April: Still, My Soul Be Still

As of late, I've noticed how much everything around me is constantly changing. This past year has been such a change. New school, new life, new experiences, new everything. I sometimes just wish that things would remain constant. I just wanted something in this world to remain constant, but as 1 Peter 1:24-25 says, "...All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the world of the Lord remains forever. A song that has encouraged me lately is Keith & Kristyn Getty's Still, My Soul be Still.

Still my soul be still, and do not fear though winds of change may rage tomorrow.
God is at your side, no longer dread the fires of unexpected sorrow.

Chorus:

God You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken.
Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in You alone.

Still my soul be still, do not be moved by lesser lights and fleeting shadows.
Hold onto His ways with shield of faith against temptations flaming arrows.

Still my soul be still, do not forsake the Truth you learned in the beginning.
Wait upon the Lord and hope will rise as stars appear when day is dimming.

The last verse is my absolute favorite. Although things of this world are constantly changing, one thing that I know remains the same is Christ.


Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.

 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength. 

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint. 


And for this... I am eternally grateful.

So, It's Been One Year...

A lot has happened in the past year:

I have...

...graduated high school...

...worked at my first job...

...gone to college...

...paid my own rent...

...joined a great church...

...joined a great bible study...

...joined an amazing a cappella group...

...made awesome new friends...

...been a year without a mother...

Without a doubt things have been different and harder in some ways. I do miss her hugs, her laughs and her fobbish english. Yet, I am glad. She's with Jesus who can provide more for her than I can. She's with her everything. And for this I'm glad. (To read more about my mom's story, click here.) I await the day where I see her again in heaven with Christ in our glorified bodies.

As mentioned before there have been a lot of changes, and most the most important my love for God has grown tremendously. I've learned to love and trust Him more and praise Him despite my condition. I've learned to be satisfied in Him alone.


Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
-Before the Throne of God Above, V.4

Thankfulness and Gratefulness

I know this isn't a song of the month. That has yet to come, however since I've yet to do an update of how things have been, I think now is the appropriate time. As I sit outside enjoying the weather, waiting for my next class and eating my lunch, I got to thinking about what God has done in my life so far. As a result of this, I am made aware of how thankful and grateful I should be regardless of my own condition.


Quick update:
School has been doing quite well. It has been crazy in the last couple months as my a cappella group prepared for competition. We found ourselves rehearsing at ridiculous times (5pm-9pm Sunday, 10pm-1230am Monday, 7pm-12am Wednesday) and whatever else. We placed 2nd at Quarter Finals and advanced into the Semi Finals where we placed 4th. To be honest, I really wanted to fly out to New York for finals, but at the same time, I'm really relieved that we didn't. If we did make it to finals, I wouldn't have been able to go home and enjoy much needed time with friends and family.

Spring Break=A-mazing.

I had a lot accomplished here. I got to paint my room because I was absolutely sick of the plain white pasty walls. I replaced this dull color with Behr's "Rejuvenate" Green. I also was able to put of a decent source of light up in my room. Do you see that little lamp in the corner of the room? Yes, that was my only source of light for the past seven years. My room was somewhat inspired by Florence + the Machine's music video "Cosmic Love". I wanted hanging lightbulbs in my room, but the were quite expensive, so I had to improvise. I also got to play around with furniture positions and what not. We also had an amazing garage sale held by the Johnson's (check out her blog). I made a lot more than I though I would've. So obviously, finding thing to sell, involves ripping one's living space apart. Although the shot of my "new room" may look organized, what you don't know is that I have a closet in the opposite corner of the room in which everything has been shoved into at the last minute due to time restrictions. Oh college, how I don't miss you.


Since I've been here in college, I've been praying for contentment, more specifically in the areas of dating/relationships and I really do believe that the Lord has granted me this. I am content with the fact that I am single and that this, at the current time, is my current ministry. Whether I am in a relationship or not, I am still to glorify God. I am satisfied in Him alone. :) As I should be. 


John 3:30-31

"He must increase, but I must decrease." He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.