I like this

...I am just like any other girl, and I love happy endings, and hand me a chick flick anytime, but the realization hits me that this is not what true love is about. It is not when the boy meets girl, and their eyes lock and it is love at first sight. It is not the Happily Ever After, and no, it is not roses and chocolate on Valentines.

Love is a bloodstained cross...

I read this paragraph in an article I was reading and that section just really stuck out to me. I guess because of the stark contrast in the description of the two things. The truth of it just stuck out to me. Love is not at all those mushy gushy things we're sort of trained to think it is from the time we're little kids. It's sacrifice. Sacrifice in so many ways. Thinking of others higher than yourselves.... and when I think of love in that way suddenly I see how many people love me so much. And It spurs me on to love through good works. (Hebrews 10:24) Anyway.. just a tidbit I thought I'd throw out there.

Tornado

Wow.. Only a few of you know why the title to this song is SO freakishly ironic. It took me a while to find it because I never dreamed that was the title! Anyway, I've had a line from this Sara Groves song stuck in my head for over a week now..

You live your life like a tornado.
Destruction follows everywhere you go.
And you have no plans to stop or slow (oh).
I will not let this bitter root grow in me.
I will not let you leave that legacy,
But it gets so hard when pain is all I see (oh).

And every time I find healing, you're making a new mess,
And I am learning the real meaning of forgiveness.

And I tried to remove myself from your path,
But I keep on waking up in the aftermath.
So I pick up again and say I won't look back (oh).
And I will not let this bitter root grow in me.
I will not let you leave that legacy,
But this constant fight is breaking me (oh).

And every time I find healing, you're making a new mess,
And I am learning the real meaning of forgiveness.

And it hurts when you hit at the hearts of the ones I love;
When everything you touch is rubble and dust.
And it gets so hard to know how to trust,
But I will not let that bitter root grow.
I will not let it, no no.
But it gets so hard (oh).

And every time I find healing you're making a new mess,
And I am learning the real meaning of forgiveness.
And I could move and never send you a forwarding address,
Or I could learn the real meaning of forgiveness.

More Holiness Give Me

This cry comes from the very depths of my heart right now, of where the Lord has me and how He's dealing with me..


More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in my Savior, more sense of His care.
More joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord.
More zeal for His glory, more hope in His Word.
More tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

More purity give me, more strength to o'ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more useful I'd be,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like Thee.

- Hymn by Philip Paul Bliss

The Summer Chronicles

That's going to be the name of our Video Blogging series. I realize it's kinda dumb considering this summer is already halfway over, but the rest of the summer is going to be busy so it'll be okay!

Just wanted to let y'all know that the first "Episode" is in the works if I can figure out why the computer doesn't like the video files off my dads camera.

Announcements

I know, I've blogged twice in one week! It's a miracle!! Especially considering how long this blog has remained virtually dormant. 

Though this post will be brief. I have two things to announce.

1) Many of our close friends already know this but I figure it's about time to tell everyone - officially - Jordan and I will be moving out of our parents house in the next two weeks. We're going to be moving in 10 minutes away with a single lady in our church body who has an extra room and bathroom in her apartment. We're excited and nervous all at once! In the past month God has just made it increasingly apparent that this is what we're supposed to do and we trust that He will be faithful to see us through all the changes and transitions we'll be making...

2) Lauren, Jordan and I are going to attempt to "video blog" this summer. We were discussing this evening how none of us have much time these days to sit down and type out all the things that are happening in our lives, all the things that God is revealing. It's a lot easier to say it than it is to type it out. Since we all have webcams and/or digital cameras we figured it shouldn't be all that difficult. So... yes it's going to be awkward at first, but we hope you guys will give us grace in that respect.. and don't laugh too hard!! Haha.. Those of you who like the idea are more than welcome to join us in this! We hope that it'll catch on, but we'll just have to see.

Changes

Have you guys noticed that among our circle of friends the phrase, "God is doing a lot right now." has become an almost cliché generalization at this point? I've been guilty of saying it far too often myself, not knowing how to sum up in a couple of sentences the things that are happening so deeply inside me that there almost can be no words. Unfortunately right now you're going to have to live with the generalizations.. I'm trying to keep them to a minimum but if you know me you know what I'm talking about. Haha..

 

At the beginning of this year God made it very clear to us ("us" being my sister and I in particular) that we are going to do a lot of growing up, in more ways than one. As I reflect over the last 6 months I can see where some of that has taken place. I determined early on that the Lord was going to allow me to stay just uncomfortable enough not to stay where I was at, but to continue pressing forward in Him. Uncomfortable is an understatement. He has pushed and shoved on me until my old "comfort zones" no longer exist. It's been encouraging though because in the process He has changed my heart, my mind, even my train of thought and emotions. The way I react to things now is totally different from the way I did 6 months ago. I will never cease to be amazed when I suddenly realize, "Wow.. He changed me and I didn't even know it.. He is faithful."

 

Though this is only the beginning. I'm about to go through one of the biggest "growth spurts" of my life, and I can already feel the growing pains. Life as I know it is about change. Drastically. I can't even begin to anticipate all the things I'll be facing in the coming months. But one thing I know beyond a shadow is that "His mercy endures forever!" If the Lord has shown me anything recently it's that He gives us the grace to get through each moment as we approach it. I can't ask for any more than that.

 

He IS the God "Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever; Oh give thanks to the God of Heaven, For His mercy endures forever!" Psalm 136

This is hysterical!