What Now?

I’ve been praying a lot about my blog here. At first, I knew that God really wanted me to have an outlet to show Him through this really tough last semester of undergraduate college. I am incredibly overwhelmed at the responses. People would text me saying that they were going through the same struggles. Some people thanked me for being real. Some people asked me questions that led to awesome conversations about Jesus. I am so thankful that God used it and continues to do so.

I have had multiply people ask me to continue to write. I didn’t think there was a need for it. I felt as though it was only appropriate for that season of life. However after praying about it for a couple of days, I think God is leading me to continue to write. I’m still praying through all the details for what it will look like, but I’m excited for what God is doing in and around me.

This is a crazy transitional period in my life. So much has changed already in my life that I know God is at work and now that I’m not at my institution I feel as though I can write more freely.

Thank you to family, friends, and my church for the support during the past few months. Thank you to my constant readers of my blog. You know who you are. I love you guys. God is good. Always.

Grace.
Alyssa Nicole Arellano

Day 1: This Is It

I remember starting this blog 50 days ago. God was doing something incredible in my life. He held my hand and watched me fall madly in love with who he was and cling to every promise I read. I didn’t know if I would make it through those 50 days. And here we are now, Commencement Day. God is good. He NEVER withholds goodness in our lives.

After fours years, I’m putting on the regalia for myself and graduating. This is so surreal.

I am thankful for the lessons learned whether they were in the classroom or the outside the classroom. God was there the entire time holding on to me so tightly. He broke me of me on several occasions.

It’s starting to sink in that this is happening.

Thank you for coming along this journey with me. Countless of you have encouraged me to continue writing even after Commencement. I think, I’ll take you up on that. This has been an amazing journey.

After four years, we are here. This is it.

Grace.
Alyssa Nicole Arellano

Day 3: Decisions

I find it so wonderful that God is so big and that I am so small.

Nothing can thwart His plans including even me. I think often times I make things a lot more complicated than I need to. Sometimes trusting God is the only thing that I can do and that’s okay. Trusting God and depending on Him is the best place to be. God knows. I must continue to rest in that truth. He also loves us and wants what is best for us.

Three days away from graduation.. This is it. The Lord is good. Always.

A

Day 4: Obstacles

There will always be obstacles. There will always be Grace.

Today was happy. Although there were some frustrating times, God drew me closer to Him. He reminded me that His way is perfect and that He wouldn’t withhold good in my life.

It’s a difficult time of transition in life. I’m on to the real world and adulthood. The transition itself wouldn’t be so bad but you start adding the variables of life and it begins to appear more difficult. I’m trusting God in that He will move hearts and minds. That’s all I can do.

I’m also thankful that God’s love is unconditional. It doesn’t matter what I do. He still loves me. I’m thankful that my God is a God of affirmation. He renews within me desires that are glorifying to Him. He loves me and shows it in so many different ways. I can’t always make everyone happy around me and I’m learning that it’s okay. I’m learning that if God is the center, He’ll take care of the rest. So tonight… I’m making Christ the center. I’ve decided to follow through on commitments and decisions and trust God.

He is good.
A.

Day 7: ONE WEEK

Last day of undergraduate classes = Complete.

What a roller coaster the last four years have been! What great grace and love that has sustained me from semester to semester. It’s been quite the journey and growing experience.

I’ve learned that my way was nothing compared to God’s good way. He had ordained for things that I would have never expected. I really am excited about the future.

This time next week I’ll have had walked across the stage of FMA to receive my diploma holder. Ha!

I’m excited.

A

Day 8: Changes

I should have known by now that changes are inevitable. Don’t plan too far ahead because life will hit and an unexpected turn of events will happen. It reminds me to continue to lean on the One that knows the future and has redeemed the future.

I’m thankful He knows, because I am unsure of so much once more. He is good through it all.

A

Day 9: Surreal

I just submitted my last paper of my undergraduate career.

I finished my last session of counseling today with Lynn.

I had my last day of internship today.

I pick up my regalia tomorrow.

We are in single digits until Commencement 2014.

Wow… This really is it. I cannot believe where I was several months ago compared to where I am now. God in His goodness broke me and kept me all at the same time. He has made disaster look so beautiful. He has reminded me that he has redeemed me for His own.

I was chosen to give my submitted testimony during Commencement this year. I’m excited to share the healing that I’ve experienced this semester. It’s so incredibly overwhelming to read through my blogpost and see what all God has done and is doing in my life. We serve such an amazing God. He loves us as His own. He cherishes us. He disciplines us. He pursues us. He’s everything we could ever need or want.

No matter what God is good.

A.

Day 10: Dear Piedmont Women’s Center

Dear Piedmont Women’s Center,

Praise the Lord for your wonderful ministry to women and to the unborn babies of the state of South Carolina. Thank you for your dedication to the spread of the Gospel through first meeting the physical needs of those who need help.

I can’t believe my internship is over. Today was quite the emotional day for me. God has been so good to sovereignly place this internship into my life. I am forever changed. Beginning this internship, I was honestly very scared and intimidated. I thought it would be a lot of computer and administrative work. Wow, I was so completely off the mark on that one.

God used me to help multiple women find Jesus to be their one and only Savior. Wow. That alone would have been enough for me.

Tami, thank you. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for guiding me. Thank you for showing God’s love day in and day out. Thank you for opening your heart to me. Thank you for seeing me as an individual not just an intern. Thank you for stretching me. Most importantly, thank you for loving me and igniting within me a passion for this movement. I love you.

To the rest of the staff of PWC, you are all so incredibly amazing. Thank you for investing into a short, easily excited, university Senior like me. Thank you for praying with me and for me. Thank you for all of the behind the scene work that you do. I can’t wait to see the new Grove location go up. I will miss you so incredibly much.

Last but not least, I hope to spread the message and the importance of being educated on the Sanctity of Life. God has made each of us. God makes no mistake. He loves everyone including those that have no voice but are growing in the womb. God also loves those who have made choices that have harmed their babies. He died for all of our sins and has made us to serve and love him in freedom. All of us are in need of this life giving grace.

I have experienced Grace in and through this internship. I am overwhelmed at God’s grace in my life through this semester. I cannot wait to see what God will do at Piedmont Women’s Center.

I can’t wait to see what God will do in my life and my job opportunity in Houston. (Stay tuned. Next blogpost.)

I am His and He is mine.
Aly

Day 11: Time to Begin

This. Is. It.

Last week of undergrad classes. WHAT.

I cannot believe how senior year just flew by. Through Grace, this week I will figure out what the rest of this year will look like, get fitted for my regalia, and have accomplished four years worth of undergrad classes. Oh, the stories that I will have to tell for many years of classes, teachers, and experiences. God is so good to have directed me the way He has over the last four years. I am thankful that He never gave up on me even when I was so incredibly stubborn on what I wanted out of life. God broke me of me and opened up doors after. My life is forever changed because of this semester. I’m thankful for each semester but especially this one.

I can’t wait to see what God has in store. One day at a time, of course.

Grace.
A

Day 12: Time

It’s about that time. As the days dwindle down, I want to make the best of the last two weeks. I want to minister grace to others during the next couple of days of my college career. I can’t believe we are already here. It feels like just yesterday I was checking in for freshman year. That was crazy! Now, we are weeks away from Commencement.

I want to stand firm the next few days. Help me to lean on the One gives all things.

A