Carmen

My New Blog

2007-09-27T17:24:00.000-04:00

yes, I too have moved to wordpress. my new blog is www.carmenhill.wordpress.com. I won't post here anymore, so check out my new one! And yes, I will be posting more regularly!!

Just to clarify...

2007-06-27T01:12:00.000-04:00

I read my last two posts, and they didn't seem to line up, so I wanted to clarify.

God has most definitely provided our needs in finding a home, providing us with furniture, a free church/ honeymoon, a GREAT deal on my dress, using family and friends already to bless us with things that we need for our home, etc., etc.

He has overwhelmingly blessed us thus far in many different ways. However, I have focused so much time and energy into making the home, that the actual plans for the wedding itself have been neglected, thus my freaking out.

But God is good, and I do trust that He will continue to work all things to the good of those who love Him, as all of our abundant blessings are a testimony to the Spirit interceding on our behalf, because we definitely don't know we should pray. Thank God that hasn't stopped Him thus far...

I'm freaking out

2007-06-27T00:46:00.000-04:00

Life is a bit frustrating right now. I'm finding myself almost 6 weeks from my wedding day, with nothing but a wedding dress to show for myself. I still need practically everything. It's so overwhelming- I never realized how much time it takes to plan a wedding. I hear of other friends whose mothers and relatives totally jumped in and did practically everything-- that must be great.
Well, I am definitely freaking out right now. Pray that God will place someone in my life capable of helping me bear this heavy load, because I honestly think it will be a disaster if left totally up to me...
Hopefully my next post will be more positive. Until then...

Happy Times

2007-06-04T15:17:00.000-04:00

Well, it looks like Jeff and I have successfully moved our wedding date up to this August, for anyone who may not already know. Can I just mention how EXCITED I am??!! We have been dating for almost 3 and a half years, and I cannot express how anxious I am to start the rest of our lives together.

The amazing thing is that as soon as we rearranged our priorities, and moved the date up, everything began falling into place. We have been so blessed, and God has provided for our every need, every step of the way. God is already showing Himself true in our marriage, and it hasn't even begun yet! What an amazing preview of the rest of our lives. Our Father is so good.

Crazy summer

2007-05-14T14:27:00.000-04:00

For a few reasons which will remain undisclosed, this is going to be a CrAzY summer! But I am so excited!

Bueno, no sé que decir exactamente porque no quiero revelar mi secreto! Y yo sé que irás a algún lugar en el internet para traducir esta mensaje. Páralo! No hablas español por un razón! ¿Pensaste que yo escribiría lo que no puedo revelar aquí en este párrafo? Haha, tontos...

Saturday

2007-05-12T12:56:00.000-04:00

It's Saturday, and all this blogging is wearing me out, lol. I haven't been this involved in discussion since my Faith, Reason, and Imagination class last semester. (talk about being challenged in explaining/defending your faith). I have way exceeded my limits, but hopefully all this blogging will be habit-forming.

Jeff is gone to St. Louis. :O( I have no life. Which reminds me:

I admire Kristen Barfield and J.C. Thompson more than I even think I know. They have put the L-O-N-G-D-I-S-T-A-N-C-E in the long-distance relationship. They probably even put the r-e-l-a-t-i-o-n-s-h-i-p there, too. I'm glad we're all getting married together!

I miss you, Jeff.

Romans 1

2007-05-11T11:51:00.000-04:00

I read Romans 1 today devotionally. I noticed an interesting pattern throughout the chapter: God was in complete control of both the belief of the believers, and the unbelief of the non-believers.

Paul begins by saying that he himself is "called as an apostle"(v.1), "set apart for the gospel of God"(v.1), and that he along with the believers has "recieved grace and apostleship"(v.5), and that those to whom he is writing are the "called of Jesus Christ"(v.6). He addresses those believers, "to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints"(v.7). God called them; God set them apart; God gave them the grace and apostleship that they recieved, God loved them, making them beloved, etc.

Paul continues that God has made what is known about God evident to ungodly and unrighteous men (v.19). They did not honor or obey God (v.21). God, in ultimate control, gave them over to impurity (v.24), to degrading passions (v.26), to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper (v.28).

