SO whats new you may ask? Well everyday is new! This life in Dallas is new and its exciting! I have made so many new friends that its crazy! Right before I moved here I told God that this was a crazy idea! Why would he make me move to a place where I knew NO one! Not a single person! Never in my life have I liked to be alone AND I get scared of the unknown very easily! While my parents and brothers were still here helping me unpack I turned to my mom and said, "I hate this! I have never been so scared in my life! This isn't home! Take me home!" My poor mother! Now I can laugh at my silliness and say thank you Jesus! Those first few days of being alone scared me to death, but you know who never left me! Jesus! Soon after moving here He placed some AMAZING people into my life and it feels like they have always been my friends! Thats how close we are. He has used this time to help me figure out who I really am in Him, to prove to me that He is always right beside me, He has shown me more in depth what my gifts are that He has given me to grow His kingdom, He has brought many Christian friends into my life, and among many other things, He has reminded me that when I don't have a clue about what is going on I need to look at him and He will direct my steps!
He is so amazing! One night a few weeks ago there were bad storms here in Dallas. I had just walked into my house(where no one else was) when my friend Lacey called me and told me that a tornado was really close to where I was! Great! I'm alone and I don't have a tv to watch to see if I'm about to get smashed by a tornado!!! Alone and Not knowing what is going on!! I quickly gathered a few things from my upstairs bedroom and went downstairs to be where I thought I would be the safest! Lacey called and texted me with updates on what was going on. As I sat there praying my heart out to God, praying for protection over me, I felt a peace! Peace that only comes from God! Then I realized something...what about the people who aren't Christians and don't have this Peace that I'm talking about? Were they scared through the whole storm? Or were they just chillin out waiting for the storm to pass! I know there were some of both, but my heart goes out to the ones who were scared. I'm being serious, what do they do? Me being curious about this, I wanted to run to all my neighbors and tell them about Jesus and then I thought...probably not a good idea for me to go to random peoples houses in a city that I just moved to especially when there is a storm right above me! Another thing stopping me from running to all my neighbors houses is that Evangelism isn't one of my strong Gifts! I learned this while on several misssion trips, I love to let people know of God's love, but the way I do it is that I SHOW them God's love through actions...My Gifts are Hospitality, Giving, Encouraging, and Administration! Which I have been able to use since moving here. I have met many hurting people that all they wanted was for someone to listen to them, I now work with YoungLife where I get to hangout with some pretty cool teenagers, I have talked to people at school about church and why it is a good reason to be a part of one, I have even been able to help people by using my OCD organizational brain to help them organize their school binder! There are so many doors opening and they arent just cracking open, they are opening WIDE open!
Honestly I think me moving to Dallas was one of the best things that could have happened to me! Something that I saw as such a negative thing turned into such a BIG blessing!
Im just going to share the verse that I claimed as mine for my move and this transition to Dallas then I'll quit rambbling!
Deuteronomy 31:8--"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged!"
I love you all-My Longview and My Dallas family! You are each such a blessing to my life and I thank God for you daily!
