joy and a wreath

looooove this! added to the never ending list of "one day when i have a house.." that wreath would be real cute with colored balls too.. umm..

peppermint + chocolate = my new found christmas obsession! sweet and refreshing. mmmm.

pretty sure my ideas about trust and hope are about to get completely demolished and rewritten.

scary. good. and hard.

full of surprises

He sure is.

full of surprises, that is.

if you've been around me for any amount of time you would probably hear me tell a story which involved me having a moment (as i like to call them). to me a moment is when it feels like the whole world stops, i look around and think, "how did i get here??" i love those moments. usually they happen when im say.. in cental park on the first day of spring leaning against a tree eating lunch, listening to the girls next to me talk about their auditions and life in the big apple, or riding on a ferry across the bay to the island i work at in socal with too many sail boats in sight to count, or in a weird sit/stand position on a crowded bus in jerusalem coming back from the holocaust museum, or floating in the dead sea, or (basically everyday in israel ha), and the list goes on..

its in those moments iknowthatiknowthatiknow that he's holding my hand. that his eyes are on me. everything within me in those moments trusts his leadership. trusts that he's in control. trusts that he's trustworthy.

i love when moments happen in everyday life.

they sneak up on me sometimes when im least expecting it and my heart silently screams, "YESSS!!" and i realize im in it. just me and him. and for the rest of the day i just cant wipe the grin off my face.

my plan this morning was to take garcia for a quick walk, take a shower, go to a coffee shop and read (pretty standard). he had different plans for my morning which i'm so thankful for. and welcome ANY DAY!

i took garcia to a trail in mt b and thought he might be hot so i went down to the creek to let him get a sip. he seemed to really like it so i thought id let him walk around in the water for a few min. i was stepping on the rocks (as to not get my shoes wet) when surprisesurprise my shoe slipped on a wet rock and in went my whole foot. i thought, "ohwell" and just started walking through the water. (garcia was loving it!). im really enjoying it and suddenly i stop and look around and im standing in a creek, not a sole in sight, shoes soaked, listening to a song at the part that says, "wrap me in your arms, i want to be with you so you can make me like you.. cause i wanna be close to you yea i wanna be held by you.", my dog splashing around and my heart screams, "YESSS!!!" im in it. i smiled, with a sigh of relief (havent had a moment in a while), and spotted the perfect rock to sit on. i ended up sitting there, muddy dog in lap, for over an hour with "i love you" pounding in my chest. everything about it was perfect. so perfect.

he is seriously THE BEST FRIEND.

always says the perfect thing. at the perfect time.

knows exactly what you need. and gives it to you. hallelujah.

job23:8-10

look, i go forward, but He is not there,

and backwards, but i cannot perceive Him;

when He works on the left hand, i cannot behold Him;

when He turns to the right hand, i cannot see Him.

but He knows the way that i take;

when He has tested me, i shall come forth as gold.

he's answering my prayers. i tend to want the 'suddenly', he seems to really enjoy the process. i want to jump on the helicopter, but he's asking me to hike up the mountain with him. it's not always easy, but he's with me. and lets me lean on him and even carries me at times. he knows what i can handle, although sometimes pushed to the max, he never lets me stumble. through it all, we're building a history together. its priceless. and deep. and growing love in my heart. im gaining confidence in his leadership. its perfect. and he's fully trustworthy. ive found life on the narrow/difficult road. he is life. and wayyy better than i could have ever imagined. its beautiful too that the hike up the mountain isnt always hard. its filled with times of awe and wonder, swimming in waterfalls, playing, picnics. and there's always opportunity to stay in those places, but in order to move forward you must keep hiking up. "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must have its perfect work so that you can be mature and complete not lacking anything."

i love his ways.

me: what about these little bumps by my eyebrows?

esthetician (foreign accent): honey, you're beautiful. don't look too close. that's most peoples problem, they look to closely at themselves.

:)

jesus anointed by a sinful women

this passage in luke 7:36-50 has been on my mind all week.

the "sinful women" finds out that jesus is having dinner at the pharisees house, a place she is knowingly unwelcome. so she does the most logical thing and goes there. and she doesn't sneak around and look through the window seeing jesus at a distance. no, she goes in to the house and falls at his feet weeping and pouring oil on him, washing and kissing his feet. she is unashamed. their previous encounter had obviously been significant. enough to deliver her from the fear of man. this challenges me. when im around "religious people" i tend to downplay my expression of love for Him. she appears oblivious to others. her heart is overwhelmed with thanksgiving for what he's done for her.

those who have been forgiven much love much.

love covers a multitude of sin.

jesus: i entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

you gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time i came in.

you did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with fragrant oil.

