Over these next two months I am praying for:

1) The money required to get back to AU (I am about $3K off at this point).

2) A new laptop for college (my iBook G4 is on its last leg).

You know the great thing about being changed by Jesus?

Being able to give grace to people because we have been given grace. It's like: I sucked, I was forgiven; I still suck a lot of the time, I'm still forgiven; you suck, I can forgive you and keep forgiving you because I sucked and still suck a lot of the time...etc. See the beautiful cycle of grace we're caught up in?

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." Psalm 145:8

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Such sweet, sweet words--such a precious promise. One to cling to in times of upheaval, uncertainty; trial or pain. It is comforting to be reminded that he's near.

Today I am importing, storing, and deleting all the photos from my iPhone that were taken over the past two and a bit years. My life is literally flashing before my eyes and I am struck by the vast range of emotions I am experiencing as I watch the photos flick by on the screen. So much has happened since I left for Australia! Probably the greatest highs I have ever experienced and most definitely the deepest lows I have ever experienced. Honestly, and I'm sure you reading this can relate, it leaves me asking, "why me?" Why did those things happen to me? What did I do to deserve those incredible joys and those terrible lows? I don't suppose I'll ever fully know. Not in this life, anyway.

Paul says in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. I am sure that "those" is me and I pray that it is you, too.

At the end of the day, as I reflect on both hardships and blessings, I know I can rest and trust in my Heavenly Father. All I have to do (as it says in Deuteronomy 13:4) is simply "Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him."