A Poem

"The Passion of God"

Speak. I shall listen

To each unending word from your lips.

Smile. I shall see

The love of an entire people beneath the surface.

Cry. I shall weep

Alongside your suffering, for I know the cost.

Love. I shall love

Every part of you that I created by my own hands.

Cower. I shall fill

Your soul with every bit of strength to survive.

Bend. I shall fortify

So that you shall never break beneath the burden.

Stop. If it is my will you shall go,

But stop and listen for a moment.

Breathe. And never stop

It is my precious gift of life to you.

Know. Think. Focus.

Be that which I made you to be.

-Nikki Olsen

DTI

Patience is a Virtue

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

There are multiple definitions for patience, but my favorite is this:

Patience (n.) - quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience. (Dictionary.com)

I find this so beautiful. I've heard plenty of sermons on steadfastness and perseverance, but rarely do speakers relate these traits to patience. My mind wanders to the way water cuts in to a rock formation over the years. Yes, it takes steadfastness and perseverance, but I've realized that it also takes an incredible amount of patience. This quiet and steady patience creates something beautiful. Just Google search images of "water cutting in to rock formations" or something like that to see what I am talking about. It is absolutely breathtaking.

We have so much to learn from that strength. On that note, God has shown me a side of that patience that I have never seen before.

I once heard someone define patience as "being absolutely content in your atmosphere and circumstances, and not wishing you were somewhere else or someone else." So, I think patience is very alike to contentment by that definition.

Having this type of patience has not been easy. I find myself impatient to find out who God wants me to be. I want to sprint for the finish line, but if I start 3 miles out, I won't make it. I long for the day God whispers, "This is it. See that in the distance? It's the finish line. Give all you have, I will sustain you. Finish running the good race."

But I'm not there yet. And I urge you to not be so eager to make time pass quicker either. That time will pass anyway; and it's not about what is waiting on the finish line. The best part of all this is the steps it will take to get there. Every part, every struggle, every joy develops us into who we are meant to be.

So don't rush it. Be patient. Wait on God.

For we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)

One last thing about patience I want to share with you:
Be patient that God will lead you in the way you're meant to be.

I started college this past year, and found myself already stressing about which graduate school I will go to. I fight every day for perfect grades so I can attend whichever one I want.

But here's the thing. The idea that I think I have control over which one I go to is hilarious. That's not up to me. And God won't let something like a < 4.0 GPA keep him from putting you where you're meant to be. He won't close doors just because of a C or B grade.

Another example would be in finding a marriage partner. I know people at my school stress about getting that MRS. degree. I hear things that break my heart: "I'm not thin enough for him." "I'm not religious enough." "I'm not (insert your own misconceived shortcoming) enough."

This is the biggest lie. Be patient, and wait for that person that God created for you, and you ARE enough for. Anyway, this topic is another whole blog post in and of itself. But what I am trying to convey is that there is no list of qualifications and check lists that we have to fulfill to find a partner, or make it into the graduate school we want.

Remember, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Don't ever forget, we are called. We have a purpose. And we have a God who loves us above all of it.

Be patient, and trust in that.

DTI

The Second Thing

Previously, I alluded to a second thing I believe strongly about God. It also has to do with walking by faith.

God doesn't open a door just to slam it in our face. He doesn't instill a passion in you just to have it come to nothing. Let me explain what I mean by these two statements.

It would be impossible to count how many times I have heard fellow Christians say, "I'm praying about the direction God wants me to go." "I just want God's will in this." "I'm waiting to hear what God says about this decision", and other statements of the like. I do it as well. Every big decision in life, I have prayed and asked for prayer from my friends and family. And you know what? God always delivers.

But, sometimes we don't understand. God isn't always clear cut. He says yes, no, and maybe. Sometimes, there are two paths that God equally desires for us, and allows us the beautiful factor of free will. However, in big decisions, I believe God wants us to seek his council.

Here's a personal example: choosing what college I went to. I didn't necessarily want to go to Whitworth University at first. I wanted to step out and create an independent path from my brother, who attended there. (side note: my brother and I are best friends. We just can be very different, and I wanted to create my own mark on a brand new path. But, God works everything for our good, and knows the outcome in ways I could never comprehend.)

So, I fought with God for a while on this. My entire junior year of high school, actually. I couldn't deny the draw I had there. Everything, and everyone, steered me in the direction of Whitworth. While talking to God, it kept coming up. Eventually, there was no denying it anymore; God had opened that door, and waited on the other side for me to walk into His greater plans.

What that plan is, exactly, I have no idea. But, I have never had more prompting from God on a decision than this one.

A year later, I love the school so much, words cannot express. It is exactly where God desires me to be. I feel it every day, and know we made the right choice, together. God is still unveiling his plan to me, and I have only an idea of what that is.

