This evening's dinner was my first meal back in the cafeteria (which boasts a new frozen yogurt machine!), and tomorrow is my first day of classes. For those of you who are interested, these are the classes I'm going to tomorrow:
- Christian Theology I
- Literary Criticism
- Life Science
- Poetry Writing
Overall, this transition has been much easier in some ways than last year. This year I didn't have to go to orientation. This year (because I sent in some paperwork early) I got to do "express" check-in. And this year I had the added bonus of being familiar with the dorm, having friends on campus, and knowing the routine.
But the transition seemed harder in other ways. My family and I had such an amazing summer together--four wonderful months. Going away to college is no longer a novelty. And I miss my family and my home so very much.
I know what I really need, though. I've been so caught up in myself, in all that's going on in my life. And I've neglected truly spending time with God. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes in each day--each moment--when we focus on God rather ourselves.
I am so glad that God never leaves us and never stops loving us! I love knowing that no matter where I go, God will be right there beside me. Through His grace, through Jesus, I can be close to Him, no longer separated because of my sin. And the comfort of His eternal Presence is a tremendous, undeserved blessing I all too often take for granted.
I've neglected what my heart really needs, what I long for. I want--need--to spend time with the Lord of my life, my closest Friend and my caring heavenly Father. Oh, may we draw ever closer to Him and seek Him every day of our lives!
10 comments:
Well said Amber, very well said.
Thanks for another great devotional!!
I'll be praying for you in your school year and missing home. I know how bad it was for me when I left home!! I hope you have fun and meet lots of new people! :)
Casey,
Thank you! I definitely have a lot of prioritizing to do!
~Amber
Bluerose,
Awww, you're welcome! :) I have a lot of wonderful friends here, so the transition could be a lot worse for sure. ;) I'm having a good time so far, although I think that Literary Criticism class might just be a killer!
Thank you so much for the prayers!
~Amber
Beautiful post, my friend! It made me think of a scripture verse a dear friend of mine gave me once- (Hosea 10:12) "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."
I confess, I've been neglecting that special time with the Lord lately, and feeling my spiritual feet dragging as a result- when I should be running the race set before me! My prayer is that the Lord will (like the song says) empty me of me so I can be filled with Him!! I want my heart to echo the words of King David in Psalm 27, when God said, "Seek ye My face", and David replied without pause or hesitation: "Thy face LORD will I seek." And, he definitely walked his talk!
Thank you so much for this timely post, which reads more like a devotional, just like Bluerose said! Jesus always knows just what we need, and there is nothing better than when He uses a dear friend to deliver it!!
So glad to hear things are going well at school and you're having fun! Corban is blessed to have to, my friend :)
Blessings,
Amanda Stanley
Life transitions can be bittersweet, can't they? You are so blessed to have the family you do and they are so blessed to have a daughter who cherishes them so much. And I think we can all follow your example and strive to put Christ first -- find the time to spend with him before we get lost in the rest of our day.
And Amber, I start college next week too...well sort of. LOL. I have a part time job at the college library. My day job is in a school board library (I just love being around books) but I hear they have made a huge amount of changes at the college library and I think I'll feel just as confused as the first year students when I go back!
Amanda,
Thank you so much for sharing that verse, as well as your beautiful, encouraging thoughts! :D Here's a similar verse that reads, "For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among the thorns" (Jeremiah 4:3). It must be an important message to be repeated like that! And I love the imagery in both verses, that we need to get rid of the thorns and seek God's blessed rain. There is so much within these verses to delve into and to learn!
I pray that I might have the same attitude as you, to want to seek the Lord and follow David's example! You are such a dear friend, and thank you for your very kind words. :)
~Amber
Kav,
They definitely can be bittersweet! I am indeed blessed with a wonderful family, and thank you for your sweet words. :) I don't know if I'm really the best example, though--this is something I still need to work on a lot! But I love the idea that God doesn't force us to spend time with Him--He wants us to seek Him because we long for Him, because we are so thrilled by His love and grace that we want to show Him how much we love Him! It's so sad that I get sidetracked from spending time with my Heavenly Father, and I always feel so much better and so much more comforted after simply walking and talking with Him. You should check out Julie Lessman's "Journal Jot" for today on her website...her words were such an encouragement!
That's so great about your job, and I hope it goes well for you! :D You'll have to let us know what it feels like being "back to school," as well. ;)
~Amber
Amber, I pray you have a very good semester. Your classes sound interesting. Although I must admit Literary Criticism brings back memories for me.
Michelle,
Thank you so much! :) I really appreciate the prayers!
And I think my classes will be pretty interesting. I'm actually also taking Petrine Epistles, Life Science Lab (the lab that goes along with the class), and General Psychology. And I'm quite curious...good memories or bad pertaining to Literary Criticism? ;) Maybe both? I'm sure you learned a lot, though, right?
~Amber
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