So I've been living in Tennessee for two months now and it has just been the greatest experience ever! I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything. I have learned so much about God, others, and myself. It's like this book that is constantly being written. There are new challenges, new people, new opportunities, and new blessings waiting to be revealed with the flip of every page. Some days it's tough to keep on flipping the pages because the book is so boring or slow or sad, but other times I can hardly wait to see what comes next, because so much is happening, so much is changing- I realize something life changing and just want to know how it affects the rest of the story. One thing that I can definitely take away from this experience is God's complete and utter faithfulness. Throughout the sands of time He has been faithful and He continues to be in my life today. I will tell all who read this blog without a doubt- Jesus has been with me every step of my journey and I could never have done it without Him. I will testify to His great faithfulness.
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There are just a couple books alongside the bible that completely changed the way I look at life. The first is the 'Blue Book'. The 'Blue Book' is a Young-Life infused book full of great quotes from books, philosophers, and theologians that connect with daily passages from the Holy Bible. My Aunt Mari gave me this book the first night I parked my two suitcases in her spare bedroom and my butt on her couch... and I have honestly never been the same. This book gets you excited about God's word... about life. It glues the missing pieces together to give you a clear picture of life with God. The second book is actually a book written by Rob Bell. Now I know the controversies with Rob Bell amongst the Christian Reformers, but this book was written before 'Love Wins' and actually explains the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament and paints a beautiful picture of God's faithfulness throughout so many generations. The book is called 'Jesus Wants to Save Christians'. Honestly, I read this book in like two days because it was so good. I wish I had a copy that I could quote from. The book just tells the story of the Israelites wandering and how God brought out His faithfulness through years and years of struggle. I find myself wandering so many times. Honestly, I think I'm able to go about this thing called life on my own, only to realize my imperfections and find myself running straight back into the loving arms of my savior. The third book is a book I'm reading right now that I actually just started reading last night. I can't say it has changed my life yet, since I'm only one chapter in, but it has some great quotes about faithfulness. The book is called '66 Love Letters' and I'm borrowing it from a great, God-fearing woman named Tanisha, whom I am so blessed to have met. The book is basically a rewrite of all the books of the bible written in love letter form, so it's like God is writing to you personally. So anyways, I'm going to stop with my book review portion of my blog :P and share a great quote from '66 Love Letters.'
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"... I want you to realize that I never underestimated how thoroughly you'd mess up your life or how painfully you would struggle and suffer, and I don't want you to underestimate your failures or struggles either. They're all part of the story I'm telling.
But neither have I underestimated My determination or ability to enter the mess you've made and the pain you feel and turn everything around. I can, and I will, make everything good again. Never, never underestimate Me. I have a plan, a very good one, and it will move ahead to completion. Guarenteed! Trust Me. Why? Because I love you even when you're messing up badly. I love you in the middle of your pain even though I don't relieve it as quickly as you wish. I am worthy of your trust, no matter what happens in your life. I have a good plan, and nothing will stop Me from carrying it to completion. You must live now in the tension between anguish and hope." ~ (66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb)
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Am I at the Point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?
Never Underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you you're wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.
I throw up my hands
"Oh, the impossibilities"
Frustrated and tired
where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear.
Never Underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can.
Gather my insufficiencies and
place them in your hands,
place them in your hands,
place them in your hands.
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Thanks again for all the prayers! I have felt every single one and can't thank all ya'll enough! Right now I'm wondering what is next for me. I really want to stay living in Tennessee! I have been kind of looking at different jobs; either an additional part-time job or a full time job. Please pray that if it is God's will for me to stay down here, he will provide everything I need in order to do so. I have also been talking to my small group girls about a potential house that we would rent. I have the roommates and the potential house to live in, now I just need to find a job that will be enough to support the lifestyle. I pray for God's faithfulness and trust that if He is calling me to stay here in Chatt., things will just fall into place in His time.
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