First Thoughts

For the past few months, when I wake up in the morning I say to myself "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). In the last few days the Lord has directed me to some other scripture that I am trying to add into my morning prayer.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 84:10)

"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night; but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

These verses have been such a help to me in the morning. They immediately focus my attention on Jesus. He is my portion. The day is His. He gives me joy and helps me rejoice. I want to spend the day living in His presence.

One down, two to go

This past Friday I defended (and passed!) my Master's thesis. I now have my Master's degree in Statistics.

Now I just have two other major exams this summer. These exams are my PhD written prelims. They will be over all of my course material for the past two years. I will be spending the next month preparing for the exams.

Thanks for your prayers for my defense. You can be praying for me as I prepare for these next exams.

Obedience

Over this past week, I have spent some time with a family in my Bible study group. During the course of a few gatherings, I saw the obedience of their almost 3 year old daughter, Elise. Isaac and Jenny are working on Elise obeying the first time she is asked to do something. God used this to teach me something about my own relationship with Him.

I have also been studying obedience in the Bible, particularly that of Joseph, Mary's husband and Jesus' earthly father. When God told Joseph to leave and take his family to Egypt and then to Nazareth, Joseph immediately obeys.

I have been working on obeying the Lord. There is something difficult that He is asking me to do and honestly I don't want to. I think about how sometimes He has to tell me something numerous times before I actually obey. I am praying that I will hear Him and immediately obey. So, although I may not not want to do something, I am going to choose to be obedient and do it.

HOME

Today I was having lunch with some friends and we were talking about the word "HOME". This word has so many meaning and emotions connected with it. It means peace, love, rest, freedom, joy. It is the place where we can be the most ourselves.

We also talked about a song that we sing at church titled "HOME." A portion of the lyrics say "Home is heaven, where one day Lord I will live. In your courts you'll find me, in worship at your feet. Hide me now in the shadow of your wings, where I will be home." We talked about how much we long for our earthly homes and how much greater our home in heaven is. As much as I long for my earthly home, I should long for my heavenly home with Jesus even more.

I think that HOME is one of my favorite words.

A Tribute to Mom

In honor of my mom, my best friend, my role model

She prays
She listens
She talks
She cries
She hugs
She laughs
She understands
She advises
She cares

She loves Jesus and follows Him where He leads.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

Stapled

One, two, three, I count to myself as I snatch the pages off the printer. Sixty-three, sixty-four, sixty-five and the printer wines as it finishes. I tremble as I neatly stack the pages and make sure all of the edges line up. My hand shakes as I reach for the stapler. Click. And I feel...PEACE. My thesis is complete! I breathe in deeply, the smell of freshly printed paper filling my nostrils. I exhale slowly as I feel the relief of finishing.

Sorry for my absence in writing over the past two weeks. I have been every present at a computer, but busy writing my thesis.

Over the last few weeks, I have had the following scripture running repeated through my head:

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


I am so grateful that I can go to Him with all of the things that makes me anxious and know that He cares about me.

Thank you, Jesus, for your strength and help over the past few weeks.