Reflections

As my college career is slowly nearing and many of my friends have graduated or will very soon, I have found myself reflecting a lot. What if I hadn't ever taken the huge leap of faith that took me to Master's? I am sure of one thing, my life would not look like it does today.

It's funny at times, to look back over these past few years at Master's. Things that I once was so clueless about, are now so clear. How little I knew back then... It's been an amazing experience! All the joys, the laughter, the pain, and the tears have been worth it. God's taken this little Oklahoma girl a long way from where she began over 3 years ago.
I was asked today, what I appreciated about Master's since I've been here for over 3 years. The truth is, I don't know how to answer that. I can't compare it to a public school or college because I've never gone to one. I don't know what it's like to have teachers teaching lies and I don't know what it's like to attend a college with over 3,ooo students, feeling like the only believer there. But I know that God used Master's to get me better than back on track. And I know that God's taken me through many things, to grow my faith in Him. I also know the feeling of discontentment of being in a christian bubble, longing to abandone all to share the good news with someone without hope.

At this point, I would have to say that the biggest impact on my life related to Master's happened this summer. As you know, I spent a month in India, which was basically my dream. And I'm so thankful God didn't disappoint. Rather than deciding I never wanted to go overseas again, I fell in love with it! More specifically, I fell in love with sharing the love of my Savior with the people of India. The memories are never far from my mind, as if it's a movie I've watched a hundred times. And the thing that amazes me is the passion that consumes me. Each time I hear of trafficking and of the girls of India, my heart hurts in a way that makes no sense. Paul calls it the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14).

God began teaching me something else in India this summer. He began showing me that this life isn't about me. I confess that I fail to live a "eternity-centered" life, even on a good day I fail. But I am learning what it looks like and the moments when my focus is where it should be, there is a peace which passes all understanding and a joy that one cannot know apart from the Father.
There are so many other reflections that I could share with you, but not tonight. If there is only one thing you take away from this, I hope you long to know the Father and seek His kingdom, instead of your own, because its no longer your own.

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple" -Ps27:4