Thoughts - aren't they the problem?

So often I feel like people think too much. Or perhaps they don't think enough? Maybe they don't think enough on the right things and think too much on the wrong things? Ok, too much thinking going on here....

*pause*

*breath*

The past semester has been busy beyond belief. Looking back in my life, there has never been a time before this that my time has been more consumed by activities and school. I'm not complaining because I'd rather be busy than sitting around wondering what to do. I've enjoyed being stretched and tried. Being put into different leadership roles and Christian services has been an amazing learning time. It's tested me and refined me. James 1:2-5.

I've come to the realization that my time at Frontier has been divided into 3 major sections of lessons:

Freshman year - Discipline/Devotions
Junior year - Humility/Inadequacy
Senior year - Leadership/responsibility

I don't think I could have learned these lessons in any other order. There is no way I could be a leader if I wasn't humble and servant minded. There is no way that I would have come to realize that I needed to be humble until I disciplined myself to the point of reading God's Word and seeing how to change!

During my busy schedule this semester, I've been able to think a lot about different things:
Ideas concerning purity.
Ideas concerning boldness and proclamation of the Gospel to those around me.
Ideas on persecution.
Relationships and contentment is another big thing.
Friendships and their affects on people.
Convictions - mine or the Bibles?
Internships - Here? There? Anywhere?
Love - the ultimate sacrifice
Girls - will we understand them....ever? (probably not)
Prayer

I do think one of the biggest things that has stuck out though is my recent desire to witness and talk to people! I want to tell anyone I run into about Christ. To give out a tract or to love someone. I pray for situations where I might be able to talk to someone about God. Shouldn't I find joy in that?

Another big thing I've been thinking about recently (in the past few weeks) is the idea of prayer! How we downsize prayer! Why do American Christians forget to pray? Shouldn't we look for any opportunity to practically stand in the presence of God and speak to Him? I think so! Should we so flippantly pray to God? I think not! We should FALL on our KNEES and worship God in His holiness!

Snow - it's evil - just thought I'd say that.

When someone hurts, I want to take it from them. Recently, I've found someone who relates to my "problem" of taking on everyone's problems. Feeling their pain. It was a good time and discussion. She's become quite a good friend of mine (ya'll who are reading this, don't take this the wrong way. She's a good friend. No Mom, I'm not bringing home a "pretty princess". She's not that girl).

Is this really a problem? I think it's a blessing in so many ways actually. Perhaps it might affect me in some ways, but I'd rather be able to help a person through something and trade my self-comfort for their assurance that I am there for them even though I may not fully understand their circumstances. A verse that has helped me recently a lot is Ps. 34:17-18. It's been comforting many times since I've found it. Thank you God for Your Word.

Laughter - a blessing, except when you laugh at the wrong time. This happen either in chapel when everyone is quiet and you just got the joke that was told 5 minutes ago, or when something sad happens and you don't pick up on it and you say something sarcastic or funny. Avoid these situations at all costs (unless you want some good stories to tell your grandchildren).

I've enjoyed decorating my room. I have mountain dew cut outs all over and other cardboard boxes up on the wall, as well as all of the cans that my roommate and I have drunken (I know it's not a word, but I like it) over the past semester. It looks like a good 50 cans or so right now. 2/3's are mine...:-).

So, there are my thoughts. Take them, leave them. You might disagree on some things (such as snow being evil), but they are what's on my mind. God is good - end of story!

Adam