The Gospels

I find myself wanting to study the epistles or the Psalms or Isaiah rather than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Why is this?  I can only assume it's because the epistles are shorter, more concise.  They also have practical advice about how to live life as a follower of Christ.  The thing is, I should really be studying the LIFE of CHRIST if I'm a Christ FOLLOWER.  It's something I've only recently realized I've been doing.  So, I have started studying Luke.  Luke's writing is fascinating.  He was a doctor, so he focuses more on the healings that Jesus performed.  Also, I learned that Luke wrote down his account of the life of Christ so another person (Theophilis) would know it was true.  I still haven't researched Theophilis a ton to figure out exactly who he was, but I am under the assumption to this point that he was someone learning under Luke.

On another note, I also realized over the past year that I often see my quiet times as a task to check off my list of things to do.  I perceive it as "homework" I have to do and feel like I have to get a lot written down and use lots of outside sources.  I am working on this perception, but it's taking time.  As a result, I am using my study of Luke to correct this problem.

Where I've been and where I'm headed...

I've been learning a lot about myself and about who God wants me to be.  I am a selfish person.  God is teaching me to focus outward.  I talk a lot.  God is teaching me to listen.  I have plans.  God is teaching me to trust in Him. 

This past year was very difficult for me.  I had a very rough first year of teaching.  I enjoyed it but it wasn't always a happy experience.  God taught me to trust and He led me in a new direction.  I was extremely blessed to never have a feeling of doubt about where He wanted me to go next.  He now has me back in grad school for another science degree.  I am excited to keep learning and discover where He wants to take me in my life.  I still want to teach but He might even change that desire.  I don't see that happening at this point, but that's okay. 

This semester, I am learning about complex systems and their dynamics.  I've got information already that takes me in a whole new direction.  I get to continue to be involved with Aletheia Church and learn about so many more things about God and His Word.  I don't know where God will take me after this, but I know it will be GOOD.

I am endeavoring to memorize the book of James.  This is both exciting and scary for me.  I love the book of James, so that's exciting!  Memorize a whole book of the Bible, even a small one??? Definitely challenging.  I am hoping to be challenged by this, the study of James, and the rest of the ladies who are also going through this study.  I know God will take me to new places in my faith and I can't wait to see what they are.

The past few months

The past few months have been crazy.  First year of teaching is...interesting.  120 ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders, mostly ninth graders can be a handful to say the least.  It's been teaching me a lot about patience.  That is one thing I can be sure of!  Every single day, I have students who aren't feeling like studying, who don't want to pay attention, who have no attention span to speak of, who haven't had a good night so their day is even worse, and so many other situations.  It's so easy to have a place in your heart for all of them and so hard to stay patient all the time.  I'm trying.