The Beginning of the End

I'm sitting up in my monk's cell, back in IL after a whirl-wind trip back to Philly for a couple of weddings and a quick visit with my family. Both weddings involved former students of mine from NPC's youth group - the first I got to witness, and the second I was invited to give prayers as well as deliver the wedding homily. It was a real treat, and a great blessing to have been able to come home and see and participate in them both. And it was a real blessing to get to see my dearest bride and our kids.

But now we come to the end. Tomorrow marks the first day of the last week of this journey we call German. Our big translation projects are due tomorrow, and this coming Thursday, at 1 pm (CST) will mark the reason we've all gone through these past 8 plus weeks. Thursday's Reading Exam will show us how much we know, and how much we are desperately in need of knowing. I know there are many reasons why the Lord directed me to come out to Trinity for the summer, but I can't help feeling to some degree that if I don't pass this test, my summer away from my family will have been for naught. At the same time, I know that can do all things through Christ who gives me strength - in fact, I can fail this test through Christ who gives me strength - - - This is to say that if I don't pass, God will still give me His grace. In all honesty, however, I'd like to pass the Reading Exam.

And so I pray this prayer for myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ who have been working toward this great work ...

Almighty and Triune God, who gave humanity the gift of speech and the mind
to understand it, I thank You for all that You have taught us and given us these
past eight weeks in and out of class.

Now we are at the end of our time together studying the German language,
and we are in no less need of Your grace and your gifting.

For three things, I ask; for three things, I pray, that You would fill each
of us with Your peace, Your confidence, and Your competence.

May our attitudes and efforts bring You glory; may our comprehension and
translating show Your Spirit at work in us, both in our efforts and Yours.

And it is for Your glory I pray - be glorified in us, O LORD; be glorified in us.

LORD, in Your mercy, hear our prayers. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, whom with You and the Holy Spirit, be lifted up and glorified, now and forever. Amen.