Foggy Minded

This morning I awoke early - earlier than I wanted to, and later than I needed to.

I showered, dressed, brushed my teeth - seemingly preparing myself for the day.

It was raining when I stepped outside, already running late.

By the time I turned onto the highway, the rain was pouring. Cars splashed through puddles and semi trucks were followed by a mist of rain being kicked up from under their tires.

And then the fog hit.

I could already hardly see through the rain, and now fog was taking over the rest of my vision.


Do you ever feel like that sometimes?


Everything appears clear to you, and then the fog sets in. And you try to do your best in the milliseconds between your wipers swishing to make sure you're still in the correct lane, and you pray to God that the guy behind you can see your lights and knows you exist.

But you keep driving, and hope that the clouds will part.

Autumnal Lessons

 My fiancé and I love taking the scenic route. If there's time, it's always the first option. We love turning on some good music, dreaming about the future, or asking each other thought-provoking questions and admiring the beauty of a clear country road. 

I've never been much of a fan of the fall season. I enjoy it for the two weeks it seems to last, and as soon as I become cozy with a light sweater and a cup of tea, winter winds sweep away my autumn enthusiasm. 

I've never been much of a fan of change. I like being comfortable with what I know. 

This season, everything is different. Eric and I point out to each other on our drives every tree that is beginning to change color. (We especially like the red and orange ones.) We can't help but notice the change that is taking place, and revel in its beauty. 

I think we seem to be taking special notice of it this year because we are so desiring of change in our own lives. 

We get married in less than seven months, and I think we both realize that means a lot of change - including change in our lives presently. Having someone else in your life that you love so much is exhilarating and encouraging - it makes you want to be a better person for their sake, not just your own. 

Eric and I want to have a good life together. We want to make a welcoming home, hold steady jobs, and more than anything, bring glory to God through our life together. And that means consistently changing for the better. 

We long for God's touch on our lives to bring about the golden hue of change. And the trees we see on a country highway whisper a reminder: God is still working. 

God is still working. He is not passive. Even if we can't yet see what He is changing, He is still working in us and for us. Our God is faithful to provide for us, and we must trust that He will give us all we need in His timing. 

In the meanwhile, we'll take the scenic route and trust His guidance. 

Nunca Solo

The door opens and I look behind me, even though I know it isn't you.
Dismayed, I turn back to my book and wrap my hands around a chai tea latte. Even its warmth reminds me of you; your strong hands holding my cold fingers and bringing them to the warmth of your lips.

Class begins without you, and my gaze drifts beyond the window to other places. I glance at the professor and she smiles at me as though she knows.

I try to focus as we begin an activity in the book.
Senora flips through note cards to call on students.
"Eric," she pauses. "He's not here."

"Wrong," I think, and settle my thoughts with the sound of my heartbeat.

Just Breathe

I stare down at the rusty pipes of the bridge and wonder how long it will stand. Orange life preservers wait at each wooded interlude - a reminder of the brevity of life.
We have faith that when we sit, a chair will hold our weight.. Yet when God says, "Come to me, and I will give you rest," we decline a seat at his table.
Do we not realize that life is but a breeze in the palm of our Savior?

Homesickness

I can't even put my finger on what it is I miss.
The rustle in the trees, the sounds of the crickets at night -
Even the coyotes would seem welcoming right now.
The full night sky seems a world away from me as I look up and see black.

I remember that shooting star, the hooting owl -
Your promises to me.
"Never will I leave you.
Your home is with me, child."

Still I lie in wait for You;
Your words bring life.
I hold onto the quiet whisper You give
And breathe with anticipation.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been, Thou forever will be."

Abnormally, I can't sleep tonight. Not that I tried for long, but I couldn't get comfortable. Something kept tugging at me to get out of bed and write. So here I am, in the hallway with my blanket and iTunes and blog. We've become good friends the past two years.

It's so odd to realize that I've completed half of my undergraduate career. Two years down; two to go. I feel like a completely different person than the scared girl who moved into this dorm two years ago, afraid of what was to come the next year, or even the next day. I would like to say I'm more mature, more friendly, stronger, smarter, and more carefree, but I don't know that I'm best qualified to make that assessment.

My roommate moved most of her things out of the dorm today. We put her top bunk on the floor and moved the furniture to its proper places. When she left, and the door shut behind her, all I could hear was the echo - the slam of the door, the click of the lock - and my anxieties, my girlish fears suddenly swept in with the rush of air from the door.
Alone, packing more of my things, I flashed back to that first day in the room, two years ago. I was suddenly eighteen again, unsure of myself and my future; so overwhelmed that I could only focus on unpacking clothes and books, ignoring the thought that my parents had left me in this strange place, not for merely a week or a two, but for the next nine months.

Two years later, my little sister is graduating from high school, with some of the uncertainties I had and a lot more spunk. I have no doubt she'll go far wherever God leads her.
As for me, two years after graduation I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do with my life. I remember writing my future plans for the senior edition of the high school newspaper - "I will laugh, I will cry, I will sing, and I will glorify God." Without a doubt I have done plenty of these in this past two years, and I wouldn't change that statement at all for the next two. Of course, I hope for laughter and singing more than tears, but God shown me so much this year through the tears, and I wouldn't take back any of those lessons.

Trust. Have faith in the God who knows you. Worry does nothing, but prayer does. It is good to wait for the Lord. Endure discipline. Resist temptation and fight the good fight. Believe that everything happens for the good of those who love God, and act accordingly. 

In a few months, I will be living in an apartment. I will turn 21, and appear to be 76 from the burden that 19 credit hours will bear on me. I hope to be an example, and a leader. No matter what happens, I pray that above it all - the laughter, the tears, the frustrations, and the victories - the glory will go to God alone. Not by anything I have done or anything I am, but by what He has done and who He is, will I find success and satisfaction on the journey. I pray the same for you.

"You are the Savior and You take brokenness aside, and make it beautiful, beautiful."

Strings and Deadbolts

Don't you just love conversations that remind you why you are where you are?
I asked for reminders, and God surely gave it tonight.

We. Don't. Work. Period. I doubt we ever would.
It's hard enough to carry on a normal conversation without misinterpreting each other and ending in an angry argument.

There really is no point in continuing the endless argument that was a futile attempt at friendship.
Even normal conversations end in my emotional "craziness" and your masked fury.
There is no point, there is no reasoning, there is no longer a rhyme for the tune that we used to sing so beautifully.

I am sad that our feeble attempts at friendship ended in shatters. I am sorry for hurting you, if I did, by my words. However, I am not sorry for standing up to you and speaking my mind. Telling you that you insulted me is not "crazy"; it is human. It is a very small attempt to construct a conversation with civility. Obviously, that did not work, and again, I'm not sure that it ever will.

But for tonight, at least, I can say this: I have closure. And when I say closure, I mean deadbolt.

I am who I am. If anyone plans on changing that, it's God. You have no power over that. So don't tell me I'm wrong, don't tell me how you think I am acting or reacting. Because the reality is that you don't know me, and you never really did - you never cared to learn.

And for that, I am partially grateful. I wasted two months on you, and I'm not about to waste any more. While grateful for the lessons I learned, I am also grateful that I no longer have to argue with you, or worry about misinterpreting you, or worry that I'm giving you too much affection.

The past happened for a reason.
The past is in the past for a reason.

Thank you, God, for this sure reminder.

Tie a knot on my finger and

Remind me that You have a plan for me.
Remind me that my past happened for a reason.
Remind me that my past is in the past.

Remind me that I can trust You.
Remind me that You are faithful.
Remind me that I have nothing to fear.

Remind me that discipline hurts.
Remind me that You catch every tear.
Remind me that my labor in You is not in vain.

Remind me that You go before me.
Remind me that You work all things for my good, and Your glory.
Remind me that I belong to You.

Bind these things to my heart, and let me drown in them.

We will overcome.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." -James 1:13-15

This flesh - this dirty, rotting flesh - tries to consume and control me. This part of me that is DYING thinks that it can help me live. It thinks it can protect me. I believe it, and buy the lie that my flesh, my sinfulness, will sustain my life.
But what I forget is that this sinfulness runs like poison through my veins. It infiltrates my thoughts, my heart, and -if I let it- my actions. I can't just drop it off like trash at the dumpster. It didn't suddenly disappear when I accepted Christ. This is a burden I will carry with me for as long as I live, until I see the sweet face of Jesus.

BUT TAKE HEART. I have a Savior who redeemed me and provided victory for me over my sins. I don't have to give in to my flesh. I can fight the good fight --- and win.


Don't give up, my friends. Hold fast to Him who sought you. Yes, it is true that:
"Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

But it is also true that
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Do you see? He is faithful. He didn't leave you, but he provides a way out - a battle plan for victory. So run the race, fight the fight, live the life you were meant to live. It isn't easy, but it is worth it.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I will not be disqualified for the prize." -1 Corinthians 9:24-27

So go, with hope: Run. Train. Win.

Tears

I would really like to post in this blog a poem I wrote, but for the sake of not wanting it to be stolen, I won't this time. (With great emotion comes great writing...)

That being said, I'm going let out my emotions in a less poetic way, by repeating things I've said all night, in between great gaps of silence:

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I never intended to hurt you. I regret what I did and I wish I could take it back. 

I never wanted to hurt you. Especially this badly, in this way. I was stupid. I didn't think, and I didn't pray. 

But I promise you, I'm becoming a new person. I know this wasn't very long ago, but my perspective has changed drastically. 

I've wrecked many relationships by not thinking and not praying. I've thought of myself and followed my heart instead of listening to God. But I've seen what a mess I've made by following my own desires and not giving them to God. 

I'm trying so hard to do things differently this time, because I don't want to screw this up, too. I'm waiting, and I'm praying - not as much as I should, but more than I have before - and I'm thinking. 

I'm trying to think of you, and I'm trying to think of us. Most importantly, I'm trying to think of God and put Him first; follow His will. I stopped trying a few months ago. I shut Him out. But now I'm trying. I'm not asking to be commended for that, but I'm asking you to acknowledge that. 

If you remember nothing else, please know that I do not consider myself anywhere near perfect or deserving of you, or any grace you may give me. I know that I've hurt you beyond your imagination, and I don't expect you (or us) to recover easily from that. Remember also that my heart (although bleeding with guilt) is in a different place now, and wishes only for God's will and change in my life and our relationship. 

If you find it in your soul to forgive me, then I should consider myself blessed and forever grateful that you serve a God who is greater than my sin. If you don't, I know that God will uphold me and mold me as He constructs His plan for my life. 

Thank you for listening. 

-Phoebe

Virgin Mary, not contrary, how does your patience grow?

