Stray Thoughts

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

This has been my theme verse while here at Moody. God has provided. Not just food and books and clothes and a place to live, but love and patience and contentment where there wasn't any. And He has done it for His glory. I am learning so much. Every time someone asks me why I decided to come to Moody, I tell them that God literally put it in my lap, the Holy Spirit guided me through the application process, and God is keeping me here. And thank goodness! This semester is far surpassing last semester, and I can only imagine what the next 3 years will bring. I just pray that my head doesn't get bigger than my hands and feet.

I leave you with a picture. Oh the beauty of the Northwest.

My Winter Library

I had a goal this winter break to read at least 5 books. Break is now over and I am in the middle of my 5th. I'm pretty proud of myself. The first one I read was a present from my sweet roommate. Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. Cheesetastic, I'm not going to lie. Maybe it would've been better if I was in a relationship, because it did have some good stuff. I'll probably re-read it in a couple of years if I ever get into a relationship. 2 stars.

The next one was Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Very good.

I loved his first one - Crazy Love, and so was excited to see he had another one. This is about the Holy Spirit, the "forgotten God". 4 1/2 stars.

Next was my personal favorite of the break. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. So good. He wrote Blue Like Jazz a couple of years ago and apparently they are making a movie about it. This book was written while they were in the process of making the movie. Donald's life wasn't exciting enough to make the movie about, so they have to add a lot of things to the plot of the movie. This was a wake up call for him and he explains what he does to fix his boring life in this book. It's all about writing your story and after reading it, I wanted to conquer the world. What I like about Donald Miller is that he is a writer. This sounds silly you may think. What I mean is that Miller is not a Christian who decided he had something to say and wrote about it, like Francis Chan or Joshua Harris, who aren't bad writers, don't get me wrong. But Miller is an actual author. That is his profession. And he just happens to be a Christian too. Would recommend this to anyone. 5 stars.

Next was Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. This one seemed oddly appropriate after Million Miles. There is so much good stuff in here that I don't really know how to summarize it. Basically, don't waste your life. Simple enough. Don't get caught up in the "American Dream", but don't quit your job just to be more 'godly' and join a ministry. Your job is your ministry. Good stuff. 4 1/2 stars.

And the one I am just getting into is in no way Christian or spiritual. Which I kind of like. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

I'm only a couple of chapters in, but it has intrigued me so far. I haven't seen the movie, so I have no idea what happens, but everyone has told me that it is extremely sad. Oh great.

All of my reading from here on out will be my textbooks. Which is not a bad thing. I go to Bible School.

I amsterdam

When asked what ministry I would do if no money was holding me back, I said I would love to run some sort of boarding house where people could come in and out and I could take care of them and it would be all about relationships. "Kind of like a hostel?" Yes, kind of like a hostel. I was then told about a hostel in Amsterdam that is operated by Christians. You can work at this hostel for one month to three months to even a year. The workers put in 5 or 6 hours at either the front desk or in the kitchen and then the rest of the day is open. Most people choose to stay at the hostel to talk to the guests lodging there, or take one to coffee, or perhaps travel on bike to the nearest city. I was hooked from the moment I heard about it. I didn't really know anything about Amsterdam so I've begun researching. Did you know that prostitution is legal in Amsterdam?

And that most "coffee" shops are actually places people exchange drugs? Maybe you've heard of the Red Light District in Amsterdam, but I never had. It is the place where all of the prostitutes live. And all of the tourists come to gawk. It is literally lit up with red lights at night. Women sit in the windows and wait for men to come into their room. 79% of the women in prostitution in Amsterdam are not there by choice. This is human sex trafficking. There is an organization called "The Scarlet Cord" that is working in the lives of these prostitutes. They walk on the streets and reach out to these women, girls, who are selling their bodies and show them the love of Christ. They have a mentoring program for when these girls do come out of prostitution, but have no where to go and no one to talk to. The mentors get them set up in a church community and take care of these broken women.

Lord willing, I want to be a part of showing these women the worth they have in Christ. Please pray for Amsterdam and the women in prostitution there. Pray that they will be rescued.

Back on Board

I was one of those little girls who always wanted to keep a diary and got all the pretty ones and the matching pens and faithfully started writing in it. One week later and I was done with it. I guess the same goes for this little blog. Well, I'm here to tell you that I've been working on my faithfulness and perhaps this is a good thing for me to do - a test of self-discipline. So here goes.

Not Mine Anyway

So many things have happened in the transition from Flagstaff to Spokane that I feel like I could write a novel. I will spare you all the details. But this one story MUST be written down. It is the story of Alexander.

I've written before how my car is the "Faith Machine"...about how much a silly little car has taught me about Christ. Well, I wasn't going to take it with me to Spokane, and so I needed to get rid of it. I tried to get my coworkers to buy it - only $300! But no one wanted him. I had heard that a Christian rescue mission for the homeless, Hope Cottage, accepted donations of any kind, including cars. So, I took Alexander down there the day before I left Flagstaff with the mindset of 'I just want to get rid of my car!' but also thinking what a great place to give it to. I go in and they say they can take it, but it has to go to a specific person and I can't give it to them just so they can sell it. Well, they knew exactly who would get this car - Scott. I didn't mind who it went to! But after I met Scott, I was SO grateful that it was he that got Alexander.

Scott got shingles a while ago and was forced to quit his job. He came to Flagstaff homeless, jobless, and $15,000 in debt. He found the rescue mission and they gladly took him in. Well, he was able to get a job at McDonald's and he saved every single penny he earned and payed off ALL of his debt. He went back to the mission and asked them to disciple him so he could work for them. I'm not sure if he was a Christian before, or if it happened when he was at the mission, but either way, his life now is dedicated to serving the Lord while working at the mission. He told me that he was thinking a couple weeks ago that it would be nice for him to have a car - and now he does!!! Oh, I get shivers when I tell that story. It is the perfect picture to illustrate that everything is God's and we are just stewards of it all. How amazing is it that that silly little car taught me so much, and now is a gift to a man who wholeheartedly deserves it? Lord, give Alexander a long, long life so that you may teach people about You through him.

Planet Earth

John 17: 14-15, 18

"I have given them Your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one....As You sent me in the world, so I have sent them in the world."

What most people take out of these verses is that we are to be in this world, but not of it. The most important part being "not of it". Well, I was thinking about this verse and realizing the importance of Christ saying "I do not ask that You take them out of the world...(and)...so I have sent them in the world." I think it is a big tendency for Christians, myself included, to create their own world on this earth. We have Christian friends, we go to Christian events, we listen to Christian music, we read Christian books. I believe ALL of those things are wonderful, and I am not condemning it at all. But when that becomes your world, I think that is wrong. We need those things for sure to strengthen us to be in the world, but if we forget that second part, being in the world, then what is the point? Christ kept us here on earth for a reason. And I don't think that reason was purely for fellowship with believers. 

Now go hit the clubs!

Kidding. 

VBS

Here's what went down.

Day 1-3: Meaghan is disappointed because only 30 kids showed up, none of which were neighborhood kids. 

Day 4: Meaghan gets her act together and realizes God is able to do more than she can even think or imagine. 

Day 4: One girl gives her life to Christ!!!!

Praise God. VBS was an amazing week. It was exhausting and I now have bronchitis, but it was amazing. 

And my computer is smarter than me and I don't know where all the good pics of the kids are, so you're stuck with Karen & I - the leaders of VBS, still smiling!

 

Prayer Warriors Unite!

VBS started today!!! My internship for the past month has been prepping for this week! I will tell you all about it at the end of the week, but I want to enlist you all to pray for everything involving VBS. We've been praying for 100 kids, and that didn't happen today, at least. We had about 30. And honestly, numbers don't matter. But what I ask that you pray for is for more of the neighborhood kids to come - most, if not all of the 30 we had today were church kids...which is awesome! But the point is to reach our community- and our community is pretty ghetto, and needs Jesus bad. 

So please pray!! And of course, I will go into full detail about the week later, and maybe even have some pictures. (: 

Picture Perfect

"We are not meant to be seen as God's perfect, bright-shining examples, but to be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of His grace."  - Oswald Chambers

That may seem obvious to some people, but it definitely wasn't to me. As soon as I read that in My Utmost For His Highest, I felt like a burden was lifted off my shoulders. I've always struggled with trying to be perfect for people, because I felt like if ever I messed up, that would be a mark against God. And whenever I did mess up, that just got to me like no other. I hate when people are mad at me, or when people think badly of me, or are disappointed in me. And obviously, no one likes that, but that was my worst fear- ever. I know that I am representing Christ to all who are around me, and so I had to be a "perfect, bright-shining example." I don't like to show my weaknesses to anyone. Always be strong, Meaghan. 

People have told me before, 'you're only human, you can't be perfect all the time'. And I know that, but that didn't stop me from trying. Until now. I've never heard the flip side of it - the benefit of NOT being perfect. But oh, how obvious it is! Of course...we are to live as humans, always striving to be Christ-like, but showing how we can't do anything apart from God's grace. I think that is beautiful. We are weak! But praise Him for His grace - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." -2Cor 12: 8. 

"For when I am weak, then I am strong." v.10

Amen!

All I Need

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Psalm 23