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes to believers, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Ephesians 2:1-6

God gave some over to their evil ways and yet, as we see in Romans and Ephesians, pulled those believers out of death and the lusts of their flesh into salvation. If hating God and reveling in our own sinful lusts merited God's wrath, why did God pull some out of it, and yet turn others over into it?

[emphasis mine]

Pain

2007-05-10T11:53:00.000-04:00

When Isaiah saw God in the temple (Isaiah 6), he was ruined (or undone) over his sin. He completely came apart. The angel burnt the flesh on his lips with a coal to cleanse him from his sins, no doubt a painful experience.

The pain of repentance is not given much attention. Do we come undone over our sin, and when God restores us and heals us, do we feel the pain of being refined by the fire of God's holiness?

I pray that we would be sensitive to sin, and that it would grieve the Spirit within us. And I pray that we would all experience being refined by God's holiness, however painful the experience may be.

Eloping

2007-05-09T14:34:00.000-04:00

Life (and my engagement) would be much easier if the main thing was the main thing. No elaborate ceremonies, no cake that I can't eat, no extra expenses, NO WAITING. I would be eloping right now if that were the case. "Hello judge, sign this please, have a nice day." Now that's an idea.

Does "all" mean "all"?

2007-05-08T12:35:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting verse, that, taken word-by-word literally, would seem to contradict itself.

"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." --Acts 2:39, enfasis mine

The context:
is the day of Pentecost. Peter is preaching Jesus to the Jews. They come under conviction, and ask Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (v. 37)
Peter tells them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (v. 38)
Here is where v. 39 comes in. The promise he is speaking of is salvation. (repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit.)

Inference:
We know from context that in v.39, "you and your children" are the Jews, and that "all who are far off" are the Gentiles. But then Peter clarifies that the promise of salvation is for "as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself", not all.

So does "all" mean "all"?

In this passage we see it used in reference to the Gentiles, but not in reference to the recipients of the promise of salvation.

Edification

2007-05-07T22:33:00.000-04:00

Once I was finished with my post for today, and quite proud of it, God called the verse to my mind that says to speak "only such a word as is good for edification", so I had to start over.

It is amazing to watch my future husband grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. I rest completely assured in his ability to lead, not as the world defines a leader or a man, but as Christ defines one. I am comforted about my future as I see him leading into God's calling and will, and I will joyfully follow.
As we are surrounded with failing and/or failed marriages, we are constantly confronted with what is a well-meaning forewarning, "don't worry, you won't want to be near each other once you are married", or, "see how you feel about one another after a few years of marriage", etc.
Well, I can say that they are accurate when defining the mainstream and worldly picture of marriage.

However, Christ is the center of the universe, and He is the reason why everything doesn't fall apart. He holds every atom within its boundaries, and if He were to remove His hand from sustaining the universe, all would cease to exist.

In the same way, if Christ is the center of your marriage, it will not and can not fall apart. Sure, everyone says, "that won't happen to us; we're different". But Jeff and I do not say this in vain. We will not fail as long as Christ is the center of our marriage. He is the center of our lives, and by default He will be the center of our marriage.

Praise Jesus, from whom no area of our existence escapes His lordship!

ok, so I'm really bad at this...

2007-03-29T00:29:00.000-04:00

Well, it seems that I am really bad at doing anything involving a computer, except for piling stuff in front of it, for longer that a few straight days. Email, myspace, facebook, blogging- there's just so much to do to maintain an internet social life- it's like having a part-time job that doesn't pay anything, but yet costs you just as much sleep.

4 lessons I've learned in the past few weeks:

1. Seeking and waiting on God means you have to SEEK, and WAIT.
Skipping out on a word from God and making a critical decision w/o His confirmation means you are making a MISTAKE. And it's definitely not fair to those whom your decision affects.

2. The professor has the floor in any classroom discussion, and you will never win.
So ask him questions that he cannot answer, and can provide no evidence for.

3. Being kind and intelligent when defending your faith gains more ground than being defensive and irrational.

4. People get angry when you say that if one does not believe and follow the teachings of Christ, then he is not a Christian.
Apparently the title "Christian" is available for any religion-inventing Joe, even if he doesn't adhere whatsoever to the teachings of Christ. I must have missed that memo on the change in definition.

Happy Valentine's Day, Jeff...

2007-02-15T00:07:00.000-05:00

I really am thankful that we have such an amazing love to celebrate. Because of you, I better understand the selfless love of Christ. Thank you so much for allowing God's love to be " fleshed out" and demonstrated in my life through you. I'm so glad that, by God's perfect design, all that is beautiful in us is from God Himself. I'm also glad that I can say that I've experienced real love, which is not something most of the world can say.
" Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above" --James 1:17

I love you Jeff.

I'm glad Jesus loves stupid people.

2007-02-13T00:25:00.000-05:00

God is so good! He continues to poor out blessing after blessing into my life-why? I don't know.

When I'm least expecting it, He reveals truth about Himself to me from His Word, and it is almost overwhelming. No wonder the very presence of God is enough to kill a man. When He speaks, it changes you. There's something about the Truth that is so powerful, it actually changes you from the inside.

This journey as a follower of Jesus Christ is so amazing! Learning the truth is so amazing, when the whole world is covered in lies and deceit. And being conformed to that truth through the power of Jesus Christ living in me is my life.

His grace overwhelms me if I stop to think about it for any longer than a few seconds.
When I'm the least interested in seeking Him, He brings me to my knees and reveals Himself to me in a way that I can hardly endure. And it's definitely not because of anything I've done. God is so good.

Very Sorry...

2007-02-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

It has recently been brought to my attention that not everyone knew about my joining the blogging community. My deepest apologies to anyone crushed by my neglect, and who are apparently harboring some bitter resentment. If any of you are still unaware that I have a blog, you are welcome to visit my blog at www.carmenann.blogspot.com. Tell me how you like it...

Here you go, Jeff

2007-01-30T00:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently I am supposed to post a blog everyday, even when I'm not "feeling very poetic".
After being enlightened by Jeff's blogging expertise, I'm taking a new approach and hopefully will post more regularly.

Today was an interesting day. I am more excited now than ever about mine and Jeff's future, reguardless of what that may be.

I am still a bit frustrated with myself, however. Even though faced with a greater urgency to seek God's face now more than ever before, I find myself not seeking as adamantly as I should. Why is that? God promises His word will accomplish what He sent it out to accomplish, and that if we seek Him with all our hearts we will find Him. Why do we foolishly yield to our flesh, when we as believers know that it has brought us nothing but death? "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;" John 6:63

I guess, in summary, my most recent struggle has been to totally yield and submit myself to walking in the Spirit, to where there's nothing left for my flesh to have. Then I will be free to seek God with all my heart, and find His desire and will for our future.

Aahhh, Spanish-American Civilization and Literature...

2007-01-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

Yep, it looks like we already have a winner for least favorite class... and ironically it's a class under my major. Typically I could deal with the less than stimulating material and the monotonous lectures, but this class is going to test a bit more than my attention span. My faith, as it has before in my college career, was tested the very first day of class when a movie was put in that was, let's just say, below my moral standards (two words- FORIEGN FILM). I was immediately faced with the decision to a.) Watch it, and grieve the heart of God, or b.) Stand for my convictions and kindly explain to the professor that I don't watch those movies. Well, choosing the latter, I got a response of puzzlement and annoyance. The professor, needless to say, DIDN'T share my convictions. Welcome to the world...

"Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked."
Proverbs 25:26

Encouragement

2007-01-24T09:25:00.000-05:00

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
-Isaiah 55:8-11

God has encouraged me greatly in this passage as I seek and wait for a clear word from God about mine and Jeff's future. It's comforting to know that He has a specific purpose for His word, and that if I seek and follow His word, it will accomplish His desire for our lives.

Exciting Times

2007-01-23T15:38:00.000-05:00

Life is pretty exciting right now... I'm getting married, planning a wedding, preparing for a life together with my love and my best friend, and praying about some very pivotal and life changing decisions that we are being faced with right now. Even though the unknown is scary and a bit uncomfortable, it is so exciting! I can't wait to see where God takes Jeff and me on life's journey together, and I couldn't think of anyone better to go through it with.