Daily Bread

My life is completely different than I thought it’d be a year ago. It’s even more different than I thought it’d be than 3 years ago. A lot of change has happened, some heartache, growth, tenderness, yearning for Jesus in ways I didn’t know I needed to, worship and prayer. There were a lot of different things I wanted, good things- but not the best. When ideas, career dreams, relationships, and locations changed it was hard. Really hard, but God sustains His children. Through every season, I cannot even explain the amount of peace He brought and continues to bring.

I went home to New Braunfels this weekend for a very short trip. I had a little time Friday afternoon to kill while I waited for some friends to get off of work. I decided to just drive around and see what had changed since the last time I had been there- and New Braunfels is beautiful and fun to drive around anyways. As I drove, I began remembering this was a place where God, in His kindness and steadfast love, starting building a firm foundation of trusting Him and seeking Him. There were definite seasons of pride, legalism, and discontentment throughout high school, but I do look back and see that anytime I pursued Jesus, He was faithful to be there and because of that those were also seasons of growth and knowing Jesus. This built up a trust and peace in my life that can only be explained through the Gospel. I am really thankful to have grown up in that community and the church I did, with the family I have. I had no idea of the things He was preparing in me and how I would be applying those things in years to come. I’m still learning, still growing in His trust and peace throughout seasons I’ve been through in this past year. There have been moments where my hands and time were full with everything I wanted and desired and moments when it seemed my hands were empty of everything I had asked the Lord for- but in all of it…peace. He truly is the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I love that. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. I love that out of the many names He has, these were the ones God chose to speak through Isaiah about Jesus. What more could His children want? These are everything we need to sustain us- might, peace, counsel and a life that rests in knowing our God has no end. No end! Praise the Lord!!

I was at a retreat a few weekends ago leading worship and for one of the sessions they watched a video of a Marian Jordan talk. Marian talked about the life of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and how there were moments she pursued God well and others where she tried to make it happen. Marian compared it to her own life and there was a point in her talk where she said something to the effect of, “If my life turned out the way I wanted it, I would have missed this.” She repeated I would have missed this a few times, and I was struck by that- struck by thankfulness that God, who is rich in mercy, for whatever reason had me in that room with those girls leading them in worship. If my life had panned out the way I wanted it to a few years ago, I would be in New York, working in fashion, married, “successful”…all of those things were good things I wanted; I really do believe my heart was pure in why I was walking towards them, but slowly the Lord showed me He wanted me to go a different route. Some people thought I was/am crazy. It was hard and there were times I felt like I was walking around in the dark while God was standing by the light switch, taking what seemed like a really long time to turn it on and show me I was about to run into a table. Then I look at my life, right now in this moment- He flipped the switch and provided a job with a description that could not be more accurate for the desires He’s placed in me, at the perfect time. Really, it’s crazy when I think about it- my job isn’t even existent in most places and it “happened” to open up right when I graduated. I just sat there agreeing with Marian- I would have missed this. I look forward to more seasons of change- something I never thought I’d say. But there is something in knowing that our God has no end and wants what is best for His children. Looking forward to whatever people, relationships, ministry, jobs, etc are to come.

And so glad to have these friends through it all...

I have so many friendships marked by the love of Jesus and these 2 have been there the longest. I've known Andrea (bottom pic) since 4th grade and Abbey since 9th. We have rejoiced, cried, laughed a whole lot and walked through life together. I'm really thankful for the gift of friendship and community in the body of Christ. Both of these friends have taught me so much about Jesus, working hard, loving people (and their husbands!) well and having fun. Thankful for you both!

I love these lyrics by Jill Phillips. I think it sums up what we sometimes, or often times, feel as His children who are constantly in want.

Daily Bread
There’s a restlessness in the soul of man

Nobody’s tamed it yet

You never fail to keep any promises

But somehow we forget
That you’re always right on time

You feed us all with a silver spoon

And like your foolish kids

We start worrying about what we’re gonna do

When the hunger comes again

But you’re always right on time

With an open hand

You have exactly what I need

Daily bread

Daily bread

You have the wisdom and the patience

We need the grace to see it clear

Too soon and we take it all for granted

Too late is more than we can bear

So you’re always right on time
With an open hand

You have exactly what I need

Daily bread