there's nothing more than you.

This morning, after lounging around my room for a while, I suddenly had the urge to go for a run. Just as I was lacing my key into my shoelace, my friend Jess showed up, also ready to run. We laughed at her impeccable timing and then started out on our journey towards the really cool park that reminds me of the greenbelt. I had a lot on my mind and the chance to be outside in the crisp mid-morning air was perfect. As we neared the bottom of the big hill that winds its way up through the hills to an outlook of Brno, the song by Hillsong called Hallelujah came on. (I know, not exactly the kind of music most people prefer to run to, but i love it) The lyrics to the song are pretty simple (most of the song they just sing Hallelujah) but there's this line that says "and there's nothing more than you." As I approached the top of the hill and the city came into view, my lungs burning and my legs trembling from the climb, that line of the song played and I had this moment of realization - amidst the stressfulness of trying to finish school, make sure my credits transfer, plan a wedding, prepare for marriage, find a big girl job, and ready myself to say goodbye to this place I've called home for the past 3 months, I was reminded that "there's nothing more than [God]." I know what God has in mind for me, at least for right now. I am starting to see glimpses into what he has for me and Sam in the coming future. But in that, I've developed this bad habit of tasting the goodness of his plan for my life, and then running away with it to make it my own, rather than allowing God to orchestrate and lead me each step of the way. Standing at the top of that hill, physically removed from my life here in Brno, and my life back home in America, I could see clearly what I'd been doing. It was in those moments of peacefulness, of being outside of myself and seeing the world as God sees it, that I was reminded of his grace and his mercies. The song continues: "See your perfection, I'm lost in Your peace. Your faithfulness sings over me"

Being here has been everything I expected it to be and not at all what I expected it to be. I never dreamed I would build deep and meaningful friendships (to be honest, I really didn't expect to make any friends!) and I never imagined that I would grow to love this crazy place, with all its quirks and lack of "luxuries." But I have. It will be hard to leave here. Knowing that I will probably never come back, that most of the people here I will never see again, that these past 3ish months will never happen again. I'm going to miss it. But at the same time, being here has made me even more excited for the rest of my life. I can't wait to go home and see how Brno has changed me, to reflect on how I've grown and the things I've learned. I can't wait to marry my best friend, to share with him these adventures; to be a wife to him and have someone to grow with and learn from and work at life with. I can't wait for that.

God is so faithful. I can't stress how faithful God has been to me. In all my life, nothing has ever been more truer than the simple fact that "there is nothing more than You." There is nothing more than God. He is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I am so blessed.


(this isn't actually from today, nor did I take this picture. this is just to give you an idea. next time i'll bring my camera)