In Christ Alone

Yo, homies and homettes (is that even a word?)!

I'm writing you today to talk about my relationship...with Jesus.
Through reading 2 Corinthians 5:21, which says...

         God made Him who had no sin, be sin for us so that in Him we might become  the righteousness of God.


...and I thought it was super powerful because it emphasizes the fact that my righteousness is only through Christ. All of what I may have tried to build my life upon is solely based on the decision that God made to sacrifice His only Son so that I might be blameless before His sight.

God will not stand sin...and neither should I, but I do this because of the person of Jesus Christ; for in Him alone my hope is found.

A list of things that make me wanna scream

1. When people constantly interrupt.
2. When people think it's okay to talk extremely loud into my ear.
3. When people behave and handle situations like they are incapable of getting over themselves.
4. When people act in creepy ways.
5. When I fail at life in the same ways
6. When people lie to my face. It just sucks. Especially when they want to prove their point.

Upon starting this list, I thought I felt justified in creating it. But it's just that life's not perfect. It really isn't, and the crazy thing is that I don't want to be part of that imperfection. It sucks. It sucks that when I think things should be going well, it doesn't. When I think I'm done for the day, the work never stops. It just never stops and my issue is that I am not one to forget things. I do forget a lot, but if it's something that I haven't done, that will stay on my head. And the truth of the matter is, I don't want to do it. I really don't. Today was a lazy day and that is all I wanted it to be. That is not what it was. Yes, I spent a good portion of the day doing what I wanted and yes I was glad to get some things done, but whenever I come back to the house and there are more and more people who need taking care of, I really just want to leave because the work just never stops.

When I grow up, this can't be it. The house is so out of whack, and to be frank, I really don't feel obligated to put it together. These are not my kids and this is not my responsibility. The honest truth. I am so aware of the things that should be done in this life and the work that people put into many things, but once I start realizing all the stuff that needs to be changed or rearranged in this house and someone else broke it..or messed it up, I stop caring.

Uh. I need a boost and not so many people. They can be draining. Especially the adults. But whatever. I'll get over it. I need to quit with the self-help books. Makes me realize how not-perfect I am. I don't need any of that besides the bible.

Great Goodness

Bonjour ladies and gents.

Today's blog/devotional will be a quickie because I've come to realize that I spend more time blogging and less time listening to God. So here goes:

God is good. I don't know if this is obvious for you, but there are definitely times when I forget just how good He is. I am reading Psalm 92 and the whole thing is praise to  God by David explaining just how amazing God is. For what He has done and for who He is.

----This semester has been one of the best for me. There are lots of reasons why, but I'd rather take this moment to praise God instead of rattle off things I think I did well.------
       I got a 3.77 GPA this semester which I thought wouldn't be because everyone says that the semester after study abroad would be the hardest because of the culture shock. Boy did God shock me! God is good because He does not limit Himself to our expectations, He surpasses them!
       I built good friendships with people I care about, not just with people with whom I have a friendship. Through a semester program called MOmentum, I learned about the intensity of love that God has for my campus and how I need to be the one that shares that love with others. God is good because God is love.
----That's is all I'll be sharing for now. I have work in an hour and want to spend a bit longer in God's presence. Love you all and please pray for me. This summer is still up in the air.-------

Much love, peace and goodness grease,
              Ife S.

My sin

Hey Hey Hey!

Okay, this is actually a devotional that I really like because it pertains to what I've been struggling with since I was conceived: sin. Sin is my addiction and my sin has not been properly dealt with.

I am reading from James 1:13-22 and the verse that stuck out to me was verse 14 that outlines exactly what temptation is. I know I can let you know where temptation comes from, but this verse takes a step by step process to explain exactly we are tempted:

1. It starts from our evil desires being lured.
2. Then the evil desires turn into evil actions
3. And then those evil actions lead to death.

The one thing that I will say is that sometimes what I convince myself that are godly desires, are really evil ones. Like when I convince myself  by saying some guy is wonderfully made by God and my obsession with him is me appreciating God's creature, I obviously have taken what could have been something simple and not complex to another level. I am feeding my evil desire and letting myself be tempted. If I proceed to act on those desires by texting him 24 hours of the day (complete exaggeration), then I have let my temptation lead to sin. He has become an idol; something that takes my focus from God.

Well, I gotta go. My shift is at 12pm and it's quarter till.

I'll come back to this later :) Chao. God's grace is sufficient for me, but I have to stop continuing in sin that grace may abound.

Passion Moments

Hi.

Don't know who exactly is on the receiving end of this blog, but I just wanted to put this out there.

I'm in a funk.

Yes, that is correct. In a really sticky funk that hasn't allowed me space or time to study for my finals. It's the type of funk that gnaws where it hurts, almost enough to cry in exasperation, but instead you begin fumming or whining because enough is enough.You'd rather forget that you're in a funk that work your way out of it.

That's where I am. At this very moment. In a funk.

Now this funk, mind you, was not doing, nor do I want to stay within its hold any longer 'cause I really need to get to work.

