[insert your life here]

New Testament discussion group. Topic: Determing God's Will. The location: the gazebo.

Life is so beautiful. SO beautiful. Maybe it's the sun. Maybe it's the bike ride yesterday against the wind (it couldn't be that because that just made me angsty). Maybe it was the man in robin egg blue sweats and turtle neck with socks rolled over the hem of the pants. Maybe it was the big scruffy man who asked me, "are you in line young lady?" Maybe it was the two 50-something biker chicks who told me, "your's will give you exercise but our's are more fun." I couldn't dispute.

Really, I think life's beauty is stemming from the understanding God has blessed me with: My life as I am living it is going according to His will. The mistakes I make are in His will for me. Knowing that He has a purpose for all the hard times has brought so much joy to my life. Spending time with Him has revolutionized my life, as was promised. It's so true! If you seek His face; if you seek His will for your life; if you listen for His still sweet voice. He will reveal Himself to you. So good!

And this,

The way to make a difference in this world it to become what everyone else it not: happy and full of life. It's not enough just to point the way; we much become the way, as Jesus was. He made it possible for us to have "the full measure of [His] joy" within us' (John 17:13). Why aren't we filling up our tanks? Is it because we won't admit we are empty? Are we so proud and neurotic that we cannot even believe joy -- real joy, irrepressibly bubbling over -- is deservedly ours? Shutting ourselves off from this fullness, we have nothing to share with anyone else. Moreover, if we're not filling up with joy ourselves, it's guaranteed we're taking it from others. We are robbing each other blind.
From Practicing the Presence of People, Mike Mason.

And this,

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

And this,

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance; character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:2-5

And this, Sometimes I make my self believe something truly is in God's will for me and later realize God never said yes; He never said no: I just didn't wait for His answer. He has used my error to break me and is using my repentance to build me back up stronger than I was before. Waiting for His guidance brings more clarity to an issue than I ever thought I could have. And I'm still waiting for more guidance. He has yet to tell me, ok, go.