Story time, Ags!

As I walked down the street I saw them. Skeletons walking around campus, not even knowing they were dry bones. I saw the black hollows of their eyes with nothing to fill them. I saw the blank stare on their faces as they walked on their way. The do not know. They do not even know who they are. They do not know that they are only dry bones with black hollows for eyes. They do not know that they are not living. They think they fit into this world and embrace all that it offers them. Yet, the world killed them and now they do not live. But still, I see them. Their spirit is killed, but their bodies continue to walk. I think to myself, "I can save them! I can fill the hollows of their eyes and make them see! I can add life to their bodies and show them how to actually live!" But, my shout is blocked by the walls of my mouth, refusing to let it get outside. There are so many skeletons, so many bones. We can reach them, put flesh back on their bodies, give them the breath of life and fill the hollows of their eyes. We can reach them, only if HE reaches them.

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest." 4 Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD." 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host." ~Ezekiel 37

Steam Roller

Whoa. I write a "depressing" blog and I get 7 comments on it and several comments in person and/or over IM. Maybe I should vent more often? haha...nah...not for a while, I hope.

So, this semester has been full of ups and downs when it comes to my spiritual life. I thought I was over Costa Rica, but that last blog shows how I'm not. The "spicy Jaclyn" in me had a taste of that kind of life abroad and now struggles with the real Jaclyn who wants to do the right thing and grow in her faith. haha, sounds weird, but I can't express how true it is. Last week I was really faltering. I had this urge to party and to live the "normal" college life. I felt like I needed to meet more party people and people I might be able to drink with without regrets and boys, and maybe all three rolled up into one person. I thought I was missing out. On Thursday night I went salsa dancing, which was SO FUN, and had a tequila shot while I was there. I loved the night, but I felt bad because I was the driver and I had 2 freshmen I barely knew in tow. I was a bad example. You should have seen their faces when I told them I was in a Christian sorority. They were like, "...oh..." and then lowered their eyes. Conviction times 17! Elizabeth, one of the freshman's sisters, wouldn't let me drive after my shot, she took the keys.

That night the person I consider as one of my best friends chewed me out over IM about how I was acting. First of all, never do that over IM. Always confront someone in person. Always...no matter how hard it is. IM can be confusing, especially when you are trying to have a deep conversation because you cannot pick up on non-verbal language. Anyway. I was really hurt, and I still kinda am. But, I think some good came out if it. It made me think and now I've seen a change in me. Church at Living Hope on Sunday really brought me back. I don't know how long I will be back, but while I'm here, I want to try and keep that eternal perspective. There is a verse in 1 John that puts it perfectly: "Do not love the world and all of its evil things. The craze for sex, the desire to buy everything that appeals to you and the pride that comes from wealth and prestige, these things are not from God. These things will fade and perish along with the world but the things of God last forever." Ok, I paraphrased that a little because I don't remember it verbatim, but that isn't the point. The point is the point this verse is trying to make. Get convicted and get excited.

Now, even though this isn't as angry as my last post, still leave 7 comments! :-)