Lift Us Up to Fall.

{Captivated}

Sweep me away, Lord!

I can see God's love in the starry night and in the deep blue sky.  I can see it at the zoo surrounded by my family and the memories we had shared there.  I can see his love in the intricacy of the orchid I paint in art class.  I can see it in my friends' laughs, and their ability to do so.  I can see God's love resonating from my classmates as we play with children in Mexico.  I see it when we give out bags of food to the homeless on Saturdays.  I can see it in a worship concert where hands are raised up high and melodious voices combine.  God's love is seen in a child's smile after asking Jesus into their heart.  This love is seen in Jesus's awful death.  It is seen in the pain he suffered, because of the grace he gave us.  It is seen in that self-sacrifice for a very undeserving people, us. 

God, He loves us.  It sounds oh-so-cliche.  And yet, we can't overlook the significance.  God loved us so much He died for us and rose again so that we could live. He does not just epitomize or define love, HE IS LOVE. 

I see God's love in all this.  And I am forever thankful for it.

New Reality.

"Faith never denies reality but leaves room for God to grant a new reality."

~Jim Cymbala

My Mom.

Today I found encouragement from my mom.  About five years ago or so my mom began, by faith, writing this Bible study.  She persevered and finally finished the ten-week study and began editing it and holding small group studies in our home.  Time went by and she found a publisher willing to publish her book.  She editted it some more, worked on the format, cover art, and put it all together.  A couple months ago, a heavy box filled with hundreds of copies of her Bible studies arrived at our doorstep.  Now my mom is leading the Bible study at a local church on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights.

It did not hit me until tonight that my mom had to wait so long, persevere so much, and trust that God's calling to her was not in vain.  Despite what seemed to her as an impossible task, she finished the study and now is able to teach other women about how to grow closer to God and receive His peace. 

God came through because it was all for His glory. 

Waiting is worth it.  Right now I'm in this time of perseverance in my life and remembering God's faithfulness in the past has encouraged me.  I prayed that God would renew His calling on my life so I wouldn't lost focus.  My mom has been taking each day at a time, focusing on her call, and now is giving God the glory because of it.  I can't help but want that too.

"Strength Will Rise As We Wait Upon The Lord

 We Will Wait Upon The Lord

  We Will Wait Upon The Lord."

"A quiet steadfast holding of the human will to the will of God and a peaceful resting in His love and care is of infinitely greater value in the religious life than the most intense emotions or the most wonderful experiences that have ever been known by the greatest mystic of them all."
~Hanny Whitall Smith

Looking back, I see those landmark moments in my relationship with Christ- rededication to Christ, summer camp, mexico missions trip...  I used to be upset if I felt as if I wasn't experiencing mountain-top moments all the time.  Was I doing something wrong?  I've found that having that feeling all the time is impossible.  But Christianity isn't a feeling.  It's fact and faith.  I am actually learning the significance of these quiet moments too.  It definitely takes more faith to get through these times of waiting and trusting.  And I think I grow closer to God through them.  I become more disciplined and challenged.  Blessed be the Lord in the valleys and on the mountains, and during these moments of steadfastness.

Last Semester.

The orchid on the art table in my room finally died today.  Today is also the last day of Christmas break and I'm about to head into the last semester of high school.  It's crazy, really. 

Change is something strange.
So is the end of a journey.

During this break, I went with my whole family to see the movie The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  It was so weird to go see the movie together.  Normally I always see movies with my friends or my sister.  But no, it was my whole family.  And the movie reminded me of past times too, because I read the book in elementary school.  It was my favorite of the Narnia books.  You can tell I definitely had an imagination.  Anyways, I go to see the movie, and when it gets to the end, Lucy and Edmund are sent back from Narnia for the final time.  There's no going back.  Strangely, I relate to them, despite the fact they are fictional characters in a fantasy world.  One more semester, and I'm done with high school.  No more seeing these same familiar faces.  I leave this usual sphere and head off somewhere new.  How can I make the most of these moments?

I want to reach out to my grade, hear their dreams, contribute to their hopes, be a light.
I want to go on more afternoon bike rides with my sister and watch more chick-flick movies with her.
I want to help my mom more in the kitchen and run more errands with her.
I want to eat more ice cream with my dad.
I want to run three miles more often.
I want to pray every day through Operation World.
I don't want to have too many plans.  I want to be whimful.
and joyful.  and hopeful. and loveful. and graceful.
I want to make God's dreams my own.
I want to embrace this last semester and be immune to senioritis.
I'm not kidding! :)

Leap of Faith.

"But without Faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Hebrews 11:6