Monday...

So I'm here watching "That 70s Show" dressed in a bathrobe and laying in bed.

Why?

Stomach flu.

I've been benched upon waking yesterday. I'm feeling considerably better than I did yesterday and have successfully eaten 3 pieces of toast. Yesterday nothing really wanted to remain in my body. Even popsicles only "stayed down" for twenty minutes. Hello dehydration.

But beyond being miserable, having sobbing fits (yes, I'm a wimpy sick kid) and generally being completely unproductive I've had plenty of time to think. Lots of big thoughts and prayers about this semester (my last one as an undergraduate), summer, and next year.

I don't know exactly where I'm being lead but God has been stirring in my heart and giving me desires for Him and His will. I'm joyful. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm willing...most of the time.

(Recently I've been reading old posts from the Livesay family. I love their honest way of blogging. Tara can be so open, honest, and real. I hope I can be that real and honest. I don't want to sugar coat christianty or my walk with Christ.)

That being said, I must confess that I usually put my best foot forward on this blog. Its easy to say things that should be said instead of what I want to say.

So here are some confessions:
-I haven't had quiet time yet since the semester started.
-Sometimes facebook has more drawing power than my bible.
-Occasionally I only drag my butt out of bed to go to church out of obligation.
-I get caught up in myself way too often.
-My faith is small

So there it is. I struggle. I fumble. I fail. But isn't that why I need God...why we all need God? He conquers all.

Quickly...

Just popping in briefly to say that I'm thinking and praying about something big for next year. I don't have it all worked out yet so I can't share what it is yet. Just please be praying for wisdom, guidance, and peace about where God is leading me.

Prayer for a stranger

I would love to write about the beginning of my spring semester but for now I will live you with a short little story.

Today after class I hopped on the bus to head home. A few stops later an older woman got on, walking with a cane - possibly homeless. It crossed my mind to stand up and give her my seat (there weren't many left) but she found one in the back so I ignored her and continued playing with my phone. We continued on and all of the sudden I hear this horrible hacking noise. The old woman had a terrible, terrible cough. It was just this dry unproductive hack. She would have a coughing fit, take a few breaths, and then go right into another fit. I stared hearing comments of people saying "ew" or "ugh" and I was a little grossed out at first - who knows what she has!

But in the midst of my silent complaint I felt this pull on my heart. I HAD to pray for this woman. While I was too chicken to go sit with her, chat with her, and pray in person with her I was GOING to pray. I sat there on the bus and just prayed for this woman. I prayed for her health, for her cough, for her life. I confessed my unwillingness to get messy and simply talk to her. I prayed that someone out there has or will talk to her and share the gospel with her. I prayed that God might reveal himself to her - that someone in her life might share the Good News and she would come to know Christ (if she doesn't already).

As I was praying her fits of coughing became decreased and she was able to breathe normally for a while. I was thankful for that. I don't know God works but I do pray that He does heal her if it is His will.

I don't know if I will see this woman again - maybe I will, maybe I won't. I don't know if I'll talk to her next time - maybe I will, maybe I won't. But that's ok. God knows. =)

Prayer Request

I know I just posted just 0.5 seconds ago but I forgot something. This weekend is RUF Fall Conference. (Haha, you'll notice I bring up RUF a lot - it's a huge part of my Christian life). Please be praying that the weekend might be glorifying to God and that our discussion might be centered around what we're learning. I'm excited because we have John Stone speaking and I've heard he's excellent. But it is so easy to hear things and think you understand things during the message but then immediately after just go back to "normal" life and "normal" conversations about me, myself, and I. Pray that we might talk and open up.

Also, for myself, pray for rest and time of de-stressing. I have 3 exams and a lab report due on the Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Being away for the weekend is going to make studying difficult. I've sorta been studying already. I know I need to kick it into high gear now so that I don't have to worry so much over the weekend. It's just hard. I'm busy. And burnt out. But I know these are minor complaints in the grand scheme of things so I'd appreciate it if you can send some motivation my way too.

Thanks!