(i want to be like this women)

your faith has saved you, go in peace

love at first sight.

basically my roommate is awesome. she was looking at the humane society website and saw that they had a 8month old pug up for adoption. he was brought in july 23. we went yesterday to look at him and i seriously fell in love. he's perfect. and they're having a promotion thing the next 2 weeks where there is no adoption fee they just ask for a donation. so basically he's free. and has all his shots and is neutered.

seems perfect.

we're taking buddy (ericas dog) to meet him on saturday to make sure they get along. i was seriously so giddy last night thinking about him ha. right now his name is mushu.. that will be changing.

im reallllly hoping this works out.

kristene mueller- homeward bound

I will run, I will run this race,
And I will do it all for love.
Your love compels me forward,
Your love controls my heart,
And I just can't, I cannot get away.

So I will fight this good fight of faith,
And I will do it all for love.
You are my great reward,
You're so worth fighting for
And I can't wait to see Your face.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

i deleted facebook for a few weeks. it always feels good and i tend to blog more and sleep more. so cheers to blogging and sleeping!

and can you believe its almost august?!? seriously this has been the fastest year of my life.

and i wanna go here.. ki phi phi, thailand

doors

when im up late for no reason, fully aware the regret i will feel in a few hours, i tend to daydream about my-own-place. that i'll have one day. i decided tonight that i am obsessed with front doors. and when i have my-own-place the front door will not be passed through unnoticed. a few i like..

my first week of being 25 feels like a blur. i was sick for half of it. which was good because it forced me to rest, but bad bc i missed a test, threw up in my yard, only ate saltines and gatorade for 3 days, and now feel behind on life in general. but i am sure my body appreciated the numerous hours of sleep.

my birthday weekend was fan.tastic. i seriously felt so loved. and am even slightly excited about my mid-twenties. i feel content. like deep down in my soul. its priceless. and a divine gift that i recognize is nothing i even slightly have the ability to conjure up. so thank You. sincerely. You are abundantly good to me. and supply grace for every season. i receive it.

i am not sure what this year holds. right now i am trying to make some decisions for the next few months. arizona for a few weeks? california for the call? bethel for a couple weeks? drive? fly? stay in bham? quit job? look for new job? look for house in bham? possibly stay in california? how will i get money? etc..

who knows.

i havent prayed about it much, honestly. i will be the next few days. basically have to decide by this week bc of airfares. so if you would like to pray for me about all that, i would appreciate it. there's a lot of anticipation in my heart. just trying to discern where He might be leading me/what i want to do.

25 things ive learned about myself over the years:

1. i require sleep

2. i am a one-on-one person

3. i dont like making group plans

4. i dont really make plans in general.. just go with the flow.. i dont mind following plans i just dont want to be the one to make them. :) but since i am phlegmatic, in dire situations i will step up.

5. so yea im phlegmatic. balance is my good friend.

6. ive felt the Father's smile. He's really happy. all the time. promise.

7. i prefer vanilla over chocolate

8. i somehow know lots of random people

9. my track-record for match-making is pretty successful

10. alone time daily is key to me being pleasant person

11. i seriously believe God has let me know some of his finest creations

12. i thought i would never say it but.. college was awesome. and i miss it.

13. i love the beach and warm weather and i still want to be a professional surfer when i grow up

14. the bible is literally alive

15. ever since i was kid the thought of my life resembling the "american dream" made me sick

16. being a triplet was God's mercy in my life

17. God named me

18. i'll never die

19. i love and appreciate the arts even though he didnt give me those gifts, guess he wants me to play games with Him (umm.. just thought about that.)

20. lots of seemingly contradicting desires in my heart, will be fun to see how they all fit together

21. never say never

22. no matter where you go, you will make friends

23. the father sees the things done in secret. i just want to live before his eyes. its the most freeing thing in the world to not feel like you have to prove yourself to people.

24. life with jesus is exceedingly abundantly all you could dream of. there's nothing as sweet as the life found on the narrow road.

25. Yahweh is faithful and fully trustworthy. I am His. and He is mine. foreva'!!!

GOALS for this 25th year of life (not 25!):

1. regularly participate in an active hobby (bike riding, running, hiking, yoga, etc..)

2. read a biography

3. share the gospel

4. better friends with holy spirit

5. see miracles

6. not lose anything

7. invent something

8. have a legit garden

9. significant decrease on my caffeine intake

10. own a pug (of course)

joyful joyful we adore thee!!! this song is the bomb.

