Update after a hard week

Reality- This week has been a roller coaster. A crazy tilt-a-whirl of emotions swirling, ranging from nerves and excitement, to exhaustion and a bit of hopelessness. I thought I would make it through the first week of school without crying, until that dream came crashing down about an hour ago. In all truthfulness it was just a few tears, explainable because my brother is going into surgery tomorrow, and I won't be able to talk to him until afterwords due to the drastic time difference and such. It also doesn't help that I'm sick, and that there's e a mold problem in the entry way where I'm living... Yeah it's gross! Despite the few tears flooding my eyes this afternoon, I've spent most of my first week happily enjoying the beautiful, record autumn high temperatures for England, and the peaceful fields filled with sheep surrounding the school. Yesterday I walked through the Lake District and saw some of the prettiest countryside I have ever seen! It's raining right now for the first time since being here but I'm comfortably curled up, and eating ritz crackers with peanut butter and chocolate spread. My sunshine for the day. I've met some great people and have made some close friends. But most importantly, the Lord has already revealed many things in my heart, that in order to draw closer to him, I must completely surrender to Him. He has pointed out robber's dens in my soul and giving them up to Him, I am constantly reminded of His undying, unconditional love. Even in the first week, I have grown closer to God... Growing in Grace. I am learning that He truly does grant blessings to me which are sufficient for each new day. While spending some time alone in the Bible the other day, a verse in 1 Corinthians stuck with me and I wanted to share it.

1 Corinthians 3: 7-9, "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and He who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow worker's, God's field, God's building."

What does it mean to be God's field or God's building? Well I think it has something to do with the fact that this journey, life on earth, is simply the test. I miss home, but I have to remind myself that even home for me, 2570 Golf dr., is not home. Heaven is my home. I am a part of God's field on earth but He is the one who sows the seed and reaps the crop. Sometimes the crop in my life is thin and at other times it's abundant. But I don't need to worry about whether or not it can be harvested because that's God's job. He is the Master. The farmer who resows and fertilizes when the crop does not produce what is expected. And as he looks down at my pitiful field, He sees Jesus' perfection. In so doing, God continues to be gracious and loving.

This has been a hard week, but it has also been a week of God's blessings, molding and changing me to be more like Him. Even though I miss everyone, I am encouraged in the Lord. I am thankful for His love, patience, and kindness. I know that He is the only one who will satisfy my heart, and my homesickness. I am grateful.

(Ambleside -A village on the Lake District)

"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is Jesus Christ." 

-1 Cor. 3:10-11