Whats cookin good lookin?

I think I'll have some "Western Spaghetti" for dinner tonight, you can find the recipe on YouTube.

i think i just realized...

When I was younger I did cartwheels in the front yard, I built forts in the woods, or I patrolled the streets on my bike with my best friends along side. I had time to experience and learn and grow. Now, it feels like I am playing life according to the rules of time management. I have to take a step back, and learn who I am all over again.

And through this experience I have found out some things I never knew or wanted to admit about life concerning beth jasper:

-I think I just realized that I am not as good of a driver as I thought- actually, I am a horrible driver. If you get in a car with me wear your seatbelt.

- I have hereditary faults and limited talents, I am a Scalawag. And I am almost okay with that.

- & I would have never admitted this one before now, but YES, its true, We Texans are 110% infatuated, consumed with our Lone Star State. Most of us would acknowledge that everything north of Texas is Canada.  There is an overwhelming pride that LITERALLY everything is bigger & better in Texas. I don’t know where it came from, but every baby born in this state is programmed with it. --So I think I have stumbled upon some unsorted through feelings for my homeland. Well world, Love is such a silly game we play, but “I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!” 

I had no idea that I would be back in Texas so soon, but “God plants His saints in the most useless places. We say—God intends me to be here because I am so useful. Jesus never estimated His life along the line of the greatest use. God puts His saints where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where that is.” – My Utmost

  

these are a few things I have just realized... & I have a long way to go!

I'm going to miss this.

A big chunk of my life last semester was spent with people like- Anna, Mike, Liz and Dave.

I love them.

They are incredible friends, but this past year they have served as my family. I can’t get enough of them.

We were a team via Young Life.
 I like the way Oswald Chambers describes ministry, he puts it like this: "You can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have."

What a cool experience to have shared with these 4 people. & I cannot wait to see how the Lord moves through them this year. 

 

I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF LIZ

...& Im going to miss this.

Jiggs

One highlight of this past summer of 2010 was when I got to know Mr. Jiggs Robert Gaphney. I met him at Pine Cove, where there was always something hilarious happening at any given moment. I spent many days in that dynamic environment. One would quickly see that Jiggs is the joy of Pine Cove Ranch. He is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. People cheer and go nuts when this man enters a room. He loves people so well, and people love him because of it, he has a huge heart.... I had the privilege to hear some stories about prom from the commando boss himself.

-Well Jiggs tell us about the night. Did you go pick her up?

--what kind of car were you driving?

---what color tux were you wearing?

Jiggs: ANYWAYS

---what kind of car did you drive to pick her up?

Jiggs: I THINK EITHER 1984- 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE.

-what year was this prom?

Jiggs: 19...81-82

...He picked her up in style

---Did you take her to Andy's for ice cream?

Jiggs: AFTER

---Did you Dance? What was y'alls song Jiggs?

Jiggs: Y.M.C.A

JIGGS. Jiggs. We love you Jiggs.

A Prayer.

I found this paragraph in the back of Ragamuffin, which perfectly communicates this journey of mine through a simple prayer…

Father,

"Be present with me now on each step of this journey. Grow me up in my inner being to receive and share abroad more and more of Your love. Let me be Your hands and face and words to all I meet. Set me free to serve You- free from anxiety, fear, self-pity, self-hatred, cynicism, or skepticism. Free me from every crippling sin and any darkness of unbelief, Lord Jesus Christ, anoint my life and my spiritual community with deep faith and reckless abandonment to Your enduring goodness. Give us truly listening hearts, that we may hear Your word and courageously act upon it, to the praise of Your name and joy of Your heart." - Ragamuffin Gospel


You are good Jesus- thank you for bringing me into a foreign land. In that place I saw you daily through the faces of extraordinary people. People that I lived with, that I lead with, and people that became my dear friends. You brought me to a place in my heart that you knew my only option would be YOU. That place is dry and its hard living there, but it is so good because, that is the place where I come before You on my knees. You are my only refuge in that desert land. You have given me all the resources in Christ that I need to live a life of ministry to the people You have placed in my life. Still, it is easy to neglect Your resources and panic when times become difficult. In those times, I am more tempted to run than to rest and to react than to reflect. 

