Jesus is Lord

My blog has missed me for the past few months.
And I have missed my blog.

In the past four months, I
wrapped up my freshman year
spent 6 weeks at a summer camp as a counselor (having waaaaay more fun than the campers!)
was blessed to have a co-counselor who is now my best friend
spent a good 5 weeks at home soaking up family time
turned 20. ah.
experienced my first Work Week and Rush from the inside of my sorority
started weekly babysitting 2 precious little boys
decided to take 4 literature classes (worst decision of my life)
continue to work 10 hours in the Department of Education
have taken a road trip nearly every other weekend...SO FUN
got to have my best friend and her fiance (!!!!!!) come visit for their fall break
spent last weekend at home after roadtripping the 9 hours with 5 friends- best weekend ever
finished The Shack yesterday
have begun house-shopping
LOVE my future roomies
and I continue to see that Jesus Christ is LORD.

He's guiding, loving, proving Himself over and over.
I am so overwhelmed by His relentless love. Love that I didn't feel for most of August and September. So now I am simply basking in it- grateful for it- and joyful in it.

I have approximately 500 pages of reading I'm behind in...we have a DATE PARTY tonight..wooo.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Love you friends.

My Journey Today

If God were on this earth- like in one place- wouldn't I leave everything and run and go find Him?

But because He's everywhere, I take that for granted and don't leave everything behind. I simply bear my own burdens and chase my own dream- talking to Him a few times a day.

I must realize/am realizing that He is pure treasure- and that nothing on this earth matters at all unless I have Jesus Christ.

I must commit to knowing Him closer every single day. A day lost is a day I won't know Him quite as deeply.

Today, I want God to teach me how to love Him more, with every fiber of my being, overwhelming, joyful, radiant love.

Cereal

Along with tea, one of my favorite things is cereal. All kinds.
Every week, its a joke between my roomate and I as to what new cereal I will decide to purchase next.

Currently in my house? Honey Bunches of Oats and Crispix.

My lifelong favorites are Blueberry Morning and Maple Pecan Crunch....(except for being loaded with carbs) they are absolutely the most delicious way to start a morning. Also, Golden Grahams and Cracklin' Oat Bran on occasion.

I could simply eat breakfast food all day, everyday. Omlettes, waffles, pancakes, fruuuuit, coffee, tea, yogurt, and really everything.

Completely changing subjects, but along the lines of food, we sang a hymn at church with the best words:
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, Fill me till I need no more.

The Lord is enough. More than enough.

Be blessed!

Answered Prayers

Exactly a week ago, I sat under a large oak tree and wrote my heart out. Things in life had been hectic, confusing, frustrating, and I simply wrote and wrote and wrote. My journaling usually just turns to prayers, and that's exactly what happened a week ago.

This morning I reread what I had written, and was completely in awe of the Lord answering my prayers. Even small, specific prayers- He completely took care of them this week! I had prayed for some sweet one-on-one time with some friends here, and I got to get coffee with one and dinner with another- no small feat with crazy college schedules and finals coming.

In high school, I had such a heart for my campus and prayed so consistently for God to do something BIG. Now, in college, surrounded by so so many people, I tend to get bogged down in all there is to do and not continually pray for the people He's brought into my life. I want that to change- starting today.

Here I am, seeing God answer prayers, and I'm not even praying about some pivotal points in my life that I should be. May we all get on our knees, keep our gaze on the Lord, and then get up and go out with the joy of the Lord as our strength.

He is listening.

Good book of the day: St. Augustine on the Psalms - written back in the 300-400s, these volumes have been translated and contain priceless insight. I highly encourage you to read them.

Checklist

By August 31, 2009, I want to:

• Lead a high school girls Bible Study
• Read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Memorize 8 new worship songs on guitar
• Spend more time with my brother and sister
• Lose 5 pounds
• Spend more time with the Lord- consistent time in prayer
• Write a short story and send it off to a magazine
• Decide what I want to do: teach, write, publish?
• Have a 4.0 GPA
• Be more graceful and forgiving
• Memorize more Scripture
• Teach 3 people to play guitar
• Learn how to sell items on eBay
• Participate in a great girls' Bible Study
• Do 3 spin classes a week
• Learn how to cook from my mom and practice lots of cooking
• Play piano for hours to my heart's content
• Quality time with my favorite friends
• Discovering fun places to visit in the middle of nowhere

I'm ready for summer!

On a rainy day...

Don't forget your umbrella today.
And maybe a cup of hot tea!