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
   God of glory, Lord of love;
   Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
   Op’ning to the sun above.
   Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
   Drive the dark of doubt away;
   Giver of immortal gladness,
   Fill us with the light of day!
2. All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
   Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
   Stars and angels sing around Thee,
   Center of unbroken praise.
   Field and forest, vale and mountain,
   Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
   Singing bird and flowing fountain
   Call us to rejoice in Thee.
3. Thou art giving and forgiving,
   Ever blessing, ever blest,
   Wellspring of the joy of living,
   Ocean depth of happy rest!
   Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
   All who live in love are Thine;
   Teach us how to love each other,
   Lift us to the joy divine.
4. Mortals, join the happy chorus,
   Which the morning stars began;
   Father love is reigning o’er us,
   Brother love binds man to man.
   Ever singing, march we onward,
   Victors in the midst of strife,
   Joyful music leads us Sunward
   In the triumph song of life.

i LOVE this door.

romans 5:16

and the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. for the judgement which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many trespasses resulted in justification.

UNbelievable!

humanities offenses towards God became so great that He decided to give them a present.

he really loves us. and isnt mad at all! you would think that with all the god-hating going on he would be like forget you.. poof, earth and life gone. but no HE LOVES us.

For God SO LOVED the world that He sent Jesus...not to condemn the world, but to save it.

a good Father rescues his children from danger.

bali? yes, please.

"so me and my lover, we took off our shoes, we piled our small bags of belongings on the tops of our heads and we prepared to leap over the edge of the boat together, into the sea."

ruth: companion or friend.

i read ruth a few weeks ago and today is the second time since then that ive heard in my spirit pretty clearly that im in a "season of ruth"..

not exactly sure what that means. except that ruth basically forsook everything for love and faithfulness. not expecting anything in return, she gave herself fully to naomi, leaving everything familiar behind to go to naomi's homeland. back then, once you were married you were considered apart of your husbands family (even if he died). naomi gave ruth the okay to go back to her parents and the security of "a good life," since she herself was a poor widow. ruth refused and followed naomi with nothing in her future guaranteed. i think she was ok with that too, that if she was just going to be a widow and take care of her mother in law, then that was perfectly fine. umm, humility anyone?! i think her abandonment and pure heart def caught the lord's eye, and he blessed her with his favor. she was provided for in every way.. food, clothing, shelter, favor in the community, a husband, a son, etc.

jesus said, "assuredly, i say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time...and in the age to come, eternal life. but many who are first will be last, and last will be first."

the lord is safe. continually giving him our dreams, hopes and desires is a wise decision. his ways look foolish to the world. and probably aren't the most logical.

there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. what a sweet promise.

laying down our lives is not exactly an easy task. it'd be one thing if god asked us to do it once every other month or something, but everyday can be painful. so kind of him to tell us what the other side will be like though... joy inexpressible and fully of glory. hallelujah.

really id be dumb not to give him everything with that kind of promise.. and all the other ones of course.. especially since its literally impossible for him to lie or be unfaithful to us. our side of this deal is just ridiculous! he gives up everything for us.. weak, not always faithful, disobedient, ungrateful people.. and all we really can give him is a "yes" in our heart.. not even a guaranteed follow through.. and he gives us literally everything. and is fully confident in the holy spirits ability in us to manifest the kingdom of god in the earth! unbelievable. yet believable.

so yeah. i guess if there are two sides (which of course there are probably multiple levels/dimensions to this that i am not aware of at all) im either on the "painful night, gonna lay down everything" side or the "favor of god, blessing" side. either way, i feel the comfort of his smile over me so its good.

come what may, it is well with my soul.

http://vimeo.com/11691174

for some reason it wont let me post the video. but this song makes me happy:)

so interesting

indeed, of zion it will be said,
"this one and that one were born in her,
and the most high himself will establish her."
the lord will write in the register of the peoples:
"this one was born in zion."

as they make music they will sing,
"all my fountains are in you."

psalm 87:5-7

i heart the country.

im in nashville at fletcher's farm for the weekend. my dad and i both arrived yesterday to help fletcher do some things around the farm and of course to spend some time together. the original plan was for dad to work on the bookkeeping for fletcher's chicken farm, and i figured i'd probably clean the kitchen. upon arrival, we realized little fletchy needed much more than that. after a $300 trip to walmart buying "the basics" of cleaning supplies/things you have in your house to keep it sanitary..the double-wide is much better today. let's just say man was not created to be alone. :)

the chickens are lookin good. im proud of my brother.

and i really want to plant a garden. umm.

i went to the little professor today to kill some time and was looking in the biography section for "Pray, Eat, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert... it's my current read-at-the-book-store book.. but i guess they sold them all because i couldnt find it. but maya angelou's name stuck out to me so i picked it up and the name of the book is ...

