January Twenty-first...

Today started out with me being completely overwhelmed. I attended my first class for the research lab that I'll be working in this semester, and the professor that the team that I'm on is working with explained basically the project and what we have to do. Let's just say that congressional development in the 45th Congress is far more complex and tedious than I originally expected, so yeah that's shaping up to be just wonderful, but I do get to take the class with a good friend, so that's a redeeming quality. I'd just like to take this opportunity/force one, to say how much this blog has already helped me to look for the wonderful things about the days the Lord has given to me and to truly seek Him and see Him in every aspect. So, on that note serious praises and cool things for today:

1. I got to eat breakfast with my friend Taylor who is also doing researching, so that was really great just to be able to catch up and hear how things are going for him.

2. I got to relax completely this afternoon, and spend a lot of time in prayer for tonight...

3. Tonight- was SWAT interviews. And at first, I was so nervous and afraid that I'd say something that didn't make sense or just embarrass myself. But the Lord is so good! Interviews went wonderfully and the Lord just provided me with people that I felt comfortable around and was so at ease with. In addition, I also got to see a lot of people that I've been missing recently as well as meet some really great new people. I'm just continually praying that the outcome of that would be the Lord's will and that I would obey and be grateful for whatever that may be!

4. Though interviews were great, and some wonderful things happened today, this made my night. I talked to one of my best friends Chelsea tonight and we were just able to catch up and just encourage one another. Just hearing her talk about the Lord is such an encouragement to me, she has such a beautiful heart that truly makes me yearn for the heart of the one who crafted it. What a blessing she has been and continues to be in my life, and I know and can't wait to see the wonderful and breathtaking things He has planned for her.

5. I've been reading Forgotten God and tonight, I was reading a passage that just really spoke to something that the Lord has been trying to teach me lately:

"When Jesus was on Earth, He said to His disciples, 'If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13). God is a good Father who WANTS to give good gifts to His children. Sometimes I forget this truth and beg as though He needs convincing. It's as ridiculous as if my kids thought they needed to beg me to hug them. It delights my heart to hug them."

-Francis Chan

After interviews tonight this passage just completely spoke to me. I am constantly amazed by the gifts that the Lord gives me, the blessings he provides, it's like I'm surprised by His goodness. But how ridiculous is that? How can I be surprised that my Father wants to give me good gifts and that He in fact does? That seems absurd! I serve a Father who sees me as pure and blameless, so of course He wants to give me good things and I'm really at a season in my life when I'm seeing that. The Lord is unfolding so many things for me, and truly just giving and giving to me. I pray that I would no longer be surprised by my Father for the gifts that He gives me, but that I would long to use them to glorify Him.

6. Also, though it is small, this is something that honestly delights my heart and brings so much joy to me. I've seen how some of my best friends have taken in a guy who didn't have that many people around him and just truly poured into him and loved on him and encouraged him. What a testimony to the love that the Father provides! I cannot explain the gladness I feel when I know that they are being humble servants and reaching out to those around them. I could not be more proud of the three of them and the beautiful young women of the Lord that they are becoming.

Prayer request for me: contentment- I've been praying about some changes and situations that the Lord has laid on my heart and recently I really feel like He's revealed that to me. But, now that I know, I also just need to stop looking forward to what comes next and focus on where I am now and how I can serve Him where I am.

Prayer request for others- so i'm cheating, i have two. A) for this person I just pray that the Lord would just show her what He has for her and just give her complete discernment and clarity over what she is supposed to do and when she is supposed to do it as well as dealing with the other people involved in the situation and just opening up their hearts. B) I have a friend whose been sick for awhile and he'll get test results back late this weekend, so I just pray that the doctors would be able to figure out what's wrong and if it's the Lord's will that He would just be freed from that sickness.

love, love, love, love her!