A couple quick thoughts on God, and work, and happy-sad days of no college:

I have been learning a lot on my slightly more laid back Bible reading plan.  I've done the One Year for the past two years, and honestly it's worn me out.  I love reading God's word but it is nice to be able to take things a little slower and really focus on the passages I feel I need more time on.  I've been reading the book of Genesis, which is super cool because it's basically God teaching people to trust Him.  It's a book about people screwing up and God showing grace and guiding them through crazy situations. Something that really stuck out to me was the story of Abraham and Sarah.  They were both getting old, and they were super stressed because they couldn't have a kid.  Finally Sarah, instead of trusting God, decides to have Abraham sleep with their servant, who ends up having a child and being resented.  Sarah tries to do things on her own instead of asking God for help, and it causes her incredible pain and jealousy.  God is gracious though, and He gives Abraham and Sarah a child of their own.  They are pretty old at this point, but God can do anything.  He blesses their son Isaac, saying that the inheritance will come through him.  Ishmael,  Abraham's son through Hagar, receives a blessing too, but it isn't the same.  God's plan always is better than ours, and his blessing falls on it, but God is still gracious when we mess up.  He didn't leave Ishmael to rot, but He made Abraham's hasty decision into something that brought God glory.  I love God's patience with us!

Work has been both encouraging and a mess.  I've been frustrated by having to train people (which I don't understand how to do) but encouraged by conversations with my coworkers.  One of my coworkers was telling me an analogy the other day about how if "we do our best God will do the rest" and my heart just broke for her.  That life sounds so burdensome, and it discredits God's unending grace.  I was able to share truth with her in that moment, a very hasty version of it, but God is good and I am so stoked to be able to sow seeds.  I am praying that she'll come to church with me.  She calls everything but 80's pop 'devil's music' so that has been an interesting adventure in legalism.  I know all the words to most pop songs now, but she told me I was the most Christ-like person she has met the other day, so it is all worth it.  I don't feel adequate in sharing the gospel, or that my life even reflects anything I want it to, but God is using me in ways I don't see.  This is going to be a good year.

Oh, and no college.  I have been working on decorating my tiny new bedroom and watching a lot of TV shows.  A lot being way too many.  I haven't read any books besides the Bible yet, but I will get there one day.  My heart has grown towards the snow this year, so that is an exciting mystery.  I love seeing it, I'm just ready for my poor little car to stop getting stuck everywhere (parking lots, streets, alleyways.  EVERYWHERE).  Even though the snow is pretty I am ready for the world to thaw so I can explore my neighborhood.

The sad part is really only that I miss walking around University of Utah mountain.  And Greg.  And my virtual nature class.