Full of Glory

“Heaven and earth are full of glory, a glory which stubbornly refuses to be reduced to terms of the senses of the humans who perceive it.”
-From N. T. Wright’s Simply Christian

Dear Reader,

This last weekend I had the opportunity to go on the 2009 Fall Retreat. We went to Sierra Pines up near Tahoe. That area is great! I’m a huge fan. I love to be in the mountains every chance I get.

More and more I’m realizing just how much I love to be out in nature. It is so refreshing for me! When I sit out there thinking about God, things just seem so much simpler. When I look at trees and clouds and streams I’m not thinking, wow the world is really screwed up, which is what I think a lot when I’m surrounded my civilization and media and all that.

As N. T. Wright would argue (we’re reading his book in my English class), the beauty of creation is simply an echo of a voice or a signpost that points to God. But the beauty of creation leaves me magnificently unsatisfied. I was standing there one night this weekend staring up at the HUNDREDS of stars I could see and got that feeling that you’ve all had, I’m sure: I’m so SMALL and God is so HUGE and these stars are so awesome that I just can’t wrap my mind around it all…

I can’t wrap my mind around it all.

We had a “solo time” where we got to go off on our own and sit in silence and just be with God. When I get opportunities to do that I always go in thinking that I’m going to work through some of my problems. However, when I get out into nature, all those problems just seem to fall away. My mindturns out from its normal self-centeredness and selfishness and it wanders off to bigger and better things.

In and of itself, nature will never and has never completely satisfied me, no matter how much I love it. Instead, creation points to something bigger. It makes me think of the way things should be—the goodness in the world. It causes me to not focus on the stuff that doesn’t work out. I causes me to realize the ways that the Kingdom of God has and is coming.

God Bless,
Stephanie

PS: These lovely pictures were taken my my amazing former roommate Jenn!!!

What a Week!

Dear Reader,

Spring break has come and gone. I got to go back to Colorado for the break (I even managed to surprise my boyfriend, how I pulled that off, I’m still not sure). It was great to spend the week and Easter with my family and friends back home even if it did snow on Easter. Yuck.

I’ve been back at Jessup for a little more than a week, and so much has already happened:

-I wrote 2 exegesises. Have you ever written one? An exegesis? They are crazy. In 2 days I wrote more than 20 pages of detailed analysis on 16 verses. It was madness. But I got then done and turned in. So uh… thats… cool.

-I had my first “RA” thing. I got accepted to be an Resident Assistant for the 2009-2010 year! SOOOO awesome. On Wednesday we had the “room draw” where the current students can pick their rooms for next year. It was cool to get to hang out with the Resident Directors and other RAs and think about next year. After the room draw we played a game and had dessert. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. It’s a taste of things to come I’m sure.

-I spent Friday in San Francisco with my lovely roommate, Jenn. We did some of the “touristy” things that we had been avoiding and had quite a bit of fun. We went to Peir 39 and looked in the shops and saw the SEA LIONS!!! SO COOL!!! We also drove down Lombard Street and went to Golden Gate Park. Then we got lost trying to find a restaurant on Haight Street and just so happened upon an  awesome beach! (I always get excited about the beach. ALWAYS. I realized that it is comparable to how excited some of the Cali natives get excited about “the snow.” So I guess I have to stop giving them a hard time about that.) The water was SO COLD, and it was really cold but we got some cool pictures and that’s all that really matters, right?

-I got sick. Being sick in dorms is the worst (I get the most homesick when I am sick). But I was quite lucky, because my roommate took good care of me and even drove me 30 minutes both ways to take me to the only Urgent Care that was open on Sunday that also took my insurance. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have here around. She’s my hero of the weekend for sure.

And as has been a common theme throughout this year, I CANNOT believe that we only have 3 weeks of classes left. My freshman year has flown by! I’m getting really excited for next year, though. It’s going to be different, but in the best way possible. Now one big push of motivation until the end…

God Bless,
Stephanie

Keeping it Real?

Dear Reader,

In the words of dear Bindi Irwin (imagine a Australian accent): “I’M THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD!”

