Bound for the Promised Land

Long overdue...

2010-07-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Wow. It has been a while since I last wrote on here but I am going to attempt to revive it. We will see how that goes once school starts up again but I will do my best. Since I last wrote these are some big things that have happened.....I graduated from Covenant in May with a degree in Psychology, I made the decision to attend Denver Seminary to get my Masters in Counseling this fall and I have spent the past two months being a nanny for two children and volunteering at a place that is now dear to my heart called The Next Door. Jesus has taught me many things this summer but more than anything he has continually reiterated what a blessing relationships are. I have seen him use them to love and support me, to draw me out of sin and to spur me on towards Jesus. What a blessing! I know that as I leave this place I have come to call home in two weeks it will be bittersweet. I am sad to be leaving because it holds such a dear place in my heart but so excited about what is ahead.

Some exciting things coming up: a white water rafting trip with some friends from church, a close friend moves back to the mountain this Saturday, I start my last week of work on Monday, leave for Dallas, Texas August 3rd for a friends wedding, spend a couple days in Kentucky with my sister and her family, head to Iowa for a week to be with the rest of my family and then move out to Denver, Colorado to start school! It will be crazy good but I cannot wait!

Fearless by Max Lucado

2009-09-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been reading Fearless by Max Lucado. As fear is something that permeates our culture this book looked at fear in a whole different light. Throughout this book fear was looked at from a gospel perspective rather than the typical scared to death perspective our culture clings to. It highlighted a variety of different fears one can experience whether you are a parent or a student.
This book was influential in my life because I can so quickly forget to trust the Lord. This book was an ever present reminder of what fear is, which is not trusting the Lord and that he is sovereign and good. A chapter that resonated in my life was “A Fear of What’s Next.” Recently, I have seen God work through the shifting seasons in my own life and this chapter was a reminder to trust him and live life in the here and now instead of worrying about what is next. I would most definitely suggest this book to anyone as fear is something that is present in each one of our lives in different ways.

Encouraging Tunes

2009-08-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple songs I have been encouraged by this summer....

Times by Tenth Avenue North
I know i need you
I need to love you
I love to see you,
and its been so long
i long to feel you
i feel this need for you
and i need to hear you
is that so wrong?

now you pulled me near you
when we're close i fear you
still im afraid to tell you
all that i've done
are you done forgiving?
or can you look pass my pretending?
Lord i'm so tired of defending
what i've become
what have i become?

i hear you say "my love is over,
its underneath, its inside, its in between
the times you doubt me, when you can't feel
the times that you've questioned 'is this for real?'
the times you've broken, the times that you mend
the times you hate me and the times that you bend

well my love is over, its underneath
its inside, its in between,these times you're healing
and when your heart breaks
the times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
the times you're hurtingthe times that you heal
the times you go hungry and *are tempted* to steal
in times of confusion and chaos and pain

im there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
im there through your heartache
im there in the storm
my love i will keep you by my power alone
i dont care where you've fallen, where you have been
i'll never forsake you
my love never ends, it never ends

Beloved by Tenth Avenue North
Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours and
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
and it binds you to me

Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And taste new life
You're my beloved

Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me

You're my beloved
Forever we'll be
Our love it unites us
And it binds you to me
It's a mystery

As the summer draws to a close....

2009-08-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago if you were to ask me what I thought this summer was going to be like I probably wouldn't have given you a very positive answer. I was dreading living by myself and having my closet friends thousands of miles away instead of next door, down a flight of stairs or across campus. I quickly came to the realization that God was going to turn my world upside down, shatter my expectations and stretch me in ways I never thought possible. The beginning of the summer was hard. I struggled with things I never thought I would, I lost a family member but at the end of the day he was constantly calling me to run to him...this time with no distractions. It was just me and him. I fought it and a part of me still does occasionally but it is different. He has taught me a lot about myself, the sin in my life and the grace he extends to me even though I fall short everyday. I have learned to appreciate the verse that says, "His mercies are new EVERY morning!"

For the first time in my life there are things I am learning to take to heart instead of just hearing them or reading over them. He couldn't have broke my heart and started to put the pieces back together in any other environment. I praise him for providing for me in so many ways this summer! With all that said I have gotten used to living by myself and enjoy the solitude. Even though I thought I would never say it I think I am going to miss it a little. It is going to be an adjustment moving back into the dorms and living next to so many people but I am also really excited to have everyone back! Praise God for this summer and the ways he worked in my heart and I pray that moving back into the dorms I would continue to passionately pursue him and from that everything else would fall into place.

My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it. -Brennan Manning

Sweet Simplicity

2009-07-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

God never ceases to amaze me at how he continues to reveal himself to me through the most simplistic ways recently. He has opened my eyes to see the Gospel in a whole new way that has been completely refreshing! He has reminded me that without him I am nothing and thinking that I am more than my sinful self is discrediting what Christ did on the cross for me. Along with that learning what the word grace means and what an amazing gift that it is. He has unveiled my eyes in order for me to see the sin in my life and alongside of that sent me running to him and not to the things of this world. These are all things I am taking to heart, processing and wrestling with as he continues to draw me closer to himself. We mistake his love for being simple and something we can understand however the depth of it is something we will never understand on this side of heaven. I am thankful because for that reason I should never grow complacent with it.

Welcome to the blogging world!

2009-07-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

So, after many conversations about blogging with a dear friend of mine who I can, with confidence, say is intrigued with blogs she talked me into getting my very own! Although she is much higher up in the blogging world I thought I would give it a try and see what happens! So here it goes! :)