Good morning, starshine!

Today was the first of many basketball lotteries that I'll be attending this semester. Basically what happens is a giant swarm of KU students show up at Allen Fieldhouse to sign up for spots in line, and then we camp in groups until the game. I know it sounds intense, but that's because it is.

Anyway, lottery was at six, and afterwards, I had time to go for a run, eat breakfast, run to Starbucks, and sit down with Jesus. I'm feeling very accomplished.

Monday night was the last of the month, which is when open swim is held. This is a nondenominational inter-ministry worship time, and it's wonderful. My roommate and I got to go for about an hour, and I sat with the boys and sang my heart out. I love worshiping through music. It is absolutely one of my favorite things. During the confession portion of the worship, one of the leaders shared the second half of Psalm 73 with the crew, and although I've heard the passage a thousand times, I still feel like there's so much for me to learn from it. In particular:

Psalm 73:28
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

We seek refuge in a sovereign God. Do you know what sovereign means? Sovereign means supreme ruler. When we allow God to take that position and be the supreme ruler in our hearts and lives, He becomes our refuge and strength. Isn't that amazing?

The other bit I really wanted to emphasize is that God expects us to give Him control. Whatever that looks like in your life. I have difficulty giving Him time. Anyone who ever told you that God wasn't looking for a big time commitment was lying. He expects us to give Him our entire lives. For me, that doesn't mean reading the Bible for the fourteen to eighteen hours a day that I'm awake, but it does mean going to Him with a humble spirit and allowing Him to work through me, when I'm studying or working or spending time with my friends.

Also:

Psalm 73:23
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

I love to hold hands. It's one of my favorite ways of expressing affection, and it's such a loving way to interact. Damon was in the back seat of my car last night, and he was holding my right hand in both of his, and it brought me so much joy. Aubrey and I walk arm in arm when we're together, usually, but when she wants my attention, she grabs my hand. Josh and I don't do a lot of the physical touch,  I think because he know that it isn't my primary love language, but when he wants to reassure me, he squeezes my hand.

Hand holding is such a heartfelt part of loving people, and so when God holds me by my right hand, I feel that. I love the idea that He has a grip on my fingers at all time, and He guides me in that way. We serve a fantastic Father.