3 DAYS!

"Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden from long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

Romans 16:25-27

not much this morning, i have to go work, i just love that it is HIM who is able to establish by the gospel we preach. that truth is good going into a week of camp. WE LEAVE IN 3 DAYS!

I'm ready for some of this:

love summer.

I love summer. 

Last night we had a TCYL hangout at Kirklevington Park. We played volleyball. That means I stood on the court and dug my feet in the sand and ran from the volleyball before I decided I was a waste of space so took pictures of everyone instead. :) 

I'm much more useful that way.

Here are some pics :) Enjoy!

On an ending note, I've given in to watching Glee. Love it. I've been listening to music from the show all day today. I secretly want to be in a show choir now. And have the ability to sing :)

Also, Megan and I went to the pool today and it was glorious. 

9 years

9 years ago tomorrow I made the biggest decision of my life, and it hasn't been the same since. 

I sat looking out over this lake (not my picture) and told God that I wanted a relationship with him. He has been so faithful. I read over my first journal entries ever today & was so encouraged by all the ways he has grown me, revealed himself to me, and answered prayers along the way (sometimes not in the way I wanted, but always in the way I needed)

I remember being so nervous about being able to stick with it. I've learned over the past 9 years that it has not been me who is the faithful one, but Him. I would not be sitting here today writing this if not for his constant love, forgiveness, and grace in my life. 

["He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6]

When I arrived at Saranac (a YL camp in upstate NY), I had never heard that I was a sinner separated from God. I had never heard that I had a God that loved me so much he sent his only Son to die so that I could be presented blameless to Him.

["God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Cor 5:21]

What I've learned in the years since is that everything He claims is true. He has proven His love over and over. His heart for me is so loving and patient. I turn my back on Him every day to live for myself, and he is still patient and loving to me.

["I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. " Hosea 11:4]

Today I find myself still growing. Still figuring it out. Still running other places to get my fill, when I know that He is all I need. Still being brought to my knees out of his incredible love for me.

It has been a journey, that is for sure. I have never experienced such fullness in life as I have these past 9 years. I owe every bit of that to my incredible Lord. He truly is everything I need. The world could fall apart around me and He would be enough. 

["The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10]

I hope these next 9 years are marked by obedience in prayer, in listening, and in action. I hope my life points to HIS faithfulness and HIS love. I hope I look back and am a different person than I am today, just like now I am a different person than I was 9 years ago.

["He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8]

my first DIY project

Well friends, its finished! I will share with you my very first DIY project. 

A couple weeks ago Holly & I lost our roommate Maria, and along with Maria, her kitchen table. We gained Randi, which is super fun, but did not gain a kitchen table. But if I've learned anything, it's that someone will always give you furniture if you wait long enough. We have 2 couches and (now) a kitchen table to prove it. 

My dad just happened to be driving through Lexington on a move of his own, with a kitchen table he no longer needed. Treat. One kitchen table for us :)

Here it was upon arrival:

(if you look closely, you'll see I put the table legs on backwards...didn't realize it until the table was finished...)

 

We were SO excited to have a free kitchen table, but when we looked at it, we saw potential for so much more. So with advise from my friend Katie, a few trips to Lowe's, high school girls who needed ways to fundraise, and a staple gun from the Poston's, I went to work. 

Here are the chairs mid-process:

 

I had TC girls come help me sand the gloss off all the chairs and table. After that I added 2 coats of white/cream paint, a coat of polyacrylic (Lowe's worker said polyurethane would tint it amber), sanded the coat of polyacrylic (according to directions), added one more coat of polyacrylic, re-covered the cusions, put them back on the finished chairs, and now its finished!

Well, remember when I said I put the legs on backwards? It's ALMOST finished. One more trip to Lowe's & touch up painting the table legs will fix that situation. 

Here it is:

 

Don't mind this...it'll be gone by the end of the day!

Now Holly, Randi & I will have a place to sit down and eat together, like a family :)

encouraging words from Jim Elliot

I started reading The Journals of Jim Elliot a long time ago, and read it a little here and there. I've been reading it a little the last few days. It is full of words to highlight. I'll share some of those here, because they are so encouraging.

"God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine.I seek not a long life but a full one like Yours, Lord Jesus."

"To that soul which has tasted of Christ, the jaunty laugh, the taunting music of mingled voices, and the haunting appeal of smiling eyes-- all these lack flavor--and I would drink deeply of Him. Fill me, O Spirit of Christ, with all the fullness of God"

"There is now no longer an inheritance for me down here. I've been bought by the labors of that great Shepard who came from afar to gain me as His bride. Lead me on, Lord, whatever God's command is or wherever He may lead, I am now ready to go"

"In one way or another I would die. Either take me to be with Thee, Savior, or put out the life of this old man as I draw near Thee in the flesh. Consume, me, Fiery Lover, as Thou dost choose."

"Psalm 104:4: 'He makes his ministers a flame of fire.' Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of 'other things'. Saturate me with  the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame"

"Thank God, He cried, 'Why has Thou forsaken me?' that I should cry, 'Why hast thou accepted me?"

gentle reminders

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience,
but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." 

-CS Lewis

do you all ever have moments when everything in your day/life/week just stops and you realize that you've been so blinded by your daily living for yourself that you've lost track of how hungry you are and how thankful you are for the Lord? that happened to me today. he never fails to bring me to my knees. 

i attended our summer fellowship/bible study for the first time this summer (missed the first 2). marshall is talking about suffering. whenever anyone talks on this subject i know i am going to be brought to my knees. 

marshall opened with a youtube video of a steve saint interview. if you've never heard the story, either go out and rent End of the Spear or go pick up a copy of Through Gates of Splendor (I have it if you want to borrow). it is an amazing story of sacrifice, suffering, and the fruit that came from it. i don't have time right now to go into it, but trust me on this one... look into it.

the quote that opens this post is one of the truest statements i've ever heard. when i heard it tonight, i had to hold back tears. the suffering that was discussed tonight isn't even a fraction of what i have experienced, but the bit i have experienced has taught me the truth of that quote. HE IS SUFFICIENT. if i've learned anything it is that He truly is ALL i need. 

i hate how easy that is to forget in our day to day comfortable living. suffering is probably one of the biggest blessings in our lives. i can't get over how selfish my living is when i'm not focused on Christ. sometimes hardship is the only way we look away from ourselves. i need more looking away from me. 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" 

-Jesus in response to Paul's pleading to take a torment away (2 Cor 12:8)

 

Jesus, open my eyes to my weakness. I want to daily know your sufficiency.

good morning

Yesterday morning I woke up for work, went about my morning routine, looked out the window to see what the weather was doing and saw THIS:

I know, right?!

Pictures hardly EVER capture how beautiful a sunrise is, but I tried my best. Still doesn't come close. The sky was bright golden orange and purple. 

Luckily I had about 10 minutes before I had to head out for the day to enjoy it. Thanks Jesus!

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible 

qualities--His eternal power and divine nature-- have been

clearly seen, 

being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" 

-Romans 1:20

sewing lessons

Saturday was a wonderful day filled with crafts, friends, and fun. Katie, Carly, Jen, Julie and I went to Julie's parent's house to learn how to sew from Julie's mom, Cheryl. She is a VERY talented seamstress, so we were excited. 

We arrived in Louisville and were welcomed to little sewing kits and folders with information about how to use a sewing machine and how to do common things...very very helpful and sweet! 

We sat down to learn some basics about our machines and patterns before the real crafting began. It was perfect. We were all at a giant table with enough room for all our friends and machines :) 

  After learning some basics (like how we have thread cutters built into our machines (awesome!) and how to make a basting stitch into a ruffle, we headed downstairs to cut our fabric (bought and pre-washed by Cheryl) out of the pattern pieces. It is hard work! We all decided cutting is our least favorite. 

We worked up and appetite, so Julie and Katie made panini's for all their friends..so sweet! We ate lots of food to re-fuel for sewing time. 

After some hard work and a lot of ironing, we finished up our craft (to be revealed soon).

We made little purses! A perfect craft for a day of learning! Here they are! 

Y

They are lined and everything! Here are some parting pictures of the group! We had a great weekend! Thank you Cheryl for teaching us and being so patient! Next on the list? Skirts. But we'll save that for another day :)

louisville, here we come.

T

Louisville won't know what hit them tomorrow. 

The girls are packing up our sewing machines and headed to Julie's parents for a day of sewing lessons.

And World Market. 

Can't wait.