Just a reminder

you are very special to God.

image via: (euph monkey)

Lately

*ICA had its first freshmen girls bible study last night! We had a great turn out. This semester we have been very intentional to reach out to people who don’t know anything about Jesus. It’s great to see people wanting to learn more. We kept the first meeting light. We drew “spiritual timelines” and shared our backgrounds.

I draw a spiritual timeline every year; it never gets old–I love it. It’s always nice to reflect on God’s faithfulness. I texted some close friends in Austin to pray over the night. Mind you, the people I texted were the ones that patiently read the Bible with me as I questioned its validity and the existence of God in high school. It’s crazy to think that a couple years ago I didn’t even believe in God and walked into church curious. Boy, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! PS: This kid is a huge part of my testimony. Several years later, we’re still good friends and I am so grateful God used him to bring me to church and speak truth into my life.

*I am obsessed as ever with Lemonade. Unfortunately so is everyone else on this campus which means looooonnnggg lines. I have plans to try every lemonade flavor. I am looking forward to sipping watermelon rosemary lemonade.

*I wrote a diagnostic essay about Austin and Christianity for my Writing 340 class. It was considered a top essay in the class (we read everyone’s essays (anonymous) in the class and ranked them). My friend Steven Chang (who writes really amazing things about God on his blog) would be proud…though he will never know about it because he hardly reads my blog (something about it being too girly).

*I love my public relations class. Mostly because my teacher is awesome.

*To end my entry….some bible (Hebrews 12:2) for you all:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There have been some tough moments these last several weeks, but I know I’m not going through them in vain. My faith is being refined and even though it’s painful sometimes I embrace it wholeheartedly knowing God has my back completely.

Dear Chicago,

I hope you know how lucky you are to get a girl like Bella. She has a huge heart for God and people. Be blessed.

Yours truly,
Helen

Bella on south congress this summer. Pink sunset in the background and sweet leaf tea slush in her hands.

Romans 10:15

I found some lovely pictures of India on flickr. I’m posting them in honor of a dear brother of mine who is going there for a semester. Follow Peter’s adventures here. He arrives in India tomorrow, on a Sunday, there’s something very beautiful about that.

Girls Night

My Friday night with the greatest friends a girl could ask for:

• dressing up to go to the Driskill to eat fancy dessert (chocolate cake, apple pie, pineapple cake…can you say YUM?).
• coming back to my apartment and talking about going on missions (winter break 2010?!) while snacking on chips and candy
• watching Pride and Prejudice and swooning over Mr. Darcy  (if you follow my twitter you know I was distressed about my DVD skipping. I obviously watch that movie too much)
• lighting sparklers and frolicking outside (it wouldn’t be a girl’s night hosted by me without some whimsy)
• coming inside, lighting some candles, and reading scripture in the glow and drifting to sleep
• in the morning we chatted over bagels and honest tea about the upcoming semester, relationships, and the discipline of solitude and secrecy.

We laughed a lot (as always) and chatted a lot about God throughout the night. We like our share of shopping, heels, makeup, chocolate, and MR. DARCY, but at the end of the day we’re just five girls who are madly in love with Jesus and we’re out to make His name known and we’re grateful we get to walk alongside each other as we do it.

(image via: CLINK)

Beautiful Things

17/30

Day 17: An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NASB)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all th fullness of God.

(artist: turine tran)

Top bunk

Last summer I was on a train traveling across China.

Lately

This blog entry is going to be all over the place. Just a warning.

Let’s begin with some spiritual musings…

From Sunday’s sermon on Genesis 13 at the Austin Stone:

Honor God completely and serve man.

Anything that propels you to adore God is a blessing.

Freely you receive, freely you give.

It has been difficult to forgive people and myself lately. This reality has been a wake up call for me. How can I claim to know Him and not forgive?  Today I am at the library not only blogging but taking some much needed time to meditate on the grace of God.

And now for some pretty random pictures:

Love the stained glass.

Finally some pictures capturing what Peter and I have been doing:
I took this picture inside the paramount theater (historic theater featuring balcony seats and old classic movies. great date place!). This is Audrey Hepburn (love her) right before this scene. Peter and I sat up on the second floor. The only downside of the night was how cold it was inside the theater. Thankfully Texas nights are warm and the walk back to my car was that much more enjoyable.

We went and saw Toy Story 3 at the IMAX theater.

My nose was too flat for the glasses :[ but at least we have a picture together. Toy Story 3 is great by the way. I highly recommend it.

Cheers to being in the same city as my boyfriend and God’s blessings that come in all shapes and forms.