Thanksgiving

Still life can sometimes be easier to capture than moving targets, thus here you see portrayed that aspect of

our Thanksgiving gathering. I assure you, however, that the people that attended

this dinner were by far the better half :)

The Tea Table

One of my favorite teacups :)

 

Amazing cookies (oat-date)

Place setting

Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and walnuts
(even if you don't like Brussels Sprouts, you'd like these!)

Veggies!

The "Turkey"

Cous Cous Salad with winter squash (Made lovingly by dad)

Cranberry sauce

Stuffed Mushrooms

Yams and Sweet potatoes

Tea time

Ginger Coconut Pecan Pie
(I left out the coconut and only put half the ginger....and it
was much better that way...though a little soupy. I can't
figure out how to make it gel. I think I should try flax seed...)

Prayer

How to Pray?

For Peace: that suffering will come to an end

For Persecution: that Christ’s return will be hastened

For Patience: that we might live peaceable with one another

For Zeal: to finish the work quickly so that we can go Home

For Forbearance: to accept everyone as a child of God

For Boldness: to share His life-changing message with them

For Love: to see everyone as His creation

For Perception: to discern the things that are not of God

For Wisdom: to know the things of God

For Meekness: to walk humbly with Him and our fellow men

“O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” ~ Psalm 65:2


~ Allie Westermeyer

Thankful

a colored leaf

water

hope

a smile

my family

clouds

running

forgiveness

mountains

a Savior

                               
                       
                          For this, I am Thankful

The Light

Allana was just a shadowy figure in front of me. The only noises she made were the rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs as we ran down the trail. It was almost dark, but we were searching. Peering through the dusk, we hurried down the trail towards a clearing.

The moon glowed deep orange-yellow, hazy in the autumn dusk. Though it first appeared to be stuck in the last trembling leaves above us, it slowly tugged free of the branches and climbed higher into the gathering gloom.

We stood, transfixed for a few moments, mesmerized by its surreal light. Slowly, we turned and walked back down the trail in the dark.

Its dark now. The sun seems very far away. But we are not left completely without light. There is something left to guide us. Something reflecting, mirroring the sun that seems invisible now. Yet there is a reflection. With no light of its own, the moon radiates the light that is given to it from the sun. 

And I can't help but wonder: How are we doing reflecting the light of the Son?

Travel

"It is God to Whom and with Whom we travel, and while He is the 

end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place." 

~ Elisabeth Elliot

By Faith

When I go running in the morning, it is still dark.

This isn't a problem when I take a friend along, but if I can't find

someone to go with me it can be a little scary.

Near the beginning of the route, there is a set of train tracks

with a tunnel going underneath them.

Its pitch black under there and all I can see is the light at the

other end. I have no idea what the path looks like at my

feet. I just have to keep looking straight ahead, 

trusting that nothing is lying in the trail. 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight"

~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

I can't always see, but I can always trust.

Giving Up

"God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain."

~ Steps to Christ, pg.46

Perseverance and achievement  is looked upon in todays society as something

 to be desired.I think of posters like the following:

Yet in the quote above, its the exact opposite that God calls us to do.

We are called to give up.

"But what do we do when we give up all? -- A sin polluted

heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleans by

His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And

yet men think it is hard to give up all!"

~ pg.46

Giving up trying to fix things on your own; giving up struggling

to accomplish your own purposes; giving

up plans, ideas, feelings.

"You can give Him your will; He will then work in

you to will and to do according to His good

pleasure."

~ pg. 47

Turning everything over to Him will allow for the character

 to be molded and shaped. In return from 

giving Him your life, you will gain everything.

"You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast,

and thus through constant surrender to God you

will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of

faith."

~ pg.48

GAVE UP ALL

"To do"

I love lists. I like to write them, cross things off, rewrite and revise. There are so many opportunities to write lists: for the day, for the week, for things that need to be done in the next month. At any given time if you look at my desk you will probably see 2-3 lists going at once!

You can make lists about people too: who you need to talk to, call, or email. I can make lists of places I want to go: China, Vermont, Siberia, Chile. School is most frequent topic of my lists: the paper I need to write, the book I need to read, an assignment that is due. 

Today I found a new list. One I think that will take me a while to cross off. Its in 2 Peter 1:6-8. It says, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

I think I've found some new things to add to my lists. Lord, give me Your strength to follow after You.

Migration

It was 37 degrees and my nose was tingling pleasantly. As I walked along the road, my breath made white puffs in front of my face. The sun was just peeking over a hill wrapped in orange, red, pale yellow, and green. Beautiful!

