One Week!

One week from today, I will be leaving for the Big Apple!  It's a bit surreal for me to imagine waking up in New York City each day.  There are lots of emotions running through me...excitement, stress, worry, curiosity.   I'm very thankful for this opportunity and can't wait to see what God teaches me through it!  He deserves the credit for everything that has come into place to ready me for this adventure.  I knew it would cost quite a bit to go and would require an intense amount of frugality on my part.  Saving is one thing that is a struggle for me.  I worked a lot of extra hours at Golden Corral and am teaching summer school all because He provided those jobs.  I also received a generous donation in the mail the week that I had damage to my car.  Two weeks ago was when I began to panic about where I would stay.  The residence I applied for had not contacted me with an available room and I was 18 on the list.  After hours and hours of searching for an apartment room to rent in a stranger's place, I got nowhere and had more stress.  The following Monday I called the residence to see how far up I was on the list. She told me that I was #1 on the list for a room!  Praise God! Initially, I tried to reason it in my head how I could be first. God revealed to me that he doesn't fit into this formula I try to create in my head.  He is capable of doing so much more than I give him credit for.  I am one who struggles with grace.  It is hard for me to wrap my head around this God that even when I don't deserve something, He loves me so much that he freely gives me things because he loves me.   I talked with my good friend Julie about how I didn't deserve for God to have taken care of that for me because I hadn't been a "good girl."  She was passionate about explaining that God loves me and that I need to say I'm sorry, repent and keeping moving forward. She quoted from Angela Thomas that "God is always plotting for our joy." I am fighting against the legalistic mindset that thinks I can earn God's favor and love by doing good works.  This is not truth!  

Titus 3:4-7  says

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

This week will be a very busy week of preparation and wrapping up summer school.  I'm still figuring out a way to get my luggage to weigh no more than 50 lbs. I am not a light packer and this is for 4 weeks so I'm open to any suggestions.  I will be blogging more frequently to keep all of you following me up to date.  Thanks for those that are encouraging me and celebrating with me in this new chapter!  See you soon!