The light at the end of the quarter.

    Man, it feels like forever since I have posted a blog. This quarter has been so incredible that I find it difficult to put into words. I have learned so much, but I also realize how much I have yet to learn. God has been moving in so many ways in our lives that it makes it easier and easier to get through each day. I know this is hard for the whole family, but I believe deep down that this is something He is doing to help our whole family grow so we will be ready to serve Him more fully. I have not had a job since September 30^th but God has provided side work, and some work for Crystal, but most of all He has moved through people at the church that have gone out of their way to help us along. I thank God for everyone at our church. I won't name anyone in particular, mostly because I would hate to leave anyone out, but also because there are so many people that have encouraged us and supported us. And this is just the first quarter. I spent 6 hours yesterday studying for the Evangelism final. Even at bed time I did not feel 100% comfortable with it. So I prayed about it last night and this morning. After 4 hours, I finally finished writing our all 10 pages from memory. I was beat. I still feel like my brain is fried. I am getting ready to start on my last Homiletics assignment and then study for the final exam tomorrow. Then it is on to Theology. I will do my best to blog more often and maybe share some of my stuff I am getting to learn.

Fruitland: First 2 weeks

I know it's been a while since I posted last. I have been extremely swamped in my first two weeks at Fruitland. I had no idea what it would really be like. I have a ton of reading and homework to do where I sometimes wonder how I will possibly get it all done. I have not found a job yet and part of me is wondering if I will. That being said, it is more wonderful there than I ever thought possible. I have learned so much already and the more I learn the more I realize I need to learn. I have made so many new friends there and I pray I can be of service to them in some way. I look forward to the long term friendships I know will develop there. I thank God for each one of them, some for the pure joy the exhibit, others for their strong faith, and still others for their constant support and encouragement. I am not worried about our income. I was worried the first week but the more time goes on the more I remember that I am only here by God's grace. I am the last person most people would think would be at a seminary preparing to go out and preach God's word and to lead His people. I certainly never did. As time goes on there, I am finding more and more that this is exactly where God wants me and that He designed me with this specific calling in mind. I am not sure where He will send me but where ever it is I will gladly follow.

I applied for an internship in the Youth Ministry at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville. I don't think God is specifically calling me to be a Youth Pastor, but I feel that He is telling me to get as much experience in as many different areas as I can. I don't know if that's because I did not grow up in church and have a lot to learn or because I will need all that knowledge for whatever He has planned. I have heard so many stories from so many different people about how and why they are there that one can't help but believe that God calls His people to service. So many have left jobs, offers of college scholarships, established lucrative businesses and even some had family leave them to follow God's calling in their lives and it is a blessing to be among so many faithful followers. I thank God for all those that are supporting us and praying for us. I know that God will see us through and will guide us to where He wants us to go.

He always provides.

    A few weeks ago I finally received the acceptance letter to Fruitland. I was thrilled. I knew I would get in but I was still waiting with only a month to go until classes start. Well, time has been ticking by and everyone keeps asking when I am going to school. My boss wants to know so he can look for a replacement but most were just curious or excited for me. I kept telling them I did not know for sure. I wonder sometimes what would happen if we actually told people what we believed. I have been telling Crystal for weeks that I was going to prepare like I was going and that I felt God would provide in the end. I went out and bought a backpack when they were on sale to hold my books and my computer. I have been trying to slowly pick up jeans and some decent button down shirts so I would have enough clothes to make it through the whole week. I picke3d up spare toiletries and priced out bed sheets as well as planning out the heavier blankets I would need to bring with. I have been crunching down to pay off as much outstanding debt as I can before I go.

    Hal asked me s couple of weeks ago how I was feeling. I told him I felt the kind of anxiousness that a guy feels when he has a vacation road trip planned at the end of the week. You may be all packed and ready to go, have all your sightseeing planned, and have a good stockpile of roadmaps in the car, but the day is Monday and you still have to wait all week for Friday. Well, the waiting is over and Friday is here. I told Crystal that now that I had been accepted, all I needed was the tuition money and a job. I told her that if we got the tuition money I would let God worry about the job as well since He has done all the rest anyway this is His plan. Things were getting close and even my boss was starting to wonder if I was ever going to give notice. Today I received an e-mail from Pastor Bobby. He informed me that someone had come forward and asked volunteered to pay my first quarter tuition. Now to some people this may sound odd. I was thankful and happy, but not at all surprised. Deep down I knew God would move I someone's heart to help us out. I knew that these walls that seem insurmountable to us are just cracks in the sidewalk to God. If it is in His plan He can overcome any odds to accomplish it and will if we ask Him to.

Thank you for guiding my path, Lord. Please help me to never let you down and to lean on your word day and night. Help my family and I learn whatever lessons you long to teach us and give us joy through all our trials.