Sorry for my lack of updating. :(
But this is what's been going on...
- I'm getting better and better every day, and I'm really proud of myself for this.
- Ladies' League is doing so well, and it's so wonderful to be a part of it. Leah and I are planning a Christmas get-together and I'm really excited about it!
- My mom came to a Thanksgiving dinner for phi lamb with me last night, and I got to tell everyone in the room why I'm thankful for her. It was wonderful. I'm so blessed that my mom is my mom. She is so wonderful. I'm so thankful.
- We're going on chapter retreat for phi lamb tonight and it'll last most of the day tomorrow- so glad for time with all of these beautiful women!
- I'm pumped for Christmas. Straight-up. I'm pumped. My gifts are already coming together!
- We got a new chair in our apartment. It's one of my favorite chairs of all-time. So so so so so so excited!
- Working on time management, one of my favorite things.
- The Wesley Foundation has been incredibly blessed by Drew this year. I'm so thankful for him and his heart being involved at the Wesley, and for pursuing a friendship with me.
Lastly, I've been blessed with wonderful friendships that are growing, all in their own ways. Shout-outs to follow...
Mom: I know you are my mom, but you are also my friend, and not only that, my very best friend. I'm so blessed by you. I'm so thankful you're my mom. I love talking to and laughing with you, and I oftentimes don't feel like I deserve such a special person in my life, but I do, so I hope to always be making the best of it. I love you. (I lahve you.)
Krysten: I love being your best friend and you being mine. I'm looking forward to being in that 2%, and always being your friend. Always.
Laura: If being your friend is the reason I'm in phi lamb, then that's enough for me. I love every second I get to spend with you, and I'm definitely looking forward to running together all the time.
Shelby: I'm SO blessed to be your little! SO SO SO blessed. It's wonderful that your story is so similar to mine, and that you just listen. I love it. I hope we're friends for a long, long time.
CJ: I know you're my cousin but whatever. You're a wonderful friend, too, and I love just being able to talk to you. I hope we grow even closer, and stay so close, for forever.
Stephanie: I love you and I love that we're both in phi lamb! I'm so proud of you for doing the hard thing with SAI.
I've also been reading the Bible more and more, and it really is a wonderful, living Word, and I am looking forward to reading it more and more and learning more and more. Praise God for that.
xoxo
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
I am washed by the Water.
A beautiful, wonderful friend recently told me about this image and I've been thinking about it a lot lately. It's thought-provoking, to say the least.
You and God are in a boat in the middle of the ocean. Literally, the middle of the ocean... there is nothing around you but the boat, the Lord, and the sea. In your hands, you clutch a jar filled with dirt, muck and grime- it is everything you harbor in your heart that is not of the Lord, that does not glorify Him. It is made up of grudges, tears, heart aches, curse words, the deeds you've done before you were wed, and the guilt associated with it all... everything in your life that does not glorify Him. Further, it is your pain that people of the world have given to you, for whatever reason, whatever the story. The Lord takes this jar from you and empties it into the water. You struggle to grab it back, leaning over the side of the boat and splashing the dirty water into your jar, but it was mostly dirt; it has dissipated and it is gone. The Lord reminds us of this gently, and is there for us (literally present at this moment) when He takes it.
The things I am learning from this story, if it is as true as it seems to be:
1. When we ask God to take away our hurts, and forgive us of them, He does it.
2. When He takes these things away, we always want them back because they are familiar and comfortable. But the Lord didn't create us to be comfortable, and the pain we feel here really is from Him, but it is being replaced by His peace, hope and joy.
3. The things of this world are dirty and gross.
4. The Lord is present when our hurt is real. He does not leave our sides when our hearts ache, whether it is because of real hurt or the pain of being uncomfortable.
5. Our sin is small compared to the ocean of God's grace (referring to the beautiful lyric, "If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking..."), but it was not a small feat for God to overcome it, for Jesus to.
6. Everything the Lord wants of us is for our greater good. E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
7. Giving things up is good for you.
8. Water cleanses and is the wingman to many of Jesus' miracles.
I'm preaching to the choir here, just fyi... I'm desperately trying to learn how to forgive, and it's really, really hard. This lack of forgiveness is a bucket of muck in and of itself, and just coming close to letting God dump it out is terrifying. #truth :)
A quote that I love and find to be quite true.
"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears or the sea." (Jack Dinesen)
And the most beautiful truth of all.
This is the one that came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1 John 5:6
Water is beautiful and cleansing. Let it wash you and bring you peace...
I'll be in prayer for you.
xoxo
You and God are in a boat in the middle of the ocean. Literally, the middle of the ocean... there is nothing around you but the boat, the Lord, and the sea. In your hands, you clutch a jar filled with dirt, muck and grime- it is everything you harbor in your heart that is not of the Lord, that does not glorify Him. It is made up of grudges, tears, heart aches, curse words, the deeds you've done before you were wed, and the guilt associated with it all... everything in your life that does not glorify Him. Further, it is your pain that people of the world have given to you, for whatever reason, whatever the story. The Lord takes this jar from you and empties it into the water. You struggle to grab it back, leaning over the side of the boat and splashing the dirty water into your jar, but it was mostly dirt; it has dissipated and it is gone. The Lord reminds us of this gently, and is there for us (literally present at this moment) when He takes it.
The things I am learning from this story, if it is as true as it seems to be:
1. When we ask God to take away our hurts, and forgive us of them, He does it.
2. When He takes these things away, we always want them back because they are familiar and comfortable. But the Lord didn't create us to be comfortable, and the pain we feel here really is from Him, but it is being replaced by His peace, hope and joy.
3. The things of this world are dirty and gross.
4. The Lord is present when our hurt is real. He does not leave our sides when our hearts ache, whether it is because of real hurt or the pain of being uncomfortable.
5. Our sin is small compared to the ocean of God's grace (referring to the beautiful lyric, "If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking..."), but it was not a small feat for God to overcome it, for Jesus to.
6. Everything the Lord wants of us is for our greater good. E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
7. Giving things up is good for you.
8. Water cleanses and is the wingman to many of Jesus' miracles.
I'm preaching to the choir here, just fyi... I'm desperately trying to learn how to forgive, and it's really, really hard. This lack of forgiveness is a bucket of muck in and of itself, and just coming close to letting God dump it out is terrifying. #truth :)
A quote that I love and find to be quite true.
"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears or the sea." (Jack Dinesen)
And the most beautiful truth of all.
This is the one that came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1 John 5:6
Water is beautiful and cleansing. Let it wash you and bring you peace...
I'll be in prayer for you.
xoxo
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wowza!
Today I opened up blogspot for the first time in... ahem... awhile, and I was so happy to see my blog has gotten 353 page views!!!! So whether it is the same person 353 times or a bunch of people, I just wanted to say thanks for taking time out of your day to read what I have to say. I'm honored and humbled. :)
You can follow my blog if you want, too! I will update you on that when I know how to do it myself.
I've had some ideas for some posts to make, so keep an eye out... I'm particularly excited about one I'll call Arts & Sciences. It'll be good. Come back and read it!
Have a beautiful day, y'all.
xoxo
You can follow my blog if you want, too! I will update you on that when I know how to do it myself.
I've had some ideas for some posts to make, so keep an eye out... I'm particularly excited about one I'll call Arts & Sciences. It'll be good. Come back and read it!
Have a beautiful day, y'all.
xoxo
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