As the clock ticks

T -36 minutes until I'm 27...

What a year, graduating college, moving away from what I still consider home and leaving everyone I knew behind. I've learned a lot since coming back to Houston... mostly spiritually than anything else. I dearly miss West Texas and the people I've come to know as my second family, one day, if it's in God's plans,  I hope to be with them (some if not all) once more... we shall see.

I've picked up some new reading materials since I've came home which have helped me realize a lot of myself and the things I've been through over the past year.



No Plot, No Problem
How has this influenced me? Well, it's mostly gotten me out of my shell with my gift of writing. I had done a few writing projects before but they were always collaboration projects. This last November was my first solo piece that has grown to be a big part of my life and a project I am to see finish. This has also helped reinspired me to finish other books as well as develop new stories.

The Mark of a Man
A special book to me that was given to me years ago by my mother while I was in my early years of college. I never read it then, but I wish I had taken the courage to do so sooner. Once a year I reread it to help me remember it's truths and advice, and each time I learn something new.

Finding God's Will
 A book by my Houstonian pastor Greg Matte...the title explains itself :)

Doulos
The book that helped me dive into Houston's First Baptist Church. I didn't really go to the Bible studies until a time after I went and did the Doulos study... Doulos is a Greek word for servants, but specifically a servant that came back to serve their master after they were freed. This study was about the aspects of a disciple and how we are to truly be one by understanding who God is and what his aspects are. :) Highly suggested

The Five Love Languages - Singles ed.
I bought the married version for a friend because it was an interesting topic and well, we didn't see the singles edition until later lol. As the title suggests, it covers the 5 main languages we all know and are in need of for any relationship to survive. I'd planned to read this before April to help me plan out my script for script frenzy but as that project has hit the wall I still read it in hopes to understand people and be a better person for our friendships to grow.


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The Bible
Last, but never the least, the Bible. In church we've been going over the book of John, in Paradigm (Bible study) we'd gone over Hebrews 11 and recently James. Wow, looking back on my notes, I've been blown away by so much over the past few months and I can only pray that the things I've learned will be reflected in my future self.  There is so much more to read, can any one mere man other than Christ understand it completely, never and that's a beautiful things.


Father, as I draw near to close this chapter in my life. I pray that your hands will guide mine as I turn this page and start the 27th chapter in my life. You've known my desires before you made me, and as I continue to pray to you and give you praise, I pray that I will continue to see that Your will is much greater than anything that I can ever hope fore, even though I know I've been stubborn with my dreams. I have seen and tasted your blessings and even no I yearn for more. I wish to follow you, stay where you do and serve those you place in my life in the manner you know is best. Hollowed by your name, and blessed be your name in the glory and honor that you deserve. I am but a vessel for you to pour out your grace and love. I wish to live for you forever, and die for you in a manner that brings you glory. I go out knowing that I may never see a face I yearn to see, nor hold a hand I wish to feel. You Father are the only one that can quench this heart's yearning for love completely and without restraint. I love you Abba. Tonight I go knowing that it is not my birthday tomorrow but an anniversary of having a life in You, a life more abundant. May this year bring me suffering so that I may draw closer to you, weakness so that I may further know your strength, hurt so that I may know your love and peace. I pray that, if anything else... that I would stop asking you to be with me, but that I will turn my eyes to see that you were, are, and always will be by my side. I pray these things in your name.

Amen

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For those of you that read these spare postings of mine, thank you. Your prayers and kind words have been a blessing, and those are the best gifts I can ever receive. I love you guys. Farewell and sweet dreams to you all.

Love always,
John