Love. Cliche, not cliche...

Valentine's Day. Some people love it, some people hate it, some are indifferent. I don't really know where I fall. I can love it but I'm not a huge fan of the multi million dollar cliche Hallmark takes advantage of. I don't want to hate it simply because I don't like to hate anything. I guess I'm more indifferent than anything but am not set in my condition.

Valentine's Day falls in a very emotional time of year for me. Valentine's Day, 2005. That was my parents' last valentine's together. It was also 7 days before their 30th wedding anniversary and 5 days before my mom left this Earth. I watched my dad read his valentine to my mother. I don't remember if they knew I was around but it was like a movie. That very moment changed my world.

Love. When someone says that word, what's the first thing you think of? What immediately pops into your head? I guess it would depend on what's going on in your life at the time. The image of my father reading a card to my mother and whispering his adoration for her in her ear will forever remain what I see when someone asks me about love. Words that come to mind are sacrifice, commitment, tough, life-long, world, unconditional, growth, pain, value, team, best friends, vulnerable, no matter what. I can't imagine having that and losing it, let alone finding it again. If and when you find that again, is it the same? Is it more or less? Or just different?

Belief and Faith... what do they amount to?

This is so crazy awesome. The symbolism in this passage is astounding. Look at what God does with such a lack of hope, when it looks like there is NO WAY that any good can come from a situation, God puts beauty in it by breathing life into it. Nothing is in vain, God uses everything. He speaks to the author and works through him to bring life. He had to trust God and spoke with his mouth, truth and prophesy over the bones. 

Learning to trust, trust. Believe. Have faith that God will use me the way he intended when he brought me to life. Discovering the purpose I'm bound for... CRASHing into life, falling into peace... 

Ezekiel 37

Breath of Life

 ^1-2 God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. ³ He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
    I said, "Master God, only you know that."
 ⁴ He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!'"
 ^5-6 God, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am God!"
 ^7-8 I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them.
 ⁹ He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'"
 ¹⁰ So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
 ¹¹ Then God said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they're saying: 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there's nothing left of us.'
 ^12-14 "Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, 'God, the Master, says: I'll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I'll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you'll realize that I am God. I'll breathe my life into you and you'll live. Then I'll lead you straight back to your land and you'll realize that I am God. I've said it and I'll do it. God's Decree.'"

Holiday Hmmms....

It's been a while...

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Oh how I love it. I'm not sure if I can pin point one particular reason why this time of year has me beaming. Maybe it's the warm fuzzy feelings you get while carrying out traditions with your family. Getting to spend time with friends and family you don't see so often. The cheer of Christmas is infectious! It could be the cold weather, even if it doesn't snow (i wish it would). Perhaps it really grabs me simply because it is a time of celebration. I like to think I live my life in celebration. Each day is a gift just as much as December 25th. If more people considered life as a celebration, the world would be a better place. I celebrate every day because there's a purpose for it. I have a purpose. You have a purpose. Being a part of a whole has something significant about it doesn't it? Why do you think sports are so huge? The fans MAKE sports awesome. Everyone wants to be a part of something. I'm a part of something every day regardless of where I live, who I know, what I have or the teams I'm on. I'm a part of the Big Adventure. The Greatest Love Story Every Told. That's a reason to celebrate each day.

On a less cheerful note, the holidays remind us of what we've lost or hard times. All those traditions don't seem quite the same with people missing, do they? It's difficult to celebrate every day when something's weighing on your every thought. What's funny to me right now is that as I began writing this I was thinking so much about missing family members who've died. Processing it, thinking about it... typically I'm full of words. Now, not so much. I simply miss them. It's not depressing anymore just...sad. Sad they are going to miss it. Sad I can't look at my mom during family game night and crack up at the thought of whatever a "Sackbutt" is. (See the game "Balderdash") Sad I don't get to hear my Grandma squeal as she wins at SkipBo... again! Sad that my PaPaw won't be around to snap at Grandma for being bossy(haha!). I guess I just love sharing experiences with the people I love most. One of the worst things in the world for me, is to experience something amazing alone. Sitting on a mountain by myself, reveling in the vivid view is great. But when something really cool happens, I want to share it. Not only is it just more fun, but it's as if the joy is doubled. Maybe that's just my personality talking. I'm crazy about people. haha. Hmm... Oh well.

