for us & not against us

Happy Saturday friends. I love that spring is here and here to stay! Just as I write this I can look out my window and see beautiful pink tulips & two blue jays hopping around in my backyard.

Something about spring time in the natural makes me feel more alive in the spiritual. God has been speaking to me lately in deeper & ever more exciting ways. I have been very encouraged by Bethel's new album, You Make Me Brave. It is so very good & I encourage you all to get it! Particular favourites include- You Make Me Brave, It is Well, Anchor, & I Belong to You. But seriously just buy the whole album.

The Lord has been showing me that he has good things planned for me! In my heart I have known that all along, but sometimes you forget or it is hard to see how good could come from *insert your situation here*. But He never fails. He is always good. In every situation. Being completely honest, I will say that I am coming out of what has been an incredibly painful & difficult season, as I am sure some of you are too. These past few months/ years have been rough, BUT GOD. He restores. It is easy in times of hardship to forget that God has a good plan for our lives. But when He reminds you of his good & perfect plan, you can't help but praise Him!

Lately I have heard the Lord speaking to me about who I am. I am his daughter & he loves me. Recently I was reading one of my favourite blogs & she was talking about finding our identity in Him vs. the world. It was so very encouraging. 

I feeling so hopeful right now. It is a great place to be. I pray you feel encouraged.

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Its going to be the best week.

Well folks, it has come down to this. The final week. I can hardly believe that in just 6 days I will be a graduate. These past few weeks have been filled with nothing less than hard work and now I can see it all paying off. All I have left to do is turn in is my senior thesis, a history paper, and watch some videos about Italian artists. And that is it. Just like that it will all done. My senior year all done in just 4 1/2 months.

It is so crazy to think about where this journey called school has led me. I started out with 19 amazing students. Through the years the dynamic and number changed- most dramatically during my junior year. Would I have ever picture or wanted  to graduate by myself? No. But God did. I am learning every day to trust his plan. Is it hard at times? Absolutely. Really hard in fact. I so wish I could be sharing these lasts with someone, sharing classes with someone, sharing memories with someone. As such a nostalgic person it is hard not to recount funny stories from elementary school. There are so many times where I have wished this could all be different, but through the hardship, pain, and tears, I fully trust the Lord. At times I feel abandoned, but then I remember He has brought me this far. He wont leave me now. He will never leave me. 

Onward I go. On Friday I will be launched into another phase of life. Who knows what it will hold, but I look at it with hope. My Dad reminded me of Proverbs 31:25 a couple weeks ago. He reminded me that with these hardships, I have also grown. They have definitely strengthened me. "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." It is hard when I don't know what the future holds, but I want to be able to approach it without fear. All I know is that when I don't understand, I will choose Him. He is worth it all.

But, back to this week. I do know what this week holds. This week I will get to decorate my graduation board, go shopping for a new dress & shoes, catch up with great friends, and oh yes graduate with a small group of amazing people. This week will be good.

Hope your week is great too!