encouragement.

For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. -Psalm 84:11

rest in THAT, Christian.

philippians 2:3, matthew 5:16 and stuff.

what a humbling night. God is so so good.

tonight at small group we were to go off on our own and evaluate our walk with God. i encourage everyone to do this. here are the questions that were asked:
-How is my relationship with Jesus? Is my own personal spiritual life vibrant and active or dull and dying?
-What has been my experience this semester being in the word and praying? Why is it this way?
-Am I struggling with some sin in my life? What do I need to do about it?
-What fruit have I seen from God's spirit living inside me?
-What has God shown me about Himself this semester? What about him do I still struggle with?
-Have I surrendered everything of me to God? What am I hanging on to still? Is there a gospel other than the gospel of God's grace that I believe to find safety or hope or fulfillment?
-How's my humility?
-How have I done at loving my brothers and sisters in Christ? Have I actively built them up? Have I been praying for them? Do I share in their burdens and trials as I share mine with them? Have I been laying down my life for them?
-Am I submitting to my leaders in a God honoring way and how can I make it a joy for them to lead me?
-Where is my faith leading me? What are my visions and goals for the future? What do I need to do now to accomplish these things?
-Are there circumstances in my life that are changing and how do I respond to these changes? Who should I seek counsel from about my decisions?

talk about some convicting stuff. pretty much EVERY question convicts me. i never want to settle with who i am, or where i'm at with God. i have soo much to work on, and i want to know God so so so much better. i just realized how selfish i am, and how i live for myself and not for Christ. this has to change. i think of this verse:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. -Phil. 2:3


i want my life to reflect Christ. i feel like God is putting that on my heart NOW more than ever. i want to witness through my life. i want to love selflessly. i want to be humble. i want to be filled with the Holy Spirit in every area of my life. i owe Him my life because He died for me. i want Jesus first. i want to cling to Him. He is the answer to everything.

JESUS IS GOOD.

romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him."
-Romans 8:28

well? today has been quite a day. not in the best way but i'm trusting God to the best of my ability. i'm praying for faith. i am trying to not take anything in my own hands. i know i'm being vague, by the way. but that's what happens when you blog. you can't share every little detail of your life. haha. it mostly is just fears for the future, financial stuff you know?

i trust my Father is taking care of His children. i trust He has better plans. i believe He is testing us to see where our hearts are at, and i know i want to prove faithful. i know i have a long long long ways to go when it comes to trusting God, but He's never let me down. and i'm confident He never will.

anyways, that's been today. but God is good. so why worry?

last night was a pretty cool thing. we have been focusing on outreach in the dorms, so last night a couple of us passed out cookies to people in the dorms and handed out tracts as well. we got some neat responses, one guy was assuring us that we made his whole day. :) a few people asked some questions about what church we go to, so that was neat to get the word out there. it's cool to think someday i will get to stand face to face with God and hear Him say, "well done, my good and faithful servant." every little thing we do matters, even passing out cookies for an hour. :) what is funny is i wasn't looking forward to doing it, i wanted to be selfish and get some sleep. but in giving up that extra hour of my precious sleep, God really blessed my evening.

hm, short vague post. whoops, oh well. :)

it'll be a good day.

i already got done with two classes and now i have a nice big gap until four. and in that class we get to watch presentations. EASY PEEEZY!

God is good. this morning allison and i met up for prayer. we do that every monday, wednesday and friday (and weekends--just not as faithful about the time) at 8:20-8:40. it's something our church is doing, a constant praying cycle for our church body. it's a cool thing. it really blesses my day to pray with my best friend. even when i feel tired and groggy or stressed, it's nice to come before my Father and talk to Him before starting my day.

i just ate delicious subway and in about five minutes i'm heading to al's to pick her up and go to the bank, target and old navy. i'm in desperate need for 2.50 flip flops. great deal! then i'm going to get my hair highlighted at one fifteen. busy busy day.

it's my friend andrea's birthday so i got to go see her working at subway. what a beautiful girl after God's own heart! i was encouraged to hear what a great day it's been for her. i love my family in Christ. :) how blessed i am!

friday zach, hayden and rob come! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!! i haven't seen zach in over a month but it FEELS like a year!! God is good in our distance, but i'm reaaaal glad he's coming to visit me. it's long overdue i feel like. :) it's really neat to see God working in our relationship. He's so good to bring us together in His timing and His plan. definitely not what i expected, but i am so happy with how things are. i'm excited to have our relationship be used for advancing God's kingdom however He wants that to look.

God is worth following. He's worth giving everything up. He has such a better plan than we can construct for ourselves. that's the truth alright!

hope you guys have a blessed day in Jesus Christ.

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord; praise His name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among his peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
~Psalm 96:1-5~

my heart is Yours.

You won't relent until You have it all, my heart is Yours.

i'll set You as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm.
for there is Love that is as strong as death, jealousy demanding as the grave.
many waters cannot quench this Love.

beautiful. i love this song, and i have been listening to it all day long. i want these lyrics stamped in my heart, engraved in me. i love that God wants all of me. He will not be satisfied with pieces of my heart. He wants it all, and He deserves it all and more. He bought me, He brought me back to Him.

why does my heart wonder? why do i try to be satisfied by things in this world? it will not do. i love that God keeps fighting for my whole heart, He is the lover of my soul. He is a jealous God, el Qanna, fighting for my love.

i love my God. i fear my God. He is strong and mighty, loving and just, tender and compassionate. there is no one like Him. and anything good in this world is from Him.

we were not made for this world. we were made for something so much more. and we should listen to that voice, calling to us, drawing us closer. i want my God to reveal more of Himself to me. i want my God to capture my heart again. to set it on fire. to let it weep for this world, to overflow with love for His people.


come be the fire inside of me. come be the flame upon my heart.
come be the fire inside of me until You and i are one.


...watch and listen to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3spvQYlB-I

the first.

it's a rainy saturday morning and i'm waiting for a friend to call and join me for coffee shop quiet times, then grocery shopping. tonight we're doing this thing called "men's appreciation." it's a chance for us to take a night and devote it to appreciating our brothers on our small group. i'm excited! we're making them some hamburgers and sweet potato fries and salad stuff while they play risk and settlers, and end the night with a manly movie of their choice! that's all very random but it's what is happening tonight.

my mood reflects the weather today. kind of dreary, cold and overcast. i'm struggling with being in colorado to be frankly honest. not because i don't love colorado or the people here, because BELIEVE ME--i do! it's just hard being in a long distance relationship when everything in me wants to start my life with him now. i don't know how people do it without Christ, that's for sure. i would say it's not worth it if it's not from God. i still have a while to go and i want to make the most of it but it definitely gets to me, and today is just one of those days i suppose.

well i hope it gets sunny here shortly, because summer is almost approaching and it's still cold! i am so ready to wear shorts and tank tops and run around barefoot on the green grass playing frisbee or something. and i'm ready for the sun to beat down on my skin and relax me. mmm, i'm glad i have that to look forward to. :)

that's really all for today. i am going to try to keep up with this thing though!

"the Lord your God is with you; he is mighty to save. he will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." -zephaniah 3:17