good growing

sometimes the summers with not much planned are good summers of good growing. 

emotions can get us going. comparison can get us in funks. but Jesus can grow us good. He puts us back in the perspective we should still be seeing.

I love these quiet moments when I can find them. they teach little things, little by little. I hope you find your quiet & teachable moments too.

happy tuesday! xo

how was your summer?

- also, I am excited that fall is coming. apples and pumpkin everything, anyone? ;)

good growing

sometimes the summers with not much planned are good summers of good growing. 

emotions can get us going. comparison can get us in funks. but Jesus can grow us good. He puts us back in the perspective we should still be seeing.

I love these quiet moments when I can find them. they teach little things, little by little. I hope you find your quiet & teachable moments too.

happy tuesday! xo

how was your summer?

- also, I am excited that fall is coming. apples and pumpkin everything, anyone? ;)

thick f a i t h

these are just some of my thoughts, straight from my heart, speaking right into my heart. 
inspiration from genesis twenty-two. (and new morning mercies)

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"After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!", and he said, "here I am." (1)
- answering to God's call of "hey" is the beginning to a test of faith. Exactly as it was with Abraham. He didn't say, "what?"and he didn't say "again, really?" He just answered with a willing heart and said, "here I am". He surrendered himself without even knowing all of the details.

"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall tell you." (2)
- God tells him WHAT he's going to do, but he doesn't give him ALL of the details, which in a human sense we usually want all of the details. many times we are too lazy to do something, or we're too consumed in something else to even care. but Abraham cared - he cared so much about God and His will for him, that he gave God the time of day, and he answered to the call right then & right there. he willingly went even though he didn't know where he was going.

"Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the land for the burnt offering, my son." "(8)
Abraham had so much faith that he didn't even use words that would worry his son. He used strong words about his heavenly Father that were (and still are) so true: God will provide for Himself.

"He said, "do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, you're only son, from Me." (12)
- Abraham fearlessly surrendered everything he had to God. His only son. In turn, God surrendered His only son, Jesus. His only son. And Jesus also...went fearlessly to the cross.

what echoed for me was...do I go fearlessly to the cross? do I surrender my everything everyday?

"And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (18)
- in the end, was Abraham's faith worth it? so worth it. blessings upon blessings we're given to Abraham.

even when we don't understand, even when we can't see the reasons - even then, we must have faith. faith so thick that we know God will come through in His timing, and in His way, which is not always our way...and we have to come to a place of understanding that.

let your faith flow to seek what God wants in the outcome. I struggle with this. but once again - we are all in this together.
let us together, put aside hallow faith and hallow prayers. let us call unto God with the most thick faith, believing that His outcome is best. surrender it all. go fearlessly to the cross. go fearlessly to the end of yourself to do what God has for you. in the end it is always so so good. 
we serve such a good good Father. 

xx sorry for the book. 
happy weekend!

thick f a i t h

these are just some of my thoughts, straight from my heart, speaking right into my heart. 
inspiration from genesis twenty-two. (and new morning mercies)

+

+

"After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!", and he said, "here I am." (1)
- answering to God's call of "hey" is the beginning to a test of faith. Exactly as it was with Abraham. He didn't say, "what?"and he didn't say "again, really?" He just answered with a willing heart and said, "here I am". He surrendered himself without even knowing all of the details.

"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall tell you." (2)
- God tells him WHAT he's going to do, but he doesn't give him ALL of the details, which in a human sense we usually want all of the details. many times we are too lazy to do something, or we're too consumed in something else to even care. but Abraham cared - he cared so much about God and His will for him, that he gave God the time of day, and he answered to the call right then & right there. he willingly went even though he didn't know where he was going.

"Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the land for the burnt offering, my son." "(8)
Abraham had so much faith that he didn't even use words that would worry his son. He used strong words about his heavenly Father that were (and still are) so true: God will provide for Himself.

"He said, "do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, you're only son, from Me." (12)
- Abraham fearlessly surrendered everything he had to God. His only son. In turn, God surrendered His only son, Jesus. His only son. And Jesus also...went fearlessly to the cross.

what echoed for me was...do I go fearlessly to the cross? do I surrender my everything everyday?

"And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (18)
- in the end, was Abraham's faith worth it? so worth it. blessings upon blessings we're given to Abraham.

even when we don't understand, even when we can't see the reasons - even then, we must have faith. faith so thick that we know God will come through in His timing, and in His way, which is not always our way...and we have to come to a place of understanding that.

let your faith flow to seek what God wants in the outcome. I struggle with this. but once again - we are all in this together.
let us together, put aside hallow faith and hallow prayers. let us call unto God with the most thick faith, believing that His outcome is best. surrender it all. go fearlessly to the cross. go fearlessly to the end of yourself to do what God has for you. in the end it is always so so good. 
we serve such a good good Father. 

xx sorry for the book. 
happy weekend!

to be caught in His beauty.

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it is something to ask yourself everyday. if the answer is, "no. not really" - that's okay. the most important thing is to be honest and move more towards it daily.

- AM I IN LOVE WITH JESUS MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY? -

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- HAVE I BEEN BATHING IN HIS GRACE DAILY? -

a couple days ago I was burdened with the thought that sometimes we forget God in His beauty.

I so often am ungrateful for what the day throws at me. so much that I don't see God's beauty in it - when it truly IS there.
{Isaiah 43:1}

when we take control of a situation, all that is left is selfish pride. 

it's hard to grip with, but God's will isn't all "good things" - at least what we call them in a worldly sense.

sometimes sickness is God's will. death is God's will. chronic pain is God's will. being emotionally drained is God's will. and that is hard for us to understand. and through every part of it, God is still beautiful, He is still graceful, and He is still God. 

everything in our lives is suppose to bring us to love Him more. no matter life's circumstances, no matter the day's situation, I should still be at His feet, praising His beautiful face. He should become more beautiful to us everyday.

so in all honesty, I ask myself,

am I truly and willingly more in love / more like Jesus today than I was yesterday? in this moment than I was in the last?

ask yourself, every day for the rest of your life. let your answer grow, and let us see God in all of His breathtaking beauty.

and remember - we are all in this together. reach out for accountability, and know that you are never ever alone. xo

happy weekend friends! 

to be caught in His beauty.

-

it is something to ask yourself everyday. if the answer is, "no. not really" - that's okay. the most important thing is to be honest and move more towards it daily.

- AM I IN LOVE WITH JESUS MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY? -

+

- HAVE I BEEN BATHING IN HIS GRACE DAILY? -

a couple days ago I was burdened with the thought that sometimes we forget God in His beauty.

I so often am ungrateful for what the day throws at me. so much that I don't see God's beauty in it - when it truly IS there.
{Isaiah 43:1}

when we take control of a situation, all that is left is selfish pride. 

it's hard to grip with, but God's will isn't all "good things" - at least what we call them in a worldly sense.

sometimes sickness is God's will. death is God's will. chronic pain is God's will. being emotionally drained is God's will. and that is hard for us to understand. and through every part of it, God is still beautiful, He is still graceful, and He is still God. 

everything in our lives is suppose to bring us to love Him more. no matter life's circumstances, no matter the day's situation, I should still be at His feet, praising His beautiful face. He should become more beautiful to us everyday.

so in all honesty, I ask myself,

am I truly and willingly more in love / more like Jesus today than I was yesterday? in this moment than I was in the last?

ask yourself, every day for the rest of your life. let your answer grow, and let us see God in all of His breathtaking beauty.

and remember - we are all in this together. reach out for accountability, and know that you are never ever alone. xo

happy weekend friends! 

another year of - g r a c e -

it's twenty thousand and seventeen.
it's another day.
it's new mornings.

i'm not making a list of resolutions...or even goals.
those kind of lists never work for me, so instead of making up things I think I need to work on and writing them down, I am going to focus. focus in on real life and my day to day goals.
often times we get too worked up on following something exactly and if we don't, we dislike ourselves for it. i'm learning to be okay with schedules and lists not always being perfect to a "t". but instead, being thankful for what does happen.

I slept in late today and my devotions and personal prayer time didn't happen until 8 o'clock pm. but I ended up being okay with that. it was a perfect time, because that's when He spoke to me and encouraged me and gave me more than I deserve.

>> abide in God and bask in His amazing grace <<

whatever your goals may be, let this foremost be another year of God's grace.

always remember: we are in this together. we can keep each other accountable. never be afraid to call another sister or friend for help throughout your journey this year.

wake up. love God. love people. (and maybe even conquer the world)

Xo happy 2k17!

another year of - g r a c e -

it's twenty thousand and seventeen.
it's another day.
it's new mornings.

i'm not making a list of resolutions...or even goals.
those kind of lists never work for me, so instead of making up things I think I need to work on and writing them down, I am going to focus. focus in on real life and my day to day goals.
often times we get too worked up on following something exactly and if we don't, we dislike ourselves for it. i'm learning to be okay with schedules and lists not always being perfect to a "t". but instead, being thankful for what does happen.

I slept in late today and my devotions and personal prayer time didn't happen until 8 o'clock pm. but I ended up being okay with that. it was a perfect time, because that's when He spoke to me and encouraged me and gave me more than I deserve.

>> abide in God and bask in His amazing grace <<

whatever your goals may be, let this foremost be another year of God's grace.

always remember: we are in this together. we can keep each other accountable. never be afraid to call another sister or friend for help throughout your journey this year.

wake up. love God. love people. (and maybe even conquer the world)

Xo happy 2k17!

photo log: restful prayer

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it's a peace knowing that we can rest in prayer of God's peace.

photo log: restful prayer

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it's a peace knowing that we can rest in prayer of God's peace.

t r a n s i t i on

this campus that I have lived on for the past nine months is a place I have come to call "home". when I came here in the fall, I wasn't sure if this was "it" for me, but about one week in, I knew that it was. I found best friends here and I searched God out here. on friday (THREE DAYS) I have to leave the home I have found here, and it's safe to say that part of me does not want to leave. I am excited for the summer ministry that is ahead of me, where I will be living only 9 miles up the road for two months, but transitioning is weird to experience. it's something that takes time, patience, and prayer.

as I finish this last week of school, I do not want to forget how I found God this year and how He spoke to me. I don't want to forget and I don't want any of it to change - He has called us to a life of continual search of Him. 

these last group devotions, work hours, classes, and exams are bittersweet. literally, bitter sweet. 

I will never forget what the last year of my life has changed me into. the adventures, the friends, the struggles, the fails, the joys, the laughs, the changes. all of it is unforgettable. it was a lot of cups of coffee, meditation in God's word, slow mornings, energy, prayers, and a whole lot of blessings.

to the next three days and to two months of summer: i'm ready to finish you out stronger than ever and with a smile on my face.

t r a n s i t i on

this campus that I have lived on for the past nine months is a place I have come to call "home". when I came here in the fall, I wasn't sure if this was "it" for me, but about one week in, I knew that it was. I found best friends here and I searched God out here. on friday (THREE DAYS) I have to leave the home I have found here, and it's safe to say that part of me does not want to leave. I am excited for the summer ministry that is ahead of me, where I will be living only 9 miles up the road for two months, but transitioning is weird to experience. it's something that takes time, patience, and prayer.

as I finish this last week of school, I do not want to forget how I found God this year and how He spoke to me. I don't want to forget and I don't want any of it to change - He has called us to a life of continual search of Him. 

these last group devotions, work hours, classes, and exams are bittersweet. literally, bitter sweet. 

I will never forget what the last year of my life has changed me into. the adventures, the friends, the struggles, the fails, the joys, the laughs, the changes. all of it is unforgettable. it was a lot of cups of coffee, meditation in God's word, slow mornings, energy, prayers, and a whole lot of blessings.

to the next three days and to two months of summer: i'm ready to finish you out stronger than ever and with a smile on my face.

an experience: snow camp 2k16

as we head into the close of our last weekend of snow camp, here is what I learned most out of the past seven weeks. >>> 

last weekend I learned and was reminded of things that I didn't even know needed to be brought to my attention. to put into words what I learned and what I felt is kind of hard. I don't want to sound cliche and I don't want to say what every one else says, because every person's experience is different. I have to say, saturday evening as I sat in the rally and worshiped among this thought, God brought some things to my heart and mind.

"Oh God let us be a generation that seeks Your face, O God of Jacob"

- am I a generation that seeks this and am I leading our generation in a way to seek this? -

I was convicted lately and this weekend that I need to genuinely worship God way more often. I don't take enough time to worship my creator with intent on a daily basis. reading the bible is one thing and worshiping God through it is another. God gives us an image of our relationship with Him to that of a marriage. being intimate with God is a privilege we have and not one I take advantage of enough.

this snow camp season I learned that as I counseled other girls, they counseled me. the teenagers I had the opportunity to interact with don't even know the impact they had on my life. just when you think you've reached the end of your patience and the end of your energy, God comes in and gives you more of it.

the end of this ministry is coming to a close tomorrow, but the fruit of our labor is just beginning.

so long snow camp, you taught me lots.
x

an experience: snow camp 2k16

as we head into the close of our last weekend of snow camp, here is what I learned most out of the past seven weeks. >>> 

last weekend I learned and was reminded of things that I didn't even know needed to be brought to my attention. to put into words what I learned and what I felt is kind of hard. I don't want to sound cliche and I don't want to say what every one else says, because every person's experience is different. I have to say, saturday evening as I sat in the rally and worshiped among this thought, God brought some things to my heart and mind.

"Oh God let us be a generation that seeks Your face, O God of Jacob"

- am I a generation that seeks this and am I leading our generation in a way to seek this? -

I was convicted lately and this weekend that I need to genuinely worship God way more often. I don't take enough time to worship my creator with intent on a daily basis. reading the bible is one thing and worshiping God through it is another. God gives us an image of our relationship with Him to that of a marriage. being intimate with God is a privilege we have and not one I take advantage of enough.

this snow camp season I learned that as I counseled other girls, they counseled me. the teenagers I had the opportunity to interact with don't even know the impact they had on my life. just when you think you've reached the end of your patience and the end of your energy, God comes in and gives you more of it.

the end of this ministry is coming to a close tomorrow, but the fruit of our labor is just beginning.

so long snow camp, you taught me lots.
x

a real good year (2015)

I almost didn't write this and I don't even know if I have much to say. I think I can say what I want to about this past year in a short and sweet way. :::

I had a great year, and I really mean that.

I graduated high school and started college. the hardest thing probably was graduation and that was just a transition that still seems a little weird.

I started dating my love and became so very thankful that he is my best friend.

I turned 18 and still don't have my license.

I chopped 12 inches off my hair (and kinda, sorta regret it).

I started mentoring a young girl.

I made new friendships that I cherish over and over.

I lost my doggy and it still breaks my heart, but I am grateful that he gave us all of the times and memories to remember him by.

God really blessed my year. sometimes He does things out of the water like that. it's like He was thinking, "two thousand and fifteen is going to be a real good year."

and it was.

~ two thousand sixteen...what do you have for us? ~

how was your twenty fifteen? x

a real good year (2015)

I almost didn't write this and I don't even know if I have much to say. I think I can say what I want to about this past year in a short and sweet way. :::

I had a great year, and I really mean that.

I graduated high school and started college. the hardest thing probably was graduation and that was just a transition that still seems a little weird.

I started dating my love and became so very thankful that he is my best friend.

I turned 18 and still don't have my license.

I chopped 12 inches off my hair (and kinda, sorta regret it).

I started mentoring a young girl.

I made new friendships that I cherish over and over.

I lost my doggy and it still breaks my heart, but I am grateful that he gave us all of the times and memories to remember him by.

God really blessed my year. sometimes He does things out of the water like that. it's like He was thinking, "two thousand and fifteen is going to be a real good year."

and it was.

~ two thousand sixteen...what do you have for us? ~

how was your twenty fifteen? x

the grief of sin {on Ezra nine}

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this past week I was able to study and pull apart the book of Ezra. it's a book of the bible I had never really read and didn't think much about. once we got into the chapters of it, it was very applicable. 

"After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. " Ezra 9:1-3

How much do we grieve over sin? of our own and in the lives of others. seeing sin should make us realize the wickedness in it, make us appalled, and more than thankful for the love of Jesus. is my repentance emotional? do I realize what lines i've crossed? so often I see other people bound to sin and look at it as such a light thing. I feel as much of the time we make it a joke. we might say how stupid the person is and how we're glad we are "not like them". I am definitely guilty of this. the bottom line is simply this: sin should make us grieve. we may not have to tear our clothes and shave our heads, or even shed tears. but we can at least bring our minds to the seriousness of it. can I at least pray for the sinfully lost person? can I at least have reverence when I am repenting? Ezra was beside himself in grief of the people's sin. others in this world may not know how lost they are but they may. that doesn't stop the love of Jesus. I want to grieve more over sin. it is a serious thing and I want to be aware of how it warps this world day after day, minute after minute. even more, I want to remember what lines I cross when I commit a sin.

these are thoughts I challenged myself with this week. they really make me think, remind me, and most importantly make the word of God slowly come alive. x

the grief of sin {on Ezra nine}

-

this past week I was able to study and pull apart the book of Ezra. it's a book of the bible I had never really read and didn't think much about. once we got into the chapters of it, it was very applicable. 

"After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. " Ezra 9:1-3

How much do we grieve over sin? of our own and in the lives of others. seeing sin should make us realize the wickedness in it, make us appalled, and more than thankful for the love of Jesus. is my repentance emotional? do I realize what lines i've crossed? so often I see other people bound to sin and look at it as such a light thing. I feel as much of the time we make it a joke. we might say how stupid the person is and how we're glad we are "not like them". I am definitely guilty of this. the bottom line is simply this: sin should make us grieve. we may not have to tear our clothes and shave our heads, or even shed tears. but we can at least bring our minds to the seriousness of it. can I at least pray for the sinfully lost person? can I at least have reverence when I am repenting? Ezra was beside himself in grief of the people's sin. others in this world may not know how lost they are but they may. that doesn't stop the love of Jesus. I want to grieve more over sin. it is a serious thing and I want to be aware of how it warps this world day after day, minute after minute. even more, I want to remember what lines I cross when I commit a sin.

these are thoughts I challenged myself with this week. they really make me think, remind me, and most importantly make the word of God slowly come alive. x