End of Semester

*Sigh of relief!* The semester is drawing to a close, exams will soon be over, and then it's off to California for me! Christmas seems to have crept up on me this year...no, not crept...more like SPRINTED and then TACKLED! :) This has been one long and hard semester, let me tell you. I don't even have time to feel any symptoms of senior-itus, but that's probably a good thing.

I wanted to share a truth I was reminded of the other night. I know for myself, when things get rough and I feel worn out and pressured beyond capability, there is a tendency for "Blah" to take over. You know what I mean? I see it on lots of faces this time of year. Maybe it's depression, maybe it's just not feeling interested in anything, or it's a completely pessimistic view of things...but it feels as if you just don't have the strength to deal. Wellll this kind of funk can go on for days, and you just survive without really LIVING! This is pretty discouraging and can happen whether you are still in high school dealing with high school pressure or maybe college decisions, or at college dealing with...well, college situations or maybe future plans; or even if you are well beyond college and are dealing with disappointing life or work situations.

The point is, a very dear friend reminded me of something the other night. I was expressing to her my feelings about it and she said "Elly, I'm going to be praying for this!" And with that she took a pen and wrote on my hand, JOY, and finished with the thought, "this will be your strength, and this is what you're missing." I didn't quite get what she was saying until after she left and this verse jumped into my head as I looked at at my hand: "The JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH!" And with that reality jumped back into a true perspective as well! Saturate yourself with God's presence and the fire may singe, but it will not burn you. Great is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be GLAD in it! :)

I hope that's encouraging to some of you. Have a great last week, Grace College! I'm really going to miss a lot of you during break...but we will be back in no time! Merry Christmas and see you on the flip side!!!