"Look... and be utterly amazed." (Habakkuk 1:5)
What God does is amazing. His peace, His provision, His power - I am indeed utterly amazed.
Today I start classes a
s a senior in college. Just yesterday morning I was scared and nervous (and I'm not even a freshman!) of all that I had to get done and sad for the wonderful summer I was leaving behind. But as I write this, I feel so much better. Seeing some of my caring teachers again; realizing that I had plenty of time to buy textbooks, check-in and what-not; meeting up with old friends and meeting new ones - what was I worried about?
I know the days ahead won't always be easy. But I am so blessed, most of all in the knowing that God never leaves me and watches over my "going out" and my "coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore" (Psalm 121:8).
When my mom was here in Oregon with me for a couple of days before saying "good-bye," we went to Silver Falls State Park. If this place sounds familiar to you, it might be because I posted about it for a "Sunday by the Sea" post last year! In that post I talked about perspectives.
Perspective is so important, and something I still have so much to learn about. But looking back on some of the pictures I took of the falls this time, I am reminded again of how beautiful perspective can be:
To look ahead to the hope we have...
To look into the blessings we have been given...
To look above to the sovereignty of God...
To look back on the grace and love shown to us.
We are so blessed, are we not? So feel free to "look... and be utterly amazed."
(Want some help looking ahead to the hope we have? MaryLu Tyndall posted about hope this past Monday HERE!)
(Want some help looking ahead to the hope we have? MaryLu Tyndall posted about hope this past Monday HERE!)
14 comments:
Reminds me of the song: I Stand Amazed in the Presence of Jesus the Nazerene...
My Saviour's Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX8D8UfJLn4
Amber, I wish you well as you begin your senior year. (You're one year ahead of my daughter. =)
I love your desk, so clean and neat. I gotta ask, will it stay that way once you get immersed in your classes? Mine never did.
YES! We are so blessed!
Best wishes to you as you start your senior year, Amber! Praying that this year holds everything you hope for.
Love,
Michelle
Linda,
Thank you for sharing that link! Lovely! :)
~Amber
Keli,
Thank you so much! And here's to a wonderful year for your daughter, as well. :)
And about my desk... Well, it probably will stay pretty clean on the outside. ;) I'm pretty OCD (especially about my stacks of books to review, LOL!), and I love being organized. I'm not saying it will stay perfectly clean or anything like that, but I really don't like my stuff to be messy.
~Amber
Michelle,
Very much so! :D
Thank you so much for the encouragement, prayers, and friendship! :)
~Amber
Amber,
I'm OC, too, and love it when things are organized. My canned goods sit in the pantry in straight rows, right-side up, labels facing front. The clothes in my closet are hung by color and sleeve length. However, the top of my desk is a disaster area. Wanna come over and clean it for me? =)
What books are in that TBR stack? The Doctor's Lady by my talented CP Jody Hedlund, perhaps? Or maybe Sarah Sundin's latest, Blue Skies Tomorrow? Both are great reads.
Keli,
Hahaha, that sounds like me (except with books!). Although I guess I'm not super OCD about the order so much as them being lined up properly. :) And now that I'm in a new environment, I had the chance to start over and try to keep things even more organized and less cluttered! We'll see if it lasts... ;)
Let's see...currently in my TBR stack (only counting the ones to be reviewed - there's no way you'd want to hear about all the other ones in separate places!):
--The Veil by Cory Putnam Oakes
--A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher
--The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall
--Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
--I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
--To Have and to Hold by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
--To Die For by Sandra Byrd
...and more to come in the mail! ;) Boy, I probably should cut back on how many I agree to review... It's just so hard with so many great books!
I did read Blue Skies Tomorrow and loved it! (You can find the link to my review on my "Book Reviews" page.) I haven't yet finished Jody's first book (it's in one of my TBR piles...), but a lot of people seem to have enjoyed it! I'll be curious to hear everyone's thoughts on The Doctor's Lady.
~Amber
Amber, that's quite a list, especially with classes starting soon. However, reading is a great way to relax and de-stress. =)
The only one on your list that I've read is Fairer Than Morning. I enjoyed it. Rossyln does a great job with description and historical detail, doesn't she? Her story is grittier than many I read, but I think that makes it more realistic. Since it's a "based on" story, that makes sense. Her characters had a lot to learn, and learn they did. My five-star review is on Amazon and many of the other sites.
Lovely pictures! I don't believe I have ever seen those falls. But that's not saying much. I just saw Multnomah Falls for the first time this year. :)
Hope you had a good day!
Oh! And so glad you like the bracelet!!! Made my day to see that comment on my blog. :)
Keli,
Oh, I know!! And more is coming all the time! (I can't help myself...) But yes, reading is a great way to spend my free time, I think. :)
Glad to hear you enjoyed Fairer Than Morning! I'm excited to read it sometime soon!
~Amber
Casey,
Thank you! And don't worry - I think I only saw Multnomah Falls as a drive-by viewing on our way to another waterfall (where my now-married-former-roomie was proposed to!). ;)
Yes, I LOVE the bracelet! So beautiful, Casey. :) Thank you! I'm glad the comment made your day - thank you for helping make mine with that fabulous package!
~Amber
HI Amber...I just awarded you the Liebster blog award on my blog. Stop by sometime to claim it :)
http://www.sherisalatin.com
Sheri,
Thank you!! That was sweet of you to pass this award on to my blog. :) Hope you have a great day!
~Amber
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