Then I noticed something. At first I couldn't distinguish where it was coming from; it was a muted muttering, warbling, and chirping noise. Looking around, I finally looked above the treetops to the sky. There they were, hundreds of tiny birds, fluttering in a great cloud towards the rising sun. As of one accord, they swerved and dived. Calling out encouraging chirps to their fellow travelers, they took turns being in the front, back, and sidelines. As I watched, a few little birds resting on a tree nearby gave flight and joined the flock as it disappeared into the sunrise.

I was suddenly struck with the thought: Oh that God's people could be more like that! All traveling together with one mind; encouraging one another and taking part in different tasks and roles. Moving ever towards the Son and not resting until we reach our new home. Drawing others to us by our excitement and enthusiasm. We are, in a sense, on a great migration. The place where we were before no longer satisfies us and we long for a better place. We are traveling towards it, towards the Son, with the knowledge that its only in His light that we will find rest.

The birds vanished into the lengthening rays of the sun and I was left alone with my thoughts. My nose protested the nippy air and I continued to exude puffs of white. But I wasn't thinking about that anymore. Instead I was thinking: am I doing all that I can to move towards the Son and encourage others along the way? What I can do to help others speed their journey toward home?

:)

ACLS

"Sir? Are you ok? Are you ok?" I called futilely several times. Obviously, he was not ok.

"I need some help in here! You, get the crash cart. You, start an IV. Peter, start compressions! Lets get a monitor on him."

As the team settled into organized confusion, I frantically racked my brain for things might be forgetting.

I watched as they began thumping on the chest of the dummy and giving two rescue breaths to every 30 compressions.
Once the heart monitor was in place and I saw the rhythm, I had to figure out what to do next. V-tach, ok, so that means......

I was in the middle of a class of ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). Now in addition to compressions and rescue breathing, we get to learn things like defibrillation, pacing, and when  to give meds. Although I enjoy it, its pretty intimidating when you look at the heart monitor, see it flat-line, and then have to decide what to do about it!

Leaning all this reminds me of just how amazingly intricate our bodies are! So much complexity involved in even the twitching of  a muscle.

Acts 28:17 says, "For in Him we live and move and have our being." Talk about advanced cardiac life support! If you take out the phrase 'in Him' there is no more living, or moving, or having being!

So as I give epinephrine and shock aberrant heart rhythms (hopefully) back to normal, its a reminder to me to remain 'in Him' and keep my heart in the right place.  

Plans

I sat at my desk and Shama reclined on the bed.

The Philippines

"So," I began, my pen poised above the paper, "What do we need to do to get ready?"

Between the two of us, we were able to come up with a reasonably coherent plan for fundraising and advertising. We'll have a concert, we decided, and take up an offering. Lovely! Now...who will help us with the concert?

Three or four pieces of paper and about an hour later, we had divided up tasks, projects, and people to contact.  By next week, we concluded, most of the churches should have been contacted and participants in the concert commandeered (we have amazing friends...I am sure no actual force will be needed!). 

With only a limited number of weekends between now and graduation (only 5, to be exact), it was essential to pin down actual dates to do fund-raising. We decided on Nov.20 at Shama's home church down in Georgia, and December 2 at the East Ridge church. 

This is just the first step in the journey, but it has me excited already! God has already worked so many things out, its going to be amazing to see what He does next!

And then....?

"So, you are graduating in December? And then...?"

Those words have been asked multiples times in the last few months. I have yet to be satisfied with my answers.
Two days ago I received yet another letter about up coming graduation. I've received many such letters  this semester reminding me to do various things: order graduation regalia, take the MAPP (exit exam), etc. I think they are ready for me to leave. I've still got 41 days left! I am feeling rushed.
Rewind just three and a half years and you will find me, a scared freshman, tiptoeing shyly around campus. While I still go around somewhat shyly, I no longer tiptoe: I belong here. But as soon as I walk down the aisle of the gym and meet Dr. Beitz half-way across the stage, where will I belong? Not a Southern student anymore. I'll join the multitude of 'alumnus' who return every five years or so to view the progression of knowledge.
Plans for the next year at least are certain: I'll be going with Shama to the Philippine's! We'll spend 10 months teaching and doing clinic in a village together. I like that part of my answer :)! Missions are always a great thing to talk about.

But then...? God knows. I can't wait for Him to tell me!

A Quote

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." ~ E. Majors

The Purpose of a Post

As far as I can tell, there are  reasons to post blogs:

1) To share thoughts and ideas
2) To keep friends who may not be in close proximity updated about what is going on in your life
3) To dialog with others about the ideas and thoughts shared
4)  For personal reflection

I am sure there are many other motives behind blogs, but the above mentioned are my main areas of focus. Hence, this blog shall mainly a chronicle; a glimpse of my journey toward Home :)