I'm Reading Your Thoughts

I went to Goodwill looking to find a new surge protector at a discounted price.  Want to walk around for a little bit after my bike ride, I browsed the rest of the store.  I wandered into the book section, with everything for around 99 cents I couldn't resist!  I found all sorts of books, but one that stuck out to me was a Beth Moore devotional about David.  My roommate before went through one of these, so I thought of her as I found it and said a prayer, not really intending to take it home.

I began to scroll through the book, and as I did so, I noticed someone with really nice handwriting filled out only the first 13 pages.  I began to read her prayers, and as I did so, I say just how beautiful some of them were!  I felt the need to look around and see if someone was watching because I felt like I was in some way spying!  I went on to read how the tragedy in Haiti had shaped her heart for the nations, and how she prays for her husband and son.

I still feel like in some way this sounds creepy to read and share another's thoughts, but I found it encouraging to see another's heart desiring to be wholly devoted to the Lord, and less devoted to oneself!

Here is a part that encouraged me.  I hope you know in your journey of faith, you are not alone!

What Legacy Do You Leave?

Penn State is a campus that has been plagued with a NCAA ruling resulting from men's actions that has left the community in shambles.  In case you haven't heard, Joe Paterno, the former most-winningest coach in history, had his victories stripped, and his statue as well.  Paterno's statue was even a stop on my city tour when I visited in April.  Fans would flock to take their photo with their football king.  (this image above is Joe's statue before any controversy arose)

State College (where Penn State is) is a very interesting town.  Everything revolves around football!  I thought Texas high-school games were intense!  Stores close, and you don't even dare to leave your house on gamedays where it becomes the third largest city in PA only under Philly and Pittsburgh.  200,000+ people enter town for the game even though only 107,282 fit into the stadium!

I don't really have opinions on the NCAA rulings or if it was fair or not, but what I do know is that God is a jealous and sovereign God, and He is in the business of glorifying His name and using all situations for His good in perspective.  When the NCAA deemed Penn State ineligible for bowls for the next four years and viewed Paterno as guilty for aiding Sandusky by not speaking up, they tore the statue down.

Too much of anything in our live can create idols in our hearts, God is about reserving that place for Him alone.  God is about emerging our lives into His!

“I am the Lord; that is my name!

    I will not give my glory to another

    or my praise to idols.

⁹ 

See, the former things have taken place,

    and new things I declare;

before they spring into being

    I announce them to you.”  Isaiah 42:8-9

You do not rebuild the same way once something comes down.  You build better, and stronger with a more solid foundation.  It is no accident that God has called me to Penn State for the time being, or that we are are called to the exact places He has determined, "that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27)."

So now that Penn State is starting from the ground floor, I am excited to see the new ways God will rebuild the ruins into a city that may glorify His name, and His name alone.  May God be glorified at Penn State.

(Paterno's Statue site now)

Mark 13:31  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."