Back to the Basics... again.

In one week I will officially be half way done with my MSW, that's crazy. I can honestly say it is has not been that difficult at all. I forget a lot of the time though the time I spend at Successful Pathways (Internship) is also a huge part of my degree. I have had a lot more free time then I ever thought I would. I can honestly remember the one time I truly felt stressed, and that was back in August... wow, praise the Lord!

I was looking over my agenda calender today, something I even wrote about since I do it so often, and I literally was shocked that it was December 1st. I know it's cliche to say where has the time gone, but for real- for real, where did the time go? Everything has moved so fast yet so smoothly lately... God has just provided- majorly.

At the beginning of the semester I was hooked on Old Testament, almost refusing to read the New Testament, I wanted to discover hidden messages, I wanted to relate to the complex characters, I wanted to be able to quote out of Leviticus and impress people, but recently I want to go back to the basics. I started reading Matthew through this past Sunday just to -refresh- myself and I got rocked! How quickly I forget the basics..

Love.
Humility.
Discipleship.
Parables.
Sowing seeds.
Righteousness.

Just the basics, the reason why I even love God in the first place or rather the reasons He loves me. I got to get back to the place where I know He loves me for me: Not the me I am going to be or the things I can do, or the me that deserves to be loved-- but me, just simply me. I want to go back to this girl, the girl who took time to be herself and eat her cereal color by color, the girl who knew being loved had nothing to do with her performance. I want to have revelations like this that remind me God is not only my Father but Lover and I can find fullness in Him, anytime.

*smiles, sigh* The basics, what a wonderful place to be. What a blessed and comfortable season the Lord has allowed me to be in. I feel so secure in Him, it is such a wonderful feeling. I can't say it did not come without some testing and trials but I preserved and it feels so good to be victorious in Christ, not in myself but in Him. I relied on Him and He heard my cries, He answered my whispered prayers, and He lavished me with unmerited favor and for that I am eternally grateful.

.. it is so nice to get back to the basics. What a beautiful and loving God we serve. He may give and take away-- but He is trustworthy and righteous and I love Him.

Psalm 5:1-3, 11-12

 "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield."