Spring 2015

It's hard to believe that another semester has begun and it's only been the second week of school. It's exciting to be back, but at the same time, it can get overwhelming very fast! I know you cannot define people through their personalities and personalities can change as you go through life, but I am always fascinated by the Myers Brigg Personality Test. A few weeks ago, I was reading the descriptions of INTJ, and I couldn't help laugh at how accurately it described me (of course, not every single part, but most of it). At the same time, I realized that it's difficult for me to communicate and express my thoughts and ideas to others. It takes me a long time to really think through things and form them into words and paragraphs. Maybe that's why I like to post pictures, haha. Despite the busy-ness of the semester, I hope that I can take some time this year to reflect and share what I'm learning! (And hopefully you can do the same!)

So what's new? I really believe that 2015 is a year of hope. When I started college, I couldn't help feeling that I was spiritually backsliding. It seemed that whenever I looked back at my spiritual life in high school, it was full of so much joy and hope. Back then,I honestly believed that God could do anything. I wondered - was it because I didn't know and understand the harshness of life? How did I have so much faith that God could do unspeakable things such as heal cancer? How did I have so much hope for others? How did I even have Bible study every week with my Bible teacher even when I was busy? During freshman year, my eyes opened to the tragedies of this world, and to sum it up, I would say I lost hope. But I believe that it's time to hope again. However, my hope is not grounded in my circumstances or how I feel. We have this unshakable hope because it's rooted in Jesus. January was a journey of learning more what hope is. Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." From this verse, I learned that if all of these thing produce hope, hope must encompass all of these things - suffering, perseverance, and character. Although hope seems to be a concept that I know of because I heard it so often, it's a concept that I am learning more deeply about. The dictionary definition for hope is "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Hope requires waiting. But waiting for what? When I think about waiting, it sounds unpleasant. Waiting requires patience, which I thought I had a lot of (but I realized I really don't). But when we hope, we are not wasting our time waiting. Instead of rushing into things, we are waiting for the Lord for his perfect timing. Why? We trust that his will for our lives is higher than the plans we have for our lives.

Aug gave a youth group message on Psalm 37:1-7 in January which was really encouraging.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Psalm 37:7

After I sort of had an understanding of hope, I wondered - what does it look like? What does a hopeful person look like? Then during Bible study, Romans 12:12 really stood out to me. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." A hopeful person looks joyful. And from then on, it's been a journey of learning to be joyful! It also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Yes, being joyful always is God's will for us. And like hope, joy is not rooted on our circumstances, but in Jesus.

Here's something that I have been reminded of recently.
Background: one snowy day
Words written with an Aquash brush

As the new year began, I have been trying to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer (and discipline). It's been really difficult, but I believe that God is going to do big things. And I can't wait to see how God will unfold things in my life and in the lives around me! The youth group winter retreat will be February 13-15 (next weekend)! I invite you to join with me in prayer for the guest speaker, Pastor Jane & Pastor Jason, as well as all the youth group kids that will attend. (: