Saturday, May 1, 2010

4 Years Went Flying on By....

Well today I graduated from undergrad with a Bachelors Degree in Unified Elementary Education. That is pretty crazy to me. Something else that is crazy is how fast these past 4 years have flown by. When I think back to high school graduation and the thought of the new adventure of college, I figured that college would be different and would not seem to go by as fast as the rest of my life had. Here is a picture of me and some friends on my first night in Gainesville 4 years ago and then one from today. So much has changed. And it blows my mind to look back and see God's hand at work through it all. His plan is so big.





Well four years later, I sit here, a college grad, with one year of graduate school ahead, looking back at all of the, what used to be "unknowns" in awe of God's sovereignty and how much better and bigger His plan for my life is.

If four years ago you would have asked me what my life would look like today, I would have gotten the answer completely wrong. Obviously. Four years ago I resisted the plan the Lord had for me and continued to try to maintain control of my own life. I am a control freak and need control. Well finally the Lord made it so I could not resist, grabbed my heart, and showed me that there was no reason to fear with Him in control. Tired of failure and disappointment, I surrendered my life to the Lord. Everyday is a battle however. You see, control is like an addition. Just like a drug or alcohol addiction. To quit cold turkey seems impossible. So everyday I wake up and have to remind myself that my God is big, sovereign, loving, and has a perfect will and plan for my life and if I just live in light of that, than I have nothing to fear. I am just so thankful for the Lord's grace and love. In spite of all of the baggage, garbage, sin, and filth that I live in on a daily basis, He constantly lavishes His love on me, reminding me that I am His daughter and that He is going to take care of me. I am so thankful for the security. For that fulfillment. For that purpose.

Here is a picture of my graduation cap that I decorated!



Psalm 13:5-6 says "But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."

I feel that no verse could better articulate my feelings about the last 4 years. In these last 4 years I have come to understand (and am still trying to understand) all that the Lord's salvation promises. In the last 4 years, I have come to learn (and am still learning) to simply trust in HIS unfailing love, rather than my own continuously failing self. In the last 4 years and today and forever I will sing to the Lord for He has been and I know He will continue to be good to me.

Thank you Lord for showing me the way. Without You I am nothing. You are the what, why, and how I am where I am today. All the Glory be to God.