What Really Matters

I read a great article yesterday over at The Resurgence about Pinterest.

The author talks about pinning to the glory of God- without envy, comparison, jealousy, or idolatry. Without worshipping the created things over the Creator. Without living in a fantasy world with an idyllic, unattainable self.

I feel like this relates to a lot of things, not just Pinterest. It relates to Facebook, and shopping, and conversations with friends, and visiting others' homes. It's a hard thing to do- to be in relationship with others without envy, without comparison or jealousy or idolatry. It's hard, but not impossible. For when we keep our eyes focused on the thing that really matters, Jesus' love and sacrifice, all the little things just fade away.

Weekend Wrap-Up

There seem to be two types of days for me:

1) days were I seem to fit in everything plus the kitchen sink 

2) days were I can't seem to accomplish anything

This weekend was most definitely number one.  I feel like I haven't stopped moving since 5am Friday morning and so do my feet (anyone really good at foot massages?)

But 5am is where my weekend started...Settle in for a couple of highlights:

 

1) Friday morning sunrise in honor of Laura's birthday!

2) Finish last undergraduate class

3) Pausing the Harry Potter movie to watch parodies of the movie (to enjoy one as well click....here)

4) Wishing my Mom a happy Mother's Day

5) Enjoy a few special moments in the sun with my roommates.

Some big changes are coming at the end of this week. It’s bittersweet.  I am so joyful. I love that because it doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but I am going to be just fine. 

"For the Will of God will not take us 

where the Grace of God will not protect us."

------------------------------------------

“Forget the former things;

Do not dwell on the past,

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and stream in the wasteland.”

-Isaiah 43:18- 19

Freedom Friday: Reject Apathy

Check out Reject Apathy... a magazine [both online and in print] shoot-off of Relevant Magazine (KC blogged about that here). I received the first issue this summer at a conference I attended out in Colorado Springs.

This mag is chock-full of information on social injustice, poverty, violence, the environment, etc. Their tagline is: Sustainable change. Sacrificial living. Spiritual revolution. Good stuff.

Check out their latest issue here.

Content

I've been learning a lot about contentment lately. Contentment in the face of the unknown. Contentment in the face of unjust circumstances. Contentment in the face of things I have absolutely no control over. Contentment in who God has made me.

Quote by George MacDonald, taken from "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow, pg 45.

Friends, He so delights in us! How amazing is it that the God of the universe thought of and fashioned each of us for a plan and purpose that will bring Him glory?! It has been blowing my mind this week, the immense love that God has for me. The depth of feelings and tenderness that He has toward me. How He thinks about me constantly and takes pleasure in my love. Takes pleasure at the slightest turn of my head towards Him. 

And when I just settle into His love, I am able to be content. I am able to turn off the voices in my head, if even only for a moment, and listen only to HIS voice... 

'I love you. You are mine. I take great delight in you, child. How precious you are. Look at who you are becoming! I am so proud of you, my daughter. Follow me. Stay in my presence. I am good, and I only have your good in mind. Trust me. I love you.'

Content.

Two weeks and counting: Colorado here we come!

In EXACTLY two weeks we will be arriving in beautiful Colorado for EDGE Summit. Yeahhhh.... we'll be able to handle this for 10 days.

Music Monday: [Jenny & Tyler: Faint Not]

Fun Fact:  I love music.  

Interesting Fact: I don’t know much about music.  

Entertaining Fact: My first impression of a song comes from the music, then the lyrics.

With those facts in mind, as I listened to Jenny & Tyler for the last couple of weeks I just loved their music. It was encouraging because although I am a ‘sing in the car at the top of my lungs kind of girl,' I wasn’t in that mood. Jenny & Tyler made me smile because their music connected to how I was feeling. I wasn’t sad but I wasn’t happy go lucky. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew everything was going to work out {yeah for hope}. I just needed to be patient and keep being obedient.

I had time this weekend for the first time to attentively listen to the lyrics. Ahh I am so excited. They really hit on a lot of things I have been processing through. …

Lies, comfort, hiding, failure, no easy fix or answer

Forgiveness, His strength, His comfort, His promises.

But don’t just take my word for it…CHECK THEM OUT 

& see if they connect with anything going on in your life.

So if you are interested in listening to their whole album 

go to http://www.noisetrade.com/.

Type in ‘Jenny & Tyler’.

P.S.: Its free which is great

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday! We hope you all had a wonderful [rainy] weekend! Here are some little tidbits to get you started off on your week! :)

[BTW, if you're in the EC area and didn't get a chance to splash around this last week, there will be opportunities for you this week it looks like!]

+ Check out this awesome and oh-so-easy recipe for a grilled chocolate banana melt! Yummm!

+ Here's a nifty little tip for you... how to not have to pay for a Redbox EVER again! [We're not sold on the  ever part, but these codes have definitely done their job for us in the past!]

+ As extroverts ourselves, we're always wanting to work on the way we relate to our lovely introverted friends. Here's a nice little graphic with 12 ways to care for an introvert. [Introverted readers out there... whaddya think?] :)

+ Enjoy this little quote:

"I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me."

C.S. Lewis

+ And last, but certainly not least, click here for a FREE download of Jenny and Tyler's album, Faint Not. You just have to enter your e-mail and zip code, and they'll send it right to you. Fully legal and fully awesome! [Psst.... they accept tips as well!]

Get listening as tomorrow we'll be kicking off our first Music Monday! See you tomorrow!