small successes

Sponsorship. Class. Breathe. Sponsorship. Rinse. Repeat.

This week is a blessing for two reasons (a lot of reasons, actually, but I'll hit on two). First, my tests are finished, and I have some free time. I use the word "free" loosely; in reality, there is very little free time. But there's time enough for a quick trip to WalMart and a conversation with friends that lasts longer than four minutes. Context is everything. And right now, a dash to the store for toothpaste and a six minute conversation is a success. Second, this week has been extremely productive, and it's only Tuesday night. I am an obsessive list-maker, and few things are better than checking off things that are finally accomplished. If the next few days are like the past two have been, we're going to be in really good shape. And that makes me happy.

It's crunch time, but I'm actually excited about that. You have to go through the crunch time to get to the freedom. There are so many moments, so many days lately where I have to make decisions and I find myself at a loss of what to do. Thankfully, I am not alone in this. I have amazing friends and an amazing team around to help me. Better, I have a Savior who has been so faithful and will continue to be faithful, who demonstrates His strength through my weakness.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." --James 1:5.

dancing in september

Today is the first day of fall! It is also the day of the Harvest Moon (which unfortunately did not look quite the same as I hoped it would but is exciting, nonetheless).

I like all seasons, but I especially like fall. October is my favorite month, but September is wonderful too. Maybe I like it so much because it leads to October. I can't believe it's already the twenty-second day...I think it's going a bit too fast for my liking. Anyway, I've kind of pretended that it was fall since the first week of school. Glad it's finally official.

Obviously, leaves like this are still far away. But I'm going to soak up every day until they get here.

preach pray or die

Always be ready to preach, pray, or die - I believe that's Ron Smith's favorite tag line. He holds you to it, too. It's somewhat of a joke, among my friends and family who hear it said over and over again. But really, it's best to always be ready. For example...

Sunday morning I wasn't quite ready, but I still found myself behind the pulpit at Wesley Chapel sharing a testimony on about seven minutes' notice. Such is the life of a preacher's kid. (In fairness to Dad, he did try and give me a heads up the night before; I just thought he was kidding...obviously not). It was more scattered than I would have liked it to be, but it wasn't impossible. Actually, it reminded me that I probably needed to be on more on my game than I was, excited to share a reason for the hope that I have.

All this to say - preach, pray, or die. Be ready. You could be next. (Especially if you're hanging around 787 East Northside Drive.)

In other news, I have officially dropped to 12 hours. Spanish 322 was too much to handle this semester with everything that's going on. I really didn't want a break from Spanish because I love it so much, but I was seriously stressing about the GPA. This early on, that's a bad sign. I prefer to only stress about school when necessary, and the nagging feeling in my stomach I had every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon was a strong enough hint that it was time to head out. I can't decide whether I feel relieved or just lazy. I guess we'll see!

Last, but certainly not least...my best friend/sister is engaged!! I knew it was coming but had no idea it would be this great. Morgan has been my best friend since I started school at MRA and Zack is just the best. I wouldn't let either of them be with anybody else. Here's pretty much the greatest picture I've ever seen, taken from Zack's Facebook. I'm obsessed.

good words from Dr. Kinlaw

"I have come to believe that the mark of the truly sanctified heart is that it cares more about another's salvation than it does about its own well-being. It is not the words you say or the deeds you do that really matter. It is whether deep down in your spirit you have taken the way of the Cross and come to the place where you care about what Jesus cares about and are willing to give up everything so that people will be redeemed.

What do you do for your entertainment? How do you spend your free time? Is your constant concern the welfare of the world? If you get caught up in success, or if you get bogged down in defeat and forget to care about others, you have become sterile. You have walked away from the Spirit of Christ.

The key to every person lies in someone else. You are spiritually responsible for some other person or persons, and your obedience to the Lord Jesus will enable those people to obey. If you want your neighbor to come to know Christ, you have to start allowing Christ to work in your own life so that out of your clean heart He can draw your neighbor to himself. I do not believe that anyone's salvation starts in himself or herself. It began in the heart of the Father, and it should be continued in the hearts of those who love the Lord Jesus. The Father cared more about us than He did about himself, and so He gave us the best thing He had. The Son cared about us more than He did about himself, and so He died for our redemption. When we care more about the people around us than we do about ourselves, the Holy Spirit will be free to win the world for Christ."

This Day With the Master, Dennis F. Kinlaw, September 2, "Mark of the Sanctified Heart."