Will You Let Me Drown

I'm loving today, especially since it is Halloween (one of my favorite holidays, second to Christmas!). I have been struggling lately with keeping up with my faith. I feel as though I am slipping through the cracks. I have a devotion that relates to Halloween, my roommate was talking about something that was said in her church today.

You see, our salvation is similar to carving a pumpkin. When you pick out your pumpkin it's dirty and muddy, after you clean it you begin gutting out all the goop inside. You then carve out a happy face and end with lighting the inside of the pumpkin with the light of a candle. Jesus is our pumpkin carver, he cleans us up, guts out all of the mess inside of us and lights us from the inside out.

"May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays."

The Moon Sits Still and the Stars are Watching Too

My favorite season is fall and the weather this weekend was THE perfect fall weather. Leaves are starting to change colors and you began to see the beauty in everyday life. Last night in church I was intrigued by the speaker referencing how we should blush and how our hearts should skip a beat when we hear God's name. And last night as I was reading Captivating, I came across a couple paragraphs that really inspired me. John and Stasi are describing how God is our romancer, he wants an intimate relationship with us.

"God has written the Romance not only in our hearts but all over the world around us. What we need is for him to open up our eyes, to open up our ears that we might recognize his voice calling for us, see his hand wooing us in the beauty that quickens our heart. " pg 115

"You've probably heard that there is in every human heart a place that God alone can fill. But what the old poet was saying was that there is also in God's Heart a place that you alone can fill. -It follows that there is also a chamber in God himself, into which no one can enter but the one, the individual-You. You are meant ti fill a place in the heart of God no one and nothing else can fill. He longs for you. You are the one that over whelms his heart with just "one glance of your eyes" (Song 4:9b). You are the one he sings over with delight...You are the one who takes his breath away by your beautiful heart that, against all odds, hopes in him. Let that be true for a moment. Let it be true of you" pgs 120-121

Be a passionate believer and follow and listen to God no matter what. Love unconditionally.

Lost and Insecure You Found Me

Mid Term week at school has definitely been the hardest ever. I have four tests last week and multiple online tests. This is the moments in my life when I need to remember to turn to Christ. It is easy for me to get caught up in tests and rely on yourself to make the grades. However, everything is in God's hands, even tests grades. Patience is a virtue, God will work in mysterious ways in order to bless your life.

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires courage."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

In Your Name I Find Meaning

Back to reality. The mission trip to Pineville was everything I had hoped for and much more. It was a blessing to be surrounded by such amazing people. My small group was so great and by the end of the weekend we have completed a 72 foot wheelchair ramp for these two elderly women. We never actually met the two women but in our small group we discussed how it would be somewhat more important to them and us that we never met. The women can see the ramp and instead of seeing something that a group of college students made, they can see something that Christ help build and the amazing blessings that he can create.

I take for granted the wonderful things I have in my life. I am surrounded by wonderful friends, a strong family, and a blessed lifestyle. I have grown a lot this semester, both emotionally and spiritually. I have faith that my blessings and growth will rub off on many people. My growth has made me grow apart from some of my friends, I just hope they recognize the fulfillment i have received and let Christ into their lives.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

-Frederick Keonig

Let Your Love Cover Me Like a Pair of Angels Wings

Fall break is officially here and I need it. I have become numb to school and my routine has become something I do without thought. School is draining after awhile. I need to be in an atmosphere with good service and good people. I am going on a mission trip with the Cross ministries to Pineville, KY. I am so excited to help other through community and faith. I'll post again after my trip!!

" To dream anything that you want to dream. That's the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed."

-Bernard Edmonds

People need to be shown salvation through the love of others. Believe in Christ and live each day with the hope of a fulfilled and obedient life.

I'm Losing You and It's Effortless

I have a busy week, studying, birthday, and friends. Not much inspiration this week, I don't know why. I liked another part of Captivating, Stasi and John are describing how the devil has it our for women. We have everything he cannot, beauty and compassion. This paragraph really helped me out. I hate the times in your life when you feel like nothing is going your way, and everything seems to be going wrong. The frustration and the emptiness feel as though they are taking over your heart. This is what they think...

The Evil One had a hand in all that has happened to you. If he didn't arrange for the assault directly-and certainly human sin has a large enough role to play-then he made sure he drove the message of the wounds home into your heart. He is the one who has dogged your heels with shame and self-doubt and accusation. He is the one who offers the false comforters to you in order to deepen your bondage. He is the one who has done these things in order to prevent your restoration. For that is what he fears. He fears who you are; what your are; what you might become. He fears your beauty and your life-giving heart.

I become lost in everyday hustle and bustle and lose sight of everyday faith. I become frustrated with life and view that mistakes are made solely because me or someone did something wrong. Have faith and hope in the lord, for there is a reason for everything.