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| Jesus, thank You so much for a new year. May my life bring You glory and may my walk bring You joy, my witness bring You pleasure, my heart bring You delight. I commit myself into Your hands, for You judge righteously. I commit this year to You and ask You to do Your will in me, and magnify Yourself through me to the greatest degree. Please make me a vessel fit for use in Your hands, and use me. Fill me up so that You might pour me out. May me life be a blessing and encouragement to others and my love for You be passionate, infectious, and inspiring. May I truly learn to worship You this year in the beauty of holiness - Your holiness. Have Your way in me. ... Let me dwell in You - in Your house, Your courts, Your arms - forever, and abide in the shadow of Your wings. Master, take me - enslave me joyfully to Your perfect will. I trust Your plan and purpose for me because I trust You, Maker of all things, Giver of all good gifts. You are the Love of my life, my Song in the night - the Joy that seekest me through pain. ... Thank You that You run to provide shelter for the weak and wounded sinners of this world like me - worn and weary though I may be, Your grace is sufficient to complete me. You restore my soul. You make me new. You promise never to leave nor forsake me, and You hem me in, behind and before, with Your love. | | |
| "Buffeted, knocked down but never knocked out, cast down but never in despair, persecuted but never forsaken, because -- praise the Lord! -- you have found the answer to what it takes to stand in the ministry you have received: a clear view of Jesus, in contemplation; in reflection of His glory in the midst of the battle; and then being made like unto Him as day by day your heart is lifted up to the Lord Jesus and He imparts to your life the sweetness and loveliness of His character." - Alan Redpath "And many of the trials which He sends us are for the purpose of weaning our hearts from the creature, and fixing them more closely upon Himself." - from Laura Lowe, 9/13/06 | | |
| When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream, down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I..
Tears stream, down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I..
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.
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| We went camping last weekend. And let me just tell you, it was one of the most difficult and painful weekends of my life. BUT a girl named Vanessa gave her heart to the Lord, so it was all worth it.
During the week I am working at the church office and cleaning the church. I absolutely love the church secretary, Michele - she blesses me so much and she left me a note yesterday when she knew I was homesick. (I have been homesick yesterday and today for the first time since I've been here - and I think it's because Jill is here, and her whole family is so excited to see her). It makes me miss my family and wish I had one close by.
I miss physical touch more than anything else. I get sad when the whole Jarrett family is so affectionate with each other and I can't be, because that would be weird. And I'm not part of the family. Sometimes I just want Hannah (my slave! hahah...) to give me a back rub or just get a big hug from Noah or even get pushed off the ledge!!!!
Still, Mondays have been going well - the highschool girls are really opening up to me and that makes me feel so blessed and encouraged. Wednesdays are going excellent - Joe is teaching through 1 John and it is so amazing, seriously, he has a gift and I'm so blessed to be under his teaching for the summer. Saturdays (in just a few hours from now, actually) I meet with the junior high girls and we go through a book together. It's actually been going so much better than I thought it would! I thought junior high was going to kick my butt. I was wrong. Junior high has been the brightest spot of my week and my greatest source of encouragement. Senior high isn't kicking my butt, either - only one girl once in a while. It's actually the college girls that kicked my butt this weekend on the camping trip. And I'm just so glad it's over!
My encouragement to all of you: God has a perfect plan for our lives that He never stops working on, even when we mess up or even when things look absolutely hopeless and inevitably painful. He is good. And He loves us. And He will always do what is best for us.
My admonition to all of you: If you are fortunate enough to eat dinner with your family, or even hug a friend, or have a little kid give you a wet kiss on the cheek, even if you have a dog that is happy to see you! don't take it for granted. Because it is so lonely to miss those things, and such a joy when they are a part of our lives.
Love you all.
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13,14. | | |
| i'm here. finally.
Monday night was my first meeting with the senior high girls, Wednesday night was church, and tonight was my first meeting with the junior high girls. The days in between I have cleaned, worked, FINISHED MY BOOK, started organizing a Sunday school curriculum, folded bulletins, and missed home.
Sarah King!! I am so sorry I have not called you back yet. I am unfortunately already in California and the days before I left were so busy! I barely had time to say goodbye to my family. But we will have to get together when I get back!
It's been really hard to call people while I'm here because when I am finally alone and have time, it's always after midnight on the east coast and it's not very polite to call you all at that time. So I apologize.
Please pray for me. I am struggling with something a little personal right now that I can't share. Sometimes I am okay but other times I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.
And I am going camping next weekend. So I DEFINITELY need your prayers.
And I am going to be twenty on Tuesday at 2:35am. So this is probably my last update as a teenager EVER. Weird. | | |
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