The house that built me..

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; 
   surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:6

Needless to say, I love me some Miranda Lambert but especially her song, "The House that Built Me."It is absolutely a song that anyone can relate to. It reminds you of your childhood home where you grew up, made mistakes, learned right from wrong, made friends, met boys, where you learned from your siblings, and where you came together as a family every night around the dinner table. Well for me, that house is 26 Dover Circle in good ol' Bossier City, Louisiana. I lived in that house since I was 3 years old until this summer as a 19 year old. Wow, our family has worn out that house... because it was not only a house but a home. In that home, I peeped through the stairs every Christmas to see what Santa had brought, I learned to always close the blinds before you skinny dip, I realized how blessed I am to have my siblings (no matter how far apart, we will always be close).  In that house, our family went to through everything.. we learned to love, we grew together.. then we grew apart, and only some of us came back...
 I guess you could say one of my life quotes is "God allows everything to happen for a reason."-- without firmly believing that struggles make you stronger, that God allows things to happen so you can help someone else, and to trust Him is to know Him,  I don't know where I would be today.. physically, spiritually, emotionally.. etc. With God's help, I am becoming thankful for the struggles of life. I was affirmed that when I went back to 26 Dover Circle last week to pick up my last few items in the house... I grabbed my prom/homecoming dresses, a yoga mat (randomly, I've never done yoga), and a picture of my great grandparents (whom had to be the sweetest, Godly examples-- so thank for their legacy). But as a came upon a big pile of portraits, I couldn't help but cry when I saw the big portrait of our family in our beautiful yard that used to hang over our fireplace. I didn't know if it was going to the trash.. or to storage.. but where would those sweet memories go? All I can say is those sweet times made me who I am while the struggles did too. So for that I am thankful. To dwell on the hurt would be a waste, but to see how God will use those "low times" in life will hopefully be amazing :)

To be young and in love with Jesus

"You are forgiving and good, O' Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." Psalm 86:5
Oh summer lovin', yes, I love not waking up at 7 and 7:45 every morning but I do not like not having some sort of routine.. traveling never has a routine only a route. Since summer began I have traveled home sweet home to Bossier City, Louisiana, then to Memphis, Tennessee to visit St. Jude with some sweet delta sistas, and am currently in Nashville, Tennessee spending as much time as possible with my sister, mom, and grandmother before I have to go back to good ol' Baton Rouge, Louisiana for summa schoo :) Saying all that to say, I feel through all this traveling, supposed world ending, shopping, and sitting still way too long.. i am reminded I need my time with Jesus. Just me and Him. Not to say I can't talk to him in the middle of a crowded room but to be focused on Him, to read his word and hold on to it as I face the world, not alone. The video up top helps me put my thoughts into words in some ways. I never realized how important a quiet time with God truly is until this year, whether it is writing a prayer, trying to memorize scripture, or praising/singing as loud as possible in car. I have found when I stop getting caught up in the nonsense of life and focus on the one who made it all... I realize many things in this life don't matter.  And when life gets tough and your world seems to be in shambles,  it's awesome to know that God is the one to take all the burdens of this life and make them new... all we have to do is cling tighter to Him during the storms. This is an amazing, crazy life we are given, and we have to remember each breath is a reminder that you have purpose in Him.

remember to pray for those in the natural disaster areas.

also some summa pics... :)

our last night in Mills... 

on the Tri Delta wing of St. Jude :)

 written by the children at St. Jude

one word. (this is for you, Scrimmles)

Freshmen year is over... and its amazing to think of how much God has changed me. The other day one of my closest friends in college asked, "Can you believe how much you've changed from this time last year?" ... Woah
and the 2 days ago Emily Claire asked "if you could describe this year in one word, what would it be?"
First thing that popped into my mind.. CHANGE. second, Jesus being the whole not a part of my life. third, you find out who you're friends are.  (it may sound corny but soo true.)
Change... At this time last year I was so anxious to be done with Airline, ready for summer, and even more ready for college... LSU, 614, sororities, fraternities, parties, 4 hours from home.. you know the drill. But from the first day of rush to this last friday of class, none of MY plans came to pass.. but HIS plans. Not to say I have done anything perfectly but I think God has thankfully put me where i need to be.
Through this year, I have found that a lot of things in this life are not a big deal.. new saying: "it doesn't matter," where God wants you, He will find a way to get you there with faith in Him, and that though you may not think so you can make a difference. I heard in a quote that you might not be able to change the world, but probably someone's world. - so this was a draft from a week ago but it definately still applies on this absolutely beautiful, but not perfect sunday. My lesson of the day: Praise God for the storms and the struggles because they make you stronger
- with His love,
from one struggler to another

Lord, I Need You - Chris Tomlin - March 24th, 2011

"Every hour I need You..."

Music, music, music.. I just love it.
It changes our emotions. It encourages us, makes us laugh, or cry, or worship. Many CDs or songs remind me of particular times in my life... like the Eric Church CD and many trips to Willis Knighton South. Sometimes music gives us peace and joy, where we can just sing with all the windows down in perfect weather. Lately, music has seemed so much more meaningful to me when I know exactly who I'm singing to. Like the worship leader at Refuge reminded us to not just sing the words but sing the words from our hearts.. thinking about each word and who we are singing to. I mean singing to the Creator of the universe. That's amazing... who made everything down to the intricate 228 muscles in the HEAD of caterpillar. Can you believe that?! Obviously God has a purpose for everything, from the little creatures I see around LSU's lakes...

