romans 5

 my sweet friend, as seen above :) sent me this passage today... so needed! so encouraging!

thankful for quality friends.

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! - romans 5:2-4

space between

Shawn McDonald's music has seriously ministered to me so much through this whole wandering/waiting season... especially this song, I feel like I could've written this song! through this foreign season -- God has really been filling the space between us. all the late nights of doubt, depression, anxious thoughts, turmoil, and lots of tears have all really just lead me closer to Him! I know that in the darkest times, God's light is the strongest... slowly the space between us is closing in. no matter where I end up or what I end up doing... Jesus is enough & He is all I need.  Jesus is the only thing that will ever make me whole. Jesus is the one thing that will always stay constant though trials/change. so here's to where/when/whatever happens next in my journey!

 

I'm still up, and its 3 in the morning
I try to sleep but my mind keeps going
Am I awake cause You're trying to speak to me
Lying here with my ears wide open
Can You fix what I know I have broken
There's a hole in my heart where I need You to be
But I'm right here, and You're right there
Will You take this wall I built and tear it down

And do what You always do
Making the old so new
Taking away the space between us
Filling it up with more of You
You do what You always do 
Cause You're my rescue
Taking away the space between us
Taking away the space between me and You

Never really meant to be so distant
Should have known that it made no difference
You were holding my hand when I walked away
And You were there in the middle of the night
You were there when I lost my sight
And You're still holding me today

"Letting go and letting God" isn't always comfortable.

Relevant just put out an article called Is There Room for Anxiety in the Church?  that hit a little too close to home, not to share... this quote below is basically what I've been feeling over, oh say the last ten months or so!! at the end of June, it will have been exactly a year from coming home & I still don't feel a certain calling toward His good purpose... which is super difficult, because I know, that I know, that I know He has a good & perfect plan/purpose for me... it's just hard to see it when anxiety creeps in.  I suggest reading the entire article, it was really good read.

"... imagine God freely calling you toward His good purposes. And as you journey in that direction, you may find yourself caught between the present and the future. That in-between place of the present and the future can create all kinds of anxiety because of the freedom of choice God has given us in our life. Perhaps we are anxious because the experiences of our past have shaped us in such a way that we dread making a free and deliberate choice. Or perhaps the mere possibility of making a wrong choice has left you feeling anxious."

*photo & quote originally posted on Relevant Magazine's website. 

random ramblings.

 /// God places the lonely in families. - ps. 68:8

I LOVE having a big family! I take them for granted a lot... it's pretty natural though right? we don't realize what we have until it's gone, this weekend a third of the fam went to Nashville for my grandpa's retirement party... I quickly remembered how hard it is to sleep at night without all of them accounted for! the house just seemed less chaotic and boring... don't get me wrong, I LOVE and value quiet time... because it's hard to come by in a house of a lot of people... but too much quiet is uncomfortable & unfamiliar. luckily, yesterday we were all accounted for again to celebrate mommy :) when I lived in Australia/Thailand it was the same thing, if I was by myself for too long, I felt like I was missing something or someone!  God knows our needs & knows exactly how to tend to them.... I like that.

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today I was listening to Kari Jobe stuck in traffic and Steady My Heart came on.... I think she wrote this song about me! seriously though, the lyrics are exactly what I was pondering/praying today.

Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart

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*lately I'm learning that grasping Grace does not happen over night, it's basically a life long process until we reach the Kingdom! our ignorant human minds cannot and will not ever understand the mind of God and the fact that He would wash away our mistakes. also remembering that my past does not define my future! ah... seriously God, you won't hold my dumb moves against me?! You still choose to bless me beyond what I deserve, even when I mess up... daily!? crazy. been pondering Romans 6 too... go read it.

dear marmie.

christmas 2011

I LOVE my mom, Lisa Lyn. we might not really share any physical traits, but we share the same middle name, which has always made me feel like your favorite! [but we all know you can't have favorites....] here are some ramblings of things I love about this woman!

