Monday, July 7, 2008

still here....

ok...so I realize I'm pretty terrible at this whole blog updating thing. Summer is here--well, summer is almost half over!!--and it's crazy!
I just spent an AMAZING weekend with THE SPRUILL'S! I am so blessed to have such a FUN adopt-a-family!! We had fun watching live fireworks in the backyard (that's right--fireworks are LEGAL in Kentucky--I may live in the city, but it's still got some "hick" in it!),  eating at Lynn's Paradise Cafe (ask Sharon about the Bourbon Ball French Toast!), learning about the history and making of baseball bats at the Louisville Slugger Museum, and exploring Bass Pro Shop in Indiana. If you've never been to a Bass Pro Shop, it's actually a lot of fun (there's an aquarium, a Starbucks, and full restaurant inside!) 
It was so good to spend the weekend with them, but it sure makes me miss the First State!
Bellarmine classes are going well--we're about halfway through t
he semester, and the workload is certainly picking up! Two more Saturday classes to go!!
I find out next week whether or not I passed the PRAXIS exam I took last month to pursue teacher certification. Prayers are SO welcomed!
PRAISES:
*Bellarmine class is halfway over!! 
*Good visits from good friends! (Carolyn Larrivee was also out here last month and we had a BLAST!)
*God is so gracious to plant me in a community where I feel SO loved. He is SO good. 
*Teaching at Prospect Latin School is going well. I've been assisting in a classroom on Tues/Thurs, and I will have my own class in the Fall!
*I'm still with the girls I've been nannying for since I moved here--we are having so much fun hanging out this summer, and they were SO incredibly gracious when I told them about the career move for the Fall! I'm going to miss those girls!
*SALVATION!! We are more blessed than we will EVER know. 

PRAYER:
*I'm still homeless as of August 1st. God is the Provider and He is Sovereign. My needs will be provided for, but it's a bit nerve-wracking, as August 1st is only 3 weeks away!!!
*There is LOTS to do to finish up my semester at Bellarmine...I need perseverance to finish the semester well!
*My future roommate, Lindsay, is ministerin
g in India this summer. Pray for boldness, protection, and perseverance--she comes back the 21st of July!
*Bekah (my current roommate) is taking the CPT test tomorrow to become a certified personal trainer. PRAY for her to do well tomorrow!!
*God is in the sanctifying process, and as beautiful a process as that is, it's also pretty painful...pray for grace and faith to sustain the pruning!

Life is crazy busy, but GOD IS GOOD! If you're looking for some refreshment from the Word, I suggest checking out Isaiah 43-61. I know that's almost 20 chapters, but they're all SO good. The Lord is God, and He is ONE! There are NO OTHER GODS BESIDES HIM! 
(Here's a taste of Isaiah 43:
"But now, this is what the Lord says-He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you O, Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life...'You are my witnesses', declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed--I,  and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43: 1-4; 10-13). Go read the rest of it--you'll be so glad you did!

Two other notes of encouragement from my pastor this week....
...in the midst of pain or trial we have two options--we can either choose bitterness and resentment or we can choose real, authentic praise to the sovereign Lord of the universe. There is no in between--we're either bitter or praising. You can't live in the middle.  CHOOSE PRAISE!
...In heaven, we will no longer have to "believe" anything--we will SEE it. We will stand FACE TO FACE with our Maker. We will SEE the wounds in His han
ds and His pierced side. We won't have FAITH, we'll have SIGHT....cling to that today!
And finally...a book recommendation. I am on my second time through this book. Our Women's Ministry chose this as our Summer Bible Study, and it has rocked my
 life. She begins the book by asking "in your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?"
 I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY EXHORT YOU TO READ THIS BOOK! (guys too!!!) 



LOVING YOU!!!!! and praying that the gospel is transforming your life TODAY!

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