Hello everyone!
I'm sorry it's been such a long time since my last update.
I think a lot has happened, especially just in the past few days.
I guess to start off, I've been thinking about my brothers a lot. They've been going through some bad stuff the past few months, most of which they are very much in control of. It makes me really frustrated because I want them to be successful, and I want them to enjoy life, and ultimately I want them to please God with their lives, yet they don't seem to have those goals. Or, if they do, it seems as if they are only interested in taking the immediate path to happiness which, it is my impression, is their view of what success really is. That is, they view immediate happiness as success. I don't know how to talk with them. I want to be supportive and caring, but I don't want them to think that I agree with the decisions that they're making. Please pray for that situation. Pray for my brothers, that they would see Jesus and follow him. Pray for me, that I would not become frustrated or angry with them, but that I would apply grace to them, and that I would let my speech be "seasoned with salt," as Colossians says. Also pray that I would give this burden up to Christ, as Jesus himself instructed us to cast all our burdens on him since he cares for us.
As far as personal ministry goes, I've singled out two people on my swim team that I really want to invest a lot of time into. I believe them to be "people of peace," Please pray that I will be intent on sharing the gospel with them, not only by my actions, but also by what I say to them. Pray that God will give them open ears and open hearts.
Now, for an update on my post-graduation plans. As I said in my last blog post, Journeyman financial policies are changing, but it's still on hold. This has caused me to be very wary about getting too excited or banking too much on the idea of being a Journeyman. Furthermore, if I am accepted into the Journeyman program, I will be required to attend an expo conference in order to match me to a missionary on the field. Now, it just so happens that the next expo conference, the expo conference that would put me on the field right after I graduate, is on the exact same dates as the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championship. If you know me at all, you know that mission is immensely more important to me than swimming, but since I am getting a lot of school paid for by swimming, and since this is my last year swimming after 16 years, and since my team is counting on me, I will not be missing Nationals. So then, I will have to go to the next expo conference, which is next October. I've been somewhat concerned that I may be required to raise half the support, so I've started to make contingency plans just in case. I began applying to two grad schools several weeks ago.
A couple days ago I began feeling very anxious about after school. I'm going to miss my friends, and I still don't know what to do; should I wait and see what happens, or should I just go ahead and go to grad school? Well, yesterday I spent much of the day praying and reading Scripture and I began to feel more and more like I should really put effort into finishing my Journeyman application and then I should just wait for God to move. I've decided this is what I'm going to do. My goal is to finish my Journeyman application entirely by Thanksgiving.
Thanks for following and reading, and please pray that God will shape me into the person that He wants me to be. Pray that God will be shown to others around me and pray that I am diligent in my studies and my swimming.
Grace and peace,
Andrew
I'm sorry it's been such a long time since my last update.
I think a lot has happened, especially just in the past few days.
I guess to start off, I've been thinking about my brothers a lot. They've been going through some bad stuff the past few months, most of which they are very much in control of. It makes me really frustrated because I want them to be successful, and I want them to enjoy life, and ultimately I want them to please God with their lives, yet they don't seem to have those goals. Or, if they do, it seems as if they are only interested in taking the immediate path to happiness which, it is my impression, is their view of what success really is. That is, they view immediate happiness as success. I don't know how to talk with them. I want to be supportive and caring, but I don't want them to think that I agree with the decisions that they're making. Please pray for that situation. Pray for my brothers, that they would see Jesus and follow him. Pray for me, that I would not become frustrated or angry with them, but that I would apply grace to them, and that I would let my speech be "seasoned with salt," as Colossians says. Also pray that I would give this burden up to Christ, as Jesus himself instructed us to cast all our burdens on him since he cares for us.
As far as personal ministry goes, I've singled out two people on my swim team that I really want to invest a lot of time into. I believe them to be "people of peace," Please pray that I will be intent on sharing the gospel with them, not only by my actions, but also by what I say to them. Pray that God will give them open ears and open hearts.
Now, for an update on my post-graduation plans. As I said in my last blog post, Journeyman financial policies are changing, but it's still on hold. This has caused me to be very wary about getting too excited or banking too much on the idea of being a Journeyman. Furthermore, if I am accepted into the Journeyman program, I will be required to attend an expo conference in order to match me to a missionary on the field. Now, it just so happens that the next expo conference, the expo conference that would put me on the field right after I graduate, is on the exact same dates as the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championship. If you know me at all, you know that mission is immensely more important to me than swimming, but since I am getting a lot of school paid for by swimming, and since this is my last year swimming after 16 years, and since my team is counting on me, I will not be missing Nationals. So then, I will have to go to the next expo conference, which is next October. I've been somewhat concerned that I may be required to raise half the support, so I've started to make contingency plans just in case. I began applying to two grad schools several weeks ago.
A couple days ago I began feeling very anxious about after school. I'm going to miss my friends, and I still don't know what to do; should I wait and see what happens, or should I just go ahead and go to grad school? Well, yesterday I spent much of the day praying and reading Scripture and I began to feel more and more like I should really put effort into finishing my Journeyman application and then I should just wait for God to move. I've decided this is what I'm going to do. My goal is to finish my Journeyman application entirely by Thanksgiving.
Thanks for following and reading, and please pray that God will shape me into the person that He wants me to be. Pray that God will be shown to others around me and pray that I am diligent in my studies and my swimming.
Grace and peace,
Andrew
