our God reigns.

last night at TESOL i met with the other leaders to pray for our program, the students and the future success of the program. we were asked if we had prayer requests. and it was then i felt really overwhelmed with life. i had about 10 things i wanted prayer for. i don't know who reads this, but i figured i might as well share my concerns and prayers and whoever feels like lifting them up...well i just figured it couldn't hurt. i couldn't very easily lift up all my concerns last night. i might have just broke down and i had a long night ahead of me but that is besides the point.

great things are happening to my friends right now and i am so proud to call them my close friends! i am so excited for their next steps in life. we are told to praise God when things are great and thank him for the opportunities He has given us - not just when things are tough.

my friend Kate is going to Haiti for 8 months. she needs to raise a LOT of money to go. i know that she will have an amazing trip and learn so much. she will be teaching and using the gifts God has given her. she has an incomparable personality and a huge heart. she is so passionate for life and kids. God has placed this amazing opportunity at her feet. though i am so so so excited for her, i pray that she is provided the financial support she needs to go.

my friend Mallory had a beautiful baby boy this morning and am so incredibly excited for them! her and her husband are one of the couples that i admire the most. when i think of the relationship that i want to have with "mr. right", it mirrors what they have: they have a deep love and respect for one another, they laugh a lot and are so easy going and most importantly, God is the center of their relationship. and you can see that clearly.

my sister and brother in law are also expecting another little one in January! i'm going to be an auntie again! yay for baby blessings!

on the flip side, there are sudden, un-explainable things happening as well. my friend's stepmother had something terrible and sudden happen to her. she recently passed away. young and very healthy. as i talked to my friend, Kate (not to be confused with the previously mentioned Kate), she mentioned how real and unexpected God is to us, He can pluck us from this life at any time. He truly does have our days numbered.

a co-worker of mine has some weird equilibrium issues right now, which is forcing him to change the way to lives his life. the simple things like driving and turning to look at something can completely make him off balanced and dizzy. he doesnt know if things will change. this could be the way he has to life the rest of his life. we had a short but good talk this morning and it's just amazing to me how God works through people and their situations.

i also have to make a decision about my future role in the TESOL program. i have to really pray about what God wants for me in the program.

everything thats been going on puts things in perspective as far as what is important in life. dwelling on petty drama or insecurities is not one of them. dwelling on things that cannot be changed is another. so is dwelling on the past. living life one day at a time and in the way that God intended us to live IS important. giving back without grumbling is another. being selfless and thoughtful and returning our thanks to God IS important. so IS prayer.

between the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, im emotionally overwhelmed. but what i do know for sure, and find comfort in, is knowing that our God is still our healer and provider.

la ta di da...our God reigns.