yumyum_coconuts's Xanga

Read me! Read me!

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:30:21 GMT

Today was an amazing day. And Five for Fighting is amazing. I heard his new song "The Riddle" today and almost had to stop by the side of the road to cry at its beauty. mmmmmmmm *shivers* Yay for good music!

Additional cheers for the promotion I just got!! Yessir, you are now looking (errr, reading the entry of?) a part-time staffer! whoopee!

And lastly, I must ask...have you ever heard a squirrel bark? Well, I did...

P.S. I'm gonna become one of the fb crowd: comment your favorite Megan memory!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 17:20:46 GMT

Wow, today's message kicked me in the booty...hard. In John 21:15-21, Jesus asked Peter some questions that we all should really consider...but I guess I should back up.

I like Peter. He reminds me of me. More than once, he proved his tendency to jump out of the boat with reckless excitement and open his mouth without any previous consideration. He seems like a pretty passionate guy to me. He's the first to tell Jesus that he'll lay down his life for Him (Mark 14:29). When he fails miserably at fulfilling that commitment, he's devastated by guilt and regret.

That's where he is in John 21. He's denied Jesus three times, and now, of all times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. And this love Jesus is referring to is not any love, but agape love, the love of self sacrifice. "Simon son of John, do you truly agape me more than these?" Peter can hardly look up, much less make another commitment he knows will soon be broken. "Yes, Lord, you know I phileo you." Phileo, brotherly/friendship love was all Peter could offer. He had just denied Christ.

Again, Jesus asks, "Simon son of John, do you truly agape me?" Again, Peter can offer nothing more than friendly affection. Finally, Jesus asks Peter about his willingness to commit, but this time asks "Simon son of John, do you phileo me?" Jesus waited until the third time to address Peter's willingness to only be a friend. Jesus wanted more. Jesus deserved more. If Peter was going to consider himself a friend of Christ, there would have to be self-sacrifice.

Jesus isn't interested in only being our friend. He wants to be our everything.

"Feed my sheep"

Friday, June 30, 2006

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:54:46 GMT

Wow...to my shack girls and those who were there tonight-- so much to think about. I can't get out of my mind what Aaron said about Christianity being all about shedding our own blood...sacrificing everything we are to bring others to His passionate love. I was listening to this Christmas cd, and I was just struck again by the wonder of Jesus....His life, His sacrifice, His blood.....

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent, holy night

There’s a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger’s crib

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy’s blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God’s love

Though its bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent, holy night

* * *

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Mon, 22 May 2006 15:15:27 GMT

I'm home!!!! Right now I'm attempting to catch up everything I left unfinished when we left last Sunday for vacation....so if you don't hear from me for a couple of days, I don't hate you :)

More to come soon!

Monday, May 08, 2006

Mon, 08 May 2006 01:51:17 GMT

hello my friends! Of course I must give you a birthday update, especially since I received such kind messages from you guys. :)

My birthday weekend was quite phenomenal, but way to much to type here. I think these pretty much sum it up:

Adam + doorag + my sunglasses = hilarious visual

my cousin Tim + short shorts= horrific images that will never leave my mind

Chad + Josh + Liz + Christine + Rich + Adam + Me = Insanely amazing dancing skills

Now solve this system of equations... haha, waaaay too much math hw for me! Anyhoo, about today. My day was off to a wondrous start when Chad woke up at 6:30 (I'm for serious!) to make me breakfast. When I got to church I was pretty much really cranky from being awake till 12:30 dancing....but then after receiving many bday greetings & smiles, I found a note on the windshield of my vehicle wishing me a happy bday. My afternoon after that included downing raspberry cheesecake, playing movie charades (sp?) at the table, watching Chad make faces of what he would look like on botox (Have I ever told you how much i love my family?!), visiting with Andi and Russ, and receiving many smiling phone calls.

*sigh* What an amazing year this has been. You guys make my life so beautiful. I'm all contemplative today...maybe this means meaningful thoughts later?? I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Wed, 03 May 2006 02:19:24 GMT

Back by popular demand...

Oh yes, and before I get started on this update, I would like to give you all the friendly reminder that May 7th is my birthday!!!! Be sure not to forget or you may endure the consequences. Yay! My birthday is definitely the best day of the year.

Ok, enough of my self-centered rambling. Ironically enough, I've been thinking a lot today about how easy it is for me to forget that life is not all about me. I think that my friends are made to keep me smiling. My parents are here to supply me with food and good conversation. My siblings are here for kicks and giggles.

I'm pretty glad that God doesn't view me that way. That would be scary-- having to feel all the time that I need to prove my worth to Him. How awesome that we don't! How amazing that He throws away our need to become people that we were never meant to be.

God made you all in such fun ways & I want to be one that will appreciate those characteristics, regardless of whether or not they benefit me. So here's a smile for you guys, thanking you all for being a walking demonstration of our Lord's goodness and creativity. Don't ever stop being you!

Friday, April 07, 2006

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:26:49 GMT

Campus Crusade retreat this weekend!!!! Send up the prayers for our group :)

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 01:54:51 GMT

I went to Riverview tonight and God spoke to me pretty intensely about some things I need to change. I guess I've been thinking about it lately anyways, since I've been reading Ghandi's autobiography. One of Ghandi's huge challenges was that we have no right to seek or expect change in others until we've addressed those things in ourselves.

I realized that's exactly what I've been doing. I've expected others to be wise in the way they use their resources to serve others...but then I allow myself to buy another piece of clothing to add to my massive stack. I expect others to be modest, when my mind set is often so far from being there. I expect others to be servants when I'm not ready to serve.

I guess it's because I think somehow that I'm not strong enough now & God will give me the strength someday to counter it. But in the story of Gideon, God met him in his fears & wouldn't allow him to stay there, despite Gideon's view of himself & his weakness. He looked at Gideon hiding in a winepress, how fearful of the ethnic cleansing around him and the hatred of God's people. But he didn't give Gideon the option of waiting for God's strength. He said "Go in the strength you [do] have, and I'll be with you." (Judges 6:14)

I can see right now so clearly the things I need to change, the things I mentioned above. I want you guys to keep me accountable....and I want you guys to seek out in your own lives how God wants you to change and risk comfort for faith in face of your fears. God is willing to do huge stuff with us-- he even said in John 12 that He has greater things in store for us to do than even Jesus Himself did! It's time to tear down those idols we've built up for ourselves, just as Gideon did, risking everything. God's waiting for us to move...how will we respond?

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:56:34 GMT

I just got the news that Craig died...

I can't tell you how much this breaks my heart. I don't know at all how to be a comfort to Andrew in something so awful. When we were talking Friday, he just kept sighing and saying he just wasn't ready to lose him. I guess if you guys knew Andrew & his energy levels, it'd make a little more sense...I was really hoping and really sure that God was somehow going to pull through with a miracle for this precious family, but for reasons I don't understand, He didn't.

This is just another reminder of wrong it is for our relationships with others to be ended so short. Relationships were originally created to last forever...and it just hurts so bad when they have to be cut short.

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." -Ps. 119:50

Let's be praying this for the whole McKinnon family. They're going to need to see God's promises in this nightmare they're trying to sort through.

Lord Jesus, You promise in Your Word that You are close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Hold them tightly to Your heart and show me (and all of their friends) how we can carry them and walk by their side while their strength is gone.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:39:34 GMT

I need you guys to pray hard....I got a call from my friend Andrew at 1:30 last night, but I haven't been feeling well this week, so I didn't wake up. His dad, Craig, got in a car accident last week and had surgery to remove some foreign fragments. He developed pneumonia a couple of days later, but I guess not that unusual for the operation. But now he has hepatitis, his kidneys are failing, he went into a coma, and is now on dialysis. The family is doing ok (considering the circumstances), but Andrew as he puts it, just feels like he's living in a dream and can't stop being angry. I'm just so worried about him and his dad. They're super close. Their family is really being taken care of, but they need prayer for him (Craig) and for the family desperately.

If you have any words of encouragement, pleas pass them on...I just have no idea what to say...

Thanks.