Joshua 1:9

"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
It never fails that when God needs to tell me something, He does it in the most beautiful and obvious ways.

"...Be strong and courageous.": For the first time in a long time, I went to church and Sunday school all on my own. I'm sure that it was not just me that woke me up excited and drove me to church. I firmly believe that God gave me a good morning kiss on the cheek, picked out my clothes, and although my GPS could not find the address, God led me exactly where I needed to be. In church, we learned about five love languages and how we need to love others genuinely and unconditionally even when they don't accept it at first.

"Do not be terrified...": I admit it, I am a little scared of driving in storms. Maybe because I have had to drive in the pouring rain several times, it bothers me. God led me safely to my meeting today with my professor. I was also terrified that because of the storms in OKC, that my dog would be in a flooding house, and I was scared that something happened to her. Thankfully, my dad got safely to my mom's house and saw there was no water damage, no flooding, and half of our property was dry. It's amazing what happens when you pray to keep your family safe. Not to mention, now it is thunderstorming outside and a big thunderboomer just sounded off. And now, I pray that God protect me over the night and let me sleep well so I can be well-rested for tomorrow.

"...do not be discouraged...": Graduate school has been a bittersweet experience. I have been excited to meet new people, but as people may know, I am shy. For about a month, I prayed for the courage to be friendly and make friends right away. This morning, I saw a girl outside my 8 am class and said "good morning". I'm not sure if she didn't hear me or if she was too tired to respond, but I felt discouraged that there wasn't a reciprocation. But I have to remind myself to not be discouraged when people aren't automatically friendly. It takes time, and I know that God will place the right people in my life for a reason, at the right time.

"...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.": This is so encouraging, because it's not just me that's living here in this studio apartment. It's not just me driving to class, or driving home on turnpikes that have spots that have poor phone reception. God is always with me whether I realize it or not.

When I am sad, He comforts me. When I am scared, he shelters me. When I am happy, He dances for joy with me. When I am lonely, He keeps me company. When I am doubtful, He encourages me. And when I am stubborn, He shows me Joshua 1:9. I was reading a little of the first chapter, and God commanded Joshua to lead His people away from Egypt and into the promised land. If I had that job, I'm not sure I would be up for it, or even able to do it. But the thing is, we have to cling on to Philippians 4:13 that says we can do everything and anything through Jesus Christ.

Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big God is.

Well, time for bed, as early as it is, 8 am classes are getting to me already! :)

Much love.
klc