it's over already?

I can hardly believe that Christmas break is over in less than a week! Where did the time go?

I went into this break knowing that it would not be easy to be with family and friends and not let my self get in the way of what Christ wanted to do in and through me. A friend told me that your living room is hardest place to allow the life of Christ to be lived out and I think she is right. We are so comfortable at home and I find that I expect more from my family than from others. It is not easy for me to be loving to my family always because of the expectations that I place on them. It seems nearly impossible to learn to respond in love to my family, but I know it is what Christ is asking me to do. I was thinking that it would take a lifetime to really show love to my family and friends, but that is what I have. Now I need to make the most of the time I have with each one of them and sometimes step out of my own comfort zone and just be with them in whatever they are wanting to do.

Please be praying for me to show love to everyone around me... the love of Christ. I realize that I need to be God-focused, not self-focused, please pray that I will put myself aside and look to God only to do it.

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of this training and I am really looking forward to getting back to it. I know that it is a common theme among missionaries and those training to be missionaries to have a tight budget. My roommate and I are both in fairly tight spots financially and will probably be extra stingy this next semester. We don't really have a summer in between years to save up money, so we really need to be conscious of our spending. Please pray that we will be wise about our spending and trust God to provide, we know that He does.

Thank you and have a wonderful new year!!

First Semester.

In one week, the first semester of training will be over. It is hard to believe it is over already. There are so many things that I have learned and hope that I will be able to look back and be reminded of these things for the rest of my life.

In class we have been talking about spiritual warfare. One day we discussed things that we associate with war or that are necessary for war. Not spiritual warfare specifically, just war in general. One of the things that was mention as being necessary for a war, was a general. Someone said a general can make or break the war. What a privilege to serve our heavenly Father, GOD! I was thinking about what it is like living life when you are under God's command. There is no need for fear or timidity, but I am still fearful and timid often. When we were discussing this in class, I could not help but think that as believers we are unstoppable if we allow Christ to work through us. It sort of blows me away.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

- Colossians 3.1-4