I read Luke 1 today. It's the typical background story of the birth of John the Baptist, and how an angel informed his parents about him and Mary and Joseph about Jesus. (Read the full chapter here.) This story has been told many times, but it is much more meaningful to read the text, in God's words.
I came to this chapter to learn more about Mary. I don't believe her to be a saint, but she was obviously chosen by God and favored in his eyes. Mary was young and poor, but she was engaged to be married to Joseph, who was a good man. Her life was really just beginning when she received a message from an angel: "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" (v. 28)
(Ladies, imagine hearing that... It gives me chills... favored woman...the Lord is with you. Isn't that something we all wish to hear? That we are acceptable in His sight; and to be comforted and encouraged on the path of righteousness?)
Mary was "confused and disturbed" by this message, and wondered how it could be possible. (v. 34) But the angel Gabriel answers confidently: "Nothing is impossible with God" (v. 37).
Mary's response, I think, reveals why God chose her. It would determine her attitude about the pregnancy, and revealed her submission to God and her discipline for and confidence in her Lord. Would it have made a difference if she said no? I have no idea. But Mary, a young, poor girl, an engaged woman, chose to answer this way instead: "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." 
Mary chose to be a servant. She chose to accept God's will for her in a grateful way. The Bible really doesn't say much about her pregnancy between this account and her travels to Bethlehem before Jesus was born, when Mary was "obviously pregnant".
But it couldn't have been easy. Mary was promised to a good man. She was not married. She was young and probably ended up being alone, aside from her fiance, Joseph. (By the way, props to the guy who stood beside her throughout all this.) Mary probably had a good reputation within her town before she became pregnant. After people started finding out about the pregnancy.... well, the people's opinions probably changed. I can imagine the words that she must have heard whispered behind her back, especially if people knew the story of the angel. What did they think of her? Crazy, harlot, home-wrecker... Okay, maybe not those terms! - but it couldn't have been easy! Despite that, Mary rejoiced! She knew that God had verified her, and that was all that mattered. She sang a song of praise to Him (vv. 46-55), and remembered that she was found favorable in His eyes - no one else's views mattered. She was God's devoted servant.
I originally came to Mary's story in hopes of learning more about waiting. I heard a pastor say last week: "Biblical waiting is not passive." That really struck a chord with me. The Bible doesn't say anything much about Mary's 9-month wait for her child, but she surely was stressed during her pregnancy, with all of the extra emotional stress brought on by her culture. (I wonder if Mary ever said "JUST GET THIS THING OUTTA ME!" ;) ) How did Mary pass the time? I have no idea. But I am sure that she did not use it to sit there and twiddle her thumbs and hum mindlessly. No; she prepared. She probably spent a lot of time talking to God, especially during those later months.
Biblical waiting is not passive. It is a time of preparation; a time of focus and renewed dedication. It teaches us to be patient and wait on the Lord with expectation that God's will shall be done.
Mary waited nine months for her baby boy to be born, all the while being ridiculed; the object of town gossip and the subject of hushed conversations. And what was her reward? She was the mother of the Son of God. But she devoted herself to God and to her son as she waited.
Biblical waiting is not passive. Waiting should involve intense prayer and listening to God; it means service and working and loving and learning and praising God. Biblical waiting does not involve sitting in a dull room twiddling your thumbs and flipping through a magazine. No! Biblical waiting is intense and active.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31, King James

I really have no idea how Mary spent her time waiting, but I do know that she was a devoted servant of God.
Many people wish for a heart like David's (not an ungodly wish), but I wish for the determination of Mary, and for the devotion and patience she held onto as she waited to deliver the best gift this world has ever known.
Mary Christmas, everyone.

Special

You make my heart beat a little bit faster. My pulse speeds up, my hands get clammy, and the corners of my mouth are tugged upwards.
Yet,at the same time, I feel utterly comfortable with you.
Oh, I'm keeping my share of secrets for now, but as I slowly reveal them to you, I see the way that you respond with such care. You laugh at my ridiculousness, you tease me about my oddities, and you soothe my anxieties... And you still want to hear more. Your blue-grey eyes search me honestly, and tell me that you genuinely care.
I love your deep voice which speaks comforting words and flattering compliments. I'm grateful for your jokes, your smile, your prayers, and your friendship. You are a wonderful friend and a blessing every day.

A College Student's Third Semester Ramblings

It's been a while since I posted, but tonight happens to be one of those nights that I am in a blogging mood (despite finishing a research project today about five different countries; a culmination of twenty typed pages).

Wow, December already. It really sneaked up on me this year. I've been so busy with schoolwork and social activities that I really haven't slowed down to think about it (or perhaps I wanted to rest my mind by not thinking!).
A lot has changed since the beginning of the school year. My tiny sect of friends has been broken, remodeled, added to and subtracted from. I was the first to push away, and after I rejected a friend's declaration of feelings, I think he started backing off too. The couple broke up; other friends kept the group going. It just shows that nothing is stable in this world. You can't depend fully on anything. Those two were going to get married. The four of us were best friends and in our minds, that was the way it would always be.
I edged out. I found new friends; I became (slightly) more confident; I talked and I laughed and I loved and I stopped being SO self-conscious. I let go. Maybe too much in some areas, but at least I did it.
I worked harder. I put forth more effort and sweat this semester than I have any other semester in my life, and I did it with less anxiety.
I have drank more coffee in the past four months than I have in all my lifetime. I've started working out - really working out - and I've found that I actually enjoy it. It helps me be more focused, more light-hearted, and feel better in general.
I talk to people who truly make me happy. I don't have to be caught in the same circle of friends. I can branch out and talk to different people. I don't have to talk to the same person about everything.
I can keep secrets. My own secrets. And feel good about that.

