maisie0321's Xanga

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:14:35 GMT

DSLR camera. Need Help. I mean I need help.

Hey guys, I'm thinking about purchasing a DSLR camera. Any insights?

I'm looking into this one.

It comes with the Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens.

I think I don't want to spend too much. So, I think I might sacrifice some pixels, and maybe get more lenses. I might go with a 6.1 instead of the 10.1. Is that a good tradeoff?

Also, do you know the difference between the Cannon XTi and the XT?

Suggestions?

marcia

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:20:22 GMT

One Long Entry (WCC and more)

Oh...Hi, Xanga. Hi again.

Oh...friends, too.

Can't believe that the last time I blogged was 2007! I had wanted to blog on 1/1; didn't happen.

The 12th of March?! Can you believe that? A quarter of the year is GONE! I warn you. This one is long. I find that it's easier to process as I write. Bear with me...

I'll start from last month.

Did you go to WCC? I did. God must have known that I love surprises. The funny thing is that I always try to figure out what God's going to do now. But now...I'm realizing that it's better to let him do his work (and i do mine) and that turns out good all the time. I put God in a box...too much. I expect him to be a certain way and I guess what He's going to do, and that disappoints me a lot. "Think outside of the box." Isn't that supposed to be the programmer's mentality? I fail all the time; God is gracious to me. WCC...yes. Stay on course.

(my roommate baked cookies couple nights ago and they were very good. she also brought me brownies from her small group. i'm having a great night!)

WCC was very good. It's a mission conference, right? and mission-minded people gather together and they talk about God and get (spiritual) high, and think about what God will do. That was what I think about mission conferences in a crude way. Not that they are. Most of them are very good. (People are inspired and they do "go" away from their home countries for the sake of Christ.) I have been to a lot of conferences. Most of the time, I think about what God thinks. I think about how God changes (and can change) my life. God loves me. Nothing is wrong, but even mission itself became this self-center thing. "What about me?" I struggle with selfishness/pride. For the most part, last year was one year that broke a lot of that (pride). Nothing I hung on to stayed. I mentioned, even from my last post, health was crap (it still is in some sense.) I pride myself for my feelings in worship many times; that, too, God broke. Somehow, through being sick, God taught me to trust not (only) how I feel, we need to decide to worship God. Long story short, through 2007, this year, I'm coming to a point where I begin to see that is not me. Not about me. This year's WCC was the 1st conference that I was able to attend w/o thinking how God will work things out. He does. He works things out for us. More important is that we know to trust him.

There was one lesson God was teaching me last year. Learning to let go. Let go about how I see God (thinking outside of the box! :)) Let go; think not that I know God's plan that I should go (overseas). That was one big lesson for me. Letting go. Going into the conference, I wasn't thinking that I was going to "go" (on a mission trip now). In fact, I wasn't even sure if I was ever gonna go. I needed to be in Seattle. This is where I am now. It was refreshing just to be with WCC folks to listen to God and hopefully to obey him.

I think there's some magic formula where if I just do the right things, I can see God in a certain way. Well, that wasn't the case. I figured out that magic formulas did not exist. But God works in mysterious ways. You always wait till the last day (of a conference) to make decisions, right? I mean, don't they always to alter calls and commitment time at the end? True. It was a little different, this year. So, during the 1st night, I listened to what Jackie Pullinger (one of the conference speakers) had to say. I thought "Wow, what the heck? How come I always think about myself. How come I'm selfish all the time? Most prayers I pray are for me. I pray for myself. What about people other than me? God, help me be an answered prayer to someone." We pray. We pray about ourselves a lot. That's ok. Let's also be concern about praying for someone. Being an answer to someone who calls out to God.