Here’s why:
- I have the most amazing parents in the world. And that is all I’m going to say about that.
- I’m pretty sure I’m going to one of the coolest schools in the country.
- It’s looking like I’m not even going to have to take out any loans next year!
- My roommate is hilariously amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better person to share my space and most of my time with.
- I have shoes.
- When I was sick last week I only had to drive like .5 miles to get medical attention, then another .2 or so to get my prescription that was ready in like 10 minutes.
-  I got better.
- I have insurance.
- I got to spend last weekend in Tahoe. (HUGE lake, mountains and snow.) I REALLY missed mountains. I hate snow but I kiiiiiinnnnda missed it. And I never really get to see huge lakes… there really is not any water in Colorado.
- I’m totally going to rock my Biblical Interpretation Mid-term this afternoon. (OK maybe I’m counting that chicken before it’s hatched…)
- Spring break is in like 2 weeks.
- Spring break is like 11 days long.
- My niece and nephew are the cutest people in the world. I’m serious.
- The Caf has food for me when I’m hungry.
- My wing-mates are very calm people.
- Settlers of Catan is on the internet.
- I still have friends even though I play Settlers of Catan on the internet.
- The weather is SOOOOO nice now. LOVE Nor Cal.
- I have multiple Bibles. In my dorm room. To use at my leisure… when people are risking their lives to get it.
- My professors are really smart. And I get to hear with they have to say.
- Jessup people are really nice.
- Jesus saved my life (oh yeah that one!)

You’re alive! You’re breathing! You’re redeemed! Live like that today.

God Bless,
Stephanie

Of Shakespeare and Beyond…

Dear Reader,

One of my friends has this quote on his Facebook: “There are more things in heaven and earth… than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” (He just told me it’s a quote from Hamlet. First act, second scene… he thinks.)

But I read that the other day and it got me thinking–thinking about how things have really been getting me thinking lately. (Did that make sense? Did it get YOU thinking?)

Well, you see, I have some pretty awesome friends here at Jessup. They are also pretty smart, too. Defiantly smarter than me.

They are usually talking way over my head. They discuss books, authors, theology, current issues, politics, literature, foreign policy, religion. EVERYTHING that smart people talk about. But what I do catch and understand of their conversations often gets me thinking.

And sometimes I get overwhelmed and discouraged. I will never understand all this stuff. I will never totally know where I stand on every issue. I will never have the answers to the world problems. I’ll never know everything about literature, the Bible, theology…

BUT!!! The best part about it is that God does not call us, necessarily, to be the smartest or the most knowledgeable of all people. He calls us the be the most patient, loving, kind, just, good, faithful… and those things are not only more important, but thankfully, they seem more easier. These things are just natural overflow of someone who has been filled with the love of God.

I have to agree with that quote. There is so much more to life (and even beyond life) than what we think we know. God is bigger than our ideas and our assumptions. And that is a really good thing.

God Bless,
Stephanie

P.S. I got the chance to take my Wyldlife gals up to Woodleaf for winter camp a couple weekends ago. Those are some picture from the weekend. There was SOOOO much snow (and I say that as a Colorado native).

Keep On Keeping On

Dear Reader,

Things have started to slow down into a routine here. People are back to work, homework, studying, and business in general. I’m starting to find my own routine for this new semester, too. Speaking of which, it’s already February 2!!! That seems to always be a constant theme with me: looking at the date and wondering how it got to be here so fast. I think that means that I am filling my time with lots of great things that are causing the time fly on by.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, three other students at Jessup and I are working on starting a Wyld Life (for those of you who are familiar with Young LIfe, this is the middle school version) club up in the Olivehurst area. Things are finally really taking off. By Friday, most of us will be qualified to start volunteering in the school, and I have already talked to one of the girls that is going to be going with us up to winter camp from February 20-22. SO SO SO EXCITING! It’s hard to explain, but I feel like I am all grown up, taking kids to camp. I remember being that kid and looking up to my leaders. I remember thinking they were the coolest people ever and watching their every move. I’m excited and challenged at the same time. I get to bless the kids in the same way that I was blessed, and I also must be so careful to be following Jesus in every aspect of my life so they do not see me as hypocritical or get a skewed view of what it means to be a Christian. I’m so excited to start making relationships with my girls and pouring love into their lives.

