Because of the lack of a title...

Sooo, I started this post like three weeks ago and have worked on it a dozen times since then. I think that I just need to to click the "publish now" button, or it shall never get posted... :)

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Ahhh...Senior year at Cornerstone has proven already to be providing a plethora of new experiences, or perhaps they are more appropriately called blessings. Just the other day I was thinking of all the ways that God has blessed me, and the song "Count Your Blessings" came to mind.... Yes, God's blessings are numerous and I do not have much to complain about in life.

The lesson in Sunday school one of the first weeks that I was back at school was on trusting God. The timing could not have been better. (By the way, have you ever stopped to think about how God brings something into your life at just the time that you need it? It is pretty incredible sometimes!) Yes, I believe that the more a believer grows in his relationship with the Lord, the more he will trust in Him. A couple points were mentioned concerning reasons for why we so frequently fail to trust God.

Perhaps one of the reasons for our lack of trust is because it is an issue of time: whatever it is, we want it now and we are not willing to wait on the Lord to bring His plan to pass in His perfect timing. Or another aspect could be that we may have "the end" in mind and so flawlessly planned out that we fail to even think of trusting in the Lord to bring it to pass. It may also be that we so often fail to trust God because we have the idea that if we do give it over to Him, the end result may be drastically different from what we imagined it to be (which is all too often mistakenly equated with being an unpleasant thing . If only we could learn once and for all that God's ways are soo much better than ours...life would be so much easier.) Or perhaps a further reason, in all honesty, may be that we simply prefer to do things in our own way. To trust God would suggest a possible modification....

For some reason, as I have been writing this, the second verse of the song Satisfied keeps running through my mind, even though it doesn't really talk about trusting...perhaps it is because of the mindset of looking to Him instead of around me that the words communicate:

Feeding on the husks around me, till my strength was almost gone,

Longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on.

Hallelujah! I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved!

Jesus satisfies my longings -- Thru His blood I now am saved."

As has been alluded to, somewhat, in one of my previous posts, I am very thankful for the way that God continues to work in my life, that He is not done with me yet, that there remains posted in my life a "construction zone" sign because of His continual work to conform me to His image! Unfortunately, it's not always very fun to be experiencing God's work zones... (The results are definitely worth it, however!)

"Ready or not, here I come!"

That is about how I feel right now about this coming semester--whether I'm ready for it or not, it is here and I must face it; I don't have the option of saying "wait! I'm not ready!"

Sometime,(preferably within the next few days or weeks), I hope to get some pictures up from my time in Burney, California with Christiana's family...

(and also possibly write something a little deeper than my last post. =] )

Until then...

T.h.e Y.e.a.r...

As I look over this year, I cannot help but wonder where it went. It seriously seems as if the Fall semester just started, and here it is, just a few days until the New Year--2011! So much has taken place, that I suppose I shall just start writing as various highlights of the year come to mind...not necessarily in order of occurrence or of importance...

My freshman year at Cornerstone Bible Institute was absolutely amazing--I practically loved every single minute of it: I started making friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. I discovered that the class I thought I would least enjoy was my favorite class, and I experienced the challenges of being on my own (in other words, the challenge of being away from family, even though there were forty other individuals who I saw every day of school, practically 24/7.) I decided that I like to write papers because they force me to study out something that I wouldn't necessarily research otherwise. From the various classes I had, my understanding of who God is and my relationship with Him took on a whole new dimension. Freshman year was an great introduction to college life.

Over this last summer, God provided an amazing opportunity to go on a missions trip to Chicago with the youth group at Medora Community Bible Church. It was stretching. It was way out of my comfort zone. It caused me to consider where God might possibly be leading me in the future. It was the by far the highlight of my entire summer. (If you haven't read about it yet, you can read part 1 and part 2 on my blog.)

This August, however, upon starting the semester, life became more of a reality--a few more bumps in a road that had suddenly became a bit more curvy, and the directions to the destination seemed a bit smudged and blurry. Because Cornerstone is only three years instead of four, upon completing the semester this Decemeber, I am now halfway done with my time here at Cornerstone. Talk about scary. This has brought on much pondering about life after CBI: "What opportunities should I pursue?" "Where should I go?" "When should I do such and such?" and the list just goes on and on... Thoughts about the possibilities of this coming summer make me just about burst with excitement!

Something different this past semester has been that I am no longer the only Lehrman here at Cornerstone: Patrice is also studying here! While we aren't roommates, we are next-door to each other and see each other every day (and occasionally get to actually have a real conversation!) It has been good to have family around!

During Spring Break, I stayed with the Shively family: one of the things that I got to do that I had never done before was shoot a black powder rifle! Because Dad never did any hunting (at least not while I've been around!), I didn't grow up with these kind of grown-up toys around the house, so I really don't know much about them. Since coming to CBI, however, I am slowing learning (or at least hearing) about the world of guns and hunting (might I add that that also goes for football--I don't quite get it, but maybe by the end of my time in Hot Springs....)

Missions Conference in October was excellent. I especially enjoyed hearing about the ministry that the Davidsons have in Scotland and also the special task of translating God's Word that Bibles International is doing. It was exciting to hear about different ministries going on around the world and to see that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him!

I am thankful for the privilege that I had last semester of helping with a weekly Backyard Bible Club and also being involved with the youth group. Both of these provided opportunities to minister and build relationships...even if only in the smallest ways.

While it may not seem like anything very big to anyone else, for me it is: I had the amazing privilege of adding a particular phone number to my list of contacts this year. This was not just any number--it's listed under "Mom 'n Dad." Until this past summer, the only way that I could get a hold of them was through email or Skype. Because of the way that the internet is set up here at school, Skype is not exactly the ideal way to get a hold of them. Now, however, with Magic Jack (which provides them with an actual number--here in the U.S.-- even though they are in Brazil) I can call them any time I want and it is not a long-distance phone call! Need I say that even though we're on different continents, I have come to appreciate my parents and my relationship with them even more over the past year?

