The Been Briefing

i have been reading charles finney's greatest sermons lately. they are absolutely phenomenal in bringing more of Jesus' life and presence in my heart. the verse i was studying yesterday was

Psalm 81,10: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

last night as i was tidying up my classroom and praying, i realized that verse applied to my classes and my students, too. whatever i have need, God is more than able and willing to fill it. i am renewed in my faith not to dishonor my Heavenly Father with small requests, but to dream as big as i can. has He not promised also to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or even imagine" (ephesians 3,20)? indeed, i am not satisfied. i want more... more of Him in my life and the lives of those around me. so i've been doing a little dreaming lately, friends. where else do big dreams come from, but the wonderful heart and mind of God?

then lauren and i were skyping late into the night. in a way it felt just like college.... sleepovers, talking until you can't keep your eyes open anymore. yay! while we were discussing the trials of classroom management, i was telling her about little min. now friends, this little 5 year old has the LOUDEST VOICE EVER. when she wants to get my attention she stands up, raises her hand high in the air (it stetches to the point of coming out of her socket), and yells at the top of her lungs, "TEACHERRRRR! TEACHERRRRR!" until i acknowledge her. that could go on for several minutes if i'm answering other kids' questions. by the time i get to her, i am exhausted. LOL. she is absolutely hilarious, but i realized that is how i want to come before the Lord. loud. insistent. desperate. it is min's attitude that grabs the attention and heart of my Heavenly Father.

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i wanted to include an update for those of you who have asked about my brother josh. he is doing "better" in that he is no longer in the hospital. he has been released for a while now and is living in a group home. we continue to pray for and believe for his complete healing.

i also am doing much better after resting this whole week. my voice has returned completely, and i'm only blowing my nose 50 times a day instead of 250 times. it's an improvement! now i am anxious to start exercising again. :)