"What is this funk?" you ask. Good question. Answer?

                   It's about my future. Yea, my future. The future that I thought I knew about since when I was 6 years old and proclaimed myself a lawyer. What went wrong?

(By writing about this funk, I am not truly dealing with it. I'll do that when my mom calls back. She doesn't realize how sticky this funk is.)

I am just tired of thinking that I know what I want to know and then looking around me and realizing I don't. I usually comes after seeing someone else that appears to have their life all worked out. That used to be me. I used to know what exactly I wanted to know, and if I didn't, I faked it. I did and it worked to keep me together until recently.

I don't want to fake it anymore, but I've lost so much of what I do want to do that faking it is all/almost all I know. I had sworn off being a lawyer because it was not my decision. Everyone said I'd do something great and I want to do that something, but it's so hard when I'd rather just live in a different country and help little children to make better lives for themselves.

I'm a complex person. I don't make sense, but to me it all makes sense. I'm confused. I'm really confused. What went wrong? God, what went wrong.

I'm done. I can't even finish this blog.

God, I just want to finish this paper and take my exams. I am tired of the funk. Cause it sucks...really badly.

Lighting the Path-It's famous!

Just kidding.

It's not famous, but today's devotion comes from Psalm 119:105, the verse that gave birth to this blog.

So, here's the link. Enjoy and you'll see why this verse is quite important and relates to life: I don't know much about my future, but with God's word as a means to 'light my path' I can trust it and depend on it to show me what I need to know in this life. One day at a time.

Thanks for readddddinnnng!

You rock my socks!

Ife S.

P.S. My laptop mouse pad is on the fritz. Not fun.

It's chilly en Chile while eating chili.

Dear wonderful readers. It's been a great journey to and from Chile and I am officially back in the States (as of last week Thursday). It's been an interesting time this past week in terms of gettin used to my family, its habits, English, and a boat load of other things, but today's blog will give you a hint into the reverse culture shock that I've been experiencing (and make me miss Chile).

Maturing?
  So, if you know me, you might say I'm a pretty mature person and couldn't possibly think of any more ways for me to mature. But ladies and gents. It's true: Ife is still maturing! In Chile, I only lived with 3 other people and they are all adults so the place was quite clean all the time, however, when I got back to my house...there was a pile of dishes, my room had been invaded my all the members in the family and the whole place seemed to be choking me. That's when I realized a change had occurred. I wanted to clean so badly and put the house back into order. It was the part of me that had changed while I was there and gotten used to cleaniness, neatness and the sorts. But it wasn't just that, it was the fact that I wanted to do it. I don't really like chores, but this hadn't bothered me much. In the mornings, if I see dishes in the sink, I stack them and clear out the dishwasher. If I see schnibbles of paper on the floor, I don't walk over them; I pick them up and whatever else in the vacinity that seems out of place. Ife.Has.Arrived.

Onces?
   If you read previous blogs, I've mentioned onces a few times. It's the tea time in Chile that comes after lunch. Instead of dinner, they have a light meal consisting of bread, tea, palta, ham, queso, and other finger foods. Having come back to the states, I wanted to each onces. For me, it was more than just the food and how cute it was to eat at 7pm little crackers and tea, it was the whole family eating together and waiting for one another (at least in my host family) to sit down to eat. My family in the States doesn't do that so I guess Onces was something I've missed a lot and would like to have here, but we've tried eating together...doesn't work since we all have so different of schedules.

Español?
  Uds. no entienden como quiero hablarlo casi cada día. Por eso, decidí avisar a mi amigo, quien vive acá en E.E.U.U. pero hablar español bastante bien, que vamos a hablarlo todo el tiempo! Era mi idea pero él quiso hablar tambien para que no lo pierda. Voy a tomar 2 clases de español el próximo semestre en mi universidad por lo tanto no voy a preocuparme demasiado. Sin embargo, quiero seguir conversando con mis amigos/amigas y todos que hablan esp. Mi familia no entiende nada de esp y, además, habla yoruba (idioma de Nigeria), lo que no hablo bien. no importa...tengo tiempo porque tengo ganas de hablarlo medio bien. jaja

Well, the list continues with going in to kiss everyone, but realizing it's not a thing here. jaja. It's so funny because I wasn't in the ambiente de dar besos todo el tiempo pero ahora I think I hug isn't complete without un beso. And bread is just NOT the same. I can't eat bread here anymore..it's like I'd be committing a crime to each sliced bread instead of pan batido..don't get be started on alfajores. I brought some to the states and my family hasn't touched them...besides the fact that these chocolately goodness snacks are delicious, alfajores are like....essential to the Chilean well being (not really, but I was on a roll).

Aight..I'm done. As I continue my culture shock experiences, I'll inform you of anything rather disturbing that goes on. Much love, snow and besossss for each and everyone of you.

I've missed you all and am glad to be back on this side north of the equator.

Love, peace and elbow grease...
    Ife 'Quipayan' S.