Christmas

trip to Papa's house

stockings on Christmas morning

Bible College.

you know what i realized? when most people have to study for a test, they need a binder full of notes, maybe a couple textbooks, etc.

but while i'm studying for the test i have tomorrow, all i need is my bible. i'm sitting here with a cup of coffee and my little travel bible, reading out of it for my big test in matthew class tomorrow morning.

i love learning about the bible. dang, it's so good.

i can't believe i get to be here, learning from some of the greatest minds and teachers in Christianity alive today. i just want to learn to be like Jesus. and that's what i'm doing.

gosh, what a good life.

p.s. i went home this weekend, and it was marvelous. i got to play around a lot with my mom's film camera... took five whole rolls. my family is incredibly beautiful. i'm so grateful for them.
p.p.s. WALMART SELLS BIG RED NOW! WOOHOOOOO!

i just want to go home.

i don't like doing two negative posts in a row, but it's been a tough week.

and all i want to do is go home.

i've been super sensitive about everything concerning my family and louisville all week. i feel bad.

i have to do homework, but i would much rather curl up under my blanket and sleep. sleep would take me out of this for a while.

i think my dad was in my dream last night.

God, Gideon, and my father

so i had a project due for my Old Testament class called a "Lesson Plan"... 3-4 pages of a teaching outline or something similar about part of the OT we had studies previously in class.

so i figured i would do a lesson for junior high or highschool aged kids about gideon and how he needed to trust God more or something like that. but as i did my research and read about it and studied the scripture itself, i found gideon to be completely underrated by most of us.

he only asked for verification three times for the biggest action of his lifetime for his entire nation. he asked that the Angel of the Lord stay and wait for his offering, and that the Lord would give him two different signs from a fleece left in dewy grass. but check this out -- while God pared down his forces from some thousands of men to only 300 to defeat the huge army of the midianites and amelakites, gideon didn't complain or question God once. not once.

the people recognized gideon as a strong leader; a general worthy of their respect and their trust. when he blew the trumpet and called Israel to arms against the impending enemy attack, they came. and after the battle, gid went after the enemy with fierceness and decisiveness that behooved a general of the Almighty.

he went from a young man scared of his own family's reactions to anything he might do, to a general that fiercely fights battles for the Lord.

and what caught me the most about this story, was the very beginning. in the very beginning of the story, God goes to gideon to talk to him about what he is supposed to do, and he calls this kid a mighty warrior. gideon's like, "say what?!"the Lord called it like he saw it... he knew gideon would become a mighty warrior for His Glory, and told him so.

God sees our potential, too... and he calls us by His name to live for His glory. i hope i can transform the way gideon did... and do awesome stuff for His kingdom the way gideon did.

also, i got an email from my dad today, and i would just like to brag about him. he's the most humble, smart, wise, loving, compassionate, just, generous christian man i've ever seen. he's the best husband and best father i've ever even heard of. i am so, so proud to be called his daughter, and have the same last name as him. i get to talk to him  all the time!!! be jealous of me! haha..

also, i love triscuits