This weekend has been the break I needed. The weather was perfect, seventy five degrees farenheight (25 C) and brilliantly sunny, and I've finally broken through barriers with people from class and have friends! I went to beautiful places, a museum and an ancient city, and read in the sunshine for two hours yesterday. Also the Lord filled my soul this morning with reminders from his word of his love for me, and as I biked around the beauty of Lucca I heard the whispers of God's love come to me again. My soul is happy.
I see God's goodness in the extreme beauty around me, but also in his ways. As I see my own life and look at the five years of making hard but right choices while ar HCS I see God preparing me to stand up for what I believe here. As I am not hung over or broken hearted I see how good God's way is. As I explain why my life is different I am so thankful to have this life. As I reach halfway across the globe (electronically) and ask others to pray I am amazed at the flood of encouragement and results that follow.
The Lord is good. His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues for all generations.
But who knows what this week holds? Right now I am trusting, strengthened. I pray I do not fall! I pray that I can see God even in the hard times, the cold times, the rainy times, as well as in the relaxed sunshine.
I am learning to pay more attention to little signs that God is there. When I hear the churchbells pealing every hour I praise Jesus for his resurrection. When someone around me takes Jesus' name in vain I silently thank him that he is right there with me! I hope I can continue down this road to knowing Jesus, for this morning I am reminded how much he is worth it.
