Well, obviously I haven’t gotten any better at this blogging thing, in fact I think it’s safe to say that I’ve gotten much worse at it. Something I’ve known about myself for awhile now but am continually reminded of and trying to get better at is the way I always have great intentions of doing something, but I’m terrible with follow through. This is something that I can only get better at one thing at a time, so here I am updating my blog for the first time in about 3 months. So much has happened since my last blog that I can’t even begin to go back and recount it all, but would still love to give you an update on what is happening in my life and the things that God is teaching me.
I’m on my fourth month of my internship with the Kanakuk Institute. It is crazy to think that in 1 week I will be heading home for a couple weeks off for Christmas break. I cannot believe that the first semester is really coming to an end. It’s been so cool to get to know some of the students and continue relationships with others. It’s also been really cool to see how this class challenges me through their actions. My internship is going well, I love that I get to serve the Institute and that I get to work alongside such awesome people. I love that I get to continue going to family dinner at the Hampsch’s every Thursday night. Something new that I’ve been doing is that I’m in a volleyball league at the RecPlex on Thursday nights. It’s been really fun getting to be out there playing a game that I love (even if I’m not the best at it). Next week is the tournament and then the volleyball season will come to a close. I have also loved getting to continue serving at FBC Forsyth. I absolutely adore my AWANA girls and am challenged by the way they are memorizing the Word. I’m also challenged by the kids at Kid’s World on Sunday mornings while this month they are learning how to share the Gospel and then taking it to their schools. Some of these kids have no fear and then there are others who are terrified, but they are still willing to do what God has called each and every one of us to do, share Him with those who don’t know Him. Another fun(ny) thing that I’m getting to do at church is that me and the other two children’s interns are helping the kids with their Christmas concert at church and by helping I mean that we are in charge of them. They’re just singing a couple songs with the adult choir so it isn’t too hard, just an adventure for sure. It’s always an adventure when God takes you out of your comfort zone.
One thing I’ve realized lately is that I’m so far from being content. Now let me try to explain without going into too much detail. I’m learning/reaffirming things in my life this year and just different desires that God has given me, but yet I’m no closer to having those desires met so I’m struggling to figure out what that means for being faithful where I’m at and also for the unknown that is my future come April. My life is so far from where I thought it would be and honestly sometimes I struggle with that. But let me tell you, God is good and boy does He convict when necessary! Today I was reading in my little devotional, Grace for the Moment, that my dear friend Xuan gave me over the summer and boy was I convicted. This is what I read for December 9th (yes, I realize today is the 10th but I was a day behind, which I now realize was a good thing because I think I needed yesterday to realize just how much I was not content): Philippians 4:11 “I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.” “Test this question: What if God’s only gift to you were His grace to save you. Would you be content? You beg Him to save the life of your child. You plead with Him to keep your business afloat. You implore Him to remove the cancer from your body. What if His answer is, ‘My grace is enough.’ Would you be content? You see, from heaven’s perspective, grace is enough. If God did nothing more that save us from eternal life, dare we grumble at an aching body? Having been given heavenly riches, dare we bemoan earthly poverty?... If you have eyes to read these words, hands to hold this book, the means to own this volume, He has already given you grace upon grace.” All I can say is, “Wow!” What a punch in the gut, but exactly what I needed, because honestly, I can’t say that I’m content with just my eternal salvation, but let me tell you that I’m going to be working on that, because let’s be honest, I don’t even deserve that! But even after that God wasn’t done with me. I opened my Bible to Psalm 73 and believe me when I say I was convicted from the beginning but especially when I got to verses 25-28. This is what it reads, “Whom have I in heave but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” Wow! “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Man I wish I could truly say that! I know that it is true, but it’s one of those things that is so hard to put into action. I pray that I will remember that God is more than enough for me and that I am nothing and having nothing apart from Him. Thank you God, that Your word is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).
