Medical Status Update

Since my last post, I've had 2 more requests for medical information. Today I finally received confirmation that they had received the first one. This long anticipated email confirmation was less exciting than it should have been as it also included yet another new request. For this one, I have to go back to the doctor yet again and get another test done. By the time I get in to the doctor and then wait for the tests to be interpreted and then submitted, odds are good that I will miss yet another IMB deadline. Maybe God's plan is for me to attend the March interview conference . . . .

P.S. Happy New Year!

Day 30: While I'm Waiting

John Waller's song "While I'm Waiting" is such a great reminder of how important it is to wait on God actively, not passively. Waiting is taking a lot more time than I ever dreamed it would. My prayer is that I don't waste that time by "marking time" but that I rather use it to serve. This is not how I expected this 30 day period to end. A month ago I had every reason to believe that I would have an answer from the IMB regarding the next phase of the process. I was wrong in that belief. It will be another month, maybe longer, before I know anything. What I do know is that God has a plan for every part of my life, even during this time of waiting. Thanks for joining me in prayer. I'll be in touch when I know more.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Day 29: Intercessory Prayer

Lately a lot of people I care about have had serious prayer needs. Many are dealing with serious health problems; a few have lost a loved one. While I don't want to share details here without asking their permission, I do want to ask you to join me in praying for them today. God knows their needs. Please pray for Barb & family, Danny & Debbie & family, Ed & Nancy, Jeannie & family, Carol, Chelsey & family, Devin & family, and Ali.

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.