Conclusion & Day #43: Oodles To Grow

It seems like just a couple days ago I was writing an introduction post. I remember not knowing what to say. I wasn't sure how to start, or how to format my words, or if anyone would end up reading what I wrote! And honestly, I didn't even know if I was going to be able to stick with this blog for 42 days.

And now here I am. Writing my conclusion post. And boy, am I going to miss writing every day! I have learned so much. I've learned that journaling is the best way for me to understand and grow closer to God. I've learned how to manage my time effectively and how to become a better writer. And probably most importantly, I've learned how to listen to God.

A very specific lesson that I learned was that God knows exactly what I need. I've written about this previously, but I I experienced it in a major way this past week. I realized that when I fall down and scrape my knee (figuratively, but possibly literally, too), God will stick a band-aid on my boo-boo and allot me just the right amount of time to heal.

Over the past 42 days, I believe I have changed. I would like to believe that God has made some major positive renovations. I would like to believe that I have become wiser, stronger, more open to new things, more intelligent, and more full of the Holy Spirit than I was at the beginning of Lent. I think I am all of these things to a certain degree, but I absolutely have a multitude left to learn, and oodles left to grow.

I plan to continue journaling while spending time in God's word daily. I plan to pursue God with all my heart. And lastly, I plan to continue depending more and more on God, until He is my sole support.

I must reiterate the fact that I have learned so much. I hope you learned at least a portion of what I learned about God, and I hope you learned at least one thing about me. Thank you for sticking with me through my journey, or at least reading some of my thoughts. I pray God blesses your life greatly and that you grow closer to Him.


Photo #43: Oodles To Grow

Day #42: Ahhhh, I Love Happy Endings =]

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first.
~Job 42:12a

Happy endings. We all love 'em, right? And guess who got a happy ending to their story? That's right, Job.

In the first part of Job 42, Job repents. He admits to God that he has been foolish. And finally, Job repents in dust and ashes.

After Job repents, God finally takes away the suffering. And imagine what God does next. He blesses Job with TWICE as much as he had before. Do you remember how many animals Job had in the beginning? He had over 11,000 animals. God gave Job over 22,000 animals in the end! Job was blessed with 7 more sons, 3 more daughters, and even more numerous amounts of wealth than he had in the beginning. What a happy ending.

This final chapter of Job gave me so much joy. God has been working in my life and making some major rearrangements and renovations. Somethings have even been taken away from me. It has given me great hope that after Job had gone through many tribulations, God blessed him with twice as much as he had before. When I read those verses it felt like God was whispering in my ear 'If you continue to follow me, I'll bless you like that, too!'

Job was faithful to God. Sure, he spoke foolishly and harshly a couple times, but don't we all? If you think back to the deal God made with the Satan, Satan was trying to get Job to curse God. Job cursed himself, but never did he curse or blame God. So Job was faithful. And in the end, God blessed him for it.

Tonight I attended my church's Maundy Thursday service. Pastor Brown kept encouraging us to follow Jesus. He spoke about how following Jesus may cost you security, it may cost you what you think are your dreams, it may cost you friends, and it may even cost you your life. Yet in the end it will be worth it, and God will reward!

The past 42 days have changed me. I'll save the rest for tomorrow's 'reflection post', but I will say that I have made the strong commitment to eagerly pursue Jesus. I will follow His way no matter what I might lose. Because in the end I know there will be a happy ending.


Photo #42: Ahhhh, I love happy endings =]