Dr. Crawford

Alright folks, the time has come again for the big decision. Around this time a little over a year ago I had found out that I'd been accepted into the Counseling Psychology PhD. program and I was ecstatic. NO ONE gets into a doctoral program right out of undergrad. This must be God. Well after much prayer I realized that I had jumped ahead of God. I have had the "opportunity" to witness people who have done just this. The field of Psychology is full of scientists, scholars, and researchers who are highly intelligent and have used their human abilities to climb their way up the ladder of academic and professional success. They may have severe money in the bank and a title, but joy is not one thing that appears to resonate in their lives. I've watched people for years who have put themselves in that very situation and I've decided I don't want that. So needless to say, I felt like the Lord was saying that I would be moving ahead of Him. 2 years later I am overjoyed that I didn't go. #1. Texas is not the place for me. #2. God said no. #3. Numbers 1 and 2 are enough.

In these past couple years I've learned so much about myself, my life, my future, and my God that I nearly cry at the thought that I would have missed out on such growth had I'd gone ahead and accepted the offer at Texas A&M. One of the many things I've learned is this: If you open your own door (which is possible, as intelligence and confidence can move one quite far in this world) you will have to sustain yourself in that position. However if you allow the Lord to lead you, He will sustain you in that place in which you've been placed. I NEVER want to open my door again. This has rang true even in terms of relationships. Forcing relationships just because you want them is a no go folks. Allow the Lord to connect you to those He wants you in relationship with.

I've also learned to let things ride. I cannot control this life and God doesn't need my help (thanks Pastor Niecy). When I've been offended I've learned to forgive and show grace. People are people, and they will always be people. It's only fair to allow others the grace to grow. When I have offended others I've learned to apologize and allow the Lord to work on the offendees heart, that he or she may forgive me. God is in control and I'm just coming to terms with this fact that has been and always will be. It ain't nothin new, I'm only just learning it.

Well here I am again. I'm about to have my Masters degree. I've studied, I've worked hard, I've been diligent to remove distraction in order to remain focused on my God given path, I haven't given into idleness. And now I feel ready to do it. I am ready to take that last educational step and enter into a PhD. program. Because I'll already have my Master's it will take around 3 years. I am READY!!

Where to go is now the question. Well, it's between Nashville, Chicago, or North Carolina. I'm looking for a Community Psychology program, which are few and far between so my choices are limited. However I have complete confidence in that the Lord will place me exactly where He wants me. I've just got to keep my ears open to His voice and my spirit open to His direction.

Disclaimer: I take no credit for any of this. I am officially and publicly giving the Lord the glory and credit for everything He has done for me, the doors that He has opened and the relationships He has formed.

P.S. SUPER EXCITED for the 4th of July week-end. Thank you Lord!

♥Grateful♥

Hurricane

I have built a city here

Half with pride and half with fear

Just wanted a safer place to hide

I don’t want to be safe tonight

I need You like a hurricane

Thunder crashing, wind and rain

To tear my walls down

I’m only Yours now

I need you like a burning flame

A wild fire untamed

To burn these walls down

I’m only Yours now I’m only Yours now

I don't know if you know who Jimmy Needham is. If you don't, I advise you do conduct a little investigation and find out. He has an amazing song called Hurricane and the lyrics are prayers from my own heart.

The song is basically inviting the Lord to tear down every wall that has been built around one's heart; to penetrate the very core. This is an invitation to God saying I know I've distanced myself from you. Be it through fear, a need for comfort and protection, rebellion. But whatever the reason, burn down these walls I've foolishly built up around my heart that have kept you out. Make me uncomfortable. Shake everything around me. "I'm only yours now."

SAFE!

It's so funny how we naturally want to put people in the place of our provider, our protection, our security. I guess it seems easier to do that. We can see people. We can touch people. We can have immediate responses from people. So it's natural that when we go through a crises, we immediately look to those that surround for guidance.

Proverbs 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

The word of God lets us know that when we face trouble and instability, when we're doubting or just full of fear, we can run to Lord and will be safe. This is amazing because it doesn't say..."dependent of what you happen to be facing, you could be safe" or "The name of the Lord is a tower..." The Lord is a strong, and capable tower, and we can run to Him regardless of why we're running, and be safe.

How many people can give you that assurance? How many of your friends can you run to and no matter what the circumstances are, they can promise you safety, deliverance, security, and everything else that our Strong Tower houses? You got it...ZERO.

Psalm 23 (which we all know) tells us that the Lord will not only catch us, but He will lead us into the path of righteousness. Thankfully He doesn't stop there. He will then UPHOLD you there will a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12). Now how many folks you know will tell you to do the righteous thing 100% of the time? Again...ZERO. We don't know what the right thing is all the time. And in addition to that, we have attitudes, and if someone slaps you, chances are you won't get the advice to "turn the other cheek." Once the Lord gets us on the path of righteousness, He still doesn't leave us there, but He continues to work on us so that we will want to remain on that path of light.

Galatians 1:10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

So Paul was real nice the way he said that. In order words...stop running up behind people and learn to run up behind God. People cannot keep you. BTW, this isn't a bad thing. It just adds to the knowledge that God is sovereign and no one can compare.

I am so happy that my praise isn't due to people, because people can't keep me. But I will trust in the Lord, my safe place.

♥ Learning to trust ♥