Don’t Waste Your Habits…

In the midst of a job I don’t really understand, and a language I can barely comprehend (Biblical Aramaic), and a house that is anything but clean, I find today to be a wonderful day.

I have been working on creating some good, healthy habits.  I do not consider myself to be a creature of habit, except possibly a creature of nothing-but-bad habits.  I struggle to do the things I really want to do.  Read.  Keep a tidy home.  Study.  Eat better.  Exercise. Be still.  Pray.  My husband encouraged me by telling me that a task needs to be repeated somewhere around 21 days in order for it to become a habit.  So, I decided to make a list of things I have been wanting to become habits.  This seems like an easy and practical way of becoming more disciplined.  Ultimately I know that I am completely dependent upon God’s grace to take my slothful, un-habitual self and mold me into someone that has good habits.  I am glad that I am not on my own!

Some of the things I am trying to do daily are study and review Greek for ten minutes a day.  Ten minutes may not seem like much, but ten minutes are better than zero!

I’m also attempting to reduce diet sodas out of my diet and replace it with water… and the occasional morning cup of coffee.  This is by far one of the hardest things I have been trying to do for a long time now.  It seems such a silly thing to struggle with but I definitely have a strong inclination towards carbonated beverages.  Yet I want to rid my body of it, so I will work by God’s grace to discipline my body.

I do not want to waste my life.  I definitely do not want to waste my mind.  My hope is that in developing these habits I will find more joy in my Lord as I am able to spend more of myself for His Name’s sake, and ultimately enjoy more of Him.

How do you feel about your habits?  Are you good at starting new habits?

Home Sweet Home…

Well, Jimmy and I have moved into a new home (leased condo) right near HBU.  We are about 1/2 from the campus, a minute drive, and about a 10 minute walk.  We are excited to say the least!

I’ve been horrible at blogging lately but I hope with so many new and exciting things happening in our life that I will be a more diligent blogger.

School started yesterday for both of us and we are ready to jump in head first.

I will update some more soon!

Another Step Forward

Today Jimmy is walking in his college graduation ceremony. Even though he technically graduated back in December. I’m thankful as I remember that step of faith Jimmy took about 3 years ago.

When we got back from Basilica’s trip to Russia, Jimmy quit his full-time job, applied to CBS and started working as a package handler for FedEx. I don’t think he knew much more than this: God was calling him to learn more about Him through Bible college.

Now here we are, on the road to becoming future professors (or so we think at this time) and my husband is an eager, God loving student and passionate pastor. I’m thankful for what God has done in his life and for all He will continue to do.

Please pray with us as we seek to have Jimmy transfer to HBU to complete a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages, which is what I am working on. We know that anything is possible with God and that He will do what is best. We are believing in faith and with wise counsel from an older brother that this is the right direction for both of us to head in.

We hope to be forever students and to have a future as teachers and mentors.

Congrats my love!

- Jess

Psalm 42-43

Here is my paper on Psalm 42-43.  It is far from perfect, but it was definitely a worshipful experience in which I learned a lot.  I was very glad to share it with my class this morning and I will attach the PPT as well.  Enjoy!

Psalm42-43 by Jessica L. Parks (PDF of paper)

Psalm 42-43 Presentation (PDF of powerpoint)

Clutter…

There is much I’d like to blog about, but I can’t seem to find a starting point. I’ve got tons of Hebrew reeling through my brain and I’ve been working a lot of my research of women in the church. Amidst a clutter of other thoughts I find it hard to blog right now… hopefully that’ll be remedied soon?

Chart of Malachi

This chart is based on an inspectional reading of the text. That is, I have not looked deeply at the passages individually, but have tried to observe the book as a whole. The purpose of this inspectional reading and subsequent chart is to provide a broad frame work for the book. This framework allows me to keep the context of the whole book in mind as I do the more detailed study of the individual discourses and paragraphs.

The chart is not complete. The study of the individual paragraphs will inform the meaning of the whole which may change the chart. This would then start the wonderful “Hermeneutical Spiral” in which the whole is influencing the meaning of the parts and then the parts are influencing the meaning of the whole, all moving toward the most accurate meaning of the text.

