just look around...

Tonight I am filled with joy... It's spilling out. I can't help but smile, and I just want to sing...

I don't always feel this way. But oh how wonderful would it be if I could figure out how to turn my frown upside down and smell the roses every single day...

I realized that if I just look around me, I can count so many blessings that God has placed in my life, even the little joys in life look so much grander when you see that they are a blessing. I told one of my college friends tonight that I was super happy and so excited to see God at work in my life. He turned around and asked me to tell him the ways that God has blessed me today. (how cool of a question is that?!) Here was my list for today:

1) I was in a rollerblading accident last week and was scraped up pretty badly. It's been hard to sleep, shower, and walk. But every day, my wounds are healing more and getting more bearable. Thank you Lord for helping me to get my rest, healing my wounds, and letting me wear jeans today for the first time since my little accident!

2) I have amazing roommates here at Bethel. We get along so well and they are becoming great friends! I met some awesome new friends this weekend. They walk right along side me in my faith. Thank you Lord for bringing my roommates and new friends and I together. Every bout of laughter, each adventure we go on, and the new friends I'm continuing to meet are such a blessing.

3) I have been chosen to be on Nelson's worship team. There are 7 people in my group and we had our first group meeting tonight. We chose some songs, and prayed as a team. I have a strong feeling that God is already at work and has great plans for Nespers this year. I am so pumped to be a part of this plan! Father thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity, for allowing me to join with my dorm in worship and giving us the freedom to do so. I am so excited to see what you are going to do through our team and the other worship team. Please shine through us and prepare the hearts of our team and those who will be coming to Nespers.

4) My brother lives on campus and I got to see him today. This may seem like a little thing to be thankful for, but I am so blessed to have the siblings I do. Zach has helped me through so many situations and has been my advisor and friend. I am so grateful for this year we get to share at Bethel! Lord thank you for the friendship that Zach and I share. Thank you for his support, guidance and encouragement. He's been such a great example to me. I pray that you would continue to bless him and work in his life. Thank you for my family!

5) Classes are hard and can be so stressful, but I've had enough strength to get through each day, each test, and each lecture. I am not always satisfied with my test results, but that just shows me where I need to work harder and what I need to study more. Lord thank you for giving me enough strength for today. I'm so grateful that I don't have to worry about tomorrow, because you will be just as real tomorrow as you are today.

This is just the beginning of the list of blessings I can see... I don't think I would have been so aware of God's constant presence had I not taken the time to look around me. I would challenge others to do the same. God's blessings are EVERYWHERE! just look around...

Manna

In Exodus 16, the Israelites were wandering in the desert, two and a half months after being set free from Egypt. They were grumbling and complaining against Moses and Aaron for bringing them in to a hot, dry desert without food and water. They even said they would have rather died in Egypt!

God had delivered them from slavery, performed the 10 plagues, parted the Red Sea, and kept them well thus far. Wouldn't you think they would've been able to trust God for his provision at this point?

But isn't that how we all often are? We witness God's provision one day, and grumble and stress over something being too much to handle the next day.

But the story goes on...

God heard their grumbling and spoke through Moses to tell the Israelites that He would rain down bread from Heaven and that they were to take only what they needed for that day--and no more.

In the morning, the ground was covered with dew. "When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. This is where the word "manna" came in to use. "Manna" means "what is it?"

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. ¹⁶ This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' " (vs 14-16)

Some of the Israelites listened, and only took what they needed for that day. But others hoarded and hid extra manna among their belongings. But in the morning, the extra manna had spoiled and taken a terrible smell.

There is such a valuable lesson we can take from this. God promises to give us our manna. To provide just what we need for each day. Why is it so easy for us to worry about tomorrow when God promised to provide for today? Matthew 6:34 "don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Our tomorrow will soon enough be our today.

We need to start applying a "manna perspective" in our lives. Trusting God to provide enough strength, energy, perseverance, positivity...etc for today. I wrote the word Manna by my desk as a reminder to keep the "manna perspective." Trusting God, one day at a time.