goals in life with prayerful expectations!

stacey and i are doing a bible study.

she of course is almost done with the book and i am on lesson two, but we are doing it. the past two lessons have been depressing and uplifting at the same time. in the beginning you feel like nothing that you do is good or enough, but the more you think about the more you see the chances you take in everyday life. i think the most important discovery we made was that you can't compare your risks to the risks that other's take.

i teach, that is a huge risk, but not everyone would see it that way. but to be responsible for the minds and hearts of young ones is a risk that i think is worth taking.

we were asked to come up with 10 life goals. i don't think i have come up with 10, but here are the ones that i have come up with.

1. to act again

2. to complete a Bible study (this may be the one!!)

3. to have another baby

4. to finish an advanced degree

5. to put together a reading seminar with princess spazzy

6. to become healthier and more physically fit

7. pare down and organize my life overall

well that is the list as it stands right now.

lesson two deals with your prayer life. what is it like? well, mine is somewhat stagnant. the word for prayer in aramaic is "slotha" which means to set a trap. well, i am now setting prayer traps. when i pray now, i am thinking more thoughtfully and being more conscious about what i pray for. it was also interesting to learn a little bit about how our brian works, and without going into much detail when you buy something new there is a part of your brain that recognizes that item when others are wearing it or driving it. your brain works that way with prayer as well. when you specifically pray for something you become more attuned and aware of things that go with that prayer. you see the opportunities more clearly.

the morning prayer meditation is amazing: "At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak, I plead my case to You and watch expectantly" (Psalm 5:3)

i have been using this in the morning to focus my thoughts for the day. i find myself calmer more focused and less crazed when i spend just a few minutes focusing on the Lord and on how He can help me through the day.

here are my prayerful expectations:

- preparing for a new job and being the best teacher i can be (hey, it may sound corny, but it is still true!)

- having patience and wisdom in being a mother to liam and wife to matthew

so there you have it folks. the first two weeks of Bible study that only took one month to complete. hey, to each his own.