Thursday, August 23, 2012

Every Blessing You Pour Out

Today, I spent a few hours on campus, making myself available to see anyone who had time to spare. I've been hanging out with the cross country team pretty regularly, but not many others. I thought that I would have long blocks of time by myself, but that couldn't have been further from the truth! My computer and books sat in my backpack for the majority of the day, as friends kept stopping by to talk. I feel overwhelmingly blessed by these friendships, and know that God was so faithful to bring me to Beloit and provide me with all of these people in my life.

I wrote on facebook, "I have some of the most wonderful friends on the planet. God knew what he was doing when he sent me to Beloit, and I can't be thankful enough" 

Beloit College isn't exactly the poster school for Christians to make strong, meaningful friendships with a large number of people. And on paper, many of my friends and I shouldn't be friends. The best example is Betsy, but there are so many others. Beloit is such a unique place, and maybe I'm just getting sappy because I'm a senior, but I honestly do appreciate it so very much. I've talked a lot before about the opportunities it's given me, but rarely about the fact that I've come to know and love so many people who are very different, yet similar to me. 

I came home this afternoon after such an enriching day, and was overwhelmed with gratitude. I wrote in my journal, "I am so overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness and provision. Jesus really has changed my life in the best way possible. I am so aware of my unworthiness, and it only makes His goodness that much more astonishing" 

I remembered a song that I come back to a lot, Blessed Be Your Name . Many times in my life, I've focused on the lyrics that deal with praising the Lord even when things get hard. But right now, I am so focused on God's goodness: "Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise" I devoted a lot of my afternoon to praising God. After my birthday last night, even Betsy, who's not sure about God, texted me and said, "I have to believe God arranged tonight and our lives for us. It's all too perfect" I responded, "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good", and she said, "Amen"

I'm so happy right now, and am praying that happiness continues to glorify God for as long as He gives it to me. I read this passage this afternoon, and it expresses so much of what is in my heart:

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:12-17

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