The semester is almost over. WOW! It has gone by so fast. I cant believe that my first semester at Criswell is almost behind me. I would like to describe tonight a quick review of this school year for y'all.
I started off by meeting two really great guys who made return to the classroom a whole lot easier. My friend Ross was used by the Lord to help me make it. Showing me how and what needs to be done for class. My stays at his house on Sunday nights have been very interesting. Barley knowing one another as of August, God has brought us to become good friends. He is a humble guy and again a wonderful friend to have.
Walking into the classroom this year I was scared and intimidated. I thought to myself several times "God are you sure you called me to do this", or " Was I hearing my own thoughts". I have since learned that God truly called me to this school to learn and serve him. The amount of reading has really opened my eyes. The discipline you have to place into your life to accomplish the amount of work required has to be strong. It is so easy to say "I will read tomorrow", but tomorrow there is reading for that day so you can get behind. The Lord has blessed me with being able to keep up, but it is sure hard to stay on top.
Following that I lead you into the theology. I have learned this semester that we will never totally agree with everything we are taught. You go to a church you love and you agree so closely with everything, then you walk into a Christian school and BOOM!!!!! Everything you have believed seems at first to be all wrong. As you pay attention though, you seem to agree with them, it is just that you have been taught something that I now call the "Verbal Gospel". That is were you have been taught, whether in church, by family and friends, but you never search deeply after it. You take what everyone else says, look at the Scripture and say " Okay it means that", never searching or praying on a true meaning to yourself. Never wandering any differently about it. I have fallen victim to that for so many years. Believing just because someone says its true, is so not right. You have to search out the meaning. You have to dig it out yourself. I know others have fallen victim to the same thing. The problem with this verbal idea is that our walk with Christ will not grow any further. I have never felt closer to God in my life. I have never dug into the Word like I should. Knowing that I have a true foundation laid in my life now has so much meaning to me. Not depending just on others to feed me but to be able to search it out myself. God will take your relationship to a whole new level, when you lay a true foundation in which you believe what you believe. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying church or listening to others is not a good thing. I am saying search it out yourself. My theology was rocked at the beginning of the school year. I mean bad!!! I didn't know where all of this had come from and wondered if I was wrong for being confused. It took a lot of prayer and searching to realize that I am being trained to defend the Gospel. So often we are not equipped inside to go up and defend what we believe and why we believe, so when we face that we tend to fall. With continuous prayer and studying though you can face those challenges head on. It has been a wonderful experience and I am so ready for next semester! I cant wait to enter the next phase of this walk that God has chosen for me to go through. The people I have met and continue to meet are awesome. God has started so many friendships with people that thanks to him will walk beside me through this time at school. The classes, I love them! They help better prepare me for God's work. The lectures indwell within to pursue God's Word deeper.
Lastly, I want to talk about my best friend in all of this, Melissa. She is amazing! She has stood right beside me in all of this. Not complaining at all she has stayed on me about my studies, and has really kept me accountable. I love her because of her nature in which she makes sure that she is so supportive. I praise God for placing her in my life 6 years ago. The love of my life, she is awesome. Melissa thank you for all that you do. I love you and am so thankful you walk with me through these days here on earth. My heart is yours and I know God will bless you for all that you are. I love you, God Bless