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

really? umm.. i think He's trying to tell me something. :)

my first dog died :(

rosie was our first family dog, but technically mine. we got her in 2nd grade. fletcher and i would always "put our money together" and scheme some grand purchase. on that particular day i had $58 and he had $2.. dogs from the pound are $60.. perfect! (little did my parents know that she had cataracts and glaucoma in her eyes and would end up driving her to an animal opthamologist in miami once a week to get shots behind her eye.. so much for the cheap dog from the pound!) but hey, our little rooster lasted 15 years. she had a stroke sunday so my parents had to put her down today. crazy thinking back and how she really was a member of our family. so many good memories.

some of her nicknames:

rooster

roster-ica

pooper

rose bud

reminder: dream big.

when the lord brought back the captives to zion,

we were like those who dreamed.

psalm126:1

he is trustworthy.

he is the God of the impossible.

God of miracles and wonders.

in him everything is held together.

he sets the prisoner free.

takes ashes and makes them beautiful.

makes things that aren't as though they are.

makes the broken whole.

and makes dead things live.

in our own strength all of those things are literally impossible. but with God all things are possible. exceedingly abundantly possible.

feel the lord telling me to dream big. it doesn't matter if i cant see them. faith is believing in things unseen. he is the creator.

"i dare you to believe me for impossible things."

well alrighty.

listening to united pursuit band on the way home tonight i noticed a line that goes perfectly with the verse god gave me yesterday. love it.

"when the caged bird sings and your eyes lay hold of your dreams..

you will see that it's his love that carried us through."

YAHWEH is a healer!!!

Florence + The Machine

she's british.

http://florenceandthemachine.net/index

Florence + The Machine

when i was in 8th grade i played club volleyball. and it was terrible. i love volleyball but it entailed traveling every weekend, practice a few nights a week, and i had to play with older girls bc of my bday.. which when you're 14 and they are 16.. that's kinda a big difference. and it was during basketball season, so basically i was just constantly playing something and really burnt out.

i hated going so much that my best friend, julie, and i tried to hurt me.. running and purposefully falling, falling down the stairs, etc. in hopes of spraining my ankle or something.

nothing worked.

for some reason i just thought of that in light of going to work..ummm.. jaykay im not gonna do that. im but i really dont wanna go to work.

ok, lord help me. and pray that the lord will give me an 8-5 job asap. and GRACE tonight. thanks :)

this. is. so. dumb.

and i should have just brushed it off and not let it effect me. but it did. all day.

i got this free 7 day pass to golds gym that i have been using. the guy who checked me in last friday obviously didn't care too much about his job, was tired or realized that people that use that pass just do it for a week because it's free, not really because they want to join. he didn't make me fill out any papers, take me on a tour or anything. which was fine with me.

today i go in and it was a different dude and he's all you need to fill this out and lets sit down and figure out your goals and get you signed up.. yada yada. so for the next 30 min plus, this guy is explaining all these packages to me and trying to get me to sign up for a membership. luckily i left my wallet in the car (thank the Lord!) and was finally able to escape with the "let me work out and think about it" card and headed to the elliptical. i was fortunate enough to sneak out after my workout unseen by the man. but then you know what.. HE CALLED ME! oooh sandra, how was your workout? i didn't get to talk to you before you left. you coming in tomorrow? we'll get you all signed up. blah blah.

shoot me. i HATE situations like this. i finally just told him i felt pressured and just needed to think about it.. with then he responds that he didnt mean to pressure me and somehow turned the situation around to make me feel sorry for him..? i dunno what happened. but seriously i've been thinking about it all day. feeling manipulated is gross.

so the end of the story.. im not going back to golds.

its been so hard to study this week. which isnt good since i have a bio lab final fri and then a lecture final in bio and chem the next week that are both comprehensive.. no fun. well actually i kinda enjoy it. except for that lately i just want to read my bible ALL DAY! it feels so alive.

and the Lord has been reminding me of the last couple years of college and grace to be bold that i was walking in. it's still there (the beautiful thing with God, nothing is ever lost), i've just let apathy and the fear of man get in. when i was in israel i remember thinking that when i got back to america i was going to tell everyone about jesus and pray for them simply because WE CAN. it really is a HUGE freedom that i constantly take for granted. i pray that the Lord would wake us up to this great gift he has given us in america today. we need to take hold of it, because i have a feeling it wont last forever.

anyways, im tired of excuses.

i remember in college praying for sick people all the time by myself full of faith that God would heal them or give someone a word if i felt it was from the Lord. there was a season when i literally didn't care what people thought about me and if i was dumb or not and just stepped out constantly. gave God room to move. i'm hungry for that again and want to be eager to see God move and manifest His Kingdom TODAY!

Pr. 28:1

the wicked flee when no man pursues but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Bill Johnson quote i cant quit thinking about.. "a day without a miracle is just unnecessary."

i want to daily put myself in a situation where God could release a miracle.

(when i was in israel someone prophsied to me that "it is time".. don't you love words like that? ;) ok... thats great...but time for what?? i still dont really know.. except i was reminded of this song today.. and in light of everything God is reminding me of, it bares witness.)

Freedom Calling by Daniel Bashta

its time to let my faith arise

its time heaven heard my cry

its time for the blind to see

its time for the winds to change

its time to live again

its time to be free

miracles are coming

miracles are coming

yes, i believe

so come and break these chains

i will worship you untamed

when we praise your freedom falls

when we dance the walls come down

freedom is falling

freedom is falling

freedom is falling all around

It's time!

so let my faith arise

heaven hear my cry

it's time for the blind to see

so come on and shout shout shout for joy

im gonna let my love be heard

freedom is calling out

so come on sing sing oh my soul

let the healing flow

freedom i have found

Your freedom i have found

bill johnson one-liners

i personally love them. i follow him on twitter, so that means one-liners whenever i want. perfect.

change brings the secrets of the heart to light.

i never deliver a message that didn't deliver me first.

god never sets us up to fail, only to grow.

a day without a miracle is just unnecessary.

i have a piece of the original flame & it's my responsibility to keep it burning.

god thinks differently. he looks at a piece of bread and thinks it will feed 5000.

jealous christians just don't know who they are.

royalty is my identity. servanthood is my assignment. intimacy with God is my life source.

we don't become culturally relevant when we become like the culture, but rather when we model what the culture hungers to become.

religion is not only boring; it's cruel. it takes the breath out of every good thing.

when adam and eve fell, they fell from god's perspective on reality.

history is made in the quiet place.

family is god's government.

every season of growth is rewarded by pruning.

if jesus did the things he did as god then that is awesome. but if he did them as a man than i am unsatisfied.

jesus is perfect theology.

why did jesus do miracles? it was necessary to reveal the father.

jesus is returning for a bride whose body is in equal proportion to her head.

vision gives pain purpose.

suffering is temporal. victory is permanent.

god is better than we think.

jesus is the most normal christian in the bible.

just call me sandra-homemaker.. well don't actually, but i have been quite domestic this week which ended at lunch with the grand finale. lamb was the first meat i had in israel after a 2.5 year stint of being a vegetarian (which is over..praise Him!). i recently had lamb meatballs as an appetizer at a wedding that were to die for, and so have had the idea of making lamb burgers in my head for several weeks. and since i got a sudden urge to go to the grocery store this week, lamb burgers were on the menu. i am not sure the last time i cooked an actual meal or had gone to the grocery store and left with more than 3 things, for that matter, so these lamb burgers were quite the talk around the coleman household the past couple days.

so there's grocery shopping and cooking and then yesterday i got into a "cleaning mood," which usually consists of straightening my room and doing the dishes.. but no, yesterday i was full out on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor! sweat occompanied my hard work and afterwards i lit a candle to make it smell like cinnamon and sat on the couch and just looked at the kitchen for..a good while.

today for lunch i made the lamb burgers. corn on the cob. (and erica made potatoes.) and of course i had one of the red vevlet cookies for dessert (which is a "domestic" activity i LOVE to do..too bad we cant live off cake & cookies).. and maybe it's the 5th cookie i've had since yesterday, but who's counting?:) so cheers to my week of domesticity! i also bought wine this week; after work the week will officially conclude as i sip on that. it was fun and i feel accomplished, although i definitely cannot comprehend doing this everyday. wow. way to go moms-of-the-world, you are truly amazing.

and in light of my last post.. i would have wanted to be one of the "mattithiah of the levites, the firstborn of shallum the korahite, [who had] the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans." 1 chronicles 9:31

wow, God's so cool.

it's funny that i was full-time involved in a house of prayer for 1.5 years and have read 1 chronicles several times trying to gain understanding, but never really got it. i understood that jesus was worthy of continual worship because he's just so freaking awesome, but that's about it.

