life

easter is just a few days away. each year as i grow in my faith and in my relationship with God this holiday becomes more and more meaningful.

lately it's been the little things, the small reminders that bring me back to living in the presence of God (CORAM DEO).

this is the time of year when applications for next year's activities go out...lots of my friends were waiting for letters accepting or denying them to the school of nursing, others applied to be resident assistant positions, orientation staff leaders, student body president/vp, chapel band members, etc. so much is going on-you can literally feel the enormous stress on campus.

when acceptance letters come for some, it's a time to celebrate God's goodness.
we've labored and worked hard for what we've wanted so badly and the day has finally arrived when those efforts are rewarded.
for some others though, that is not the case. despite working tirelessly, despite enduring applications and interviews and waiting, despite the desire and the passion...God has other plans. but that is not to proof to say He is not good.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9

i do not know the plans He has for me so I cannot point the finger and say "God, how could you take this from me? It is what I want and it is what I think is best for me." no matter how badly i desire something, God's plan is better. His will is PERFECT. what a blessing it is to have that assurance-that my loving Father cares so deeply for me to write my story, a story that will be unfolded little by little, written so perfectly, with my best interest in mind, so that everything in that story will point back to Him, so that everything will bring Him glory.

something i heard once that i love...

God is not a floodlight. He is a lamp. (in reference to psalm 119:105)

He does not show us the journey, rather the few steps in front of us little by little.
But God does have a heart for us and hear knows the desires of our hearts.
Here are three passages I found to be pretty relevant to this...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

as new "stuff" comes up, i plan to be meditate on these verses and be reminded to surrender it all to God, who knows what's best, and who already knows the outcome.