advice from a man with green suspenders, a worn out hat, and a carpenter's pencil.

This weekend I went to Source to help work on the Annex, the apartment building they are creating for women getting out of sex trafficking. As we were putting down plywood in one of the bedrooms, Ray, a man who reminds me of my grandpa (because of his age and carpentry knowledge) was helping us. He actually is one of the main people working on the apartment, volunteering his construction knowledge, energy, and time to making sure it is completed. What I appreciate about Ray is his green suspenders, his carpenter's pencil that is always behind his ear, his worn out hat, and some advice he gave me and the other people working on the plywood.

First, he said if you are going to do construction always have your thinking cap on. Any time his wife asks him a question, he makes sure to find his hat before he answers her. Then any problem can be solved. And he said to always have your carpenter's pencil and tape measure with you. These things are necessities to being a good carpenter.

Ray's second piece of advice was after one of the women helping asked him why he was volunteering his time to be a carpenter for the Annex. He said, "I have a lot knowledge about the Bible already and I want to live it out. There are too many people sitting in pews and not doing what Jesus commanded us to do." He explained how we are not called to just gain head knowledge. Then he talked about how Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:37-40 what the two greatest commandments are, and Jesus replied that it is to love God and love others. We must understand both of these and follow them. Ray wanted to love others and that is why he works at the Annex.

When Ray told us this, I was amazed at how simple his answer was. We are to love God and love other people. It is so easy to forget that (especially when going to a Christian school).

I challenge you and myself to focus on these two things this week. How can you love God? How can you love others? It will make a difference on their life and your own. And God will be glorified if you do these two things.

I also challenge you to find someone who is around the same age of your grandma or grandpa and talk with them this week. Ask them a question. You will be surprised at their answer. I am so thankful for older people who share their wisdom. They look at life differently and I want to learn more from them, especially the man with the green suspenders, a worn out hat, and a carpenter's pencil behind his ear.

a joy that never ceases.

"Did you think joy was created to live always under that threat? Always defenseless against those who would rather be miserable than have their self-will crossed? For it was real misery. I know that now. You made yourself really wretched. That you can still do. But you can no longer communicate your wretchedness. Everything becomes more and more itself. Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness: but your darkness cannot now infect our light. No, no, no. Come to us. We will not go to you. Can you really have thought that love and joy would always be at the mercy of frowns and sighs? Did you not know they were stronger than their opposites?"
-C.S. Lewis  (The Great Divorce)

This quote is from a story about a man on a bus ride to hell and then to heaven, witnessing what choices people are making. I highly recommend this fairly quick, yet intense read. It shows a vibrant picture of heaven and hell where everything Lewis says is meaningful.

One thing The Great Divorce reminded me of is how the joy of the Lord is everlasting. It was kind of ironic that I finished the book this weekend because over this past week God has been continually reminding me of that. I had a week of midterms that I thought would never end, but they did. The excitement I had was so incredible at 5p.m. when my last project ended, and I felt free as a bird. I was extremely happy (This feeling was partly because I had a great amount of coffee in me and not much sleep). This was, however, a temporary feeling. Joy to me is different.

Joy is something that lasts. It is something that we can have even in our worst moments. Jesus Christ gives us a "joy that cannot be shaken," according to C.S. Lewis. I wholeheartedly agree with him. When we have Christ in us, we have a joy and Savior that conquers death and Satan. I definitely lose sight of this during hard times, but that is why we have the Holy Spirit in us, Scripture, and hopefully other Christ followers around us to encourage us. I am evening learning what it means to have joy while suffering. To even desire suffering for Christ (I would love to chat more about this with you because it is something God rocked my world with these past two weeks).

At the Let the Nations Be Glad seminar, John Piper talked about God wanting joyful worship. That is God's ultimate purpose in creation and redemption. This joy is found only in Christ. This joy is that we are to glorify God in everything. That is what God wants. He wants worship. He deserves it.

“For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." -Isaiah 48:9-1

If you are struggling to see the eternal joy you have in Christ or even are not sure if you have this joy...Talk to God about it. Then talk to someone else if you have questions or thoughts. God wants you to have His joy, if you are going to commit to following and worshiping Him.

as the leaves change, the Lord's faithfulness does not.

changes are happening. the colors of the leaves are becoming bright oranges and deep reds. students are spending more time doing homework because midterms are near. seven people i know got engaged within the past week. two dear friends of mine are in other countries. my brother got on a plane for europe today. and the list goes on.

throughout the changes, there are things that are the same. almost every college student i ask how they are doing still answers good or busy. i still am asked a few times a week what i will do after graduation and i still say i am not sure because there are so many possibilities. the Lord continues to bless me with free meals a few times a week. and i am still amazed at how much i am learning (not necessarily in my classes).

the biggest thing that i see being consistent is the Lord's faithfulness. i need to remind myself of this daily because of the hurt i see or hear about, worries and stress that comes, questions i have about the future, and discouragement i get from what i see in our society. 

i have been reading the book of Matthew the past few days and one of the major themes i see in the book is faith. the word is used many times from Jesus saying to one of His disciples, "O you of little faith, why do you doubt," to Jesus saying, "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." 

Jesus is saying all throughout Matthew that faith is important and we need it to live for Him. This is something I would like to work on. I encourage you to do the same. Next time you doubt yourself or God, or a situation arises that is stressful, or you are discouraged by things going on around you, PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS. He is more faithful than you could every imagine. When you do this, your eyes will be opened to a new way of living. It is something I am experiencing right now. Yes it is hard, but the reward is incredible.

"The kingdom of heaven is like TREASURE hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine PEARLS, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." -Matthew 13:44-46.

My prayer is as I am learning what it means to put  my faith and hope in Jesus Christ, you will too. Talk it out with God and then with a friend. Read the Word, you will see countless times that God is faithful to His children.