Since this blog's name is Chai Vanilla Tea, I thought I'd pass along a delicious recipe:
From About.com:

Ingredients:
4 cups water
3 allspice, whole
5 cloves, whole
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean (1-inch)
1/3 cup honey
1 tbs loose black tea leaves

Preparation:In a saucepan, heat water along with all the spices. Bring to a lower simmer, and let steep for about 5 minutes. Add tea leaves, and continue to steep for another 5 minutes. Strain out the tea, and stir in honey. Serve hot.

Enjoy!!

Jillian Edwards

A precious new singer I've recently been listening to. She came and played here a few weeks ago, and I was captured with her angelic voice and acoustic guitar. Listen to the top one called "Songbird".

I've been inspired recently to be practicing more piano and guitar. This week, I've gotten to play the piano for background music at a few things on campus recently. Thursday night I'm leading worship with some friends for a group that started last semester here. The more I play, the more I realize I need to play and practice more! Music is such a wonderful thing, and I find playing piano so relaxing and enjoyable.

Dozens of questions are flying through my head: what track to continue on with my English major, to pursue teaching or publishing or writing, what to do with my summers, etc. Lots to think about it. Through it all, Jesus Christ is the One steady constant. He has a plan. As I pursue Him and trust Him, He will reaveal His plan to me.

"Because of God's merciful compassion,
the Dawn from on high will visit us.
To shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way
of peace."
-Luke 1:78-79

Christ is the Dawn from on High! Praise the Lord!
My goal this week: to run to Jesus. In the good and the bad. He's all we need.

The Resurgence

Awesome website. Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle oversees this great resource for evangelicals, The Resurgence. Its full of theology, interviews with greats like John Piper, Matt Chandler, etc. And besides the website, they have conferences, discussions on Facebook Fanpage Forums, and more. Check it out- it is very worth your time.

Amazing event coming to Dallas area called Come Worship Festival. A full day from 2 to 10pm. Schedule includes Kirk Cameron, Francis Chan, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, and Sanctus Real.

Remember that phrase/song "Make new friends but keep the old ones, one is silver and the other gold"? I'm finding that to be true all the time. Making new friends is great and exciting and fun, but its those kindred spirits that have known your heart for years and years that have such influence in your life. I have recently been missing some dear friends of mine that don't live near me anymore. Its like a part of my heart is still with them, and I don't feel completely me until I'm with them. Hard to realize life is full of these moments, giving parts of our hearts away and knowing it may never come back.

The Lord is the only One who can completely fill us up, and I am convicted that I haven't been letting Him fill me daily as I ought. Through Him can we be filled and overflow to bless others. This year has been a blessing as far as having people pour into my life, but I cannot wait until next year to pour out into younger girls' lives.

Our God is Mighty to Save. Praise His Name with me today.
Blessings and Blue Skies-
mg

2 Things

1. I love books.

Reading, I could do it all day. Last night I went to a friend's house...and his dad sent me home with FOUR books. All awesome, Christian books. Isn't that a neat ministry? One of them his dad actually wrote. When I grow up, and have a library of my own I want to give away books. Give them away with the intent that the people continue to pass them along. Wouldn't that be great?

2. Tests, although very important, will one day be sent to the shredder.

At my job in the Education Department, I do a number of things. One of my tasks today was shredding old tests from a professor. To the shredding room I took probably over 1,000 tests and spent about fifteen minutes sending them all to their death. As I glanced through them, some from 2005 up to the present, I thought of all the hours of time, sweat, and study that the represented. A thousand students studying for their Education class final. Wow. And here I was destroying them...

Kinda makes me think about this life here on earth. All these possessions we as humans chase, all the fame and fortune we think we have to have, will one day be sent to the Shredder of all Shredders and burned up. Our good works will look like filthy rags.

Let this be a reminder for all of us to keep an eternal perspective.

Happy Easter!!

On Our Knees

"Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16

A group of 6 girls and I have started a Wednesday morning prayer group. Throughout the week, we have ample time to worship, fellowship and hear great speakers/pastors, but this hour of time is solely committed to prayer. We pray for each other, our campus, our nation. It is absolutely the greatest way to begin a day...on our knees.

May we always remember the POWER of prayer. The Lord is listening, present, real, alive, and has a plan. In a Beth Moore study I did a while back, I remember her giving me a new glimpse into the world of answered prayers. Sometimes, she said, when we pray, God has answered with a YES, but has to wait to reveal that YES to us. When we are waiting, it can seem like He's said NO. But He truly may have heard our prayer, answered us and is now waiting for the proper time to reveal the answer. Isn't that a great truth?

