Jo’s BJU Approved Blog

So…plans have changed. As of Friday morning, I thought I was moving to Delaware in August when I got back from China, but now I have to find a new school to student teach at. I decided to try to come back here and pursue Faith Baptist. I thought I was done up here, but I guess God has other plans for me which I am sure are obviously far better than the ones I had for myself. I should know by Tuesday if I can do my student teaching up here. I have lots of other options, I am just really going to have to pray about it to decide where to go if this does not work out. I’m praying that God will make it super clear because I have no idea. This Delaware thing was pretty set.

Also my “special friend” broke up with me after 6 months. It is kinda funny because I had recently called things off with him, but we worked some things out and I was ready to give him a second chance. I did not realize I was starting to compromise, but at church Wednesday night some missionaries were showing their slides and talking about their ministries and I realized that is where my heart is. That is not however where Andy’s heart is which may be fine, but I need to find someone on the same page as I am. I was going to call him Thursday night because I couldn’t wait until the weekend when he was supposed to call again, but he actually contacted me Thursday morning before work and said that he was going to stop pursuing me because we were headed in different directions. I’m glad God worked in both of our hearts so I did not have to feel like I had hurt Andy or anything. I’m sorry that it took us this long to figure out that we were not headed in the same direction, but I’ve learned a lot through it and I think I know better now what I am looking for.

God is always good and always in control. I look forward to what plans he has for me.

I’m promise I’m not really bitter but I always have an official break up song for every relationship and here is my official break-up song dedicated to Andy. Here you go:

Somebody More Like You Nickel Creek lyrics
Artist: Nickel Creek
Album: Why Should The Fire Die?
Year: 2005

I didn’t hear you say you’re sorry
The fault must be mine
I wish you all the best of luck
At finding somebody more like you

You said you’d love me always, truly
I must have changed
Cause you don’t need me like you used to
I hope you find somebody more like you

I hope you finally find someone
Someone that you trust
And give them everything
I hope you meet someone your height
So you can see eye-to-eye
With someone as small as you

You came out of nowhere, made me smile
Then tore me in two
Saying, “We’re very different people”
So dear, I hope you find somebody more like you

Reader, let us put this question–do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master”–C.H. Spurgeon

Spoiled ink

Click to read my friend’s boyfriend’s poetry.

I’m back to hanging out with my good buddy Emily. We used to hang out all the time, but I’ve hardly seen her in the last 4 months so we’ve been catching up. Yesterday we went to Pier’s Gorge and then to the little league game of her coworker’s son. It was nice to get out and do something. We’ve had some good talks too. It is funny how different our lives are and yet how similar our struggles are.

Chris Rice
8th Grade
remember the days when life was not so mysterious
follow me down the hall to the cafeteria
where the worst thing i could mess up
was dipping yesterday’s corn dog in last week’s ketchup
back in the 8th grade

Step out into the hall and feel the moment pass
Slam the locker, there’s the bell, we’re running to class
‘Cause Mr. Jackson told us,”Don’t be late to geometry again”
We’re back in the 8th grade

I drop my books, sit down and mess with my hair
Suzie looks at me and smiles, I’m walking on air
Then I hear my name, I missed the question, I mumble something
The class is laughing, oh i love the 8th grade

*chorus*
Why does the past always seem safer?
Maybe because at least we know me made it
And why do we worry about the future?
When every day will come just the way the Lord ordained it
You can believe it, yeah, just like the 8th grade

Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil

Psalm 59:16,17
I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sara Groves
First Song

In the morning when I rise
Help me to prioritize
All the thoughts that fill my day
Before my schedule
Tells me that my day is full
Before I’m off and on my way

I want to praise you
I need to praise you
Let the first song that I sing
Be praises to my God and king

Before the curtains part
Before my day is starting
Before I make up the bed
Before the snooze alarm
Reminds me that it’s morning
Before the dreams have left my head

I want to praise you
I need to praise you
Let the first song that I sing
Be praises to my God and king

(Praise the Lord, Praise Him - repeat)

Before my feet hit the floor
I’ll praise you Lord, I’ll praise you Lord
Before I fill my cup

I’ll lift you up, I’ll lift you up
Before I start my day
I’ll sing your praise, I’ll sing your praise

Before I start my car
Before I get too far
I want to praise you
I need to praise you Lord
Let the first song that I sing
Be praise to my God and king

I thought you guys could all use a laugh. This is what my poor roommates have to see every morning. My hair always looks something like this in the morning. Sometimes even napping is dangerous for my hair. It has mind of its own. Thankfully my security is not even remotely based on my looks.

“your shrug could fill a thesaurus
but your words would struggle for haiku” from “a trade in silence” by Paul Grimsley

As I hand in my last paper, and study for my last test, and hand in my last devo accountability, etc. I can’t believe it is finally over. It has taken me 5 years, and I still have student teaching left, but I’m done here. So weird…I actually have to grow up and do something with my life. Why was I in a hurry for this moment to get here? Exciting and scary both…

Anyway I remember listening to this song the year I graduated from highschool, and it just brought back memories. Here I am at this point again, a lot closer to 25 now though…

This one goes out to all my NBBC homies.

“Graduation (Friends Forever)”

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we’re gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won’t be coming back
No more hanging out cause we’re on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don’t have another day
Cause we’re moving on and we can’t slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn’t know much of love
But it came too soon
And there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone
We’d get so excited, we’d get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life’s not fair
And this is how it feels

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won’t interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it’s not goodbye
Keep on thinking it’s a time to fly
And this is how it feels

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it’s like we’re women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us ’round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it’s not goodbye
Keep on thinking it’s a time to fly

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” -C.S. Lewis

“A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” Eudora Welty

Sleepless Night
Fernando Ortega

Another sleepless night
I’m turning in my bed
Long before the red sun rises

In these early hours
I’m falling again
Into the river of my worries

When the river runs away
Look for refuge in your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Hear my anxious prayer
The beating of my heart
The pulse and the measure of my unbelief

Speak your works to me
Before I come apart
Help me believe in what I cannot see

Before the river runs away
I will call upon your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

“For what earthly reason would the Heavenly Father send down His Son
To suffer rejection and pay for crimes He had not done?
For what earthly reason would the Father let Him hang on a tree?
I wept with the answer, that one earthly reason was me”

This weekend I went on a Team China deputation meeting and the pastor’s wife sang the song that the above lyrics came from. It is always a convicting song. I think our meeting went pretty well and it was good to see my friend Heather. Almost done kids…I cannot believe that I only have this one last week of classes in my undergrad career.