this morning i opened to the table of contents in my bible looking for a book to read that im not familiar with. completely forgetting what 1 chronicles was about, i thought umm i guess i'll start reading that. after flipping through the first few chapters of names i got to chapter nine.

the levites.

the gatekeepers.

the ones called to minister to the lord.

as im reading the next few chapters i feel the lord is giving me understanding and opening it up to me. so many little revelations and practical applications and lessons are popping out all over the place.

then i get to chapter 15:37, it says that Asaph and his brothers were left to minister to the Lord regularly, as every day's work requires. (modern day: intercessory missionaries). and then a few verses later it says they "were designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, because His mercy endures forever." i love that. because his mercy is constantly being poured out, thanksgiving should constantly be ascending before Him.

the israelites had the ark of the covenant, now the whole earth has the Holy Spirit !

so im convinced.

today, the Lord is raising up a global tabernacle and appointing people to minister before them as their job. and really it's His mercy to the earth. but just like michal (saul's daughter), in 15:29, "looked through a window and saw king david whirling and playing music and despised him in her heart" we should be aware of that spirit in the earth today. i think it's partly a religious spirit.

i'll leave you with david's song of thanksgiving. ch 16. (if i was musical, i would totally write some music and make this a song. but im not. so i hope someone else does and then i can listen to it a lot.)

i' am blessed with a good handful of pick-up-where-you-left-off friendships. where time and space are irrelevant and once you get some quality time together it's as though you see them everyday.

heidi and i got lunch today. i dont really remember the last time just her and i spent time together. but i feel like i just inhaled a massive bucket of fresh air. so good.

this pic is from 2007!!! how weird is that. we were at a friends bachelorette party.

funny note about this pic: we had just discovered that if you put your hand on your hop that it gave you "celebrity arms" aka skinny looking arms. little did we know we would start such a trend ;)

randomly really excited about owning and decorating a house one day.

that will be fun :)

lately i seems to stumble across something that points to jesus not coming back any minute fairly often. i am not sure why i keep noticing things pertaining to this, but here's one for today...

mathew 23:39 Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders of the day..

"for i say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

sooo since this clearly hasn't happened. jesus clearly isn't about to bust into planet earth any second. and if he did can you imagine what the would be like? it blows my mind. it is way better that he actually has a plan (and tells us about it!) and that it manifests his mercy completely. the progression of things is preparing the most hearts possible to not be offended when he comes as the lion this time, and not the lamb.

(sidenote: so when jesus came the first time most of the jews who were looking for the messiah didn't recognize him.. they weren't secular. they were actively studying and watching. and he shows up right in front of them and they dont know him; they are offended and don't believe. honestly, my heart trembles thinking about when he comes back and wondering if we will recognize him. the jews thought he was coming as a conquering king and he came as a baby and a servant. sometimes i wonder if we're looking for the right jesus. he is so kinda and compassionate and loves to heal, but that's not what he is coming back to do. he will be "traveling in the greatness of his strength.."(is63). sadly, i think the 'great apostasy' will come largely from the fact that we don't know him like this and think 'God is love, he would never do this (ie. wars, famine, earthquakes, death, water to blood, locust, etc...')

in light of that:) we should pray for israel... it certainly will be the great & terrible day of the lord..

for if [israel's] rejection [of christ] is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (romans 11:15)

those who come he shall cause to take root in jacob, israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (isaiah 27:6)

i was listening to the prayer room and they were singing..

it's just a little while longer and i'll see You.

it's just a little while longer and we'll be together.

now i cant stop smiling :)

we're gonna see jesus before we know it.

face to face.

and know just as we are fully known.

hallelujah!

haircut time

beforee..

aaafter.. (like how the guy from church camp would say it)

i dont really have anything to say.

except for that i feel like i know some of the most amazing people in the entire world. my friends are so wonderful and inspire me in so many different ways. THANK YOU.

.1. i like alabama a lot

.2. blue bell's new "cake & icecream" is ligit

.3. spring time has been kind to my emotions

.4. i hope in heaven that i sing like audra lynn

.5. if you need new soap or face wash, you should order it from lush i bought some face wash when i was in nyc and LOVE it!

