this was the background on my computer for awhile. love it!
must remember that every day!
true that.
"pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances."
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
all things fun.
today has been a great day. that's not something i can say often anymore. i mean i have good days... not great. but today, has been an exception. i woke up and decided that i wanted to go home. so i called my mom and told her i was headed to ralz. luckily, her tennis match was postponed until tomorrow so we got to hang out all day! then, at night, i went to dinner with my dad! now can you see why today has been a great day?
i also did a fun project today with mom. we made headboards! now that i have the two twin beds in my room (hampton stole my queen.. he's too big for a twin now!) i wanted to make them look cute! the headboards and footboards that we have were my dad's when he was little! my grandfather made them! so crazy. while keeping them, i wanted to add something to them. so, mom and i decided to add wood, cover it with batting and then cover it with fabric! it was such a fun (and easy) project!
we just: measured how wide it needed to be (38") then how tall we wanted it to be (40"). then, we got some mdf board (wood was too flimsy) and cut out the shape we wanted! then, covered each head board with 3 yds of batting and a little over 2 yds of fabric! and there you have it! 2 super cute headboards!
we still have to paint the footboards gray and find fun pillows and a fun throw for the foot of the bed! but other than that.. we're done! once the wood was cut it only took an hour to actually upholster the headboards! i'm kind of bummed i had to come back to school tonight! i wanted to sleep in one of those beds just so i could wake up and look at the headboard!
see? told you this was a day of all things fun! happy saturday, everyone!
i also did a fun project today with mom. we made headboards! now that i have the two twin beds in my room (hampton stole my queen.. he's too big for a twin now!) i wanted to make them look cute! the headboards and footboards that we have were my dad's when he was little! my grandfather made them! so crazy. while keeping them, i wanted to add something to them. so, mom and i decided to add wood, cover it with batting and then cover it with fabric! it was such a fun (and easy) project!
we just: measured how wide it needed to be (38") then how tall we wanted it to be (40"). then, we got some mdf board (wood was too flimsy) and cut out the shape we wanted! then, covered each head board with 3 yds of batting and a little over 2 yds of fabric! and there you have it! 2 super cute headboards!
see? told you this was a day of all things fun! happy saturday, everyone!
Friday, February 24, 2012
be strong. be bold.
hello all!
such a crazy day today has been... i finally went swimming for the first time in FOR-EV-ER. and it felt great! but then it thundered so i had to get out... i was so bummed... then i got caught in a monsoon walking from the gym.. i mean straight up 40 days and 40 nights, Noah style. it was so fun though... pretty freeing to just run around elons campus with no shoes on!
today i also got this new devotional called Heaven Calling. i was a little skeptical because i love jesus calling but it's so great. i'm a fan. today the verses actually went really well with the verses from jesus calling! and it was very applicable to my life. in jusus calling the verses were 1 corinthians 13:12 and ephesians 3:16-19. 1 corinthians discusses how we are blinded. we look through a mirror right now... we can't see everything. then, in heaven calling, the verses were deuteronomy 3:16 and deuteronomy 31:1-8. both discuss that we cannot worry. we must be bold and courageous for whatever lies ahead. we must have faith because the lord WILL always go ahead of us and will never forsake us.
it's so crazy how these verses come together for me. this morning, i heard that a friend of mine (i grew up swimming with him.. haven't seen him in years) passed away. his birthday is today (2/25) and he passed away yesterday (2/24). he was supposed to be 19. he was a freshman at uncw and loved it. this horrific news came at a troubling time in my life. so, i wonder, what can i do? how can i make things better? that's such a natural thing for me to do... i like to be in control. but, after reading this scripture i realize, i'm looking at all of this in such a skewed way. i don't see the full picture because i'm not supposed to see everything. if i see everything, i will be crushed but he beauty of the lord in it. with that being said, i want to be able to see everything. why? because i think that i'm scared. i don't have the boldness to completely trust the lord with it. in deuteronomy, it says,
"Be strong and bold, have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you." 31:6
that's crazy.... that, right there, gives me the answer to my question. my question of what can i do? the answer: be strong and bold. have no fear, know the lord goes with me. know he will not fail me. i need to realize that what i see is only part of the story. i can't see the rest so i must know that the lord will not forsake me!
what a perfect day for those words to be spoken to me. life is tough. there's no doubt about it. but once i am dancing with jesus, i'll see. i'll see not through clouded vision but clearly. i'll know, the lord always goes before those he loves.
