During my commute...

"Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you."

Deuteronomy 31:8

"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!"

Psalm 139:7

   Just when I thought my 35 minute commute to get to practically any communal civilization was a waste of my time, God showed me different. I have recently found that God speaks to me best during those long drives in my car... well its more along the lines of thats when I am more apt to hear Him, because He is always speaking. Well, during a few of my long drives lately He has really spoken clearly and in such a creative way. Specifically, the other day on my way home from school I was ready to get home and tired of driving. As I continued, I turned a curve and the sun came into my view on the left side of my car. Not really thinking much about it, I suddenly noticed the warm sensation it left on the side of my face as it shined into my window. In that moment God instantly spoke to my heart and said, "Can you feel me? I'm here." It was so real. It felt like He was sitting right there beside me, embracing me in His arms. It left me in awe, and a feeling of overwhelming peace and comfort flowed over me.

  Well if thats not enough, He showed me something else pretty unique yesterday when I was driving yet again. It was simple, but yet so creative. I had just left my house and was checking the mirrors to see who was around and behind me. As I looked in my rear view mirror, the moon was in clear view over the horizon and was completely full. Again, in that split second as I saw the moon behind me God spoke to me saying, "Keep going. I'm here. I've got your back. I'm not going anywhere." And once more His presence was revealed to me in such a real way.

  Well, my realization of beauty in this is that God is always with you... helping you, leading you, protecting you, guiding you, cheering for you, watching over you. There is no where you can go to escape His presence. Thats how much He loves you. He can't stand to be away from you, even for a second. He also loves speaking to you and revealing a piece of His heart to you, just like He did with me. Ask Him to show you and romance you. Thats what He longs for. A relationship. So don't just talk to Him all the time... converse. Let Him speak and show you that He is always right beside you.

One of a kind...

  Ever try to be something you're not? Try to force yourself to be a certain way in order for others to think more highly of you and what not. Haven't we all at some point, but heres the good news... God knew what He was doing when He made you. When He planned out each intricate detail of your figure, character, desires and future. His knowing and understanding surpasses ours by such an immense distance. Judging and comparing ourselves tends to come easy and natural, and its the quickest way to belittlement and questioning what God made precious. Yeah, you are precious in His sight. The apple of His eye. The light of His life. The reason He sacrificed His son. He loves you that much, and since He does, He took great time and care in creating you and designing plans for your life. But His plans can't be followed through if you continually try to be something that you aren't or constantly compare yourself to those around you. No... you as an individual are one-of-a-kind. There is no other YOU. No one can fill your shoes. Even if you think that your shoes would be easy to fill, they aren't. God made those shoes especially for your feet and no other. No one else can fill them. His life would be incomplete without you, thats why He made you and created you in the first place. He has set you apart for something great.
  This realization of individual beauty came to me tonight as I was reading Esther. It came in a simple verse that rocked my perspective. In chapter two verse fifteen it says...
When it was Esther's turn to go to the King, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the King's eunuch in charge of the harem, had recommended. Esther, just as she was, won the admiration of everyone who saw her.
Just as she was... with nothing added and nothing changed won over the hearts of everyone, including the King. Esther wasn't trying to be something she wasn't. She was an ordinary young lady, serving an extraordinary God who had great plans in store for her. A young lady who was just living her life and listening to God. A young lady who saved a nation of people. So my hope is that you take this verse and realize that who you are in Christ is enough. He has great plans for you... plans unique to YOU.