To our lives that involves all of our past mistakes and our future. Being in college, the future is always on the minds of every student.. where we will work, will we graduate on time, who will we marry, much less what am I going to pack for Spring break. In making future plans, it is easy to get lost and discouraged... I believe and have heard from many sermons that discouragement is one thing that is our biggest downfall. When we are discouraged, it is hard to believe that God has a bigger purpose, and when we think how could I do this?? From realizing how easily discouragement can slip up, I am learning everyday to lean on Him. I have found it to be the biggest encouragement and realizing that the song "Lord, I need You" says "Every hour I need You"--- it's so true. Whether you are struggling with writing a paper or an out of control addiction, God is always there and ready to comfort you with open arms. So lean on Him.. every hour or more ;)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Wittle Caterpillar

A caterpillar is always changing & always growing to become, just by its looks, bigger and better. This week I have had two caterpillar encounters. One kept crawling my way on a bench outside the quad and  being the weird critter lover that I am I just thought it was really cute.  It made me think of the life the catepillar. It is hatched from an egg, and its first food source is the egg membrane. This week I have learned the need that like the caterpillar God put us here to feed off of His love and His word. It's cool to think that the caterpillar is always living for something more, something better. After its 3 week little adventure, the little guy cocoons to become what it was always made to be: God's creation. Like every christian, we are put on this earth for reason and purpose to become God's little butterfly.
Btw, my second encounter was startling when a cute little catepillar curled up on my foot in the library, He must have been a book worm ;) - bahaha yes, i am corny, and it will never change.

Abundance of Amazement

"Act justly and
Love mercy and
Walk Humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8

Wow. (I have found myself saying this often about the things God has done for me lately.. ) I become joyfully amazed at the miracles and even the littlest reminders that God is with me. Finally, I have found the next chapter of what it means to live for the God I love. I mean if ya say Im crazy, thats okay God didn't make me to be normal. He made me and you to love, love, love and live as His example. I have a have a new passion in me, and really it's wonderful. On April 5, 2011 my new blog follower ( & my best friend) and I cried, laughed, prayed, and stood speechless at the wonderful things God did just yesterday.. how every little thing seemed to have a purpose because we have a purpose. God truly showed me that He is there in every moment and also gave me an abundance of blessings for example best friends, christian examples, and a loving family. Well yea, all I can say is I'm amazed, thankful, and in love with the Creator.

My weekend of awakening.

how was your weekend? 
everyone asks. wow. one or two short complete sentences to describe this new passion God put in my heart and many others hearts (about 10,000 college students.) Well that is hard to explain, but with God's help that can be done. before this weekend, I knew I was and am a christian, but after this weekend, I have a new sense of what it means to be absolutely living for one thing: God. I have come to find this life is short, this life means nothing without Him, and that my every joy should come from Him. I have found that this life is truly not about me and thats hard to actually wrap my mind around. I have found that it really doesn't matter what people think because if you are still alive and breathing that means God has a purpose for YOU, His purpose for you not the social norms. He is not just keeping you around to dilly dally, or to live it for yourself. As Francis Chan put so sweetly "you should be thankful for each breath because they are all from God", and they are a simple reminder from God that "You are here to shine me, and I have a plan for you." So this is what I feel that God has for all of us to shine His light and to kindly share his goodness with others. It is a new journey for us each and everyday to take up the cross, and we all know at times we will fail, but the need is not get discouraged but remember his grace and mercy are something we cannot fathom... aka don't sweat your mistakes just keep living for Him. Keep spreading His love, kindness, humbleness, and joy for Him. 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
- Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

delight in His glory and grace

Symphony - Chris Tomlin - Passion 2011 - Lyrics [HD]

Darius Rucker - This

"its crazy to think that one little thing could have changed all of this..."

I will never forget as a 6 or 7 year old child sitting in the den with my back against a mirrored and pig-skinned wall (weird, I know) thinking 'wow, i love my life.' At that time I didn't know the future or the gist of life.. I was just living for the moment focused on love, family, togetherness, joy, warmth, shelter, and always having someone to run to when I needed them. At that small moment of my life, I didn't know that my parents 6 years later would have a bitter divorce, that i wouldn't see my dad for almost two years except on rare occasions, and that my brother and sister could possibly take the divorce so much worse than I did. I didn't know that these major events and special people who mentored me through would shape me into the person I am today .. for the good..... All for God's glory. I'm not trying to say "woe is me" or that now I have everything together; I'm trying to say no matter what God brings you through he has a reason for it. No matter how many times you say "Why God? Why here? Why now? Why me?" He is telling you after every storm comes a rainbow, behind every cloud there's a silver lining, and with every trial he is there to carry you through. And for you to remember one of the most peaceful verses for me...“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. 

"Because your love is better than life..

...I will praise you."- Psalm 63:3 

I've always been a Psalms girl (since I was in 7th grade, it was the first book I would always turn to) and on my 19th day of birth, I would like to exclaim how thankful I am for one more year of life. Through these last few weeks I have realized how important it is to use the time we have on this earth not for ourselves but unselfishly for others. Through my dad's heart attack, I was truly "put in my place" as far as stressing and complaining about school and other such problems when it reminded me...have I always let him know how thankful I am for him? how I don't know how I could make it through this life without him. So I as drove back home thursday I praised God for the "wake up call" that reminded me to cherish every second I could spend with him, the rest of my family, and others. And now on my birthday, it seems like a pretty big challenge but I have come to find this life is really not about me. Not about the popularity, clothes, relationship status, the ultimate 4.0... Im not here on this earth just to "have a good time" and through all the events, encouragement, and promises of the bible I know I and everyone on this earth has purpose in this life or else I don't think they would be here. Through this last year of college, I have been reassured that this life is to reflect Him and Not Me... even on my birthday. So today is your day to shine for Him.. go get your shine on.