The song that came to my heart, then my lips... on this rainy day filled with candles, slippers, music, and muscles.
I will run, I will run this race,
And I will do it all for love.
Your love compels me forward,
Your love controls my heart,
And I just can't, I cannot get away.
So I will fight this good fight of faith,
And I will do it all for love.
You are my great reward,
You're so worth fighting for
And I can't wait to see Your face.
So I will run, I will run this race,
And I will do it all for love.
Your love compels me forward,
Your love controls my heart,
And I just can't, I cannot get away.
So I will fight this good fight of faith,
And I will do it all for love.
You are my great reward,
You're so worth fighting for
And I can't wait to see Your face,
And I can't wait to see Your face.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
You're a Lifer.
Kissing in the rain, talks lit only by moonlight, falling asleep next to each other, the sweet romantic guy whispering in her ear... these are always my favorite parts of movies. I talk through the whole movie until those scenes, then a hush falls over the room, followed my a collective sigh.
After a day like today, I would normally write about love that looks that way. I would right about how hard and lonely it can be to wait for a guy who loves God and respects me and who kisses me in the rain after I've been with the kids all day. This is where I would write about how hard it is to wait for real love, how fabulous and frustrating guys can be and how thankful I am for them. I would remind myself that this season is special and worthwhile whether I get a bouquet of purple gerber daises, or just a hug from Caitlin and a box of kleenex.
And all of those things are still very much true.
But there's a pretty amazing love that God has allowed me to have in this season. A "love" story all of it's own. It has nothing to do with star-crossed lovers or kisses in the rain. It isn't a love story between a guy and a girl, even though I'm a major sucker for those. It's something that happened by the grace of God... between two best friends.
Go snag some hot chocolate and let me tell you about these friends.
There is a girl...Her name is Alyssa. She drives down to Southern California to check out a potential college with her youth group. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
Shift over to Emma. There is a group of high schoolers coming to stay the night at her house in Southern California while they look at a potential college. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
The weekend progressed. This college was looked at, a trip to Disney was made, food was eaten, laughter had taken place. It's Alyssa's last night in town. She is at Emma's house, loving dessert time. The crowd starts to scatter. Some go to bed, others to play games... but four girls stick around. Two of them being Emma and Alyssa. Encouraging and challenging conversation takes places... then Emma goes to her room for bed, and the three NorCal girls go to sleep, too. On the way out, Alyssa says to her friend, Kaylin, "I really really liked Emma."
Fast forward. Everyone is back home, life is moving on. Alyssa and Emma are now friends on Facebook, and some conversations have slowly started to emerge... just over Facebook messaging and the occasional text, but Alyssa just loves sweet Emma.
This story could have a chapter (or five or ten) dedicated just to sweet Emma. She is the most beautiful girl you ever did see, and has a heart of gold. She is defined by Christ and her love for Him is so evident in her daily life.
Slowly, God starts to form this friendship. Some might say they did things "backwards." By this, I mean they learned the deepest, most intimate details about each other's hearts, leaving {close to} nothing out. They did not know favorite colors, favorite foods, or the little quirks. But the foundation? The absolute core of a friendship? That came early. The desire to seek after the kingdom of heaven was so evident in this friendship from week one.
Now, for the present day. This friendship is so so breathtaking. The hand of God is so at work in every aspect of Emma and Alyssa's friendship. Together, they are able to seek God's plan... through the lovely, sing-a-song, daisy picking days, and through the remind-yourself-that-God-is-God days. They love each other. They are there for each other. Always. Forever. No matter what.
Alyssa would die for Miss Emma. John 15:13. That is how much she loves this girl.
This story is still being written. Lord-willing, this story will continue to be written for the rest of there lives. The story might increase in characters (husband, children, pets)... but the core of this friendship stays the same. Jesus. HE is the core. Emma's heart, Alyssa's heart... they may fail. But the Word of their amazing God? That stands FOREVER. He will not fail. He will not forsake. He will not hurt and wound.
This, my friends, is the story of Emmy and Lyss.
When I think about Emmy and Lyss, I think about Ruth and Naomi. There was a war going on. They had to make a long journey alone. Their world was in an uproar, and so were their hearts.
At one point, Naomi begs Ruth to turn around and leave her. Ruth looks at Naomi and says, "Don't urge me to leave you or turn my back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth was in it for good. She and Naomi were "lifers", a term that I lovingly use to describe Emmy and Lyss. No matter what happens, they're doing life together.
Today was one not-so-hot day. I am thinking tonight about all the different kinds of love in my life right now. This day made it a great excuse to tell people I love them~ my parents, my brother, and my "lifers".
The Emmy and Lyss story also reminds me of the love that surpasses every other love. Even the sweetest love I can experience on earth can't compare to His. He's the One who thought I was worth giving up a life for. Today I came home and took a look at John 17 and 1 Corinthians 13. You and I are, truly, deeply loved.
When I hear the word "love" so casually kicked around, I'm not just going to picture the end scene from my favorite movie. Love is more than a sweeping kiss or bright flowers or faded sunsets. Love is also a simple college trip, mind-blowing conversation, lifting one another up in prayer, and two friends that would do anything for each other.
They're holding on to each other, and they're holding on to the One that never let's go.
Emmy, I love you so much. You are a "lifer".
~Lyss :)
After a day like today, I would normally write about love that looks that way. I would right about how hard and lonely it can be to wait for a guy who loves God and respects me and who kisses me in the rain after I've been with the kids all day. This is where I would write about how hard it is to wait for real love, how fabulous and frustrating guys can be and how thankful I am for them. I would remind myself that this season is special and worthwhile whether I get a bouquet of purple gerber daises, or just a hug from Caitlin and a box of kleenex.
And all of those things are still very much true.
But there's a pretty amazing love that God has allowed me to have in this season. A "love" story all of it's own. It has nothing to do with star-crossed lovers or kisses in the rain. It isn't a love story between a guy and a girl, even though I'm a major sucker for those. It's something that happened by the grace of God... between two best friends.
Go snag some hot chocolate and let me tell you about these friends.
There is a girl...Her name is Alyssa. She drives down to Southern California to check out a potential college with her youth group. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
Shift over to Emma. There is a group of high schoolers coming to stay the night at her house in Southern California while they look at a potential college. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
The weekend progressed. This college was looked at, a trip to Disney was made, food was eaten, laughter had taken place. It's Alyssa's last night in town. She is at Emma's house, loving dessert time. The crowd starts to scatter. Some go to bed, others to play games... but four girls stick around. Two of them being Emma and Alyssa. Encouraging and challenging conversation takes places... then Emma goes to her room for bed, and the three NorCal girls go to sleep, too. On the way out, Alyssa says to her friend, Kaylin, "I really really liked Emma."
Fast forward. Everyone is back home, life is moving on. Alyssa and Emma are now friends on Facebook, and some conversations have slowly started to emerge... just over Facebook messaging and the occasional text, but Alyssa just loves sweet Emma.
This story could have a chapter (or five or ten) dedicated just to sweet Emma. She is the most beautiful girl you ever did see, and has a heart of gold. She is defined by Christ and her love for Him is so evident in her daily life.
Slowly, God starts to form this friendship. Some might say they did things "backwards." By this, I mean they learned the deepest, most intimate details about each other's hearts, leaving {close to} nothing out. They did not know favorite colors, favorite foods, or the little quirks. But the foundation? The absolute core of a friendship? That came early. The desire to seek after the kingdom of heaven was so evident in this friendship from week one.
Now, for the present day. This friendship is so so breathtaking. The hand of God is so at work in every aspect of Emma and Alyssa's friendship. Together, they are able to seek God's plan... through the lovely, sing-a-song, daisy picking days, and through the remind-yourself-that-God-is-God days. They love each other. They are there for each other. Always. Forever. No matter what.
