Sustenance

I love Sundays. The day that I get to spend the most time with the Lord during the week. The day that I get to hang out with my beloved friend Carol. The day I get to go to a coffee shop. And sometimes even the day I get to sleep in!

So today we went to Mission Sunday and it was AMAZING. I am so blessed to be able to see God work through my brothers and sisters as they step out in faith. It was unbelievably encouraging. I have to give a shout out to Allie Reed for getting up on stage and sharing...I had a lot of empathy anxiety for her but she did great!

So after that we had some Hy-Vee lunch...yumm meatloaf. Then Carol and I went to Starbucks to read. I ordered a decaf iced Americano with a shot of Hazelnut in it. I don't drink caffeine a lot because I want to make sure that if my body is telling me a really need to rest and take a nap I won't have caffeine in my veins trying to stop me. Today, however I made the wrong choice. I began reading and after about half an hour I was almost asleep with my eyes open. Carol told me to take a nap on the table (which I have done before) but I declined. Before we went back to take a what thought was going to be quick nap, I read this awesome verse in Isaiah.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. -Isaiah 46:4

What an awesome promise. Sometimes I can get so caught up in the little stuff. I have a paper due tomorrow. I need to find a job. I really want to go take a nap but have other things I need to do. I am nervous to sing in front of people. In these circumstances I pray for grace knowing that God will come through. But I was struck by this verse that he will sustain us even to our old age and gray hairs. That is what I call long term commitment! I think it is so important to surrender the small things to Jesus knowing that he will carry us, but when I think about this big God who cares me enough to listen to me now and forever I am in awe. I don't deserve it, but I am extremely thankful for it. 

Speaking of sustenance...the other night we went to the Rice Bowl, a Chinese restaurant in Beaverdale. Julia Rude came up with the idea of going to Jenna's family's restaurant since they recently reopened after a fire. Well, it was a GREAT idea. I left thinking that I wouldn't be able to fit the seat belt over my full tummy. Here are a couple pics (not good quality) of the food we ate. 

 Shrimp Fried Rice

Chicken Subgum Soup

Her parents were the most gracious people. They gave us free fried wontons and egg rolls. And they put up with a group of 20 loud and hungry college students. I will definitely be going back there and I would advise others to check it out!

RIght now I am listening to Justin Bieber and Usher sing I Need Somebody to Love. I have had it stuck in my head because it is sooo catchy and I have given up on feeling guilty when I listen to his music. No, I do not have Bieber Fever. 

To end, these are a couple of fun pictures I took today. One is of my friend Anna: my model for my photography class project. The others are of some flowers Carol got for her birthday from Jenny and I.