Under Construction

I've had a hard time trying to think of a word to describe time, especially large, recent chunks, because I feel like...how the heck am I supposed to describe the most constructive time of my life up to this point? With the awesome opportunity of being an RA to 37 girls and discipling one of them, changing my major (which has really had a lot more affect on me than one would think), and really just the transforming of my mind, things are just different. The way I think is different, the things I think about are different, my temper is different (slower, thank goodness)... It's hard to communicate that in response to the token end-of-the-semester "So how's college?" question (especially being at the Springs for break, that seems to be the default question among everybody). But I guess I'm learning that I don't have to tell people that, maybe they'll just see it. So, the past two months were definitely...constructive. I like and use that word because it makes me think of Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus." Immediately, this verse takes me back to summer of 2001 when it was our Camp Caleb verse and the theme was "Under Construction". Right after that, I think of the many conversations around this verse that Chee and I have had this semester. I remember the night that we realized what the verse was saying, that every day, until the day of Christ Jesus, we are being perfected, our faith is being purified, we are under construction...every day! Not just for 4 years at college, not just for one or two years as an RA, not just while we're in Argentina for a semester, every day! It just blew our minds that Christ chooses to work on us every day, until His return. Now, I understand that you may be waiting to hear something that you haven't heard before, but that's it. That, and this entire semester has been finally knowing things because God's grace is allowing me to experience them, not just hearing it a billion times every day. So that's a little update since October. Sorry, blog posse.

On another note, my reading list for break is pretty ambitious, especially since it doesn't include the multitude of books (I think) I'll be getting for Christmas. I usually look forward to break being a time when I don't have to read, but I guess the introvert coming out in me is excited for lots of time by myself reading books that I've been wanting to read all semester for as long as I want.

+ The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose (almost done!)

+ Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper (working on it, but stopped to focus on the previous and because it was uncomfortably convicting. Full intentions of finishing it, though.)

+ Hearts of Fire by the Voice of Martyrs (again, working on it)

+ Pursuing the Christ by Jennifer Kennedy Dean (gift from my sweet mom for Advent)

+ The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (given to me for Christmas by my fantastic RD/ARD.)

+ The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson (in pursuit of gripping the coming summer's challenge :))

+ Sacred Singleness by Leslie Ludy (to learn for Amber, but also for myself)

This break, I, with all joy anticipate my Savior's construction in my life through working at the Springs, time with friends, and following up with relationships at the restaurant. I do not doubt what He can do, but more than that, I hopefully await and pursue that construction.

On a side note, the other day in session, one of my PreKies prayed to open up class, and I loved his prayer so much that I copied it down so I wouldn't forget. "Jesus, I hope this lesson is going to be good, and Jesus, I hope that all the people that get here today are safe, and Jesus, I hope You're having fun making our homes. Amen." :)