Alyssa would die for Miss Emma. John 15:13. That is how much she loves this girl.
This story is still being written. Lord-willing, this story will continue to be written for the rest of there lives. The story might increase in characters (husband, children, pets)... but the core of this friendship stays the same. Jesus. HE is the core. Emma's heart, Alyssa's heart... they may fail. But the Word of their amazing God? That stands FOREVER. He will not fail. He will not forsake. He will not hurt and wound.
This, my friends, is the story of Emmy and Lyss.
When I think about Emmy and Lyss, I think about Ruth and Naomi. There was a war going on. They had to make a long journey alone. Their world was in an uproar, and so were their hearts.
At one point, Naomi begs Ruth to turn around and leave her. Ruth looks at Naomi and says, "Don't urge me to leave you or turn my back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth was in it for good. She and Naomi were "lifers", a term that I lovingly use to describe Emmy and Lyss. No matter what happens, they're doing life together.
Today was one not-so-hot day. I am thinking tonight about all the different kinds of love in my life right now. This day made it a great excuse to tell people I love them~ my parents, my brother, and my "lifers".
The Emmy and Lyss story also reminds me of the love that surpasses every other love. Even the sweetest love I can experience on earth can't compare to His. He's the One who thought I was worth giving up a life for. Today I came home and took a look at John 17 and 1 Corinthians 13. You and I are, truly, deeply loved.
When I hear the word "love" so casually kicked around, I'm not just going to picture the end scene from my favorite movie. Love is more than a sweeping kiss or bright flowers or faded sunsets. Love is also a simple college trip, mind-blowing conversation, lifting one another up in prayer, and two friends that would do anything for each other.
They're holding on to each other, and they're holding on to the One that never let's go.
Emmy, I love you so much. You are a "lifer".
~Lyss :)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thoughts for the Kiddos...
I have been burdened this week with the world. The icky world we live in... and it's only getting worse. I go pick up my kids from school, and I hear about the lies they were fed, the words that are being programmed into their little brains. It hurts my heart.
Everywhere I turned this week, people were speaking to my favorite three little ones in the whole world. The TV, coaches, peers, songs, teachers. And all of them speaking into their lives.
Telling them who they are. Who they are suppose to be. Who they want to be. Who they should become.
Sadly, the cry of the masses speak so many things into their lives that I don't agree with. Actually, I more than disagree with them, for I know most of what they are telling them is wrong. You are successful if you do _____, Happiness is ______,You are worth something if you_______, You need to be more. You need to be less. You need to be whatever. I'm so sick of the lies!
The world wants to tell them who they are. Invite them on a journey to "find" themselves. Maybe I think too simply about this, but can't the answer to who we are be defined by just this? We are what Jesus thinks about us.
We are His. We were planned. We were created for His purposes. Created for His pleasure. We are His temple. We are precious in His sight. We are forgiven. We are new. We were cleansed to walk in fellowship with Him. We are beloved. We are His bride. We are chosen. We are adopted as sons. We are permanent. We are dependent. We are Desperate. We are free. We are loved and clothed in the blood of the Most High's son, Jesus. That's who we are.
Ok, so how do I instill that into the children that God has so graciously allowed me to spend so much time with? Not a puffed up self-esteem, but Christ esteem?
I think it's this: He has to be the loudest voice they hear. My job is to help make their world a place they can hear HIM. We need to silence the voices we can. Speak against the ones we can't. And mostly, we need to speak His word into their precious, hungry, impressionable hearts. I mean looking them in their eyes and telling them who Jesus has made them to be. Who He sees them as. Affirming the gifts we see in them. Warning them about the sins we know Jesus wants to rid them from. Speaking TRUTH into their lives.
I am ready to fight.
Everywhere I turned this week, people were speaking to my favorite three little ones in the whole world. The TV, coaches, peers, songs, teachers. And all of them speaking into their lives.
Telling them who they are. Who they are suppose to be. Who they want to be. Who they should become.
Sadly, the cry of the masses speak so many things into their lives that I don't agree with. Actually, I more than disagree with them, for I know most of what they are telling them is wrong. You are successful if you do _____, Happiness is ______,You are worth something if you_______, You need to be more. You need to be less. You need to be whatever. I'm so sick of the lies!
The world wants to tell them who they are. Invite them on a journey to "find" themselves. Maybe I think too simply about this, but can't the answer to who we are be defined by just this? We are what Jesus thinks about us.
We are His. We were planned. We were created for His purposes. Created for His pleasure. We are His temple. We are precious in His sight. We are forgiven. We are new. We were cleansed to walk in fellowship with Him. We are beloved. We are His bride. We are chosen. We are adopted as sons. We are permanent. We are dependent. We are Desperate. We are free. We are loved and clothed in the blood of the Most High's son, Jesus. That's who we are.
Ok, so how do I instill that into the children that God has so graciously allowed me to spend so much time with? Not a puffed up self-esteem, but Christ esteem?
I think it's this: He has to be the loudest voice they hear. My job is to help make their world a place they can hear HIM. We need to silence the voices we can. Speak against the ones we can't. And mostly, we need to speak His word into their precious, hungry, impressionable hearts. I mean looking them in their eyes and telling them who Jesus has made them to be. Who He sees them as. Affirming the gifts we see in them. Warning them about the sins we know Jesus wants to rid them from. Speaking TRUTH into their lives.
I am ready to fight.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Noticing the Beauty...
Here are a few of the things I added today to the notice journal...
~I love how I can feel every single muscle in my body when it contracts thanks to Jillian. It hurts SO good.
~I love how water never tastes as good as it does right after working out.
~I love how the simplicity in a text message can make someone's day.
~I love when I hear random outbursts of "I love you!"
~I love accidental harmonizing that turns out lovely.
~I love the excitement of walking to chapel, wondering what songs we will get to sing that day.
~I love Caitlin's mousy little voice, and the way every single professor knows when it's her talking.
~I love that we named our cat after a real person.
~I love when moms talk to the baby in her stroller.
~I love shoes with bows or jewels on them.
~I love recognizing an old face.
~I love when people have their keys on a "leash", and they swing them.
~I love the smell of the wellness center.
~I love that the competitiveness of nursing has started to subside, and instead.... we just want to see each other succeed.
~I love when people's mouths fly wide open when they laugh.
~I love burning things up in chemistry.
~I love learning surprising facts about people's lives.
~I love telling stories that magnify what an amazing God I serve.
~I love the soothing, passionate sound of the cello.
~I love the smile that girls get when a boy calls them by name.
~I love singing in an empty room.
~I love being challenged in my faith through conversations with friends.
~I love voice messages and skype.
~I love that the petals of the flower are a different color than the little circle in the middle.
~I love the richness of the color purple.
~I love how boys are better with girls when they have older sisters.
~I love that pumpkins are associated with fall.
~I love the warmness in the cinnamon smell.
~I love putting new nail polish on.
~I love the way my ring sparkles when it hits the sun just right.
~I love knowing that my perfect God has a husband picked out for me.
~I love slowing down and listening.
~I love colorful umbrellas.
~I love brutally honest friends.
~I love the selflessness in studying with someone that's not in your class.
~I love the way my head fits perfect in my hand when I sit with it cocked up in class.
~I love the consistency in anatomy homework and studying.
~I love that I have to plan break times.
~I love that I have fallen hard and fast for the God of the Universe.
~I love that He has made me content with His love.
~I love that He has healed the broken and made me new.
~I love that each day is a gift, a chance to start fresh.
~I love that my English teacher never has any clue what he's doing.
