I set you as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

This week so far in Goa has been the most relaxing and refreshing week of my life. I have never in my 23 years of living set aside an entire week to rest in the Lord. It is the fourth commandment! Resting is mentioned over and over again in the Bible and as Christians I know we feel like now that we live under the "new covenant" we no longer need to rest. That is a part of Moses' law, not our law. How far from the truth can we get?! The author of Hebrews stresses the fact that we still have not entered that rest promised to Israel thousands of years ago. If the rest God promised had truly been conquering the promised land then God would have stopped speaking of rest after Joshua (Hebrews 4:8). We must strive to enter this rest. I regret to say too often I go weeks and weeks without simply taking one day to rest and not do anything that needs to get done. It is especially hard during this school to find time to rest with my Maker. I am thankful that he is always there and when I have time to rest he is more than happy to welcome me into his rest. This week has been accompanied by much needed rest and relaxation. I have been able to sit in silence. I have been able to take a nap whenever I feel the need. I have been blessed beyond measure here in Goa, and I have been here a mere 5 days. I am sad to see this week quickly melt by, but I am leaving with a new attitude. A more pure heart. A strengthened mind. A willingness to study God's word again without complaining (hopefully). I feel prepared for this final quarter. I feel confident in my decision to come home after SBS at least for a season, and I feel confident so far in my decision to come back to India after some things are taken care of back home.

I have stumbled across this beautiful cat here who I have kept in a bag for a little while, and now I am beginning to let people peer inside this bag. I have not let the cat out completely yet, but I think there will be a time and a place for that. Who knows, maybe the cat does not really exist and I am just imagining things and maybe I am letting feelings tell me false realities. However, life is full of surprises and I sure do enjoy surprises.

When I return to home base this weekend schoolwork will begin almost immediately. We will be studying 1 and 2 Kings the first week back, and I am excited because we do not have to do the usual assignment of charting. We will be writing summaries of all the kings in Kings amongst other things... I have thoroughly enjoyed the old testament so far. Especially Moses and David. Reading 1 and 2 Samuel was wonderful and I saw many things I never noticed before in the text and in David and Saul's lives. They were so different, and David had to do a lot of terrified waiting as God's Anointed before he finally received the crown. Even after Saul died David had to wait a long time and run from his own son who usurped the throne from him. Yet David was always forgiving and never held any grudges. What a king David was, and yet he was merely a shadow and a sketch of Christ who is the perfect, ultimate King.

It is funny that I have been praying and praying for finances and God keeps giving me riches that are not of this world. It's not yet time for me to have earthly riches, but as long as I am rich with his blessings I should not have to worry about finances. He certainly is providing other needs. I remember beginning this year with titling it as my "Year of Hope." and I think I have lost sight of that hope I started off this year with. It is nice to take time to remember this and here is a wonderful quote from Henri Nouwen I stumbled across today about hope:

Hope is based on the premise that the other gives only what is good. Hope includes an openness by which you wait for the other to make his loving promise come true, even though you never know when, where or how this might happen.

Pray for finances. I need $353 dollars in one week. I have maybe $70 in my checking account.

Pray for things heard here in Goa to continue ringing in my ears throughout the next 3 months so that I do not lose heart. I tend to lose heart near the end of commitments.

Pray for Diane who runs this retreat center. She is amazing and from Minnesota and consequentially grew up with my mother's family! She has been a HUGE blessing, so pray that she would be blessed and remain healthy.

Pray for Lottie and I to have safe travels back to Pune on Friday night/Saturday morning. We are taking the train and I am a little worried. 12 hours sleeping overnight on a train in India? That does not spell "peace" to me. But God is on my side, what can man do to me?