Yesterday marked a great occasion. It was my last first day of classes ever. (At this point I do not have plans for grad school etc.) There are many things I want to have happen this year. I want to finish strong academically. I want to leave a legacy in my InterVarsity chapter, and I want to transition well into the next part of my life. All of these things are going to be difficult and below I have a quick prayer for this semester.
Lord,
I have said before that I want to 'get through' this year as quickly as possible. However, I have changed my mind and my attitude. I not longer want to rush through this year, or any other season of my life that you bring me to. I want to enjoy every minute of my time. I was dreading school starting again but I am happy to now see it as a blessing. I am no longer afraid, but excited of how you will move on this campus this year.
I ask Father, that you will help me to honor you with my studies, and that somehow the information I am taught in my classes, will in turn bring me closer to you as I search for a element of your character hidden among the coursework. Please let my classes be a time where I can appreciate those who are more educated than I. Please let it be a time where I can humbly accept the way you have financially and graciously blessed me.
Spirit, please fill me now, and empower me with your discernment of what students to 'call' into ministry. Please prepare the hearts of those that you have chosen, and bless me with courage and boldness to extend your invitation to these elect.
I pray that as I transition out of my IV Chapter, that the legacy I leave behind would not be about me, but about You and your transforming power in my life. I ask that you would guide me in how to pass off the information and gifts that you have given to me to others. I ask that you would help me to set up these new students to stand on my shoulders, and be an even more powerful resource for You and Your Kingdom than I, or those who came before I.
I pray that as I move into a new season of my life, that you would go ahead of me and lead me into it. Guide me and reveal to me the plans that you have laid out for me life. Please grant me the strength and courage to step into the plans faithfully and wholeheartedly .
I am humble before you God, and I am eager to see how you will use me to reach the campus this semester. To you be the Glory and Honor forever and ever!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A quick look back at 2010
Its official, it has almost been an entire year since I started this blog. I know I missed a few months there at the end of 2010, but here is a quick look back at some of posts from last year.
Also, you can click through the links under "Blog Summaries" to read any past posts.
First Post: Introduction to the blog and my life as a student missionary.
Bookshelves: A analogy of how God can use us.
The Blue Pill: A look at 'looking back'.
God Bless America?: What being a Christian in America can mean.
Loving Life: A post dedicated to looking at how being a Christian has helped my overall life.
The Gospel: My most personally challenging post, about hiding the Pearl of Great Price.
I look forward to having another excellent year, with even better posts.
I realize I am a little late, but Happy New Year!
Also, you can click through the links under "Blog Summaries" to read any past posts.
First Post: Introduction to the blog and my life as a student missionary.
Bookshelves: A analogy of how God can use us.
The Blue Pill: A look at 'looking back'.
God Bless America?: What being a Christian in America can mean.
Loving Life: A post dedicated to looking at how being a Christian has helped my overall life.
The Gospel: My most personally challenging post, about hiding the Pearl of Great Price.
I look forward to having another excellent year, with even better posts.
I realize I am a little late, but Happy New Year!
Its been a long time...
First things first, new template designs are coming soon. I need to dig out some textbooks, and other web resources to get some coding done. For now there are more important matters at hand, so enjoy the temporary template!
I suppose some of you might have thought I tossed in the towel when it came to blogging. Or that I couldn't honor the commitment I made to my friend to maintain a blog for an entire year. However; in this case you be would incorrect. I took some time off, but I am glad to be back now to once again share my thoughts. Below I will take a minute to explain why I took a break, and what I am doing about it now.
My last blog post was dated Nov. 8th. During the month of November, some strange things happened to me and my faith. A few things happened which caused me to feel hurt and frustrated. This caused me to become angry with God. I started a journey down an unhealthy path to becoming more and more angry at God. It left me weak, without my source of sustenance. I led myself to fields of dirt and dried up streams instead of the fields of green and still waters God was trying to bring me to.
As a 'leader' of sorts in my church I have to be careful about what things I 'teach'. I found myself giving some advice to a student that was more what I wanted to say, and not what God wanted to say to this student. It was in that moment that I knew I needed to get things resolved. I took some time off of ministry, and suspended some other activities where I was in a position of authority. I spend some time with God listening and being patient.
After I started listening to God again, and was able to give better advice to students, I still wasn't ready to get back into blogging or the swing of my ministry. God asked me to rest, and he led me back to the still waters and green pastures that I needed. I was eager to get back to things I cared about, but I soaked up the oasis that God had led me too. Now that I have had my rest, God has called me to step faithfully back into my role in ministry. This includes picking up my blog again.
So I aplogize for now writing for a while. Maybe some of you didn't even notice. I only have a few 'regular' readers anyway. Which reminds me, if you are reading this blog for the first time or have read it a few times, why not consider subscribing by clicking the 'Follow' button or clicking this link.
All of this to say, that I am back and I have a lot to share, so enjoy this time you probably should be spending doing homework ;-p.
I suppose some of you might have thought I tossed in the towel when it came to blogging. Or that I couldn't honor the commitment I made to my friend to maintain a blog for an entire year. However; in this case you be would incorrect. I took some time off, but I am glad to be back now to once again share my thoughts. Below I will take a minute to explain why I took a break, and what I am doing about it now.
My last blog post was dated Nov. 8th. During the month of November, some strange things happened to me and my faith. A few things happened which caused me to feel hurt and frustrated. This caused me to become angry with God. I started a journey down an unhealthy path to becoming more and more angry at God. It left me weak, without my source of sustenance. I led myself to fields of dirt and dried up streams instead of the fields of green and still waters God was trying to bring me to.
As a 'leader' of sorts in my church I have to be careful about what things I 'teach'. I found myself giving some advice to a student that was more what I wanted to say, and not what God wanted to say to this student. It was in that moment that I knew I needed to get things resolved. I took some time off of ministry, and suspended some other activities where I was in a position of authority. I spend some time with God listening and being patient.
After I started listening to God again, and was able to give better advice to students, I still wasn't ready to get back into blogging or the swing of my ministry. God asked me to rest, and he led me back to the still waters and green pastures that I needed. I was eager to get back to things I cared about, but I soaked up the oasis that God had led me too. Now that I have had my rest, God has called me to step faithfully back into my role in ministry. This includes picking up my blog again.
So I aplogize for now writing for a while. Maybe some of you didn't even notice. I only have a few 'regular' readers anyway. Which reminds me, if you are reading this blog for the first time or have read it a few times, why not consider subscribing by clicking the 'Follow' button or clicking this link.
All of this to say, that I am back and I have a lot to share, so enjoy this time you probably should be spending doing homework ;-p.
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