~I love that my cell phone is becoming less and less important.
~I love seeing boys that take the lead.
~I love that when all else fails, my God is faithful.
~I love the beauty that is on the earth JUST for us to enjoy and savor.
~I love that He makes beautiful things out of the dust.
~I L.O.V.E. that the joy of the LORD is my strength.
Oh, Jesus. I am so so in love with you.
~I love how I can feel every single muscle in my body when it contracts thanks to Jillian. It hurts SO good.
~I love how water never tastes as good as it does right after working out.
~I love how the simplicity in a text message can make someone's day.
~I love when I hear random outbursts of "I love you!"
~I love accidental harmonizing that turns out lovely.
~I love the excitement of walking to chapel, wondering what songs we will get to sing that day.
~I love Caitlin's mousy little voice, and the way every single professor knows when it's her talking.
~I love that we named our cat after a real person.
~I love when moms talk to the baby in her stroller.
~I love shoes with bows or jewels on them.
~I love recognizing an old face.
~I love when people have their keys on a "leash", and they swing them.
~I love the smell of the wellness center.
~I love that the competitiveness of nursing has started to subside, and instead.... we just want to see each other succeed.
~I love when people's mouths fly wide open when they laugh.
~I love burning things up in chemistry.
~I love learning surprising facts about people's lives.
~I love telling stories that magnify what an amazing God I serve.
~I love the soothing, passionate sound of the cello.
~I love the smile that girls get when a boy calls them by name.
~I love singing in an empty room.
~I love being challenged in my faith through conversations with friends.
~I love voice messages and skype.
~I love that the petals of the flower are a different color than the little circle in the middle.
~I love the richness of the color purple.
~I love how boys are better with girls when they have older sisters.
~I love that pumpkins are associated with fall.
~I love the warmness in the cinnamon smell.
~I love putting new nail polish on.
~I love the way my ring sparkles when it hits the sun just right.
~I love knowing that my perfect God has a husband picked out for me.
~I love slowing down and listening.
~I love colorful umbrellas.
~I love brutally honest friends.
~I love the selflessness in studying with someone that's not in your class.
~I love the way my head fits perfect in my hand when I sit with it cocked up in class.
~I love the consistency in anatomy homework and studying.
~I love that I have to plan break times.
~I love that I have fallen hard and fast for the God of the Universe.
~I love that He has made me content with His love.
~I love that He has healed the broken and made me new.
~I love that each day is a gift, a chance to start fresh.
~I love that my English teacher never has any clue what he's doing.
~I love that my cell phone is becoming less and less important.
~I love seeing boys that take the lead.
~I love that when all else fails, my God is faithful.
~I love the beauty that is on the earth JUST for us to enjoy and savor.
~I love that He makes beautiful things out of the dust.
~I L.O.V.E. that the joy of the LORD is my strength.
Oh, Jesus. I am so so in love with you.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Beautiful Things :)
You make beautiful things.
Out of Dust. Out of us..... my family, my friends, my teachers.
Out of ME.
Whoa.
Continue to make me new.... Slow me down :) I don't want to miss anything You are doing.
I love You, Jesus.
Out of Dust. Out of us..... my family, my friends, my teachers.
Out of ME.
Whoa.
Continue to make me new.... Slow me down :) I don't want to miss anything You are doing.
I love You, Jesus.
Monday, October 4, 2010
I am in love.
I am in love.
With the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. My Rock and my Redeemer. My Sovereign God.
I am in love with my Jesus. The Jesus who captured my heart and made it His.
I am in love.
Let me say it just one more time...... I have fallen hard. I am head over heels.... I am in love.
With the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. My Rock and my Redeemer. My Sovereign God.
I am in love with my Jesus. The Jesus who captured my heart and made it His.
I am in love.
Let me say it just one more time...... I have fallen hard. I am head over heels.... I am in love.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Blessed.