...But even the shallow concerns of life are ordained by You Lord. They are Profound. 

Thank you for this journey.

Hello again, Virginia...

...I'm headed back to the East Coast

Whats in a Name?

I listened to a Podcasts from Matt Lantz the other day. It was quality. The Lord has given him so much wisdom, and he is very generous with sharing it... here are some tidbits from his upper room discourse podcast. Thanks Mr. Lantz.

John 14:12-14

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”

 “ ‘WHATSOEVER ye shall ask in my Name, that will I do.'  Jesus means the promise literally.  Christians have sought to limit it:  it looked too free; it was hardly safe to trust man so unconditionally.  We did not understand that the word `in my Name' is its own safeguard.  It is a spiritual power that no one can use further the capacity for, by his living and acting in that Name. As we bear that Name before men, we have power to it before God.  O let us plead for God's Holy Spirit to show us what the Name means, and what the right of it is. It is through the Spirit that the Name, which is above every name in heaven, will take the place of supremacy in our heart and life too.”- Andrew Murray

[This is the key to Abiding: obediance, How can I obey: believe]

In Jesus name isn’t a mantra, not a magic phrase that we tack onto the end of a prayer to make it work, the only way we have this power is by living and abiding in Christ. ‘’In that moment if you ask anything I will do it for you.’’

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”- Dietrich Bonhoeffer 


Andrew Murray's writings are free at ccel.org... check it owt.

2k10

     2010, you were good to me. You were filled with precious moments like developing friendships with my Young Life team, finding new bonds with the fine folks at Pine Cove, or priceless travel experiences to Tahoe, Napa, Saranac, Maine, Costa Rica, & Tyler, Texas. But don’t get worked up just yet my dear 2010, because you had your fair share of disappointing moments as well. For example, the time when the Texas Rangers lost the World series, or when Duke went wandering into the abyss of doggy heaven, what about that time when I shot a booger out of my nose in front of my friends?! Some of these unexpected hiccups were genuinely upsetting, some added diversity to my daily life, while others were simply entertaining. 

So as I continue to size you up & down with examining eyes, overall I’d still say that you were good to me. But our time has run its course, so I leave you with a gentle farewell 2010. Its time you introduce me to your friend 2011, I hope we’ll have a promising future together...

Team Harrisonburg

Saranac, NY

Tahoe, CA.

Napa Valley, CA.

Costa Rica

Home

   

Maine

Pine Cove

As I review the year, the FAQ that pops up is, ”Was that God’s will for my life?” It is important to look at whatever has happened and THAT is God’s will. God can use circumstances to draw us to himself. Christ wants us to accept His unreserved love because we are His people. 1 Tim. 2:4 expresses our Father as a God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” This is His will for us in 2011 and every year after that till kingdom come.

Christmas Card Conceit

I don’t know how it happened but it was the night before the night before Christmas, and the chestnuts were roasting on an open fire when we decided that it was perfect weather for a Jasper family picture. 

These happen once in a lunar eclipse.

But we did it. It was filled plenty of anguish, endearment, and narcissism.  What a great evening spent with my dear bros: from the left Casey (25) Ryan (22), and Luke (26) We might make a lumberjack envious with all that flannel. I'm not sure these will actually make it into a Christmas card...

Merry Christmas, from the Jaspers! :)

The Final Countdown

Its that time of year when finals role around, and the teachers examine what knowledge we have acquired over of the past 4 months.

So, these are my psychology notes.....

Whoops.
I hope studying for that turns out okay.

In the meantime, you should treat yourself to a study break and check out this great music video to get you pumped for exam week. Its a classic. Gets me every time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw