Praying, Vicki.  After that Grade full joke you obviously need some rest.
Heh-heh.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "j.ireland" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 8:38 PM
Subject: Thoughts out loud


> Hi Family,
>
> Though none of us find ourselves in super difficulties compared to some of
> our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, I wanted to share
this
> passage with you.  I love how it is rendered in The Message.  Puts a
> different slant and allows thoughtful application.  Maybe it will minister
> to you and just maybe you can relate.
>
> 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
>
> If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this
> precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.
> That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.
> As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that
> we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles,
> but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,
> but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized,
> but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't
broken.
>
> And again, in a little more traditional version:
> 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (amplified)
> However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the
Gospel]
> in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding
> greatness of the power may
> be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
> We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every
> way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are
perplexed
> and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
> We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand
> alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and
> destroyed;;
>
> As always I've been reading though not writing much.  Also have been
praying
> for you and the special needs which have been shared.
>
>   Speaking of writing, I am trying to work on a final project for English.
> Having trouble with the project because it has to be in a particular
format
> that's pretty strict.  That aside, it was supposed to be a group project
but
> since my group dissolved in to thin air, this project has been difficult
to
> get a good handle on for me.  So if you could pray that I get a God idea
on
> it and a fresh wind as well as good wisdom, and of course I'd love a good
> grade.  And for that, I'd be gradeful; get it?  If grate-full means full
of
> grates, what ever those are, I'd rather be grade full, full of good
grades.
> Maybe I better just say I'd be thankful. .  I'm working on getting a more
> positive attitude too.  LOL.  Also have to have other interim assignments
> completed.  However, I have to have something to show in the morning.  And
> that's only less than 12 hours from now.
>
> I think I remember about this time of the semester each semester going
> through the student doldrums; ready to have this semester finished with a
> good grade and thinking about classes for the next one.  So maybe other
> students like Rhonda and Blake could use our prayers too.  Anybody else
who
> is a student for that matter, just in case I've left anyone out.
>
> While I'm thinking about all this, I also again, am so impressed with the
> faithfulness of the God we serve.  Sometimes he does stuff in our lives in
> spite of us, not because of us.  That was the case for me recently when he
> relieved some major stress in a miraculous way.  A way I don't understand
to
> this very day.  I only know of the results and know that it could have
been
> put together by none other than our God.  Perhaps a story for another
time.
>
> Work hasn't changed, there are some decisions to be made there.  I hate
> living in the State of Wait.  Don't remember that in my geography classes
as
> being a part of these here United States.  Grin!
>
> You all are the best.
>
> Blessings,
> Vicki