Here's the point I began to understand through this experience: God doesn't open a door and then shut the path off from us. Drawing off of that, when I am unsure where God wants me next, I look back to the last thing he called me to. This, I know, is Whitworth. So, I keep walking that path because I know he wouldn't slam that door in my face now. There may be more doors along the path, forks in the road for major decisions in life, but for now I will continue to walk this path; I will continue to walk by faith.

As for instilling a passion in us, I look to the words from Psalm 37:4. "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." When we desire to do God's will and follow the path he has set for us since the days in our mother's womb, I believe he can use any passion of ours to impact this world.

So, in conclusion, I have a prayer I pray every day. I used to pray, "Lord, write my love story." But, it has developed into so much more with every day I grow older. Now, I pray with all my heart for God to write my ENTIRE story.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope, and a future.'" -Jeremiah 29:11

His plans are so much better than any I can ever dream up for myself.

DTI

Walk by Faith

There are two things I have come to strongly believe in accordance to God. This post will be about one of these, and I will post about the second another time.

Years ago, I attended Bible camp, like most church kids do when growing up. It is a rite of passage, so to speak. Some were forced to go, and for others, like me, it was the highlight of the year. Back then, it was the best part of my year because it was a time to hang out with my friends nonstop for an entire week. That was the dream as an elementary kid.

Over time, the memories fade. I can still recall fondly some great moments with great people. But, what truly stuck with me was how I was able to encounter God every day. His presence was everywhere. It was in the forests we trekked through, the water we played in, the chapel services we attended every night, and the times we opened our hearts to one another at night, strengthening our bonds of friendship.

But, enough strolling down memory lane. A statement by one of the speakers stuck with me until this day. He said, "God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called." I have pondered that statement often in the years that have followed. Here are some thoughts that have produced.

1. That little voice that says we're not good enough? God says differently.
We always make up excuses to not be the one to make a difference. Excuses reign rampant from "I'm too young" to "I'm under qualified" to "There has to be someone better than me for this." Well, just look at Moses. He was convinced that he wasn't the right man to lead God's chosen people out of Egypt, yet God used him anyway, no matter how much he fought. God called him to save His people, and then qualified him for the job by providing Aaron to speak and the power of God in his staff.

2. If not you, then who?
Think about it for a moment. If everyone says, "There has to be someone else," eventually we would run through everyone on the earth and nothing would be accomplished. Be brave enough to say, "I will."

3. It's anything but easy.
Choosing to obey God and step out in faith is the hardest thing a person can do. I struggle every day, and find excuses so I understand what you must be thinking. Walking by faith, in tune to the Lord, is difficult. I never contemplated the weight of "walking by faith" until the other day when I was hiking with my amazing friend and college roommate, who demonstrates what it means to dare to inspire. If more people "walked by faith" and thought practically about what a relationship with God means, we could change the world.

So that's just a couple of my thoughts. Disclaimer: we get people every day trying to get people to take action for God. We listen to motivational speakers, read amazing books about taking that action, and talk to our accountability partners about where we are in our walk with God. These are all beautiful things. God created us to be relational people, and uses other people to spur us on to greater things.

But, here's my challenge to you. Do one little thing every day to make the world a better place. What that little thing is, I'll leave up to you. But spread God's love, one day at a time.

Whatever you do, just go out there and dare to inspire.

DTI

Dare to Inspire

Psalm 139 states that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." But, how many of us truly believe that, and have that conviction set in our hearts that the God of the universe loves us eternally? How many of us live a life to honor him, and seek his will in all things?

I know I haven't lived up to that, I'll be the first to admit. So far this summer, I've only been able to see the parts of me that will never live up to the vastness of our God.

But that's the thing. It's impossible, and we drive ourselves crazy trying to better ourselves. We read self-help books, do daily devotions, meet with our Bible studies, and diligently show up for church once a week. At least, I find myself doing that. But, the more I internalize, the more I realize I'm not doing what God made us for in the first place: to be a light to the world.

I don't know how many people will see this blog, or if anyone will. But, if I can post something that just one person can relate to, and it speaks to their soul, then this will be worth it.

I am daring to inspire. No, not daring to dream. I'm ready to take action. And I believe this blog will help me live a life more in tune to God's plan for me. Dare to reach out, dare to make a difference. Dare to love, dare to take action. Dare to stand up for what you believe, dare to be the best you you can be.

So, I will be posting on life! Books, movies, reflections, scripture, college experiences, etc. If there is a choice d. all of the above, this is it. And, it will be from a Christian perspective. My prayer is that it stays that way, and can not only be an area for fellow believers to read about their own daily struggles, but for everyone else to see God's love.

Prepare yourself to see much more of my life than I ever intended on sharing. But that's the funny thing about plans; God always has a better one.

DTI