In case you were unaware, I am a server at a restaurant, I am a graduate student and therefore on the brink of insanity, and I'm also very proficient in Russian accents. Well today I decided to throw all those things into one big ball of fun.
Monday's are usually pretty slow as a server and we have week day 7.99 deals so I rarely ever walk away with much money. Perfect day to get a little crazy, right? Almost everyone at the restaurant knows I have this accent and so I decided to tell them I was going to talk wiith ze russin eksent for hole nite. 5 tables later and a bunch of laughs and my night ends. Out of the 5 only 1 table asked me where I was from, and refusing to lie I told them. I had to fess up to my english background. They thought I was strange(go figure) and were my worst tip coming out at about 10%, I can only assume it was because they knew of the facade. The other tables were more generous with tips ranging from 15%-25% or slightly higher and I imagine they tipped so well because they stared at me the whole time. Bet they'd feel silly knowing I have no accent. All in all it made what could have been just another boring day a far more interesting one. I got to be my crazy goofy self, put smiles on the faces of my coworkers, and just live a little more care free. I hope this puts a little smile on your face.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Constant reminders
Today I'm grateful for the constant reminders of my imperfections. Although I am really not too fond of them when they come they teach me so much. It's been a real struggle lately to truly follow the Lord. With this inner desire to fit in with the girls at school, my coworkers and every crowd I associate with in someway I feel torn to be anything other than Christ like. While I do believe I truly desire that, I fail at it every single day. Grace is amazing and God's love is abounding so I am very lucky for that. But today I had to check my hearts intentions. I keep reminding myself that to Fear God is to care about his opinions above that of man's. Why do I care so much about my "image"? It gets lonely in graduate school. I have little time for anyone and when I do have time I'd personally rather sleep out of the sheer mental and emotional exhaustion. But God is a giver of rest and luckily this is only a season in life that I must go through. I am rambling. Back to the point. God is good! Really and truly he is the best giver of gifts ever! I am so surprised by his blessings daily and wonder what did I do to deserve it. The truth is I did nothing. I can't do anything to earn his love. That makes it all the better because he loves me for no reason at all except that he created me for his own glory.
I read this recently and you'll probably laugh because it came from pinterest, but it is SO TRUE! "When I say I am a Christian, I am not shouting I'm clean living. I'm whispering, I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven. When I say I am a Christian, I don't speak of this with pride.I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting that I've failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, But God believes I am worth it. When I say I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon his name. When I say I am a Christian, I'm NOT holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner, who received God's grace, somehow!"
Sometime I admit I don't view it this way. I see myself as better. But the fact is we were all dead in our trespasses. It is by God through his son Jesus's death on the cross that I am made new and alive. Dead to sin and I am FREE!
I read this recently and you'll probably laugh because it came from pinterest, but it is SO TRUE! "When I say I am a Christian, I am not shouting I'm clean living. I'm whispering, I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven. When I say I am a Christian, I don't speak of this with pride.I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting that I've failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say I am a Christian, I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, But God believes I am worth it. When I say I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon his name. When I say I am a Christian, I'm NOT holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner, who received God's grace, somehow!"
Sometime I admit I don't view it this way. I see myself as better. But the fact is we were all dead in our trespasses. It is by God through his son Jesus's death on the cross that I am made new and alive. Dead to sin and I am FREE!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
wholly dependent
As I am nearing midterms and stressing about my life (as is the case with most graduate students) I have been continually reminded that God is in control. As much as I like to plan and know my future, it is, in large part, out of my hands. God has a written will for our lives things that he specifically says "This is the will of God for you" (eg.1Thessalonians 4:3 check it out) but I also believe that he allows us to make decisions and mistakes on our own. He uses them to grow us as well as show us that He is still sovereign over all.
As I was studying 2nd Samuel with my discipler a few weeks back we began discussing David's attitude toward God. David loved the Lord no doubt about it, and God was pretty fond of him too. However, there are instances in which David completely idolized himself (in a seemingly selfless way). How so you may ask? 2Sam 7 is a good example. David is contemplating building a house for the ark of God not a bad thing to do (in theory). He even seeks out counsel about this decision. God rather bluntly puts him in his place by telling David...I'm putting this in the words of my discipler here "I am God, you are David". Vs. 4-11 is his response. Plainly God doesn't need David to do anything for him because he has it covered. If he needed a house it would have been built. In fact he reminds David that he was the one who built his house!
Today as I read Psalm 127 I was again reminded of this. vs. 1&2 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."
This semester I have lost a lot of sleep and given in to worries more times that I can count. I don't rest on his promises as I should. Psalm 121:3b-8 also reminds me that I am so cared for. It says that the one who keeps me will not slumber. I am in his hands.
Graduation will be here sooner that I know it, and my move to St. Louis for internships will come even more quickly. I am fully in the Lords hands. It's when I take things on myself that I fail. I wish I could say that I fully understand this lesson but I have a feeling I will continue to be taught it, among other things. But just knowing that the Creator of Heaven and Earth cares for me so, is the strength I need. I am wholly dependent on him.
As I was studying 2nd Samuel with my discipler a few weeks back we began discussing David's attitude toward God. David loved the Lord no doubt about it, and God was pretty fond of him too. However, there are instances in which David completely idolized himself (in a seemingly selfless way). How so you may ask? 2Sam 7 is a good example. David is contemplating building a house for the ark of God not a bad thing to do (in theory). He even seeks out counsel about this decision. God rather bluntly puts him in his place by telling David...I'm putting this in the words of my discipler here "I am God, you are David". Vs. 4-11 is his response. Plainly God doesn't need David to do anything for him because he has it covered. If he needed a house it would have been built. In fact he reminds David that he was the one who built his house!
Today as I read Psalm 127 I was again reminded of this. vs. 1&2 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."
This semester I have lost a lot of sleep and given in to worries more times that I can count. I don't rest on his promises as I should. Psalm 121:3b-8 also reminds me that I am so cared for. It says that the one who keeps me will not slumber. I am in his hands.
Graduation will be here sooner that I know it, and my move to St. Louis for internships will come even more quickly. I am fully in the Lords hands. It's when I take things on myself that I fail. I wish I could say that I fully understand this lesson but I have a feeling I will continue to be taught it, among other things. But just knowing that the Creator of Heaven and Earth cares for me so, is the strength I need. I am wholly dependent on him.
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