I’ve been wrestling with many questions and doubts recently.  I’ve been struggling to cheerfully follow the commitments I’ve made to the Lord. It’s hard to be different.  It’s hard to be seventeen and wonder, when people ask me if I date or whatever, if the one God has destined for me will ever come; if he’ll wait for me.  It’s hard to wonder if everything I’ve put on the back burner in my life, in an effort to be pure and holy in the Lord’s sight, will ever  be able to come to the front burner.  It’s hard to wonder if my prayers, heartache, desire, promises, and daily dying to flesh will ever be able to be righteously fulfilled.

I wonder if anyone really notices. I wonder if anyone really cares. 

I sat alone in my room last evening, crying out to the Lord for peace and comfort. Feeling like I’m just groping along a lonely, dark road. Wondering if I’ll ever reach the place where the light is. With a sigh, I reached for my Bible, knowing that it is the very best place to look for encouragement and strength. And I was not dissapointed.

I opened to Colossians, chapter 1, and began to read, and my weary heart was comforted.

v. 22  But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body, through death, to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation–

if you continue in your faith,

established and firm,

not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel.

Does anyone really notice how hard I’m trying? Does anyone really care? Perhaps not.

But does it really matter so much that they do? No, surely it doesn’t. So take heart, my soul, and follow Him! Willingly, cheerfully, fervently…

The question is not “Should we pray for Barack Obama?”, nor “Do we have to?”  The Scriptures are clear. We are commanded to pray for our leaders. Period.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The real question, therefore, is “What shall we pray for?” and “How shall we do it?”

First, what shall we pray for?

1. His salvation, (if he has not, in fact, acknowledged his need for Christ’s forgivness and accepted pardon for his sins), first and foremost. (Remember, the Lord desires that “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
2. His decisions: that he might allow the Father to guide him, even if he does not realize where the direction comes from. 
3. That he might see “the other side”  of the issues, not just his own point of view.
4. That the Lord would draw him close to Himself, whatever measures it is necessary to take to get his attention.

Second, how must we pray for him?

1. Fervently–with vigor and zeal
2. Expectantly–we serve an amazing God!
3. Faithfully–regularly, persistently

When people ask me this question, I have vague feelings of being very, very busy, but I can’t for the life of me think of what has been keeping me so busy! [grin]

I’ve been sewing quite a bit. Along with modifying some of my own skirts, I sewed a skirt for my mom and and one for my cousin, as well as two for myself, and an apron for my sister. Next on the list of projects is another apron, this one for my mother.

I’ve also been spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I’ve been trying some different recipes and dishes, as well as making up some of my own dishes, using whatever I could find in the fridge. I love making up my own recipes.

In terms of school, this, of course, is my senior year. I am looking forward to graduation so very much, but I know that I must and use this time wisely, for soon it will be over. 

And what will I be doing after high school, you ask? I am earnestly and fervently praying that the Lord might provide somewhere (preferably in the U.S.) where I might serve for a period of six months or more. A foster home, or group home, training center, etc., are the kind of facilities I am considering. I have a few possible places in mind, but none of them seem quite “right.” I am praying that if it is His will for me to serve at such a place, that He will bring the perfect place for me.  I am trusting Him to work out the details, and I will watch Him work in amazement! I know He is able.

I will be graduation on May 8, 2009, with a group of other homeschoolers. For those of you who might be familiar with it, the organization is Midwest Parent Educators (MPE). This is the senior picture I chose to be used in the ceremony. 

Taken by my dear friend, Elizabeth!

Bejjing is in a frenzy of excitement and preparation.

Tearing down, building up, these have been the theme of the past years in Bejjing.
The Chinese government has erected many new churches, all under the name of The Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

Of course, when millions flock to Bejjing, and millions more see it from their television screens, Chinese officials want to make sure that everyone knows there is religious freedom in China.

Just ten minutes from Olympic Village in Bejjing (the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics), the door of Pastor Hua Huiqi’s home was welded shut and the electricity cut off by Chinese police .

Pastor Zhang Rongliang recieved a 7 1/2 year sentence in 2004. While in prison, he has experience harsh torture, including electric shock.

I would like to personally thank each of you for your prayers for our dear friends, the Hausmann family! 

.::{View the first post, Sad news}::.

Here is the latest news we have heard:

As of Saturday morning, Anna had not been responsive after aenesthesia (sp?) from the eye surgery to repair a torn retina or cornea on her left eye.  Sunday night, we recieved an e-mail that said she had woken up!

The family also shared that they were gathered around Anna praying and singing hymns when she woke up.

Praise God! Later we also recieved this second bit of good news:

I have wonderful news! Ruth was with Anna when she removed the patch from her left eye, and she could see light!  Everything was obviously blurry, but still, that is more than anyone could have expected this soon. It just goes to show how much power there is in prayer, and I personally want to thank all of you that have been praying against all odds, that Anna’s sight might be restored. Please continue to lift her sight up in prayer, through God all things are possible, and if it is His will, her sight can be fully restored!

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Late Thursday night we recieved some very sad, shocking news. Luke Edward Hausmann, the son of our dear friends, David and Karen Hausmann, stepped into the presence of his Lord and Savior shortly before 10:00 PM Thursday night.  Luke, with three of his seven siblings, Anna (20), Ethan (19), and my good friend Julia (16), was traveling home from visiting family in Waco, TX.

A Waco news website had this to say:

(January 11, 2008)—The accident happened just before 10:00pm Thursday, on Interstate 35 in Bellmead near Loop 340.
Police say two tires from the wheels of a south-bound 18-wheeler trailer came off of the rig and crossed the median. One of the tires struck a north-bound Honda Accord. The impact apparently had enough force to cut the passenger compartment of the vehicle in half.
The driver of the Honda, 23-year-old Luke Hausmann, of Atchison, Kansas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other passengers, ages 16, 19 and 20, were all taken to a local hospital. One of the passengers is still listed in critical condition.
DPS closed the interstate, diverting all traffic to the access roads while emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage.
Other details were not immediately available.

Luke was a kind, quiet young man, who was dedicated to serving the Lord overseas. He made many extended missions trips to Cambodia, Thailand, and other places.  He loved the Lord wholeheartedly.

We have known the Hausmanns for years. They are an extremely caring, cheerful, energetic family.

The time we think we’ll always have to be right with others,
to be right with God.

The time we think we’ll always have to serve God,
to be kind to our siblings.

But this time can be taken away in the blink of an eye.
He was there, and then he was gone.

 .::^{their car}^::.