Day 28: Hope in Waiting

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.

- Psalm 130:5

Day 27: Lock-In

Today I am scheduled to spend take a one-day class to help me use Adobe Illustrator software from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm in Springfield. Then from 8 pm tonight until 6 am tomorrow morning we are having an FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America, the club I sponsor) lock-in. That means that the other FBLA adviser and I will be here for a full 10 hours with a group of our students playing games (board, card, video, etc.), scrapbooking, watching movies, eating, etc. Assuming kids show up, it should be fun but will probably also be extremely tiring since chaperones can't afford to sleep!

Day 26: Reason to Be Thankful

Sometimes students do or say things that remind me of how blessed I am by this opportunity to be involved in their lives. One of my students had an assignment in another class to make an oversized check. The picture below shows what she made; she gave it to me after that teacher graded it. :)


Now, if only I could take that one to the bank . . . .

IMB Update

I just received a phone call from Kay at the IMB. She confirmed for me that the delay in my medical clearance would push me back to the February conference. The encouraging thing was that she said the medical clearance was the ONLY thing preventing me from receiving an invitation to the conference. It is possible that she merely meant they have received everything else, but I took it to mean that everything else (my essay, statement of beliefs, references, etc.) were all acceptable and would lead to an invitation once I am cleared medically. So, tomorrow is my appointment with my doctor. After that, she is supposed to write a letter and fax it. Once it is received and processed, I might receive medical clearance, or they may ask for additional information . . . .

Wait for the LORD;
Be courageous and let your heart be strong.
Wait for the LORD.
--Psalm 27:14

Day 25: An Evening With Friends

I had a great evening last night with friends! First, we met at Panera Bread Co. My sister Karen also stopped by but wasn't feeling so well. (Hope you are better today, Karen!)
Then we headed over to the new JQH Arena on Missouri State University Campus for a Christmas Concert featuring Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Michael English, Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, and PureNRG.
Here's Ellen, Jenny, and me at the concert:

And here's Becky, Stephani, and Lori:

One more picture of Casting Crowns performing. It was a great concert, with incredibly talented people using that talent for God. In addition to all of the talented musicians, Stephani and I agreed that the set designer was equally talented.
Thanks again to all of my friends and family who helped make the day special through time together, phone calls, emails, texts, cards, etc. I am so blessed!

Day 24: Here I Am

My prayer today is from the second half of a song called "Here I Am" by the group Downhere.

When setbacks and failures and upset plans
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands
Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that You will finish what You began
And these broken parts You redeem
Become the song that I can sing…

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of your plan
Here I am

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness
And the fear that I'll fail You in the end
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces
I can't put this together but You can

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of your plan
Here I am

Day 23: IMB Update

Through a frustrating set of circumstances, I will miss the deadline for medical clearance to be considered for the January selection conference. I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed to learn this Wednesday, but my disappointment was tempered by the revelation that they have added more conferences to the calendar. That means that, instead of now shooting for April, I can aim for a February conference. Because I feel like I have been waiting for almost a year already, any more waiting challenges me. Ultimately, though, I am reminded that cirucmstances are not dependent on my time table nor subject to my understanding.

As a side note, aiming for a February conference means that I won't be able to go on a women's mission trip in February. Since I learned this news on the same day I posted that prayer request, it was certainly a fast response!

Day 22: Christian Students

I have already talked about my desire to reach out to my students who don't know Christ. I also cherish opportunities to encourage and nurture Christian students. I have been blessed to work with a lot of terrific Christian teenagers over the years, and I inevitably end up feeling like they have blessed me far more than I have blessed them. I pray for them often, though, because I know that it is seldom easy for them to be strong in their convictions.

Day 21: Students

Even on days when we don't have school, I often find myself thinking about specific students. So many of them are dealing with big issues or complicated situations, so when I think about them I take time to pray about their situations. So many of them do not have a supportive family, some don't live with family for various reasons, at least one is pregnant, one just returned from a juvenile detention center, one admits to having serious anger problems, a few are grieving the loss of a parent (one asked me not to acknowledge her birthday because her dad died on her birthday so she doesn't celebrate anymore), a couple are dealing with serious health problems, a couple have parents who are encouraging them to drop out of school, some are essentially raising their younger siblings, . . . . and the list just goes on and on. These are just a few of the struggles of which I am aware; I'm sure there are several more. I long for them to know the love and peace that only Christ can bring.

Day 20: Set the World on Fire

It never ceases to amaze me how many songs I hear strongly relate to things I am experiencing, thinking, or feeling at the time I hear them. One of the many examples of this is the song "Set the World On Fire" by Britt Nicole.

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands

Day 19: Family

Today I am thanking God for each and every member of my family. I pray for safety as we all travel to Michele's house and that we will not take a moment of our time together for granted. When I think about my missionary friends who are celebrating Thanksgiving thousands of miles from their families, it gives me another reason to cherish this time with my family. It also prompts me to pray for these friends on a day when they are probably feeling the effects of that separation more than they do on a typical day.

Day 18: Mission Trip Opportunity

I am currently praying about an opportunity to be involved in another women's mission trip in late February. There are many factors to consider: the response I receive from the IMB, my school schedule, etc. The most important thing, though, is that I respond to God's leading and not step out in front of Him and make a decision based on my thoughts or feelings.