Wedding Dress. Derek Webb.

One of my dear friends got engaged last night. I'm so so excited for her, but that, coupled with Spring Break in N.C. has my thinking a lot.

I am the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."

Usually when people are engaged, that becomes all they think and talk about - so much so that everything else fades away, sometimes even the relationship with the person. Planning the perfect wedding consumes them rather than maintaining a healthy relationship. That saddens me.

Last night, I was praying and thinking. Am I more concerned with being the "Good Christian" and telling everyone about how "great" I am that I have neglected my actual relationship with Christ? Have I been so focused on being a good future wife for some boy that I have not become a good bride of Christ?

Right now, I am the bride of Christ. I will always, first and foremost be the bride of Christ. How can I be a loving, proper bride right now? Our wedding day was the day of ultimate acceptance, when I accepted His blood as a cleansing agent for my sin and He accepted me as is. What a beautiful day...

I turned to Proverbs 31 and read about being a Wife of Noble Character. I wrote "bride" on my left hand, right by my thumb. I spent all day looking at it, cheering silently inside about how He chose me, loving me unconditionally. I spent all day thinking about what I would tell Him about today, whether or not I properly lived out Proverbs 31, whether or not I made Him proud.

I am His bride. Hopefully one day I will get married to the one He has chosen for me. Hopefully. But until then, and after then, I am the Bride of Christ. Being His bride is preparing me for being my F.H.'s bride.

Tonight I...

...made my prayer cards... and don't know which one to pick. Thoughts? Opinions?

The Convict:


The Carefree And Candid:


The Earthy:


The Artsy:


The Patriotic:


Please leave your comments!

At The Beach.

I love spring break in North Carolina.

Paige and I have had so much fun - walking around town, eating Indian food, going to the beach, having a movie day....





I am so thankful for my sister-in-law and brother, who provide an awesome example of a couple centered on Him. I enjoy seeing my Father work in and through them and am so proud of who they are and what they are doing.

Because Of Conference.

Katie and I spent a day together in OKC taking pictures and talking and eating Mexican food and buying Indian food and laughing and having a grand time.

I am so thankful that God puts people in my life right when I need them. Katie and I are like soul sisters, understanding things that others don't, talking about things that others won't.

That's what real friends do.

Divine Romance. Phil Wickham.

The same feet on which Mary poured her perfume were nailed to a cross for her forgiveness.

My sacrifice can and will never match His.
My love and devotion will never match His.

John 12:3 "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on His feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

I lift my heart and my hands to show my love.

Worry.

Today was a very interesting, intense day full of surprises and laughter and tears and shock and dismay.

This song just came up on Pandora and I really like the last few lines:

Karen O. and the Kids, "Worried Shoes"

One day I looked around and I found the sun shining down
And I took off my worried shoes
And the feet broke free
I didn’t need to wear
Then I knew the difference between worrying and caring
‘Cause I’ve got a lot of walking to do
And I don’t want to wear
My worried shoes

* Don't carry around worry, fear or anxiety. They are the thieves of peace.

Home.

Only You can satisfy my heart. Only You can make it whole.



I was not made for here. I am called to Bigger Places.



Mercy comes with the morning. You grant sleep to those You love. Thank You for loving me.


You said Your glory will fill the earth, like water the sea. You said, "Lift up your eyes - the harvest is here, the kingdom is near." You said,"Ask and I'll give the nations to you." Oh Lord, that's the cry of my heart. Distant shores and the islands will see your light as it rises on us.

Redeemed.

After yesterday, I fleetingly considered changing my major. By 3:45pm, three of my boys had cried and the vice-principal yelled at me in front of my students. I came home completely embarrassed and feeling very violated.

But my Redeemer lives.

I called my Mom and told her all about it and she had the foresight to call my Pastor so that I might be mentioned in the prayer meeting. My Pastor soon called me and I was able to Skype with him, plus 20 or so members of the church whom I love dearly. I was prayed over by them and encouraged greatly to continue on in my work. I am excited for the summer to come, when I will be home worshiping with them again.

Because my Redeemer lives.

My brother and sister-in-law and I also Skyped, which was such a blessing. I will be spending Spring Break with them on the East Coast, road tripping there with my roommate and a friend. Epic and Legitimate.

My Redeemer lives.

Today was better. As I surveyed the cafeteria during lunch duty, I talked to God, praying for the students, marveling at His love for them when I can't stand them right now. He lives. Because He lives, I have hope. Because He lives, I can chase lions into pits on snowy days.

Cry In My Heart. Starfield.