1/2 Way There!!!

This week starts week 4 of Greek. This means that I am half way done! I have to admit that it kicked my tail last week as we dove full force into verbs, but I am enjoying it. At first, I wasn't looking forward to the class, but it has been such a blessing. I love tranlsating God's Word...watching it slowly--for me, very slowly :)--unfold into familiar Scripture passages as I parse words and arrange them to suit the English language. God's Word is so beautiful and Greek has reminded me how blessed we are to read the very Words of God, to know His Will, and to see His Heart. What other religion has the Word of God? None! For only we Christians know the one, true God, and that is only because of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a Treasure we have in Him!

"Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your Words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your Name, O LORD, God of hosts." -Jeremiah 15:16

Father, thank you so much for Your Word and for this opportunity to see it in its original form. Open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your Law. May Your Truth become in me a wellspring of life that overflows to those around me and lifts of Your Name. Transform me, Lord, by Your Word and make me more like Jesus. In Who's Name I pray, Amen.

Urgent Prayer Request

Please lift up my roommate Sarah and her family to the Lord in prayer. Her dad was found dead in her parents' home last night. Her mom is flying in today from a business trip and Sarah left early this morning to drive to Alabama.

Also, pray that Sarah will find favor with our Greek teacher regarding finishing up the rest of the course as she will probably miss at least the next two weeks.

"My Troubled Heart Makes Me Weak"

I am all moved in now and pretty much settled. Thanks for all your prayers. The Lord provided beautiful weather on moving day and everything arrived to our new place in tact.

The last fews weeks have been pretty rough for me spiritually. Have you ever went through a time where you felt like everything you said, did, and thought was wrong? I have felt so far from Christ lately and I hate it. Yesterday, however, He began to bring to light the areas of my life that has lost Him as the center. I am so thankful for this, and have renewed hope. Spiritual dryness is the worst feeling ever.

During church yesterday, the Lord showed me that I have been relying too much on what my checkbook says rather than just trusting Him. I have been freed from the checkbook and can now whole-heartedly follow His example in giving: generously and sacrificially. I am trusting Him to provide all my needs, especially when it comes to paying for school. His grace is sufficient.

If you don't mind praying for me, I have a few requests:
1. My roommate and I started Greek last week. Please pray for us as we balance the heavy workload with our other responsibilities and also pray that our focus will stay on Christ throughout it all.
2. Please pray that the Lord will open up a door of opportunity to share the Gospel at my jobs AND pray that He will give me the boldness (and words) to walk through it. I am surrounded by lost people every day and all I can think is "I hold information to eternal life" yet I do not know how to get that info outside myself.
3. I have been presented with two different opportunties to serve the Lord--one with Rolling Fields and one with SBTS. The one at church is to co-teach children's Sunday school. The one at SBTS is to lead the Intercultural Student Fellowship. Both are wonderful opportunities, but, you know me, I am prone to say yes to anything like this and overload myself. Please pray that the Lord will guide me in whether or not to accept these. I want only His will.

Despite my felt distance from the Lord, He has been reaffirming His call to serve Him internationally with an inner peace and renewed sense of purpose that I cannot explain. My God is so gracious to quiet the doubts of my wayward flesh. I still do not know how or when or where, but I know He will reveal that to me in His time.

Switching gears: my blow dryer died this morning. I just got it last November when the other one konked out. I found the warranty info and it is still under warranty. Now the question remains: would it be cheaper to pay for shipping for a replacement or buy a new one? Until I act upon this question, I will continue to mooch off of Sarah. :)

Also, I got a new CD. It was free from BMG. The band is called Telecast, and, so far, I am enjoying them. The Lord is using their songs to minister to me. Gotta love CDs like that. :)

Here is another song the Lord has used to minister to me lately. I think it describes the way I have been feeling. It is called "Eagles" from Third Day's Wherever You Are CD:

My pain and problems keep me chained
And my troubled heart makes me weak
I'll wait for You to comfort me
And in You I know I'll find my strength

Chorus: I will soar on the wings of eagles
I will learn to fly high above this world
And I will soar on the wings of eagles
I will learn to fly, I will learn to fly high above this world

I tremble with this heavy weight
And I'm buried underneath my grief
I'll run to You and not grow faint
And I'll lay my burdens at Your feet (Chorus Repeated)