Hope you enjoy

Jimmy

Baby Get On Board Already…

There is a lot going on with the Parks duo these days.  Jimmy and I both just started grad school.  He is working on his MDiv and I am working on my MABL.  Both difficult degrees.  Both time-consuming.  Not to mention the fact that Jimmy works full-time and I work two part-time jobs.  On top of all that we are now a part of two churches… and a Greek class that meets every other Saturday.  Oh, and Jimmy has just begun counseling our soon-t0-be married friends Eric and Valerie.  So, yeah… we have quite a bit on our plate these days.

But can you believe I am still desperate to add one more rather LARGE but tiny thing into our lives?

We have been hoping to get pregnant for most of our marriage.  Having been married for just a little over a year, that may not seem long… but in the world of waiting to find out if you are pregnant it has felt like an endless age.  Every month met with a big fat negative is also met with a growing desire for a child.

I believe in the sovereignty of God and try to live like I believe that.  Jimmy and I believe that even extends into the area of children, so much so that we don’t believe it’s right for us to prevent a baby from coming.  That being said, I think I have had this subconcious belief that getting pregant would be super easy.  Turns out not so much.

But even though each month it pains my heart a little more, I know that God’s sovereignty is a good thing.  He is wise, good and in control of it all.  So even in the midst of this hopefully temporary infertility, I can know that God is at work and that His work is good.

The truth is we may never get pregnant.  It’s a scary possibility, but it is a reality for many couples today.  But God answers prayers in times we least expect, and sometimes in ways we don’t expect.

Ever since I can remember I have been a fan of adoption.  Even more so since knowing my friends Heather and Joel.  I got to experience adoption up close and personal through their adopting of their son Darin (one of my most favorite little guys around… and definitely may favorite perpetual two year old).  I cannot wait for Jimmy and I to be able to adopt.  We have at least two more years until we can start the process as there is a prerequisite for how long a couple has been married.  But Jimmy and I have agreed that as soon as we reach that mark we will begin the process to adopt, whether or not we have had a child before that time, unless God tells us otherwise.

I love what I am doing right now.  I am beyond thankful that I have been able to start working on my Master’s degree in an area that I adore (the Biblical languages).  But I would give it all up to be a mom.  No question.

But, I hope I can do it all – which is asking a lot – and be a mom and a grad student.  All I can do at this point is trust that God is providing all that I need for today, and He’s got tomorrow covered as well.

My Valentine…

Valentine’s Day is only a few days away and I am glad to spend it with my valentine. This will be our second Valentine’s Day together as husband and wife… well, really our second Valentine’s Day together period.

We will be going to see the new movie Wolfman. What will you be doing?

Psalm 16:7-11

Today was my day to lead our Hebrew class through a passage of Biblical Hebrew poetry.  I was assigned to the second half of Psalm 16, verses 7 through 11.  This is a monumental Psalm for many reasons, one being it’s use in the New Testament and the early Church.

I thouroughly enjoyed working on this Psalm.  Struggling through I guess would be a better description of the last couple of days.  But through that struggling… and nightime admonishing… YHWH taught me some really precious things about me and Him, and all that I have to look forward to in eternity with Him.

Here is my working translation with some major help from my big brother Jamie, as well as some great minds (Waltke & O’Conner, BDB, etc.):

7 I bless YHWH who has counseled;
Indeed, throughout the night my innermost being disciplines me.

8 I have set YHWH continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be made to stagger.

9 Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
Indeed, my flesh dwells securely.

10 For You will not surrender me to Sheol;
You will not allow Your Holy One to see the pit.

11 You make me to know the path of life;
There is an abundance of gladness with Your presence,
Pleasures at Your right hand forever.

I’m continuing to dwell on this passage.  Perhaps in a day or two I will give some of my interpretative thoughts on this Psalm at least to share what it is God is showing me through this text.  If you would like an extremely well done analysis of this Psalm, you should read my prof’s paper (who I mentioned above as my big brother Jamie).

- Jessica

Another Step…

I was offered a TA position at HBU for an Old Testament Survey class.  If I can work out my schedule to accomodate it, I am definitely receiving this with open arms.  Not only will this cover the cost of my class, it will provide some good experience that will probably be of use int he future, especially if I do lean towards teaching professionally.  As far as I know I won’t be doing any actual teaching, just grading papers and the like.  Still, I am very excited about it.

As I mentioned earlier, my hours at the CPC have been cut back temporarilly.  I told Jimmy, “If we could just find a way to have my class paid for the cut in pay won’t be so bad.”  Not a day later and God provides an answer.

How amazing is that?!