Connections

Over two years ago I wrote something about how this town I grew up isn't actually all that bad. I wanted to just drive around and relive good memories, even some that weren't all that great because at this point I can laugh at them and I understand the lessons that were learned from it. I think I've hit a point in my life where those memories have pretty much fizzled out. There are new memories in my mind now, new mistakes that I would rather forget, new experiences I would have preferred to not have. It's all in God's plan, of course, and I believe that I needed to have those experiences and make those mistakes to get to where I am today. And where I am today is a pretty happy place.

Mistakes have been made, by many, in this past year. I met a lot of people that I might initially wish I hadn't, but they were put into my life for a reason. I find myself wondering if other people think about these paths like I do. It's amazing to think about how if you hadn't met this one person, or moved to this one place, or even just visited somewhere, your life could be completely different. It's incredible to think about how it is all connected; how He has entwined it all. Not only that God has planned it all out, but that He even did it before you were created. He knew all of this from the very beginning. Not just the beginning of your life, but from the beginning OF life. Talk about having connections. The big guy upstairs has got you, trust Him. He really does know what is best for you, He knows what's going to happen and He wants to protect you. He loves each and every one of us. I know that that little tid bit can be forgotten pretty easily.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither life nor death, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

It doesn't matter what mistakes we have made or how grave we think our sins are. Repent and ask Christ for forgiveness, you will receive it.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." John 3:16-17

This world is turning into a place that turns away from Christ and praises sins. But what joy, true joy, can you find in a life where there is no Christ? He loves us and He sent His son to save us from eternal damnation. You want a good connection for something that really matters, like your life, try trusting His plan. It'll be worth it, believe me.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5

New Chapters, New Me

For those of you who knew me in the past year, or read a lot of my blog, you know that the last year has been a whirlwind of emotions and new adventures, some good, some bad. I know that God had it all planned for a reason and I had the experiences I had for good reason. It is in my sinful nature, though, to question it all and wonder why some of it had to happen. There are quite a few instances that I could have done without, but I try to remember that it is all in God's plan. One of my friend's said that figuring out God's plan is like trying to put together a Rubik's cube. Granted, a Rubik's cube may eventually get soled, but for a lot of people it is just pointless to figure out because it's very complex. Keeps us on our toes though!
I know I haven't written in a while. There has been so much going on in life and in this country. I've wanted to write about it all but I felt like I couldn't do it justice. I have, however, written in my personal journal about it. And while writing in there I was looking back on everything I've written in the past year and a half since I got it. So I decided last week that I was going to start a new chapter.
A new chapter in there, a new chapter on here, a new chapter in life.

"Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:19

Not that I imagine anyone who reads this really cares, but I thought I would put it out there. My own personal way of finding the joy in my life is to get rid of the things that just bring me down, which was half the people I met last year. Bad decisions were made, mistakes happened, and there's no going back on all of that. I think everyone has had these times in their lives. And we also all get to a point where we draw a line and keep the past in the past, not letting it anywhere near our future. I have reached that point. As far as I am concerned, I have my senior year of college to look forward to and that's it. Whatever happens happens, but the people and experiences from last year that caused me heartache or stress, the situations that caused me to hurt others, those are all gone. The new chapter has begun and with God as my author, I know that it is going to be an amazing next year.

Here's to really putting my trust in God and finding the joy He has in store for me in the next year, and beyond!

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24