Working on my Christar application etc. Would appreciate your prayers! Thanks!

some random extras

first book of break, check

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

The story of Afghani Amir. The cover was right. It was heart-wrenching and evocative. There were parts that I didn't know if I could keep reading (although it is noted that I thought the author did an excellent job of writing the horror but leaving out unnecessary explicit details.) The cover says that it's the story of redemption. Although I was almost physically sickened by some of the plot with the abuse of children and the sickening evil (sometimes reminding me of the Roman guards whipping Jesus in The Passion, laughing), I was definitely more heart-broken by the end. Redemption is found in doing good? Guilt can be washed away by doing something better? It was a very good read - riveting. But it made me more thankful for God's overwhelming gracious pursuit of me. Freedom only comes in Christ. There is no good apart from Him.

Bowling pictures with my little undergrad friend Liz who is going over seas for the next three weeks to Asia for missions - woohoo!

TEFL Christmas party at my house playing the three-pieces-of-paper game... pictures here.

weird.

As each paper came due, each presentation was given, and my Isaiah final completed... I felt more and more sad. Most of my life has been consumed with schoolwork and studying and learning. And for the most part, I have absolutely loved it. So now the reigns have been pulled back and I realize that with the pull comes change. This has been a rough semester, in more ways than ten. I am extremely thankful for all that the Lord has done and all the accomplishments that have happened not only academically but spiritually and emotionally as well. But I'm (should I say it?) scared of change. A lot of my TEFL friends will not be here next semester, I won't have the hard push like this semester, and it will be my last semester at CIU. ...I know, I know. God is still God, He is still on the throne, and it's not about staying here forever. I do want to begin life. I'm just glum right now.

Last night we had a huge thunder storm. I had my window open and the blinds up and I was reading my first book of the break (The Kite Runner) but there were more than a couple times that I was caught off guard by the ferocity of the thunder and lightening. And then, all of the sudden, God whispered to me, "I'm bigger. I control even that." And my whole body just relaxed into a total calm. I finished a few more chapters and went to sleep with a smile on my face as the storm continued to rage.

Pictures from the Christmas Concert at Riverland Hills Baptist Church (I'll post more later.)

outline from my exegesis of Isaiah 43:1-7

God’s Passion for His People (Isaiah 43:1-7)

I. God’s Possession (43:1,7)
A. His people were created by Him (v.1a, 7c)
B. His people were redeemed by Him (v.1b, 7a-b)
1. No need to fear (v.1b)
2. Called by His name (v.1b, 7a)
3. For His glory (v.7b)

II. God’s Willingness to Save (43:2-3, 4b-6)
A. Amidst trials (v.2)
1. In water or fire
2. No need to fear
B. Sacrificing others (v.3, 4b)
1. Because He is Israel’s Savior (v.3a)
2. Giving up others (v.3b, 4b)
a. Egypt, Cush, Seba (v.3b)
b. Men and peoples (v.4b)
C. Gathering from all parts of the earth (v.5-6)
1. East and west (v.5)
2. North and South (v.6a)
3. From afar and the end of the earth (v.6b)

III. God’s Emotional Heart (43:4a)
A. His people are precious to Him
B. His people are honored by Him
C. His people are loved by Him

(I changed around the font and such so that you could see the points more clearly. Of course my original outline I use tabs.)

pictures

Getting accomplished...

I almost started freaking out today after Bible Translation class out of excitement for all that God has helped me to accomplish!!! The end is drawing near - hallelujah!

So I finished (minus some small editing) my second Bible translation project and presented this morning. It was so fun, truly. Love it. One of the best classes I've ever taken - peaked what I'm interested in as well as giving tons of new insights into my Christianity. Really cool.

Today I'm having lunch with my boss and coworker (yeah!) and then I have afternoon class. I'll turn in my two lesson plans (well, one of them is actually one part of three different lesson plans) and do a small sample teaching to my class (as though they were my ESL students). We have a great time. I'm having them write a story about the Norman Rockwell picture entitled "Bottom Drawer" where the little boy finds the Santa outfit. I entitled my advanced ESL lesson plan "Christmas Curiosity" and they will have to use functional phrases like "I wonder what happened," "...is the person who...," "Why is that?" and vocabulary like warn, guess, advise, look, and hide. Heehee... fun, huh? Oh, and also, for my reading lesson plan I used a great short story called "Arthur the Rat" that I had to read for my diction class at MiraCosta.

Anyway, after class I'm hanging out with my friend Veronica and then we're going to the Grad/Sem Christmas party. Then I'm going to the library - woohoo! Another night at the library until midnight, just like last night. But... the end is drawing near!!!

Keep praying for...
...my Isaiah notebook (so close to being finished, just a few more things)
...Isaiah term paper (hopefully I can finish it tomorrow)
...Isaiah final (I hope to study all day Monday on this and do nothing else)

Also, I do have a black skirt that I'm wearing on Sunday but I still need a shirt - pray I find one!!

THANK YOU!!! God bless you ten fold for praying for me. :o)

Calm...

I can definitely feel your prayers. In the midst of the most difficult semester, in the midst of the most difficult week and a half of that semester, I am surprising myself at this calm that is over me. Ever since I left for Baltimore last Wednesday I just prayed that I would relax, go day by day, do what I can. I'm just amazed and I truly give praise and thanks to the One who is doing it for me and thanks to you for praying to Him on my behalf. (Heh, that sentence reminds me of Paul.)

So I had one of my Bible translation projects presentations this morning and it went well (thanks for all of you who helped me with the testing part!) The actual paper isn't due until next Friday (praise the Lord!) although all I really need to do is finalize the editing in a couple places of the 37 page paper. My second Bible translation project presentation will be on Friday morning and I haven't quite finished it yet (it will be more like 50 pages!) I also have two lesson plans, one which I will have to teach to my class, due on Friday. One of the lesson plans is finished and I hope to finish the other one tonight. Then I need to finish my notebook for Isaiah (about 14 pages of exegesis), do an entire term paper which will require a load of library time, and study for a humongous final - all due next Tuesday morning. :o) Keep up the prayers please!!!

On top of all this, I had choir practice tonight, another rehearsal on Saturday morning, and rehearsal and concert on Sunday evening. This is all good and I'm still glad I'm participating. But there is one thing you could pray for (laugh if you wish but praying will help even this) and oddly my sense of calm was not-so-calm after tonight when I found out that what I was planning on wearing isn't specific enough with what they're asking. So I've already asked some people if they have some stuff I could borrow but if you could just pray that the clothes come together quickly, easily, I feel comfortable and beautiful in them, and affordable, that would be great.

Thank you again. God is wonderful!!!

A really fluffy gray mouse!

The ostrich's nostrils are the mouse's eyes.
The ostrich's eyes are the mouse's ears.

Can you see it?