You in other words

Sometimes you read something that someone else wrote and two thoughts and conflicting emotions seem to evolve:

1. Oh my lanta, for being a perfect stranger they sure did nail me on the head

2. Oh my lanta, why couldn't I have written that! 

 Here is my spark that ignited the conflicting emotions:

"I began to realize that while many of my friends make art with guitars or paintbrushes, my preferred medium is the fabric of human relationships: making lasting connections between people and seeking to illuminate the image of God that each person bears. Whether it be the slow process of trying to introduce two women to each other (knowing they’d become fast friends and simply must connect) or the sweet, unlikely friendship with a formerly homeless, dying man whose story I will never forget or the careful work of mowing a baseball diamond into our backyard for play with my four-year-old son, I know that what I make is part of the kingdom God is making."

and:

"Poets recite. Songwriters sing. Photographers capture. What do I do? I feel. I imagine. I love. I’m never going to compile a portfolio of the intricate glories I see in the people around me, the ideas I nurture carefully to fruition, or the stories I help to take shape. But I know that if God is inherently creative, then I am called to be creative as a woman. He crafted me in His image. I know this but I forget it. I need the help of all the artists making tangible art and writing glorious stories to remind me that the intangible art and undocumented stories in my life are also worthwhile."

Make Known to Me

"I AM YOUR LORD! Seek Me as Friend and Love of your soul, but remember that I am also King of kings-sovereign over all. You can make some plans as you gaze into the day that stretches out before you. But you need to hold those plans tentatively, anticipating that I am have other ideas. The most important thing to determine is what to do right now. Instead of scanning the horizon of your life, looking for things that need to be done, concentrate on the task before you and the One who never leaves your side. Let everything else fade into the background. This will unclutter your mind, allowing Me to occupy more and more of your consciousness. Trust Me to show you what to do when you have finished what you are doing now. I will guide you step by step, as you bend your will to Mine. Thus you stay close to Me on the path of Peace."

"You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 

Laura and Andy

If anyone has heard me get on my soap box about…well anything really. I usually end up referring to Andy Stanley at some point in my rant.

Right now at his church, he going through this new series. I think I have told everyone and their grandmother to go listen to this. He reminds you of evident truths that leave you scratching your head and thinking “well duh, but why didn’t that register before?”  He brings up topics and points out how it can be and is ultimately supposed to be.

As I was listening to it the other day I realized where he got all his amazing wisdom from: ME!

For example:

Andy in front of his mega church in downtown Atlanta: Its not finding the right person, its becoming the right person. You want to be the person who you are looking for, is ultimately looking for.

Laura at Crosswild: If you want that guy, you have to be that girl. You want a solid Christian guy- be that girl. You can’t want a 10 but be a 3. You wont settle? Neither will he.

Told ya ;)

Now go LISTEN.... 

Be careful what you pray for

Idle: To pass time doing nothing. To move, loiter, or saunter aimlessly

           

Its amazing how easy it is to get here. How you don’t even realize that you have come to the dangerous place of wandering aimlessly.  It’s been a whirlwind theses past few months that I don’t even think I knew I was in. Things are changing, prayers are being answered and the anxiety of “oh crap what am I doing?!” is starting to settle in as well as the realization that I am moving forward. 

 Be careful what you pray for…He answers.

You pray Lord lead me, God guide me. And ultimately we all know what we are called to do: Love Him. Love Folks. But we get stuck in the middle of the question that haunts the back of our thoughts continuously. Some days it is more prominent than others and we never have an answer. Our minds are stalked by the wandering ideal of “what do I do NOW? God where do you want me today?”

I have so many dreams, desires, and unwritten adventures that I have not even begun to scratch. The restlessness can be crippling at times and yet pushes me to get off the couch.  We have to constantly be reminded that He knows better. When you feel as if you have been left behind in the dust, you just have to remind yourself there is a bigger stage to conquer. One with the perfect harvest and the bountiful blessings that will flow because you were obedient to the life put before you.

“I have a plan for you. Its gonna be wild. Its gonna be great. Its gonna be full of me.”

Open the Doors and lead me through.

Travel Bug

I have a list of places I want to go. I have cultures I want to experience and places I want to see. I did the math, I have only been to 6% of the world. There are days when I just want to grab a backpack, get my passport in hand and go for it. Then the realities of money and oh I dunno, responsibilities of life that all factor in.

Life- what a buzz kill sometimes.

So here is my list, in no particular order....

1. Australia/New Zealand
2. Alaska
3. London (really England)
4. New York
5. Africa
6. back to Israel
7. India
8. Haiti
9. some remote Island (haven't figured out the specifics yet)
10. Boston in the fall
11. and one day...back to Italy.

Who is with me?

Im getting old(er)

Recently I have had the amazing opportunity to meet and get to know some new people. We tend to get stuck in our social circles, getting comfortable in our routines and in our relationships with people. But sometimes, God wants to bless us and let our lives become intertwined with new people. To have the old friendships grow stronger and the new ones cultivate. I love people and tend to lean on the "more the merrier" approach.

So, as my *cough* 23rd birthday was approaching I was excited in the anticipation of all these amazing people coming together! I had friends who have known me for over 20 years to friends that I met 2 months ago and everywhere in between

*Disclaimer: sorry for some of the bad pictures, they are off my phone**

Love God. Love Folks. 

Let us Remember

Let us remember: That our God is a creative God. That He will never meet us in the same way twice. That each time we search for Him and seek His love and existence, He will continually show Himself in new and exciting ways.

Let us remember: That God is not suprised by anything.

Let us remember: Blessed are the flexiable, for they are not easily broken.

Let us remember: