some of the new

So it has been a while sense my last post...sorry ya'll things have been crazy here, good, hard and painful at times but good, sometimes hard is truly beautiful. If you know me you know I find beauty in brokenness. This has been such an experience already in just 2 weeks. Sometimes it is too much to take in at one time, this would be challenging for anyone. In one week I moved from the only state I have ever lived in to a new one that is so different, I had to leave my church family and now have to start over and weed through all the GREAT Church's in this area, I have to leave my friends behind and try not to compare them to people here, I need to find a place where I can serve, mix in classes, culture shock (I have never been around anything like this before but love it), the insecurities I sometimes have that I did not grow up in a Christian school and you have one girl who could explode! But man I love it, God is moving in this place and God is moving in my heart. It can be painful at times what he showing me and how he is refining me and correcting me but so sweetly beautiful. We don't like to be corrected especially by the ones we love but man how good it is when we are! I feel alone at times here even those I have amazing friends but than I remember God said he would never leave me or forsake me, God is here and I can sense it and feel it.

I love the people here, I love the friends I have been making they are amazing and I am learning so much from them. I want to soak it in all the time. I am learning how to balance my time as well which is much needed here! (That is why I have been neglecting catching up with everyone sorry!!!) I love living in the dorms again, big difference from the last 4 years but so good I am living with my sisters and when I need to laugh, talk, or cry they are right next door I love it!

So classes started yesterday, man it's going to be a lot of work but I am so excited! This is stuff I love and want to learn...let me give you a quick run down of my Tuesday/Thursday's

8:30-9:45 New Testament 1: which is just the gospels and the life of Jesus!
my prof. is a pastor at a church here and class yesterday was like church it was amazing. He spoke very fast though and it was hard to keep up with the notes and he said he was going to speed it up on Thursday :) I think a tape recorder will be my next purchase here. Basically this class we are going through the gospels and we are reading along with the * A Harmony of the Gospels * Jesus and the Gospels * Jesus the Messiah and * Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels

Chapel is from 10-11

1:00-2:15 is systematic theology I with Dr. Ware who was also my Sunday school teacher at the church I visited on Sunday....he is one of the best prof so I have heard for theology. In this class we are reading Systematic Theology by Grudem, The Doctrine of God by Frame, Scripture its power authority and relevance by Saucy, Father son and the Holy spirit by my prof and Gods lesser glory a book about open theism by my prof. I have scripture meditations that I have to do three days a week for 7 weeks than write a reflection on it and than for the next 7 weeks I have a new set and than a reflection. We have a position paper on a theological issue either concerning God or Scripture and we have a few quizzes

2:30-3:45 is Personal spiritual Disciplines with Dr. Whitney who wrote personal spiritual disciplines which I think everyone should read! It is not like a text book I read it this summer to get ahead and it was amazing! This class will have the most work but I think it will be my favorite class and the one that is beneficial in my personal walk with God the most. We have to write 18 journal entries 9 on a life experience throughout the semester and than bring in scripture and than 9 and scripture and what we learned and than apply it to life. We have 10 journals that are based on readings. We have to write one on reflections from Pilgrims Progress, one on George Mullers bio (another one you should read) and the rest are from his book each chapter is a diff discipline like fasting so we have to fast than write about it, we have to take a 4 hour silent retreat than write on it. Than I have to go to Chapel 20 out of 24 times and write 20 entries on that, and than meet with an accountability partner 10 times and do 10 entries on that. Our exam we can take any time during the semester and we have to write down the books of the Bible in order spelled write, the 10 commandments, and than 1 Timothy 4:7 and 1 Timothy 4:16

I have my work cut out for me but I am so excited to be here, I was so anxious and ready to come home a few days ago but after being in class God confirmed in my heart this is where I belong, and these classes I am taking for a reason. I also have a fall break class and an online class all first semester students take on the SBC which is good because I am new to all this.

Thank you for all of your prayers and emails, facebook messages and texts keep them coming I love and miss you!

But as for me I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. Psalm 71:14-15