I can be free. I never realized what that truly meant. Freedom isn't restricted to freedom from sins. No; Christ set me free from more than that. He set me free from my insecurities. He set me free from my fears. He set me free from all hindrances and broke down all the barriers I didn't know I could go through, or didn't know I wanted to go through. He made that possible for me. And it's such an amazing feeling, to recognize that, to rest on and rely in that, to be free and fully relaxed in that. It's freedom, and this is what it feels like.

To think... If things had gone the same way as last year, where would I be now? Would I be talking to the same people? Would my grades be worse? Would I be as happy? Would I be closer to You, or further away? Would I be so carefree? Would others have been impacted by me? Would I be talking to him...

This semester changed everything. It was difficult; it was painful and sometimes stressful and nerve-wracking. But it has also been an eye-opening experience as to how big my world can be - and how big He is to open it up for me.

I am 7,305 days old today.

That’s 1,043 weeks and four days.

That’s 175,420 hours,

or 10,519,200 minutes,

or 6,311,520,00 seconds.

I have lived through five leap years, three decades, two centuries, and two millenniums. 

Today is my 20th birthday. 

What will I make of it?

A Hearty Reminder

We forget the hearts.
We forget they are not made of steel.

We forget they are like clay, able to be molded.
We forget that they are like paper, able to be ripped.

We do as we please, and walk away from the consequences.
We don't remember His promise.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." -Psalm 147:3
God does not forget the hearts.

He binds up wounds. Bind this reminder to your hearts. 

Jealous Love

God doesn't want your religion.

He doesn't want your fake and selfish prayers;
He doesn't want your acts of righteousness.

He doesn't ask for your strength
He doesn't come hunting your abilities.

God doesn't care how many Bible studies you lead
Or how many committees you are part of

You can attend church,
You can talk about theology,

You can claim to have accepted Christ...
But if your heart isn't in it

He doesn't want any part of it.

God doesn't want your religion.
He wants your heart.

He is JEALOUS for you.
Did you know that?

Stop spending your time on things that mean nothing
And spend yourself living for God.

He wants your heart.
Don't hold back.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death, it's jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame."
-Song of Songs 8:6

Treasure Hunt: Things of the Heart

Where is your heart?

What do you long for? What are your hopes and dreams?
Where do you find satisfaction?
Where do you find your happiness? What dictates your emotions?

Go back and read that again. Yes, do it.

Now answer them.
The answers you give to these questions can give you a good idea of what your treasure is.

What would happen if your dreams didn't come true?
What if the person(s) or thing(s) in which you find satisfaction leave or are taken from you?
What if the person(s) or thing(s) that make you happy let you down and cause you heartache?

Would you still be okay?
Would your treasure still be safe and guarded
Or would you be left with nothing?

The Bible says "do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-20)

So, maybe it's not likely that your significant other or your dreams of being a Broadway star will be eaten by moths. Still, are those things treasures of heaven? When we get to heaven, there is only One star who will matter.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you should seclude yourself and bury any dreams you once had for yourself; not at all.
DREAM, my friends, DREAM! But place your dreams in God's hands. They will be of no use in your own.
Give your heart to Jesus. He guards it and protects it much better than we will.

When you truly relinquish all your hopes, dreams, and treasures to Him - you will find your treasure. And you won't find it in what you gave up. You will find it in Jesus Himself; your Deliverer and Comforter; the Mender of broken hearts, the Completion factor, the All-Powerful, Sustainer, All-Knowing, Perfectly-Planning God that He is.

