Reminders

I was reminded of two amazing facts about life this afternoon.

1. God is in control. No, really. Everything. That being said, why worry? Why are we stressed out about school, relationships, and money? Stop worrying! God has you where you are for a reason, He is putting you in those stressful situations for a reason. Maybe He's trying to show you something, shape you, bless you, change you, tell you something. Relax, God knows what He's doing in your life!

Whenever I'm stressed out and asking myself "what on earth am I doing here?" I have to remember to step back and remind myself that this is part of God's plan. I may not understand why I am going through something at a certain time, but there is a reason for it.

However, I'm not saying that I won't ever get stressed out again. I'll forget and be a mess for days before it hits me again "God is in control."

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
 Jeremiah 29:11

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind
Job 12:10

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:11

2. God answers prayer. Again, this is something I have always known, but have more fully realized in the past year at Providence. Time and time again I am blown away by this realization. Sometimes its in the little things, like a BTS exam or HIS paper, other times its about relationships, health, or church.

I could name several examples about the many times just this semester that I'll pray about something, forget about it, and then remember a week later only to realize that God answered my prayer. Granted, it hasn't always been the answer I wanted, but knowing that God is in control, it must have been the answer I needed.

Go to God in prayer. What a comfort it is to know that you can ask God everything. Bring to God your questions, concerns, thanksgiving and praises. Our God is so good!

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Matthew 21:22


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Thessalonians 5:16-18

It Is Well With My Soul

Patience

Patience.

 I've been told several times now that I am a very patient person. Maybe that's so, but I sure don't feel patient.

I loose my temper.
I get frustrated easily.
I am often stressed.
I hate waiting.
I am hasty.
I give up.
I am focused on the now.
I am easily annoyed.
I complain.


I am not a patient person.

Not at all. My whole life I have been reminded that "Patience is a virtue" because of the numerous times I haven't been patient.

What exactly is patience? According to the dictionary: The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.”

Bearing annoying, misfortunate, painful, provoking incidents with out complaining, becoming irritated, or loosing your temper?? Yikes. Sounds pretty impossible to me. 

The biggest problem with Patience is that people want things now. After going for a run once, you want to step on that scale and see that you lost all that weight. You order that package and you want it to be shipped to your door now, not in a week. You buy a airplane ticket for May, but you wish it was taking off tomorrow. You put a pizza in the oven and you wish it was done right away. You send someone a text and you want the answer now. I can think of a million more examples but I think you get the idea. 

But it's more then that. It's being understanding of people, being considerate towards others, helping people even if it might be an inconvenience to you.  Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love.

Patience isn't something you just put on in the morning. Which, when you think about it, is really to bad. Think about how much nicer people would be to each other, how understanding, helpful, or kind we'd be to our neighbor.

Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8

Pray for patience. 

Blessed

I am so incredibly blessed. It is nearly impossible to fathom how greatly God has blessed me these two short semesters at Providence. Every day I am completely blown away by His great blessings.

I do not have room or time to list all the blessings, and I don't think I ever will. God is constantly doing things in my life that I never would have imagined. I've always known that I was going to go to Providence, that it was going to be my college. But I don't think I would ever have guessed or imagined how it would shape my life.

I still can't put into words how blessed I am. I have amazing, supporting friends, I'm surrounded by God's beautiful and diverse creation, I have learned so much in all of my classes, and have been greatly humbled through them. The list would go on and on. Everyday I discover another reason to praise God for what He's doing in my life.

Even through mid-terms, homesickness, and stress, there is no other place I want to be right now more then Providence. My senior year of high school I knew that this was were God wanted me. I can see that even more clearly now. I belong here. God has greatly blessed me through this college, praise the Lord!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new mevery morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Surrounded by His Beauty

 

On the wall in our dorm room there is a large bulletin board that contains close to 100 photos of everything that happened during the first semester here. A daily reminder of everything that has happened in such a short amount of time.