The Gift of Love

As summer wedding season comes to a close, I enjoy thinking back to all the beautiful weddings that I have been able to be apart of this summer. Pure, young love is truly a beautiful thing in the midst of a broken world. I may be a romantic at heart, but there is something truly special about two people committing to love each other for the rest of their lives.

Although beautiful, it’s easy for me to get caught up in the idea of the dress, the venue, the flowers etc.  As important as those elements are, they are just two small pieces to an ever-larger puzzle. I have to remind myself that true love isn’t shown in the number of bridesmaids you have or how expensive your dress is. It is shown by the way you share God’s love with others. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35)

Love can come in many ways, but it isn’t easy to find. If you’re like me, don’t get lost in the beauty of the wedding. Remember the love behind it. A love adorned under God flowing directly from Him. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)  We are able to love others because God loved us first. We are saved by grace today and every day! Join me in thanking Him for the gift of love and the beauty that comes with it!

The Seasons of Life

I'm almost finished with my 5th semester of college and the time continues to fly. It can't possibly be close to Thanksgiving. Where has the time gone? I apologize to my readers for the lack of blogs recently. Juggling school, softball, and extracurricular activities has left little time for writing. 

One thing, God has continued to share with me this fall is that He is so faithful. ("But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." - Thessalonians 3:3) Seriously y'all, He continually amazes me. 

Before coming to Union 3 years ago, I declared my major as accounting. After changing my major 5 times, frantically meeting with the Vocatio Center, enduring a month long internship, and taking a multitude of different classes… my major is now officially accounting again. Going into my final years of college, not knowing when I would graduate, when my classes would be, or even if I could get into the classes that I would need. I was definitely #stressed. But the one thing that's for sure, God has been so faithful. My classes lined up, I love what I am studying, I can graduate on time, and I have made plans to attend grad school. It still amazes me how everything worked out. I cannot thank Him enough. His mighty hand has been placing me exactly where I need to be.

My freshman year I wasn't ready to commit to God's plan and accept that I was growing up. It’s taken me two years of college to realize I'm about to dive head first into the real world, but with God’s love and grace I'm now ready for what the future holds.

Just as the seasons must change, life must change. New roots must take place and new life must grow. If a season of your life is changing, don't run from it like I did. God is faithful and He will be faithful through it all. Trust Him. (He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. – Psalm 1:3)