I saw one of the most disgusting yet fascinating things today. In my Life Science class, we got to examine a dissected human cadaver. I thought I would be completely grossed out after one look, but after studying the body for 15 minutes, I actually came away from the class completely captivated by the complexity of the human body.
I was pretty proud that I decided to go into the cadaver lab in the first place considering that during the hour beforehand, I could barely even look at the rat my lab partner and I were dissecting. Clarification--that she was dissecting. I refused to come within a two-foot radius of the rodent.
Upon entering the cadaver lab, the smell of preservatives made me sick to my stomach. Eventually, however, I got used to it, and I began to notice the complexity of the body before me. I won't go into all the details for those of you who have weak stomachs, but let me just say that the inside of a human body is absolutely amazing.
Seeing how all the organs, muscles, bones, and veins fit together only furthered my belief that there has to be a God out there who knows what he's doing and who could make such an intricate body. As crazy as I feel for admitting this, I'm thankful that God let me see that cadaver today. It reassured and reminded me that God really does know and care about every single detail in my life.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Gradu-what!?
Graduation. That simple word sends a feeling of dread straight to my heart and stomach. I'm still a sophomore, so I choose to live in ignorance that graduation day will ever come. However, with only eight days of classes left, many of the seniors here at Northwestern are beginning to realize just how quickly four years here go by and how very uncertain their futures are.
In chapel today I was talking with one of my senior friends about how she was graduating soon and what she was going to do for a job. As she panicked about the future, she said something about how her life was basically over now. From the pew behind her, this 70-some year old man who's taking classes here piped up and said, "Oh no. It's actually just beginning."
My friend jerked back a little, smirked, and grudgingly agreed with him. What a great reminder. There IS life after college. Yes, it might be difficult, but our years here at Northwestern are preparing us for it, not only with the academic and social aspects, but most importantly with the spiritual aspect. By freaking out about the future, it's like I'm telling God that I don't -or won't- trust in Him.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4: 6-7
In chapel today I was talking with one of my senior friends about how she was graduating soon and what she was going to do for a job. As she panicked about the future, she said something about how her life was basically over now. From the pew behind her, this 70-some year old man who's taking classes here piped up and said, "Oh no. It's actually just beginning."
My friend jerked back a little, smirked, and grudgingly agreed with him. What a great reminder. There IS life after college. Yes, it might be difficult, but our years here at Northwestern are preparing us for it, not only with the academic and social aspects, but most importantly with the spiritual aspect. By freaking out about the future, it's like I'm telling God that I don't -or won't- trust in Him.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4: 6-7
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thoughts on tulips
For those of you who live in Orange City, go to college in Orange City, or have passed through Orange City during the month of May, you know that this is the time of year when the beloved tulips bloom. Everywhere you go, the tulips are there serving as a reminder of the Tulip Festival coming in a few weeks. Or in my case, serving as a reminder to keep striving for Christ.
Today I walked around town (fulfilling my vow from an earlier blog to go outside) and saw tulips in all different stages of blossoming. Some tulip beds are completely blossomed. Others have half their tulips blossomed while the other half remains without any petals. Then there's the late-blooming beds with only one lone tulip in blossom.
These blossoming tulip beds reminded me of all of us Christians in our walks with God, each of us at a different stage of blooming. Some people are going strong with God (fully blossomed). Some are trying to reach that point but still have areas of their lives that they need to give over to God before they can be completely His. And some have just started out in their walks and need to be completely transformed by Christ.
There's nothing wrong with being in the latter two stages, as long as we aren't content with being in those stages. Just as we know that the partially bloomed tulip beds want to be fully-bloomed, so we also know that Christians need to strive to be completely alive in Christ.
Today I walked around town (fulfilling my vow from an earlier blog to go outside) and saw tulips in all different stages of blossoming. Some tulip beds are completely blossomed. Others have half their tulips blossomed while the other half remains without any petals. Then there's the late-blooming beds with only one lone tulip in blossom.
These blossoming tulip beds reminded me of all of us Christians in our walks with God, each of us at a different stage of blooming. Some people are going strong with God (fully blossomed). Some are trying to reach that point but still have areas of their lives that they need to give over to God before they can be completely His. And some have just started out in their walks and need to be completely transformed by Christ.
There's nothing wrong with being in the latter two stages, as long as we aren't content with being in those stages. Just as we know that the partially bloomed tulip beds want to be fully-bloomed, so we also know that Christians need to strive to be completely alive in Christ.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sunny outside...stuck inside.
The beauty about living in Fern during the winter is that, because it's connected to the caf, I don't have to go outside at all on Saturdays if I really want to. I can stay nice and warm in my dorm room and go down to supper in my flip-flops while all the other students on campus bundle up to make the freezing trek over here.
