Bloom where you are planted

A new year has begun, and a new semester is approaching (as in tomorrow) there is a lot of apprehension, nerves, excitement, and joy all building up as this new season begins, one thing remains so alive, to be still. To abide in His love and truth and to bloom where we are planted. 

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." - Acts 17:26

For the Lord has placed us individually in the place where we need to be in this moment of our lives, and we must trust Him in His works.

Process of my art piece that I am making for my wall to focus on this semester.

This past semester I had the incredible opportunity to serve in the nation's capital, where I had never dreamt of being. But, as I reflect on this semester I could not be more grateful and thankful to be in such a place and the Lord knew where I needed to be. While I was in Arlington/DC I stumbled upon my new church family which again is such a God story. (Will share a little later) But, while I was there I found a new community of brothers and sisters in Christ, a church that taught and showed me what loving and being the hands and feet of Jesus; as I look back I would not be where I am without them, but only God would allow me to have stepped foot on the shuttle that September Saturday morning. One Tuesday night during our small groups the pastor's wife came and spoke to us about 'Surrounding ourselves' and to be still. The Lord spoke through her in a way that I needed to hear, as if you put your life in different circles that feed into one another (more to come on that) but at that point I thought I was doing well with joining my circles, but that night really struck me hard and as I have re-read my journal over and over all this time it has still stuck in my head. The Lord struck me to the core, as I looked ahead at my calendar it was full of seeing friends from the past and hanging out with the new ones I had met and always on the move, not because of the city life, but because I was running (in a way...). But, as I tend to do I was allowing myself to stretch outward, not upward, filling the void of my my life while being intenional and enjoying every minute of it, it still did not settle with my sould. As I have gone back over the semester and re-read my notes, and spent time with the Lord, my heart continues to remind me to 'bloom where you are planted.' and to 'be still.'

Yet, the Lord knew what He was doing and if I had my way I would still be there but I know school is where I need to be in this moment in my life, and I am content in that. Yet, I have been continually reminded that the Lord knew what He was doing when I stepped foot on to the shuttle after a phone conversation with a friend that Sunday morning when I was between going to two different churches that day, but I now know why I decided to wait an hour before going to service. 

If you knw me, I have been a lot of physical places lately and always on the move, though I rejoice and enjoy where I am, it is not where I tend to focus my heart on. But, I have stood still and allowed my heart to listen, as this semester begins I continue to abide in the fact that this is where the Lord wants to be, to yearn for the community that I have loved for the past four years and to love on others around me. 

Here are somethings I am going to be focusing on this semester:

1.  Be still.
2.  Bloom where you are planted. As I have said before, I have the tendency to get to know everyone and jump around friend groups , not there is a problem with that because there isn;t but as I focus on intentionality with others, I want to focus on going up (building deeper relationships with others) and not outward(MEANING spreading myself too thin) as I go outward and love others.
3. Abide.- To lean on the truth, listen before I speak to lean on my Heavenly Father as I focus on school, family, friendships and Jesus himself. 
1. "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." - John 15:4

This means I have made several personal goals of how I going to do this regularly, whether it is limiting my social media, writing letters to people weekly, praying with others by stopping what I am doing, focusing on my school work, choosing certain organizations and spending time with them, or meeting with dear friends weekly to focus on the deep friendships. Whatever it is there is a way through it all. 

Trust the Sunrise,

MKG