katie rose writes

No, those are not exactly the words used in Ecclesiastes, but the same idea though.  2011 is drawing nearer to a close, and 2012 lurks around the corner.  I haven't been able to look around that corner as much as I would like, as I have been sick the past few days (update = bronchitis. maybe. not a 100% diagnosis, but we'll see how these drugs work out). But I think God has done that purposefully.  I don't think He wants me to put expectations up; He wants me to just take the next step in faith, and trust Him for each and every step. Not path, not plan. Just step. That's all we really need anyway.  To ask for more is to diminish our need for faith in our forever faithful God.  I want this new year to renew my faith in a radical way.  Only God can do that. I can't make it happen; I'm asking for it, though. So, what to do then? Obviously, I need to turn around for a few minutes and look back.  I just re-read through all my blogs from around this time ...

"All praises to the One who made it all, and finds it beautiful.  Fearfully and wonderfully and beautifully made." I'm currently (finally) fully listening to the newest Gungor CD, Ghosts Upon the Earth.  And this lyric, from Crags & Clay, really struck me this morning, and I've really just been meditating on it.  The past week or so, I've been reading through Chronicles and Revelation, finishing up reading through the Bible in a year.  It's an interesting note to end on.  For 2 reasons.  The first comes with Revelation.  God always, always, has me reading through Revelation purposefully as I face the passing of a loved one.  My freshman year, my Papaw died.  A week after, we started studying through Revelation on Wednesday nights.  It was so comforting to study that book really for the first time, and to just get a glimpse of where he is.  Then, last week, while I was in India, his wife passed away.  I found out on Frida...

Today, I found myself sitting in the caf, sipping on coffee, and reading through the end of Ezra.  As I sat and began to pray for many things, as that is what Ezra was doing (confessing for the people's sin, yet humbly including himself in that prayer), I asked for God to make me sober-minded and watchful in my prayer.  And He began to bring many things to mind.  Team one (in South Asia right now) is about to head to bed, and then make their way via train to their areas to do compassion kit parties and such.  And I began to pray for this country as a whole. And then, all of a sudden, it just hit me.  I'm going back.  In 5 days.  This is ridiculous. God is GOOD.  This is my proof for the day, if I need one besides the fact that I am breathing right now. In the meantime however, I have got about a million assignments before then.  Plus packing (like for Christmas break, I'm already pretty much packed for the trip), and studying for actual fi...