graduation

I am officially a college graduate.


Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

-Psalm 16

integrity

"Biblical integrity is not just doing the right thing; it’s a matter of having the right heart and allowing the person you are on the inside to match the person you are on the outside. This is how God is. This is how his people should be."

"Perhaps a good word to think of is “consistency.” There must be consistency between what is inside and what is outside. God is totally consistent. His actions and behaviors always match his character and nature. And his goal for us is nothing less. Christ’s objective for his disciples is to make us disciplined people. In the words of John Ortberg, “Disciplined people can do the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason.” Just like God."

certain of God, uncertain in all else

Lately I have been learning about how the only thing that is certain is that everything is uncertain... except for God. He never changes: His love, His character and His promises are always true and real. However, He is constantly surprising us. God is a creative and passionate God: we never know the things He has planned for us. My dear sister in Christ, Sarah, has some great thoughts about this subject at her blog as well.

The following is a devotional about the beautiful uncertainly of life from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I appreciate his thoughts about how to embrace this gracious uncertainty.

Graciously Uncertain
by Oswald Chambers

Our natural inclination is to be so precise— trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next— that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, "Well, what if I were in that circumstance?" We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life— gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, ". . . unless you . . . become as little children . . ." (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next.

If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, ". . . believe also in Me" (John 14:1 ), not, "Believe certain things about Me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in— but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.

i'm sticking with you

I heard a new song today on the radio (at least, it's new to me) and the lyrics caught my attention. "Sticking with You" by Addison Roads describes a friendship between believers and their commitment to one another. It reminded me so much of my relationships with my sisters in Christ.

Me and some of my closest sisters have committed ourselves to one another: we are loyal for life. No matter where God takes us throughout our lives, we are committed to our church body and to one another. I would do anything for these girls, and I know they would do the same. God has blessed our friendships so much and I am incredibly thankful for these beautiful girls. I don't know where I would be without them- God has used them so much in my life!

This song just made me so thankful for these women in my life. So often we take our friendships for granted and don't see what incredible blessings we have. I am so thankful for each and every one one of my brothers and sisters in our church body: God has used each of them in my life. Regardless of who they are, what age they are, where they are from, what they have been through, etc... I have learned from each of them.



"Sticking with You"
by Addison Roads

Come on, it's me you're talking to
There's something going on inside of you
Don't have to say it
But I wish you would
Cause it would be much easier
You always hide behind yourself
You walk a lonely road with no one's help
I hate to break the news
You're headed for a fall

And if I have to jump, then I'll jump
And I won't look down
You can cry, you can fight
You can scream and shout
I'll push and pull until your walls come down
And you understand I'm gonna be around
I'm sticking with you
Sticking with you

Even if you try and shut me out
I'm staying here, 'cause that's what love's about
I might let you down, but I won't let you go
So lean into me, I want to know
Everything about the fear you hold
Inside, cause you and I are better than just one

Chorus

That's what it means to love you
That's what it means to have your back
That's what it means to show you

Chorus

delivers us from all

I sought the Lord and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
-Psalm 34:4

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
-Psalm 34:17

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
-Psalm 34:19

What are your fears? What are your troubles? What are your afflictions? The same promise is reiterated through each of these verse: GOD DELIVERS.

No matter how big your fears are, God can deliver you from them. No matter how many troubles plague you, God can deliver you from them. No matter how many afflictions burden you, God can deliver you from them.

Each verse also says that God delivers us from it ALL. Each fear, each trouble each affliction. All of them. God is so good! He is mighty to save.

verse of the moment

This I recall to mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."

-Lamentations 3:21-24