Sacrifice of Praise

Recently, my plans have been altered. As previously posted, I am no longer enrolled in the Northwest University Buntain School of Nursing. However, I am still enrolled in Northwest. I am living in Monroe in a lovely couple's spare room. I am helping to lead youth, and I am starting up a young women's Bible study at Calvary Chapel Monroe. I haven't been home since March, my things are either in storage or in my half of a closet. I have cried more in the past day than I have in a long while. I told my mother the other day that I feel like my life is an etch-a-sketch. I had everything all drawn out like I thought it should be and God came and shook everything and made my plans disappear in order to remind me that He is the author and perfecter of my faith and He knows better than I do what exactly I am supposed to do in this life. All I know is that my offering of praise is minimal at best. My offering of trust and willingness is adequate, but praise . . . how can I praise Him when my world seems to be hanging by a thread? Well first of all, I can pray according to HIS WILL. I John 5:14 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." Uh, hello! I want to be heard - but, it is only through HIS will (not mine) that He hears me. Second, how do I show my love for God in this time of frustration and confusion? "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome" I John 5:3. Did you catch that? His commands are NOT BURDENSOME! Well, there is a good place to start. I should be following His commands rather than my own or the commands of this world. So far, commands of this world have proven to be fruitless and futile because, "...the whole world is under the command of the evil one" I John 5:19. But, the very next verse says this: "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" I John 5:20. Well, there you go! UNDERSTANDING. That is a gift - not so that we can know everything there is to know. No! So that we may know HIM WHO IS TRUE - the ETERNAL LIFE and TRUE GOD. That is someone who I want to know!

So, having said all of that, I know that my praise is to be offered. I am serving the TRUE GOD who gives me understanding, hears my prayers, doesn't burden me, and offers me eternal life. I know that life is hard, people die, I sin, bad things happen to good people, and sometimes I burn the toast. But, hey, if there is someone who loves me enough to offer His Son as a ransom for my sins, than I ought to be down on my knees even if I feel like I will never be able to get up. 

"You turned my wailing into DANCING; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with JOY, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." 

Psalm 30:11-12

Creativity, or Something Like It.

A creation that I am quite proud of. Here's to hoping it goes viral.

An Exhilarating Close

Another chapter in my life has come to a close. Tomorrow, at 1:40 PM, my Junior year of nursing will conclude...for now. I would love to say that it is ending for ever, but apparently, that is not what God has in mind. Rather, I will be competing my missions minor, as well as earning my psychology minor during the fall and spring semester next year along with repeating a couple of classes from this semester. My professor said to me just yesterday, "Elisabeth, this is a loss. Allow yourself the time to grieve and be sad about it. And then, move on." Granted, it is a loss that I will not be in the program, it is an even bigger loss of my pride. Having my plans completely altered, that wasn't on my list of things to do in my life; but thankfully, I have the best event planner on my side. So, as one chapter comes to an exhilarating close, another is eloquently introduced. The next chapter will be titled: The Modified Mission Field. On Friday, I move into a family's home in Monroe and I will spend my Summer working with the youth of Calvary. To say I am surprised that I will be preaching and leading all Summer would be an understatement. I am literally baffled. Praise God that He is able to fill my mouth because most of the time, it just needs to be shut! So, my book is still being written, and thankfully, I have a wonderful Author. 

"You will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on You, because he (a.k.a. Elisabeth) remains in You." 

- Isaiah 26:3

3 Days

There are only three days left in the school year until I am done with my first year of nursing school and I have no idea what the next year is going to look like. Although, I do know that it will look like what God has in mind - because I got nothin'! The best part is, I am completely fine with not knowing. I have a back-up plan. What I do know is that this year has been challenging, growing, difficult, purposeful, encouraging, fulfilling, and just downright wonderful! So many adventures that I wish I could write out now. But, with those final three days of school come more than three days worth of homework that needs to be done.