created.with.a.purpose

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

daseulson — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:54:04 +0000

It was a little over a year ago now that I left to do schooling in France. Now that I’m back and revisiting friends and catching up, and in the midst of being somewhat confused during this transition period, I find myself finding encouragement in St. Augustine’s honest prayer. Things would be much clearer if I could remember this in every moment and everything that I do.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.

Amen. (St. Augustine)

transition

daseulson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:36:52 +0000

The Gift of a Lifetime

When I graduated from our little three-room grade school in Centerton, Indiana, I got dressed up in clean overalls for the big event. For my graduation present Dad gave me an old, wrinkled two-dollar bill that he probably had been hanging onto for some time. He said, “Johnny, as long as you have this you’ll never be broke,” and he was pretty close to right. Eventually I gave it to my own son Jim.

Dad also gave me something that day that would shape my entire life: my work, my marriage, my goals, my entire philosophy. It was a card on which he had written a few guidelines. I still carry it with me. On one side was this verse by the Revered Henry Van Dyke:

Four things a man must learn to do

If he would make his life more true:

To think without confusion clearly,

To love his fellow-man sincerely,

To act from honest motives purely,

To trust in God and Heaven securely.

The little verse was straightforward but profound: think clearly, have love in your hear, be honest, and trust in God.

On the other side of the paper, Dad had written out his creed. At the top of the paper, it said “Seven Things to Do.” It read as follows:

Be true to yourself.
Help others.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and count and give thanks for you blessings every day.

All he said when he gave me the little note he had written was, “Son, try and live up to these things.” I wish I could say I have lived up to them. I have tried. Over the years, as I’ve attempted to follow his creed, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of it. Let me share what it means to me after all these years.

– From “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court”

my aptitude results…

daseulson — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:52:58 +0000

I thought this was interesting. All the students have to take this career survey which gives you a bunch of questions to answer pertaining to your preference of work type, style and environment and it wasn’t surprising for me to read the following synopsis of my own self.

“You would be happiest in an organizational culture marked by a spirit of cooperation, interpersonal sensitivity, a tendency to assume the best of people, and perhaps a degree of altruism in the organization’s mission. Such organizations, departments, and teams, value sincerity, kindness, tolerance, and authenticity, even if they are highly social and assertive in their approach to the marketplace. In such cultures, listening and respecting the views of others is valued as highly as being impassioned about your own point of view. Debate is fine, conflict as an expression of power is not. Your tendency in this direction is relatively strong, so pay close attention to this aspect of any organization you consider working for. For tips on how to examine an organizational culture in this regard, click here.”

I couldn’t have described it more clearly than the above…hrmm I wonder how much validity there is to these surveys.

Settling into Fonty…

daseulson — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:10:25 +0000

It’s been 3 days since I arrived in Fonty and already I feel pretty settled in…except I don’t have any of the admin stuff sorted out (car, bank, cell phone, etc. etc.)

BUT, what’s more important is that my housemates and I checked out a fabulous French resto around school last night which will be a sure place for me to take any visitors that come this way.A thought that started off this morning is that “nothing is so important as to keep right spiritually”. This is true under any circumstance, but particularly now in the midst of another big transition in my life. I’m utterly excited and cannot wait until school starts but I’m sure once it does, I may not see daylight So this will be a good reminder, amidst the busyness of my life – to keep grounded in what I know to be true…

Now – learn French, and take some French cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu!!

Wall of Fame | Heineken Experience

daseulson — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:49:28 +0000

via Wall of Fame | Heineken Experience.

July 29 – Day 3

daseulson — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:13 +0000

all of this for 2.48 pounds!! C'est bonne, non? That's under $5 CDN

Day 2 in London – after obedience, what?

daseulson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:34:40 +0000

I’ve had some time to finally catch up on sleep as well as some thoughts. Today’s My Utmost couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Here is why, read below an excerpt from today’s reflection.

“and straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side…” Mark 6:45

We are apt to imagine that Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is the process– that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterward. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end.

God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present; if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.

It couldn’t be better put in words, than how Oswald Chambers did. Interestingly enough, this blog was created with the intention to capture His purpose through blogging my experiences, testimonies and thoughts. What a great reminder that His purpose is all in the process and not one particular end in time or goal. Please keep me accountable.

Blessed are the poor in spirit..

daseulson — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:03:42 +0000

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

“The bedrock in Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possession; not decisions for Jesus Christ, but a sense of absolute futility –”

precious time

daseulson — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:32:32 +0000

Time is precious, but is it really? So often, a day goes by without me even realizing it and before I know it, day quickly turns into night. I think time is precious to those who realize the value of time…time spent alone, time spent with loved ones and time spent with strangers. They say the best thing you can give someone is your time. This also, is very true; however maybe unrealized until after the fact. I might realize that I spent too much unnecessary time doing one thing, only after completing the task. I might realize I didn’t spend enough time with someone, only at the end of the meeting. I’m not quite sure where this is going, but I suppose knowing that there is limited time between now and when I leave, it’s worth re-assessing how I will spend my time; with whom, doing what – and being intentional about it all.

a time for everything…

daseulson — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:40:33 +0000

I understand there is a time for everything. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I’m trying not to see it as something that is being taken away, but can’t help but feel like it is. I truly am happy that you’ve found someone to share your future with. I love you and will miss you, lots and lots… <3 your little sister