Back to school! The time has come, and I'm more than happy that I'm back into the life of socialism. As of now, I am relaxing (which has been rare in this week of lectures and conferences) and it feels marvellous.

Everytime I come to Redeemer, even after a weekend of being at home like last year, I see that God is here. It's a different surrounding than my household. God's at work. And it's phenomenal. And he's at work in me. Of course, he worked in me in a different way this summer, but it's more apparent in Redeemer. It's more palpable in a Christian community, where there is a church beside you and you can easily talk to peers, not just your mom, about God openly. I miss that a lot about Redeemer. And the fact that you can get involved with people like you, to serve a God that is amazing and faithful is a massive bonus.

I'm blessed where I am. And I'm thankful. God's shaping me as we speak, and I feel him moving. Don't ever stop!

Sometimes we wonder why bad things happen to good people. Although I don't know all the answers, I think this is why:

"Until I learned to trust,
I did not learn to pray,
And I did not learn to fully trust
Til sorrows came my way.
Until I felt my weakness,
His strength I never knew,
Nor dreamed till i was stricken
That He would see me through.
Who deepest drinks of sorrow
Drinks deepest too of grace,
He sends the storm so He Himself
Can be our hiding place.
His heart that seeks our highest good
Knows well when things annoy,
We would not long for heaven
If earth held only joy."
-Barbara Ryberg

Why would we long for heaven if all on earth was joy? Why would we want to be with God when we easily felt at peace and happy with everything. I think we experience pain, loss and suffering so that we can look forward to what God has for us in heaven: perfection.