Exams!

Not much to say here. Brief lull in the absolutely abhorent exam timetable = an evening off + definite lie in tomorrow. In my head is all you can possibly wish to revise in a week about the cardiovasocular and renal system, the gastrointenstinal tract and liver, nutrition, the central nervous system, immunology, and all the associated infectious disesase. Not to mention the drugs, their design and delivery into the body. Cramming has played a vital role, stress has been minimal but sheer exhaustion is certainly upon me. I have three days until the next exam, which is all about being a pharmacist! Despite the academic trauma of epic proportions, I'm learning lots.

In the past at this time of year I've learned about the peace which comes from God and is beyond all our understanding, but now I'm learning how much my priorities need to be super-imposed onto his. My life was bought by God at a price therefore is not mine to live for my gain but for his. When I've been given some heavenly perspective this week I've been reminded that God's plan is so much more than me and my trials and tribulations(though I still have a role to play and hard work to do!).

What does it mean to count everything but Christ as rubbish, and to align ourselves with God's priorities? I can't say (because my brain = mush) but I'm learning something more important than pharmacy. Here are the words to a powerful hymn called 'Jesus I my cross have taken' I learned at New Word Alive that I've been finding useful this week as a prompt to remember God's bigger picture and my role in that.


Jesus I my cross have taken,
all to leave and follow thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
all I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition
God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me
They have left my saviour too.
Human hearts and hopes deceive me
Thou are not like them untrue
Oh whilst thou doth smile upon me,
God of wisdom love and might.
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
show thy face and all is bright

Go then earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster scorn and pain
In thy service pain is pleasure,
with thy favour loss is gain
I have called thee Abba Father,
I have staked my heart on thee.
Storms may howl and clouds may gather,
all must work for good to me.

So then know thy full salvation
Rise o’ver sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine.
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven canst thou repine?

Haste thee on from grace to glory
Armed by faith and winged by prayer
Heav’ns etenal days before thee
God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close this earthly mission
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days
Hopes shall change to glad fruition
Faith to sight and prayer to praise.

hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7toIrq2RJc&feature=related