Im home for Christmas and what did I do while I was gone? How in the world do I answer this? There are a couple of things that stick out that I learned but they don’t even begin to brush up against the side of everything that happened to me. After my Old Testament and New Testament class I can see the bible as the whole story that it is, and how I am a part of. Not just how this old testament that we never read connects to this new testament section of random stuff about this Jesus that I love, but really how they are one piece and it continues on to today. Every thing I read is heard in full surround sound and seen in high def 3d IMAX. This law that we read about in the old testament making it impossible to meet the demands of God was not done away with by Jesus, He was the fulfillment of it. The Israelites were waiting for their Messiah to come and rescue them as they were seeking after exactly whatever they thought God wanted them to do, wondering when is the promised one coming to free us? We were challenged that if we haven’t wondered this same question then we should be. I realized I looked forward to Jesus’ return but I have never longed for it and wondered why not yet?!

Finally this man, Jesus, comes who did not fit the description of anyone’s idea of the Savior. Things change through His life on Earth and He develops a following of people who realize this is the one who they were promised. Now things begin to make sense and joy will be ours in these times until He is captured and hung on a cross to be crucified. What is going on? "What at first seems to be foolishness is really the wisdom of God. What seemed to be weakness is really the power of God, conquering human rebellion and Satanic evil. What appears to be humiliation is a revelation of the glory of God. Gods self giving love, mercy, faithfulness, grace, justice, and righteousness are revealed in the event by which god accomplishes the salvation of His creation. What seems to the world to be Jesus’ defeat, the early church proclaims to be His surpassing victory over all the enemies who stand opposed to Gods creation".* "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died".* Everything else pales in comparison.

So where is and what does He want me to do until He gets here? I am going after training to be a missionary pilot because I believe that is what God called me to do. At the same time I am open to the fact that maybe He brought me along this path this far in order to show me something from this perspective, and then get me to go another direction. This Explore year has been a gift to me out of faithfulness to God in trusting and following after Him. On the way home in the airplane I was blown over by a peace that said you are exactly where you need to be, don’t worry I’ll take care of you.

This has been a huge initiation for me which is a incredible answer to prayers. The goals that God placed on me have been coming true and He is showing more incredible things than I could have ever imagined. I believe He is getting me ready for something really challenging next semester and I hope it’s the hardest thing I ever been through. So please pray for me not for my safety, but for perseverance to endure the trials that come and count them as gain. Even now as I write this it makes me nervous but I want to be warrior for God because I am made that in His image. I hope He opens my eyes to see how He is developing me. Also that I might have the strength to rise up and accept my training. Finally when I am losing heart I will be given grace and encouragement to hang in there, all the way through to victory. I can not thank yall enough for all the prayers you have already raised up for me. Each comment or post means the world to me and I thank God for it. I am also so thankful for all the new people that He has brought into my life and the impact they have had on me. I know this is not something that I am doing by myself or that I ever could do alone. I hope that the joy set before us in Christ is so breathtakingly awesome that everything else is suffacted in His glory. I wish i could better express whats happening in my life and I hope this isnt all too crazy, but I know it is crazy. Man, its good to be home.

*1 Drama of Scipture
*2 Galations 6:14