.6. goal: cut back (& eventually eliminate) artificial sweeteners from my diet...

this is where my friend, astrid, lives in norway! she lives in a small town outside of bergen (google image bergen..its ridiculous). any takers on a norway trip?

breakfast is my favorite meal.

new possible summer plans:

chill out/work in bham during may

move to az in june and take a class (6/14-7/26)

go to KC for 2 or 3 weeks and stay with jana

!! this sounds way better than taking a class may-aug. we'll see. seems like plans are always subject to change..and usually do.

there's a lot of activity going on around the throne.

thousands upon thousands of angels singing.

lightnings, thunderings, voices.

24 elders casting their crowns before Him.

colors galore.

majesty.

the communion of the Godhead.

and in the mist of all this activity, He hears my cry from the couch.

thats amazing.

yeshua made a way for me to get to the father. my inheritance is to enter in to the most holy place. yeshua carries me threw the sea of angels, in an atmosphere saturated in majesty, beauty and wonder and places me right into my daddy's arms. and he just holds me until all the anxieties of my heart are drowned out by the peace and love that emanate from his being. and then declares, you are my beloved, in whom i well pleased.

im really loving the holy spirit

he reminds me of everything jesus taught

he reminds me that jesus wants me to be one with him just like him and the father are one!

he makes me feel like i could explode. which is a miracle in and of itself that it doesn't happen. how my earthly body contains the fullness of God dwelling inside of it I'm not quite sure.

he teaches me all things

he tells me of things to come

i bless you holy spirit, you blow my mind and make me really happy

i'm learning to hear

deep down i knew He wanted me to stay. but i didn't. i didn't want to, so i went where i wanted. i thought it didn't really matter. i took the my-desires-are-His-desires approach (which a lot of times i agree with, but there are those times when that doesn't apply). He's always with me and will never leave me, but i think He can also be somewhere i'm not. like in sos when He invites her up the mountain, but she wants to stay under the apple tree. so He let's her, He doesn't force her to go, but He goes. yup, He went up the mountain and i decided to stay under the tree. bummer.

there's nothing better than to be where He wants you. where He invites you to go with Him. i've been there. and it is priceless. the peace that filled my heart was comparable to none.

i disobeyed and He forgives me. im so thankful that despite my weakness i really am feeling His delight and smile over me. i'm learning that His ways are better. i'm learning His voice. no matter what, go with that deep down feeling, even if it means you disappoint people or they think you're flakey. at the end of the day, it's just you and Him. and thats all that matters.

and the beautiful part is that He will invite us again. our rejecting Him won't negate His pursuit of us. He will have His way in our life. He will keep coming. He's a jealous bridegroom! hallelujah.

it makes me sad how many people i talk to that treat God like a slave-driver and that he's always disappointed in them. it makes me sad that i treat him like that all too often. He is so not like that. all the fullness of joy is in him! everything that is happy or good is from him! he's the one that will never leave us and even if we settle in the far side of the sea, EVEN THERE his hand will guide us and his right hand hold us.

basically, He's just wayyyy way way way way better than we even begin to give him credit for.

fully kind.

fully loving.

fully patient.

fully happy.

how i love the light and seeing him rightly. more lord.

new favorite coffee shop: primavera in cahaba heights. ligit good coffee and good music.

new favorite fruit: oranges.. ive never been a big fan, mostly bc of the weird white part that stays on it once you peal it, but for some reason it doesn't bother me anymore. and ive eaten more oranges in the past week then in my whole life combined. well maybe thats exaggerated, but there has been a significant increase.

i like this week..

tyrone wells show

hung out with sarah & davis ann in ttown

amazing tues night small group

jana is coming to alabama today

i will hang out with her all day tomorrow

ihop-atl renewal service on friday night.. hopefully get blasted

new york city on saturday to hang with taylor for 5 days

ummm.. no complaints here. :)

ah. the lord is so faithful. been in a funk the past few weeks but i feel im coming out of it. i love how he pursues me and gently nudges me along towards wholeheartedness. ive noticed the times i feel distant from him is when i reduce him down to a formula. the other day i was getting out of my car at o'henry's and so clearly i heard, "I AM IN EVERYTHING!" oohhh how my soul craves for that still small voice. i love it. i love when he speaks to me like that. one sentence and everything changes. well not everything, but i at least begin to feel his light. do you ever feel his light? if not, ask him to let you begin to recognize when its ok you. its the most amazing thing. anyways so he says to me I am in everything and my heart skips a beat. i immediately am drawn towards him, when for the past few weeks its like i want to be near to him but i dont. my guard is down and im just like ahhh jesus. you're so sweet and kind. ive made you a formula once again please forgive me. all he wants is relationship. he's in everything. he's not just a quite time or a church service, we're meant to live and abide continually in the vine. let our souls bask in his presence all the time. jesus died that we may have full access to the father and be continually filled with more of the holy spirit. i love that he's taught me this same lesson a million times and he's not annoyed to remind me again. he's so patient and loving. yet he disciplines. im thankful for that too. and He works everything for our good... ah, im blown away.

