the future... sagu

Today is one of the busiest days I've had in a LONG TIME! but I got out of my ten o' clock class rather early and have a few minutes to spare, so I'm sitting in the computer lab of human sciences waiting until I have to go proctor an exam for professor and began reflecting on the weekend. For those who dont know I took the weekend off of work and went to the dallas area. Taylor and macy came along and while there we met up with kayce, maegan, and randi. I had a blast and I had a lot of chance to really think about things. I walked on the SAGU campus with macy, taylor, and maegan and so much reality hit me. We were walking through the school because macy is also considering going there! As I walked down the hallway for harrison graduate studies towards the door of the head of the dept. of counseling psychology i passed the door for the southwestern mission association. As I passed that door, the peace of God filled me. It was a similar scene to four years ago as I took a step onto the campus of Texas tech. There was no longer any doubt of where I would be, not UT or baylor as i had thought, but on to Texas Tech where I have spent the last 3 1/2 years. To be honest I have struggled in the last month with this. I turn 22 years old in a week and a half. I'm graduating college with a bachelors in three months. Over the past year or so if you were to talk to me I would tell you i couldn't wait to graduate and move on, but in this last semester so much has come together. Becoming involved leading the youth for Encounter God ministries. Finally feeling at home in a church in lubbock with the plant of Encounter God church. Finding a job I love. Really being happy with where God has me and seeing fruit from the past three years of toil. Seeing answers like 24/7 prayer etc. It all has made me wonder if I should do school online and stay here. When I walked into that hallway on saturday, i knew where I would be in January. I found it fun to think about. As I will be moving in january and be tons closer to most of the people that mean the world to me. I'll no longer be 9 1/2 hours away from my parents, Cornerstone church family, lisa and gary rossow, sarah and her husband, coach stroud, and those who have made a huge difference in my life. I'll no longer be 7 hours from maegan, my best friend, and her little brother. I'll no longer be 5 hours away from my grandma jo (i'll be right around the corner!!!) or the williams' family! I'll be moving closer to all the people who have meant so much to me in my past, but also moving away from the community, mentors, friends, students, i've met and fell in love with here. Macy, Taylor, Katy, and many others are considering moving to dallas in may! I can't help but wonder what these next few years as a SAGU student will bring. An education obviously, hopefully new ministry opportunities, maybe some more missions work!, who knows maybe a husband?!? Whatever it brings... after this weekend I am at peace and have faith in where I'm going. I'll graduate with a counseling degree. Who knows if I'll go into counseling, go into the ministry, marry into the ministry, go off for missions... all of these seem possible right now and i'd be content with any of them. The future is bright and I am excited.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate