With That Said

I've given my last post a week to run it's course. I am so blessed by the way the Lord has used this story. It's not my story, it's His story. I've just enjoyed living it.

I've had the privilege over the past several days of speaking with several single women of all ages. I had not realized how many single people there are that need encouragement and to be reminded that God's timing is perfect. I've found that it's easy to say, "Just wait, single people." However, I know that is harder said than done. Many say that they will wait but they can't handle the pressure and buckle when surrounded by the raging waters of the world. Yet, many this past week have come to me telling me that they want to do things the right way, by letting God handle it. It's awesome!

If you want to know more about how things went between my Dad and Josh about our relatioship check out my Dad's blog Father to a Young Man: What's Your Intentions?. Poor Josh. We talk about him all the time, but he knows that my family blogs and shares almost everything. He doesn't care, thankfully.

Now, I hope that you'll forgive me for keeping you in the dark for a few months. Honestly, my recent blog posts have been me working through many of my own issues and worries without being able to just say everything. I have spent months learning how to trust in the One who knows all. I still am learning. I often used my blog as a place to just share my heart.

With that said, a lot of people have asked what I'm going to do with my life. That seems like such a heady question and I have to swallow hard before answering. The answer however is really simple: What God says. Ummm. Is that it? Well, yep! So more detail, please. For me I believe that means turn 18 in two days (I would turn 18 regardless... ), graduate from highschool (which is coming upon me very soon), continue on to online college, serve where I'm at, grow in my relationship with Josh as we take things at God's pace (His pace is neither too slow nor too fast, despite some people's opinions), and live and love. So there you have it. Some think I'm loony for the way I'm doing things. They probably thought I was crazy before, but now they really think I hit my head hard as a child. Hehe! Maybe I did.... I can't remember.... Anyways.

As I get older and I watch my life keep changing I continue to come to the conclusion that I just don't care about the American Dream. It's cheap and worthless. Holy cow, ouch. Yeah, it hurts me too. But think about it with me. The American Dream is all about money, education, academics and comfort. None of those are horrible, not at all. The issue is the obsession with them. If we would care as much about serving and being an a mission for our Creator and Savior as we are about all of our diplomas and trophies, we might could really do some good for the Kingdom.

I am so not perfect, but I just know one thing: I want to live my life for my Lord Jesus. That won't look like the American Dream, because the American Dream can't touch God's plans for you and me. God's plans may seem lowly sometimes, like wiping dirty mouths at your kitchen table day after day, but there is purpose in it. There always is and always will be.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

Sometimes the future overwhelmes me. And then there are moments when I marvel at the work of the Sovereign Lord's hand in my life and those around me and I see there is no need to fear. Life is beautiful. A lot of it just has to do with our attitudes and of course... our faith in the One who sees the end as easily as He sees this moment.

With that said, I just keep living. I used to think I had to know everything.... Yeah well, God just wants me to follow and trust.... and I've learned to love it!