Consuming Fire

Yesterday, worship was great. It's always great, for me anyway. It's what I love most! It's such a sweet way of communicating with our King. For Offertory, we lead the congregation in the song Fire Fall Down... SO GOOD. and before be began, I read from Hebrews 12, one of my favorite passages.


Hebrews 12:22-24, 28-29


²²But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, ²⁴to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.


²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our "God is a consuming fire."




I love it. I'm in awe. Everyday I'm in awe. This is how MY God pursues me. Worship... Words... lifting voices as one body. The bride of Christ. :)

My About Me Blurb.

I am Catherine Elizabeth. Pure and Consecrated to God. Redeemed and renewed, I am a child of the most High King. I will spend eternity celebrating my Father and all he has created. I am a sinner, washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, spilled by those he came to save. I am perpetually flawed by my sin. I am imperfect, arrogant, selfish and lazy. I seek the approval of others first, before my God. I am a controller, seeking to make every situation better. I am living in the illusion that I can control my life and that what I do defines who I am though nothing I am capable of doing will cause my Maker to love me more or love me less. I am more messed up than I think I am and I am more loved than I will ever know. I am a recipient of the love everlasting, seized by the power of a great affection and loved more by my maker than anyone else will ever love me. I am a masterpiece, a diamond being polished and cut to show its greatest beauty, clarity and color. I am a servant, honored to rest at the feet of The Sovereign Lord. Humbled by the compassionate heart of God and rescued by the perfect bridegroom. My Father reigns over all and rules over all. My Daddy is the All Powerful creator of the universe, who loves me and finds great delight in my heart. My Abba is my King, whom I revere, love, respect and bow to. I am a light, a lamp filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit who speaks to me and through me. I am a vessel, given the task of protecting, guarding and growing the source of my Father's joy: The heart, mind and soul of his broken, yet beautiful daughter. I am a voice that sings with the hosts and multitudes in the sky. I am called to worship, made to worship and therefore I will worship with all my being.

Hallelujah

Hello my few followers. haha. This blog is really just for me to get my thoughts out, although I do enjoy sharing with you about how God is working in my life and the lives of those around me. :)

Happy Hump day. Yes, Wednesday. Tomorrow marks the second half of the week. I love Thursdays. I also love Sundays. I also love Saturdays. And it appears that right now, I love short sentences.

I've been working on a song lately simply about the word hallelujah. I was listening to the song "Praise to the Lord Almighty" but the version sung by Christy Nockels. I thought to myself, we sing the word Hallelujah over and over, what does it mean? Without really trying to figure it out, I googled it. (I love that google is a verb now.)   Is means Praise Yaweh. I love that. It is derived from the word hebrew word 'Hallel' (I'm not sure if I got the spelling right) That's the word that I'm looking forward to getting tatooed on my wrist. I just haven't gotten around to it. Anyway, hallel means, among other things 'rejoice' and the definition of rejoice is 'to spin about wildly'. That gives me such an incredible mental picture of the joy that our creator has for us. I have this picture in my mind because he [our God] 'rejoices over you with singing!' Just think. The creator of the universe and the Almighty beginning and end of all things sings and dances around simply because of the joy just one of us brings him.  What a love story.

So many times I remind myself of this picture. I have to. I know the truth, I know in my head that I am far more loved than I will ever know. Yet I feel like I have to prove to people (mainly my dad and family) that I am enough. I feel that way because I, for some reason cannot rest in the security of my God's intimate and perpetual love for me. He accepts me. I must truly believe that before I can be okay with who I am without the acceptance and approval from other people. Until then, I try to prove myself. That's really tiring and unnecessary.

Oh and here's another update. I've decided that instead of going into advertising, I feel like God's calling me to be a Lead Worshipper. More commonly known as Worship Leader. lol. I like the other better though. It's more of how I perceive it. :) To support myself until I find the place where God wants me, I will continue with advertising. I've also decided to attend seminary. I'm so excited about this I can barely stand it! I'm planning on going to Metro Atlanta Seminary. It's a fraction of the cost of other seminaries and I've been told still GREAT education. I've heard amazing things about RTS, but for now, I'm going with Metro. Then, perhaps in the future, I'll get another degree at RTS, if necessary.

Stepping into Brokenness: "I want a smooth and straight path"

I wrote a song last night. Not really a song, but it was just a whole lot of words, phrases. They just came to me. I kinda of feel like they've been lingering around in my brain. It took ten minutes to write them all down. It was weird. I put music to them today. It's not the best, but after some work, I think it has potential.

