This is going to be a long one-but please read it.=)
I finally have some time to sit down and write or rather type. =) I have one class completely finished. Praise God!! And tomorrow I will have another class completely finished. All I have left in another class is the final, which is online so I can take it whenever I want. My plan is to do the study guide on Friday and then study Saturday and Sunday and take it Sunday night. Then there's Trinitarianism. Reading, studying, the project and extra credit. I haven't had time to sit down and just concentrate on my project. I don't know if I"m going to be able to do my original idea. I do have a back up. And I would still do the slide show. I feel myself getting stressed out and depressed at what I have left to do. It's mostly the project. And I"m really tired, but I've been itching to release some stress by updating this.
Today was my last counseling session for the semseter. I had the option to meet next week but I decided not to and spend that time on my project and extra credit. I'm going to miss going. It's going to be a little weird to resume after the summer b/c alot is going to happen.
Speaking of Russia, the support is coming in more!!! I've had a few more people tell me that they are going to support me and I found out today that Calvary is supporting me as well. Like everytime I get a check or have someone tell me they want to support me there's this feeling of humility and love and thankfulness and gratefulness to them and the Lord. It's an incredible feeling to have people out there that believe in what the Lord is going to do through me. Like I got a check from my aunt's grandmother who is dying of cancer and her husband is not doing well at all. And then I got some money from a couple in ministry here that aren't even meeting their own support raising needs. Wow. It definitely brings me to tears at the sacrifice people are making and I want to think it's for me, but it's not-it's for the Lord. And I don't know if I mentioned this but my mom's boss supports me and she just loves me. I've only met her twice, but she always asks about me and will like buy me things for Christmas or my birthday. And in the note she wrote me she said that I was truly one of of God's chosen children b/c of my willingness and desire to go. So I know that my going affects far more than just the people in Russia I get to minister to.
Last night in class we had a time of worship and it was something I'd never experienced before. I think this is what Chris did for his project. We went into the room next door, the married couples went first and then the men and women split and went in through different doors. And it was all done in silence. Which I love silence. When you enetered your hands were washed and then you sat down. There was a slide show playing with different verses and pictures and in the background an instrumental version of Holy, Holy, Holy was playing. There were instructions in the slide show. The first thing we did was dip our finger in some honey and there were verses up about how God and His Word are sweeter than honey on our lips. Then we smelled some potpourri and read about how we are the fragrance of Christ. Then like you hear this music playing and words on the screen and this incredibly clear voice, like at a musical. And I was thinking this is an incredible sound system. Then I noticed the voice was coming closer. Yeah it was a guy in the class singing. It was one of the most beautiful voices/songs I've ever heard. Amazing. Then Chris played an altered version of Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Then we sang All in All, and the Doxology and then took the Lord's Supper. It was beautiful way to end that class. I've been thinking about this thing of leading worship. Like I don't get it. B/c I know when someone is up there just singing songs and when someone is actually leading worship. But I can't pinpoint what the difference is. How do you plan to lead worship? Do you plan or is it mostly Spirit lead? Beau, if you read this please answer. =)
So I had a note on the outside of my apartment today (everyone had one). Apparently, one of the residents was robbed and held at gunpoint last night when the got home from work. Really, this is like the last bit of stress that I need before finals. I generally feel safe, but there's something about the gunpoint part that has me slightly freaked out. Granted this person came in at like 1 in the morning and I generally am not out that late. But still. I guess I'm going to start carrying my pepper spray again. So if you think about it, please pray for my safety and the others in my apt. complex. Thanks!!
So I have alot more things I"d like to write about, but I have to get some stuff done for Russia and tomorrow. But I've had to read alot of the Bible recently for class which is a good thing and Bible study was on the Discipline of contentment which to be honest I wasn't to thrilled about leading on. But in my reading I feel like I've found treasure and I don't want to keep it to myself. So here are some of the things I've found
"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11
"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him." Psalm 62:5
"For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being compassionate forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger, and did not arouse all His wrath. Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not return." Psalm 78:37-39
"For we maintain that man is justified by faith apart from works for the Law." Romans 3:28
"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justificaiton of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinnners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:18-21
More tomorrow!!
Today was my last counseling session for the semseter. I had the option to meet next week but I decided not to and spend that time on my project and extra credit. I'm going to miss going. It's going to be a little weird to resume after the summer b/c alot is going to happen.
Speaking of Russia, the support is coming in more!!! I've had a few more people tell me that they are going to support me and I found out today that Calvary is supporting me as well. Like everytime I get a check or have someone tell me they want to support me there's this feeling of humility and love and thankfulness and gratefulness to them and the Lord. It's an incredible feeling to have people out there that believe in what the Lord is going to do through me. Like I got a check from my aunt's grandmother who is dying of cancer and her husband is not doing well at all. And then I got some money from a couple in ministry here that aren't even meeting their own support raising needs. Wow. It definitely brings me to tears at the sacrifice people are making and I want to think it's for me, but it's not-it's for the Lord. And I don't know if I mentioned this but my mom's boss supports me and she just loves me. I've only met her twice, but she always asks about me and will like buy me things for Christmas or my birthday. And in the note she wrote me she said that I was truly one of of God's chosen children b/c of my willingness and desire to go. So I know that my going affects far more than just the people in Russia I get to minister to.
Last night in class we had a time of worship and it was something I'd never experienced before. I think this is what Chris did for his project. We went into the room next door, the married couples went first and then the men and women split and went in through different doors. And it was all done in silence. Which I love silence. When you enetered your hands were washed and then you sat down. There was a slide show playing with different verses and pictures and in the background an instrumental version of Holy, Holy, Holy was playing. There were instructions in the slide show. The first thing we did was dip our finger in some honey and there were verses up about how God and His Word are sweeter than honey on our lips. Then we smelled some potpourri and read about how we are the fragrance of Christ. Then like you hear this music playing and words on the screen and this incredibly clear voice, like at a musical. And I was thinking this is an incredible sound system. Then I noticed the voice was coming closer. Yeah it was a guy in the class singing. It was one of the most beautiful voices/songs I've ever heard. Amazing. Then Chris played an altered version of Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Then we sang All in All, and the Doxology and then took the Lord's Supper. It was beautiful way to end that class. I've been thinking about this thing of leading worship. Like I don't get it. B/c I know when someone is up there just singing songs and when someone is actually leading worship. But I can't pinpoint what the difference is. How do you plan to lead worship? Do you plan or is it mostly Spirit lead? Beau, if you read this please answer. =)
So I had a note on the outside of my apartment today (everyone had one). Apparently, one of the residents was robbed and held at gunpoint last night when the got home from work. Really, this is like the last bit of stress that I need before finals. I generally feel safe, but there's something about the gunpoint part that has me slightly freaked out. Granted this person came in at like 1 in the morning and I generally am not out that late. But still. I guess I'm going to start carrying my pepper spray again. So if you think about it, please pray for my safety and the others in my apt. complex. Thanks!!
So I have alot more things I"d like to write about, but I have to get some stuff done for Russia and tomorrow. But I've had to read alot of the Bible recently for class which is a good thing and Bible study was on the Discipline of contentment which to be honest I wasn't to thrilled about leading on. But in my reading I feel like I've found treasure and I don't want to keep it to myself. So here are some of the things I've found
"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11
"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him." Psalm 62:5
"For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being compassionate forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger, and did not arouse all His wrath. Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not return." Psalm 78:37-39
"For we maintain that man is justified by faith apart from works for the Law." Romans 3:28
"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justificaiton of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinnners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:18-21
More tomorrow!!