I’m also looking for a job right now. I had it easy last semester doing the full-time student thing, but now my savings are depleting. It’s never been my favorite thing to put so much time into going out and getting applications and spending so much time on nice handwriting and spelling everything right only to get turned down most of the time. It’s not an easy or fun thing, especially right now when jobs aren’t really in an excess. BUT I know that God’s going to provide, and if He still wants me here at Jessup He is going to provide just what I need in one way or another, right? Haha.

Someday, when I have more time I will tell the awesome story of how I even ended up here at Jessup in the first place. It’s a awesome story of God’s provision and how He has his hand involved in every aspect of my life, both small and large.

Well I’m off to finish up some stuff before I head off to Olivehurst for the afternoon. Have a great February. My goal for this month is to learn how to show love to my favorite people ALL month and ALL year, not just one day out of 365!

God Bless,
Stephanie 

Jessup: The Second Semester

Dear Readers,

Just to drop a quick line:
I’m chilling in my dorm room taking a break from everything I have to do tonight to get ready for this next week. It’s surprising that we are already getting in to the second week of classes. It feels like just yesterday I was getting off the plane here in Cali. I’m so glad to get to see everyone again and spend some quality time with my roommate and catch up on everything that happened over break.

I am highly anticipating this semester. I have a great feeling about it. Thing are starting to “fall into place,” if you will. I have great friends and am constantly making more, I’m getting the hang of all this college academic stuff, I decided to be in choir this semester (fun!), I finally found a church that I’m really into and getting involved in, and God is really working on me and growing me.

I have found that the hardest part for me about being at Jessup all the way out here in Northern California, more than a thousand miles from my home, is being away from my friends and family. When things come up or happen back home it is so hard to be far away from all the action and everything that is happening. I know God is teaching me to trust Him. I have to trust that He will be there when I cannot and He will stick close to me when I’m feeling lonely. Also, I have a great support group of friends, teachers, and staff here who never let me feel lonely and blue for too long. I love Jessup, have I said that lately? (And no, they aren’t paying me to say that. Haha!)

This morning at church, my pastor spoke from a couple verses in Matthew about the crucifixion. I think it is so good to get a fresh reminder every so often of just how perfect the love of God is, and it really hit me again this morning. Sometime I catch myself thinking things like, “I need to do this or that because if I do God will love me more.” But that is not how it works at all. God is pleased when we do things for His glory, but there is no way I can make God love me anymore. He already loves me perfectly! How can that even be!? I have no idea but I’m so glad He does! We should do good things in response and gratitude to who he is. How can we not want to serve God once we have really seen the beauty of Christ’s work on the cross? Amazing.

God Bless,
Stephanie

As Break Comes To a Close…

Dear Reader,

Greetings from COLD COLD COLD Colorado. Christmas break is just about coming to an end and I’m getting ready to head back to Jessup for my second semester. I am so excited.

Break has been so awesome for me. I’ve gotten to see my family, meet my new baby nephew, and catch up with all my friends. It’s been so relaxing to not have to think about classes or studying. I have had a lot of time to think and reflect on the last semester, my first college semester ever.

Going in to college I sort of thought I had it all figured out: what I liked, what I was good at, what I could do well, and what my limits are. However, four months later I look back on everything that has already happened and am so amazed at how God has worked. I have been stretched and challenged and asked to do things I never thought I’d be able to do, but God is showing me that His plan for me is so much bigger than the limits I place on myself.

This year’s theme at Jessup is “Well Balanced.” At first I was not sure what exactly was meant by that but I think I’m starting to get the idea. I am starting to realizing now that as a follower of Christ we really have to learn to live a balanced life. How will we use our time? Our money? We cannot rely on our works, yet faith without deeds is dead? We are to despise sin, but love everyone, every sinner, with love equal to that of Jesus. There is so much to balance, and I am just beginning to really see that.

