The beginning of the beginning

"A person's soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him." -- Oswald Chambers

I want to share part of my quiet time with you, so that you'll know how you can pray for me, if you find the Spirit leads you to think of me in your quiet time of worship with the Lord.  I won't be too bold by assuming that you're going to be thinking of me in your most intimate time with God, but I do covet your thoughts and prayers because I know I'll be requiring much intercession in the coming days, weeks, months.... and semesters, if you will :)

John 20:
11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Sometimes I can relate to Mary, sitting there, a big emotional mess, and wondering where Jesus is.  I wonder how often it is that I, like Mary, am looking for the wrong thing.  Some other god or idol, something dead and in a tomb.  The problem is I forget who Jesus is -- what He looks like, sounds like, how He acts -- when I'm away from Him for too long.  What I need in my life is a consistent reminder of the character of my Lord.  If I don't spend time with Jesus, I'll too mistake him for a gardener! 
Poor Mary, she obviously didn't know the difference between a trowel and a hammer.
But then, there are times when I think Jesus looks a lot like... well, Morgan.  :(

16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

I don't want to only recognize Jesus when He calls me by name.  He shouldn't have to use my middle name, "Morgan Brooke!" to get my attention like a mother scolding a misbehaving child.  I long to recognize the presence of my Lord and to remember His character as the resurrected, living One who saves me from Hell and gives me the will and the ability to live today for His glory.  I should know Him in a way that fires me up to run and tell my brothers, "I have seen the Lord!" 

Tomorrow starts the first day of classes, and as I've been warned, I'll need to remember that maintenance of a personal relationship with Jesus remains essential.  The Bible cannot become my textbook.  Jesus is not merely my subject of study. 

So again, I covet your prayers of fortitude as I launch into this journey as a first-year student of Southeastern Seminary.