to check out a new blog... Her name is Stacey and she's going to change the world! I love when i see people take the simplest things in life and showcase the amazing love of God.

<HERE to read>>
>>meg

My Calling

From the Archives of my computer. I stumbled upon this paper i wrote about what i define as "my calling"

In consideration beyond today’s stereotypical obsession with etymology and spelling, what is in a name? What value or spiritual significance do we find in our names? The prophet Isaiah scribes the Lord saying, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine” (Is 43:1). Our name is that by which we are called. I am called first and foremost a daughter of God, a ransomed heir to the riches of my heavenly Father. What an idea! I can only imagine the thoughts that God has towards me! David in the book of Psalms intimately and exquisitely pens, "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" (Ps 139:17-18). There are many that have been called and few that have been chosen. Many have walked the beaten path of Christianity and paved the way into both modern day martyrdom and success. The thing that separates us all is our name, that by which we are called. Each separate identity tells a story that we can observe; but none that we can duplicate.
As God was speaking light into the universe, he was speaking purpose into my life. When he pulled a rib from Adam's side, he pulled together the thoughts of my destiny and my calling to be just as unique as each grain of sand on the shore. Therefore I do not believe my calling in its entirety can be written on these pages. My Father knit a beautiful story in my heart from the first word of creation that is only in part revealed as I spend time with Him and heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I am called to serve, and to love, and to spread the Good news that Christ has paid the price for sin! I have been commissioned to make my life an anthem of God’s goodness. I have been birthed out of sin and into His glorious light to be testimony of Christ’s love in my sphere of influence. My calling is to be a leader, a voice in the desert and a prophet to the nations. In Psalms 51 David cries out asking God to empty him and to create in him a pure heart. The most fascinating part of the word "create" in this passage is that in simple exegesis we realize it is the same word, inherent with the same power that God used in creating the heavens and the earth in Genesis. I know that when David allowed God to create in him a pure heart he was fashioning something completely unique for him that had never been done before. David had a call on his life that had never been heard before; and has not since.
I do believe that if you do not learn from history that you are bound to repeat it. I also believe that when we walk in the power of the perfect will of God we are bound to walk in a destiny never tread before. I am so grateful for those we can call mentors and role models. They impart wisdom when at times there is no experience. They may reveal truth to a facet of life that I may never have considered on my own. People like Mother Teresa and Dwight L. Moody imprinted virtue into history with such dedication and passion; but the most important and inspiring lesson that we can learn from these is that human kind is fallible. Man will always disappoint but Christ never will. He is the ultimate role model, the perfect son, the perfect teacher, the perfect Rabbi. John 2:22-25 says, “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.” Jesus, the God-son, didn’t need to be told that mankind would fail him, but we do. God puts people in our paths to work along side of; but he doesn’t expect us to fall back on their failures or successes from their time here on earth.
Joyce Meyer wrote an incredible book, The Confident Women. She writes about a time when she thought of what she would do if her husband, David, died. Joyce had given into fear at the thought of doing life and ministry without David when the Lord spoke to her. He said, “if Dave died you would keep doing exactly what you are doing, because I am the One holding you up, not Dave.” She quickly realized that He was establishing her in the foundational truth that God is all you have to have. Mother Teresa was an example of this. She worked incredibly with people yet often ran into a mission field with only pennies. She never relied on any one person, only God. I love to think that my faith could rise to the occasion if every person close to me was taken away and that I could stand unmovable in my calling with only pennies and my name. I think that this thought encompasses the very core of my purpose. This is my calling.

Arms Open Wide

In a state of perfected surrender

God would see my soul as a myriad of
beautiful works and miracles. He would see a self-emptied, available
soul, ready to reflect the will & Kingdom of Christ. Surrendered to
the kingdom; He sees a soul full of worship & melodies from heaven. He
sees the fruit of a college ministry bursting at the seams, He sees a
confident, bold disciple secure in the timing & work of Christ. He
sees the faces of souls rejoicing in the salvation they've found &
walking in dynamic destiny.
A direct reflection of the operating work of Christ: errupting hope,
explosive joy, irreplaceable peace.

I had an encounter with Jesus tonight. Sitting in my room I was thinking about the
recent messages of Christ Follower and Navigate and I had to come face
to face with the fact that I haven't trusted God in EVERYTHING to be
who He has told me He is. Out of not understanding, or disobedience I've been putting MY words in Gods mouth.

