I'm going on a writing spree, and it's quite enjoyable. Yet with a spring term of five classes starting up now, plus the usual other responsibilities, I wonder how long I'll be able to keep going. Sure, I could write something short and brief, with a picture or two, but I sincerely doubt that would satisfy the desire to write, and I would likely not be able to say too terribly much, at least not as much as I normally do. Still, it's a desire I do have, and want to make good practice at, so I know I will try to accomplish some writing over the next few months.
Today we had an interesting day, filled with sickness and runny noses (and a certain someone dropping the ball care- and comfort-wise for these sickies; go ahead and guess who, I don't mind); some rain early in the morning; then capped off with our church small group, our Acts 2:42 group. While it can be seen to take up some valuable family-together time, I have truly come to value the prayer time, discussions, and fellowship. We've been with pretty much the same group for a long, long time now, and have really grown a lot together over the months. Sometimes though, I feel like a great thought pops up in my mind, I blurt it out and try to explain what I'm thinking, and I end up rambling on and on and on to no real point. It's sometimes been difficult, painfully so, for me to share thoughts in my head, and put the words together as fast as they form in my head. I wish I could explain things better, because it's quite frustrating. Sometimes, you have to realize there's a time for silence; but at times I just have a hard time realizing that. With my side story done now, our group is truly amazing, made up of folks who strive to learn the Word and grow more like Christ with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. We laugh a lot, cry sometimes, and eat too much, but I always come away refreshed and strengthened by these amazing brothers and sisters of mine.
The thing I like most about the group is that we've gotten to the point where we can truly open up to each other, share real concerns and issues, ask for help and prayer, and discuss sometimes confusing but always enriching topics from sermons and the Word. For instance, tonight we talked about the sections in Exodus and Romans concerning the hardening of pharaoh's heart, and our Father's role in it. It's a very hard concept to grasp, and even harder to accept, yet we can achieve such a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the Father's power and purposes through it all. We were all disappointed to find out our pastor decided to just glaze over the subject this week, and cover the topic more in depth over the coming weeks; therefore we found ourselves discussing the subject without a firm understanding of the entire issue and relevant passages (a fact which didn't stop me from rambling on and on and on; read above paragraph for an explanation). I've researched it a tiny bit before, but not nearly as much as necessary I would say, so I am very much looking forward to discussing this subject further, and then sharing the results. This could easily turn into another post or two, but we will have to wait and see.
For soon the storms arise again. Spring term classes begin today, and I am not looking forward to more late nights of homework (although I am happy about not having any accounting homework; it's the little victories...). I'm sure some classes will be harder than others, and harder than some I've taken already, even when taking into account 13-page accounting finals and ten-page direct marketing team projects. And I'm sure some classes will be comparatively easy; at least, I hope so. Again with the having to wait and see. Even with all this work ahead of me, along with all the normal responsibilities of career, marriage, and fatherhood, I find myself surprisingly calm before it all begins. Granted, I still have concerns and worries, but nothing like what I've experienced before, in other stressful and trying times. Especially after our group discussions tonight, when there was so much talk and so much emphasis on the supremacy of our Father over all and in the midst of all that we do, see, think, and endure. It is reassuring to know and to be reminded that the Master Potter truly is supreme over all, and that His very Son, Jesus Christ, was sent to redeem His own creation.
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"
-Matthew 6:26-27 (ESV)
"There's a peace I've come to know,
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an anchor for my soul;
I can say it is well.
Jesus has overcome,
and the grave is overwhelmed.
The victory is won,
He is risen from the dead."
-It Is Well (Sixsteps Worship)
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