It’s amazing to me how one conversation can drastically change a relationship. And it’s also amazing to me how much you can learn about a person and their family by asking a few personal questions like “how often and in what ways is affection shared in your family?” and “how close are the siblings?”
Thanks to Dr. Dickey and his assignment of interviewing three people and writing a 5-page paper comparing their families to mine, I was given a legitimate reason to pry into the lives of a few of my friends. I’m so thankful I was given this opportunity. It gave me a deeper understanding of my friends and a greater appreciation for my own family.
“The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” -- Prov. 16:1
“The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.” -- Prov. 16:9
"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I have taught you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer to him who sent you?" -- Prov. 22:17-21
"Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And fade like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.
...
Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked will be broken;
But the LORD sustains the righteous.
The LORD knows the days of the blameless;
And their inheritance will be forever." -- Psalm 37:1-8, 16-19
"This is my Father's world, O let me never forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet."
"Our God is an awesome God! He reigns in heaven above, with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God!"
May God bless our country during these next four years and bring us all to a better realization of how much we truly need Him, and Him alone!
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?" Ps. 27:1 (This was a my favorite passage that was read in chapel this morning.)
I really like this mindset. I think trusting in God is better then being emo about something that goes wrong (Actually, it is for the better -- because it's God's will).
Back at the beginning of September, I received an email which was somewhat dazing. Now that things are finalized, I thought I’d share my excitement with you all: College Prowler Scholarship.
I wrote the essay back in September of 2006, the beginning of my senior year of high school, to answer the scholarship question, “If you could choose any city in the world to live in, where would it be and why?” If you’d like to read it, go here. Please keep in mind that I have never been to Prague, so the picture presented in the essay is my own idea of what the city is like after hearing stories and descriptions from others.
Much has been happening lately on the campus of Florida College. One of the more exciting happenings is my roommate getting engaged! ‘Twas great fun throwing her in the shower, with the help of 21+ other girls :). I’m so blessed to have Jenny as a roommate! We’ve had a number of good talks about random serious and silly things, and often tease each other and cause the other to laugh at herself. Her example of going to bed earlier has yet to have an influence on me, though…
Sutton has been gradually increasing its population as several of the Hinely girls have realized the stories of mold and cockroaches contain little truth, while the warm, though freezing, atmosphere of our dear dorm surpasses the hotel-like life of Hinely. What started as 24 girls is now 29, and I heard there are a few more hoping to move, as well. The Suttonites themselves have been very encouraging, what with our Thursday night alcove studies, friendly after-curfew neighborly visits, randomly started deep conversations on spiritual subjects and praying together and for each other. It’s been a blessing to get to know many of the freshmen girls who are now my neighbors.
There are only about 5 or 6 weeks left of the semester! Crazy. On Wednesday, I met with Dr. Northcutt to sign up for classes for spring semester. With so few classes left that I’m required to take, it was difficult filling up my schedule, but, also due to so few classes that I’m required to take, I’m able to take four Bible classes, Piano and Viola lessons, and the fourth semester of Honors Reading, along with volleyball and the required English.
Much will be happening before then, however, including the completion of many last assignments, papers and tests, as well as several bigger social happenings.
Heidi will be coming for a visit in less than a week! The ‘Un-banquet’ is also in a couple of weeks, though I won’t be going due to some other happy plans with good friends which involve spending money the week before.
If the Lord wills, in just a few weeks more wee will be driving north for Thanksgiving! It’ll be so good to be home and see so many of you again! I love you!
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.
What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
The fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” -- Proverbs 19:21-23
Congrats Catherine! That is really great about the scholarship :) Oh and if you ever do go to Prague...take me with you! I have always wanted to go there.
love you. miss you. after i talked with you on the phone saturday, i was (seriously) pulled over by a policeman who (almost) gave me a $100 ticket for talking/driving at the same time. good grief.
then i lost eddie and ray and drove by myself in newark all alone. and that was after hearing emily tell me about 2-5 girls who were shot there 4 days ago. so nice.
God’s timing and providence are truly wonderful. Looking back, it is always easy to see the truth in that. I find it so difficult to let that knowledge carry over into trust when looking forward, however. Why do we find such difficulty in trusting God when God has proved Himself again and again to be trustworthy and dependable? Is it because we do not trust ourselves?
Yet once again I’m amazed by how quickly time passes, especially in the FC bubble. It seems as if we arrived here at school just a few weeks ago, yet we’ve just now finished mid-terms. Each day brings with it its own blessings and trials, from which I’ve learned so much, yet they soon all seem to blur together and fade into the past. There have been so many things I’ve been hoping to do and so many people I’d like to spend time with and get to know better, yet to do so takes a much greater amount of initiative and planning than I’ve put into it. I need to work on that. Each day truly is a gift from God. Be sure to give it back to Him with interest.
The FC classes this semester are just as amazing and enjoyable as ever. The material we cover in both the book of Job and in Marriage and Family can be easily applied to life outside of class and study time. I wish all of you folks back home could have the opportunity to sit in on some of my classes, especially my Bible classes, and learn from the teachers here. Your time would not be wasted, I can assure you.
Life is extremely busy, in spite of only taking 15 credit hours and not being excessively involved in extra-curricular activities. I spend most days rushing from place to place, with very few moments to plan out the coming week. However, I do enjoy it that way, as being productive is much easier to accomplish when there isn’t time to be lazy.
This coming weekend is fall break, which I’ll be spending here in FL, though not on campus, LORD willing. A family that worships at North Terrace has welcomed me to stay with them for those few days, which I’m very much looking forward to, especially as they have three adorable little children with whom I’ll be able to help out for the weekend. :D
I love you all! May God bless you in your service to Him this week!
LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were born,
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man back to dust,
And say, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or as a watch in the night.
You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.
In the morning it florishes and sprouts anew;
Toward evening it fades, and withers away.
...
As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
...
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. -- Psalm 90:1-6, 10, 12
Hi honey - we've been vacuuming up more yellow jackets! Daddy thinks they might be giving up. In the meantime we're not sleeping in our bedroom because they are coming out of the ceiling somehow!
I got mistaken for YOU! Apparently we look like sisters or something. I met Neil from NYC Sunday night, introduced myself, and he said, "Yes, I thought you were a Bishop; in fact, I thought you were Catherine when I first saw you!"
let me know when you get your package-- i forgot to write the zip code so i'm afraid it'll either take a long time to reach you, or never get there at all.
Thank you all for your prayers for me this week. The hardest part is over and went much better than I expected. Though my brain did become rather exhausted from reading heavy doses of Rousseau, C.S. Lewis, and several other authors, with God's help I was able to get it done and still keep my sanity.
Jenny D is one of the best roommates ever. I'm so blessed to be her roommate :)
Benjy Paine is now officially added to my list of favorite teachers. He's very sweet, kind, funny and amazing, and very understanding when his overly frustrated and exhausted student starts crying in the middle of her lesson. This week's lesson was much better. :)
Adam S is a hilarious chapel buddy who accuses me to my roommate of drawing strange creatures instead of paying attention in class. Not that he would ever do such a thing... ;)
Mindy W is coming to visit tomorrow!!! Yay for feasts! :D
I love you all so much! May God bless you in your service to Him this week!
"I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
I will bow down towrd Your holy temple,
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name." ~ Psalm 138:1-2
