a glimpse into my world...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

"But my future!"

"Regardless of how long we've been Christians and how deeply we've studied God's Word, most of us don't really believe down in the marrow of our bones that God is entirely, wholeheartedly, and unwaveringly on our side." -from Beth Moore's Stepping Up

I know that typically my blog posts are relatively humorous (please tell me I'm funny and not just lame) or they are informative and/or just a documentation of my travels or ridiculous life. Well, as some of you have noted I like to write and enjoy putting words to my thoughts. For me, writing is both for personal understanding but also for others to come alongside and join me on this journey called "the life of Kimberly Ginnings." Great title, huh?

But there may be a transition to my blogging. Not that I am going to just trash all my funny stories or quit traveling but rather move more into the things I would talk about late at night over tea with my best friend. Mainly because I believe in honesty. I believe in the community of Believers, in the Body of Christ, in sharing life. I am someone whose mind doesn't truly stop to breathe. For instance, this morning I woke up after having numerous conversations with my roommate in my dreams, only to have to realize that those were not real... I don't know what that attempted to get at but... I want to talk about things that are dear to me.

Truth. Life. People. Jesus.

The quote at the top. Beth Moore. My mother and I (right Mom?) are working through a new study by Beth. This quote really struck me. Maybe because I had just finished talking with a friend about exactly this. Our conversation was about our futures. How we "trust" the Lord per-say, but don't fully because we don't want to end up at "Option C" or be FORCED to go to "Place E". I often think that "Option A" including "Place A" where "Friend 1", "Friend 2" and "Friend 3" would be best, so I say, "God perhaps this would be best, right? C'mon, you know that's what I need."

[Can I please say, that as I write this, "Mended" by Watermark is playing... go listen to it for added emphasis and humor]

God desires ALL of us. Each person, despite all the restrictions we seem to put on people, before they are ready to be known by the Lord. Age is irrelevant. Job is irrelevant. Place in life or thinking you "have made it"... all of this is so irrelevant to God's desire to be in control of every area of your life. Options A-D, Place A-E in my future... I mean, really? Or perhaps "thing 1" and "thing 2" that we now need to have. How small minded of me to think God doesn't have His children in His hands, desiring so much for us than the next thing, the next job and position in life. No, He wants us. If you want, though homework isn't my favorite thing, go read Romans 8:28-39.

"Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ." Give in to that love.

Friday, January 23, 2009

first week of school.

Well. I have officially finished my first week of school. For the final time. I can already tell you this Spring will hold many a different post due to the randomness of this semester. I am so grateful to have another semester before who-knows-what is to come after May 15th. I really love Texas A&M and the people I know here. I love my house and my roommates. My home group. These are things that make College Station so wonderful for me.

I leave this next photo with a picture of me and my roommate, Blake in our room. I have a big sign that says "Dream" (obviously) above my desk. So let's keep dreaming people. None of this settling for the norm junk... Oh no. Gotta keep dreaming. :) We'll see where that takes me.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

it has been a while.

These past 2 weeks or so have been somewhat eventful and oh so fun. This post is merely a catch up for me not being good at posting recently. I have been to Dallas for a night with former roommates. (left to right: Mandi, Kristen, Ashley, and me)

Headed to Austin to my dear friend Virginia's wedding to Mr. Nate Fisher. It was a beautiful wedding and wonderful time to catch up with dear Kappa friends from college.

Below from left to right: Cassidy, Errinne, me and Noel. We are holding/wearing gifts our friend Paige sent to us from Greece! My friends are so cultured.

After that I headed back to Wichita Falls to pack up... that was an experience and head to College Station and the "Bonzai" (my house) as we call it.

This is the Bonzai/Bonsai. Take your pick on the spelling. Different roommates spell it different ways. Kristen (former Bonzai roomie) came in for the weekend where we took the above photo and below photo. We had fun with our tripods and long shutter speeds.

Sunday, 1/18, was my roommate Blake's (literally we share a room) 22nd birthday! It was fun and just good to have friends in our house. I love this house (thanks Melissa and Brady) and all the memories I have here... and more to come! Blake is second row in the white shirt. Another roommate is first row on the left, Malsi. She's from Venezuela, once again I have cultured friends.

Not only is today Inauguration Day, it is also the first day of school. Wahoo! I have one class. Not too bad. Tomorrow I have 4. Wowzas. I'll keep you posted. (is that a pun?) haha.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

worms.

Worms. Something I can identify with in many degrees. Though I am speaking of a certain type of worm, the episode on the Office where Creed supposedly gives Kelly a tape worm only to reveal later, "that was no worm," is one such instance where I find worms can bring laughter to my life.

Now you may be thinking, "what is she getting at?" Of course, of course... I am getting there. I am speaking of a more healthy and quite dear to my heart, bookworm.

bookworm |ˈboŏkˌwərm|
noun
1 informal a person devoted to reading.
2 the larva of a wood-boring beetle that feeds on the paper and glue in books.

I am going to go ahead and claim the first definition as the one I can personally identify with. As I was thinking yesterday of my love for books, I decided a "Top Ten Ways You Can Know You're a Bookworm" would be of service to those out there who ride the fence and are unsure if their status as an official "bookworm" is certain.

Top Ten Ways You Can Know You're a Bookworm

10. It is commonplace to have a stack of 4 or 5 books by your bed that you read in cycles, none of which are required for class.
9. The prized decor in your house or room are the numerous shelves of your favorite books.
8. You have on multiple occasions foregone group hangouts on a Friday night because you "need to stay at home" all because the book you are reading sounds much more appealing.
7. When traveling your "carry on" weighs over 20 lbs. because it is holding your weighty/ but-oh-so-necessary 4 or 5 books that exceeded the weight allowance in your checked luggage.
6. You keep a running list of books you have read, are currently reading, and want to read.
5. You have been caught reading things with your head cocked sideways when it is unnecessary, because bookstore habit has taught you it is the quickest way to walk down an aisle, with your head just slightly tilted.
4. You strategically leave your wallet in the car outside our favorite bookstores in hopes of not spending money, then return to your car to get your wallet because "that" book was on such a "good" sale that passing it up would be completely uncalled for.
3. Barnes & Noble or Half Price Books would be a very appealing date... or better yet, both in the same night!
2. You carry a larger bag with you in order to have a book on hand in case lines are too long or you find yourself sitting in a waiting room for more than 5 minutes. Prime opportunity to get a few pages done.
1. You are willing and very much capable of unashamedly making a "Top Ten List for Bookworms" and posting on the World Wide Web, only to solidify forever your status as a true nerd, ahem, I mean bookworm.

Man... that was fun. But now a list of some of the books I read this past year, if I write them, I recommend them (and for ease, I recommend them in the order listed... and the nerdiness continues):

"The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard
"Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan
"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
"Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer
"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo
"The Death of Ivan Ilyich" by Leo Tolstoy
"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
"The Da Vince Code" & "Deception Point" by Dan Brown

I have this sinking feeling that I am forgetting a really good book... things slip my mind incredibly too easily. I will inform the world as my memory informs me...