While working on a large New Testament Summary paper tonight, I got to thinking.

What a blessing it is from the Lord that I have been given the opportunity to study about His Word!

Every once in a while this thought will dawn on me again. I have been given the incredible privilege and gift of attending one of the best colleges in the world to study the Bible.

I love these moments of "realization." They really humble me and help me re-focus my heart - I am here because God wants me here. I'd better make the most of it!

Honestly, these first two semesters have gone by so fast. It's so strange to think that in one month I will no longer be a freshman! What a journey it has been.

Moments like these put me in such a sense of awe in the Lord. He truly does have a perfect plan for me, which is already working out right now! I am not only training for ministry at Moody Bible Institute, this is my ministry field.

And now back to writing my paper!

I drove back to Chicago this evening with two friends after spending Easter at one's home in Wisconsin. On the way back, we listened to Steven Curtis Chapman - whom I am slowly rediscovering my love for. Again and again I am astounded at his musical prowess and lyrical depth, as well as his heart-wrenching testimony. Steven is a man after God's own heart. A particular song stuck out to me while driving - a song called "God is God":

God is God, and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God, and I am man
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God

What difficult words to say! To anyone who is lost, such words betray weakness. Yet in these words we, as sons and daughters of the One and Only God, find hope.

A lot has happened to me in the course of the past year. I went from being a high school student living in the mountains of the Czech Republic to studying at Moody Bible Institute in the heart of Chicago. I have gone from life dependent on my parents to independence. But those are just a few of the visible changes; the changes that matter are of the heart.

I could talk for hours about all that God has been teaching me, how many times He has broken me down only to build me up again, and how Jesus has become an even more personal Savior than ever before! He truly does deserve all the praise. But there's only one thing I want to mention today.

This lesson is contained in the lyrics above.

Only God is God! I can only see a part of the picture He's painting.

Looking back at my first two semesters of college, there were so many ways that the Lord put specific things in my life that put me on the path I am on today. Although many seemed insignificant at the time, God has been incredibly faithful! He continues to surprise me with his genius plan for my life. I have been so blessed and enriched by the people God has given me, the opportunities to serve and use my gifts in, as well as the classes I am taking!

Yet I am not the main character even in my own story. It is the Lord -- who was, who is, and who is to come.

And good thing! My story would be hopeless without Him.

I have much excitement ahead of me as I finish out my second semester at Moody Bible Institute and prepare to serve as an intern with Josiah Venture in Croatia this summer. I want to continue pursuing Him, expecting great things.

And I hope to continue sharing with you through this blog the many stories of how God is making His name great.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. - Jude 24-25

He is risen -- He is risen indeed!