On spring days like today, however, being connected to the caf isn't all that great. The temperature outside reached 62 degrees today, and I didn't even leave the dorm until after supper. In trying to get all my homework done by staying in Fern, I wasted a beautiful day. I've been looking forward to weather like this for the past six months, and now that it's finally here, I don't even have time (or make time) to enjoy it.
Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved being outside. My brothers and I would spend hours in our grove building forts until Mom would force us to come inside for supper. Now I'm lucky if I spend an hour outside throughout the entire day.
Plus, I think I feel the closest to God when I'm in nature. Nothing beats watching the glorious sunsets, a new and beautiful one every night. Or feeling lush, green grass after months of white/brownish snow. Or looking up into the stars and realizing how incredibly small I am and how marvelously huge my God is that he holds it all in the palm of his hand.
It's supposed to be in the 60's and 70's throughout the rest of the week. After reflecting on my Saturday, I can assure you that I will make it a point to get outside and enjoy the awesome creation that God has placed me in. I hope you will too.
On spring days like today, however, being connected to the caf isn't all that great. The temperature outside reached 62 degrees today, and I didn't even leave the dorm until after supper. In trying to get all my homework done by staying in Fern, I wasted a beautiful day. I've been looking forward to weather like this for the past six months, and now that it's finally here, I don't even have time (or make time) to enjoy it.
Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved being outside. My brothers and I would spend hours in our grove building forts until Mom would force us to come inside for supper. Now I'm lucky if I spend an hour outside throughout the entire day.
Plus, I think I feel the closest to God when I'm in nature. Nothing beats watching the glorious sunsets, a new and beautiful one every night. Or feeling lush, green grass after months of white/brownish snow. Or looking up into the stars and realizing how incredibly small I am and how marvelously huge my God is that he holds it all in the palm of his hand.
It's supposed to be in the 60's and 70's throughout the rest of the week. After reflecting on my Saturday, I can assure you that I will make it a point to get outside and enjoy the awesome creation that God has placed me in. I hope you will too.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Worshipful Whistling
It's a bird. It's an alarm. It's a hearing aid going off.
No. Actually, it's just my intensely high pitch, probably slightly painful to listen to whistle. And yes, people have actually mistaken it for a bird, an alarm, and a hearing aid going off. I've never kept track of how many times I whistle throughout the day, but just ask any of my wingmates and they'll tell you that they always know when I'm walking down the hall because I'm constantly whistling a little tune, usually one that I've heard on the Christian radio station playing in the bathroom. I also whistle as I do my homework, walk to class, wait for class to start, etc.
You're probably wondering why I whistle so much. I used to wonder this myself, but now I see it like this: Some people praise God through singing. Others through playing instruments. Still others through more non-traditional means like dancing or creating art. My preferred style just happens to be whistling.
Just this morning, I went outside around 5 a.m. before the sun had even risen, and I was greeted by a choir of birds whistling to their hearts' content...I almost felt like I was intruding on an avian P & W service. Even though I have no clue what the birds' chirps meant, I'm sure God was smiling up in heaven to see his creation using their innate abilities to lift up praises to him.
Out of curiousity, I looked up the word whistle on BibleGateway.com, and it mentions whistling in the Bible twice, once in Isaiah 5:26 and once in Isaiah 7:18. Can you guess who the whistler is?
God. That's right. Even GOD appreciated and utilized this built-in instrument of the mouth.
So for all you whistlers out there: whistle loud and whistle proud. God gave you a gift, so don't be ashamed to use it.
Psalm 34:1-3 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul wil boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together."
No. Actually, it's just my intensely high pitch, probably slightly painful to listen to whistle. And yes, people have actually mistaken it for a bird, an alarm, and a hearing aid going off. I've never kept track of how many times I whistle throughout the day, but just ask any of my wingmates and they'll tell you that they always know when I'm walking down the hall because I'm constantly whistling a little tune, usually one that I've heard on the Christian radio station playing in the bathroom. I also whistle as I do my homework, walk to class, wait for class to start, etc.
You're probably wondering why I whistle so much. I used to wonder this myself, but now I see it like this: Some people praise God through singing. Others through playing instruments. Still others through more non-traditional means like dancing or creating art. My preferred style just happens to be whistling.
Just this morning, I went outside around 5 a.m. before the sun had even risen, and I was greeted by a choir of birds whistling to their hearts' content...I almost felt like I was intruding on an avian P & W service. Even though I have no clue what the birds' chirps meant, I'm sure God was smiling up in heaven to see his creation using their innate abilities to lift up praises to him.
Out of curiousity, I looked up the word whistle on BibleGateway.com, and it mentions whistling in the Bible twice, once in Isaiah 5:26 and once in Isaiah 7:18. Can you guess who the whistler is?
God. That's right. Even GOD appreciated and utilized this built-in instrument of the mouth.
So for all you whistlers out there: whistle loud and whistle proud. God gave you a gift, so don't be ashamed to use it.
Psalm 34:1-3 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul wil boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)