this one's for the girls

 You are absolutely beautiful, my darling, with no imperfection in you.

-Song of Songs 4:7

I'm ugly. I'm fat. I'm too short. I'm too tall. My hair is too brown and my eyes are too plain. I'm not pretty enough. 

 Ever heard those statements? Ever believed them? Those lies are believed by girls everywhere, every day. We apply these labels to ourselves, based on what we think we look like. We criticize, judge, and bring ourselves down based on our outward appearance. Some girls I know have taken this verse to try to remind themselves that God thinks they are beautiful. That God made them beautiful. While I do believe that God uses this verse to remind ladies of that, I think there is another purpose for this verse that we're missing.

 You are absolutely beautiful. There is no imperfection in you. I was reading this verse one day and couldn't help but catch the word "in". There is no imperfection in you. I think that is key.

 Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.

Looking Forward to Summer 2014

   Okay, we've got some pretty important news around here, y'all. You know, super-big-crazy-exciting-important news. The kind of news that has me looking forward to June 19th-29th until those ten days actually come. News that has me giddy with excitement and also kinda nervous. News about which, for those of you who know me well, I've already talked your head off..

 You remember when I told you God placed a passion in my heart for Compassion International and a love for the children whose lives they are changing? Well, this summer I have an incredible opportunity to live out that passion across the globe. In Hawassa, Ethiopia, to be exact. My sister, our parents, and myself will be traveling with Compassion International and a team from our church to serve alongside our partner church in Ethiopia to provide a VBS-style event for the kids in the program. We will also visit the homes of some of the children, and worship with them on Sunday. We have the opportunity to hang out with our family's sponsor child, Yikram, as well.

Living out redemption

If you remember, one of my words for 2014 was redeemed. Already, God has been using it far more than I ever thought He would. I should know by now not to limit God. Anyways, I'll hear my word and think, "There's my word, showing up just when I need it." God's kinda cool like that. This past weekend, I went with my youth group to a conference in Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by Student Life. The whole theme of the conference was "Sight Unseen" and the underlying question that all the speakers asked and answered was "How do I see the unseen and live in light of eternity while enduring the difficulties that accompany living in a fallen world?" One speaker talked about how it began with understanding for ourselves God's story. Broken up into four parts it is Creation- God's perfection, the fall, and then get this...

 Redemption.

Casting Crowns

If y'all like Casting Crowns and have iTunes Radio on your phone or computer, go listen to the "Casting Crowns- Thrive" First Play station. Now. I've always loved Casting Crowns and this is their best album by far. Each song tells a story. I will definitely be buying this album. It's amazing. "Follow Me" is one of my favorites from the album. Ok now get off this blog and go listen to it.  I promise you will love it.

My top two songs..

 There are two songs that really describe my prayers for this year. I heard them and was like wow... these are amazing. First one is Keep Making Me by Sidewalk Prophets. I love it. The opening verse says "Make me broken, so I can be healed 'cause I'm so calloused, now I can't feel. I want to run to You with heart wide open, so make me broken." Broken is a lifestyle that I'm trying to live daily. Like I've said before, it's when I'm broken something that I'm moved to do something. You should really look it up. The second is this..

The lyrics of Set a Fire are so beautifully simple. I don't know why, but this song has just stuck with me. I literally pray this daily. Oh I love it. 

 So yeah. These are really my two favorite songs. For now, that is. ;) Maybe these songs will speak to your heart as they have mine. Or maybe I'm just really obsessed with music. Haha. God bless!

Another little thought on my secret

Just a little play off of one of my previous posts..

I tend to worry and stress. It comes with the tendency to want control. When I try to be in control, I'm always worrying if the outcome will turn out right, stressing that I won't meet expectations, worrying that people will be disappointed, the list goes on and on...
 I've realized that I will think something along the lines of "just let me stress and fret about it for a little while, and then I'll give it to You and everything will be fine." When in all actuality, it should be in His hands to begin with. Before I even start to assess a situation, I need to be giving it to Him, for Him to be in control of and use me how He would use me. It doesn't even need to start out in my hands. 

My calling to Compassion.

 august ninth, twenty-thirteen.

 That date holds so much significance for me. If you know me, you might've heard me talk of that day, at least in part. If you don't know me personally or haven't heard this story, then sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and listen as my heart unfolds {warning- this is going to be long}.

 August ninth. It started out like any normal summer day, lazy, slow, insignificant. But I guess God likes to use the insignificant, huh? August ninth. I remember being in my bedroom, stretched out on my bed, texting a friend. Oh, August ninth, if I'd only known what was in store for me...

 For a long time, I tried to figure out what my "calling" in life would be. I prayed and I waited. I grew frustrated and prayed and waited some more. I was confused as to why God wasn't just showing me what that calling was supposed to be. I guess I expected a voice from heaven, or a lightning bolt, some writing on the wall, or anything grand and obvious. Then somewhere along in there, I realized that by praying He would show me on my time, I was missing out on the opportunity to truly just enjoy who He is. So I started to back down on my demands prayers for God to reveal my calling and I spent the time just growing in Him and doing what all of us as Christians are called to do- love others right where we are and show them Christ.

It was then, when I became blissfully close to Him, relaxing in His presence, that I could hear His gentle whisper, even through a text message.