the small stuff

**i posted this on facebook as a note, but i thought i would add it to my blog as well since everyone who reads this (mom) is not on facebook. enjoy.**

i totally should be asleep right now. but i just had an amazing experience (well, you may not classify it as "amazing" but then again you aren't writing this note, now are you) and i felt the need to share it with whomever may happen to stumble upon this little section on facebook. so here we go.

first let me preface why i classify my "experience" as amazing. so i have been spending alot of time in the gospels lately-doing a little studying on the life of Jesus. (I am also reading "Just like Jesus" by Max Lucado- i highly recommend it and any other book by him) but anyway, I was reading the other day about a man who came to Jesus (well, there are several of these stories in the bible) and asked Him to heal his servant-without Jesus actually having to come to his house and personally see or touch the man- and Jesus was glad to heal the servant because of that master's faith- HIS TRUE BELIEF THAT JESUS COULD AND WOULD DO IT JUST BY VERBALLY PROCLAIMING THE HEALING. Also, there is another passage that really supplements stories like this (and the one i am about to explain)- It is in Mark, and Jesus is talking to the disciples about having faith about the things they can do with the power of God...like telling a mountain to move for example. He tells them that if they truly believe that they can do it (or have received whatever they have asked for in prayer) then it will be done for them. Ok, so that is powerful. As I was driving home tonight- super late and in the COLD and RAIN, i remembered that I didn't have my access card to get into my apartment building. (I lost it-again. responsibility is definitely not my best quality) I also had 3 big laundry bags full of clothes that I needed to get into my apartment asap- and there are never ANY spots after like 9pm in my parking lot...which means i was going to have to park across the street and walk the whole way back (with the previously mentioned conditions still in effect). So remembering what I have been reading in the Word, I just started asking God if he would not only provide a parking spot for me in the good lot, but that someone would be around to let me in to the building. (At like 1 am on a Sunday night- my chances didn't look good...at all). But I chose to believe in what God COULD do for me and not what seemed likely. Well what do you know, I pulled up and BAM- parking spot right outside my door. Might as well have had my name on it. Once I got all of my bags out of my car, I walked up to the door and just stood there- having complete faith that someone was going to come out. And sure enough, not 1 minute later, two girls walked out of the door on their way to wherever people go at 1 am on a Sunday night. I just grinned and walked right on in. 

All that to say...if God cares that much about me getting a good parking spot and literally opening doors for me to get inside my apartment, how much more does he care about things like internship opportunities for the summer, who I am going to marry, where I am going to live after law school, how I am going to pay off my loans, etc. etc. The main thing I feel like God is trying to teach me right now is what authentic faith should look like in my life- and any other Christian's life for that matter. It's not only knowing that God wants the best for us (which He does- and that is very important to know), but also believing that those good things ARE FOR SURE GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT! I guess my point in making this an open note and not just one for the journal is to encourage anyone who may be struggling with what God can/wants to do in your life. God loves each of us the same (thank goodness, because I can think of ALOT of people who "deserve" His love more than I do) and if he loves all of us the same, he wants to give YOU that good parking spot (or whatever you are praying and believing Him for) just as much as he wanted to provide it for me. That's my favorite thing about God- he isn't limited in His resources of what He can do for us-heck, he created all of this. Of course it's His to give away! 

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, and it will be yours." -Mark 11:24 

I hope you smell what I'm steppin' in here. It just made my night and I couldn't help but share. I hope this encourages someone out there who may be pondering what God is all about like it did for me.

lame.

could there be a more boring blog? probably not. i feel as if i start EVERY post with..."so i haven't blogged in forever..." well, sorry. i have a few things going on these days...law school being the major chunk of it. but i feel the need to make my presence known every once in awhile, just for confirmation that i am still breathing. 

christmas break was everything i needed...in every way. i needed out of virginia for a little while, i was going crazy. finals will do that to you. but in hindsight, i had an AMAZING finals experience (well, as amazing as one could have while cramming a whole semester's worth of knowledge into the brain in order to it spit back out on the ONE test that determines your grade for the semester). I studied hard, and I laughed even more. Every second of the day was spent writing and re-writing rules on dry-erase boards, while slamming big-gulp after big-gulp (of vanilla diet coke) and almost puking from overdoses of gummy bears...all in the company of the best study buddies i could have ever asked for. Although I felt *somewhat* prepared for all of my tests, there is just something about reading that fact pattern for the first time that just makes your stomach turn a little bit. BY THE GRACE OF GOD ALONE, I finished every exam with confidence and an overwhelming sense of peace...and God definitely blessed that first semester. No, I'm not first in the class. But I'm happy with my grades and I know I am exactly where I need to be to fulfill God's calling for my future. And to me, it just doesn't get any better than that. 

but back to christmas break. I spent the majority of my time plopped in a big comfy chair in front of the fireplace at home watching movie after movie...only moving to get more food (that could explain the reason NONE of my clothes fit right now) or go to the bathroom. you think i'm exaggerating...which i do alot...but i am so not about this. it was glorious. I got to not only see all of my best friends, but actually spend some quality time with each one of them. that was awesome. I also made a few trips to the woods with my brothers and daddy...I didn't shoot anything, but what's new? (I dont think I would have the heart to actually pull the trigger anyway- at least i never have before) I also got to see MARGARET on new year's day. Since she lives in Australia and I havent seen her in over a year, it was really a great time. on top of all of that, another exiting event happened in the Holland family....BO GOT ENGAGED! I love love love my new (soon to be) sister, and we spent HOURS over the break looking through bridal magazines, etc. It was so fun, and I cant wait for the wedding! 

So now i am back in virginia- being gone for a while definitely allowed me to appreciate it more when i came back. i couldn't wait to see my friends again and be back into a routine (even if it is a strenuous one). This semester is going to be a lot tougher than last, it seems...but I know I can do it and I am ready for the challenge. I have been applying for internships for the summer and I have gotten a few good leads...so that is exciting. I know they are all competitive, but I really love that I can rest in the fact that God knows where I need to be for this summer and if I am attentive to His voice and direction, he will open the doors for me. Living by faith is WAY better than figuring everything out on your own...And who can add a single day to their life by worrying? (Matthew 6:27)

I have had some pretty profound revelations/experiences lately from some of the songs that I have been listening to on my ipod. I will share some of those verses and songs in some posts to follow in the next few weeks...they will have to suffice for now, since I have a pretty big legal research assignment due at the end of this month. So until next time....

(sorry no pictures this post-i'm too lazy)