Stitches

Here are some picture of what happened to my foot over the last few days. It is the first real time I would say that I have gotten stitches, so it makes it on the blog. In addition to that, I was riding my bike when I did it therefore also making it noteworthy.

The story isn't nearly as cool as the cut is. I was simply riding my bike to work and my foot slipped under my bike and into the front gear. I didn't realize I got the cut at first, but when I got off my bike I saw that. I then made the realization that I might not be going to work as soon as I was thinking. I did end up going to work later that night after getting five stitches.

I was honestly I little worried about not being able to work, because I need to be working as much as possible to make my payments for school. After a while I started to think about it though, and I'm pretty sure this is just God's way of working on my pride. I now won't be able to make my payments on my own and will have to relay on Him to provide. I honestly believe that is what is going on. I personally would have pick a different way of working at my pride, but I guess this works. It got my attention quickly enough. I am excited to see what God has in store to help me pay for my next payment though, should be close.

Now for the facts. Classes are going really well. I am enjoying all of them and as far as I know, passing them as well. It is getting colder here, leaves are changing color and it is looking a lot like fall. My weekend went fairly well, I got homemade apple pie and watched a movie. It was pretty relaxing and the pie was delicious. I got another jog for the weekends working for a older gentleman doing yard work. It will be helpful in making my payments.

I received a really good note of encouragement today in the mail today. I was surprised at what was said, but in an encouraging way. I really want to find out who wrote it, but the only thing that I have is a sticker and my own name written on the front in purple. Not a whole lot. I think that I might be able to figure it out if I were to take the time to do so. I might just leave it be and have it left unknown. Just like the money in my account that showed up.

TTFN

This is my new devotional book that i get to use for class. It is really good and challenging. This particular month the book is going through the book of mark. I'm excited for what God will teach me through it.

I'll try and write a longer update this weekend if I remember. Later.

God is my provider

God enjoy putting me through these impossible situations, or He enjoys seeing me grow from the trial of the situation. Either way, He keeps getting me through them like it is no big deal for Him even when I am having a freak-out session here on earth.

I was going to be really short on my first payment, even if I could get an extension on the payment I would still be short. Ran the numbers three or four times and each time I came up short of what I needed to make the payment on time. I called a bunch of different people and tried to see what I could do so that I would be able to stay in school, but no one had anything. I was overwhelmed with the possibility of not being able to stay in school. I lost it. It was a mess, emotional blood everywhere.

Through all this I did have in mind that maybe God didn't want me in school yet, or something like that and I would have to drop school for the year. I understood that was a possibility that God could make reality, and I had to be okay with that. I was okay with that. My relationship to God was more highly valued than staying in school and that means I will go where He leads when He leads - even if it means no college. I didn't want to leave, that was close to the last thing that I wanted to do, but I was willing if that was God's plan.

I personally was really confused with what God was doing at this point. God provided for my first two payment barely and I was trusting that He would continue to do so. The situation that I was in said differently than that though. I was lost at what God was doing. I just prayed that I would learn what I needed to learn so that I wouldn't have to go through this again, that my suffering would not be in vain, and that I would go through the situation well.

I headed up to the business office to ask how much I needed to pay. I already knew that it was going to be about $600 more than I would have, but I had her print it out anyways. (Understand that I barely made my last payment! I haven't paid over, or ahead. I barely made the first two. Logically standing, I will be paying the full payment which is a lot more than I have). What she handed me still amazes me. I was so awestruck that I don't think that I responded at all. I actually owed roughly $600 less than what I thought I did, which means that I would have enough to make this months payment! Praise God that He provided, because $600 doesn't just happen randomly. God did something and now I get to stay! Yay! I'm emotionally worn-out, but I get to stay. Thank God.

I always thought that these kind of stories would never happen to me. I was wrong. I didn't even come close to describing the whole story of what God had done and what I learned from it, but I think that I scratched the surface enough that you can rejoice with me.

Later

Impossible... yup

Well, here I am again. I'm stuck in the impossible situation that God has placed me in, and there is no way that I can manage to get myself through it.

I ran through my numbers the other yesterday, and it looks like I am going to be short for my payment. I ran through the numbers again with my dorm mom and it looks like I'm still going to be short she said. Every month I'll be short, even if I would work 40 hours a week - and right now I'm not working that much.

I honestly don't know what to do. I can drop a class and pick up more hours, drop school altogether and pick it back up in a year, or something else.

As of right now I am scheduled to meet with financial office and see what I can work out. I might have enough to pay for this payment next week, but after that I don't know. That is where I am right now

I really dislike writing this, and normally I wouldn't, but I was told that it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Later

Why Care?

Today I was reading Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels, it is a book on evangelism and the like. I got to the chapter where it talks about going out our comfort zones into the realm of the unknown. As I finished reading the chapter I was going to head out and go apply for a job, but before I did I prayed that God would use me and help me to get out of my comfort zone. As I got onto my bike someone from my dorm came up to me and asked for some help. There was a guy that wanted to talk and get some things off his chest. I was awestruck that God would answer my prayer that quickly.

The other guy from the dorm and I went down and talked to the guy, not knowing who or what to expect from him. I had no idea what was going on, what to say, or anything for that matter. I just prayed that I would say what God wanted me to say and do what He wanted me to do. The whole time I am praying that I would display the love that God would want me to so that the guy might see a glimpse of how much God loves him. I offered him my meal ticket, food, etc. We gave him something to drink. We (the guy from the dorm and I) tried our best to show this guy love.

At the end of all this, he asked one question that stuck me: why do you do all this? He was asking why my friend and I would take an hour and a half out of our Saturday afternoon to talk to a complete stranger. Why do you care? Our reply was simple, "because the Bible tells us we should, and we do." We shared some more small talk, but he really didn't want anything else to do with us. My friend and I gave him a ride to the gas station and that was it.

I returned to my dorm, pick up the book that I was reading, and found myself reading about the sower and the seed. Sometimes our efforts are fruitless, the book explained. Sometimes a person can do everything they can and still nothing happens.

After reading that chapter I concluded that the whole experience was planned by God so that I might know and better understand proclaiming the gospel. Sometime there is fruit, other times there isn't

Thanks for reading. Later

God Thing

Something cool happened today. I have a lot of homework that I had to do today and I wasn't sure how I was going to get it all done. I would be working until 9 I thought and I probably wouldn't be back until about 9:30. leaving me with about an hour to get my work done. Then it dawned on me, I don't have to set up tonight, giving an extra hour or to do some homework. I thought it was awesome that God would provide the time that I needed to get my work done tonight.

Now before I waste that time, I had better get to work.

Everything is going well, God is doing awesome things and I get to be a part of it. I'm still looking for a church to go to out here. I have looked at a few and hopefully I will find one soon. I'll try and post again this weekend when I don't have work that is due.

Later