Stand on the firm foundation of the Lord today! Abide in Him.
And let's all stay on our knees.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts penned this hymn in 1707. Charles Wesley said he would have given up all of his hymns to have written this one. Watts wrote many of his hymns from age 20-22. Wow.

As Easter comes near, I encourage you to focus on the Cross. Don't ever get over it. The sacrifice, grace, beauty, blood..."did e'er such love and sorrow meet?"

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Watts also penned this hymn. The answer to those raised questions is YES. Resounding YES.
Our Savior bled, our Sovereign died, He devoted himself for sinners such as I.
What a blessed, amazing Savior we serve!

The Little Hazelnut

I came across an amazing book a year ago called 20 Things You Should Read, compiled by David Edwards, Margaret Feinberg, Janella Griggs, and Matthew Paul Turner. The entire book is 20 excerpts from the greatest of the greats: St. Augustine, Thomas A Kempis, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Brother Lawrence, George Whitfield...and the list continues.

One of my favorites was the section by someone I'd never even heard of... Julain of Norwich. She lived 1342 to 1416 in England when the bubonic plague swept through many times. During severe sickness she wrote, "I saw that He is to us everything that is good and comfortable for us: he is our clothing that for love wrappeth us, claspeth us, and all encloseth us for tender love, that He may never leave us; being to us all-thing that is good, as to mine understanding."

During her sickness also, the Lord gave her an illustration with a little hazelnut. In this little thing she saw three properties: "The first is that God made it, the second is that God loveth it, the third, that God keepeth it. But what is to me verily the Maker, the Keeper, and the Lover--I cannot tell; for till I am Substantially oned to Him, I may never have full rest nor very bliss..."

She goes on to talk of God being so pleased when we are resting in Him...which brings to mind Psalm 62:1-"I am at rest in God alone. He is my Rock and my Salvation: my Stronghold, I will never be shaken." That verse was posted in my car all through high school...and whether it was a wonderful day or a blah day or a terrible day...I was reminded that the Lord was my Rock- and He's in control of every moment.

Julian of Norwich has some amazing other things to say so I encourage you to seek them out....I'll close with a precious prayer she wrote that became my prayer the first time I read this a year ago. (I remember that was one of the worst weeks of my life...and this was such a great perspective to keep me focused on the Lord):

God, of Thy Goodness, give me Thyself:
for Thou art enough to me,
and I may nothing ask that is less that may be full worship to Thee;
and if I ask anything that is less, ever me wanteth,--but only in Thee I have all.

Over 600 years ago, this was her prayer...May we all continue to seek and draw near to the Lord ever closer each day.

Highlight of My Year

Last Thursday I was eating with a friend in Dallas....
We sat down at our table and began to look at our menu. To my left, a man was taking a picture and smiling. I noticed the flash and glanced up. Right at that moment, his little boy got up and the lady who he'd had a picture with turned around. When I saw her face my heart started beating, I was in shock, and I wasn't sure what to do! It was Laura Bush!!

Now at this part in the story a lot of my friends start laughing. I'm not sure if there's another person out there as much a Laura Bush fan as myself. In 7th grade I did a biography on her, then in 9th grade I did a huge project on her: complete with her recipe of Laura Bush's Country Cookies and I dressed in a navy trenchcoat and heels. She remained such a lady of dignity and grace throughout her entire stay in the White House, and I just admire her so very much.

Mrs. Bush's shoulder was probably about 15 inches from my friend's shoulder who was sitting right in front of me. Because of that, I could hardly say her name to tell my friend. My eyes got really big and I told my friend to slowly look behind her. At this point we are just bursting our buttons, sitting by the First Lady in real life!

Throughout the meal we had the same waiter; he would collect their chip bowl for refills, then he would collect our chip bowl for refills. Needless to say, with such an important person taking his time, we didn't really see our waiter very much that night.

Unfortunately, we couldn't talk to her, or leave a little note that I wrote on a little business card I had in my wallet....so we left the restaurant having sat beside her for an hour and a half...but her never knowing who we were.

I only wish she could know how much I admire her!
What an exciting night it was to run into her in real life- just eating with her friends at a restaurant!

Home

I'm realizing more and more what a wonderful place home is. Of course, it is always special and comforting, but lately I am so refreshed by a good time at home. In college, the home-cooked meals, time with brothers and sisters, and good long talks with parents are rare. This Spring Break I had a really great time being home sweet home.

