heaven

this scene always makes me think of heaven.

return.

I have not been faithful or good at pursuing relationships this summer. I don't know a lot about a lot of my friends' hearts and lives. But, the Lord asked me to pursue Him first and hard and I have tried to do that, at the risk of putting other relationships on hold. And I think He's bringing me home.

More to follow.

some small joys.

1. i saw an old man at the grocery store wearing sweats and uggs. if only they had said 'pink' across his butt... i may have mistaken him for a college girl.
2. also at the grocery: i love seeing old people in the candy aisle. so many choices.
3. community group and an hour long episode of the office.
4. i can't wait to see this movie: Where the Wild Things Are.
i seriously hope it's as good as it looks.
5. tangea tonight with new co-leaders!!

words in my journal..

sometimes i find myself asking the LORD to just take me now--in times of desperation or anxiety or just being overwhelmed by grace and love. but then i stop myself and wonder if i'm crazy for asking that, and i remind myself that there are still people who don't know Christ. but what could be better than being home with the Father?? being rid of my lowly earthly body and be made whole before the throne?

i know that i have nothing of myself to give people; i know that it would be better for me to offer nothing than to offer of myself. and so i pray that God would write his Gospel on my heart, that my life would be transformed by his Truth, and that he will carry out the work he has begun in me.

in 1 corinthians 1 paul is writing to "those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy."
v. 4-9: I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. FOR IN HIM YOU HAVE BEEN ENRICHED IN EVERY WAY--IN ALL YOUR SPEAKING AND IN ALL YOUR KNOWLEDGE--because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. THEREFORE YOU DO NOT LACK ANY SPIRITUAL GIFT AS YOU EAGERLY WAIT FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BE REVEALED. HE WILL KEEP YOU strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD, WHO HAS CALLED YOU INTO FELLOWSHIP with his son Jesus Christ our Lord, IS FAITHFUL.
LORD, I want more of you. I pray that would continue to refine my heart.

paige bailey's house night

Tonight during our House Night, I learned...
I am distinctly beautiful because:
1. I am the beloved of a King.
2. I can be vulnerable. By this I mean: I am not one who is prone to sharing things about my life, but when the Lord presses on my heart to speak of what He is whispering to me, I obey. And I only hope that someone needs to hear what the Lord makes me speak.
3. I am easily overwhelmed by the power of emotion. I don't mean strictly my own emotions. I can celebrate with the joy of others, embrace their sorrow, share in their exhaustion.
4. I cry when I laugh hard enough.
5. I long for Heaven.
And I can say that these things make me beautiful because I know the only good thing in me is God in me, and I know that He makes me beautiful.
I am the beloved of a King, and perfect love casts out fear. I am sure that God is good and that I am God's. I long to always believe with certainty that I can do nothing to gain more of His love and nothing to lose any of His love.

my Sunday

Hoping not to miss fall.
Followed by baking brownies at Leigh's new house and a glorious time spent worshiping the Lord at Veritas Church. It was a good day.

heart matters

But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no Saviour...It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. Hosea 13:4,5
So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. Hosea 12:6

AND WAIT CONTINUALLY FOR YOUR GOD.
I pray that I would know no God but You.