I love Nashville at Christmas time. Actually, I love Nashville anytime, but the holiday season feels extra special. I am currently on a plane cruising somewhere between Nashville, TN and New Orleans, LA where I will grab another plane to take me back "home" to Dallas, TX. I had an incredible weekend catching up with amazing friends who are sending me back to Dallas feeling uplifted, renewed and rejuvenated. How thankful I am for them! It is fun to look back at the life's happenings and see how God places the perfect people within your life and uses them in ways that they (and I) are completely unaware of.
The half way mark to my Dietetic Internship is around the corner – unbelievable! Naturally I have been catching myself daydreaming about what comes next. I have been looking online at job postings and fantasizing about the endless job opportunities and the possibilities of relocation. Just as I was starting to get overwhelmed by the timing and lack of focus I have as far as where I see myself ending up, I encountered someone in the hospital who spoke very wise words to me. (Again, funny how and when God decides to pop up!) She reminded me that it has very little to do with doing something we feel called to "do", and so much more to do being WHO we are called to BE. This was impactful to me for a couple of reasons, but mainly it was a reminder that God is in control (which in and of itself served as much needed stress reliever) and my willingness to be used will lead me into the exact place I need to be.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Mrs. Glover, one of my favorite people from the Houston area, gave me a shadow box upon my graduation from high school. It's beautiful, which is no surprise to you if you know her and her creative ability to make ANYTHING! Well this shadow box sits on my kitchen counter to this day and I love looking back at it for encouragement. It quotes the verse Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Without fail, acknowledging that the Lord is in control is the first step, but it is hard to be led by someone you are out of touch with. I was discussing this weekend with a girlfriend my desire to improve my "staying-in-touch" skills. If it weren't for Facebook I would be in big time trouble! Even still, those special friends have a way, despite the distance, of knowing just when I need that pick me up. They know me and what makes me tick and what I need.
I think the same struggle I have with keeping up with friends 600+ miles away correlates to my struggle of "keeping in touch" with the daily works of the Lord in my life. To a much more expansive level, God knows what I need, and want, and love and etc etc. There are several things that relax me when life seems to be just too much: outdoors, music, exercise to name a few. When I really take the time to look around, the Lord has made all of these attempts to stay in touch with me. Walking outside, the trees, water and wind were all placed there as if he was saying, "Amber you need this, and I wanted to give this to you" and remind me of his majesty. It's easy to get caught up in life and neglect the little (but really NOT so little at all) tokens of God's love He places around us.
I pray your Holiday season is full of love, family and laughter – and that you recognize whatever great gifts the Lord decides to send you!
