4.05.2015

It's Easter!


It's Easter! 

In my opinion, it's the best holiday ever! It seems like a calmer, simpler holiday (after you get past the many egg hunts and such), where people get together with family and celebrate spring--not too much of anything else. 

However, we can't get past the fact that it's a whole day dedicated to the gospel. No amount of consumeristic American culture can bury that because the gospel is true every day, and for believers, every day is like Easter, because we wake up covered in His Grace. 


Romans 15:13, John 1:16






Jesus paid it all, 
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, 
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne 
I stand in Him complete,
Jesus died my soul to save,
my lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all, 
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, 
He washed it white as snow
Sin had left a crimson stain, 
He washed it white as snow

O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead







4.04.2015

When You Get THAT News...



Everybody's had "those talks", the ones where news has to be delivered....sometimes it's the elephant in the room, or maybe it is something new entirely. 

Several times I've gotten news like this and my reaction has been different every time. It usually was the phrase "We're moving". 

Those days have long since passed. Since I'm in school now and my home has transitioned to there, where I've been most, it hasn't been a worry. I go to school and come home occasionally, all the while stumbling through the growing up process wherever I find myself.

However, thinking you're outta the clear is probably one of the most dangerous things in life. So what happened? The news this time wasn't "We're moving" as in us as a family, it was my parents saying "We are moving to Florida..."


Far, far away Florida. 


At the time of this news and even now, I understand that when God calls you somewhere, you must obey. That is why we have been blessed the other times we've moved--we've obeyed without hesitation when we feel the call is from the Lord. 

Still, when I think about it words like separation, leaving, loss, isolation, gone, parted and asunder all come to mind. 

I'm reminded that salvation cost a perfect life, so moving and uprooting your life is certainly pale in comparison. Even though this is truth, it's taken awhile to get past the icky feelings of pride and entitlement and feeling like the whole thing is an injustice. 

 While we may be called to a certain place, here or overseas, the part that doesn't change is that we as Christ-followers are called to pick up our cross and follow Jesus every single day. Matthew 16:24-26.

Picking up your cross can look impossible. It can look scary and hard and unfamiliar. It can look sunny and warm and full of unknowns as plentiful as the sand everywhere. Or it can look like staying behind and making the place you go to school your official home and seeing family a lot less. 


"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23


I write this as new paint is being applied to the house and boxes and packing paper are starting to appear. Furniture is disappearing and the walls have become bare. 

It's happening soon.






My Five Favorite Things About Being Home...



The company kept...



My not-so-little companion...



The copious amounts of sweet tea...



Home-cooked food...



My other companion...




















Parts of My March



So, I know it's now April, but this post is about the happenings of March:



1) Stress 
I've learned that it takes a lot of stress over a short period of time to help make me unstressed--as in me realizing that right in the middle of the stress that it is fine--it's not really the end of the world like I usually find myself believing.


2) Racial Reconciliation 
Racial Reconciliation is a real issue. It's a product of the gospel, which is all-inclusive. This reconciliation among believers and the church has to be intentional.


3) Lies 
I used to believe a lot of lies about myself, expectations, how much I need to do and how I am supposed to react to things that happen. Now, those are coming to light--not only the fact of them, but the simple fact that they are lies.






4) The Ten Commandments
Lying, stealing and coveting are things that we think we don't really do, we just see. But in fact, that is a false premonition if I ever heard one. You can lie and steal and covet time, joy and words.

5) Sometimes Less is More.
Wouldn't you say?




6) Church
I went to my first members meeting at Christ Fellowship Church in BG. Now a member, all on my own, I went to my first meeting and was reminded of the importance of commitment, support and furthering the gospel in our community. 

7) Life is great when you don't have to depend on coffee.
For real, try it.





8) She Reads Truth 
This is my new favorite website. Click here to go to the sight and check it out! It's a group of women who simply love reading the Word. Plus, the website is one of the prettiest thing's I think I've ever seen. Super appealing to those visual-oriented people such as myself.


9) God's Character
The root of the problem that you may be experiencing is often a flawed view of God's character. It's not enough to say that God is sometimes faithful, or mostly faithful, He is always faithful. 


10) Summer and Spring
I forgot how much I love them both!