He makes ALL things work together for my good, and yours.

Hey Quest! 

I feel called to share with you what God has been doing in my life, and how very faithful he is!

At the beginning of my freshman year in 09 I really ran down the wrong path, with the wrong people, making the wrong choices.  That lasted until the middle of my freshman year when things got so bad and I was so empty that I knew I needed my Lord, and none of the choices I made were everlasting,  worth it, or fulfilling.  God was what I need to run to in my pain, not the world and the things that it offers me, but I had absolutely no idea where to start.  I felt unworthy because of how far in the darkness I had been, but I still searched and came across Lamentations 3:22-23 which says The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases, his mercies never come to and end; they are new every morning! GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!!! I was overwhelmed, by something that I already knew but needed to be reminded.  The Lord's love for us is so incredible.  We can't even understand it. Nothing can separate, even if I ran away - it never fails.  I went to youth group that Wednesday and the worship leader said "I know there is people here that haven't been going down the right path, and they want to turn their lives around - I encourage you to talk to someone"  I knew The Lord was speaking through him directly to me.  I was overwhelmed, someone prayed for me, and I was completely broken before the Lord that night. I experienced his amazing love.  He swept me off my feet and sat me on solid ground!  I knew my life was completely turned around, and it was the best night of my life.  I never went back, and was on fire for the Lord for the rest of the year, falling more in love with him daily.  I walked into quest with that passion and yearning for the Lord.  Session 2 we went deep into James 1 in inductive, and that has been a blessing from them until now.  Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.  This life is full of on going trials, but when I got home from camp that week I was hit with some of the hardest trials I've ever been through personally,  with my family and things.  I remembered this verse throughout these times, and am still reminding myself each day but this is becoming sooo evident. 

 Nothing is ever going to be perfect, ever. We are all sinners, and make mistakes everyday.  But in HIM our hope is found.  

For example, although the mistakes I made my freshman year didn't have to happen, and they were terrible and left me empty, hurt, and I would love to take them back, they did happen, and God taught me more from that than anything, and it drew me closer to him than ever.  He takes those broken things and makes them the most beautiful of things! With the trials I've faced this summer and this school year God is bringing, redemption, and salvation with others lives and drawing me closer. 

Things can be at there worst, and may be for awhile - but The Lord truly makes ALL things work together for our good as his children!  What an awesome truth and realization!

Praying for you all.