Open Hands

I juggled ideas for a while about this post. I went from talking about being in tough situations to earning respect (which indeed had a catchy title), and to thinking about the importance of whatever character trait you care to name off the top of your head.

But I am keeping with a theme of titles gleaned from songs! This week's title courtesy of James Tealy! Look it up.

But I don't want to lose sight of what I first said this blog was going to be about (I know it's only the what, fifth post? kinda sad that I'm already on tangents). But this is important to me.

I give you full permission to disregard this post and ask me to delete it if it sounds like a rant or a recitation of my boring life.

Have you ever wondered why you are where you are?

Since I got to college (all of what, 4 weeks?) I've been struggling with the idea that I am where I am for a reason. This week I think I got part of an answer (God is faithful!). When I would be laying in bed at night wondering how I ended up at Alabama of all places after it being my dream to be a Bayou Bengal I would trace back the steps of my life and say "well if this didn't happen then I wouldn't have had to do this and then this would be different and this is where I would be right now" NO! STOP IT! It's wrong and a slap in God's face!

I've had the privilege of starting journeys with several people (one being a high school friend, one being a friend since 1st grade, one being my manager) that I never in a thousand years would have thought I would be on. And I gotta say, I have a feeling that these are the relationships that will be the most rewarding than the ones I have grieved over losing.

It is most recently that God has started to reveal to me why I am here, and what I am supposed to do to further His kingdom. Honestly, it was because I wouldn't get out of His way! When you realize that God is the God of Yes and all His promises will be kept it doesn't exclude "I will never leave nor forsake you" Joshua 1:9 or "I am your Rock and Salvation" Psalm 62:2 or "I have anointed you as a Holy priesthood"1 Peter 2:9.

It doesn't matter if you think you would be happier somewhere else or if you retrace back to simpler times when God didn't seem so far away. If you would get out of His way and let Him work THROUGH you instead of you wanting Him to work AROUND your silly plans you'll end up in a better place that you ever thought you could be in.

So the snippet of a part of a glimpse into why I am here at this time in my life is community that I have found in a very special group of girls. More to come I'm sure!

"Be still and know that I AM God" Psalm 46:10