tonight i was convicted about compromise. i hate it. i hate that i don't give him everything and dont always love him. even if people dont perceive it, we're aware of the condition of our heart and so is god. man looks at the outward appearance but god looks at the heart. he loves and cares about the external things but all that really matters is how your heart is positioned towards him.

community

my heart is craving this. i think i experienced this on a really small level in college but when i read acts i know there is wayyyy more the Lord desires for us as far as living in community with believers goes. oh.my.gosh i know i was created for it. its all ive been thinking about that lately. along with honoring all people and freedom and jesus calming the storm and well a few other things i guess. :) but COMMUNITY is a huge one. lord, please do it. one thing is for sure, it requires sacrifice. so maybe the lord gives the conviction to a group of people and they sacrifice things and make it happen? i dont know what it will look like, but im excited about how Jesus will do this in my life.

beauty

community

the beach

freedom

I love that the holy spirit just busts in at the most unexpected times (ie, right now sitting in the homewood library studying chemistry) and just starts filling me with wonder and awe over the beauty of Jesus. Ahhh more lord! The all powerful, gentle, humble, servant and king. The LION and the LAMB! Oh my.

My heart broke today in sociology class when talking about religion. Jesus is not religion. He’s the most beautiful, kind, gentle, patient, happy, fun, powerful, loving man to ever exist. If they only really knew Him and not just church structure and “rules.” It’s not about that. It’s actually the complete opposite of that. And even though it might not look like it on the outside, in Him is the only place to find true FREEDOM. He’s a real person, alive and ready to fill you with love like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Literally something supernatural and from heaven. Holy spirit, reveal the beauty of jesus to my generation. Let them know you’re good. Tear down the walls keeping them from you.

Thank you jesus for being so alive inside of me right now. And being near and real.

i just figured out that i am not going to be able to go to dental hygiene school until fall 2011. so i'll have 2 classes in the summer, one in the fall and then wait for dh to start that fall. WHAT SHOULD I DO?!!?!?!?!?! oh the wheels are already turning.. cough california cough. :) :) :) im excited about what's going to happen. the lord always has little surprises up his sleeve.

to him who is able

he's always with us. even when our soul tries to tell us he's not.

HOPE in god. longing for that day when I see Him face-to-face. come, lord jesus.

for about a year now i've been getting my eyebrows done at a kiosk in the mall of georgia called, "da arche" (i think they're going for the elegant/trendy thing, but its just ghetto). instead of waxing they use a string and well i just like how it's done. it was slightly embarrassing in georgia but being pretty new to the area i had no fear of anyone walking by that i knew...birmingham is quite a different story. living here for about a month i was definitely overdue on my eyebrows and spotted the same kiosk at the galleria...IN THE FOOD COURT!! are you joking me? who wants to get their eyebrows done in the food court? so weird. my friend, helen, is in cosmotology school and said she wanted to come with me today, so i was thankful for that. doesn't seem as embarrassing if someone sees you and someone else is with you, right?

anyways, then we just did random things like get bubble tea, play in brookstone and then did each others eye shadow at the mac counter. it was a fun afternoon. now i'm off to memorize the first 88 elements of the periodic table. shootme.

verse for the day:

His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. Rev 1:15

susannah is my super cool, amazing photographer, spanish speaking, jesus loving cousin who lives in costa rica with her husband. we don't get to see each other very often, but when we do it's really special to me. her family is really special; im named after her mom. check out her blog, i'm sure you'll enjoy it. and maybe it will inspire you to start blogging more, like it has me :) she makes it seem so easy, which it is and isn't but yeah... enjoy!

http://www.alumbraphotoblog.com/

i had a fun weekend. friday night there was a benefit show for Haiti at workplay. meg&josh, erica (ben went hunting) and i went to jclyde for some dinner and then went to the show. it was fun to see lots of familiar faces and hear good music. saturday- erica & i went to magic muffin, spent the day studying (biology and chemistry are starting to takeover my life), and then we watched twilight. i really enjoyed it! i had my doubts with the whole vampire-thing, but its definitely not a typical vampire movie. it's just a love story. a good love story.

i woke up to a long, loud roll of thunder this morning. the first thing that came to mind was, "The God of glory thunders.." Ps 29. it gives me chills to think about that. time to get ready for church. Good day friends. :)