UNPRECEDENTED

The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
~
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21

About a year ago, my husband and I left sunny Southern California and rejoined the faithful and familiar Republic of Texas. Our goal was to make the cross-country trek with as little extra baggage as possible, and we ended up giving away or trashing a lot of the unnecessary stuff we had collected during our first year of marriage.

As sentimental as I am, I have never been one to hold onto material things once they no longer serve a significant purpose. I have one box of letters and keepsakes deemed meaningful enough to hang onto, but have discarded almost all of my childhood school assignments, worn stuffed animals, wrinkly prize ribbons, and old yearbooks. To my surprise, I discovered I somehow still had my senior yearbook while unpacking and settling into our new home in Texas.

I held the heavy hardcover book in my hands and ran my fingers across the dirtied exterior that had lost its pristine white sheen over the last decade. The corners of the binding were tattered and chewed (Darla?!), but the slick pages behind the stained cover proved to be most inviting. Joyfully surrendering to the gentle beckoning of nostalgia, I slowly studied the pages of pictures and let my mind relive those sweet teenage moments that come and go before we realize how precious they are.

When I reached the page containing an essay I had penned about my high school experience and future plans, I was overwhelmed by an overtly apparent and humbling truth: None of what I had planned as an 18-year old actually ended up happening.

None of what I had planned as an 18-year old actually ended up happening.

I did not pursue a degree or career in gifted and speech education and I did not graduate from Texas Tech University. Only one thing remains true from the words I shared in 2005 – the reality and power of the love of God in Christ Jesus!

It is impossible to put into words my high school experience. I feel tremendously blessed to have spent four years laughing and learning about life and love with so many amazing people. In 1 Corinthians 13:2, Paul writes, “…I may have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing.” God is awesome, and He loves us so much. My generous family and beautiful friends have totally been living examples of Christ’s love and grace here on earth. The teachers, coaches, and mentors that patiently put up with goofy kids like me are truly an inspiration and have encouraged me to pursue a career in gifted and speech education at Texas Tech University this fall. There is nothing better than helping another person realize his or her talents, and being able to witness the transformation that occurs when someone understands his or her infinite potential is the most humbling thing I can think of.

Different activities have provided me with opportunities to meet and have a great time with a ton of incredible people. Playing basketball and running cross country for two years was super fun, and I learned so much about dedication and teamwork. Serving as Junior Class President and District Corresponding Secretary in Student Council and being part of the Superintendent Advisory Committee has taught me about effective leadership and communication. National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes pushed me to become more active in our school and community, and have allowed me to fellowship and share my faith with others.

I moved to Frisco halfway through my eighth grade year and was enormously blessed to find the best friends that I still share my life with today. We have remained really close throughout high school, but have continued to meet and make new friends that have become like family. I can never thank God enough for the joy that comes with family and friends!

It is a complete honor to have been nominated to represent the Class of 2005 as Miss FHS! It is great to know that my awesome classmates respect and enjoy me as much as I respect and enjoy them. I absolutely love walking through the halls and being surrounded by so many cool and honestly good people. I am so thankful to be a part of such a wonderfully diverse and super fun school!

Our God is steadfast and everlasting. The only thing that is unchanging is the Word of God! What a great comfort it is to know I can count on my Jesus to remain faithful and loving and true even when I am not, even when my circumstances change and my plans prove to be futile: JESUS REMAINS!

Our God is steadfast and everlasting. The only thing that is unchanging is the Word of God!

If eternity is worth investing in, then may we focus our energy and efforts on what will never perish: the living Word of God and the souls of our brothers and sisters! We do not know what tomorrow will bring, but our God does. Lean into him and cling to his words – God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)

My prayer is that I grow to desire Jesus more than I desire to live out any of my own plans – Oh, that my heart may align so closely with Christ’s that his plans become my plans! May I receive and live out the beautiful wisdom given to us in James 4:13-15: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”