My prayer- peace, hope, and joy.

     I've been trying to write this blog post for a while. At least a week but I still can't seem to find the words to describe what I'm thinking and feeling. All I can say is that God is my fortress and my strength. I may feel as though I am drowning in trying to adapt back into the United States and back into classes here at Lock Haven or overwhelmed by the lengths at which God is stretching me this semester but all of that is a good thing, right? Im going to look back on this and be thankful, right? Its the most difficult times in our lives that we look back and are thankful for the work God did and the ways in which He provided. My God provides so why am I worrying? Even when I stray off the given path He calls me back to him. Hosea talks about Israel's wandering from the Lord and how He called them back. Chapter 2 verse 14 says, "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyard and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.". I love the picture that this gives. If you read the whole chapter you see how God will intentionally break us down only to rebuild us stronger than before.

     Short, simple, sweet, and right to the point. God is working in amazing ways in my life right now. It may be the most unfamiliar and uncomfortable time in my life and I may feel completely alone because no one can possible understand what Im going through but in Christ alone my hope is found. He is my strength and because of Him I will make it through all of life's storms and come out the other side praising His great name.

     If I walk through the semester completely friendless and alone but proclaiming the name of Christ I will be satisfied. I will have been obedient to Christ's call to follow Him. That is what I want to accomplish this semester. That is what I pray Christ will accomplish through me this semester. I want more people to know of the great, great love of Christ. I want Christ to be glorified in everything that I do. 
   
     Im standing at a crossroads. I could go back to the person I was before this summer or I can pick up my cross daily and really, truly follow Christ and rest assured in His promises. In Him alone I find my hope and joy.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." - Romans 15:13

- Amanda