My resolution for 2010 is to take a photo every day. Rather than clutter this blog, I’ve created one specifically for this purpose. If you’re interested, hop on over to http://xinamariephotography.wordpress.com!
Coming soon: Photos and news from Urbana ’09
Well, it’s pretty exciting living in Arkansas for several reasons. One is that I now am within driving distance of my good friend Rachael, who lives in the Dallas area. So, I decided to come down to visit for Labor Day weekend. I visited Irving Bible Church again today and saw several friends and supporters there. I’ll be heading back to Fayetteville tomorrow evening.
Next Friday and Saturday are the Go 1040 conference (check out the website for more info). Every Ethne is helping out a little with the conference, and we’re focusing on follow-up with students afterwards. So I’m sure that will be keeping us busy. Please pray that God will use this opportunity to mobilize a lot of college students in the northwest Arkansas area to go to the 10/40 window.
I’m also hoping to get some good work done on the XPLORE study this week. The ideal goal is to get it done by the end of the week… There’s still quite a bit to do, so I have a feeling that deadline may be stretching it a bit, but I would really like to get it as close as possible by the end of the week.
So, what are you doing for Labor Day?
2 Comments | 
Holiday, XPLORE | 
Permalink
Posted by Christina J
Happy 4th, everybody. I’m going to be spending the day with my family at my parents’ house. It should be a good time. Only 3 more days until I leave for Arkansas!
What are you doing for the 4th?
2 Comments | Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Christina J
I wanted to take the time to give you all a quick update. The trip to Michigan was good, and I got to meet some great people and hang out with some old friends I hadn’t seen in several years. :)
I left this past Monday with 3 inches of snow on the ground, and drove through another 3 hours or so of snow, and then about 6 hours of rain, and then about another 3 hours of not so bad weather, and finally arrived in Columbia, SC. It’s been great to see a lot of my CIU friends these past few days!
I hope all of you have a blessed Easter! I am very excited to celebrate the Risen Savior. :)
Leave a Comment » | Holiday, Michigan, South Carolina, Travel | Permalink
Posted by Christina J
Patrick’s family lived on a small estate near the village of Bannavem Taburniae. (This name cannot be placed on any current map of England or Wales.)
Although his father was a deacon, Patrick was not a believer:
I did not, indeed, know the true God
-Saint Patrick, Confessio, translated from Latin
In his teens, Patrick was captured by a gang of Irish pirates and taken as a slave to Ireland. Patrick came to believe that this was a punishment for his lack of faith.
He was put to work for six years herding sheep and pigs on Slemish mountain in County Antrim. While he was a shepherd, Patrick spent much of his time praying.
I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.
-Saint Patrick, Confessio, translated from Latin
In an escape bid (while he was a captive in Ireland), Patrick stowed away on a boat bound for Britain, and it landed not far from where his parents lived.
Patrick decided to follow his vocation to become a priest, and after a dream he was inspired to return to Ireland.
I seemed to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut which is near the western sea, and they were crying as if with one voice: ‘We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.
-Saint Patrick, Confessio, translated from Latin
Patrick spent several years studying before he felt ready to take up the life of a missionary.
Patrick eventually returned to Ireland, as the country’s second bishop and brought the message of Christ to many people who had never heard it.
As a missionary Patrick baptised many thousands of people.
It was not an easy task. Patrick tells how his life was at risk, and how he was sometimes imprisoned by the local pagan chiefs. We know that Patrick sometimes made things easier by giving gifts to the chiefs.
Poignantly, Patrick also writes of his longing to leave Ireland.
How I would have loved to go to my country and my parents, and also to Gaul in order to visit the brethren and to see the face of the saints of my Lord! God knows it! that I much desired it; but I am bound by the Spirit
-Saint Patrick, Confessio, translated from Latin
But he knew his duty, and remained in Ireland.
Patrick had problems not only with himself, and the local pagans, but suffered from some backbiting by fellow clergy who accused him of seeking to win personal status.
The claim nearly broke his heart, but anyone who reads his confessio will soon realise that Patrick was the last person to think that he deserved any glory for himself.
I ought unceasingly to give thanks to God who often pardoned my folly and my carelessness, and on more than one occasion spared His great wrath on me, who was chosen to be His helper and who was slow to do as was shown me and as the Spirit suggested.
-Saint Patrick, Confessio, translated from Latin
Other articles:
Will the Real St. Patrick Please Stand Up?
2 Comments | Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Christina J
This is a photo of my family on Christmas Eve. It was a pretty low-key Christmas this year, which was not at all a bad thing. It was nice to all be in one place for a little while, and to play a few games and spend time together.
I’ll be spending New Years here in Wisconsin with my sister, doing a little party hopping with different friends. And then in about two weeks I’m heading down to Texas. I’ll be speaking at The Point on January 11, and then meeting with as many people as I can to share about my ministry with the US Center and invite them to be part of my support team.
New Years seems to be a time of universal introspection and reflection. As I look back on this past year, it astounds me to see where I am now. Just a year ago, I was entering my last semester of college, saying goodbye to some wonderful friends who were moving overseas, and feeling a bit overwhelmed that I would soon need to be making decisions about the direction of the next step of life. I was still toying with the idea of moving to Texas this year, and really had no intention to be support raising this soon after college.
I feel like over the past 5 years, God has really begun to teach me the meaning of Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “
I’ve come to realize that things rarely go the way I had planned them. And yet, it always seems to work out better than I ever could have imagined. If I had known at the time where each small decision I’ve made these past few years would have taken me, I probably would not have walked in this direction. But God knew the whole path before I set out on it, and He still holds the map. And so I will continue to walk with the few footsteps I see set out in front of me, and at times I will continue on blindly, trusting all the way that God’s ways are higher than mine, and that even though I can’t understand what He’s doing all the time, I know that I can trust Him.
So, as we begin 2009, I still have a lot of unanswered questions, and I don’t know how God is going to make all the pieces fit together. But I do know the direction He has in front of me to walk, and with His continued urging and encouragement, I trust that He will keep me going on this sojourn.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
–2 Corinthians 13:14
Leave a Comment » | Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Christina J
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family.
2 Comments | Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Christina J
You are currently browsing the archives for the Holiday category.
Receive updates by email
Subscribe in a reader