I am so thankful right now. It's my first weekend that I actually have some time do to things like blogging! I am blessed beyond measure... that's really all I have to say right about now. Old friendships are continuing to be strengthened and grown, and new friendships are forming with full force!
College is beautiful. I have never made friends so fast in my entire life. Maybe it's because of the rigor of the nursing program, maybe it's because it's just a bigger sea with more fish... I'm not sure, but I do know that God has blessed me with some amazing friends. In four weeks, I have made lifelong friends. I know it. We have been through thick and thin in just these four short weeks. Intense joy, intense fear, intense anxiety, intense confusion, intense conversations, intense happiness, intense bonding, intense love, intense growing, intense life! All of it :) We've done it together... in FOUR weeks. That blows my mind. We have found our niche, each of us enjoying the time spent together, still getting to know each other and how each of us works and thinks. It will be fun to see where we are in just another four short weeks! :) Caitlin and Carissa, Taylor, Kat, and Abbey too... I love you :) I can't wait watch God's plan for our core little group unfold!
Then there's the old friends...
My dear friend Kaylin, who I love and miss so very much... it's just not the same without my Sunday morning hug :) I know God is doing beautiful things through you and in you... and I can't wait to see you in a couple weeks!
My lovely little friend E. I see you less and less, you know! But I love that you hang out with the football team and are enjoying senior year :) I'm going to come see your choir concerts and cheer embarrassingly loud, because I love choir, and I love you. So you're welcome in advance.
Finally, Miss Emma. My miracle friend. Today I sat and talked with you for twenty five minutes about worldliness... and how you and I get to trust in Christ alone... that He will sustain and carry us. How blessed am I? To be loved by Jesus so much, that he would let me know you. I am DAILY blessed by you. I have been rebuked, challenged, encouraged, and loved by the most beautiful darling young woman whose faith draws me to my knees. Because of you, I love Jesus more. What more could I ask for? Yes, you are in the "old friend" pile... but the "forever friend" pile? You are at the top of the list, sweet best friend. I love you so much, and miss you like crazy. Hugs and kisses for you :)
College is beautiful. I have never made friends so fast in my entire life. Maybe it's because of the rigor of the nursing program, maybe it's because it's just a bigger sea with more fish... I'm not sure, but I do know that God has blessed me with some amazing friends. In four weeks, I have made lifelong friends. I know it. We have been through thick and thin in just these four short weeks. Intense joy, intense fear, intense anxiety, intense confusion, intense conversations, intense happiness, intense bonding, intense love, intense growing, intense life! All of it :) We've done it together... in FOUR weeks. That blows my mind. We have found our niche, each of us enjoying the time spent together, still getting to know each other and how each of us works and thinks. It will be fun to see where we are in just another four short weeks! :) Caitlin and Carissa, Taylor, Kat, and Abbey too... I love you :) I can't wait watch God's plan for our core little group unfold!
Then there's the old friends...
My dear friend Kaylin, who I love and miss so very much... it's just not the same without my Sunday morning hug :) I know God is doing beautiful things through you and in you... and I can't wait to see you in a couple weeks!
My lovely little friend E. I see you less and less, you know! But I love that you hang out with the football team and are enjoying senior year :) I'm going to come see your choir concerts and cheer embarrassingly loud, because I love choir, and I love you. So you're welcome in advance.
Finally, Miss Emma. My miracle friend. Today I sat and talked with you for twenty five minutes about worldliness... and how you and I get to trust in Christ alone... that He will sustain and carry us. How blessed am I? To be loved by Jesus so much, that he would let me know you. I am DAILY blessed by you. I have been rebuked, challenged, encouraged, and loved by the most beautiful darling young woman whose faith draws me to my knees. Because of you, I love Jesus more. What more could I ask for? Yes, you are in the "old friend" pile... but the "forever friend" pile? You are at the top of the list, sweet best friend. I love you so much, and miss you like crazy. Hugs and kisses for you :)
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