Y'all.
I have been starting and stopping, erasing and re-writing, thinking and planning, and starting and stopping again for this post. I haven't posted since the beginning of December, and that was only a list of things I had to do for finals. Hardly note-worthy. Before that, I hadn't posted since September. Which, upon reflection, was also only a "here's what has happened in the last several weeks" post....since I hadn't updated since MAY. Clearly I'm very good at keeping up with this little blog. Probably because I'm fairly certain the only people who read this are also those that I actually update on the phone...
Also, I think I've been avoiding writing anything serious for awhile because I didn't really want to think about it in such a way that would lead to a post. "It" being any number of things I've been thinking about for the last 6 months or so. Likely, another reason for this is because there are so many things running through my head, so many thoughts, lessons learned (and to keep learning!), ideas, etc., that are all inexplicably and irreversibly intertwined it has become difficult to separate them and extract them one by one onto (virtual) paper.
The last serious post I wrote was on trust, and how deeply I struggle with trusting others and trusting God. A friend asked me a couple months after I wrote it if I felt like I had seen God answer any of the things I listed in the post. I told her yes, and that I wanted to write about it here, but I never did. So I guess that's where I'll begin.
Financially, God provided in a big way. I was given a second job working at Starbucks (truly, given, because the manager hired me even though she didn't want to or think she should due to my schedule and upcoming school conflicts in the fall) and able to move into the dorm on campus, which not only reduced my monthly payments, but also provided a lot of extra income to get out of debt, save for school in the fall, and answer another request I'll get to in a minute. God also gave me a much larger scholarship than I anticipated for the fall semester, which was fantastic. About a month later, I was given another one on top of that. And another one from a different group. Combined, that enabled me to take more classes than I would have been able to otherwise. And, I'm still seeing God provide financially because basically all of my tuition was covered unexpectedly this semester by scholarships.
God also provided many opportunities to see friends and family. A wedding in Atlanta (Heather!). A hurricane that forced me to Atlanta for a week. Gallery Church coming to New Orleans for a City Uprising during the Convention meeting, which meant I got to see so many friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I was sent to UGA for the seminary to do some recruiting at the BCM, which meant I got to see Franklin and Nathan and Mrs. Rhonda there (and be in Athens for a bit again). Thanksgiving and Christmas were more gifts, because some of my greatest friends (Steph and Sarah!) were in the ATL, and we were able to get together -- and see a new baby, Lula!! Though there are several friends I miss and long to see, it was such a blessing to see those friends and family.
In the realm of travel, I didn't really think that much would happen there. I love to travel, but it is so expensive, and in my current financial situation (which is not really that bad but doesn't really allow for a lot of fun, extra trips places) I just didn't see it happening. Well, I was wrong. The job at Sbux provided enough extra income to pay, almost completely, for a TRIP TO ROME. Rome, Italy. In Europe. And, somehow, the rest of the money was there even after the income from Sbux stopped. We leave for Rome in about 6 weeks, and I'm so excited. But also, there were a lot of trips back to Atlanta and one to Athens. And, this semester, I was able to be at home for my dad's 60th bday party right after I just got back to NOLA from Christmas. Plus, unexpectedly, God provided a way for me to go to the beach (which is where I am as I'm writing this). A recruiting trip for the seminary opened up, and because I had expressed interest in it, I was asked if I wanted to take it. I was able to go to Charleston (which I love!) and see another friend), and then drive up to Myrtle Beach. Yes, I'm technically working, but I'm at the beach! The beach speaks to my soul like no other place ever has been able to. And, my room has an ocean view, so I can watch the sunrise from my room since it's really, really cold outside.
Basically, the moral of the story is that my God does provide. And He knows me deeply, personally, intimately because He made me and because He's my Savior. He could have simply provided the basics, but He gave so much more. And He always does.
I have been starting and stopping, erasing and re-writing, thinking and planning, and starting and stopping again for this post. I haven't posted since the beginning of December, and that was only a list of things I had to do for finals. Hardly note-worthy. Before that, I hadn't posted since September. Which, upon reflection, was also only a "here's what has happened in the last several weeks" post....since I hadn't updated since MAY. Clearly I'm very good at keeping up with this little blog. Probably because I'm fairly certain the only people who read this are also those that I actually update on the phone...
Also, I think I've been avoiding writing anything serious for awhile because I didn't really want to think about it in such a way that would lead to a post. "It" being any number of things I've been thinking about for the last 6 months or so. Likely, another reason for this is because there are so many things running through my head, so many thoughts, lessons learned (and to keep learning!), ideas, etc., that are all inexplicably and irreversibly intertwined it has become difficult to separate them and extract them one by one onto (virtual) paper.
The last serious post I wrote was on trust, and how deeply I struggle with trusting others and trusting God. A friend asked me a couple months after I wrote it if I felt like I had seen God answer any of the things I listed in the post. I told her yes, and that I wanted to write about it here, but I never did. So I guess that's where I'll begin.
Financially, God provided in a big way. I was given a second job working at Starbucks (truly, given, because the manager hired me even though she didn't want to or think she should due to my schedule and upcoming school conflicts in the fall) and able to move into the dorm on campus, which not only reduced my monthly payments, but also provided a lot of extra income to get out of debt, save for school in the fall, and answer another request I'll get to in a minute. God also gave me a much larger scholarship than I anticipated for the fall semester, which was fantastic. About a month later, I was given another one on top of that. And another one from a different group. Combined, that enabled me to take more classes than I would have been able to otherwise. And, I'm still seeing God provide financially because basically all of my tuition was covered unexpectedly this semester by scholarships.
God also provided many opportunities to see friends and family. A wedding in Atlanta (Heather!). A hurricane that forced me to Atlanta for a week. Gallery Church coming to New Orleans for a City Uprising during the Convention meeting, which meant I got to see so many friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I was sent to UGA for the seminary to do some recruiting at the BCM, which meant I got to see Franklin and Nathan and Mrs. Rhonda there (and be in Athens for a bit again). Thanksgiving and Christmas were more gifts, because some of my greatest friends (Steph and Sarah!) were in the ATL, and we were able to get together -- and see a new baby, Lula!! Though there are several friends I miss and long to see, it was such a blessing to see those friends and family.
In the realm of travel, I didn't really think that much would happen there. I love to travel, but it is so expensive, and in my current financial situation (which is not really that bad but doesn't really allow for a lot of fun, extra trips places) I just didn't see it happening. Well, I was wrong. The job at Sbux provided enough extra income to pay, almost completely, for a TRIP TO ROME. Rome, Italy. In Europe. And, somehow, the rest of the money was there even after the income from Sbux stopped. We leave for Rome in about 6 weeks, and I'm so excited. But also, there were a lot of trips back to Atlanta and one to Athens. And, this semester, I was able to be at home for my dad's 60th bday party right after I just got back to NOLA from Christmas. Plus, unexpectedly, God provided a way for me to go to the beach (which is where I am as I'm writing this). A recruiting trip for the seminary opened up, and because I had expressed interest in it, I was asked if I wanted to take it. I was able to go to Charleston (which I love!) and see another friend), and then drive up to Myrtle Beach. Yes, I'm technically working, but I'm at the beach! The beach speaks to my soul like no other place ever has been able to. And, my room has an ocean view, so I can watch the sunrise from my room since it's really, really cold outside.
Basically, the moral of the story is that my God does provide. And He knows me deeply, personally, intimately because He made me and because He's my Savior. He could have simply provided the basics, but He gave so much more. And He always does.
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