Old Testement Reading and Church

I was asked to do the Old Testement Reading for church today and it was Joel 2:8-32.  I thought when I found out what the reading was that it was a little lengthy, but it was in poetic form, so I went with it.  I found out after church that it was a misprint, but everything turned out alright because it did tell a story and the reading was fairly easy other than I did fumble a couple of times.  The readings and the theme of today's sermon was about the Holy Spirit.  It seems that the Holy Spirit is one of the hardest concepts to grasp and I don't claim to be an authority.

The Holy Spirit to me is the force you feel during great times, whether it is of a loss, hardship, comforting, etc.  I know in my times of worry this week when I've felt overwhelmed getting things ready for school, I have felt comforted after I've prayed and to me, I believe it's the Holy Spirit I'm feeling.  I know I felt the Holy Spirit once I accepted Jesus.  It was like a wave of relief rolled over my soul that I had never felt before.  

In my Sunday School class, a few weeks ago we talked about the Holy Spirit and we read different passages that showed evidence in the New Testement.  What I found enlightening however, was when members of the class gave their personal experiences and it made me feel good that others experienced it in similar fashion that I did.  One discussion was if people felt the Holy Spirit immediately after they have accepted Christ or does it happen later.  I'm not an expert, but I feel it is different in each experience since not one person is the same.  

On another note: I found a song that has really stuck with me by the christian group, MercyMe called Bring the Rain.  Here is a video from YouTube that someone made with the song.  Enjoy.

Busy Time

First, an update on Thumper. She is still with us. She has a hard time holding up her head, so she bumps into things, but she is still eating okay and her bodily functions are fine. We had a scare when a bump on her head released some blood, but the vet said that is normal considering how big her tumor is. We are just taking one day at a time with her.

I have been very busy with getting ready for the new school year. School starts here on Monday and I'm anxious in a nervous way.  I've been at school all week between trainings and getting our store ready, I managed to get the room ready as best as possible. No matter how much work I do, I never feel that I am ready. The regular ed. teachers have been busy trying to create units based on new guidelines and they feel like they're unprepared as well.

Not only is school keeping me busy, I've been making revisions for our project with the local newspaper and we got paid for it! Yea! Our side business did the graphic design for a supplement that will be coming out in a few weeks that deals with teenage suicide prevention. The paper gave us the information and basically, we put it together with graphics. I can't wait for it come out so I can see what it looks like on paper.

On the book front, I sold 28 books at the church and they are being shipped to me. The youth group will be getting $100 once I get all the money from the customers. I will be selling the book to faculty at my school in a couple of weeks, so it should be interesting how it will do.

Who Is God?

God exists.
Observe His creations:
The splendor of a robin
in the apple tree-
she sings dawn’s entrance.

God is beautiful.
Every flower a testament,
lush green meadows
roll across deep valleys;
We are his reflection.

God is immense.
Horizons loom on the sea,
like watercolor landscapes,
spanning forever;
His depth, beyond us.

God is near.
Look in the eyes of loving couples
and laughter of small children.
His presence touches us each day,
in ways we take for granted.

God is Love.