College

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.

All My Fountains...

I got my Passion CD on Tuesday, and I've been listening to it non-stop since. My favorite song is "All My Fountains" sung by Chris Tomlin. Here are some thoughts.
-taye


...Are in YOU

"All My Fountains" - Chris Tomlin
This dry and desert land
I tell myself keep walking on
Hear something up ahead
Water falling like a song
An everlasting stream
Your river carries me home
Let it flow, Let It flow
Open the heavens
Come Living Water
All my fountains, are in You
Strong like a river
Your love is running through
All my fountains, are in You
A flood for my soul
A well that never will run dry
I've rambled on my own
Never believing I would find
An everlasting stream
Your river carries me home
Let it flow, Let It flow


Open the heavens
Come Living Water
All my fountains, are in You
Strong like a river
Your love is running through
All my fountains, are in You
Rain down on us
Rain down on us Lord
Rain down on us
Rain down on us Lord
Rain down on us
Rain down on us Lord
Rain down on us
Rain down on us Lord

Open the heavens
Come Living Water
All my fountains, are in You
Strong like a river
Your love is running through
All my fountains, are in You

This song is such a great reminder that God provides. That all my fountains come from Him, and Him alone.

"And my God will supply every need..."
Philippians 4:19 ESV

God does not leave His children to provide for themselves, He instead takes the initiative to provide their every need.

"...God provides..."
1 Peter 4:11 NIV

"...He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."
Acts 14:17

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:7

Many people read Matthew 7:7 and get this view of God as the Genie in Aladdin. But that is not what Jesus was going for when He spoke those words. God always provides our needs, not necessarily our wants. There is a big difference.

Need-- a necessity; a state the requires supply or relief

Want-- that which is not possessed, but desired for pleasure
(Definition acquired from Webster's 1928 dictionary, http://1828.mshaffer.com/)

You can see the huge difference between the two; God will provide our needs, but not always our wants. Our needs come from a sole source. As human beings, we need food and air to live. Our wants come from our hearts and our appetites. The desires of our hearts are not always pure and good, which is reason enough why God does not always give us our wants.

"...and God is faithful...He will also provide..."
1 Corinthians 10:13

"For with You is the fountain of life, in Your light we see light."
Psalm 36:9

"...all my fountains are in You."
Psalm 87:7