we will wait for you here

Public Speaking, Principles of Biology, Sociology, Psychology, Spanish. Classes began at Holmes Community College this Monday for me. I almost overslept for the first day! Thank You Lord for mommas that are up at the crack of dawn ready to get their college student out of bed. My Public Speaking was the first class I attended at HCC. I was super nervous because I'm not a good public speaker but my teacher really made the class feel comfortable. Something else I thought was interesting he told our class was that him and his wife lived in Honduras for awhile preaching the love of Christ. He also holds a devotion with a free lunch on Wednesdays. I admire him for sharing his faith in a public school. I'm gonna enjoy that class more that I imagined. My next class was Elementary Spanish. I haven't quite figured that teacher out yet. He treats us like we're in high school. My Biology teacher isn't from Mississippi so she has a northerner accent. She's always talking about how much she loves the magnolia state and she's never seen so much beauty here. She actually almost cried during lab one day talking about how beautiful Mississippi is. I appreciate seeing how much she loves her job and she kinda makes me proud to be a Mississippian. Overrall, classes are going swell so far. I also might have a job working at a bakery some time soon! We'll see how that goes though...

Devotions, reading scripture, journaling, and prayer is very special to me. This is also called quiet time. The time that Christians set aside everything in this crazy life to spend time to be with our Father. To read His word, to pray and talk with Him about what's going on or what we're struggling with, to seek His face in our lives, for Him to teach us more about His love, to find Him as our strength. I've been teaching high school/junior high girls at my church these past few Sundays just to fill in a gap for someone else to take over. A few Sundays ago, the lesson was about God's love. I briefly talked to the girls about our quiet time with the Lord. It always seems that when life isn't going the way we plan, we get upset and have the audacity to believe God isn't there. We believe He isn't near to us. But the truth is, WE ARE  NOT NEAR TO HIM. (James 4:8) The Lord loves His children. He proved that when He sent His Son to the cross for our punishment. He never leaves our side. Jesus said in John 14:18, "No, I will not abandon you as orphans- I will come to you." That alone gives me so much comfort and joy. Although He is always near to us, we have to remember to do our part which is prayer and diving into the Word. (Matthew 6:6) Go into a quiet place, shut the door, put your cell phone aside, grab some coffee and just seek the Lord. Know He is there with you in your pain and let Him heal and guide you. Thank Him for His grace and the privileges He gives us. Ask Him to guide you through this season of your life. (Psalms 46:10) Mornings are my favorite to quiet time. Lamentations 3:22-23 is one of my absolute favorite verses in the Bible. "The faithfulness love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning." Every morning we wake up, He offers us breath. NEW breath. He is making me new. (Ephesians 2:10, Revelation 21:5) I can't emphasize how important this time with our Almighty God is until you've experienced it for yourself. 

Phil Wickham wrote a song about finding that secret place to meet with God in a crazy, loud, violent world. It's called "I Will Wait For You There". If you've never listened to Phil Wickham, you need to be slapped and then go listen to his music. He is some kinda good. 

I will wait for You there

Down on my knees where I met You. 

Give You all of my cares

Find a grace to hold onto now

I'm calling for You.

I will wait for You there

Far from the world and its violence.

It left me broken and bare

I need to hear You in the silence now. 

I'm calling for You.

And with outstretched arms

I will sing out melodies.

And my beating heart will pour out a symphony.

Hallelujah's in the morning,

Hallelujah's in the night.

I will wait for You as long as I have life.

I will wait for You there

Down on my knees where I met You.

Cause life is a war fought with tears

But You are the strength I hold onto now

I'm calling for You

And with outstretched arms

I will sing out melodies.

And my beating heart will pour out a symphony.

Hallelujah's in the morning,

Hallelujah's in the night.

I will wait for You as long as I have life.