i'm catching up on weeks 3-6

I know I made a post not long ago about my busy schedule and how I felt a lack of God's presence. Since then I have made some sacrifices to make more time for myself and feel God in my everyday life. For example, I'm missing class tonight to catch up on house work and important paperwork.
Well I wanted to catch up on the actual weeks in our dedications booklet while I was online. I'm so glad my laptop is finally fixed! Let's put her to use.

week 3: Holy Week
 I really like this story. The reminder of thinking of God as our lamb whenever we eat and drink is something I wish I would practice more often. It is our strongest holiday as Christians. Yes, Christmas is a celebration, but the entire week of Easter is something we hold as dear as Jewish people do passover. This is the day we celebrate when Jesus died as our savior. He bled for us as the ultimate sacrifice. Because of this, death is not the end for us. We have a chance at being with Him, the Father and our dearest friend forever in happiness and praise. This is the day salvation was promised and made a chance to all of us. I love to worship on this day. I often wonder when He will come back just as He promised. When people ask what is a Christian, I often tell them a simplified stroy of Easter. I am glad to be a child of the Lord.
 For my Easter weekend, I went on a trip. But it wasn't during my spring break so I had to go home early from my family. My dad gave me and my boyfriend a scroll on Jesus Christ's resurrection to read as our Easter message.  The greatest evidence was the miracles of today. That people today can say the same thing the apostles did 2000 years ago is amazing, "He saved me, and I am not the same person I used to be."

 week 4: Study
 My home church taught me this idea that a 'Jesus high' was actually a sad thing. I want to be in an ideal presence with God, serving and in His work at all times, not just during these highs. I believe strongly in shining the inside of my pot as well as the outside. Attending church, giving tithes, praying in the spirit, being a goodly neighbor to all, and even meditate to receive spiritual gifts  does not make us christians. Living His plan daily is ideal, but this study is important to be sure that you're not just doing the work to shjine your exterior. Do it in joy with the heart of purpose. Know this purpose through reading the bible and study the messages in it.

week 5: submission
I see people who you would think have it all together. She lost all her weight and is a healthy, normal woman instead of 300+ lbs! He has a huge family that successfully raised their own business and are set for the rest of their lives and their children's and their children's. But in the end, they still think something is missing. They still can't figure out why they aren't satisfied or truly happy. I think it's God. I think there is so much to get distracted with. Oh but it can be exciting to find a new hobby or study something new. She's into music, his life is fixing cars, this one is obsessed with a movie star, the other is curious about fashion. I think the ultimate thing to study and get deeply into is God. He is, as it was written, a gateway. Oh the many spectacular things beyond those gates! You want a high of any sort, just run through that door. You'll be in a never ending experience.

week 6: solitude
Well I should say this is the week that will speak to me! Haven't I been saying I've been to busy to even hear God in my life? I think today is the perfect example of solitude. Take some time off for myself, didn't have work, caught up on house work and just wanted to spend time with God. Yes, I can't wait to read this week (:
I could not stop thinking about creating the inner silence and my experience with the earthquake down here in southern california. I was at work and all my coworkers began talking and laughing. I hardly noticed them doing it. I was grinding coffee. One of them came up to me and asked, "Did you feel the earthquake?" I looked at him, so he continued, "The one we were just talking and laughing about. You didn't even notice us laughing huh?"
I asked when it was and was shocked to find out it had happened only a minute ago and I let it go unnoticed. I don't know the line between a void mind and a silent one. I suppose it would be when you don't react vs you don't notice! But I feel like I am one who appreciates silence since I feel it's hard to come by these days.
This week kept going on about silence but I was glad to see the experience part. I think of our solo time (: Try to focus our wandering mind on Him and not fall asleep huh? lol Well I think it goes hand in hand with meditation. There doesn't need to be any words or topics. Just God, putting into your mind what He needs to show you. I love that so much.