Musings on Life...

This Sunday is my final Sunday as the Coordinator of Youth Ministries... 

...and it feels quite strange that it will be over. 

This past Sunday I was able to go to Panera Bread with one of the youth and answer some big questions and catch up on her life and catch her up on mine. Meeting with her was a reminder of why I enjoy ministry. Each bit of wisdom that I give to another person is usually a way for God to speak to me as well. In my time in Rochester that job has created more opportunity to connect to people than I have in a while. 

For a while, I've felt that my life (spiritually, relational, career, etc) has been stagnant and dry. Within the past few weeks God has shown me that he is still faithful and is still working in me. The biggest change that I'm discovering is I'm developing more compassion, and with that more tears. I'm discovering that, in spite of the fact that I have been lamenting separation from and a less numerous number of friendships, God has given me some great friends. Career-wise: I've been getting a lot of emails stating no interviews (applying all over) and now it seems like I'm getting quite a few interviews in one specific area. Now to see if that is where God would have me go. 

I was speaking with my youth about God's will and following it and as I reflect I am amazed that God was speaking this also to me. I told her that you have to look for opportunities available, use God-given passions, and pursue them. If God would have you do something else he would close those opportunities. God may be glorified in many ways as long as he is being pursued before your pursuits. As I've been hearing a lot of doors closing, or not seeing opportunities or growth, it's so easy to become frustrated and think that God isn't moving. The truth is, in those times, those disappointments are what have lead me to God's great provision for me. 

God knows plans he has for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and I just need to continue to trust in them. Another topic I mentioned is that in going forward into future endeavors is to remember that God is God. In my tendency to plan and pursue I think about what work I can do, when the fact is God is going to allow me to prosper and fail as he sees fit. God really spoke this to me with resumes and my portfolio: I was stressing about making it spectacular (and not getting the results that I wanted with some aspects of it) and realized I am to put forth my best effort, but to acknowledge that God is going to orchestrate the results.

Tomorrow I have an interview (outfit below- I feel like an adult!). I'm putting together my best and trusting God to take care of the rest. This Sunday is going to be difficult saying goodbye to a job God provided to me. I need to remember to cling to the hope, and God's promise, that he will provide for me in my future.