Wednesday, October 3, 2007

In the midst of it all...

Dear siestas and miestas,

(If you don't know what that means, I'll have to get back to you on another day). For some time now, I have had a hunger to sit down in this blog world with you and share a word I received out of 1 Samuel. I'm itching to get the beatings of my heart to translate themselves to the rhythmic pounding noise of the keys on my laptop. But as you can see, I have yet to do so. You have all been so gracious and patient with me in my lack of typing anything serious in blog world as I have adjusted to Boston, seminary, and relationships.

I think sometime soon in these next few days, I may actually type something about my Beloved Jesus again :) But you see, I am receiving that for which my heart yearned here in seminary: some good holy beatings, some major humbling, and the grateful awareness of the poverty of my spirit. I have said it in the initial days of my blog, and for those who are newcomers, I'll say it again: I want to handle the Word with accuracy and Truth. I have a BIG God who I adore more than anything on this earth, and a BIG God who is so holy and powerful that His Word causes us to tremble. So, out of both love and a holy fear, I do not want to speak of something which I know nothing about, or have not already been taught and brought through by my Greatest Teacher. Otherwise, I receive a holy beating straight from Him :)

If I were to walk in my flesh and all of its insecurities, I am sure that I would probably never open my mouth again to share with you the things His Words speaks to me (Our insecurities can be so self-absorbing and prideful can't they girlfriends?) But dependent upon His resurrection power, I assure you I will not keep me mouth closed upon the things which He has asked me to declare from one generation to the next...to speak of His praises, to declare who He is, to boast in Him.

By His sweet grace alone, I have fallen more in love with my Jesus. Somewhere in the midst of parsing new Greek words, somewhere in the midst of pronouncing Greek with a southern accent, somewhere in the midst of taking so many notes in a New Testament class that my hand hurts, somewhere in the midst of going to Starbucks at 6:30 am on MWF to study Greek with my roomie, and somewhere in the midst of many of my paradigms being shattered by more defined interpretation and application teachings, He has captured me - again. His life-giving Word catapults my heart upon the spiritual floor of always-necessary- humility. The more I seek to know Him, the more I realize how much I do not know. Apart from a few other thoughts, I am not sure that I could ask for anything better while here at seminary. For it has been an absolute joy to see that somewhere in the midst of this new craziness, He Himself is in my midst. Again, and again, I ask Him to balance the passions of our hearts with the passions of our minds for Him. So my God has quite the job on His hands with me: I'm an undeniable nerd, and a passionate extremist! :)

The One who is ever More, invites us to know Him. The One who is unsearchable, invites us to discover Him. And to the One who alone can satisfy, I beg that He may grant us a holy dissatisfaction with our current state, only to be given the passion to know and love Him more. He is all that your hearts could long for sweet friends. I am so jealous for you to have more of Him. Not because you do not have Him now, but because He is so much more.

On a lighter note, I invite you to a few recent quotes that have occurred in my life lately here as a seminarian:
1) My roomie (Teal) about 6 am one morning getting ready for our last minute cramming session for Greek before a big quiz: "Uhm...Girl...Do you think they'll drop the lowest quiz grade? (Pause) Or is that just the undergraduate in me?!" (Me = bent over laughing...)
2) Our Greek teaching assistant to one of my hysterical girlfriends in class: "What do you suggest we do with these multiple prepositional phrases here in the translation of this sentence?" (My friend's response) "Girl! I say just get rid of those things!" (My thoughts exactly...that would be less to translate for my confused mind!).
3) Same friend mentioned in #2 in reference to her viewpoint upon the women's role in leading, teaching, etc. We had just had a very intense, unbiased, and wonderful discussion about this in class. (Note: if you're not feeling a bit humorous today, maybe skip this one. OR if you think I'm going to present my stance - theologically - here - there's no need to look for that either).
I'll paraphrase: "Giiirrrrrrll. I mean, I do not have a problem with my soon-to-be husband taking the lead and responsibility to be the pastor of a church. I'm okay not being an ordained pastor. 'Cuz you know girl ... Eve, she went and got all messed up in the Garden. I know myself, and as soon as somebody come bringing me some fake Prada, I'll be all deceived thinking its real, and bring everybody else with me." (Have you ever heard the mention of Prada in the same sentence of defining the role of a woman in the church?! lol)

I love you each and miss you dearly. Nate has a post coming soon, so stay tuned (And for clarification: He's still not allowed on my blog - it is too much of my heart. But I have agreed to let him post a blog back to all of you sweet and hysterical spiritual sisters and mama's that posted on the last one. He will email it to me, and I will post it.)
Hugs ... and so much more

26 comments:

Kristen said...

Dearest Shelly... oh how you bring a smile to my heart. You know - you have fed so many Siestas in blog land, but I do believe God has you in a place where you are now being fed a smorgasboard of God's delight! When His time is right - you will be tap, tap, tapping on that keyboard a sweet message from Him to us!

I do have to say - Greek w/ a Southern Accent! Oh how I giggled!

Siesta - He is our Passion isn't He! Our life - Our Love!

Oh praise Jesus for blogland where we can share our God!
With much Love in Him!!!

jennyhope said...

the comments are hysterical. i know what you mean to about the more you come to know Him the more you realize you don't. I thought Nate was not allowed on this blog. he he

Lauren said...

Okay, I'm sitting here at my desk at work laughing out loud about woman's fall at the hands of fake Prada. Too funny!

Sharon Brumfield said...

