Mar.12.04

Waiting is a big part of life. Often we view it as a passive stage that we must endure. But I have discovered it's not always so.

I graduated from college without direction so I waited on the Lord. Continually I asked Him what I was suppose to be doing. I did not have peace about starting in art as a career, even if that was what I studied for four years in college. A job in a different field was an option so I looked into that. There seemed to be a lot of pressure from people as if I was suppose to have figured out what I wanted to do with my life since I had graduated. I wondered if most people graduated with the knowledge of what they would be doing with a majority of their life, or if it was all a process. I suppose it would have been much easier if God revealed His plan to me immediately. Often I found myself thinking, "if only I had some kind of big dream or vision to direct me. Surely some idea of what to do is better than none whatsoever." I experienced a lot of frustration because the only thing God kept telling me was...you guessed it..."Wait.

I have since come to the conclusion that people go through life in a process-like manner. Waiting is usually a big part of it in one form or another. I suppose if one does not know God and how He works, waiting is just a link from one stage of life to another. But if God IS in control and does everything for a certain purpose, then one can realize that waiting itself is an important stage of life that cannot be eliminated. I finally realized that months later. At the turn of the new year, God showed me that that waiting was indeed an active stage of life. Maybe not active in the things I hoped for nor expected, but active nonetheless.

God used that waiting time in the past few months to actively teach me and deepen my relationship with Him. A seed does not bloom overnight, but rather goes through little growth spurts before it reaches maturity. In the same way, the "big dream" is not always seen immediately (following graduation), but becomes clearer as we ascend the ladder towards it. For me, God has chosen to reveal the steps before the dream. And as for not having not having my own "big dream" which would have seemed easier, God chose to give me none at this point to make sure my plan was His. In the end, it is better.

It is now March and God has opened a marvelous door of opportunity!! I will be going to India for three months on a trip with a missionary couple and my friend Kristy. The couple has been working in the region of India and other parts of Asia doing literacy and translation work in various native languages. The Champeons have been looking for an artist to assist them in their work to improve the methods of teaching the natives their written language. While people in the local churches establish translations of the Bible, we will be paving the way to help prepare these people to read the Bible in their own tongue. When my friend told me of this opportunity, as a side thought on her part, I heard the Lord telling me "This is what you have been waiting for.

Feb.7.04

It's time I updated my website and with the update I wanted to add this section. Most of my site doesn't change too often, but I hope to update this part regularly to keep you up to tabs on what's happening in my life. There's not a whole lot to write about at this point since things are at a stationary point right now, but you just never know where God turns the corner...