I left the counselor's office a little while ago. It went well, I didn't get much time today, but what time I did have was really great. She's an objective mediator/advisor. Everyone needs counseling. If you think you do, you do. If you think you don't, you REALLY do. haha. It's great.

I've changed the way I do things. I've added a few things to my schedule, but good things. I begin AND end my day with either writing in my journal, which is all just prayer, or reading scripture. I've realized that not EVERY time with God has to be a tear jerking, "come to Jesus" moment. I can simply learn something that God has to teach me or be reminded of the examples of godly people in the Bible or a story that I will relate to that day. I don't have to really hugely be affected by that short time and weep and be drained the rest of the day. It's like coffee with a best friend. Sometimes you just talk about life, the little things, not necessarily having deep deep conversation and crying on each others' shoulders. Something that I've known for a while, but hardly ever practice: Every thing you do, every thought you think, or word you say... all of it should be an act of worship. Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." What a blessing! A straight path! I don't have to wander around aimlessly... My road's not bumpy or rocky or worse, pothole infested. When you're in constant communion with Him and every act, everything you do, you consider an act of worship, how could anything you do or say be malicious, degrading, condescending, or selfish? That sad part of this amazing bit is that in order to make every act, one that is worship, we must be apart from our selves. We're so geared towards putting ourselves on the throne in our hearts, serving ourselves, making our lives easier. Our inherent nature is not to constant serve the God who created us. Our sin nature prohibits us from easily communing with our Lord. I'm broken and need rescuing every minute of every day. I know this, but don't remember it all the time. Some how my pride gets the best of me and I feel that I can pull myself out of a sticky situation... or protect myself. God is ALWAYS in control and ALWAYS knows it. It astounds me how quickly we forget that. It makes me wonder if our subconscious does it on purpose. We want to control.

Stepping Into Brokenness: "And He Threw Roses at My Feet"

Last month, my last month of 2009, was the most difficult. On my journey to who I'm supposed to be, I've learn so many vital things. Despite the things I know in my head, I've found that my head and heart do not like to communicate with each other. I have to make them, which in itself is a draining process.

My relationship with my dad is the most dear to me out of all the wonderful people in my life. I want approval from him more than any other person in the world. I long to hear him say, "I see you, who you are, you are beautiful, you delight my heart, I think you're wonderful!" What little girl doesn't want that from her father? But there's something more. Our relationship is one that runs deep. Deeper than any canyon or abyss imaginable. The only one that would top that is the one that is BEYOND imaginably deep. :) Our Father. Anyway, We also butt heads often. Our personalities are similar and our hearts are flawed. The inspiration for this "series" is his phone call to me the other night. Through every step of growth, pain, redemption, and relinquishing control, he's been there. He puts up with what no other would put up with from me. Like I said, the past two months has been ROUGH, to say the least. God's really shaping and molding my heart. To say that it is painful would be an understatement. My relationships with my family members have been sooo rocky lately. The love still runs deep, but that doesn't prevent us from hurting each other. My counselor said today, "Hurting people hurt people." I thought that was so simple, yet so profound. It's true! When I feel hurt, I go into defense mode, or protect myself mode, or build a wall mode. That's just what humans do. More than humans, think about dogs, if a dog gets kicked by someone or even falls, it won't let anyone near it or will attack if anyone tries to get near, they think they'll get hurt again. That being said, I'm just going through a lot of personal redirection and growth. It's tough. I'm a mess. But I know that the end is so worth it.

So, I'm stepping into brokenness, pain, reality, love, acceptance, grace, forgiveness, and onto a straight path.

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by cateentrekin.

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by cateentrekin.

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by cateentrekin.

Hello Helicopter!

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by cateentrekin.

Today, one of our friends showed up in the field behind our house in his helicopter! So, we went for a ride! :) So FUN!

Rough beginning... hopefully a beautiful ending

Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if my mom hadn't died. I wonder what would be different. In a message to an friend, one that knew my mother, I wrote this:

There's no reason in particular that she's been on my mind lately. Normally, when I'm struggling with something or life just reminds me that it's not easy, is when I miss her the most. I begin to wonder what my life as an adult would be like if she was still here. I wonder if I would have matured differently or faster, or dated certain people or not dated certain people. Because of the focus of her illness starting when I was 15, I feel like I missed out on having a mom in one of the parts of life that a girl needs her mom the most. I just wonder what kind of a person I would be if she was still around. Although, at the same time. I'm actually thankful for her death because even though she got the best end of the deal, I've grown and learned so much. I've made many mistakes, and learned from them all. I also have been forced to become a Daddy's girl... I didn't used to be.