When you find that treasure, everything else pales in comparison. Yes, it matters. It is important. But if you had to give it up, you would still be complete.


To be fair (and to provide an example), I will also answer the questions at the top for you.
I hope to someday have a career, husband and family. I would love to be "Mommy" and drive the kids to soccer practice. I also hope that I will fulfill God's plan for me, which overrules my dreams. God's plan is definitely more important than mine.
I find satisfaction in God, but I do sometimes look for it in other places: my grades, my friends. When I do, I usually end up feeling empty. God fills me always.
I find my happiness in serving God's people. Simply, I like making others happy. That cannot always be done, however. I also find happiness in the people around me: my family, friends, and boyfriend. But the joy that God has given me is far greater than any of these things. Eventually, others will let me down, and I will be frustrated. I can still delight in the Lord and His promises for me.


I care about my boyfriend very much. He is an important person in my life, but if God directed me away from him, I would go. Certainly, it would not be easy, but I know that God would sustain me and have a different plan for me.

The same goes for family, and friends. God is currently leading me away from friends right now, and it hurts. It's difficult. But God takes away, and He also gives.

God sent me to a college this is not far from my home, but keeps me away from my family for more often than I would like. That hurts as well, but I know that it is all a part of God's plan for me.

Give it up, people. The control is not worth the heartache in the end. Give everything to God and see what His plans are. Follow Him, then stand amazed.

If you're smart, you already know where your treasure is.  Put it where it needs to be, and let God reveal to you how amazing He is.

I realize this is a long and possibly confusing post. If you have questions and/or comments, please post them. I would be happy to answer them and get back to you.

Remember friends - be blessed. ~ Phoebe

You Make All Things Work Together for My Good

Today, I have thanked God for changing me.
I have praised Him for making me a new person.

I'm not who I was.

Looking back a year ago... looking back six months ago, or even three...
I can see his work in me, and it is such a beautiful thing.
Isn't it?!

A year ago, I was hurting. I was in pain, and I couldn't see any hope in my future.
Six months ago, I was longing. I had false hope for things that God didn't have in his plan for me.
Three months ago, I was searching for God's will for me, and hoping to find it.

Recently, I have seen some of God's will for me. Certainly not all of it... but a small piece of what He has in store for me.

Isn't that so absolutely marvelous? He is so wonderful to me.
I think it is so beautiful that the more you pour into God, the more He pours into you.
Give him your heart, and He'll reveal his to you.

God is so faithful to us!!! Amen?!?! Let's praise Him for it :)

"but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness." -Psalm 89:33

Treasure Hunt

Where does my treasure lie?

As I pack my things for another year at college, I can't help but look at it all and think, "Why do I have so much stuff? And why do I feel that I need it all?"

Why are we so attached to this world? The world calls out to us, and we answer. It pulls us in. We give the world power when we give in to its voice and its requirements of us. What does it take to give that power to something (or someone) else?

I don't want my treasure to be found in my earthly possessions: how many shirts I have, or how expensive my jewelry is. So where should my treasure be found? Where should it be compared to where it is now?

I'll be exploring my heart and God's Word as I seek my treasure (all puns intended). This topic is something that God has been laying heavily on my heart in the past few days. I hope that you take these blogs seriously and considering joining me as I search for my treasure and come closer to the very heart of God.

"My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."
-Proverbs 2:1-5

Be blessed, friends. ~Phoebe

You are good.

I don't say it nearly enough.
When was the last time I said "thank you"?
I honestly don't remember.

But it's true, God-
You are good to me...
So amazingly good to me.
Don't ever let me forget it.

When I truly stop and think about it, it's overwhelming.
How can I even begin to express my gratitude?
Simply, I suppose -
Thank You, God, for this life, these opportunities, these talents, this moment.

Help me use them to glorify You.

"So I'll sing You a love song, it's all that I have -
To tell You I'm grateful for holding my life in Your hands."