Tuesday, December 28, 2010

justice and mercy

So, I should probably be packing for OneThing right now. . .  Instead I think I'll post this blog... yeah.
I read this verse today:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8 
Two things so simple: do justly, love mercy.   Do justly...  Be fair.  Take into account that the person in front of you driving 20 in a 45 probably has a reason for doing so.  Be patient.  Doing justly isn't some grandiose thing.  You don't have to fly over to India and end human trafficking to do justly (you could, and that would be awesome) but doing justly is as simple as not reacting harshly when someone says something less than awesome about you.  Living a lifestyle of justice means being honest.  It means a lot of things.  


Doing justly is NOT seeking revenge

If you really think about it, to do justly you must love mercy.  So if you want to do justly (which you should) cultivate your love for mercy.  See that person all alone over there. . .  Smile at them.  If you're out going, go talk to them.  They'll probably appreciate it.  See that disgruntled college student with lugging like five 1000 lb books and crying?  Carry a few of them for her.  She'll love you forever.  Be nice.  Seriously, little things are a good place to start.  
To top it off God gave us an example.  "He has shown you, O man, what is good;"  He sent his son.  Jesus was good.  He was just.  He loved mercy.  Look at him.  Copy him.  Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.  I don't think you'll offend JC.  We're supposed to attempt to be Christ like.  


Do justly, love mercy.        

Sunday, December 12, 2010

With Everything

Have you ever had one of those days where the world tells you all your goals are impossible, and the cry of your heart is meaningless?  Well that was today for me.  I had practically a full ride at 3 different colleges.  I dropped out of college.  Yeah, that's exactly what I did.  I'm not sorry either.  My God called me.  I'm going to follow with everything.  It would be silly not to listen at this point.
I'm supposed to go to bible college.  My parents do not wish to pay for this endeavor.  I get that.  I have to prove to them I'm willing to work, and that I will not quit.  It makes sense.  "Never never never give up." -Winston Churchill.  Ok.  I won't.  Sometimes it seems like they have absolutely no faith in me, and their disappointment can sometimes feel a bit oppressive.  Yet, I get where they're coming from.  I don't have much faith in me either.  I do however, have faith in God.
With God my goals are not impossibilities.  My goals are close approaching realities.  My goals are biblical.  The goal is justice, and a lifestyle of worship.  Isaiah 1:17 combined with psalm 57:7-11.  That pretty much covers it.  "Stop doing wrong,  learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."  Yeah let's!  "My <3 is steadfast (if it's not make it so) I will sing and make music.  Awake, my soul!  Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the people.  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." That's my goal and what that looks like at this moment is working three jobs to pay for bible college.  Going to bible college at IHOPU.  Being equipped as the worship leader that I am.  Starting my band.  Sharing the vision.  Raising support.  Going to the nations.  Living Isaiah 1:17 AND Psalm 57:7-11.  Changing the world...
A man of God, and worship leader I've come to respect and appreciate said:  "If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps and sing songs together, there’s not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create – the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren’t bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world – then that matters.” --Michael Gungor...  That very strong statement made me think.  When I lead.  If I lead.  That's the kind of worship I want to come from me.  worship is giving worth to something.  My King has great worth.  Giving him worth should inspire action and transform hearts.  Our worship should cast out demons, and heal sickness.  True worship should create an environment in which lives are forever changed by glory.  Because once you experience that magnitude of love in His presence you cannot remain normal.  You cannot be content with anything less than miraculous, and this is not meaningless.   

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Black Friday Part two.

So there were no old ladies battling it out over a barbie dream house.  Sorry to disappoint.  We did have fun though. 


We were in JCPenny's and they have these glorious hats!!!  


The "complete" guide to the bible...  We found it amusing that they put it next to the food bible and the amish kitchen cookbook...  


Bec and I found it odd that the "complete"  guide to the bible was so skinny...
in fact it was only 510 pages long...  HMMMMM!  For a low price of $4.99 you too can be completely guided through the bible.
uh huh.



This is how we wait in line.  

So yeah Black Friday.  wooo!!!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Black Friday shopping! *gasp*!!! part one.

Soooo Bec and I are going Black Friday shopping at 3am.

Foolish?

Yes.

Do we care?

Nahhhh!

mhmmm...  So most Black Fridays I boycott shopping and stay home in the comfort and safety of my humble abode.  Today I will be adventurous.  I will be a consumer driven fool.  Do not judge me!!!  I need some jeans.  I'm not going to go wild.  I know I know.  I should go to goodwill and buy a pair of holy ones and then patch them in true epic hippy amazingness.  (just like that guy from that Celtic band)  IT would be sweet!!!!  BUT!  Between three jobs and sleep I don't have time to patch jeans of epicness.  So black friday here we come.  I should shop online...  I really dislike consumer driven fools concerned only with selfish gain...  (and cheap Christmas presents no one will use) They're typically poor drivers...