At times I feel like I can't function without her. All I can do is sit and think. Or cry. I can't focus on anything but her. Sometimes I feel selfish for just sitting in the fact that she's gone. I don't do this often, but after I do, I feel like I've accomplished something. I feel that I've taken another step in the grieving process. I'm learning that it's so important to face the things that hurt the most. I didn't. Now, after 4 years, I am and it's the hardest thing. Growth is not easy. It's along and grueling process. At the end, I'm promised that it's beautiful, but beginning and enduring it... not so beautiful.

I posted this in my facebook today... It's Drops of Jupiter by Train

This is my song for her. It's the song I listened to on repeat on the way home from her viewing... which was also my parents' wedding anniversary Feb 21st, 2005... This song made it hard to drive home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xXQFnIEf_Q

Entertainment

These are some hilarious and ... interesting... videos.

I love him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkN8gXwI7g4&feature=PlayList&p=1EDB6CF2D91EE466&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qK5cZuVG1o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntjrP09r2yE&feature=related

The best one of all... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUfzN40_dRM&feature=channel

Proof laughter is contagious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A4ENwFVjL0&feature=related

The funniest thing about this one is the website at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-fAajaSeiA&feature=related

Okay, gross, but surprisingly amusing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSd4t94XQm8&feature=related

I'm really into memorizing scripture right now. haha... it's like it's a new fad or something... No. lol... no fad.

Psalm 119:9-11

⁹ "How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you."

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has given us not a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

I recently finished reading "Blue Like Jazz". Btw, great book. GREAT book. The Author, Donald Miller, had a lot to say about love and the Gospel. I found many of his ideas profound. After reading a friend's facebook status which said,

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken." C.S. Lewis The Four Loves

and "if love was a choice, who would choose such exquisite pain?"

I had a eureka moment. In response this is what I said:

Love makes the world go 'round! Dude, love is really all we have, we are commanded to love one another... Christ demonstrates how we should treat each other by loving, being compassionate, caring, putting others first, being close (and by close i mean intimate...) really knowing each other. If we live like this and remember that we are all siblings, and how much we love our siblings, then how should we love our neighbors? As ourselves right? which also means we are to love ourselves. God created u sin His image. We are image bearers and heirs to the throne. Why wouldn't we love ourselves?

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." So... after all is said and done... LOVE WINS. God is Love. :) *steps off soap box*

To elaborate, I'm just realizing that we are called not only to Love God above all others, and love others before ourselves, but that does not say we can't love ourselves. Simply stating that we should love others before ourselves implies that we are to love ourselves. I take joy in the fact that I am a masterpiece and that my Father rejoices ("hallel"-hebrew word meaning 'to spin about wildly'... cool huh?) over me with singing. Would I not be so honored to be the creation and delight of the most High God? This brings me to my next idea.

It is that we are to ENJOY following God's laws. Although, they are Laws, they are put in place to keep us from harm. God uses that same thing in parenting. It's parallel. When you have children, you tell them do not play in the street, it is so that they don't get hit by a car. They are to have a healthy fear of the street. At the time, the child is not aware of why they shouldn't play in the street, just that they are limited to the yard and sidewalks and that their parents don't want them to be able to go anywhere else. They look at it like a restriction or that they're just being mean. We ought to thank and respect our parents for setting rules for us as children and teenagers because that is how we've learned. We've learned either by listening to what they say. or by mistake. That's how I normally learn things. As adults, we think we know so much more... which relatively, we do. But looking at the big picture, for us, there are so many pieces missing. We can't really even see the big picture. So when God puts rules into play to keep us safe, physically, emotionally, mentally, we feel that He's a mean God, that He's got all these laws that we're supposed to follow.. Being a gospel believing christian is NOT about following the laws. Now, that is a very important piece of the puzzle, but to focus on and get caught up in following the laws makes being a christian a duty. Why would we want just another duty? We DON'T! We should take joy in following His laws because when we are inconstant communion with our King, we don't see His rules as being mean, We see his rules as gifts, from a loving father who loves us so much that he would put those into place to keep us safe. In Psalm 37, verse 4, David says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." --- This verse you can look at all together, and you can separate it and digest each part individually.

