260 days closer

My second Semester at Oceans Edge University is done!  Moving all the way crossed the country, coming to a place where I didn't know who I would be living with, I had no preexisting community, no familiar connections, and am roughly 1800 miles away from my dearly beloved family and friends, I wouldn't trade any minute of these last 260 days. Granted, many of my dear friends and my family know that there were rough moments and relationships but I'm still here. Before I left, people would ask me, "How do you feel it?", regarding moving and going to school and pursuing my degree. My response then was, "I'm expectant." Looking back, I had not the slightest idea of what was to be expected but my soul knew that it was going to be beautiful. 

The First Semester was a whirlwind of emotions! The Lord's tender hand began to churn up the depths of my soul and he began to reveal to me what was in my heart from past hurts, broken relationships, forgotten dreams, and what He has designed me to desire. By bringing to light what I did not see, He has shown me more of who He is and the beauty of His heart. He has shown me the beauty of Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." 

He has tuned my ears to hear the melody of His voice. He continues to draw me closer. He has given me songs to sing over my soul, His word to nourish the soil that He is tending to. He has planted a seed and even though I don't fully understand where or how He wants it to grow, He is teaching me again to trust Him. I am committed to living a life of love. To love from a place of already being loved. He continues to show me new threads in His robe and I can't help but thank Him for who He is. 

He is beautiful and loves it when we are willing to sit with Him and minister back to his heart. Are our lives here on this earth not a mere vapor compared to the immense glory of eternity? What better place to be than dwelling with the lover of my souls and blessing His heart simply by living how He has designed me to.  I am not perfect at this. Nor am I supposed to be. It is about the journey He leads us on rather than the final destination. If he is the final destination, then we have already arrived as His chosen bride. I believe the Father is preparing His bride for the sacred union with his son. Do you want to see it too? 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning writes, "Earth is crammed with heaven And every bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes- The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries." Ask Him if you are seeing the glimpses of heaven He has woven into this day and the people around you. Or are you too busy munching on the immediate satisfaction of this life He has blessed you with? 

Do you believe that He is close? He has invited you to the table, to come to sit and dine with Him. What is He teaching you about Himself today? Have you asked Him? Do you want to see it? Do you want to be with Him? Do you want to know Him? 

"You are closer, closer than my skin. You are in the air I'm breathing in. Here's where the dead things come back to living, I feel my heart beating again. Feels so good to know you are my friend."