mslisachristine's Revelife

Calling

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:15:03 GMT

I am back -- again. I do not know why I felt compelled to come back tonight, but I did. I am going to come back more often and write because I feel compelled to write. I feel like I have pertinent issues and topics to discuss now, especially with all the issues I have encountered the past few weeks.

An update -- I have switched churches and am attending a bible church in the suburbs of Austin. I love it! In addition, I am attending Celebrate Recovery at this church, which I recommend for anyone who has unresolved issues in his or her life. Earlier this semester, I tried going back to the Catholic Church. I attended for a few weeks ... but then my desire to attend deteriorated. I entered a temporary spiritual rut. I realized, though, that I was attending out of guilt and tradition. I felt blessed for my upbringing. God, though, wanted me to go in a different direction.

The best part about the church is the candor of its worshippers. These people know they are infallible and are not afraid to admit their habits, hurts and hang-ups. They throw their hands up in the air and ask for God's mercy. They tell you their problems and issues and welcome you to reciprocate that action. They want to know you. Now, for someone who has grown up in the Catholic Church, this seems, well, downright terrifying for obvious reasons:

1. Reconciliation was between you and a Priest. Yet, I realized I deprived myself for so many years of the accountability I needed and craved. (It is not that Catholic Churches cannot have accountability.)

2. Fellowship was nonexistent. You attended Church, tithed weekly and participated in religious classes weekly.

3. The sense of community was nonexistent. Outside of my peers from school who I attended my church, I knew no one.

*This is based on my experiences with the Catholic Church.

Now, I feel inspired and blessed and just filled with joy. I want to become more involved, but I am hesitant because I may leave Austin at the end of July (depending on where and if I am hired). I want to stay in Austin, though, and continue to attend this church because for the first time, I feel like I belong. Wow, sometimes, those words just hit me. I belong to a church now. Wow.

If I am hired to work in Austin, my goal is to lead a group of seventh, eighth or ninth graders at this church. I want to become a small group leader -- which can be done at any church, of course -- for younger girls in such an impressionable time in their lives. Not only do I want to praise and worship God with these wonderful girls and explore the different books of the Bible, but I also want to instill important messages in them regarding their bodies and their health and their mind. I want them to learn how to combat negative media images and this dangerously promiscuous nature of this world. I want them to learn why they are important to God and why they are beautiful -- and which boys to avoid. Most importantly, though, I want to share my difficulties with them and the ways I overcame these difficulties. I just feel called to do this.

I guess the point of this message was to inform you of my life and for what I am praying -- the opportunity to grow with this wonderful church and work with these young girls.

God bless, Lisa

Back!

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:56:01 GMT

Hello readers,

I have returned! I took a long hiatus from Revelife, which I think was for the best. Life has been hectic/confusing/wonderful these past few months, but I have a better sense of purpose and direction. Isn't God wonderful?

Within the next week (I promise!), I am going to briefly describe this past semester, including the new people I met -- one of whom has been a wonderful Brother in Christ to me.

Until then, though, God bless!

- Your Sister in Christ

Quick post ...

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:30:13 GMT

He returns this week. I am not going to contact him though. It's not my place. If he returns to me, then he was always mine. If he does not, then I guess he was never mine. Only God knows ...

He has my cross, though, which I gave to him to keep during his assessment. It would be nice to have it back (lol) ...

In addition, I would like to know that he received my care package. Sure, UPS said it arrived in Fort Lewis, but who knows if he actually received it.

Edit: Well, I have given up now. Something tells me to stop pursuing him - whether it's a gut-instinct or God, I am not sure. Either way, though, I am focusing on Him. It's all about God.

My new 86-year-old friend Edith ...

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:12:37 GMT

It was the last day of my Best Buddies conference, and I was heading back to Austin.

Two hours of waiting in the airport + two hours on the plane = a lot of thinking time

For the overly analytical thinker, four hours seem like eternity. I had a lot on my mind then, too, which did not help the situation. I was still letting all the information I had learned over the past weekend sink in ... and I had a boy on my mind. While waiting to board, I (tried to) read the latest issue of Marie Claire. It did not help whatsoever. When I finally boarded the plane, I thought to myself, "Only two more dreadful hours." I silently prayed to God to help me relax and to stop thinking SO MUCH.

He brought me Edith.

At first, I was apprehensive about sitting next to an elderly woman. A girl that had been traveling with me had a not-so-pleasant experience with another elderly woman after she accidentally ran into her - twice. Fortunately, there was an international Best Buddies member sitting in the other seat in my aisle. (I had the middle seat.) I started speaking with the member when Edith asked me where she was from. "Hong Kong," I responded. This simple question ended up being the impetus to a marvelous two-hour discussion.

I explained to Edith what Best Buddies is - a marvelous organization that promotes one-to-one friendships with people with intellectual disabilities. (Of course, the word "marvelous" is not in the mission statement.) She explained why she was on the plane - to visit her daughter in Dallas. (Her son, who lives near her in Indianapolis, was traveling and did not want to leave her by herself.) She then began to talk about her lovely family, including her granddaughter who is currently at a missionary in Thailand (if I recall the location correctly). Edith shared stories about her past, her love life, her career, et cetera. I talked about my family (of course!) and even the occupational predicament in my life.

The best part of the conversation, though, was the inclusion of God. A woman of faith, Edith understood completely when I talked about what I feel like I am truly called to do - to work with children and women as a social worker. I explained how God had led me to my research fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin, only to show me that it was not His plan for me, and she understood completely!

I have never had such an intimate and detailed conversation with an individual I had just met - much less, an individual I had just met on a plane! Yet, this conversation helped me in many ways:

First, it helped me relax. I did not think too hard during those two hours. In fact, I longed for more time with her.

