I wish my semester ended today.
Partly because I’m really ready to have this semester behind me, but mainly because I know I’ll be getting very little sleep these next three weeks and being stressed out and tired really messes with my enjoyment of my favorite month of the year and Christmas time.
That is all.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Recap
Well, it’s 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and even though I ate 9 hours ago, I’m still full. :) It was a great day.
I spent 2 hours in bed thinking and praying before I ever got up this morning. It was way too early to get up, but I couldn’t stop thinking about those who would not be celebrating with loved ones today. My thoughts wandered from the troops stationed overseas, to missionaries, to people who willingly choose not to be with family on Thanksgiving for whatever reason. I thought a lot about single 20 and 30 somethings who would be alone on this holiday. Those who are missing the one thing they want the most – a spouse. People who have recently lost loved ones and those without families were also on my mind. If you fit into any of the above categories, know you were lifted up this morning.
Personally, I celebrated the holiday with 14 family members (which is really a small group for us … we were at 50% of last year’s numbers). It was fun. It got loud. There was more than enough food. There was such joy and love experienced. It was great. At one point as I got in the corner of the room in order to get a picture of the entire room, I couldn’t help but smile and thank the Lord. Sure we had people sitting everywhere, but we were together. Celebrating one more holiday as a family. That’s not something I take for granted. I have too many friends who fit into the categories I listed above to not realize what a blessing it is. Sure, there are times I want to roll my eyes (you know that’s just how it is), but at the end of the day, we’re still family. And the time we spend together is precious. Even if I get bombarded with questions about why I’m single/not engaged/haven’t brought anyone with me. For the record, that conversation occurred 5 times today. Give it a rest people. ;)
If you’ll excuse me, I need to go get some sleep now in order to prepare for Black Friday. I leave my house in 6 hours. I’m sure I’ll have some stories to share soon …
I spent 2 hours in bed thinking and praying before I ever got up this morning. It was way too early to get up, but I couldn’t stop thinking about those who would not be celebrating with loved ones today. My thoughts wandered from the troops stationed overseas, to missionaries, to people who willingly choose not to be with family on Thanksgiving for whatever reason. I thought a lot about single 20 and 30 somethings who would be alone on this holiday. Those who are missing the one thing they want the most – a spouse. People who have recently lost loved ones and those without families were also on my mind. If you fit into any of the above categories, know you were lifted up this morning.
Personally, I celebrated the holiday with 14 family members (which is really a small group for us … we were at 50% of last year’s numbers). It was fun. It got loud. There was more than enough food. There was such joy and love experienced. It was great. At one point as I got in the corner of the room in order to get a picture of the entire room, I couldn’t help but smile and thank the Lord. Sure we had people sitting everywhere, but we were together. Celebrating one more holiday as a family. That’s not something I take for granted. I have too many friends who fit into the categories I listed above to not realize what a blessing it is. Sure, there are times I want to roll my eyes (you know that’s just how it is), but at the end of the day, we’re still family. And the time we spend together is precious. Even if I get bombarded with questions about why I’m single/not engaged/haven’t brought anyone with me. For the record, that conversation occurred 5 times today. Give it a rest people. ;)
If you’ll excuse me, I need to go get some sleep now in order to prepare for Black Friday. I leave my house in 6 hours. I’m sure I’ll have some stories to share soon …
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful …
… for salvation
… for my family
… for the life I’m blessed to live
… for friends that make life so much sweeter
… for the little things
I’m thankful for all that and so much more. I am so unworthy of the good gifts the Lord has given me. All praise, honor, and glory to Him for who He is and what He has done.
… for salvation
… for my family
… for the life I’m blessed to live
… for friends that make life so much sweeter
… for the little things
I’m thankful for all that and so much more. I am so unworthy of the good gifts the Lord has given me. All praise, honor, and glory to Him for who He is and what He has done.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, Happy Graduation ...
... to me, from me!
Words cannot express how excited I am about this camera! :-)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Poem
"Wait"
by Russell Kelfer
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply."
Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign."
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".
by Russell Kelfer
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply."
Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign."
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".
Monday, November 2, 2009
My Comfort Verse
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
If there has been one verse that’s been my “comfort verse” the past 9 weeks, it would be that one. I tell myself “This is just for a season!” quite a bit. It’s so … comforting (hence the title *grin*).
When grad school seems to be too much…
When things aren’t happening on MY time schedule…
When a mission team that I SO wanted to be on left for Africa today…
When I don’t understand what God’s up to…
Even then, I know … this is just a season. It will pass. And He’s right there in the midst of the season that I wish would hurry up and pass.
In eager anticipation of what’s coming next, my prayer is that I don’t miss Him in the here and now, for there is truly much to learn.
If there has been one verse that’s been my “comfort verse” the past 9 weeks, it would be that one. I tell myself “This is just for a season!” quite a bit. It’s so … comforting (hence the title *grin*).
When grad school seems to be too much…
When things aren’t happening on MY time schedule…
When a mission team that I SO wanted to be on left for Africa today…
When I don’t understand what God’s up to…
Even then, I know … this is just a season. It will pass. And He’s right there in the midst of the season that I wish would hurry up and pass.
In eager anticipation of what’s coming next, my prayer is that I don’t miss Him in the here and now, for there is truly much to learn.
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