#3

well i have been in richmond for about a week and a half now.. it feels like i've been here a lot longer and that's not a bad thing.  i'm here at orientation for the next 7 weeks.  so far things have been good.. pretty intense and extremely busy!  but i've met some amazing people here!  it's crazy what happens when you get 300+ people together that all have the same heart and passion for God.  i'm currently sitting in an ESL class to get certified.  i dont have to be in here but i figured it would be beneficial in the long run.. supposedly the certificate is good forever..  the downfall is the class is extremely boring and it's all day today and next saturday. i have learned some pretty awesome things and been reminded of somethings that i shouldn't forget.  the main thing the last few days is to keep my focus on Christ.  there are so many things going on here that it is easy to get distracted and completely forget to spend time with Him.

".. and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom faith depends from start to finish."  Hebrews 12:1-2   

that is a key area that has been coming up constantly lately but something else has really popped out to me.  Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter and just the definition of faith being the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen, has been quite encouraging.  later on in that same  chapter the author is describing Enoch (verses 5-6).  He is described as being approved as pleasing to God and in order to be in that same category one has to have faith, believe, and sincerely seek him.   so i decided that i want to pleasing to God.  i want him to say that he is proud of me or pleased with me and through that i want to sincerely seek him.