Second, speaking with another grandmother reminded me of my own grandmothers, whom I love dearly. I realized the need to spend more time with them because they may be gone in the blink of an eye.

Third, I realized the need to be more patient. Here was a woman who had lived for eighty-six years. She had eighty-six years of wonderful memories, of heartbreaking memories, of foreseen and unforeseen challenges, of regrets and failures, of joy and happiness. She did not get married until thirty but spent fifty-plus years with the man of her life. (Furthermore, she was not expecting it.) Here I was as a twenty-one-year-old, fretting about my future - whether I would marry, have children, be a happy as a social worker, et cetera. After all, life is capricious. I just need to live each day to the fullest.

Fourth, the conversation reminded me to trust God, which can be difficult, at times.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence" (Jeremiah 17:7).

Before we parted ways, I asked for Edith's address. I love making and sending cards to people. Nothing would bring me more joy than to send her a card.

Have you ever engaged in a fulfilling conversation with an individual you had just met? If so, did the conversation have a impact (regardless of size) on you?

Forgotten Lives, Part One

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:09:33 GMT

My mission in life ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSPb2mSvws8

These special individuals (i.e., individuals with intellectual disabilities) are true blessings from God. They are helpless, in many cases. And yet, they have the greatest role out of us all - to love regardless of what happens. They are ambassadors of love. We need to protect them though.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:22:16 GMT

http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/2008/06/dont-marry-a-pr.html

It's about one of my favorite passages - Proverbs 31 (The Ideal Wife) - and the working woman today.

...

Thank you for your prayers and kind words this week, everyone. I will be in Indiana this weekend for a Best Buddies Conference. I hope everyone has a fantastic and blessed weekend!

A little too uneasy ...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:09:55 GMT

This summer has been anything but wonderful.

I love my fellowship and the people I have met ... but I feel like the lone Christian in my program.

I often feel uneasy when speaking with my roommate about certain issues. Last night frustrated me, and I let my frustration show.

For starters, she condemned the whole concept behind missionaries. When I tried to explain to her that some have good intentions and are there to help people, she asked me if it is necessary to show your faith while on a mission trip ... as if it could or should be hidden! I said there is a distinct difference between showing and proselytizing. It is one thing to walk in and say, "Hi, I am so-and-so, and I will be your Christian missionary for the week. Let's start converting!" It is another thing to be spotted praying or even to engage in prayer with an individual. She didn't understand though ...

She then started to talk about sex and menstruation. She wants to have a "special talk" with the girls in the program next week. I almost became physically ill during this discussion. I wanted to yell out, "No! I don't want to know about alternative menstruation products or sex toys or whatever! Just let me be!" Instead, I played with my phone during this conversation. All I wanted to do was read the Bible and go to bed. Obviously, I was bothered by the whole conversation. She caught on and apologized.

I know Sociology is one of the most liberal disciplines in the social sciences. I cannot do this for the rest of my life. I cannot work with these people. I need to be in a Christian community of some sort ... or at least be with more like-minded individuals (Christian or non-Christian)!

Have you ever felt like the lone Christian before, desperately trying to hold onto your ideals while not going insane?

How would you deal with a friend or family member that is being abused?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:54:04 GMT

First, if you can report it, REPORT IT. Forget the fact that this particular person may have asked you not to report it. We have an obligation to each other to help each other in these dire times of need. Unfortunately, physical and sexual abuse and neglect are severely underreported in this country because (1) the victim takes the blame and refuses to report it himself or herself and (2) other people who know about this incident do not report it themselves because they do not think they have the right.

Second, pray of course. However, do not just pray when you know you can do more.

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

The Paradox of Feminism: The Objectification of the Human Body

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:56:16 GMT

On my way back to campus today, I had an interesting conversation with my friend about one of the girls in my fellowship. You see, the girl is quite lovely and quite intelligent. She is a feminist at heart and believes in an egalitarian society. Now, I have nothing against the latter. After all, we should all be able to coexist as one society. What bothers me is the former - her take on feminism. She stands for women's rights, including the right to protect one's body. In other words, a woman's body is her own, and that autonomy should be respected. The body should not be objectified.

This is what made the conversation interesting ...

My friend told me how some boys that she knows call this girl "free-spirited" and "wild," especially when it comes to sleeping with others. She has no qualms about getting into a bed with someone (the consequence of sexual liberalism) and loves the instant gratification. To the boys, though, she is a sexual conquest.

Wait, what?

It was only a few weeks ago that the girls in my fellowship were deconstructing my Self magazine and pointing out the flaws, hypocritically discussing how the images disgusted them. They were appalled by the objectification of the women in the magazine. Yet, they are not ashamed by one-night stands and multiple partners. They are not ashamed to objectify themselves.

Why?

Is it because they receive immediate gratification from the act? Do they see their partners as sexual conquests, as well? (Something tells me no.) At the end of the day, they may feel more like a feminist - empowered because they are not bounded to these men. Yet, they are slowly losing their femininity, their true beauty, because they are compromising themselves in a very hedonistic manner.

1 Timothy 2:9 says “Similarly [too] women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control […] as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.” (I disagree with the next few verses, but that is just me.)

To them, they see their actions as “having a good time.” What is the difference, though, between a scantily dressed woman on the cover of a magazine and a scantily dressed woman in a club, leaving with a man she just met? Either way, there is no “modesty,” no “self-control.”

Prayer Request ...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:31:41 GMT

My friends, if you have the time to spare, could you say a small prayer for me? I feel like I am being attacked spiritually repeatedly, and I am trying to desperately get through this.

Thank you. God bless you!