always.
and here's what it looks like to get caught in a rain storm:
such a crazy day today has been... i finally went swimming for the first time in FOR-EV-ER. and it felt great! but then it thundered so i had to get out... i was so bummed... then i got caught in a monsoon walking from the gym.. i mean straight up 40 days and 40 nights, Noah style. it was so fun though... pretty freeing to just run around elons campus with no shoes on!
today i also got this new devotional called Heaven Calling. i was a little skeptical because i love jesus calling but it's so great. i'm a fan. today the verses actually went really well with the verses from jesus calling! and it was very applicable to my life. in jusus calling the verses were 1 corinthians 13:12 and ephesians 3:16-19. 1 corinthians discusses how we are blinded. we look through a mirror right now... we can't see everything. then, in heaven calling, the verses were deuteronomy 3:16 and deuteronomy 31:1-8. both discuss that we cannot worry. we must be bold and courageous for whatever lies ahead. we must have faith because the lord WILL always go ahead of us and will never forsake us.
it's so crazy how these verses come together for me. this morning, i heard that a friend of mine (i grew up swimming with him.. haven't seen him in years) passed away. his birthday is today (2/25) and he passed away yesterday (2/24). he was supposed to be 19. he was a freshman at uncw and loved it. this horrific news came at a troubling time in my life. so, i wonder, what can i do? how can i make things better? that's such a natural thing for me to do... i like to be in control. but, after reading this scripture i realize, i'm looking at all of this in such a skewed way. i don't see the full picture because i'm not supposed to see everything. if i see everything, i will be crushed but he beauty of the lord in it. with that being said, i want to be able to see everything. why? because i think that i'm scared. i don't have the boldness to completely trust the lord with it. in deuteronomy, it says,
"Be strong and bold, have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you." 31:6
that's crazy.... that, right there, gives me the answer to my question. my question of what can i do? the answer: be strong and bold. have no fear, know the lord goes with me. know he will not fail me. i need to realize that what i see is only part of the story. i can't see the rest so i must know that the lord will not forsake me!
what a perfect day for those words to be spoken to me. life is tough. there's no doubt about it. but once i am dancing with jesus, i'll see. i'll see not through clouded vision but clearly. i'll know, the lord always goes before those he loves.
always.
and here's what it looks like to get caught in a rain storm:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
10 months later
WOW. sorry it's been 10 months.. or maybe 9? i'm not sure... in the past nine months a lot of things could have happened.. i could have moved to italy or gone sky diving or met a prince and lived happily ever after... but i didn't. so don't you worry! nothing too exciting! in the past 9 months i have: become a sophomore at elon, moved into an apartment, found a house for next year (...am i that old?), become a young life leader, taken girls to camp and heard and tried to deal with life altering news. all of this is just part of life. some good things, some bad things.
i want to get in a routine of blogging every so often and to do that i'm going to add it for lent! but what am i giving up you ask? HULU. YES. HULU. right now i watch hulu and netflix all of the time. i watch it before i go to bed or after class... i watch it while doing homework.. (don't tell mom or dad) and it's really starting to hinder aspects of my life. i mean i'm not a shut-in and only sit around and watch tv but i feel like if i give this up i will have time to go to the gym or read or (hey here's an idea) spend that time with JESUS! i mean, that's what lent is all about right? deny yourself something to grow closer to christ? i mean he gave up his life... i can give up hulu. i feel like if i just gave up soft drinks or chocolate, it'd be a cop out for me. i know people (kaitlin) who would die without sweets.. so that would be a great thing to give up. but for me... hulu is it.
i want to get in a routine of blogging every so often and to do that i'm going to add it for lent! but what am i giving up you ask? HULU. YES. HULU. right now i watch hulu and netflix all of the time. i watch it before i go to bed or after class... i watch it while doing homework.. (don't tell mom or dad) and it's really starting to hinder aspects of my life. i mean i'm not a shut-in and only sit around and watch tv but i feel like if i give this up i will have time to go to the gym or read or (hey here's an idea) spend that time with JESUS! i mean, that's what lent is all about right? deny yourself something to grow closer to christ? i mean he gave up his life... i can give up hulu. i feel like if i just gave up soft drinks or chocolate, it'd be a cop out for me. i know people (kaitlin) who would die without sweets.. so that would be a great thing to give up. but for me... hulu is it.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
unexpected questions
wow. long time no see... or talk? well i guess this would be writing. the 3 week break was due to school. thank you college for kicking my butt! tomorrow is reading day where we are supposed to study all day... i'll study once i regroup from the past month!
anyway, i got a tattoo in december on foot and it says john 8:12. this tattoo is very sentimental to me because
1) john 8:12 says "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. WHoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life"
2) 8/12 is my birthday (not planned)
3) the john part is written in my hand writing and the 8:12 part is in my sisters hand writing
4) the most important reason- the meaning of this verse. it's interesting because i've always wanted a tattoo but i've never known what i wanted it to be of. then, one day i realized that the main thing that has kept me going has been light. God's light to be exact. i've been through darker times than i ever thought were possible. sometimes, the darkness of the night overtook me and i thought the light would never come. day in and day out i saw darkness. then, every now and then i'd see a God's light. i'd see this light in family and friends, i'd hear it in songs and i'd experience it in nature. so, when i heard john 8:12 it was a no brainer that this verse embodies what i want to remind myself every time i see my tattoo.
the reasons for the tattoo are all well and good but tonight i was asked another question, "what is verse 13?" this question was asked in a joking manner but WOAH. i didn't know the answer. i have this amazing verse on my foot for a great reason but what is the point without context of where it is in the bible. i mean i've read chapter 8 before but i guess it never stuck with me. so tonight i read.
i learned that this passage is about Christ defending himself to the Pharisees. he was telling them that his claim was valid because he knows where he came from and where he is going. people on this earth cannot tell him his claim to be the light of the world is not valid because they do not know where he came from or where he is going. this is an amazing passage because it shows another moment where people were trying to knock jesus down but it just didn't happen... he couldn't be knocked down. it's a great reminder that jesus is bigger than this world. He is the light. He is life.
anyway, i got a tattoo in december on foot and it says john 8:12. this tattoo is very sentimental to me because
1) john 8:12 says "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. WHoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life"
2) 8/12 is my birthday (not planned)
3) the john part is written in my hand writing and the 8:12 part is in my sisters hand writing
4) the most important reason- the meaning of this verse. it's interesting because i've always wanted a tattoo but i've never known what i wanted it to be of. then, one day i realized that the main thing that has kept me going has been light. God's light to be exact. i've been through darker times than i ever thought were possible. sometimes, the darkness of the night overtook me and i thought the light would never come. day in and day out i saw darkness. then, every now and then i'd see a God's light. i'd see this light in family and friends, i'd hear it in songs and i'd experience it in nature. so, when i heard john 8:12 it was a no brainer that this verse embodies what i want to remind myself every time i see my tattoo.
the reasons for the tattoo are all well and good but tonight i was asked another question, "what is verse 13?" this question was asked in a joking manner but WOAH. i didn't know the answer. i have this amazing verse on my foot for a great reason but what is the point without context of where it is in the bible. i mean i've read chapter 8 before but i guess it never stuck with me. so tonight i read.
i learned that this passage is about Christ defending himself to the Pharisees. he was telling them that his claim was valid because he knows where he came from and where he is going. people on this earth cannot tell him his claim to be the light of the world is not valid because they do not know where he came from or where he is going. this is an amazing passage because it shows another moment where people were trying to knock jesus down but it just didn't happen... he couldn't be knocked down. it's a great reminder that jesus is bigger than this world. He is the light. He is life.
Monday, April 18, 2011
songs or signs? signs.
so it's been what 3 weeks? that's how i am.. i get super excited about something then the excitement dies down.. but i don't want this to die down. so let me tell you how amazing christ is.
2 years ago i was out in a really bad position where i got very sick on a mission trip. the song that got me through that was by your side by tenth avenue north. (the link is at the bottom.. listen!) not only did that song get me through mexico but it also got me through a lot of hard times throughout my relationship with christ. so just a few minutes ago i was doing quiet time and i was thinking, you know, it'd be great to have clear signals from god that let me know that he's here. because honestly, those are hard to come by these days. just as i was asking god to send me clear signs for something very selfish by your side came on my itunes. there is a part that really speaks to me, every single time. it says:
"Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run"
2 years ago i was out in a really bad position where i got very sick on a mission trip. the song that got me through that was by your side by tenth avenue north. (the link is at the bottom.. listen!) not only did that song get me through mexico but it also got me through a lot of hard times throughout my relationship with christ. so just a few minutes ago i was doing quiet time and i was thinking, you know, it'd be great to have clear signals from god that let me know that he's here. because honestly, those are hard to come by these days. just as i was asking god to send me clear signs for something very selfish by your side came on my itunes. there is a part that really speaks to me, every single time. it says:
"Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run"
thats a great question. why am i still searching for earthly things as if He who created me is not enough. His love is everywhere. it pours down on everyone daily. even those who don't believe in him, he is chasing after them and pouring his love on them. it's really an amazing thing.
also, when i was writing this blog post trying to figure out if i should actually post this the song that inspired this blog came on my itunes. WHAT?! int he past hour i have have 2 STRAIGHT UP SIGNS from christ. i know they may seem small but christ knows how to get my attention. how does he get your attention? what signs is christ sending you?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
what your dad did for YOU.
here's a question for ya, what do you do when you walk into a cafeteria full of high school students who look nothing like you and are expected to make friends? answer: take a deep breath and jump on in.
that is the reality that i was faced with today when going to graham for the first time. i looked around the cafeteria and thought, well... i'm here to love girls so let's do this. we went up to table after table introducing ourselves (katy and myself) to unsuspecting high school girls. they probably thought we were crazy but they all had a smile on their face anyway! they were so sweet. we meet some great girls who seemed so genuine.
being at graham for the first time today was so surreal.. it's something that i've been trained for and have been preparing for for months! but nothing compares to walking in the doors of the high school and actually doing the contact work. i am so blessed to be working with such amazing people who will be there for me every step of the way and of course, i will be there for them.
in my small group we are studying ephesians. now if you don't know much about ephesis it was a city that was filled with sin. it was what is now modern day turkey and at the time was a major port city. since this was such a big city there was one of the largest theaters known at the time located there. in this theater it was not uncommon for huge riots to be held that bashed christians. paul started his mission in a synagogue in the middle of the city. once people began to follow Christianity some citizens began to persecute the Christians. soon, paul was imprisoned and wrote this letter to ephisis from jail. ephesians 2:4-10 is one of the most powerful snippets of scripture i've ever read. read it for yourself then i'll tell you why i love it:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
so. why do you love it?? one of the reasons i love it is because these words are the gospel. these six verses explain what jesus did and why. it explains why we don't deserve this gift and what we need to do now. this scripture covers all of the bases in just six verses!! GO PAUL! well.. GO GOD WRITING THROUGH PAUL! i want you to think for a second why you love this scripture. maybe read it again and find out what jumps out at you then think about that. there is a lot of cool stuff in there.
my ministry with young life is me thanking god for what he has done for me as well as the world by serving him. i want to share these six verses with everyone. so, these verses have meant a lot to me over the past few months.
so, remember why jesus died for us and how amazing it is.
that is the reality that i was faced with today when going to graham for the first time. i looked around the cafeteria and thought, well... i'm here to love girls so let's do this. we went up to table after table introducing ourselves (katy and myself) to unsuspecting high school girls. they probably thought we were crazy but they all had a smile on their face anyway! they were so sweet. we meet some great girls who seemed so genuine.
being at graham for the first time today was so surreal.. it's something that i've been trained for and have been preparing for for months! but nothing compares to walking in the doors of the high school and actually doing the contact work. i am so blessed to be working with such amazing people who will be there for me every step of the way and of course, i will be there for them.
in my small group we are studying ephesians. now if you don't know much about ephesis it was a city that was filled with sin. it was what is now modern day turkey and at the time was a major port city. since this was such a big city there was one of the largest theaters known at the time located there. in this theater it was not uncommon for huge riots to be held that bashed christians. paul started his mission in a synagogue in the middle of the city. once people began to follow Christianity some citizens began to persecute the Christians. soon, paul was imprisoned and wrote this letter to ephisis from jail. ephesians 2:4-10 is one of the most powerful snippets of scripture i've ever read. read it for yourself then i'll tell you why i love it:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
so. why do you love it?? one of the reasons i love it is because these words are the gospel. these six verses explain what jesus did and why. it explains why we don't deserve this gift and what we need to do now. this scripture covers all of the bases in just six verses!! GO PAUL! well.. GO GOD WRITING THROUGH PAUL! i want you to think for a second why you love this scripture. maybe read it again and find out what jumps out at you then think about that. there is a lot of cool stuff in there.
my ministry with young life is me thanking god for what he has done for me as well as the world by serving him. i want to share these six verses with everyone. so, these verses have meant a lot to me over the past few months.
so, remember why jesus died for us and how amazing it is.
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