BEAUTIFUL ONE
BY THE TREE
I remember that feeling coming in to the crowd and the family smiling at you because you made it to your destiny and to get ready for the next step in your education goals. Congratulations Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,”
When I was 18 and about to graduate from high school, I felt I had my whole life planned out and filled by my desire to become an American History teacher. Fast forward about 20 years and come to realize that the plans I had were not His plan. I spent the better part of 20 years fighting addiction, dealing with anxieties and self-worth, and looking for validation from loved ones. On the other side now, I can look back and see that God was leading me on this particular journey because that is how I am best able to serve His kingdom. My advice to this upcoming class of 2025, is to be open to what our Heavenly Father is asking of us and how to serve and make a difference in this fallen world we live in. Also, it is ok to fall down sometimes and/or make an error in judgement because we are all human and are prone to make mistakes, but the caveat is to learn from those errors. I will close with a lyric from Sidewalk Prophets’ song, The Words I Would Say, “Be strong in the Lord, never give up hope. You are going to do great things, I already know. God has his hand on you, so don’t live life in fear. Forgive and forget, but don’t forget why you’re here. Take your time and pray, these are the words I would say.” By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, GOD; put me together again with your Word. Adorn me with your finest sayings, GOD; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will. Psalms 119:105-112 MSG
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I can not change,
The Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
Amen~
2 Timothy 1:7 is part of Paul’s letter to Timothy, where he encourages Timothy to be strong and faithful in his ministry, even in the face of difficulties.
Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
