Okay, so you know how you sometimes commit to something and you're loving it - and yet you then take on a huge project which sounds so great but then you're halfway through and you realize that you really are insane for doing it? Yeah, okay that sounds pretty confusing but here's what's going on.....
First of all - I recommend that if you are going to take the FLAME courses do not try to schedule them all into your own neat little box. If you try this you will find out quite quickly that all your plans will go awry. Please take your time and understand that God's perfect plan for you is in place regardless of how quickly you feel you need to do everything. ** Yes, I plan to keep coming back and reading this myself **
I have the following classes that I'm in the midst of -
Evangelism and Church Health - have approximately 60 more hours of work to do prior to May 15.
Christian Education - have approximately 20 more hours of work to do prior to May 18.
Bible Study Methods - have to do my final project - an inductive study of John 13-16 - approximately 4 hours of work, but very intense.
Pre-course work for April classes - Read through most of the Old and New Testament and do the complete study guides for both. This requires at least 3-4 hours a day.
NOW HERE'S THE INSANITY PART - I decided to remodel my bathroom during all of this! Yep, I truly do think I've lost my mind. Even though I have a wonderful contractor doing it - Joe Yoder, Y-K Construction in Hayward - I still get to deal with everything that's going on.
And of course because that is not enough for SUPERWOMAN - I have also had a 21 year old that I hired to do yard work and clean up, another guy who is cutting down trees in the yard, and another guy who is painting my living room (requiring me to get everything out of the living room, hereby restricting me to a tiny space in my kitchen). TA-DUMMMMMMM - See I told you - SUPERWOMAN!
Oops - and everything else going on at the Church with Benevolence and many other things.
Here's the question of the day - How many hours are in a day????
So again - I'm Loving it / Insanity......
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Ok - so 2 out of 3 isn't so bad....LOL.......
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
A new day
It is a new day! Praise God for every beautiful day we have here on this planet He created just for us!
It was difficult transitioning back into everyday life after I returned from attending my ministry classes. You feel lost, like something is missing. It actually took a few days to feel like I was home again. It's hard to explain, but anyone who has taken FLAME classes understands what I mean.
I have my next week of classes coming up at the end of April. I decided to go forward and take the classes even though my pre-class work load is outrageous. I'll have to step back from doing some things that I might have taken on, but I truly feel that God is leading me forward in this.
The last three days have been very hectic in trying to get studying done. I have had many appointments at the Church and am trying to keep up with phone calls, meetings, etc. - and then of course, making time for my dog and enjoying this stunning weather.
I'm also trying to get moving again and get the rest of this weight off. My goal is to do a few 5k's this summer. I have to lose about 15 pounds before I would feel comfortable and know that I won't harm myself. This will require doing at least 25-30 miles a week to get to the fitness level I need to be at.
I'm currently reading Exodus and "discovered" the following:
Exodus 13:16 - And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with His mighty hand.
now take a look at Revelation 14:1 - Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
(Praise God - and there before me was the Lamb! - Come Lord Jesus, Come!!!!)
Also see, Revelation 14:9 - A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives the mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath."
May God bless you!
Your Sister in Christ,
Margaret
It was difficult transitioning back into everyday life after I returned from attending my ministry classes. You feel lost, like something is missing. It actually took a few days to feel like I was home again. It's hard to explain, but anyone who has taken FLAME classes understands what I mean.
I have my next week of classes coming up at the end of April. I decided to go forward and take the classes even though my pre-class work load is outrageous. I'll have to step back from doing some things that I might have taken on, but I truly feel that God is leading me forward in this.
The last three days have been very hectic in trying to get studying done. I have had many appointments at the Church and am trying to keep up with phone calls, meetings, etc. - and then of course, making time for my dog and enjoying this stunning weather.
I'm also trying to get moving again and get the rest of this weight off. My goal is to do a few 5k's this summer. I have to lose about 15 pounds before I would feel comfortable and know that I won't harm myself. This will require doing at least 25-30 miles a week to get to the fitness level I need to be at.
I'm currently reading Exodus and "discovered" the following:
Exodus 13:16 - And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with His mighty hand.
now take a look at Revelation 14:1 - Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
(Praise God - and there before me was the Lamb! - Come Lord Jesus, Come!!!!)
Also see, Revelation 14:9 - A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives the mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath."
May God bless you!
Your Sister in Christ,
Margaret
Monday, March 15, 2010
First FLAME Classes
Wow - what a week! I can't begin to say how much my soul was touched by God!
Drove a total of 1,343 miles during the course of the week. The shortest day of classes was 12 hours, with the longest being 15 1/2 hours. Lots of prayer, and God providing His amazing strength, kept me going.
I can't begin to say how powerful it was to attend FLAME classes. I have taken 2 correspondence classes and have learned quite a bit, but nothing compares to attending FLAME classes on-site.
Every day begins with worship and praise with fellow ministerial students. There is no pretense, no caring about appearances - just praising God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength! Many were crying due to the Holy Spirit moving through the room, people falling to their knees or not being able to stand up from their chairs. You felt God so strongly in the room and you knew He was touching you deeply.
After praise and worship we went to prayer groups. In my group we had 9 ladies. The first day, due to not knowing each other, it was a little restrained. But believe me, by the end of the week we were hugging each other through prayer, and truly, deeply praying and loving each other with everything we had.
