It's about time I post.

Hi all -

As crazy as it sounds...I am really enjoying my school year so far. My only slight fear is that I am somehow in a "honeymoon" period, and soon I will begin to dread my days at school. Here's hoping that doesn't happen! One thing that I think has really allowed me to be more at peace this school year is...actually...a few things. One is starting graduate school this summer. Last spring I was so nervous about starting, and didn't think I could ever accomplish all that needed to be done for the classes, but I did it. I completed some classes, and got going on this whole new process of getting my Masters. Secondly, on the last night I was at my parent's house in MN, my dad reminded me that it's okay to have some self-confidence, if just to look back and see all that I have accomplished in the past 4 years and go into this school year with a positive attitude. Thirdly, I moved into a really great new apartment with a phenomenal chica. She and I have lived together for the past 4 years, but back then there was a total of 5 girls living in the house...so this is a much more peaceful situation for me - which I think has definitely helped me this school year. I don't talk about school quite as much at home now, and while at school, I am learning to take things slower. Honestly, I am actually trying to talk slower when I teach, and not get ahead of myself. Anywho....enough about that.

Things with Aaron are also phenomenal...I love the heck out of the guy - and am elated that he now lives 7 minutes down the road, and works 5 minutes down the road. Glorious.

Lastly, and the main reason for this post - my friend Ben asked if I would share in chapel tomorrow. They are focusing on Psalm 23, and want me to talk about just verse 1. So after taking times/places for the XC meet we just hosted, I typed this up - read on to see what I'll be saying tomorrow at 10am or so. :)

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. When the chapel class asked me to speak about this verse, I decided I wanted to focus on a few key words that have made me think deeper about the character of our loving and gracious God. The first part of the verse says "The Lord is." So many things in our world today promise to fulfill us in some say - whether it's that warm cup of Pumpkin Spice latte, or the latest pair of Vans that will make us a better skater at the Ayala skate park. Oh, I know how easy it is to trust in these things to make us feel fulfilled - I am guilty of it too. But this verse says the Lord IS. Notice that it doesn't say the Lord might be or the Lord wants to be but isn't sure yet. No, the Lord IS my shepherd. His shepherding hand is over me whether I acknowledge it or not - no purchase necessary. I like that.

The verse goes on to say that the Lord is my Shepherd. I don't know any shepherds personally, but from what I have heard, they are pretty loyal folks who will protect against even the most dangerous creature that threatens their flock. That's the kind of Lord we have - one that will (and actually did) go to the ends of the earth to protect us from evil.

Lastly, "I shall not want." I don't think we can take just the end of the verse without acknowledging the first parts. The Lord IS - permanently, my Shepherd - who protects me with a fierce kind of love, which leads us to a place of not wanting, a place of peace. A place of pure contentment. A place where no pair of shoes, no addictive substance, no boyfriend or girlfriend can ever give us the same at-one-ness with God. If we who are believers put our trust in that the Lord Is our Shepherd, we have no need to want anything else. If you're unsure of that - just look at what 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." God has prepared something better than what we think we want in this world! And check out 2 Corinthians 4:17 which says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." So when I read Psalm 23 verse 1 and others in His Word, I am reminded that God's promises of eternal life with Him are far better than anything I could ever want in this life.

And that's what Psalm 23 verse 1 says to me."