His goodness prevails

A few quick updates: I now officially have my own room in Hawaii. It’s peaceful to have a space that is all my own, especially in a time where I never know when I will run into my latest roommate in the kitchen, a rat. At least I hope it is just one and I hope it doesn’t find its way to my room. Tomorrow I am back to school after a week of fall break. I will take the 10-month school year if it keeps delivering theses breaks. And after three weeks away, I finally found my way back to a Sunday church service in Maui. It was grounding. It reminded me of the importance of community and the presence the Holy Spirit has in our lives. My final life update is that I am getting my oil changed this week, I was kind of worried about how to do this. It turns out, there is a mechanic at church, he is even going to pick my car up from school and bring it back to me…mind blown, humbled, grateful. God is good.

And that is where I am landing today, on God’s goodness.

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

As I struggle and even as I succeed, this is what I cling to, the assurance that God is working in and through me. I am not out here changing a whole island, that’s not what my purpose is. But, if I can impact just one person with the hope of Jesus, if I can show at least one person God’s love while I am here, then I am doing what He started in me. And He will continue to work in and through me. He is good and faithful. That is His promise. That is His goodness.

I am a little in over my head at school. The curriculum, the schedule, my team, its all new and I have not wrapped my head around it all yet. I currently have a million things laid out over my bed that I am trying to accomplish. My undiagnosed ADHD is setting in as I start one task, don’t finish it, and quickly move on to the next. So, I paused and decided to open the bible, here is what I read:

It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16

It is not my effort that brought me here, it is God’s mercy, his constant goodness and grace over my life. And as I struggle, that truth remains, that truth is what will carry me through. I can only do so much on my own, but it is when I turn to him in my weakness that His strength prevails. His goodness prevails. As I start another week, as I begin again, I just thank God for His goodness, for another opportunity, for another breath, for another moment to love Him and love His people more.

…let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

We praise God, not for what He has done, but for who He is. And today, I praise Him for His goodness.

Love and blessings,