God Stretching Me More!

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April 24th was my final exam which finished up my first full year in Seminary at Eastern Mennonite University.  This semester was one of the most intense and toughest ones for me yet.  I know it is only by God's grace that I have made it to this place thus far.  It is also profoundly touching to me where I truly get what it means to live and be moving in God's grace.  When I reflect what God has allowed me to accomplish in my weakness, hurt, pain and my personal shortcomings, I weep and am humbled in how or why God has chosen me for such a ministry.

During my week off from school, I slept a lot.  I didn't realize how exhausted I was.  I have been able to read books that have been on my reading list and not school assigned.  I have spent more one on one time with God in prayer, meditation and His word.  I also continue to do my own personal inner depth work with dream association and expressive arts.  I have worked on several mandalas this week which has been profound in what was revealed to me through them.  One of my favorite mandalas that I did was an image of God's hand at the center of my being revealing to me God's purpose and mission for my life.  I have known the calling, but there is something profound and mysterious that happens when God even shows up in unconscious ways through expressive arts.  I just continue to lay my hand on top of God's hand in the mandala.  I get emotional and weep when I do so.  I titled the mandala "Life Giving, Be Still & Peace of Mind."  With God at the center of my being leading and guiding me, He has revealed to me that He is increasing my service/mission, wisdom, love, grace and joy.  What a sacred place to be!

Thankfully, I also have been busy with real estate transactions as well.  That is my livelihood, but what I am noticing is that I am ministering to my clients in the middle of probably one of the most important and most expensive investments that they will make.  I am honored that I am able to assist them in discerning  their next move giving them peace and confidence in their transition.  I love companioning with my clients in this capacity.

So this week, I begin a month long summer school class on the Pentateuch.  I am really looking forward to it as I have grown fascinated with the Old Testament.  I have always focused more on the New Testament, but I am sensing a special calling to immerse myself in the Old Testament.  I too have found out that I have a soulful connection to the language, Hebrew in which I will be continuing further studies in the fall and spring semesters.  There is something that is emerging that I am unsure of how to name it.



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In June, God will really be stretching me as I complete my Chaplaincy/Counseling.  I will be at Gemeinschaft Home which is a resident home for male convicted felons being rehabilitated for reentry into society.  Restorative justice issues is a passion of mine.  I know that will also be a part of my greater ministry so along with my Seminary degree, I am going to add the Certificate for Restorative Justice through the Center for Justice and Peace at Eastern Mennonite University.  I am being called to help facilitate healing for individuals, their families and the community as a whole.  I also will be serving as Chaplain at Rockingham Memorial Hospital as well. 

I am humbled and excited in how God is going to stretch me more over these next few months because I know that I will experience even more of God's supernatural grace.  I am expectant to encounter God in new mysterious ways.  Let the stretching begin!  I will keep you posted in what my experiences are in the stretching!  Peace and blessings!