There was a moment, sitting in my room when all the noise of my
thoughts was silenced by this song softly in the background...."Arms Open Wide" by Hillsong United. It was at the part where they are singing "have your way".

Starting the song over and putting it on repeat; I just got this picture of the movie of my life...Jesus walking right along side me; running with me when i was running, and then those other times carrying me through the tough stuff...but just smiling
through everything, through all of it- because He knows the end. and it's GOOD.

So tonight God was saying something like this:
"I want to do so much more in you, and through you-but...let me empty
you, even of some good things. Let me do it."

Man, I wanna see the day when a whole generation is totally abandoned to that!

So give it all; just trust. God is good...so let him be good. Let Him be God.

::meg

Yes and Amen

20-22Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (MSG)

-Run in "YES" and declare in "AMEN" today!
meg

::new song:: Psalm 23

why not blog via song? i was meditating on Psalm 23 all day yesterday... listen below:

Psalm 23

Psalm 113

<sup>LOVE this Psalm from the message version::

1-3</sup> Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing—
now and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!

^4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God,
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family,
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!

::meg

This I Believe :: Podcast

I had an assignment for my English class... to create a podcast about "this i believe." What a way to share my faith!!!!! i had fun doing it...even though i waited until the night before. and it's now 3am. :) My professor doesn't know what's coming. I love that :) Visit my page and Listen Below...

Tragedy and Jesus... and Me

Last week one of my friends went through a tragedy...something that makes the worries of the economy seem frivolous; issues of political debate, wasteful; daily inconveniences, trivial. I sat with this friend and held her hand, and listened.
For a while time almost stood still. Faith and hope felt compressed- composure hanging on by a thread; and I had no words. It was amazing to me that I had no words. I could re assure her how much God loves her and that He has a purpose and a plan for her life and everything we go through- and I did! Except that seemed exhausted; she knows God.
I couldn't tell her why it happened or what life will be like after. In a time like that, you forget about "humor" to cover up insecurities. You experience raw vulnerability.
You don't ask empty questions like "How's your day?" or "Whatcha doin later?" or expect it in return.
I think God just wanted to be with her in that moment; much like i was, holding her hand.

Love has many expressions, some of which just don't need words. But the beauty is, God's expression of love, His word, never returns void, deprived, destitute, lacking or unoccupied. Which means there's always something there...even when situation rips everything else away.
God has been speaking to me ever since that day about the importance and emphasis and definition we place on loving others. I think we itemize our love and categorize it's effect. We place OUR words in Love's mouth when it's actions actually speak so much louder. Love never goes away, just like God's word.

Have you ever stopped to think; when DID we forget about loving people? Not focusing on what they're dealing with but what they're going through.

Psalm 14:4
"Don't they know anything, all these impostors? Don't they know they can't get away with this-treating people like a fast-food meal over which they're too busy to pray?"

When did we become an impostor of love? imposing our angle on love into others lives?

vs 7: "Is there anyone around to save Israel? Yes. God is around; God turns life around. Turned-around Jacob skips rope, turned around Israel sings laughter."

Jesus turns life around. He is our Father, he's our friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is our Savior, our hiding place. He's our shield and our protector. He is strong when we are weak.

This is for someone right now. God loves you. His love never leaves you or fails you. There IS life after tragedy, there IS hope after hurt. There IS peace despite pain.

::meg

Blogging? What's Blogging??

? Oh right, that thing I do to keep no one, and every one up to date on my life and my random theological thoughts.

Yes, I've been MIA: so to give no one, and every one a quick update on my life- I've decided to post some pics.

So since my last post, I turned 21:

and you would think i had a pic of that. but i don't


Had my knees drained!
Before picture:









NO need for an after picture of my whiteness. Just PRAISE Jesus they are back to almost better than normal :)

I got a puppy!!!













His name is Jazz, He's great, I think I'll keep him. and yes...he is tiny...i realize this :)



This is Jazz and Grizz, they have matching sweaters.








more from me to come!











::meg

{a few of my favorite things}

With the new year, and spring on it's way... and my birthday on tuesday... (*hint hint*) :) I am SOO in the "(re)-decorating my room" mood... so here are a few of my favorite things

LOoove this headboard and Cherry Blossom Wall decor from Urban::
















I want this rug! (also from Urban)














and this chandelier! (i have a cute little corner that really needs this)









THIS spindle lamp base:










Oooh to dream the dream of decorating. Happy Friday!

