Because God is Love.

For a couple of weeks now I have been playing this game with myself where when I come across a situation I think "If I REALLY loved/trusted/believed God what would I do?" Now don't get me wrong, I love God. Or I at least desperately want to. But I am talking about if I was really over the top like crazy in love kind of thing. Basically, it keeps coming back to the same answer each time: I would obey God's word. Wholeheartedly obey. No secret part of me crying out to do my own things and go my own way. I have to die to my flesh.  The other thing is that I have to know God's word. Like know it so well, that somehow [through God working MIGHTILY in my heart, that's how] it becomes instinct to obey instead of to sin.

Tonight at church, our pastor challenged us to examine the areas of our life where we don't trust God. My first thought was "uhhhmmm... probably all of them." That's not exactly true, because God has driven some things into my extremely hard head. But I started thinking of all the times I had played my little game "If I REALLY..." and then didn't follow with what I thought someone that REALLY trusted God would do.

It's no coincidence that this verse was in my QT this week.

Psalm 62: 8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

If I REALLY trusted in God, I would pour out my heart before him at all times. In every season. God would be my refuge. Not my friends. Not alone time. Not working out. God would be my refuge.

Posted in: on Sunday, February 6, 2011 at at 7:33 PM 1 comments    

So this weekend I went to the Create Conference in Waco, put on by ACC. Honestly, I wasn't super stoked about it at first, really I was just going because it was my high school besties 21st birthday and she wanted to go so... I tagged along. But, I ended up having a really awesome time, so I am going to tell you all about it.

The whole theme of the conference really resonated with me because I love to be creative and think of new things and new solutions to problems. I would never call myself a creative type though. I am just not artsy chill or supernaturally gifted in artistry and I wear normal clothes mostly. But, God is creative. If you don't believe me, go read Genesis. And then read the rest of the Bible, because he never stops moving. Behold, I am doing a new thing.

One of the big questions of the conference was,

Posted in: on Monday, January 24, 2011 at at 6:48 AM 0 comments    

I change my mind all the time. No joke.

I have to plan things out or I will lose my mind trying to decide what to do with my time. Even now, I have a big fat to do list and that's not even helping because I can't decide what needs to be done first. And so nothing happens. But that's a bunny trail.

I change my appearance all the time too. Do I like my hairs up this week or down? Curly + Poofy or Straight + Frizzy? Should I dye my hair Auburn or Dark Chocolate? So many choices.

The other morning, I was doing my DBRP and I came across this verse:

Psalm 92: 12-15
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. The are planted in the house of the Lord; they fluorish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

This is what I want my image to be. Alive, vibrant and fluorishing. Rooted in the Lord. Visibly declaring that the Lord is my God and I know Him.

Posted in: on Monday, January 17, 2011 at at 4:49 PM 0 comments    

2010 was good. Hard, but definitely sanctifying. I learned a lot about forgiveness after my family seemingly fell apart and then in turn learned a lot about the healing and redemption that accompanies brokenness. Through the blessing of friendship with some very wise women, I learned a lot about what it means to live as a woman of God. Along with that, I figured out that I have a million and a half things to work on before I look like anything close to a wise woman of God. I halfway learned how to use a sewing machine. I know in theory how to rock climb, however in practice its a little ugly. Recently, I learned (very unwillingly) kind of sort of the different parts of a car.

There is still a lot of progress to be made.

The agenda for twenty eleven:

- Become a Better Steward

1.  Making a budget
2.  Making purchases in light of eternity
3.  Let things I have currently wear out before buying something new (Ex. Not buying new jeans until I rip/ can't wear a pair of my old jeans; not buying a new book until I finish all of the others on my bookshelf and/or if buying it is necessary)
4.  Save money for the future (mom and dad won't keep me on their payroll forever)
5.  Give as often as possible of my resources:

•  Time
•  Offerings
•  Meals
•  Gifts
•  Encouraging Words
•  Prayer

- Get Serious about Memorizing Scripture

1. Treasuring God's Truth in Your Heart
2. History of Redemption

The resource that has given me such inspiration for memorizing scripture is David Platt's (I love him) book, Radical. Platt opened my eyes to the truth that in America bibles can be little more than a novelty, but overseas a bible could cost your life. If someone was to take away my bible, how much of it would I have written on my heart? Ummm... not much.

- Pray Faithfully

1. Journal daily
2. Follow the Operation World prayer guide daily
3. Plan time to pray
4. Pray in the moment (don't just say, "I will be praying for you" but stop and pray in the situation)

- Be a Planner

1. Schedule time each week to plan
2. Pray over my schedule
3. Plan time to minister
4. Plan time to study
5. Plan so that I can use time effectively
6. Waste less time on facebook, twitter, and blogs. (Except for mine, of course.)

- Buying food

• Use coupons
• Buy in bulk less
• Reduce wasted food ( use fruits and vegetables completely, instead of eating half and the other half getting moldy. gross and not cost effective)

Here's to trying!

Posted in: on Monday, January 3, 2011 at at 12:33 PM 0 comments    

Just in case you want to show me some lovin ever... here is how you should proceed.



1) write me a note telling me about your life on some super cute stationary.

2) tell me how great I am at cooking. (this only applies if you have actually tasted my cooking)

3) tell me that you can see my arm, leg, or neck muscles. compliment my forarms if you want me to kiss you smack on the face.

4) read my blog and think that i am funny.

5) study with me. even when you know it is going to be unproductive because I will probably talk and people watch the entire time.

6) tell me that I look really fast when you see me running. (I always have a fear that people are judging my slowness when they see me run.)

7) tell me that no it's not weird that my baby hair won't ever go away and it is actually endearing instead of awkward.

8) smile back at me when I smile at you.

9) forgive me when i make mistakes. show me grace.

10) laugh with me when i do, say, or think anything silly.

Posted in: on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at at 10:39 AM 0 comments    

So I have been in the process (since forever) of trying to compile all the verses that have ministered to me during specific struggles in my life. You wouldn't believe me if you saw me now, or my senior year of high school, but I have always had a hard time sleeping. I would frequently wake up screaming after having a terrible nightmare. Like until this past summer.

This was a big thing in my life.

So, finally, this summer when I was doing the 90 day read through the bible plan, I came across some verses that spoke directly to my heart about the subject of sleep. Who knew that the bible even gives sleep advice?  If I had known earlier, I probably would not have to put under eye concealer on every single day of my life. I am convinced that comes from years of being too afraid of my nightmares to go back to sleep.

Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.

Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

These verses worked on my heart, because they revealed that my issue not trusting in God for sleep. I didn't realize that my fears came from a lack of trust in God (but like 150% of the time that is the case). I didn't believe that God was in complete control of my sleep. If someone came in and sliced me, He was in control. If I had a terrible nightmare, He was in control. If I had the sweetest sleep and the sweetest dreams, He was in control!

I wrote each of these verses down on a notecard and would read them every night before I went to sleep. I would read them when I woke up in the morning and thank God that I could see the truth of His word each night and each morning. After a couple of weeks of this, I haven't had a single problem with sleep! Not that I am saying this has cured me forever, but it has been an obvious transformation in my sleeping life.

Sweet dreams!

Posted in: on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at at 8:05 AM 0 comments    

See previous post for the first half of my celebration of turning twenty. And Britt turning twenty-one.

12) Try on size 20 (21) pants. Well they actually don't have size 21 pants, so Britt wore size 22 pants. Like one to grow on.
13) Hula hoop 20 (21) times. This was no problem for me. Little known fact: I won fourth place for hula hooping when I was in fifth grade. I attribute my success to the fact that my hips don't lie.

14) Ride elevator up and down 20 (21) times. A more known fact: I am extremely motion sick. So this was definitely my least favorite event of the night.
15) Go pond hopping for 20 (21) minutes seconds. It was a little chilly.
16) Roll down the hill 20 (21) times. Britt rolled down once. I rolled down zero times.

The next couple were not documented, so just trust me they happened. True Story.

17) Dance every time the minutes say 20 (21). Undocumented, but let me just assure you white girls have moves.
18) Ask sales clerk at Wal-Mart 20 (21) different questions. Kristen was a champ. As much as possible, the questions and conversation flowed naturally. It didn't hurt that the male sales clerk was all too willing to keep the conversation going as long as possible.
19) Give 20 (21) kids high fives throughout the night. This one was a complete fail. It turns out most children are scared (and most parents are wary) of college students running up to them and very enthusiastically demanding a high five.
20) I just realized there were not twenty things on the list. Apparently, we cannot count. No big deal, we are just juniors in college.
21) Britt enjoys a 21st birthday drink. They said they were out of the pretty glasses, but its ok she was happy to get extra alcohol. Totally just kidding.

Posted in: on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at at 7:27 AM 1 comments