And so it begins...

Yes, I am committing to blogging.  I have tried once before and failed miserably at keeping up with it.  Since then I have become more dedicated in journaling and would like to share with you some precious lessons God is teaching me. 

I don't have a husband or children with funny stories that I can relate back to the Bible like so many of the blogs I enjoy reading.  I am simply a college student living on a college campus and so I will glean from the experiences I share with so many others here.

I am not a great writer or thinker and don't even know if anyone will care to read this, but God uses all things to bring glory to Him.  I hope that you take encouragement and are challenged by the words that are written here in the future. 

God has been showing me just how beautiful this precious meantime on earth is.  Yes, there are times of struggle (that seem to outweigh the good while in them), but thankfully there are times of great joy and hope that seem to come out of the deepest struggles.  Our Savior has a magnificent love for us that goes beyond anything on this earth.

Recently I have been struggling with being utterly and completely satisfied with God in all areas of my life.  So often I ignore God, pushing him aside to follow the desires of my own heart, leading to pain that I alone brought on myself.  I end up wasting time just trying to get over that pain when I could be reaching out to others bringing glory to God.  Music deeply affects me and so God often speaks to me through it.  I would like to share a song that has been my plea as of late.  Its written by the band Barlowgirl:

My God's Enough
I've had enough of living life for only me
And reaching just for the things that keep destroying me
So sick of envying the lives of so many I see
Somehow believeing that they have what I need

My God's enough for me
This world has nothing I need
In this whole life I've seen
My God's enough for me

I can't explain why I suffer though I live for you
Those who deny you they have it better than I do
Cover my eyes now so that my heart can finally see
That in the end only you mean anything

My God's enough for me
This world has nothing I need
In this whole life I've seen
My God's enough for me

Who have I in heaven but you?
Nothing I desire but you
My heart may fail but not you
You are mine forever

This song is taken from Psalm 73.  It speaks so much to what I am struggling with because I see so many with the very things I want.  Want...That is where the problem lies.  It is so easy to be concerned about my own wants, so much so that I utterly forget God's plan for my life.  I would encourage you to go read Psalm 73.  In the beginning it seems like the people you envy have it made.  As you keep reading though, you find that they come to a disastrous end.  The life you envied was not even enjoyable to them, but filled with insecurity. 

I will end (this rather long blog, sorry) with this.  Although life can seem so difficult and it seems that you are missing out on opportunties that you want, God is not only protecting you from the (selfish) desires of your heart, but also pulling you closer to him.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says:

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

If God will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle and you are still falling into temptation, then you are probably not staying near to God.  When you ask in His name, He will provide peace and hope and a desire to follow His will.  Stay close to Him and your desires will become His.  Find ultimate satisfaction in the love that He is so willing to give.  He can fill every need you have if you are willing to let Him.