::meg

Faith&Grace

I've been thinking a lot lately about faith.

not just a cute little quaint and saint-ish Christianized "faith" but deep, real, passionate FAITH that moves mountains and changes circumstance. The difference to me is the value I place on the reality of Faith and the connection I have begun to make (or modify) with the concept of Grace.

I haven't just been thinking about faith- i've really been challenged in actually walking in faith. Here I realize that I need grace AND faith. It's a place where "putting feet to my faith" and "walking in grace" meet and it's not just about asking for faith, or asking for grace.

I'm convinced that all too often we associate grace as something we decide we need in a circumstance hoping it will "get better" and we associate faith as hope that it WILL "get better." I think we have it all backwards or at least far too compartmentalized!

Today, i need grace to stand in faith; and I most certainly need faith to walk in grace.
Today, i can't just think about faith and grace, but i have to live faith and grace.

My challenge today is to meditate on my use of faith IN grace. I don't just have faith that my circumstance will get better, I walk by grace in faith that it's already taken care of!

Best of all, everything is so that God can show his glory. I'm so comforted by that. God never fails!

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father (John 14:13)


::meg

Oh the joys

of working at the church. we get some wonderful donations sometimes... like... this! I thought i would share the joy ;)
[that is me trying to do the same face, i know, i'm ridiculous]
HAPPY FRIDAY! Have a good weekend everyone!

::meg

Psalm 145

This Psalm is wonderful! Take a moment, read and reflection on how big God is in your own life...

1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
5 I will meditate^[b] on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
10 All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
12 They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.^[c]
14 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
16 When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

:meg

Salutations!

Aah school.

The second semester has begun, and with it the onslaught of homework shoving it's way into my seemingly stuffed schedule. :) I haven't blogged in a little while, so here i share with you my assigned "introduction letter" to my ENG prof. There are so many ways to introduce yourself and so many things to consider! I did a quick mental speech to "hurry, be creative!"

Salutations, a pleasure to meet you! My name is Meagan, I am 20 years old and employed full time as an executive administrative assistant. To introduce myself in hip, slang terms "I heart" family, friends, ministry, music, a good theological conversation, church, chai tea lattes, chocolate, laughing, decorating, meeting new people, and traveling. An ideal day for me is listening to a great album and letting my thoughts fly. I over analyze most everything, but have a sincere appreciation for the simply joys in life. An untraditional student with traditional educational values, I took two years after high school to complete an internship and have now jumped back into the academic world to obtain a Bachelor degree in Social Science. People are my goal. I am a firm believer that we all contribute to each other's lives in some way and for some reason and I would hope that my contribution is positive! From this class I hope to achieve 3 credits to subtract from the 100-some credits left in my journey to a diploma; but being a perfectionist of sorts you can be assured I will not take this class lightly. It’s not a perfect GPA or a shining record I toil over as much as it is the personal conviction to do my best I can in anything I set out to do. I am ever learning and always curious! It was Diane Ackerman who said: “"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." Here is to life, learning, and the places and faces we find along the way!

:meg

Follow Me

Right now I'm driving home from a wedding trip to Idaho Falls. True farm country with a love for potato museums and country music. :) for any of you that haven't drivin this way through Idaho, its basically the straightest, most eneventful, flat, desert drive. Being the Meagan that I am, I find myself looking out the window in deep thought. I admit that weddings are both exciting and pestering. Each bridesmaid dress I wear or wedding jingle I sing seems to yet be another poke of singlehood awareness. :) ("The Prayer" duet anyone!? Haha) Being single is not the focus of what I'm writing :) But just like this straight, desert drive I'm reminded of just how great and gracious my God is. I'm so amazed at his hand on my life. I got to walk the halls of my old church, and see faces I haven't seen in over a decade. The whole time I was thinking of what my life would be like if I had gone a different way and furthermore wondering with excitement what my life will be like in yet another decade.

"Follow me"

I love my Jesus who graciously, lovingly, and purposefully called my name. Placed a destiny specific to the road I would walk. Healed me over and over and over again. Guided me through the pains, and smiled with the joys. I love that he is STILL graciously, lovingly, and purposefully directing me, healing me (amen), guiding me, and lifting my head.

(Even at this very moment, missing a deer on the road) :)
"So don't worry about anything, pray about everything"

Its amazing to piece together the impact every step in your life makes... Even more so amazing to think that its just obedience that God wants. He makes all the difference in the world, so let him. God never disappoints.

Tonight I hear the still reminder, "just follow me"
Let Jesus whisper to you.

meg