Picture Post: Catch Up

¹ It is good to praise the LORD 

   and make music to your name, O Most High, 

² proclaiming your love in the morning 

   and your faithfulness at night, 

³ to the music of the ten-stringed lyre 

   and the melody of the harp.

 ⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; 

   I sing for joy at what your hands have done. 

⁵ How great are your works, LORD, 

   how profound your thoughts! 

⁶ Senseless people do not know, 

   fools do not understand, 

⁷ that though the wicked spring up like grass 

   and all evildoers flourish, 

   they will be destroyed forever.

 ⁸ But you, LORD, are forever exalted.

Psalm 92:1-8

How embarrassing.  I haven't posted in over a week.  I thought about apologizing, but then I realized all the thing's I have done since posting my last blog:

 I've had a skype date with the cutest little girl niece and best dad.

(The rest of the family was there - this picture was priceless - look at poor Charlie the kitty!)

 Been to the park enjoying the AMAZING sun and fresh (ish) air and meeting crazy squirrels like this one, who have a fondness for goldfish.  

 Completed my Youth Ministry Leadership Initiave course, complete with a ceremony and certificate.  (You know it's official then!)  Look for more on this hopefully this weekend.  It's a long (but GOOD) story that needs sharing.

 Drooled over trying to figure out how to do this to my space...wouldn't it be AWESOME?

 Eaten the BEST (and cutest) ham sandwich ever.  And tried Pimento Cheese (and loved it!)

And taken a moment to look at the wonders our God has created.

In addition to these lovely pictures, I've also been:

-Finishing scholarship applications

- Turning in Hebrew Exegetical Papers (whew!)

- Learned how to type in Hebrew on my computer for said paper

- Filling out paperwork for returning to school

- Registering for classes (Greek Summer 2012!)

- Writing a sermon

- Working on a grant proposal for the CTS community

- Having Inter-Seminary conversations (stay tuned for more!)

- Taking time to hop on the treadmill (feeling good about this!)

- Engaging in AWESOME conversations that make my heart happy and remind my of why God has called me here to CTS

So, I've been keeping busy.  Not the overwhelming "Ican'tcatchmybreathandhavenoideahowIamgoingtosurvive" busy,

 but most sure engaged in my school work and more. 

As the school year comes to a close, I'm finding myself reflecting more and more on this year so stay tuned for some musings.  

Blessings to you all!

Prayer: Heavenly God - it IS good to praise your name.  Help us to never let that name leave our lips or our hearts.  We treasure your great works, your love for ALL your people. and the greatest gift you gave us of all, your Son. It is in your holy name we pray, Amen. 

Words with Friends

If you know me at all, you can agree that I am a "lover of words".  Maybe this is one way to indeed admit that I love to talk, but also I appreciate the use of words.  I love thinking about why we use the words we do and how we use the words we do.  I like hearing how people say words and the personalities and stories that come with their accents.

While it is not an obsession, I do have an affinity for a came called...Words with Friends.  Some people play solitaire, others knit, some draw - my relaxation comes in the form of this game.

For those of you who have not played it, it is basically an on-going game of Scrabble.  Some might stress over the actual "winning" of the game, but my favorite part is out doing myself.  I love it when I learn a new word (because I didn't believe the person who played said word and then looked it up, root and all...)or when I use a word that isn't commonly used.

The words I play and my competitor play in this somewhat silly game lead me somewhere...a memory is invoked or curiosity sparked.  These words guide me, whether I intend them to or not.

Y'all might know of this book called the Bible.  (Kind of a big deal where I'm at...)  It is full of words that guide, whether we intend them too or not. I'm thinking of this one verse in particular from Psalm 119, vs 105:

Your word is a lamp 

before my feet 

   and a light for my journey.

Yes, I imagine the word of the Lord to be this gorgeous lamp illuminating my well pedicured feet, and yes, this is an illusion.  Often times in reality it feels like the word of the Lord is the flashlight you put on the shelf in case of emergencies, and you never can find it when you need it because you never use it. 

Hmm...you never use it.  

My prayer today is that I start these words I read, these ancient texts that ARE INDEED relevant to today's world wisely.  And don't put them on the shelf in case of emergencies. 

Prayer:

O God of Light, Father of Life, Giver of Wisdom, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the faint-hearted who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels desire to look; O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, and who has scattered the darkness of sin within us; do Thou now also enlighten our eyes of our understanding, and sanctify us wholly in soul, body, and spirit- Amen. 

~ Liturgy of Saint Mark (175-254?)