It didn't take long, the speaker (George Verwer) talked about counting the cost the next day. He's an incredible guy. 60+, still serving God, gave his life to Christ, everything to God. Money, home, security, job, wife, kids. He's nothing much. He has God. That's all he needs. Anyhow, he told us stories. Stories about his life. His conversion to Christ. How he gave his wedding cake away for gas for his car because he didn't want to spend money for his honeymoon. (Obviously, his wife and he didn't take a flight on his honeymoon. and the reason he didn't want to spend money was that he gives all his money to doing God's work...evangelizing.) This guy was hardcore. He spoke about the counting the cost. After this session I thought again. It was about one year ago I applied to become a Wycliffe Bible Translator. I wanted to go (on missions) so bad, and I was so afraid that I would never go. I didn't get in. The Wycliffe personnel who processed my application told me I wasn't ready to go. (I was not.) He told me (I paraphrase), "Go back and wait for God's call." I was disappointed. I mean, didn't God call me. It was all so clear to me. I know it wasn't me who put this desire in me to go. But Wycliffe guy said "no". God didn't say "yes." What was going on?! About a week later, I received an e-mail from my Sunday school teacher when I was in junior high. In the e-mail, he said (I paraphrase again), "Marcia, you're a passionate young lady. If you had joined Wycliffe, I probably would have supported you, but I'm not sure if you had counted the cost." And he listed all these things about about counting the cost. 2 things I remember most clearly was singleness and family. He told me about this lady he met while he was in Israel. She was a Bible translator, and she was committed to the cause. She was very single, probably not thinking about marrying anyone. She didn't look like she was spending a lot on material things. Looked very simple, I should say. My Sunday school teacher asked me, "are you ready for that?" Also asked about my family. What about taking care of them? Mom is getting old. What about the kids at home? How do I feel about being the eldest daughter at home? At it impacted me, but not until a year later that I realize, yeah, he was right. What about counting the cost?

Well, about a week ago before I went to the conference, one day I was reading a support letter from my friend who's currently away in some remote place on a mission trip. This is not just a short-term 2-week type kinda thing. She goes for life. That is as long as she knows her calling to this place. I was really her letter. Suddenly, I thought, "Huh, she is single, too." She had joy. She did just what God wanted her to do. And I realized. It's ok. Singleness is ok. I had this idea that I'll marry someone, and I'll be married before I go on missions for life. That had always been one thing that I thought was reality, that God would give me someone to go on this journey with. I don't think that since I'm still single, I should just give that up. BUT, I do think that I can go, because Jesus goes with me. My life starts now. Not ten years from now. God is real not because I see him in this way, but He is.

Back to conference and counting cost. After the session, I sat in the room, and I thought, "What still holds me back (from going)?" God used this whole last year (and still is working), to help me count the cost to follow Him. My ideal of being married was not an issue. Family, well, family, I had always known that God takes care of that. God showed me one day a long time ago in a picture that He holds my sister in the palm of his hand. (she's not a christian yet.) I think that for my whole family, too. Money wasn't an issue. Church/ministerial responsibilities weren't there (anymore). What holds me back? I'm finally ready, at least to a point where I say "I'm available." to God. So, I told Jesus, "ok, I'll start applying to Wycliffe. again." Humans are funny. We worry so much. Immediate after I told Jesus I'd apply to Wycliffe, I thought, "What? I'm not sure how things will work out. Do I have to quit my job? How do I pay rent? What about..." I worry so much. God knows that, too. He gave me a verse, just as I starting worrying about earthly things again. "Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you. And surely, I am will you always, till the end of the age." WHAT THE HECK?! What do I say now? That was clear. Go. Make disciples. The promise is that he is with me. I need not to worry about anything anymore. He provides.

The rest of WCC was good, but I'll save that for (maybe) some other time. :)

This is a lot.

Well, good news! I actually don't have to fill out my application again. I met up with my Wycliffe recruiter just about 1/1.5 weeks ago, and she called some people up. And I am good to go! The thing now is just to figure out which church will send me, and what Jesus wants me to do.

Long story, isn't is.

Ok, something less thought provoking.

So, a few days ago, my family (mom & brother) purchased 2 cats. I love the cats. They are basically the best.

Hi, this is Oliver. He was sick with the flu, but much better now.

Hi, this is Owen. He's the active one.

I can't convince everybody, but I know they are the best.

marcia

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:36:02 GMT

Surprise!

OK. It is a bit surprising that I'm keeping this blog alive, and I seriously thought about X'ing this blog. But, as I started reading some of your blogs, I thought..."hey, maybe I'll keep mine. :)"

We are just about ... 5 DAYS ... to 2008. As tough as it was, 2007 was my best year yet. Tough because there was so much to sort through. Realizing that kids (I) need to grow up. There's a time for kicking and screaming, but when that is done, we need to move on. Kicking & screaming do not get us very far. I've learned in 2007 that I need to look beyond my current state and not be the victim all the time. God's patient with me. I had done my fair share of kicking and screaming. Health wasn't good. I didn't get the "perfect" job. Still hanging around in the US. Things didn't exactly go "my way." I have big dreams. Big hopes. Sometimes I forget that it's the little steps that get me to my dreams. I also learned that if we place our hopes on what God has given us but not on God alone, we'll reap disappointment. I was so disappointed about life, how things were going in life. I forget that it was God who gave me these dreams. Instead of pursuing Christ, I pursued what I thought God had wanted for me.