"Delight yourself in the Lord..."

First, look at what Thesaurus.com has to say about the what it means to delight:

Main Entry:	delight
Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	make happy; experience happiness
Synonyms:	allure, amuse, arride, attract, be the ticket, charm, cheer, content, delectate, divert,enchant, enrapture, entertain, exult, fascinate, freak out, gladden, glory, go over big, gratify,groove*, hit the spot, jubilate, knock dead, knock out, please, pleasure, ravish, rejoice, satisfy, score, send, slay, thrill, tickle pink, tickle to death, turn on, wow

Isn't that interesting? Just sit and ponder what it would be like to do all those things. And then think about what all "The Lord" encompasses. How are we to delight ourselves in the Lord? Compare your relationship with Christ to the relationship you have with your best friend, your spouse, or your healthiest relationship. Think about even the small things that bring you joy in those relationships. God is SO MUCH BIGGER than that. He should be your EVERYTHING. I'm so guilty of putting myself, control, others, material things, love, etc.. in priority over Him. How does it feel to be 2nd? not great right? If you're married, or have every been in a relationship, how would it feel if your significant other put someone else before you? How would it feel if they loved that other person, pursued that other person, spent more time with that other person more than you? AWFUL. HEART WRENCHING. Think about it. It grieves the heart of God. Why would we ever choose anything but Him anyway? Anything other than our Lord falls short. Anyone other than our Lord will give us TEMPORARY, SHALLOW, CONDITIONAL, at times DRUNKEN, APATHETIC, and SELFISH love and acceptance. I'm not saying that we are incapable of having deep and meaningful relationships with other christians and even non-believers! We are! But nothing will ever be as satisfying as the UNCONDITIONAL, FOREVER, INTIMATE, SELFLESS, HONORING, RESPECTING, COMPASSIONATE, DEEP, SINCERE, AND GENUINE, love and acceptance that we have to only RECEIVE from the heart of God. Why not delight in that? ha! We'd be crazy not to! ... or sinners...

"... and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The second part of this verse can be taken two ways. He will give you the things that your heart desires, OR, He will cause your heart to desire what His heart desires for you. Which would you prefer and why? I prefer the latter. If I long for my life to be good and pleasing to him, to honor my Lord, to praise him in everything, through everything, and all the time... and He knows far better than I what is best for me, then why tell him what I think is best? He does enjoy to bless us with things that we desire, but He also blesses us with things that we don't know we desire until we experience that blessing. Again, the big picture that we can't see, is so vast. This part, once you get that they are HIS desires that we long to long for, it's pretty simple I think...

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Prodigal God series part 1 (STELLAR sermons btw)

So I've been listening to the Prodigal God sermon series by Tim Keller. Amazing. It's absolutely incredible. I could listen to them over and over. In fact, my sister has. haha... It doesn't matter what stage of life you're in, this series is for you. Here's something that I wrote down because it was so profound to me.

"Repentance is an experience of LIBERATION. A repentant person is someone who is FINALLY free from the pretense and evasion. Free from the need to win every argument, free from the need to defend yourself. Free from the need to expose others ans say, "You're not so great." A repentant person who is vulnerable and happy to do it and says, "Yes, I was wrong, I was absolutely wrong. I shouldn't have done that. Let's make it right." Quick to repent, joyful to repent. It's liberation. I don't have to spin everything, I don't have to have control what everybody thinks."
-Tim Keller

Keller talks about 2 kinds of repentance:

1-The kind that leads to salvation and no regret.
2-The kind that leads to regret and devastation.

The first kind of repentance is one that is focused on how the sin that has been done effects the heart of the One that matters. It focuses on the hurt, grief, and pain that the sin has caused the lover of souls and how time does not heal hurt, but a repentant heart and love, grace, mercy, and joy.
The second kind is one that is more self centered. Focused on the sinner and what the sinner did. The sinner might think that if they feel bad enough about what they did and people see that they feel badly then, they've suffered enough of the guilt and everything can be okay again.

The rain is my gift and the thunder, music to my ears.

I've come to the realization that this day, my 22nd birthday, is not about me. Today I am proud of myself for being who I am, yes. BUT- without the gospel, without love, compassionate grace, mercy, redemption, sacrifice, zeal... etc. Where would I be? This is not MY day. This is the Lord's day for me. I'm so thankful and blessed to be a proclaimed daughter of the high King of Zion, the almighty, the most high God. I'm honored that He would think of me. His greatness humbles me. The lord my God is on my side. He has called me to Him an d today He blessed me the minute I woke up. He knows my heart loves to wake up to the rain. This morning, I woke up to thunder and within minutes it began to pour. I immediately opened all my windows and went outside and started my day with my Abba, my Lord.

