The little pieces of my life

Last week I found a charming shop in 5th arrondisement close to my university while enjoying my break by walking along the streets of Quartier Latin and trying to discover some of its enchanting little streets... It's sound so Paris, isn't it? So yes, it is inevitable that when you live in this city, no matter how busy or how much in a rush you are, you always find a short moment to slow down for a moment and delight in it. Well, at least that's in my case. The shop I mentioned was a game shop and it offered all sorts of traditional games like Mahjong, playing cards etc. But what I found interesting in it was the shelf of jigsaw puzzles of great variety of themes and sizes. I was surprised when I saw one piece of 13200 elements (who has time for assembling it all? - I hope to find it once :) It reminded me of my childhood when I used to spend much of my time on assembling jigsaw puzzles. I had found it amazing that from a total disorder of the pieces, with a time, I could finish with a nice picture. With the experience and age, I learned that when assembling big puzzles one has the fragments that are easy to be put together and others that it takes hours to find any pieces that fit them. But like I said, with the time, patience and persistence finally you'd reach your goal.
I'm not writing it just to boast of my proficiency in assembling puzzles :) but also because it reminds me a bit of life in general . At least, my life. The elements of it, these of great importance and those less significant - everyday issues, form my being. I am amazed how God creates a beautiful picture by assembling those little pieces. Among them, there might be pieces that ressembles miracles, the others might seem only to be obstacles. But all together when wisely ordered, they are simply making sense.
 One more thing about puzzles, they won't make a picture until they are laying on the right side. If the picture on a piece is upside down, the one who wants to use it, doesn't know where to apply it. It might similar in the spiritual life. It's important that we won't hide anything from God or that we won't try to keep a part of something for ourselves. Not only it is pointless, as God knows everything, but this thing cannot be used to be a part of the great picture.
By writing this, you may well assume that I see hope and sense when I submit everything to Him. May God never let me try to hide any part of my life from Him.

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need" (Proverbs 17:17)

In this short post I would like to thank to all the people that have been supporting me during the last weeks and all the time in general :) It reminded me how precious it is to have real friends around me and how life is getting more colorful with them. My last expierences teach me that not being able to rely only on myself is in fact a good thing. It shows me that being humble and not proud are not evident for me and that it is something I still need to learn a lot about. But having this encouragement from people that take care of me I find these challenges more bearable. I am also thankful that their advices for me were emphasised on the role of trusting God during the dark days. I was really glad to hear it because it affirmed me in my belief that relying on God has a great importance in those problems. Nevertheless, God's solutions and His blessings came to me, as usual, in a completely different way that I had imagined. It's amazing how His grace for me works in a way I am never able to predict. The challenge, though,  hasn't been accomplished yet, but now, being in this believieng acceptance of His will I am peacuful when thinking about the future, and even more, I am really excited for every day, that it's really a part of my great adventure with Him.
And to finish I would like once again stress how important the encouragement and prayers of you all were for me. Once again, thank you that I can count on you and that because of you God doesn't let me to think that he has forgotten me...
I wish you all, that I will be able to give that support and encouragement back :)

A warm library

What I learned throughout last couple of days is that it is really worth praying and trusting God regardless the circumstances. Like I wrote the last time I decided to trust Him in these obstacles and not to give up. By every mean looking for the bright side of my life and even in a difficult time praise His name. God listens to our prayers and has always the best timing to answer. Not to speak theoretically, today after struggling with not too much efficient studying in the departamental freezing library or in my room full of distractions, today "by chance" I found a library where I could well focus on the subject and it wasn't cold. Maybe it's nothing big, but between days of exams the matter of effective preparation growed into a great problem. Thank to God today I succeeded. I don't know how it's going to be tomorrow (the heating will go off or the person seating next to me will disrupt me with the loud music on his/her mp3 player...) or after tomorrow (the exam questions will be extermely difficult or I will forget all I learned...). But maybe it is better like that, because in this way I get to know God better and how to rely on Him. So I believe that my test of faith which concerns not only my studies but some other stuff that cumulated now, will be accomplished soon and I will be able to share how much did I grow spiritually thanks to that.
To finish with something different, I recently realised how following Jesus changes me. In the practical way... Because who would have thought couple years ago that I would be feeling so well among the other people, my friends and that I would be in such need to share the time with them instead of closing up and isolating what used to do in the past. I still love to be on my own from time to time, but not as much as meeting someone to share thoughts or help somehow. Wow God, I want that more in my life... :)

Overcoming obstacles

Who could have told that readapting to the life in Paris would be so difficult not because of the differences between the two ways of life but because of obstacles emerged throughout last days. I don't want to focus on them even though it's so easy to complain and feel sorry for myself. But today I came across another blog full of regrets and complaints and I found it very uncomfortable to read so I don't want the same thing for mine. Especially that this blog is dedicated to my expierences in life with God so there is always place for hope.
I think that this is the best word that describes the state of my soul at this very moment although I see so many things that deny any hope. So I want to encourage myself and you whoever experience similar problems that we should follow Abraham who "Against all hope, he in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be'." (Rom. 4:18). I also believe that God has the best promises for me and you who trust him. Sometimes the thoughts to give up arise in my head but I know that it leads to nowhere. Instead of it, I will trust my God and be sure that He will guide me through the desert into the lands of His promises. I want to look for his miracles not for things that make me away from Him.
And actually, if I look closer to my life I will find them and share with you. Because, they are there, aren't they?
Today, I said goodbye to the one of my closest friends here in Paris. I find it difficult to think that we may never see again but on the other hand it reminds me how precious is the time, how we use it and with who we spend it. Once again, it came to my mind that how we live our days... is how we live our lifes.