Words from a Watchman

Like I've said before, I think Those In Charge are really looking for more physical and less metaphysical, but sometimes I have to indulge myself. I hope you, the readers, will indulge me, too.

Sometimes when I consider exactly where I am in my life (and where I could be, had it gone differently), I'm blown away with thankfulness. Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon with Bryan and Robin Amick, an older married couple who are friends of mine. I sat in their sunlit living room, and talked about things which matter greatly and things which matter not at all. Blessing. They fed me cookies and took me shoe shopping (I don't have a car and so transportation is an issue). Blessing. We watched a movie and today they've let me take over their house again, and they're not even here. Blessing. Their mentorship. Blessing. Their house for a quiet day of writing and reflection. Blessing. Their example of how to grow up to be a good Christian couple. Blessing.

I was talking to an older student yesterday about silence and how much it's needed in order to have an intimate relationship with God. I complain a lot about the noise level in the dorms (it's sometimes hard to sleep) but this morning I was convicted about how much noise I make. Pointless chatter with my mother and my friends. Gossip and complaints (about the noise?). I do anything and everything to keep from being quiet--even when it would benefit my soul. I love solitude.... but not silence? I don't want to be afraid of hearing myself or of hearing God.

I've been thinking about the concept of abiding, actually. Warning, I'm about to get WAY nerdy on you, but I figure you won't care? Or if you do, you'll ignore it?

abide

2. to accept or submit to; suffer

3. to remain faithful (to)

4. to remain or continue

5. to dwell

7. to withstand or sustain; endure

I especially like 5 and 7. To dwell in God. To withstand or sustain; to endure. I feel like I'm a little young to feel like my faith is weathering the storm, but it's less a violent flood and more a dry spell where I'm having to seek God out.

It's that sort of constancy--regularity, really--I'm missing in my walk with God, and I honestly don't know how to get it. I'm too easily discouraged and I forget that I am abiding: "accepting, submitting, and remaining." Any ideas? Besides forcing prayer and meditation, which is happening today, in my silence and solitude.

I borrowed a book from my life of Christ teacher, Dr. Blackburn, called 2000 Years Of Prayer, which is pretty self-explanatory, as far as topic goes. I think I'll leave you with this, my prayer for today:

"As watchmen wait for the morning, so do our souls long for you, O Christ. Come with the dawning of day, and make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread; for you are our God for ever and ever. Amen."

Amen.

-Elizabeth

Breaking the Spring

I've heard that today is the most depressing day of the school year for college students nationwide. Why? It's the Sunday before school starts again after Spring Break. Not for me. It's not that I don't like Spring Break, it's just that a lot of the reason I decided to live on campus at ACC is because I get so BORED at home! That's a whole 'nother blog though.

Now that Spring Break is over, I've had a few days to relax, a few days to catch up from the last half of the semester, and a few days to prepare for the coming weeks, I am re-motivated to do my best and finish this semester going strong. Aren't you proud of me?

I wish my roomies didn't live so far away when we're not at school though. It'd have been nice to hang out with them. I miss the guys, and they'll be walking in the door any minute. I, however, have been back on campus for a while. Had to get a couple hours of work in. Anyhoo, it's time to unpack and go grocery shopping, oh yeah, and set my clocks right from day light savings time. PEACE!

-Lawrence

Trumpeting Prophecies

Honestly, Jamie-Grace, I feel the exact same way: my break isn't a break, but it is. I'm on break, but I'm completely stressing about what I need to have done when I get back to school. Observe the madness:

1. We need to have classes for fall semester picked out. Soon. Do you know how hard I've been trying NOT to think about next fall? Thanks a lot, registrar. It's so overwhelming. I've just scanned the list of classes being offered next year and if it's in my major, it's not for lowly sophomores, and between all this and the uncertainty of my career.... well. Moving on.

2. Can anybody say "Life of Christ test on the Wednesday we get back?" I guess what I said still applies: blogging is so much more appealing when I'm putting off something that really needs to get done. For the test, I'm memorizing Matthew 5:1-16, which is the Beatitudes plus a bit, which is what really needs to get done. Never mind checking facebook every five minutes (and ditto email), start memorizing, girlie.*

3. Dr. Strother is the man who never rests. I have an illustration due Monday morning at 8:00. It is the last one we have to write. EVER. That's a lie, but it's the last one assigned for this particular class, which is not a lie. He emailed my class and told us to have a "homiletic spring break." Just one question. What exactly does a homiletic spring break look like? Anyone? Anyone at all? No? Me, either.

Reasons Today is Awesome, a List

1. I watched Serenity, a movie based on the all too short Firefly series, on USA this morning.

2. I feel rested. I had the option to go back to sleep this morning but I didn't need to. Because I wasn't tired. Wow. Amazing, huh?

3. I'm meeting a friend for coffee this afternoon. Friends? Awesome. Coffee? Awesome. What more is there to justify?

Now, I need to put some socks on. My toes are cold. I leave you with a quote:

"The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"**

The answer? No. It's not far behind, it's coming soon. Take hope, you winter weary travelers.

-Elizabeth

*Yes, sometimes I give myself third person pep talks.

**Bonus points if you can name that famous dead poet!

My Break Isn't a Break But It Is

I'm currently hanging at my friend Cammie's house in Nashville, TN after being awake for barely 4 hours...

I spent the last week working on a Christian television show here and of course doing homework after filming :) Now I'm having some down time, learning to play Cammie's dad's Flying V ukulele and getting ready to study for a test I have next Monday. The Monday after break :)

I must say, I'm really excited about Spring break. Obviously because it's break but also because I'll be working again. And while it doesn't sound like it's a break because I'm working, it's a break because I just might be doing something really exciting that is a break from not doing it. Does that make sense? I'm trying to announce this music news without announcing it... :)

In other music news (ba dum chh), I'm watching GAC (Great American Country) and they're playing Toby Keith's "Cryin for Me." A ridiculously sad song about his friend who died. Not really the perfect soundtrack for this blog... ooh! An eHarmony commercial!

---Jamie-Grace

One Hour, Forty-Five Minutes and Counting.....

Okay. Here's the rundown:

-Last night I had a choir concert. I don't think I have a very good solo voice, but I love to sing and singing in a group is completely my cup of tea. We sang Worthy Is The Lamb and the Amens from Handel's Messiah. It was so much fun, but SO much more challenging than anything I've ever tried to sing before. My parents and my friend Kamie came to hear us and we got to talk afterwards.

-Then I went back to my room and finished my sermon outline for Dr. Strother which was due this morning at 8:00. I turned that in, sat through another boring class* and then went back to my room to....

-Pack for home, which is where I will spend my spring break. I'm taking home massive quantities of stuff, and my father will make fun of me when he sees it. He's convinced I cannot pack light to save my life, which is simply not the case. I just need to move some stuff back home. That's it. Honest. :D

- I had a humanities study session today, at noon. The test is this afternoon, and it's the longest test Dr. Carey assigns. It's art from the Byzantine era all the way through modern times. Do you know how much art's been done in that time? Lots. Lots and lots and lots.

- Today at 2:00, I have an interview with Christopher Kendricks, who is a graduating senior this year. I work for the Gold and Blue, the alumni publication, and Sarah Huxford (Also know as Boss Lady [just kidding. I've never called her that] [I think her father reads the blog and I don't think he'd be happy with me calling her that. :D ]) assigned me senior interviews. Christopher is one of the first to respond and I've..... never met him before. He's a Biblical studies/preaching major, I think, but that's all I know. I've alloted him 30 minutes (45 if he's interesting, but no more) and then....

- Home. I'm going home for spring break today and I cannot wait. I've got a list of homework to conquer as long as my arm and I've got a list of friends to catch up with equally as long, and that includes my parents and my brother, who's coming home, too. I'm itching to leave. I cannot wait to be home. A girl can only take so much school, you know.

I'll see you on the other side!
-Elizabeth

*That's a lie. I don't think preaching is boring. It's one of my favorites and I'm not just saying that because Dr. Strother may or may not be standing over my shoulder reading what I write... In all honesty, I really enjoy getting to see the background of the sermon. Although the downside of this is that it forces me to analyze every sermon I listen to.

Ah, Monday.

With everything going on last week, I totally forgot to keep you guys updated! Had to sing again in Vocal Studio, Caleb's Dress Rehearsal, Caleb's actual Concert, the choir singing on Sunday, and on top of all that, I've finally decided it's time to start recording some of this music I've been writing. This week is just as busy, too, with the choir singing again on Wednesday and Thursday, Midterm Voice Recitals, and other stuff, too. Fortunately, next week is Spring Break. I'm taking the whole week OFF and catching up with some friends I havent seen. And while I'm chillin' at home, we had a group of awesome dedicated students who are going to Mexico to assist with the Casas Por Cristo ministry. Basically they are going to help build houses for homeless people. What a sacrifice, giving up spring break to help the needy! Please pray for them, as they need a little more financial help to get there.

Well, that's all I got for now! PEACE!

-Lawrence