How great is our God? :)

Each day the Lord gives us is a gift. It is also a responsibility. What we do with His gifts is very important. We are image bearers of the King. You and I represent an idea, a faith, a love, the truth, the gospel, the only wise God. How will you bear the image so graciously bestowed upon you? You are a masterpiece.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I say again, Rejoice!"

"And I will fear not evil, for my God is with me. And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear? WHOM THEN SHALL I FEAR?"

You're Beautiful

'You're Beautiful'
by Phil Wickham


I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

This is one of my favorite worship songs. Phil Wickham is probably my favorite christian artists.
This morning I was sitting out on the screened in porch listening to the sounds that come with a new day. I made a list of things I'm thankful for... This list is SO short compared to the one that is actually all the things that my savior has given me. But these are the ones that came to mind first.

This is what I wrote in my journal this morning:

-My wonderful family-I'm so blessed by just being with them and knowing that I matter to them. Always.
-Lady-she's really affectionate and rubbing her face all over me cuz she wants me to pet her. (She's pregnant) I also love that I love cats. My mother loved cats. It's kinda of like a piece of her that I have...
-The outside-I don't have words to express the JOY I receive from just being in awe of your creation. It brings so much glory to you and such joy to me. Your works are indescribable! You know my heart and pursue me with love. You are the lover of my soul. You are the author of my heart, mind, soul, and story. You're the bridegroom of my heart. Yet you are my Father, whom I revere. You are the creator of all things. You show me you love me.
-When the sun hits me just right.
-When a song comes on the radio and my heart jumps
-When there's a breeze
-The sound of the wind making the trees dance.
-The morning birds that sing their songs for you.
-The shadows and lights that make the leaves look dynamic.
-Animals
-Coffee- the smell of coffee.
-Shade
-Playing sports with friends
-Being a kid
-Music- God, music is so wonderful. I want to sing to you everyday.


Micah 7:18
"Who is a God like You, who pardons sins and forgives the transgression of the remnant of inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."

Be at peace my children... but get excited about all the action!

These days I'm extremely content with where I am in life. I'm so blown away by the oppotunities God has lain at my feet this summer. I'm certain that He is using them all in ways that I am not aware right now. I'm so thankful for the blessings that He's bestowed upon me with so much Grace, when I don't deserve it. I'm thankful that He's brought me to a place where I am at peace and despite the battle between my head and my heart every-so-often, I am confident in who I am without the shallow acceptance of others. Now, I do value my friends and family and how much they love and encourage me, but I'm finding MY value in my Lord.

Reading in Jeremiah, I found this passage. This is just a piece of the action that is going on, but oh what a battle scene! I know it's a lot to read, but Oh so worth it. We are part of a great adventure, a love story, an action/"shoot-em-up movie" (as my dad calls them). All the different genres of stories that people prefer are included in one story. The Gospel. Below is an action/thriller... i think... BUT the story of Christ, his life, death, resurrection, love for his people, relationship with The Father, everything... it's every genre all in one. Who wouldn't love OUR story. The story of God's people. :) This makes me excited. :) OK OK, read... and imagine youself preparing for battle... this is great imagery for Spiritual Warfare as well.

Jeremiah 51:10-23

10 The Lord has brought about our vindication;come, let us declare in Zionthe work of the Lord our God.
11 “Sharpen the arrows!Take up the shields!
The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance for his temple.
12 “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;make the watch strong;set up watchmen;prepare the ambushes;for the Lord has both planned and donewhat he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.13 O you who dwell by many waters,rich in treasures,your end has come;the thread of your life is cut.14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself:Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15 “It is he who made the earth by his power,who established the world by his wisdom,and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.16 When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.He makes lightning for the rain,and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge;every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,for his images are false,and there is no breath in them.18 They are worthless, a work of delusion;at the time of their punishment they shall perish.19 Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,for he is the one who formed all things,and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;the Lord of hosts is his name.
20 “You are my hammer and weapon of war:with you I break nations in pieces;with you I destroy kingdoms;21 with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;22 with you I break in pieces man and woman;with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;23 with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.