After the rain, the sun always shines

So last night was a hard night. I just wasn't okay. So much has been happening and I don't understand it at all.

But today was great. But it starts before today, yesterday I did my Job homework, and there were some questions on there that I wasn't quite sure about. I didn't know if Old Testament believers received rewards in heaven and stuff. And so Jamie, one of my friends and classmates decided to ask one our teachers, Butch (Gordon Bennett), about it, because she was wondering about stuff about Old Testament believers too. So we talked to him about it for a little bit before class, and it was so great and clarifying. We talked about how Old Testament believers would go to Sheol after they died and be in Abraham's bosom. Then after Jesus came and went back up into heaven He took them with Him (at least I think that's what he said). So the Old Testament believers are up in heaven enjoying their time with the LORD and they do have rewards. So after Jesus comes a second time to rule over the Kingdom, they get to come too and rule with Him. And they get to have all their rewards from their faithfulness during their life on earth. It was really cool to understand. And then also tying it in with us and where we play in, how we get to be there too and have our rewards too with Christ.

And then right after we talked, we had class with Butch, it was Minor Prophets and Ezekiel. So we talked about the whole timeline of "the Day of the Lord" because right now we're going through Joel. The timeline started with the split of the northern and southern kingdom, and went all the way the the Eternal State. It wasn't very detailed or anything, it was just an overview. And he was going through and talking about it all. And we were talking about Peter, when he talks in Acts 2 and quotes Joel. And he was thinking that the tribulation and Second Advent and the kingdom were all going to happen right then. Which seemed logical, because the prophets don't talk about the Church at all. But Butch was saying how most of the Jews didn't accepting Jesus as the Messiah, and how God was like "time-out, let's give the Gentiles a chance." It was just totally unexpected. So God gave the Gentiles a chance to accept His truth, and all I can think is how amazing God truly is. He didn't have to give us a chance, but He is so gracious and loving. I am so thankful that He chose to do this. He is so good.

New Tribes Bible Institute.... Semester 2

So, here I sit, at my desk, in my dorm room. Today was the last day of my 1st block. WOW! It seems like I've been here forever already! I love it! My first two classes that I started with were Theology and Prophets, and I really enjoyed both. Tomorrow I start Hermeneutics II, Life of Christ, and Minor Prophets.

So, this semester has been going really well so far. It's been a little tough with Joel being gone, but it's still been good. I have already been learning a lot from this whole situation, and can't wait to learn more. Sometimes I don't get to talk to him as long as I would like, and it was frustrating me... a lot. I wanted all his attention and time, and that was very selfish of me. He was spending time with his family and friends, and that is so cool. I was just mad because sometimes I would only get to talk to him for a couple of minutes because he had company or whatever. But we talked about it a little one night, and I thought about it a lot. I just came to the conclusion that I was going to be content. Why would I get upset, when I could just change my attitude and be fine with it? Yeah, it's not that fun being away and it's not that fun not being able to talk to him that much, but that's okay. The world isn't going to end, it's just going to be a little tough and a lot of not funness (yeah, i did just make up that word). But the thing is, I'm okay with that. I don't really know how to explain it, but I just feel at peace. I'm learning to love it when we get to talk for hours, but also just minutes as well. It's not that I don't miss him any more, or love him any less, but I'm putting my focus on something greater.
Again, I'm learning to put my focus on the Lord. I constantly need to look at my priorities, and rearrange them, if needed. It's tough, but definitely needed and it makes things much better. My full trust needs to be in Him.
Well, that's all I have for today, but hopefully I'll get better at writing more...