I think I hear Summer

So...the last few weeks have been so crazy. School has kept me busy and there are all the other last minute things. Like remembering that I am an RA and not only do I have to move myself out but my entire hall. And then the stress gets more and more intense. There are hours and somtimes even a day when I catch my breath and then it comes again... Of course I always seem to have more time for everything and anything else but God. My struggles come when I try to do things on my own, and I know I need Him. But not only is Jesus here. He wants me to delight in the things he has given me daily. God is beautiful and deserves to be praised even when I am stressed. How I praise and worship should not depend on me. God is God and deserves praise all the time.

Even though there is stress, I can't help but smile when I think about how much Jesus does love me and how well he knows his children. He knows we are people that get tired and need rest. He even gives us college students a few months off. I was and still am disappointed that India is not an option this summer. My heart still aches for the country. For the people, to walk down commerece street in Bangalore, wearing my punjabi, bightly colored bangals, the smell of the material my scarf is made out of thats hanging off my shoulders. Seeing the beautiful brown people, and hearing "You like? 45 Rupees." as they nod their heads from side to side. I would love to hear the horns beeping like crazy and see the Indian women smile as I walk along the shops of beautiful clothing and wood carvings.

Instead...Flordia. I wonder if I could be anywhere opposite. But then again...God will still amaze me with his beauty. I get to spend a summer living right next to one of my favorite things! The ocean! I get to run along the waves and eat icecream. I get live with my best friend and stay with amazing people. New friends are coming along with rosy checks and hopefully a new and amazing surf girl... haha. Anways, summer has always been my favorite. God is good and knows what he is doing. I just have to do the one thing I'm bad at. I must trust. I have to trust that just as God is good now, he will still be good and just this summer...and next semester in Ireland...and Forever. He deserves my constant praise. Jesus, help me do this. Help me to stay close to your heart and put my passion in you! Let me overflow with a love and energy for you!!!

Your Peace Is Overwelming

What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.





This isn't me is it? I love God... but some how this is me. At times I don't feel like worshiping God. I'm too tired to have my quiet time, and too tired to go to church. And then they come, I step out of God and His grace... I walk down the street and without him I decide to purchase the idols of my heart. I decide that my own flesh and desires, that Satan is trying to bargin me with...are better than really seeking the one who loves me. Who loves me the same know matter how much good or bad I do. I leave the God who has and will always love me. all of me. and He will never hurt me.



Jesus,

Help me to stay close to your heart. Let me love you and live in your grace, rather than the lies of the world. Let me be aware that this is a battle that occurs daily. Give me strength to look to you. Thank you for encouraging me with friends and family that love you. Show me your will for my life. Let me seek your face God. I want to experience more of you and your beauty. I love you. Let me rest in you and your peace.

My Family

My family. Family is something that you can't replace. Family is something that God brings into our lives that we don't get to pick. But the thing is families are made to honor and glorify God. I love my family and how God has put them in my life. Family is not always easy and not always fun... but family is and always has been family. We are called to love one another as God has loved us. Even though it may be hard we must constantly deny ourselves for the ones closest to us. It is easy to be selfish with those closest to us, but it should be the opposite. We should constantly be denying ourselves to show love to our brother, or sister, mother, father, or step-sister, or step-mom.

I love my family. No one else has a family like mine. My dad makes me laugh so much and has a big heart that if you get close enough, you can see it in his eyes. My mom is caring and would die for her children and loves to help those in need. My sister makes things funny all the time, she loves to help those like my mom and tells jokes like our dad. My brother is becoming a man of God, he is one of the sweetest boys I know. My step-mom is the cutest thing ever. She loves with all of her heart and cares for her girls like no one else I know. My sister Mary, she is beautiful and has been my best friend for a long time and desires to honor God with her life. Nic, well she is the wise and older sister who loves Jesus so much you can see it in her face. Jenny has been someone to look up to and her laugh is contageous. And Rebekah? She has been involved in so many parts of my life. Cousin, friend, roomate, and so much more... Even when we are apart so much, the times we are together are always better than ever.

Who else has a family like me? No one. Sometimes things can get bad but that is exactly what Satan wants, he doesn't want any glory to go to God. Jesus knows all things and wants us to constantly go to him when this "Family thing" gets too hard.

Jesus gave me this verse this morning and I knew it was my verse for my family.

Colossians 3:12-14

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

God makes families to show His people more of His love.