This morning in Matthew I read about the parable of the pearl. A man finds a pearl of great price and sells allllll he has to go purchase the pearl. Do we do that in our day-to-day life? Live as if we've recieved a pearl of great price and continually submit to the Lord? Give all our possessions to Him and treat the ones we have like they are His?

Back home, one of my best friends and I were talking about where we were in life and how our lives had both changed in the past year. We both realized that, though far away from each other, we were both exactly in the spot that the Lord wanted us. And we both agreed that spot was just the most wonderful in the whole world. If you're where the Lord wants you, and you feel that confirmed in your heart, it doesn't matter if the rains come or the storms rage, HE is in charge and has you in the palm of His hand.

I made a list this morning of things I was thankful for over the past week and a half....opportunities that had come, people that the Lord had blessed me with and let me see when I went home, special moments, and I was absolutely overwhelmed. It reminded me of James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

He's here with us...whether we're home or away. Near or far.
Seek Him with your entire heart....He is truly a pearl worth giving all we have for.

Good Books

This weekend my dad and sister are speaking at a Daddy/Daughter Conference...and I get to be there too....via Skype! Skype is one of my new favorites things and allows me to see sweet people's faces and not feel like I'm hours away from them!

At the conference, my dad asked me to talk about some of the best books I read growing up. And I thought this would be an appropriate place to write about them.

Books I Loved From Age 5-19
1. Anne of Green Gables Series: Yes, all eight of them. Anne Shirley, the spunky redhead, became like a best friend of mine as I read these. Her adventures and disappointments, friends and crushes became like mine! The setting, Canada's Prince Edward Island in the late nineteenth century, is picturesque. From book 1 to 8, Anne's life is followed from age 16 to age 53. (The last few books are focused on her children, but include Anne as a major charater as well.) These are classic books with amazing life lessons.
2. The Boxcar Children Series: I read every single one my library had. Weekly Saturday morning trips to the library resulted in my checking out the maximum my dad would allow. : ) Four orphaned children live with their grandfather and solve mysteries that seem to just plop in their laps! Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny love each other dearly and each play an integral role in capturing the thief and putting the last piece in the puzzle.
3. The Babysitter's Club: Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey, Dawn, Claudia, Jessi, and Mallory are seven middle-schoolers who start a Babysitting Club. They meet twice a week as parent's call and request babysitters. Each book contains a few adventures and a few babysitting jobs. The friends all have strengths and weaknesses and their interaction just fascinated me as a little girl. In the books they are thirteen, and I probably read them as an eight-year-old, so I looked up to these girls in a big way! I just couldn't wait for the day I could become a babysitter. Maybe that's why I love it so much to this day....
4. The Left Behind Series: In eighth grade, I read the adult Left Behind Series because they were a lot of Accelerated Reader points, but I soon became addicted to them. Corresponding with the book of Revelation, they contain fictional characters living in truly foretold end times. These books are fast-paced, John-Grisham-ish, and thoroughly difficult to put down. Absolutely loved them.
5. Boy Meets Girl- by Joshua Harris: I read half of this book at Barnes and Noble, and the other half at my house that night. In one day. Because of that rapid reading, I had forgotten some of it and reread it a few years ago. Although its written to an audience of people nearing marriage-age and marriage-maturity, I gained valuable information from it as a seventh-grader. It gave a unique viewpoint of dating, which he calls courting, and recommends only when the person is actually prepared to be married. My favorite part of the book was all the sweet stories of couples committing their relationships to the Lord, and He rewarded their honoring Him. Reading this book before ever thinking about dating was a great time to read it, as I had no bias or other opinions. Today, I might feel differently about it, but it was neat to have a bold foundation from Joshua Harris.
6. John Grisham Books: In high school, I had a random John Grisham phase. Knowing nothing at all about lawyers or the corrupt businessmen world, I impressed myself by actually understanding these books. They were high energy, people died, and each book had about seven twists. (Maybe wouldn't seem high energy for a guy...but for a girl, yes.) ....I realize I'm probably straying, and won't recommend these books at the Daddy/Daughter Conference..haha..but these would have to be included in a favorites list.
7. Just Like Jesus- Max Lucado
8. A Woman's Journey to the Heart of God- Cynthia Heald
9. Intimacy with God- Cynthia Heald
10. Becoming a Woman of ...(series)- Cynthia Heald
11. George MacDonald- C.S. Lewis (my favorite book in the entire world.)
12. Ordering Your Private World- Gordon McDonald
13. And the Bride Wore White- Dannah Gresh
14. When God Writes Your Love Story- Eric and Leslie Ludy
15. How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie (my dad had me read this in 5th grade. Maybe don't do that to your kids....but in junior high for sure.)
16. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living- Dale Carnegie
17. This is Earl Nightingale- Earl Nightingale (pure gold)
18. My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers (I read this everyday)
19. The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell
20. Blink- Malcolm Gladwell

This list covered a lot of my life....very good books that have shaped who I am today. My dad always said, "Show me the books you read and who your friends are, and I'll show you where you'll be in ten years." I didn't realize how true that was until I just wrote this list. These books have truly made a difference in my life: established my faith, encouraged my walk with the Lord, given me new perspectives, helped me organize thoughts, let me understand people...wow.

Readers are leaders.

Vanilla Chai Tea Latte

Who knew a vanilla chai tea latte from Starbucks is nearly 200 calories? I think I'll just stick to the herbal Vanilla Chai tea for 5 calories. Bummer though, because the lattes are delicious.

This weekend I saw that our Lord is truly Mighty to Save. I got to lead a DiscipleNow group of 6th grade girls at my roomate's church. Their hearts were precious and my co-leader and I had such wonderful times with them discussing how to get away from the NOISE of this life and truly focus on the Lord. Noise is coming into little lives sooner and sooner these days. All of the girls had cell phones, and a couple of the girls were nearly attached to them. Hence, a perfect example of noise that can fill our lives and take away our hearing the Lord's voice clearly.

I've been contemplating the noise in my life...and realize that at this time in my life I'm nearly never alone. Whether its classmates or friends or roomates...there are always people around! The greatest thing is to get away from all of the noise and people and simply be alone with the Lord. I want to be listening when He whispers.

I was absolutely overwhelmed this weekend by the Lord's goodness. Its somewhat of a long story, but after praying for years for the perfect college roomate, the Lord literally brought her to me...over facebook! We are now absolutely best friends and it was because of her that I got to be a leader at this DNOW. And because of that, I got to be with these precious girls who loved me unconditionally and reminded me of the sweet innocence of middle school. And because of that, and the Lord's absolute sovereignty I got to pray with a sweet little girl to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior on Saturday night. Singing "From the Inside Out" on Sunday morning, I just completely teared up with gratefulness to the Lord for directing every little step....that could have only been planned by Him.

He is SO good. And mighty to save.
He is drawing young and old hearts to Him at this very moment.
Be willing. He is looking for those who are willing to be used by Him.

Lifehouse 'Everything'

AMazing. Watching this will bless you.

Today was a rainy day...of course the day I chose to get a hair cut. So much for the styling part. My hair is not used to this humidity!

This morning I went running...a first in a long time. I love workout classes, crunches, machines, and pilaties, but running is a different story. After running cross country in 9th grade, I decided running is not the sport for me. But, I had to prove to myself that I still could run if I chose to (which I rarely do). The weather was slightly misty, perfect. I cranked the volume up on a Running Playlist and ran my heart out. It felt so good.

I've decided there are too many ups and downs in my day, and I need more consistency. As I contemplated, I knew the only thing constant and true is the Lord. This morning I wrote down lots of verses about Him being our Rock, our Firm Foundation: Psalm 18:2, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 40:2-3, and 1 Corinthians 15:58.

He is steadfast and faithful in a roller-coaster world. Take refuge.

Cinnamon Apple

Today's Choice: Cinnamon Apple Herbal Tea. Most delicious.

The other day a good guy friend and I were chatting about life and then we started talking about our new love of tea. Since that day about a week ago, he's texted me a few times about tea that he's drinking. Its really great. We text about tea! He doesn't even know I have a blog named Chai Vanilla Tea. haha. He's been going through the Tazos and giving me his take on them. Our mutual favorite is the Tazo Awake tea. (even better with coffee creamer!)

Through this life, do you ever wish there was more consistency? In people, in actions, in words, in friendships, in financial security.... Life would be so much more simple if it was consistent. But less exciting. I think I could go for that though. The One constant through it all is our sweet Lord Jesus. He is a Rock and firm foundation like nothing else. At times like these, I am especially thankful for His faithfulness as a Rock. When all around is changing, He never changes.

