So I'm going to try to post at least once a week from now on. That's my new goal. Hopefully I'll be doing some more theological reflection, and if anyone actually reads this, you can respond to such.

Today I am meeting with my Bible Study Buddy/Accountability Partner, Keelie.

We meet weekly (most of the time) to do a Bible Study that we started over a year ago. It's a Beth Moore study of the Psalms of Ascent. I have not been doing my part, to keep progress. I would like to blame it on the fact that I'm overwhelmed with school (which is true, I have a paper due tonight and two major projects due next week, none of which are finished). The reality is that I am not a person of self-discipline. I want to be, I want to be better about completing the study on a daily basis, picking up around the house daily, and doing homework not at the last minute. But those have been wants of mine for a long time, none of which I have yet to execute. Any suggestions on how I get to this?

Keelie and I are starting to work on our Women's retreat this week. I'm hoping for us to get a lot done, especially publicity wise! We've got to get our house reserved. We're planning to take the women of the two youngest adult classes at our church on a retreat the last weekend in January. Please be praying for this ministry. The women in this group really need to be awakened to the reality that not only does God love them, but they need to begin living it out, for all to see, on a daily basis.

That's all for now.

Women of Faith

So this weekend I met the AMAZING Natalie Grant! Can I just say, when I grow up, I would love to be half as inspirational as she is! Here's our photo:

I appreciate so much how her energy and spirit points me towards God. Her music is so uplifting, and her heart for teen girls is incredible! She was not the only musical guest at Women of Faith, we also enjoyed the praise and dance mix of Nicole C. Mullen. My favorite trip down memory lane however, was Sandi Patty. She not only still has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard, but she also shared an amazing testimony filled with imagery of how she (as many females do) had layered herself hiding from the world who she really was. I'm sure you can read more about it if you would like in her book.

Not only did the music refresh me, but also I have a new role model... PASTY CLAIRMONT!

What a ball of energy and an amazing proclaimer of God's word! The way she mixes humor with her message was incredible... and I swear I think she was wearing Chuck Taylor's... any who... you should check part of what I heard. First off, I say all the time that I pick friends who aren't of many words, so I can fill in the blanks! Just like her! But I was just so encouraged because lately in my ministry I haven't felt like I've not exactly the right words to say, what words to speak, like I too could not find my voice. So I'm waiting for Him to give me the words, to broaden my view!

After doing this Friday and Saturday I was so encouraged. I booked a group of 20 something tickets for our church for next year, November 6-7. I also am so excited that my Bible Study partner, Keelie Begley, and I are planning a retreat for the young women of our church in January. I really just felt God speaking not only to refresh me this weekend, but to say that THIS is what Eastside needs, a ministry that refreshes women like this weekend did for me, and it shouldn't just be once a year, so I hope the weekend in January will be a jumping off point for us to really become women who don't just deepen our love for friends but our love for God.

Reflection

Tonight on Eli Stone his spiritual guide (I call him that because I don't really remember the character's name) said something really profound. It was along the lines of "You had to know when you took back the mantle of prophet, that there were going to be some dark times." I'm writing my exposition paper (that's overdue) for Old Testament 2 on Jeremiah 1:4-12. Verses 4-10 are the account of Jeremiah's calling by God. Most folks who grew up in church would recognize verse 5 which says:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

As I continued on in the passage though, I picked up on something I had completely missed before, in verse 8 after telling Jeremiah he's going to have to go wherever God says and say whatever the Lord tells him to say, God tells him:

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.

No where from verse one on does Jeremiah express fear. He had concerns about his ability to speak, and acted with humility when God called Him (see also Solomon's claim of being "just a child" before his accession), but he never alluded to being afraid. Yet the Lord, in a ominous tone offers comfort that the Lord will rescue him.

By accepting the call of the prophet, Jeremiah was accepting the fact that there would be some "dark times" in his life and ministry, which we see throughout the book of Jeremiah.

I guess I can take note from Jeremiah, and Eli, (not that I am a prophet) and prepare myself that be accepting God's call on my life, there may be some dark times ahead, however I believe that as God promised Jeremiah, the Lord will be with me.