We'll post pictures of the amazingly weird things we see at three in the morning in wal-mart.  I have a feeling it will be worth it....  My goal is to capture two blue haired little old ladies going at it over like a barbie dream house or something lame.  *crosses fingers*  

SO wish us luck!  As we brave the stupid people in the stores and on the roads.  If you're one of those people and I direct my road rage at you. . .  Sorry in advance.  Jesus loves you.  and stuff. . .

well peace out girl scouts!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

encouragement.

So lately most of the people I love have been going through rough waters.  Like legit hard stuff.  You know LIFE.  loss.  failure.  stress.  So how on earth do we cope?  

Small simple things that force you to smile placed in your life by God cause He ADORES you!

Sunsets.
Spiderwebs blowing in the wind with a ray of sun shining through them just so.  
A frog on the sidewalk.
A luna moth on your steering wheel.  
Sunrise.  
A smily face in the stars that you can find everywhere you go sometimes even on a cloudy night.  

He sees you.  He loves you.  He knows.  

Breathe deeply and say to yourself it's just a season...  It's the truth.  He gives you strength.  

He gives joy.

My dad says this all the time when I go all emotional doubtful irrational girl on him:  
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.  Plans to PROSPER you not harm you.  Plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE!"  Jeremiah 29:11  =]  He's right.  
 
ALSO!  There is a time and season for every activity under the heavens.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says so directly and beautifully.  It's like a soothing poem...  

There is a time for everything, 
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 2 a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

So be strong loves it's but a season.  Plus at this moment there is little we can do save for to trust in him.  

Peace out girl scouts.  =] <3 



  

Friday, November 12, 2010

A discussion between the angel and the demon who frequent my shoulders. . . Or maybe I have multiple personalities...

So what do we do when we strongly disagree?

What do we do when we strongly disagree with the people in charge?

What do we do when we not only disagree we feel we've been mistreated and hurt by people in charge?

This is what we do; this is what we pray:
May the God who gives us patience, steadiness, and encouragement help us live in complete harmony with each other-  each with the attitude of Christ toward the other!   Rom 15:5

Do we run them out of church?

No!

Why?

Would Christ run them out?  Christ loves them.  He sees their potential, and He wants them to reach it.

But I'm hurt!

Yes, and you will be.  Christ is perfectly capable of making you whole yet again.  Life won't be easy, and you're not going to handle every situation with perfect style and grace.  That my dear is one of the many reasons why we have need of a Savior.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Bachelorette camping expeditions

Well, as you may well know I'm in a wedding in approximately 5 days.  WOOOO!  yeah.  So my friends Brandon and Jessica are getting hitched victorian style.  Big time fun with awesome dresses...  kinda.  not really my style, but different strokes for different folks.  Any hoo.  This weekend was the bachelorette party of sheer epicness.
For said bachelorette party we went camping.  Great plan!  I totally recommend it to all the hippies I know. It was awesome.  We went creeking, we made smores, we looked at stars, I played guitar.  It was epic.  We ended up staying an extra night and while the bride to be was on the phone with her fiancee my best friend Bec and I went on a prayer walk. . .  For like an hour and a half. . .  At least.
Prayer walking is the most amazing way to pray.  It's totally epic to like be out in God's green nature with amazing stars and really good company: Jesus and Best Friend.  We just prayed for people and stuff and situations.  I got some peace and a direction to head in and generally I was like a super happy camper.
Any way I totally got a ton out of my very first technically camping experience.  I just thought I'd share.  =]

 

Friday, July 30, 2010

Sunflower Mayhem

So this is my first ever blog post. . .   woot woot!  ok. . .   
For my first post I think I'll tell you about my sunflower field experience.  
So my best friend Bec and I were on our way home from Peoria and she's a senior in high school (gags i hate that place)  and she's all like I need senior pics.  So I'm all like DUDE I know the coolest place ever.  Soooo Bec and I proceeded to travel to the said location.  This location happened to be get this a sunflower field.  Totally awesome right???  WRONG!  A week prior to our adventure I drove by this field and it was absolutely stunning.  This week the flowers were beginning to die.  It's a naturally occuring phenomena I know!  It just made our lives difficult.  
Difficult? How so?  Well, these said dying sunflowers are as tall as me and Becs and there is one picture worthy cluster of sunflowers all the way in the back corner of the field.  SO you guessed it we made the trek all the way through the weeds and dying sunflowers that were as tall as we were only to discover.  They were puny ugly not worth the pictures and only one left of picture taking quality sunflowers 
UN-FREAKING-BELIEVEABLE!    
so we took our sad little pictures got in our car and left the end.