Hebrews 13:8- "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever."
What peace goes through my soul just reading those words! The God who created the Universe and parted the Red Sea and raised His Son from the dead is the very same God who is listening to me!

Build your faith on His solid rock.
Have a blessed week.

Rainy Days

I honestly have never needed an umbrella like I did today. The rain at home falls straight, but here it falls sideways. I had to hold my umbrella at a 45 degree angle to keep the rain from my face. At this time I also realized what a terrible umbrella mine was. With the wind it was bending and wobbling. A sturdy, reliable umbrella purchase will probably be in my near future...

What do you do in your life when its raining? Not the sprinkly kind- but the deep, consuming rainfall of hurt, pain, and disappointment that floods weary souls. Rain can be refreshing, but storms can be devastating. There's a great MercyMe song, "Bring the Rain":

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain.

What a powerful prayer! When all around us is looking gray, trust in the Maker of the Sky and know that on the other side of the rain clouds, the sun is shining. My week has been "rainy" in more ways than one- but I am letting the Lord be my light. Two large disappointments, but God remains faithful.

Let His light fill your life today.

Sleepytime Tea

Tonight our friend Will expressed his trouble falling asleep at night. My roomate promptly made him some Sleepytime Herbal Chamomille Tea with honey. I smiled as I thought of her and I meeting in the fall- and how she's since fallen in love with hot tea!

Strangely enough, in my desperation to not allow myself to be addicted to coffee, I have somehow become addicted to hot tea. But tea is so much healthier and fresh-tasting (though I do love some coffee every now and then).

This encouraged me this week: "Never allow a truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it, not necessarily physically, but in will. Record it, with ink or with blood." - My Utmost for His Highest from Nov. 4

That truth of seeing God move, recognizing and acknowledging His presence, then rejoicing for the whold world to see is so powerful. I think this is why I absolutely love journalling. I'm recording with ink all that I've seen God so masterfully do. And it strengthens my faith. I love rereading past journal entries- seeing prayers answered- seeing where I was in my walk with the Lord a year ago and from all that His presence is undeniable.

May you record with ink all that the Lord does for you. Record the happy and sad- because He's moving through it all.

*James 1:2-4*

A Fresh Journal

There is something absolutely invigorating about a fresh journal. Today I received one from a sweet friend. New pages to fill, new thoughts to pen, and new lessons to learn. This blog- in a lot of ways- is a brand new journal. I cannot wait to see the way the Lord guides me through the duration of it.

My morning began with some delicious Tazo Awake Tea with French Vanilla Creamer (my substitute for coffee).

Yesterday I made a hard decision to stand up for what I believed in. It required me to confront an issue I didn't want to confront and a person I didn't want to confront. But, how rewarding it was to know I had completely stood my ground and not wavered. The Lord gave me the strength, even when I didn't think I had it inside of me. A wise friend told me yesterday, "Living this life the right way is hard, but living it wrong is oh-so-much harder". How brilliantly true. Walking the narrow path is sometimes lonely, at times unpleasant, and sometimes even friendless. But it is the RIGHT thing to do. We must continually submit ourselves to Christ's Lordship.

"I follow close to You; Your right hand holds on to me." Psalm 63:8
May your day be blessed.

Time for Soup

As the weekend came, I started to feel under the weather and knew a day at home with lots of sleep and vitamins was what I needed. All Sunday afternoon, I wore sweats and made green tea with honey. Delicious. And I'm happy to report I'm feeling much better today.

One of my absolute favorite books is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Its a book with 365 readings, so I haven't even finished it. But it is full of wisdom and solid truth. I am constantly rewriting quotes from it into my prayer journal. Like from a few days ago:
"In Psalm 139 the Psalmist implies- Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature- Thou who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at- my God, search me out." (Oswald Chambers)

Such an intimate and honest prayer.

I'm listening right now to a song called "Desert Song" by Hillsong. Does anyone ever feel like you're traveling through a desert? Or experiencing a drought of sorts? In some areas, I think I'm right in the middle of my desert right now. But, God is faithful. The chorus of this song is powerful- "All of my life, in every season, You are still God and I have a reason to sing."

May your heart be filled with song today. You have a reason to sing. : )

It's a Beautiful Day

I've had the song from the commercial, "It's A Beautiful Day" stuck in my head for a week now. But it is a quite wonderful song to sing often. I'll be walking along, sing it in my head and truly recognize the beauty around me. God is so good.
"This is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple." Psalm 27:4

May your day be blessed, may you seek His face, and may His beauty cause you to seek harder.