that's what i call power

"He gives snow like wool;

He scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

He hurls down His crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before His cold?

He sends out His word, 

and melts them;

He makes His wind blow 

and the waters flow."

Psalm 147:16-18

Wow.  This is my new favorite Psalm  :)  Those last two lines are sooo significant right now, while us East Coast Americans are sitting in the middle of a hurricane.  I don't think I've ever been in a natural disaster, so I was kind of excited (Yes, I am weird like that.  I get excited when I might die ;P).  Unfortunately (I meeaan, thankfully), it's not that bad.  It's just very windy and rainy out.  But reading those verses this morning, I just thought about how powerful our God is.  The chapter before was titled "Put Not Your Trust in Princes."  WOW.  See a link?  Princes (insert: Presidents, governors, politicians, kings, etc.) aren't half--scratch that, aren't a billionth as powerful as God.  Our God, MY God.  And how incredible does that feel to know that He's on our side?  "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)  I feel like the world is ending because of all these earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes.  But really, there's nothing to worry about because 1) God is on our side and He's taking care of us, and 2) If you're a Christian, you'll be taken before anything really awful happens.  All the other disasters have been happening in other parts of the world, like Japan and Haiti, and I felt really detached from the whole situation.  But now, with the earthquake in Virginia that reached Boston and Hurricane Irene cutting through MA and NY, it doesn't feel so far away.  Maybe now that people (insert: NorthEast Americans) are actually experiencing a little bit of the devastation that's overtaken less prosperous countries, we'll be more generous and open to giving/helping causes that support "the least of these" that have been attacked (see my last post).  Well, I gotta go, but that's my shpeel for the day :) 

These are the hands that built the mountains,

the hands that calm the seas.

These are the arms that hold the heavens,

they are holding you and me.

...you will be safe in His arms.

Safe by Phil Wickham

let's DO something.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

"Well, why don't you ask Him?"

"Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question."

-Anonymous, from The Hole in Our Gospel

Hello, my wonderful unkindly-forgotten friends! 

I am currently reading The Hole in Our Gospel for my English choice summer reading book.  I have 11 days to finish 114 pages! :) But, so far, this book has been absolutely incredible.  I highly recommend it, especially if you are overly interested in social justice, World Vision, and/or the hole that is missing in our modern-day Christian Gospel.  I am overly interested in all of the above, which is probably why I am enjoying this book so much!  God has shoveled a whole heap of love on my heart for "the least of these," especially recently.  Like the founder of World Vision, Bob Pierce, said, "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."  That's pretty much exactly how I feel!  Thank You, Jesus, for putting this on my heart...  I think I want to be the president of World Vision or another aid organization... 

The United Nations created a list of eight goals they wanted to accomplish by 2015:

The Millennium Development Goals -- Adopted September 8, 2000

By 2015 we resolve to:

1) Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty

2) Achieve universal primary education

3) Promote gender equality and empower women
4) Reduce child mortality

5) Improve maternal health

6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7) Ensure environmental sustainability

8) Develop a global partnership for development

This makes me proud to be an American!  We're actually doing something!

I need to go clean the bathroom (one small step for cleanliness, one giant leap for common health), but I will be working on compiling a list of things to DO.  Because, really, 

"What's the point of all this if you're not going to let it change you?"

lovelovelove, naomi

the reasons i'm away:
my twitter
my instagram
and soccer :)

i got a busted finger at practice today :( sad day...

the left middle finger :\ (compare to the right one)

uuuuugh i feel like i don't have anything to update about... :P
well, have an awesome day!!!!
lovelovelove, naomi