One in Six Billion

I know not many people read my blog, and I like it that way, but for those who do, you may notice that I have changed the title. In 2008, the World Bank approximated the world population at 6,692,030,277. That's a lot of people! "It is estimated that approximately 250,000 to 300,000 people die each day(see http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_die_a_day). When given that estimate, and the estimated 217,000 additional (population expansion) babies are born, an estimated 467,000 to 517,000 total births per day." On March 5, 1991, I was one of those babies to be born. Each one of those humans born will one day be in the count of the number of people who have died. It's amazing to me that each day so many lives begin, and so many lives end, but the majority of the population will continue to live, whether or not we are affected by this change. Those of us who are fortunate enough to live through the day will make at least 5,000 decisions in a day...some that will determine the path of our lives, others that determine what we will eat or when we will get out of bed, small yet important.

When I was five or six, I made the most important decision I would ever make: to accept Jesus as my Savior. Since then, that one decision has been the basis for every decision I have made, although I can't say I have always made the right decisions. I am imperfect like all of the other 6.5 billion people out there, but because of one man, Jesus Christ, I am free from those imperfections and the eternal consequence of them. ONE MAN.

I decided after graduating from eighth grade at Valley Christian to continue my High School education there, a decision I will never regret. I decided to play basketball and soccer and run cross country. I decided to run for Student Leadership and was voted president. After graduating from high school, I decided to move to Oregon to attend George Fox University, another decision I will never regret. Although, with all of these decisions I have made, I feel as if I am still just at the beginning of my life. I can't yet tell story after story of my many life experiences or write on a job application that I have a Masters in Sports Medicine or even that I've had a consistent job. My life is still an unfinished book, just like each person who will go to sleep tonight, wake up tomorrow, make 5,000 decisions, go to sleep, and do it all over again the next day. I am just one person. I am completely confident that if I can be totally surrendered to Jesus, and willing to go wherever he wants me to and do whatever it is He asks...if I actively work on living my life like Jesus lived His, if I pursue a relationship with Him each day that He allows me to be alive on this earth, if I deny myself to follow Christ, if it is not me living but Christ living in me, it will be impossible for me to make a wrong decision, and it will be impossible for no one to notice a difference.

The most recent decision I have made is that in July, I will be moving to Colorado Springs for a six month internship and school afterward. I am confident that this is the Lord's will, because I will be challenged in every way possible to step out of my bubble, figure out what I believe, and to be bold about it. I am so thankful that God chose to put me where He did so that I can share what I have received from Him with everyone around me. I can share His love. I am one in six billion, and if I can lead someone, who is also one in six billion, towards the love of Christ, I know my life was worth all the effort that went into it.

So, after a wonderful Christmas vacation, I continue my life here at George Fox, waiting patiently for the Lord's timing in my life, and growing in my knowledge of God's Word, my desire to pursue Him, and doing everything to glorify His name.

Pictures

Last night, we went to a jazz club in Portland because my friend Megan (right) and I had to go to a live performance for our class, Understanding Jazz. The light wasn't very good, so I didn't get any pictures of the band. It was really fun though! We got some desert and listened to some jazz, and were out by 9:30.


At our Christmas party that I told you about in the last post, we decided to make a manger scene. Sorry these pictures aren't the best...

Last week of school

This coming week will be my last week of school for the semester before a much needed break. I'm done with classes, now I just have finals. This weekend has been really relaxing. I got to go see Lauren play basketball, watch Dana (my roommate) sing in the George Fox Christmas concert, and go to the Penn 2 (the floor I live on) Christmas party, where we had a gingerbread house contest and made shirts. I have pictures, but not my computer, so I'll put them up when I get it back. I've barely studied at all, but I'm not to stressed about finals. We don't have school tomorrow either because it is "Dead Day"! Only four more days till I get to go home!

I've been thinking about Christmas lately and how crazy it is that God came to earth as a baby. He was limitless, yet because He loved us so much, He became one of us, in the humble form of a baby. The pastor of the Foursquare church that I've been going to put it into perspective that it would be like if God gave us this compassionate heart for flies and there was this huge epidemic that was going to kill them all, and the only way to save them was to become one of them. Why would any of us want to become a fly or even save one? It's the same way with God. Just like flies, we can be so rebellious and annoying, yet Christ loved us so much that he took on our form to save us. I am so thankful that I serve a God who loved me enough to become like me and live the perfect life, then die for me so that I could know how to live and by His grace live eternally with Him!

One Day Earlier

On Wednesday I was talking to my friend Meaghan and she convinced me that I need to come home a day earlier, so I decided to fly home rather than drive like I was originally planning. And I am soooooo excited! I'm now getting in on Thursday evening rather than Friday, and I get to leave later also! I get to go to skit talent at Valley and the Deerlodge basketball game! And I get to see everyone earlier too! Now there's only seven more days!!!

Computer Trouble

I can't believe there's only 11 days until I get to go home for Christmas! As you all probably know, my most challenging class this semester has been anatomy, and this past week I have lost motivation to study, so I have to force myself to. I have a lab practicum tomorrow over the brain, nerves, the eye, the ear, the nose, and other things. I'm praying for favor, because I need to do well on this practicum to keep my B. Plus, I have another anatomy test on Friday, then the final next week. I have actually been amazed at the peace I have about it, not too much stress!

One thing that has been giving me trouble is my computer. I am actually writing this on my roommate's computer, because mine wouldn't turn on past sleep mode, so I had to bring it to the tech desk. I think I'll probably have to get a new computer. I just put all of this into the Lord's hands and trust that He will give me strength and wisdom in planning these next couple of weeks! I'm just so thankful that He has put me in this place and is allowing me to experience all that I have here! It's wonderful, but I am ready for a break!