I have to say that I am just a tad suspicious of this next post by Nate.
Being a little protective of all my siestas--I am not sure I am willing to share. ;)
But I guess if he had been accepted as part of your life--your parents must approve. So I will tell the Mom in me to sit down and smile pretty.
Glad God has given you a roomie you can hang with.
And I am glad that you are learning so much and having so much fun.
Remember that Paul's professor was the Holy Spirit. If He could transform Paul's mind--He can handle anyone.So just listen to Him and hold on to that mighty love that is filling your heart.Keep it simple and don't stop going to Him with innocence in your heart.
Love ya girl
Praying for you.

Little Steps Of Faith said...

I hear you siesta, I hear you LOUD and CLEAR!

I say this as I am drowning in studying for my Biology test tomorrow morning UGH!

Great to hear from you:)

Be Blessed:)

Angie

debra parker said...

I was laughing with you over the quotes...very funny.


Sit back, relax and feel his heart beat...

Heather said...

Girrrl it was good to hear from you. I was laughing so hard at the last quote!

Love your post! He is all isn't He?

Jenny said...

GIRL! Loving the Prada/Women in Leadership conversation. She makes a good point. :)

AbbyLane said...

you are coming here in t-minus 3 days...and everyone should be jealous of our hugs and starbucks date!!!!

Linda said...

I love coming here. You really challenge me.
Blessings

Barbara said...

Thanks for sharing from your heart - I was blessed!

Patty said...

This was sweet and funny all rolled into one. As I was having my quiet time yesterday and God was teaching me something new about Him, I had to get on my laptop and do a little research on Jesus is the Light of the World. As I was researching Light in Hebrew I was thinking of you and your Greek class. I smiled thinking, I should call Shelley and she could help me pronounce some of the words.LOL!! Praying for you and loving how God is revealing Himself to you!! Your surprise will be on its way soon!!
Looking forward to hearing from Nate! Oh, Prada and a church girl, hilarious!! Except my Prada would be a glorious Coach bag. :o)
Travis is the lone miesta in the midst of us siestas. Unless I am missing someone?!
Love you,
Patty

Anonymous said...

looking forward to what you and/or Nate and/or JESUS have to say to us.
love you for being honest.
love you for being a student of His word.

mandy said...

that anonymous comment above was me...
i'm still not quite awake this morning.
LOL!

Fran said...

Oh Shelly....BEAUTIFUL just comes to mind. LOVE comes to mind. AWESOME comes to mind. PEACE comes to mind. PRAISE comes to mind. LEARNING comes to mind. FOCUS comes to mind. FORGIVEN comes to mind.

Bless you sweet friend for your words. He is so much more than we can grasp. He's so much more than more.

I love you and again I am so thankful for you and your wisdom.

You bless me. May God shower you with love and His mighty presence.

Jackie said...

oh my goodness I am laughing. thanks for bringing a smile to my face and my heart today. I've been praying for you....Love ya siesta!!!

Holly said...

You speak in Truth my Shelly...you speak about the Truth (Jesus) in Truth.

You wear Him well, friend!
Prada and Eve...perhaps they need to use that in the advertising??
Thinking of you and praying...
Love in Him,
holly

connorcolesmom said...

Shelly,
I love it !!
THANK YOU FATHER for being SO MUCH MORE!!!
I am so glad to hear from you in the blog world again!!
I just love you!
Oh and #3 was hilarious!!
Fake Prada and think it was real - LOL!!!
I look forward to hearing from Nate!!
Love ya siesta!
Kim

Anonymous said...

o how i have missed you! thanks for sharing the laughs! Love you!

Lindsee Lou said...

I love how you love HIM so well. It encourages my heart GREATLY!

Love you, sweet Shelly. Have fun in TN! I'm only a little bit jealous you and Abby get to hug again!! ;)

Linds

Speaking Thru Me Ministries said...

hey sweet girl - I love how you are protecting your heart - nothing better for a girl as beautiful as you and with love as precious for HIm!! You inspire me!!

Leigh

Kelly S. said...

your words are beautifully written and your quotes hilarious!! Nate has a hard act to follow, but I look forward to his post. I am praying for you this weekend, that you are blessed beyond measure....(and with gallons of sweet tea). Enjoy your "reading week" in the south.
Love you <><

Lisa Bolling said...

Hey Girlfriend - I've missed you!! I know you are very busy. Glad to know things are going well for you way up there in Yankeeland. The fake Prada bit is hilarious. Oh, and how do you say "hey ya'll" in Greek?
Love you girl!! Keeping you in my prayers.

Unknown said...

Keep it up with that Greek, girl. I remember the flash cards well when hubs and I studied together. I still find them falling out of our commentaries..:)

What is this I'm seeing you went to Nashville? :)

can't wait to hear from Nate - that oughtta be good. :)

love ya!!

Lisa

btw - left you something on my blog - don't feel the need to respond, just take the encouragement of knowing you are one of the first ones I thought of :)

Unknown said...

girl, girl...i cannot tell you how blessed by the Father I feel to be walking with you through seminary. how awesome is this?! we get to learn more about the Love of our Life and get a degree in the process!

Thanks for the shout out...you know if I'm gonna be studying Greek at starbucks at 6:30 a.m. with anyone, it has to be you! You are the best roomie ever and I love you so much!

Michelle said...

It has been a while since I have been around "visitin'" because I have just been so busy but I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Samuel...I am particularly fond of Samuel as I was reading (during the time I would sit in carpool and wait on my older children) I & II while pregnant with DS2 and that is how he got his name. (((hugs)))