for you

his glory, our good

Hello! I'm finally waking from my winter hibernation of no blogging... and this one is a doosey (spelling?!) for my heart.

After a three and a half day trek across the US with my dad (great conversations...) I started an internship at the MillerHull Partnership in Seattle. I am loving the city, the firm, and my roommate (totally blessed), but I have been feeling sad underneath everything I should be thankful for. A lot of the sadness is natural - I miss my awesome family (including our new puppy Abby), my wonderful boyfriend, my amazing friends and church and school back in Austin, and just how my life used to be. A big move is stressful and the adjustment to pacific time, working full time, and NO NATURAL LIGHT IN MY ROOM (I'm very upset about this) is rough! And after spending a lovely 8 whole days with Chase and his parents in the beautiful New Mexico mountains/Lindale/West Texas last week, I felt even more sad. I kept thinking, "What's wrong with me?! I'm supposed to be loving this adventure in a new city with new friends and new everything! How can I be sad?!" (Side note - my new friends are great and I am so thankful for them. Shoutout to Anne Marie and Hailey and Heather and Ali and Alex (and John and Tyler too)!!)

Well, I've learned that I'm impatient with life change. It actually takes a long time to adjust - and it's okay to miss my old things. (Thankfully this internship is only a few months and I get to go back to Austin/UT/Alyssa and the Gables.) I've also learned that I'm much more of a caretaker/nurturer/mother than I realized. I always take on that role - at home with my family, with all my roommates, obviously with all the kids I nannied and taught, even in studio - and no one needs me to take care of them here!

**Most importantly (I'm finally getting to the point), I re-learned today (after a lot of encouragement from Chase and Christine - thank you!!) that I can trust that God is working all things for his glory and my good because he promised he would!**

Here are a few passages that I feel drive home God's promise to glorify himself and provide for us, his beloved children:

1. Psalm 103:2-5
"Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits -
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

I have to love this God! Praise his name!

2. Hebrews 12:10-11 (speaking of hardship as discipline) "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they though best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

The promise and the peace... his glory and our good. Amazing.

3. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This includes when a) I don't agree, b) I didn't plan it that way, and c) I forget this promise. (Theme: God knows better than I)

4. Genesis 50:19-21 (when Joseph's brothers come to beg for food after they threw him in the pit and sold him off as a slave) "But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Wow. First, Joseph is a stud. Second, God is so great! He works all things to bring himself glory, bring more souls to himself, and doesn't ever forget to provide for his children - even after we do terrible things!

5. Exodus 14:4 (After God proves how powerful he is over ten times (the plagues) and rescues his people from Pharaoh by parting a sea... and the people still don't believe how great God is at looking out for them when he asks them to turn back, God says:) "'And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.' So the Israelites did this."

We can be pretty dense, but God never stops pursuing us. Thank God!


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13