This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Hard to believe that we are already full swing in the holiday season of 2005, before you know it we'll be ringing the new year - 2006! It reminds me of how short life is and that we are urged in Scriptures to 'redeem the time, for the days are evil'. We only get one chance to live each day, no rewinding.
As we enter this time of Thanksgiving let us remember that everything we have is from God and we have been blessed so that we can bless others.
Dear Lord, I thank You for my family, for godly Christian parents, for my church family all around the world, for the many friends who accept me as me, for the clean clothes, abundant food and the roof over my head. I thank you for this and so much more. Most of all I thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son to die and that He triumphed over sin so we could be reconciled to You. I love Lord with all that I am...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live for eternity? It is so hard for our minds to fully comprehend it; but that is what is promised to us when we believe in Christ. I am so thankful that I do not have to worry about the future. Every time I start to feel unsure or wonder what will happen I just remember that my Savior has the best in mind, He has plans for my future and even though I can't around the next bend, I trust that He will lead me.
It has been a blessing being with my family again. We even had Esther fly down from Chicago for the weekend to be at her best friend's 18th birthday party and because it is not likely she will be down for thanksgiving. Its hard to believe how old my siblings are getting, because that means I am aging as well. lol. It just seems weird sometimes to have my brother taller than me and my baby sister well on her way- she is only 12!
When we went to jamaica almost 3 years ago I don't think any of us realized just how much we would change. I am glad for that change even though it was, and still is, difficult. I think that we have a much broader understanding of the world and the need. I know we could never go back to just being content with the everyday life in america and do nothing in missions. God has altered the desires of the heart, and I am glad. I would rather be fixed on heaven and working in the fields than going to 4-H shows, hunting, or pursueing a career; and I know that my dad could never be satisfied with building fences and running a business again.
There's a lot of stuff that happens on the mission field, hardships and experiences that cannot always be shared or understood with folks back home. And yet with all the hardships I know that it is where I am supposed to be. The frontline in battle not a comfortable place to be and yet for the best example we can look to Paul and what he says in Scriptures. I trust that God will continue to prepare the way before me and to show me where and how and when I am to go.
My family is in transititon again and even though it is a very hard place to be, it is in the will of God and thus the best place.
On another note, I have to brag on my baby sister. First it has to be understood that we are a hunting family, my grandfather and uncle hunt, my dad hunts, and he even got my mom into it. So all of us kids have grown up around hunting and gone out with dad since we were small. However, it was not until we turned 12 we were allowed to acctually shoot the deer - before that we could use the 22 and practice. Well, Grace turned 12 in Sept and she went out with my dad a few times last week. When we lived here we had a lease with blinds and feeders and such, very nice. So now we are very grateful to a friend who owns a cattle ranch and lets us hunt on it. The only thing is that the city of Fort Worth is moving in fast and a lot of the land has been sold for housing developments. It is open prairie and not much cover. Into this goes my little sis and when she calls me on firday evening I am very proud and excited that she has gotten her first deer. Then they get home and I see this 8 point buck that she got with a perfect shot I might add! And thus another hunter is born. :) Considering my first deer was a doe shot from a comfortable stand, i think it pretty awesome and am very proud of her. Not sure if I'll be able to go out this year or not though, we'll see if i can make some time. I do miss it.
My Bible study for this week is on the tyranny of the urgent and it couldn't have come at a better time. My past week was so busy and I was letting some priorities get mixed up. I really can feel a difference in my daily life when I skip or rush through my quiet times with God. Last week I was so stressed and just couldn't concentrate on much of anything. When that happens I tend to shut off emotionally and just go through the motions of routine, which is a bad thing.
This week, however, started off much better and I have been able to keep my focus heavenward and thus seen my way around down here a bit clearer. Classes are alright, my homework is catching up to me but I think that will have it under control before too long. I know what I want to do for all of my projects, its just putting them together now.
On a different note: My family is coming in tomorrow night! They are actually on the road driving down right now from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Before that they were in NC, FL, VA, WV, and a few other places along the way. They will be here in TX until Dec. 8 when they hope to fly back to Jamaica. Esther and I will fly down the following week, after finals, so we can all be there for Christmas. It will be nice to be together as a family again, I really have missed it.
Ok, I think the library is about to kick me out since its about closing time (9pm is so early. lol) so I'll sign off for now.