I’ve learned and grown so much in the little time I’ve spent at WJU already, and I have to say that I really do have more questions NOW than I ever had in my life. But that makes me excited. I don’t ever want to get to a point in my life where I feel like I know all there is to know about life and God. We will never know how big and awesome and expansive the wonders of God are.

I cannot wait to see where God takes me this next semester and for the next 3.5 (NOT 4 or 4.5 hopefully, haha) years at Jessup.

God Bless,
Stephanie

Walking in a Jessup Wonderland

Dear Reader,

Christmas IS coming quickly, and here at the old WJU, the spirit is really in the air! Last Wednesday night, for some of the other students and I, was full of Christmas cheer, joy and some awesome hang out time.

First, we had a tree lighting ceremony for the whole campus in the Commons. Student leadership did a great job decorating the huge tree and making it a fun event. Even though it was a short little time, it was nice to get together with some of the other studnets and share a special little moment.

For those of us lucky enough to be in Beta Hall with me, we got to go right from there over to the Beta Christmas party. My RD and all the RAs did a great job at setting up the party and making it a really nice event. One of the RA’s fathers dressed up as Santa and handed out candy canes and read us The Night Before Christmas. Afterward we decorated cookes and drank hot chocolate and cider. We also hung out and watched a movie after.

I’m thankful for the student leaders and everything they do for us to make us feel at home and even keep us entertained. Thanks, guys and gals!

God Bless,
Stephanie

Well Hello, December

Dear Reader,

The new month has snuck up on me again. December already!? It’s finally starting to get a little bit chilly here in Rocklin. There has been a lovely fog the last couple of days that has made it feel a little more like Christmas. I’m having trouble transitioning into winter mode with out snow. I’m sure I will get more than my fix, though when I go home for Christmas break (which is only in 18 days! I’m SOOO excited to see everyone!).

Thanksgiving was a great break. As the semester is wrapping up and finals are getting close, the schoolwork and studying is piling up. I got to spend the holiday with my roommate Jenn and her family. We went to her aunt’s house. They made GREAT cooking (ALMOST as good as my dad’s)! We did a lot of relaxing and baked a lot of muffins. I’m thankful that even though I didn’t get to be with my own family for Christmas, Jenn and her family were very welcoming to me… which is a great opportunity to talk about how much I love my roomie (and I’m not just writing this because she’s going to read this, but it will get me some positive roomie points!). I’ve already made some AMAZING friendships here at Jessup so far. Lots of those relationships, like the one with Jenn, will be life long, I’m sure.

There are a lot of little events going on this week for Christmas here at WJU. We are having a tree lighting ceremony, and my hall is having its own little party. We are also doing a door decorating contest, and my roommate and are have some pretty good ideas, so watch out. I’ll be sure to post some pictures of all those good times in my next post.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season and that you are all staying warm.

God Bless,
Stephanie

PS: I’m part of the Invisible Children club on campus, and the guys just finished up with a fundraiser they were doing called Moustaches for Moulah. Check out the details in the awesome video Julie, John, Abby and all the other contributers made. Click here for the link to the video on YouTube (I know… I’m just full of multimedia awesomeness lately, huh!?).

YWAM San Francisco

Dear Reader,

A few weekends ago, I got the wonderful opportunity to go on the Youth With A Mission: San Francisco trip. There were about twenty or so of us who spent the weekend at the YWAM base in San Francisco in the Tenderloin District. It was probably the BEST and most impacting 3 days of my life here at Jessup so far. It was awesome to see how God was using the other students to do His works. It is amazing, too, how God uses us even when we are feeling insecure or that there is nothing we could even do. Homelessness is a HUGE problem in San Fran, and many people have been working toward helping and solving it. I was overwhelmed and felt like I was too small to do anything of any impact for these people. However, God is faithful; I really saw Him at work that weekend. Even if what we can do is limited, the little things we do can be a really blessing to those who we are called to love just as God loved us.

This is a slide show I made of some picture from the weekend for chapel. I thought you all would enjoy it.

Click here for the link to the video on YouTube.

God Bless,
Stephanie