​         I’m generally not one for formal new year’s resolutions but often times I find myself reflecting going into the new year and resolving to make changes to my spiritual habits. Whether through a school break or a work vacation, I find myself with more time to reflect at the end of the year. For 2019, I want to use a prayer journal. For a while I’ve been wanting to bolster my prayer life and say more meaningful prayers. My morning prayer time can be solid sometimes but in the evenings I find myself praying right before I go to bed when my energy is at its lowest. Doesn’t God deserve my full strength? My prayers would often follow a social media scrolling session or streaming time. I need to get back to prioritizing God over my screen time. So I’ll be praying earlier in the evening to make sure God gets my best.

        I also noticed that I journaled and made requests to God about certain aspects of my life but not all. If I could see God moving so clearly in some areas of my life through my journaling what other things was I overlooking by not documenting it? Writing things down is so powerful and helps me see how God is moving in my life. I can see through journaling over the last few years how I prayed through my graduate school application process and got accepted to how I asked God for specific traits in a significant other and not two weeks later I met someone who exhibited all of them :) But I also want to move beyond myself in my prayers and see these same miracles in other people’s lives. This is way I am resolving to do a prayer journal for not only all aspects of my prayer life but for many aspects of others. I’ll also touch on community and world issues. I’m hopeful that throughout the year I will see God’s work and progress. I welcome you to join me in this journey.
       “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
     “Again, I tell you that if two of you on Earth agree on anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18: 19-20.

      The 10-year mark since my car accident and traumatic brain injury fell during my Tokyo trip and on the same day as the royal wedding but I would be remiss if I didn’t reflect on May 19, 2008, and how far I’ve come since then. I’m grateful for the life I’ve been able to live since May 19, 2008. I went from possibly not living to see my high school graduation to graduating high school on-time with my class, to graduating Magna Cum Laude from college, working for 4 years in local news production, completing 1 year of a top-tier full-time MBA program, and traveling the world along the way.  I speak a lot about my accident, so I’ll keep it short and reflect on 10 truths I’ve realized over the last 10 years:

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1. It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have but time better spent to reflect on what you do have.
2. We’re always existing in two states at the same time; a place of gratitude for God’s past blessings and a state of anticipation for future promises He has shared with us.
3. It is better to live my truth than a lie with someone else.
4. Singlehood is lonely, but peace of mind is comforting.
5. God uses the unlikeliest people to move us through our journey and closer to our purposes.
6. There is victory, confidence, and joy on the other side of our comfort zones.
7. My transparency may help someone else find their truth.
8. Everyone doesn’t need to like me; God will surround me with the friendships and support I need.
9. It is so freeing to be yourself.
10. When you want to give up, know that there is purpose in your pain and other people’s blessings are attached to your perseverance and victory. 

         God is still doing the improbable.

      “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 27-31) 

         That scripture beautifully illustrates my grad school journey.

      Going into the process I knew I had a pretty well-rounded application with my college transcripts and work experience but I knew my test scores would be my Achilles heel.

     Let’s be honest…with my test scores I shouldn’t have been granted an interview much less been offered a fellowship covering tuition and fees but God.

          But God was in the midst.

         I took the GRE three times and each time I knew my score was below the average for accepted students into USC Marshall School of Business. But I leaned on God and in faith pressed forward with my application.

         After 5 months of work it was decision time…would I still submit my application even if I didn’t think it was top-notch?

      I think at this point the enemy wanted me to quit; to not even try, to stop short of the finishline. But I preserved in faith.
 
    “My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 74: 26)
 
     It would be a month after I submitted my application  before I was contacted for an interview and another two months before I would be awarded my fellowship. But God came through.
 
    “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
 
      I hope my journey encourages you to continue on the path of whatever you are working on and remember God has the final say!