I am graduated from college on November 19th! Praise God. He alone got me here. He alone was my strength to complete my degree, and I pray He uses it for His glory. I am so excited about this time off from school I will have for a few months. I plan to begin graduate school in the Fall of 2006. I have many books I desire to read during this break, but most importantly I plan to spend a lot of my time in God's Word. A couple days after graduation I was up late one night and felt God calling me to read the entire Bible. So, I designed a reading plan to read the Bible in 6 months (not including the Minor Prophets). This past quarter in school I just completed a Biblical Prophets course in which we studied the Minor Prophets. It was great.
I find myself now wondering what to do with my time and at the same time how I can fit it all in. I've been sick for the past couple weeks. First, it started with cold and flu symptoms, and I went to the doctor a week later to find I had an ear infection. He put me on an antibiotic to treat the infection, but then as I finished taking the medicine I am now having a reaction to ending the medication much like a stomach flu. I have read that it's common after taking this specific antibiotic, but I may need to go back to the doctor if it continues in order to get treated. I God to get me through all of it. Reading His Word each day fills me with such hope and joy. I feel a contentment and a peace that's so wonderfully awesome.
I have started to read As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur which is an amazing book about learning to embrace life's disappointments. While emphasizing God's sovereignty the book teaches that our disappointments are His appointments. I am only through chapter 1 and find it inspiring. I desire to look at the trials in my life from God's perspective not from my perspective. God references many times in Scripture that He is refining us as silver. I think this analogy paints such a powerful picture of the process we go through as believers to become more like Christ. In Isaiah 48:10 we see that God tests us so as to refine us. He tests us in "the furnace of affliction". This process can be painful and it is all worth it. I believe that is the amazing part... that all the pain and trials we go through in life are all worth it if as a result we become more like Him, that He can see His reflection a little better in us.
A familar, beautiful song I love talks about choosing to listen to God's voice in all circumstances in life, especially in those circumstances that bring confusion, doubt, and fear. Sure, many voices are speaking to us, but are we listening to His?

Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

It's been a busy road to get me to the week before graduation... Our sermon series on Real Spiritual Power was absolutely awesome, and it is now over. Pastor Stan really touched on some powerful stuff about making sure we are aligned (Spirit, soul, and body - in that order) with his Holy Spirit. Then we discussed surrending all areas of our lives to God - I don't think I even need to (or could) say how powerful this was. It's really a matter of trust, and giving all your worries, fears, ect to God. They all belong to him anyway and Jesus Christ died on the cross in order for us to have life, and life more abundantly. All of our fears, sicknesses, problems were all conquered including death! All of this by God sending His only Son to die for us, something He had planned before the beginning of time. We later dealt with our words (what we speak to other people and to our selves). Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." The Bible also tells us in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." The last week Pastor taught us about cleansing and not giving the devil a foothold in our lives (these can turn into strongholds in our lives). The awesome part of this is that we canbe confident that our strongholds can come down because of His Spirit living in us! Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." This is such incredible news, and I am just so thankful that God gives us the ability to not only get through our trials in life through His Spirit but also the ability to more than conquer. The truth of His Word really does give us such freedom and hope. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32. Here the Word tells us that the truth (of Jesus Christ) sets us free. Recently I have been struggling with anxiety, and I know that the power I need to overcome this is within me - the Holy Spirit. I have been continuing to work n this and remember the truth of God's promises. I'll end with a wonderful Scripture verse I stumbled upon yesterday that brougt me such comfort. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you." Isaiah 43:2.