Moving onward, moving forward, is a good thing. It’s exercising the strength you’ve acquired from triumph over trials. For me, I think I can only ever move forward because there is hope in my heart. My hope is a picture of a future full of the fruit of obedience and trust in the Father. The picture of forward-moving itself obviously isn’t going to be a perfect one. It’ll be filled with obstacles and remnants of those trials that were so dedicated to bringing me down. But I am just too filled with hope and the sight of even just the blooms of fruits to come, to be worn down by temptation and emotions. My hope reminds me of a low burning beach bonfire; don’t ask why.

My soul is glad and well today.

I am a daughter of the King. I am beloved in every way. I have a family whom I love more and more each day. My best friend is the best I’ve ever known. I’m constantly being stretched and refined in this spiritual season. Doors are being opened, and challenges lie ahead. I have wonderful roommates, a wonderful community of friends, a wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters. I am healthy and I have long hair that I can donate. I have a bed and access to an education. I have access to clean water and books to read. This is all just too much.

Today, I approached the old man who wears the “Yoshua” shirt and asked him where he got this idea that judgment day was really coming in 47 days. We debated for about 20 minutes, or at least he talked for 15 minutes and I squeezed in my ideas for about 5. Coming away from that conversation just slightly frustrated, and thinking about it all the rest of the day, I realized that I had forgotten about the spiritual warfare going on in this place. I’ve become too comfortable in my happy happy fellowship focused Christian life outside of my own time with God. I’ve neglected to remember that every which way I look, there are spirits on the attack, pursuing people with lies and deception. It’s not just happy happy Christianity. It’s war.

That last part was kind of random, but definitely a big part of my day. Okay, I’m going to go.