Confirmation

per•se•vere –verb (used without object)
1. to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement;

James 1:2-4; 12 - 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Day One of taking a “Leap of Faith.”

So my morning with Jesus today consisted of me explaining that I was going to send in my deposit and trust that He would provide. Ending with a quick request for some further confirmation – I am an imperfect being that is constantly needing to be reassured and reaffirmed that she is walking on the right path – I left for church (a lovely highlight of my Sundays ).

It was during worship that I felt a soft nudge on the shoulder and was told by someone that he felt the Lord had two things for me:
1) That the Lord had began a good work in me and will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6) - I found myself thinking of Philippians 1:6 during prayer time this morning actually (funny how things work out, huh?).
2) And that those who persevere will receive the crown of life (James 1:12) – and with this one he said he felt that God was pleased with my perseverance and was building a strong foundation in me through this time of testing (which I have been sensing this strongly quite a bit lately).

So, if that is not confirmation for my morning prayer, I don’t know what is!

Slowly, I’ve been making it known that I, Katrina, have been accepted to Gordon College – yay! – and will be leaving in August for Massachusetts. Okay, interesting thing about BIG information. The more you share, the more real it all becomes. AND, the more I share, the more I have watched as loved ones who I know extremely well and not so well react with an underlining tone that says, “But, I don’t want you to leave!” – this has been wonderfully hard. Hard in the fact that my leaving is going to hurt and upset those around me, which I hate the idea of. Strangely wonderful in the aspect that…I’m loved!

I’m not merely leaving a place and some people. I’m leaving a home and a family. Jesus has blessed me extremely well with a family here in good ole NC. Abundantly blessed can be used quite loosely with this subject. Whenever I think about leaving this wonderful family of mine, the phrase, “you’ll be with me, like a handprint on my heart” (Wicked quote from song ‘For Good’) comes to mind. I don’t think I can ever fully express how much everyone here means to me and how much they have impacted my life. They have helped me become the young lady who I am today.

On my way back from a cookout with a home group I just started to attend not too long ago, I found myself reflecting on how loved I feel and just how wonderfully and abundantly blessed I am for my church family. And now, I am being called to leave?! I know the closer it gets to my leaving that harder this is all going to become. However, I cannot deny the confirmation. I’m meant to go. My going to Gordon College is for God. I give this journey – I dedicate it - to Him who sends me.