Inner Workings

Talking to a friend last night we reflected on seemingly unfair circumstances that were affecting our inner family. Now, while morbidity and mortality may not seem appropriate for a Friday night chat, I believe I have reached the period of my life where it is a frequent reality. Ironically, without knowing my thoughts, my dear friend echoed them perfectly.

We know that we serve a good, gracious, and omniscient Father. He is the only one who is faithful and abounding in love and kindness. I have no doubts about His greater plans and purposes.

However, the age old question arose that evening - why suffering? Why so much at one time? Why to those who have served so faithfully?

I do not have the answers, but I take comfort in knowing that we see only the bottom of a large loom tapestry - the tangled threads, knotted colors, and chaotic highway of fabric. I know that God sees the pattern and enduring design, one carefully planned for my good. I know that Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."

I wish I could be there right now and provide a physical presence of encouragement instead of distant support. I wish I could see the other side. Terry aptly and biblically encourages us to preserve with joy. His words, these circumstances, and the incredible witness of our loved ones has reminded me of this song countless times the past few months. I hope you take comfort in it as I do.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Find Us Faithful - Steve Green

Penny-Time

In an attempt to procrastinate, I bring you "Thoughts of the Day" by Joy

[And I'm cheating just a bit since I posted this on facebook first]

- When you start the day off with only 4 of your classmates showing up to your classroom, and starting off the lecture all clumped together alone in the middle of the auditorium thinking your classmates are slackers for sleeping in... either you or your professor should realize that four floors up, the 31 other remaining classmates are sitting and waiting for you in the rescheduled room.

- Trying to avoid someone in a 4 story radius is much much harder than it seems. It's like trying to army crawl through an empty cement parking lot, while someone stands on the roof of a nearby building throwing water ballons at you. Gotta work on those military tactics...

- You know God has a lot to teach you when the most recent book you've started to read is called, "The Dangerous Duty of Delight".

- Did you know that one of the risk factors for becoming a smoker is poor academic sucess? .... hmmmmm

- The best study music ever.... or make that anytime music... i'd be happy if they played this stuff at my funeral. So beautiful it makes me sad! (If you get bored, just skip forward to about 2:40)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV8EAJ3M9rs

- And finally the countdown via iGoogle, only 24 days till one of my best friends comes to visit!!!

Quirky

So I'm in a rather zoned-out rambling sort-of mood. I just chatted with a dear friend of mine whom I hadn't talked to in a while, and she really made me reflect and think about everything that's been going on these past four years.

1) I'm finally grad-u-ma-t-a-ted, and no one is asking me if I'm still in middle school (OK, well temporarily anyways)
2) I'm finished with determination ready to hit-up the next challenge whatever that will be
3) I have been undeservedly blessed with great friends, fellow students, and mentoring teachers
4) FBC and Campus Crusade have changed me for Christ more than I'll ever know
5) God has truly brought me to a place of contentment both in my relationships with my family and with my present singleness
6) I want to cry for children from divorced/separated families
7) I NEVER want to stop being mentored and held accountable by an older godly woman - the times I have been mentored have been some of the most fruitful periods of personal spiritual growth
8) Sometimes relationships with very close friends need to change, and even though it can be incredibly painful, God honors honoring Him... plus, I have to learn to set 'boundaries' someday :-)
9) I do not love my family enough, or tell them 'I love you' enough
10) If you're still reading, you must be one of the folks I talked about in #3!

OK, that was only 10 of my strange reflective thoughts, didn't think you could handle anymore ;-)
I am about to be very late to FBC's business meeting - Gotta run...