the troubles of the world.

back to the serious posts. well, not so much...but, back to the real world. i was thinking today about the troubles of the world. the things that just get you down and make you worry and drive you crazy...and make you want to eat lots of vanilla pudding (eww chocolate...grosss).

money. everyone worries about money. every time i turn on the TV, there's something about the economy. i consider myself an informed voter. i keep up with the news. i want to know what's going on with our money...but sometimes, seeing reminders of it over and over again just brings you down. let's all face it--people with seminary degrees don't make very much money...and i am a person who likes security. i don't have a lot, and i don't want or need a lot...but i always want to know that i can get by, if that makes sense. i think with the recent news and with spending money for birmingham and not having a job...basically i feel poor. so when i feel poor, i remind myself, "hey self--you're never going to make any money--but you aren't paying for those degrees either, so...hey yo...zap!" and then i make myself feel better and i stop checking my bank account.

related to money is a job...now, i have a job lined up for the fall, but i have a lot of friends who just graduated who don't. i wish i could find them a job (preferably in alabama), because i know not having a job is stressful (ding dong...ringing the money bell again).

for me, school is a concern of the world. can i keep my GPA up? can i scrounge up enough pennies to buy books? school isn't just academic, now...will i make friends at beeson? will i be as lonely there as i was during periods of my time in columbia? what comes next? what do friendships look like at the graduate level? what happens to those i've left behind? these are all things i don't think about as i'm shopping or packing...but they are the thoughts that creep into my head each night when i'm trying to sleep. the worries i just can't stifle.

so here's the thing about the world--it can get you down. it can make you worry. it can turn your smile to a frown. but the Word says take heart! Jesus has overcome the world.

money, jobs, school, friendships, the future, emotions....Jesus has overcome all, and has it all under control, and has a plan. He says "hey yo....ZAP!" to all that junk.