So, it's been a long while since I posted last. Life has changed tremendously since then, because I started college. I am now a freshman at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi. I moved into my dorm on August 20th, basically two weeks ago. I began classes on the 24th and have now successfully completed a week and a half of classes as a college student. I absolutely love it here. It's incredible to feel like I have been here for months and to feel like I've known my friends forever, when the truth is I've only been here thirteen days and known most of these people less than that. God has been so good. Here's a little bit of what He has been teaching me lately.
"...and when you go, you shall not go empty." {Exodus 3:21 ESV}
Lately, I have been reading through the book of Exodus. I have read it before, and to be completely honest, it was only merely stories to me. But recently, I have begun to look at it with a new perspective, and one huge thing I seen throughout it is how consistent God is to provide. I came to school two weeks ago, knowing only two acquaintances and no one else. Never really having been in a legitimate classroom, never being away from home for more than one month. All throughout Exodus the thing that sticks out the most to me is how often God provides for Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites. When things are uncertain and when Moses was hesitant, God was there, and He provided all that they needed. I am finding the same is true in my life today. Two weeks ago, I didn't really have any friends here; now, God has blessed me with a small group of close, Christian friends, as well as many new acquaintances. I have adjusted to classes just fine, and am loving almost every class I am taking this semester. God doesn't promise that things will always be peachy, but He does promise that we won't have to go through life alone, or empty-handed.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." {2 Peter 1:3 NIV}
"Rejoice in the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever." {Psalm 136:1 ESV}
I read this verse at 1:30am this morning in the bathroom hallway, which goes to show that God can teach you things no matter where you are. After waking up for my 9am ballet class, the words of this verse kept resounding through my mind all day today: during pirouettes, taking notes in History & Ideas, discussing the story of Joseph in Literature & Art, taking a walk around campus with a friend, watching choreography in Dance Department meeting, even while I was eating dinner in the cafeteria this evening. Looking at the verse there are three major thing that jump out at me; I see joy, goodness, and love. Being here at Belhaven, I have fallen in love with everything and everyone here. I know there are going to be bad days, and tough days, and days that I am just going to want to forget about altogether, but so far, everyday that I have been here has been beautiful. When I say beautiful, I don't just mean warm and sunny, but also days that I have made new memories, made new friends, made new discoveries, or learned things about myself, God, or both. The middle section of the verse says, "...for He is good..." God is so good, and just in the ways and people and adventures He is brought to me, I have continually been shown His goodness every day. And lastly, His love endures forever. Think about what forever means...it means NEVER ENDING...ever. That is how long God's love lasts; it won't end because of something I think, say, or do. It won't end when the world ends. It won't end EVER...ever. That blows my mind to think of all I have done, said, and thought in my life, and the fact that the Creator, who created me to be holy, who has seen the depths of my sinfulness, and still His love will endure forever.
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!" {Psalm 118:29 ESV}
Those are two major things God has been showing me within the past two weeks that I have been at school. I am eager to see His will for me life continue to unfold during my time here at Belhaven.
