58

I'm currently 58 days away from leaving the country to visit Doug. For those of you who don't know, I've taken this semester off of school because I leave in April for Australia and wouldn't have time to finish classes. It works out incredibly well though because it leaves more time for me to work and save for Australia. Last semester I took out a small loan (relatively speaking) for school, and have been working hard to pay it off. It's looking quite hopeful that I'll be able to pay it off before I visit Oz and continue living without financial debt. What a blessing! Living this way is not easy and it seems that EVERYTHING takes longer, but it is so very rewarding. I want to live my life in debt to only one thing - God Himself. What I've learned, though, is that debt to God is very different than debt to a human or an institution. God gave his only Son to take my place so that I would be set free from the bondage of my sin against Him. This debt that I now owe to Him, for what He did for me, is my life. I owed him my life before but as a penalty for unrighteousness (and it still wouldn't have been enough to pay for all that I did in blatant disobedience to Him). Now, because He loved me, I owe my life to him out of grateful love for what He did for me. And the best thing about it is that He is the most WONDERFUL master. He is not hard, or cruel, or uncaring, or unfriendly, or distant, or demanding of impossible things. He does not work me to the ground until I have no strength left. Instead He supplies all of my needs and more, abundantly! His joy IS my strength! As if giving His only Son wasn't enough, He also gave me His very own Spirit who works in me to desire to do his will.. Without Him working that out in me, I wouldn't even possess the power to WANT to good, much less to do it. What is GOOD?? Righteousness according to the only God is good. And there is only one way to be righteous. That is in Christ. I owe Him everything. And I'm happy about it.

While I wait, wait, wait to get on that plane which will take me to a plane which will take me to a plane which will take me to Doug, I've been keeping busy. On Sunday I met a girl who was sitting by herself. She's new to the church and looking for fellowship. So this afternoon she's coming over and we're making cookies and tea. I love cookies and tea. :-) I found a healthy honey, almond, wholewheat cookie recipe. I think it will be good.

In my hall way is little chalk board that I made. On it is a countdown for my trip. Fifty-eight days and I'll be on my way. Until then, I hope to keep this blog fully loaded with updates on what I'm doing with my time. My prayer is that I will continue to do all that I do for the glory of the Lord of Hosts. I've been so tempted recently to put my desires, my self, and my ambitions above the Lord's. :( But I had an epiphany today about how important it is (especially during this time) that I focus on Him. I must spend extra time "soaking" myself in His Word, hiding it in my heart, and allowing Him to prepare me for whatever is ahead. I must forsake my own will that His will be done. I must be obedient. I must seek Him. At times I feel like an utter failure. In fact, I am an utter failure at times to do these things. It's when I'm at the end of myself, that I cry, "Lord, help". He always hears the prayer of a righteous person (and as stated earlier, I am righteous in Christ!), and He answers my prayer. What a fabulous work sanctification is. Praise the Lord.