Friday, April 1, 2011

Amanda Graziano


Amanda/Pom!!!!. It’s tough to figure out where to begin but I guess a good starting point would be senior year of high school when our conversations consisted of comments about calculus and Mr. Restivo’s class. Man oh man, how our relationship has changed! Amanda and I began college together last fall and soon realized that our common ground was something a bit more solid than math problems- Jesus. We realized that we both had an eager love for the Lord and I cannot express how thankful I am for your friendship and for your endless encouragement, accountability :) and most importantly your love!  I’m so grateful for our midnight missions, our weekend getaways, our Friday mornings, our coffee and bible time, our adoration and appreciation of our friends and how ridiculously amazing they are, your impeccable Bernie skills, your finger-pointing dancing, your criticism of your different laughs, and your dreams of being a housewife! I don’t think you will ever realize just how much of a blessing you are in my life!

 Amanda has a heart that overflows with encouragement and understanding. She is always seeking to know the Lord more, and accepts His plan for her life with a trust that is so incredibly inspiring to witness and be around. Amanda has a way of loving that is genuine, real and just plain honest. She loves through her actions simply because that’s how God loves us and her passion in serving her community is just beautiful. One of the coolest things about her is how she recognizes the simple truth that none of us are any better than the other. We are all people, we all have the same basic needs, we all hurt, and we all need to know that we are absolutely adored by the creator of the universe. Amanda is great at reminding people that their struggles are not insignificant and that the Lord wants us to throw our cares at his feet and that He is always there to comfort us. Amanda has a pure way of viewing others without partiality in a way that you can’t help but see the Lord shining through her. Amanda’s humility in accepting the Lord’s refinement and her excitement for His plans is contagious and uplifting to be near. She is completely aware that she is wholly reliant on the Lord and desperate for his love and guidance. My favorite thing Amanda has shown me is the importance of being obedient to the Holy Spirit and acting in faith to His instructions.

I want to encourage you to keep trusting in the Lord with all of your heart and continue to pray with persistence and patience.  Love fearlessly, act in obedience, and believe with childlike faith.
I love you forever,
            Jorts, Nubs, or just Jordan

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made in perfect love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:18-19

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

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