Wow, I feel so blog-deprived. It's been about a week or so since I've updated this thing. I have thought about doing it everyday, but something always comes up, or needs to get done. Anyways, lots to fill you all in on.
Well, I finished my LONG week of intensives. All my classes were 2 hours. Now I have just started my first week of official classes. It's been fun. I like how hands-on things are here. The college is pretty informal too. I like that, because you just feel like it's a family atmosphere. Anyways, I am actually at school now in the library. I have a two hour break today. Yesterday I had a 2 and 1/2 hour break, and then another 1 and 1/2 hour break. That's one thing I don't like about my schedule. Things are picking up alot too. I am getting REALLY busy. Sorry to all my friends and family that I haven't talked to in a while. I really really really miss y'all! I especially miss my family. I've come to realize that your family is just your comfort. They're always the people you will turn to, they'll always be there for you.
So classes are going well. I have already started Spirit-Filled Living, New Testament, Worship Band, and Worship Excellence this week. I'm excited to see what the classes will shape out to be like. I was assigned to Saturday night church choir. I already did it once last weekend, and it was alot of fun. That thing I was talking about before, The Sisterhood...I'm helping out with kids (babies to be exact) and doing kids' worship! I am also doing street teams on Saturdays. And now I have to do something called lecture hosting, which is where you help out your teachers set up class and stuff. And I really want to get involved with youth. So basically, my schedule is really really packed. The only day I get off is Friday. Oh what a glorious day! :)
My worship experience since being here has been amazing. I have grown alot in my worship. God has been showing me though that worship time is really dead if you're not spending time with Him everyday. I have been struggling with this. I feel like it's so hard to prioritize. It almost seems overwhelming at times. And satan is still throwing obstacle after obstacle. Just to name a few, I still don't have a bed (that's def last on my list of things to accomplish. haha), my overhead light in my room doesn't work, so sometimes it can be a little dark when I'm trying to get ready in the mornings, or at night. Also, we don't have a car anymore, so we have been taking the bus some, and it's been kind of hard finding rides. So basically I'm getting up extra early to catch the bus alot. We took our car in, the one April and Robert just bought, and 9 out of 10 things didn't pass inspection, the car was illegally low, and the registration had expired (something the guy they bought it from didn't tell them. the registration was supposed to expire feb '09, but since the guy they bought it from got in an accident, it cancelled the registration). It's been increasingly hard to find rides too, because the college is moving a ton of people out of Rosa (the apartment complex I live in). They aren't moving us out though. They are trying to get everyone out of there eventually, and closer to the college. I think after our 6 month lease expires, me and Kate are going to try and find our own place. I've already looked around the area we are in now, and have found some less expensive places. I really want to stay in the area we are in now too, because it's really nice. I may try and buy a car too here after going back home at Christmas-time. That way I could get to and from school. The area I live in is just so convenient and close to everything. The post office is right down the road, and the mall has EVERYTHING - grocery store, clothing stores, etc. and it's a great place to find a job. Whereas the area the school is in has like nothing. People that live around there say it's really hard to grocery shop, because they have to walk a while to get to the grocery store, and then they can only take home what they can carry in their own hands. Being in the area I'm in though, I can just push a shopping cart home. It's so nice.
As far as all the discouraging things go, I really feel like I am being tested. Like I mentioned in my other blog, I have really been reminded of the story of Job. I am realizing that the more I dwell on these things, and the more I get frustrated, it doesn't help me. God can't really intervene and bless me if all I do is complain. Look at Job, he pretty much complained throughout the whole book of Job. Then at the end of the book, God answers him, and basically makes a very elaborate point that He has everything under control. God speaks to Job, reminding him of how everything in the universe and Heaven is under His command. He goes on from chapters 38-41. Finally, Job realizes just how awesome God is, and repents. In Job 42:4-5, he says "'You said, Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." After Job humbles himself before God, he gives God room to bless him.
One thing that has really been standing out to me lately when I read passages like this is what Pastor Baird (from my church back home) said in a message a while back. He said he'd rather learn from someone else's mistakes if he can than his own. That's so true. I'd rather learn from Job's mistake. If I know what's right (i.e. not complaining, and just trusting God with all problems that arise), why not do it? I have been learning that faith isn't faith unless you really really just trust and give it up. Just don't worry (the aussies really do say "No worries"...all the time). I'm human, so worry may creep up from time to time, but I just have to daily (well, several times a day) give it to God. When Jesus died, he took on every problem every person had and has, so why should I hold onto those problems? I just picture God in heaven with this wide knowledge of what my life will look like, almost like a map of my life. He has these great plans, and he sees the problems, but the awesome thing is, He sees the outcomes. It's like when you watch a movie that you've seen a thousand times with your friend, but they've never seen it before. Your friend is wondering how it's going to turn out...how is that sticky situation in the plot going to pan out? But you know exactly what will happen. You tell your friend, "Don't worry, it's going to turn out alright. Trust me." I hear God saying those exact words to me everyday. I just have to remember that these troubles are just a small thing, but not too small for God to care about.
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