Wednesday night was a night I won't forget. We had a special communion service. God moved His mighty hand and the Holy Spirit was ablaze in the room. I sit here trying to type this with tears streaming down my face as I recall that night. When the bread was broken and the wine poured out for our Lord's forgiveness I broke down. Many of us could not even go up for a while, and even then you couldn't stand. I can't begin to say the full extent of this service.
I had two classes - the first part of the week was Bible Study Methods and the second half was Church Leadership. I was blessed with 2 wonderful Professors - both who truly loved to teach and open us to the passion they felt.
I loved Inductive Bible Study! How amazing to discover so much more in the Bible! I was actually impatient to return home and start studying my Bible this way. I would love to teach others how to do this type of studying.
Church Leadership opened my eyes. I never really thought of all the things you need to do. I've always been talented in management. Now I've learned that management is one thing - leadership is all together different. I can't thank Professor John Vernon enough for his teachings! What a wonderful teacher!
And then there was the food!!! Wow - if you could have seen the spread the wonderful, gifted brothers and sisters in the kitchen prepared for us each day! I can't begin to thank them enough for the wonderful food, the selections and then of course, the snacks throughout the day! It's going to take me a week to burn everything off.
I truly believe that everyone who takes FLAME should be required to take at least half of their Ministry classes in person. Your heart and soul are touched on so many levels!
May God Bless each and every one of you!
Drove a total of 1,343 miles during the course of the week. The shortest day of classes was 12 hours, with the longest being 15 1/2 hours. Lots of prayer, and God providing His amazing strength, kept me going.
I can't begin to say how powerful it was to attend FLAME classes. I have taken 2 correspondence classes and have learned quite a bit, but nothing compares to attending FLAME classes on-site.
Every day begins with worship and praise with fellow ministerial students. There is no pretense, no caring about appearances - just praising God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength! Many were crying due to the Holy Spirit moving through the room, people falling to their knees or not being able to stand up from their chairs. You felt God so strongly in the room and you knew He was touching you deeply.
After praise and worship we went to prayer groups. In my group we had 9 ladies. The first day, due to not knowing each other, it was a little restrained. But believe me, by the end of the week we were hugging each other through prayer, and truly, deeply praying and loving each other with everything we had.
Wednesday night was a night I won't forget. We had a special communion service. God moved His mighty hand and the Holy Spirit was ablaze in the room. I sit here trying to type this with tears streaming down my face as I recall that night. When the bread was broken and the wine poured out for our Lord's forgiveness I broke down. Many of us could not even go up for a while, and even then you couldn't stand. I can't begin to say the full extent of this service.
I had two classes - the first part of the week was Bible Study Methods and the second half was Church Leadership. I was blessed with 2 wonderful Professors - both who truly loved to teach and open us to the passion they felt.
I loved Inductive Bible Study! How amazing to discover so much more in the Bible! I was actually impatient to return home and start studying my Bible this way. I would love to teach others how to do this type of studying.
Church Leadership opened my eyes. I never really thought of all the things you need to do. I've always been talented in management. Now I've learned that management is one thing - leadership is all together different. I can't thank Professor John Vernon enough for his teachings! What a wonderful teacher!
And then there was the food!!! Wow - if you could have seen the spread the wonderful, gifted brothers and sisters in the kitchen prepared for us each day! I can't begin to thank them enough for the wonderful food, the selections and then of course, the snacks throughout the day! It's going to take me a week to burn everything off.
I truly believe that everyone who takes FLAME should be required to take at least half of their Ministry classes in person. Your heart and soul are touched on so many levels!
May God Bless each and every one of you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Off to FLAME Classes
Good morning everyone! Saturday I leave for my first FLAME classes (besides the correspondence classes I'm taking).
Just to give you an idea of the intensity of the class schedule:
I had to read a book a week and write a paper on 3 out of the 4 of them.
Classes run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday thru Friday. On Wednesday night there is a special communion service at 6:45 (this means a 12 hour day). We can only hope that our teachers do not give us homework for that night.
The first day of class we are tested on our knowledge retained of the books we read.
Wow - it's going to be a busy week!
Please keep me in your prayers during this week. Most of you do not know this but I have a spinal disability. Please pray that my back will hold up this week! If I don't attend all the classes I don't pass. I'm walking forward with full faith in God that He will sustain and strengthen me as He always does. Let His perfect will be done!
I'll be writing an overview of everything upon my return. May God Bless each and every one of you! In the Holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior - onward Christian Soldiers!
Just to give you an idea of the intensity of the class schedule:
I had to read a book a week and write a paper on 3 out of the 4 of them.
Classes run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday thru Friday. On Wednesday night there is a special communion service at 6:45 (this means a 12 hour day). We can only hope that our teachers do not give us homework for that night.
The first day of class we are tested on our knowledge retained of the books we read.
Wow - it's going to be a busy week!
Please keep me in your prayers during this week. Most of you do not know this but I have a spinal disability. Please pray that my back will hold up this week! If I don't attend all the classes I don't pass. I'm walking forward with full faith in God that He will sustain and strengthen me as He always does. Let His perfect will be done!
I'll be writing an overview of everything upon my return. May God Bless each and every one of you! In the Holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior - onward Christian Soldiers!
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