I love that... you took care of this sick baby! I'm sorry for any sleepless nights & for making you wait while I just had to have surgery...I can't imagine having to experience that as a new mommy, thanks for being strong & courageous during the sick years. I love that you have always believed in me, even when I doubted myself. I'll never forget driving in the car two summers ago and you told me that I needed to go to Australia and that you believed that I could get there. you always speak/spoke  value/Truth/security into me. you made growing up care-free and enjoyable; just by coming to my t-ball games, that one jazz recital, class presentations, field trips and by understanding my hate for that whole school thing.  I remember last mother's day skype date and being so happy just to hear your voice...it was very comforting in such a foreign place. [I'm glad we're in the same time zone this time]. I love that summers growing up, you made us go to bed when it was still light outside... I guess now I sort of trust you had good intentions. you cleaned up our vomit and tried your best to make us take our medicine when we were sick... even though you found it under my bed. you stayed with me when I broke my arm and had to go to a big scary hospital, instead enjoying a birthday at Major Magic. my entire life, you taught me what really mattered in this life; a relationship with Jesus, people, and family. you still loved me when I was a nasty, cranky, and angry teenager. I am so thankful for all the wisdom you've shared with me. thanks for showing me how to unconditionally love. you have [and continue] to be an excellent example of how a wife, mom and woman should be! I can't wait to try to be half of the mom you have been to me. you make your job as mom look so easy... so it will be funny when I come crying to you in a few years asking how you did it?!

other kids are wrong, because I actually think you're the best mom.

xoxo #three

insta-friday

 

 

1.  I love our date nights!

2. my aunt sent this picture of my cousin [who feels more like a nephew :) ]... he is so cute! makes me wish I lived in Nashville, so I could cuddle him all day!

3. my dear friend/mentor/role-model/middle-school-small-group-leader is having a baby! last weekend we celebrated her & Baby mini Wheat.

4. L & I wen running together for the first time in years -- I hate running with other people :x it was fun, but we decided to post a picture of us AFTER the run... girls never post nasty/sweaty/just-went-on-a-four-mile-run pictures...haha...

5. this week felt like Seattle! so much rain.

6. creepy tire cover.

7. Baby J... no caption needed.

8. Megs new office... so cute! proud of this little campus Admin :)

8. & 10. this was the sky at 8AM and again at 5PM ... obsessed

11. It's a miricale! I wore three inch wedges ALL day yesteday... even though I felt like a giant, I loved them... they're so cute & I felt so girly for once :)

12. the summer is coming... that means one thing! watershed...!! I'm so excited for what God has in store for all of us this summer!!

wait a minute

just got another letter from Moody. 
still in this mysterious waiting group.
[I want to meet the rest of this group...]
they don't have enough space at the Chicago campus right now
... but are still interested in my application.

this time my attitude is different this time.
realizing that God does knows what He's doing.
no more wasting my waiting time.

insta-friday

I guess I run past this often & have never noticed it until yesterday... I love art!

this week I was reminiscing a lot about Thailand... sigh.. I know I will go back one day, I just don't know when that will be... yet.

my sister & the baby she nanny's for... she basically raises three children, two of them, since birth!!

PRAISE GOD! I finally snagged a side job... so I can actually start saving.  It's conveniently at a chocolate shop... I couldn't be happier, what girl wouldn't want to work with chocolate?!

this song by the Strokes came on the other day... I can't get away from this YOLO thing :)

last weekend we were wearing winter clothes & yesterday it hit 90 -- typical Michigan -- after work it seemed fitting to get an Iced Capp from Tim Horton's!

this doesn't really need an explanation, my pastor said it last weekend... good truth

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I know this isn't an instagram, but it's a really convicting Lecrae song about how the world views the Church... enjoy!

ne·far·i·ous

ne·far·i·ous/niˈfe(ə)rēəs - Adjective: (of an action or activity) Wicked or criminal: "the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates".

here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. but take heart, because I have overcome the world.

JOHN 16:33

rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

ROMANS 12:12