I'm still a work in progress. Please be patient with me.

oh, and btw, if none of what I wrote made sense, that's ok. these are thoughts in progress, too.

I look forward to another year of growth.

His,
marcia

P.S. Happy moments in 2007: Now. Enjoy.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:53:44 GMT

I'm running again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!

marcia

...PRAISE GOD!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:22:03 GMT

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!!!

My thyroid level is back to normal, (though I still need to be on medication!) It's been a long time, but PRAISE GOD for His healing over my body! I can't say how thankful I am now that my thyroid is almost back to normal. Pray that it'll stay normal! =)

For a normal person, your (T4) thyroid should be around .9-1.8.

So I had/have hyperthyroid, and my thyroid level was 5 times as high as a normal persons at one point. It was incredibly painful to have to deal with hormonal imbalances physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. I'm not sure how or why it happened, but through this I can say that even at times I really doubted, God is faithful and trustworthy.

Praise the Lord!!!

love,
marcia

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:48:07 GMT

documentation

I started this new job a little over 2 weeks ago. My work now consist of a lot of documentation reading and troubleshooting. (Partly, that's because I'm new @ work.) (Yes, this is going to be on my update...about my job! =))

Anyway, about documentation today. So, like "always", I needed to read more today about my work. While I was reading at the end of the day, I had a thought. I thought, "Wow. This is great documentation. I'm not sure who wrote it, but I know this person wrote it with me (the person reading) in mind." Writing good documentation is such a self-less (i.e. not selfish) thing. The person writing usually benefits nothing from his/her writing; the reader does. Good documentation gives you precise & detailed instructions on how things work or how things are supposed to work. If you follow the instructions, you will learn. Isn't that so much like the Bible to us? Jesus inspired the authors of the Bible to write for our benefits. Writers of the Bible benefits little from what they wrote, and if we read the Bible carefully, it gives us instructions to live the godly life we ought to live! It doesn't just tell us how things work; it tells us exactly what we need to know about God, Jesus, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

That, was inspiring to me.

Well, it's really late now. I only got up because I was really hungry in the middle of the night. I need to go back to sleep now.

love,
marcia

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 05:14:27 GMT

Entry No. ???

Well, I wish I can say more, but at the moment, I just feel...blah....

Check out these photos from my weekend trips!

Mt. Adams

love,
marcia

P.S. Have an awesome 4th!

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:15:40 GMT

God is so good

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1 ^[a] I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

(text taken from Bible Gateway.)

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Tue, 22 May 2007 17:32:32 GMT

so i decided to blog again.

well, not really, but i'll blog today. it's been a LONG time, but i'll write a real entry today.

something that has been on my mind...

i LOVE the late 20's.

yes, i do. i really do. i love the late 20's because you're more mature than when you were 15, but still have much life to live out. (by that...i mean i'm still young.) you begin to really know yourself, who you are, who you're meant to be. though you're still exploring life, things just seem to be more hopeful, and exciting in every way. you still don't know exactly where you are going, but you know that you're not far from where you want to go. not how does that translate to ... me?

i remember graduating from college, feeling so totally lost, then realizing God in the midst of that. what do i mean by that? i mean that He gave me meaning to life. sometimes, that meaning is discovered one day at a time. sometimes, He shows you a big picture, but you will have to walk in it...one day at a time. i have always wanted to go overseas. for the longest time, that was just...a dream. but more and more so now, this dream is becoming a reality. i'm still not there now, but it will happen through Him. that brings me much excitement and joy. knowing that i'm walking under His will. it is the safest, and the most happiest (yes, most happiest) place to be. why would you want to go anywhere else?

but even that, it doesn't mean that life's just simple and jolly all the time. there's still so much to work out. salvation needs working out. there really isn't any easy way out, lest we're robots. He can make us do exactly whatever He wants. He didn't. He gave us a will. We can choose to conform to His, or go our separate ways. I don't ever want to do that...to go away from all that He desires for me.

if He really is the creator of the world, then He really should know what He's doing now. I'd rather go with somebody who knows what He's doing, then to figure life out on my own. (that leads me nowhere.)

anyway, enough rambling for today.

take care, guys. hope to hear from you soon.
marsh

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Wed, 09 May 2007 19:49:56 GMT

One Great Quote

"If you're not moving toward the edge, you're taking too much room!" - Anonymous

This is both funny and profound at the same time. Are you moving toward the edge?

(LB, do you recognize this? btw, I got one of your cards from Ray!..........HOW COME I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU MADE CARDS, HUH?!!! ........)

marcia