As I look back over this year, a lot has taken place over the last twelve months. Through it all--both good and bad--God has been good and faithful. I am excited to see what 2011 is going to bring and discover how God is going to work, both in my life and in the lives of those around me, to conform us to the image of Christ!

Christmas break is almost here...not even 24 hours left until it begins! wooohoo! :) For about three amazing weeks, there will be no more reading (only if I want to), no more assignments due, and no more late nights with early mornings a few hours later(only if that is what I so wish to do). No more intakes of coffee that are double what I usually drink . No more dorm cleaning. It has been a great semester, but I am soo looking forward to Christmas break!

California, here I come! :)

Cornerstone Bible Institute has begun it's 2010 fall semester! We are now two weeks into the school year, and I am excited! However, I can already see that it is going to be very different from my freshman year! But you know, that's ok. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for me this year, whether He teaches me through blessings or trials. I read this verse this morning. The last phrase caught my eye, and it was so encouraging:

"Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

Isn't it wonderful to know what we have God's grace to take us through our times of need?

*smile*

A while back, I was struck by the significance of a smile...

It can make the world of a difference to have someone look at you and simply smile...

A smile can say more than a dozen words put together...

These people make me smile...

Who makes you smile?

Some pictures from the last few days. . .

Finally...a few glimpses from my life here at college!

Fellow "dorm-mates"

Left-Right:

Leah, Christiana, Liz, me, Melinda (she's a great roommate!) and Anna

Go Freshmen girls!!

Left - Right:

Christian, Lydia, me, Jennifer, Nikki, Bethanne

Front: Annaka, Anna

Having fun on Friday night playing "four on a couch." If you've never played it, you s hould sometime--it's really fun!

Left-Right: Celeste, Me, Stephen, Isaac, and Michael

Hanging out with the cool penguin one of the girls got from her secret prayer sister. :)

Angostura--the lake that we've gone to several times on the weekend, and, of all things, I got burnt from being out in the sun! For some reason, I had in my mind that SD is all about snow, snow, snow! I never drempt I would get a sunburn one of the first weekends that I'm here! :) Yes, I think I already have a fondness for this place!

Freshmen-bonding time at the park on the merry-go-round

Left-right: Lydia, Jennifer, Anna, and I


Anna (the other MK girl from Brazil--how cool is that?), me, Isaac

As I spun 'round and 'round. . .



A cool picture --I just had to put it on. :)



And there you have it...many thanks to Anna and Isaac for all the pictures!! (unfortunately, I don't have a camera. . .) Hopefully there will be pictures from the Labor Day picnic coming up soon!

P.S. Just in case you might be wondering, life here at CBI isn't all play! No way! There is a lot of studying and homework that we have to do, I just don't have any pictures of it. :)

My Days

Here are a few things that have been filling my days lately:

• Piano practice--for my recital the end of April, I will be playing a duet of the "Hallelujah" chorus with another girl! I think it will actually sound pretty good after we practice a lot more! I'm kind of excited about it!


• Applications forms--both for school and work. Ahh, it feels soo good to finally get those done and have them sent off! Not to mention all of the references that I had to get for them! I sent off my application for Cornerstone Bible Institute, and will anxiously await word from them; I also am nervously looking forward to getting a job interview over with tomorrow! If everything goes well, I'll be working at a nursing home that is right across the street from where I'll be living this summer, which will help a lot with car expenses!
  
• "Sharing God's Gift"--Last week was the last class for this wonderful class. Wow, it seems like it just started, and here it is, over already! However, even though the class officially ended last Saturday, in reality, it has only begun! I now need to continue to put what I learned into practice in my everyday life! I wish every church had such a class available for the believers to take!
  
• Blog posts--In case some of you haven't noticed, my blog has had a lot of activity on it lately! I honestly don't know what happened--all of a sudden, it is like I am always thinking of something or another that I can post on, and I'm loving it! Hopefully I can keep it up!


• Travels--A little over a week ago, my family and I went up to Minnesota and to visit several relatives of my mom and a couple other contacts that we haven't seen in years. I loved seeing all of the pine trees, evergreens, or whatever those kind of tree are called, but I did not enjoy having to walk in all of the mud that was everywhere--especially on the farms! ugh! I certainly am not a farm girl, even though I did grow up in Brazil where things can sometimes be very rustic! We then went to Illinois for our mission's banquet--they hold it every year, but I do not remember the last time I went to one, so it was good to be able to go to it this year.
• "The Zion Chronicles"--This fantastic book series by Bodie Thoene has occupied more of my spare time than it should. (If I start reading a good book, I cannot put it down until I'm done with it!) If you haven't read it, you should! It is historical fiction with a little of everything: history, romance, suspense and mystery, and Christianity. The third book of the series is by far, in my opinion, the best of the three that I have already read! Oooh, I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen to everyone! "Will he be okay?" "And what about her--who is she? Is she really who she says she is?" Read it, and you'll find out the answers!
• Company--My parent's time here in the US is quickly coming to an end, and we realized that there are a lot of people from church that we still want to have over, so we decided that we just needed to start having someone over every week or so (creative strategy, not?) Last week we had a wonderful time with Pr. Ron, our youth pastor, and his family. This weekend, my aunt, cousin, and my counsin's two children, are also coming over for Easter, so we should have a housefull!

What has been going on in your life? I would love to hear from you--leave a comment or send me an email at ang_lehrman89@yahoo.com if you want!