Another Year Draws to a Close: 2009

Another year has come to an end and so much has happened.

This year I:

• was in two weddings (Lindy & Shane and Charlie & Catie)

• Went to three other weddings (David & Tomo, my cousin Scott &Brooke , and Sara & Joshua)

• Passed Greek 1

• Passed the biggest test I've had (which I failed the first time) :) (Senior Comp)

• Graduated from The Master's College (BA in Biblical Studies emphasis: Biblical Counseling)

• Went to Hawaii, Arizona, Washington and Oregon

• Got a job (after a whole summer of filling out applications and praying for the perfect office job...which God provided!!!)

• Voted for a US President for the first time (not the one who won)

• Hurt my Knee (not too bad though....it was worth it)

I watched God's hand in one of my best friend's life as He not only completely changed her heart but also provided the means to bring her to a place where He has begun to show her His plan for her life. His good and perfect will.

I've been blessed with another best friend who is not afraid to show me where I am weak and who constantly pushes me toward God in order that I might please Him and follow only after His will and not my own. I have struggled so great this past "semester" (I don't know what else to call it...i'm still in college mode) as I watched the greatest season of my life as of yet come to a close and start a new chapter. I wasn't ready for how great that change would be. I didn't want to close that chapter yet because I was (and still am) afraid of what's around the next corner. But God has been so gracious to me and He has allowed me to struggle in order to show me that I can trust Him because He only has what's best for me. He didn't allow it to be easy because He wanted to show me that I really need Him and that I couldn't do anything without Him. He has given me a taste of what it's like to rest in His arms and simply enjoy Him for who He is and to delight in His word and in His presence. I am still yearning to be in a place where all I want is Him. I haven't reached that place yet but I am striving for it.

He has been convicting me of my complacency and apathy (thanks to Clara for that word). I have been going at a comfortable pace for too long. It's time to run and run hard for the goal. I don't want to be comfortable anymore. He promised me that life wouldn't be easy if I were truly following after Him but I have had the most comfortable life anyone could have as of yet. I don't want to settle for what the world has to offer. I want only what God has for me. I am done (hopefully) with comfort. I want heartache and sorrow that I might share in Christ's sufferings. I don't know the weight of what I'm asking for but I know that I want what Paul in Philippians 3 wanted "To know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death". I want to "count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus MY Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him...." I want to see sin the way God sees it. Not overlook it and be tolerant of it. Like the song, "Break my heart for what breaks Yours". That is my heart's cry. In the year 2010, I want to "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles [me], and run with endurance the race that is set before [me], fixing [my] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." I have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in my striving against sin. (Hebrews 12- one theme chapter of 2010.

I Helped my brother and sister-in-law pack up their house and move to Colorado to start their own adventure. (God has been working in them and they have grown closer to Him as a result of their move)

I waited for a new member of the Robison family (Aquila Jo Robison) who was born on December 6th (US time) after having a long time of discomfort for Maki as she waited over a month for her baby to be born a healthy new born.

I Read some good books which gave me refreshment and reminded me who I was (a precious and beloved child of the Most High God, Creator of the Universe and Savior of my soul, who loved me with the greatest love and Who sent His ONLY Son to die the most excruciating death in order to spend eternity with a sinner) and Who God is (The Everlasting Father :)

I spent months praying for an 11 year old sister in Christ who was diagnosed with cancer (whose faith in and love for her Heavenly Father encouraged me more than words could ever express) and for a 17 year old boy who at the very beginning of his new life in Christ (his whole family accepted Christ at the end of this summer) went through multiple surgeries unexpectedly. Both of them were healed :) It was so amazing to see God's hand in all of it.

Countless other miracles and blessings have been bestowed on us this past year and I thank God for all of them. I pray that you would seriously consider what God is calling you to do and press on! We need to be a generation who seeks the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and live for His glory. Fight the good fight and glorify your Father in heaven

Thanks for reading!

Psalm 16

2010 New Year's Resolutions

...Yeah I know its only Nov in 2009 but I figured I should start my list now so I know what to aim for :)

Spiritual Resolutions

• Read the whole Bible this year- Unfortunately, I have never done this straight through before. I've tried many times but I always did it the wrong way with the wrong reasons. I started at Genesis 1 and got to about chapter 30 and got REALLY bored so I quit. This time I want to do it right. I have a reading plan (from logos.com)
  
• Start a Discipleship relationship: I've started a couple groups but we never really got anywhere. This time I am going to PRAYERFULLY start a group and commit to praying for whoever it is I am with and do it for the whole year. Jan 1 2010 - Jan 1 2011. That's a big one.
• Pray EVERYDAY. I am not a woman of prayer as God calls His children to be. I lack that desire and I know it isn't about what I feel like doing. I need to pray and I need to be faithful.

I will be adding to this list as I think of things :)

Proverbs 1:1-6

Insights from Matthew Henry on Proverbs 1:1-6 (emphasis added) :)

Solomon: Son of David, author of Proverbs.

All the earth sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom, which excelled all men's. Every word he said had weight in it.

I wish I could say this about myself. Instead I constantly find myself speaking only to say something completely ignorant or beside the point. "Silence is wisdom" or "Poor Caitlin" are commonly heard phrases after I have spoken. I hope to learn from our friend Solomon and apply the principles found in Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear"

In these he was divinely inspired.
For what end they were written (v. 2-4),

not to gain a reputation to the author, or strengthen his interest among his subjects,

He didn't speak so that people would like him-- guilty
but for the use and benefit of all that in every age and place will govern themselves by these dictates and study them closely.
To form right notions of things, and to possess our minds with clear and distinct ideas of them, that we may know wisdom and instruction, that wisdom which is got by instruction, by divine revelation,

may know both how to speak and act wisely ourselves and to give instruction to others.

Not only do we have the tools (Scripture) to know how to live ourselves but we are also competent to teach others how to live! You don't have to be of a certain age or status, or grade, or gender to teach others the Bible. God has given us His Spirit and ANYONE who possesses Him has the knowledge and ability to counsel and teach.

"That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument...See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" Col 2:2, 8

To distinguish, between truth and falsehood, good and evil.^ They are of use to all, but are designed especially for the simple, to give subtlety to them; for the young people, to give them knowledge and discretion.
Here is not only milk for babes, but strong meat for strong men.
Even wise men must hear, and not think themselves too wise to learn.
A wise man is sensible of his own defects. As long as we live we should strive to increase in all useful learning.
It is a credit to religion when men of honesty are men of sense; all good people therefore should aim to be intelligent, and run to and fro, take pains in the use of means, that their knowledge may be increased.

If you want to read the whole thing go to http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc3.xx.ii.html

Countdown to Graduation

So as of now, I have 53 school days left until I am done with my undergrad at Master's... Kinda crazy.