Simply, overjoyed.

Do you ever have those seasons of your life where you are beyond happy, overjoyed, and just excited for life? Those times where things fall into place, despite the hardships you've encountered previously?

For me, it's been a wonderful week (and more). Classes started, I thoroughly enjoy each professor. I've been offered (and accepted) a new job, in the field of study I am currently aiming for. I have been encouraged by so many friends, lately, and I am ever grateful for it. I am getting wonderful guidance from my advisor this year, and finally someone is taking the time to help with some struggles in school (a long story for those who don't know this struggle).

And I feel as though I have grown in my faith and dependence on Christ, more than the past year. We all have those periods where you feel as though your faith has had little to no growth; a plateau. I am finally getting out of that and growth is happening and I am ever grateful for it!  Things are looking up and I owe it all to Him. Prayer pays off, and friends who help guide you, push you, they are amazing encouragements.

I'm currently in a place of joy. Praising Him who provides the daily doses of grace, who loves me beyond measure, and for the examples I have set before me from fellow Christians.

I would say I am thankful, but that's just scratching the surface. You have no idea how much you all mean to me and how much you've all helped me become who I am today.

From: Highlighted Life

it’s like that sometimes, life. the future you thought was stone begins to flake and crack, chasms form and reveal cool dark places that scare you but you touch. days later you’re still cold, the dark places have been doing their work, trying desperately to change you. they whisper, “it can’t be the same, you can’t be the same” and it’s tempting to listen. to hand it over to the darkness and feel sorry for yourself. self pity is an easy betrayal after all. 

days later still you might be on a beach, the sun might be setting and instead of the darkness you might give into a cliche. you remember that your heroes are just that. heroes. people in your life who have time and time again been extraordinary and you smile and hope, no believe, that this time, this time it’s no different. 

(via)

I Still Chose to Praise Him

                                               

Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God. — Sam Storms

This spoke truth to me, today, as I was reading through some blogs. I have had my fair share of small trials recently, and I have grown, I have learned, I have praised God, I have leaned on God, I have cried out to God, I have also received unending grace and love.  

I have copious amounts of journal entries; lines filled with prayer and scripture, rants and praise. Some are tear stained, but more are filled with the light that He has shown through, learning and trusting Him. 

Upon reading this quote, it made me realize the raw truth. Though I will have undoubtedly pain-filled days, if I recognize the grace, the love, the care, the presence of our loving Father, than it can be produced into utter joy.
I may worry about whether I can make it from this past paycheck to the next, whether I can do better this semester than previous, whether I continue discipline, etc. I need to realize that He has it under control, that it's His plans that will play out, not mine. I will still praise Him. 

I will not dismiss the suffering because my Father knows that I would not be here if I didn't suffer.

I am more so thankful, thankful for the sufferings because I have grown.

rivers and roads

been talkin’ ‘bout the way things change

and my family lives in a different state

if you don’t know what to make of this

then we will not relate

it’s funny how this song could have one meaning one month, and then a completely different one the next.

growing and learning to love it.

A Day of Waiting.

waiting until 1:30pm will be the toughest struggle for us, today. 

actually, waiting the past week and a half has been a struggle in itself, for today. 

biopsy was done.

results are back.

consultation is this afternoon, for him.

it’s all in God’s hands. we’ve but no choice but to rely on Him; hand over total control.

i mean, what else can we do?

prayers for strength and comfort, today, would be welcomed. 

my grandfather has been through a lot the past two weeks (spinal surgery which led to discovery of spot on lungs). 

happy tuesday. 

i can say that because i know His will is playing out.

we’ve got to embrace it. 

we can’t change it.

and be thankful for another moment of breathing.

Wisdom

Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well. 

Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people. 

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. 

(Proverbs 3: 1-12, MSG)

I really needed to read this, today! Especially verses 5-12 (the last paragraph). All too quickly do I try to figure things out on my own. I’ve fallen while doing that, and as of recent, when I’ve been putting more trust and faith into Him; He’s been making my life better. Some choices are difficult, but He knows that that is what needed to happen. 

It’s amazing to come across verses that are so relevant in your life.

Thankful.

Sometimes some of your prayers are not answered. Sometimes your prayers are not answered in the time frame you’ve been wanting. Sometimes your prayers seem like empty words. Sometimes you lose the faith, even if a glimpse, that He’ll not answer your prayers.

Sometimes you pray days, months, years. 

In my case, I can attest to partial prayer answering. I’ve been bound this summer by some limitations, financially. I should have taken another summer job, but was ignorant to the fact I would not be receiving as many hours. 

In this “low” that I have been in the past 2-3 months, I’ve been praying for God to provide. For Him to provide either with answers in another job (mainly this one), or just somehow help me make ends meet. 

This week I can attest to how gracious He is. 

I have had many babysitting opportunities recently. A five hour gig yesterday, another five hour gig today. I received a text from the people I frequently sit for, asking for me to help out Friday morning, and then later this afternoon I received a call asking for help for two days next week, on top of two other days I am babysitting for another couple. 

As well as more house/dog sitting jobs!

Shoot, if you don’t see this as a blessing than I don’t know what it is?

Babysitting makes great money, untaxed. You get to hang out with kids (grant it they’re not always the best, like the boys Monday). But goodness, you make $10-$15 per hour depending on how generous the family is. I have made more the past two days than in my last paycheck (yes, hours are that scarce). 

I am so thankful that God has heard my cries. He has responded and provided. 

Thankful.

I Worry.

Therefore I tell you: do not worry about your life.

What you will eat, what you will drink.

Or about your body.

Or what you will wear.

Is not life more important than food?

Is not the body more important than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air;

They do not sow, or reap, or save  -

Yet your heavenly Father?

He feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes?

Go look – and see how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or toil.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon, in all of his splendor and wealth, was dressed like a flower in the field.

Not even Solomon, the man who impressed the Queen of Sheba.

If that is how God clothes the grass, which is here today, gone tomorrow,

will he not much more clothe you?

Oh you, oh you of little faith.

So do not worry, saying,

What shall I eat?

What shall I drink?

What shall I wear?

For those who do not know their Father run after all these things, and

Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom

his righteousness

and all these things will be given to you.

Do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

(via)

You are good

when there’s nothing good in me.

And I mean absolutely nothing. Sometimes I have to just remember my total depravity without God. I am not good on my own, or in myself. God is the one who is good. Him alone. The good that is in me now is because He is good and filled me with His goodness. It is literally God’s Holy Spirit residing in me that bears good fruit in me; it’s not of myself.

I am not good.

God is good.

This is My Prayer in the Desert

Lord, You hear our prayers. Comfort us, relieve our anxieties in this waiting. Let us lean on You for strength, because God, You know we cannot fight this fight without You. We’re clinging to You and only You during this time. We love You and help us respect Your will, whatever it may be. 

________________________________________________

Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.