Being stretched and stretched again

Well, I have arrived at my fourth week of class and thus the end of my first course. I have read more this month than I ever have, but that's good.

I have typed more in my online course than I have in a long time, but that's good.

I have learned more in the past month about learning than I ever have, but that's good. I am sleep deprived, swimming in information that I hope I can retain. I am getting to know 15 other class mates that I have never met in person and never seen, and I am starting to understand myself a lot more, and it's all good.

I still have my worries about school , about how I will do, about being a good classmate and not holding anyone back. About spending enough time with my family and on my school work and on my responsibilities at the church. But I also know, God led me here, and He will sustain me.

I am learning this in a variety of ways, God is pushing me out of my box and calling me to expansive horizons, and that is an awesome feeling. As I am stretched, I know it is God that is doing the stretching, and so I pray for patients as He teaches me and as I learn to be mold-able.

Be mold-able today and let God expand your horizons!

Render unto Caesar

Today I had the pleasure of going and getting my taxes done. I watched as my accountant sorted through all the appropriate paper work and filled out all the right forms. It took about and hour to sort through it all and I sure am glad I didn't have to do it myself.

The bible tells us to "render unto Caesars what is Caesars and unto God what is God's", (Matthew 22:21) I have only one thing to say;

The government requires a multitude of forms and paperwork for us to square up with them. Fortunately God only requires one thing, our whole heart. I sure am glad God isn't into politics.

Priorities of Worship

As we think about Worship, most people think about music. However, Worship is a verb, an action word, not something to be obtained but rather something to be given. How we live our lives can be an act of Worship. This can be done by placing God first in everything we do, and allowing Him to direct our decisions and actions. We honor God when we choose to follow His direction for our lives and submit to His authority and not our own.

Psalm 86:11-12
Says:

“Teach me your ways O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; grant me purity of heart, and I will honor you. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”

National Conference '09

Today we had a meeting for the United Brethren In Christ National Conference for 2009. I am excited as I think about what we talked about and how we will once again watch God move within this denomination. I cannot discuss details but I can tell you that it will be good!! For those of you that know how well last year went, I want to encourage you to start praying about this conference. I know it is a year or so off, but prayer is a vital for any good event and a requirement for the church.

Week Two

Life has just gotten busier. Thus starts week two of my college journey. The first week was prety interesting, with lots of reading, and I don't mean text books. With online learning, I have to post my discussion's in an online forum. I then have to watch for my classmates posts and respond to them. there were 5 forums in all this week and we have roughly 12-14 students. That makes for alot of reading and responding. I liken it to blogging on steroids. Anyway, I am looking forward to what I will be learning, and I am sure I will most lkely share some of it here.