vision

It may sound kind of lame, but I love school. I really enjoy studying, learning new things, challenging myself and applying myself (besides all of the people I get the opportunity to meet and interact with). Call me a nerd or what you will haha :) But yes, even though school can get really stressful at times, I love being a student. And of course, not just being a student in school, but with the Lord, as a daughter, sister, friend, etc. I think I've finally been learning this about myself lately. That I don't do things like oooh and aaah at all of the high-tech chemistry/research labs at school and stay up studying until 3am for exams for no reason- first of all, it's because I want to serve the Lord with excellence in everything I do, including my education (although there's a fine line between that and my attempt at perfectionism, which is definitely not healthy and something God's been breaking me of lately). But I'm also beginning to realize I do these things because He's made me passionate about being a student- that He has specifically placed a love within me for learning. I know that probably seems like a no-brainer and you'd figure that I'd know that after almost 19 years of life, but I haven't ever thought about it being unique to who God's specifically made me because being a student is just what's expected in our culture. But the way that the Lord has intricately shaped us each is for His divine purpose to bring Himself glory. I never want to dismiss or forget that.

All of this has led me to alot of thinking and prayer. I've been asking the Lord for direction in this season, as far as what to do with my education and career path. Even though I honestly have no clue about where He's leading me, I'm so overjoyed and excited for this journey that I get to have with Jesus every day! With Jesus! My very Savior! The risen one! Oh how exciting! The most incredible, adventurous, fulfilling life possible. Sometimes I think about what it must've been like for the disciples during their three years spent with Jesus on the earth. They probably never knew where they were going or what miracles Jesus was going to do (whether in their lives or others'), but I imagine they must've learned to expectantly and eagerly approach each day in light of getting to spend it following our amazing King. Whether Jesus was preaching to hundreds of people, healing the woman who bled for twelve years with the mere touch of His hem, restoring sight to the blind, calming a huge storm and literally stopping the wind and waves with the power of His word, feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, casting out legions of demons from the possessed, or just spending time with the disciples and gazing up at the beautiful stars that He placed in the sky and specifically named, I can only imagine how incredible of a journey it was to simply be with Him. And that's exactly what we get to do every day with Him as believers- be with Him! He's been reminding me of that alot this week and how AMAZING it is to even know Him, to know His love. Tragically, so many people don't. I can't imagine what life would be like without the hope and saving grace of Jesus. When talking with one of my coworkers last night about God, she made a comment that seeing the joy, love and genuine faith that I have in my life (which are only from the Lord) make her want to become more of a Christian. I was so incredibly humbled, excited and shocked to hear that. I wanted to jump up and down and tell her "Yes! Yes! You do want to know Jesus! He's the person most worth getting to know and He will completely change your life!". Although I didn't get to say it in those exact words, our conversation was definitely a divine appointment and I trust that the Lord's planting seeds of His love in her heart :) Anyway, all this made me think of how blessed I am to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and get to spend every day with Yahweh. There is nothing I could ever possibly do to measure up to God's standard or get to Him on my own. It's only by His grace, mercy and blood that I am able to have relationship with Him, which is nothing short of miraculous. 

So no matter where the Lord ends up directing me, I'm excited just to get to grow in Him, worship Him and love Him more every day. My prayer is that I would reflect Him with my entire life. I've also recently been reading a book called Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick (the title's based on the story of Joshua's faith to ask God to stop the sun in order to win a battle in the conquest of Canaan- super crazy and challenging!). When I came across one statement in particular, it literally made me stop dead in my tracks. He states, "if the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God". Woah. This totally convicted my heart and made me ponder about my vision for my life compared to the Lord's. How many times does God tell us about His power to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all in His Word? How many times does He talk about having faith? That nothing is impossible with Him? Aton. So you may be asking what this has to do with my whole spiel about being a student. Well, basically everything. I never want to limit the Lord in all of His might, power and creativity with my own puny-minded thoughts and prayers, including in my schooling. So I'm asking Him to give me even the faith of a mustard seed. The faith to believe and pray boldly in faith for whatever He may want to do through the broken vessel that I am and wherever He may want to lead me. I long to trust Him for the impossible.

I want to trust Him that He could provide the means and the knowledge it would take to get into medical school and become a doctor or surgeon, if that's what He desires. That He could make a way to send me to the poor and parentless in other countries. That He could lead me through law school to become a lawyer, advocating for the mistreated and the falsely accused. That He could use me as a journalist and photographer to share His truth or as a teacher in the lives of underprivileged youth. The possibilities with the Lord are limitless and I pray that I can trust in His vision for my life with Him :) 

unfailing hope

"For to the end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God" 2 Timothy 4:10a.


"He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again" 2 Corinthians 1:10.


"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You" Psalm 39:7.


"According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"1 Peter 3b.

What is this unfailing hope? According to Titus 2:13-14, our "blessed hope" is the "appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works".

I don't know what I would do without this hope that the Lord brings to my life. HE is my unfailing hope, the reason that I can live abundantly. I'm so thankful! He's the very reason for my joy, zest for life, love, wholeness, worship and my hope.

This song by Aaron Shust (My Hope Is In You), which I've been listening to a bunch lately, sums it up perfectly. Lord, may this be my heart's song to You all the days of my life! What a glorious hope we have in You!

be still

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

I absolutely love this piece of scripture :) Boy is it difficult sometimes! Yet it's such a simple, clear-cut command from the Lord. This verse has been implanted on my heart for several years and I think of the words quite often. I usually pray in my times of solitude with the Lord that He would show me how to truly be still before Him:

to stop everything else,
to lay all distractions aside,
to give Him my undivided heart for cleansing and filling,
to think/meditate on Him,
to realize what it means that He is GOD of the universe, so holy and true,
and to love Him in response to seeing Him in light of who He is.

Yet, even still, I so often fail to remain in this attitude that God has called us to, especially in the business of life. Obviously He understands where He's placed us in life, that we must go about daily routines, and live purposely and intentionally. But He still calls us to be still before Him. So how does that work? Well, I don't have that exact answer, but I do feel that the Lord's teaching me more of this every day, no matter how tough.

Let me explain... I am a doer. A go-getter. I don't want to waste the life that Jesus has given me idly sitting around, if that makes sense. I'm incredibly passionate to be out in the world, living for Him, loving Him, loving others, sharing His good news- basically doing and pouring out. But there has to be that balance between doing and just being (filled and still before God) like in Psalm 46:10. It's not hard to imagine why I can struggle with this and the evidence is quickly seen in my personality and decisions.

I have a really tough time saying no to any ministry opportunities.
I usually don't take time to rest unless told to.
I often stretch myself way to thin and try to take on an amount of things that are just plain humanly impossible.

God sure has been changing this in me lately... and at first by force. I'm so thankful though! He knows exactly who I am (from the inside out) so He knows that I can be quite determined and stubborn. It's not that I don't like rest or stillness. In fact, I completely CHERISH my solitude with Him and that's where I draw my strength from. It is like air to my lungs- totally essential. It's why I try to begin each day with an unlimited time amount given to Him and spent before Him. Although others would probably consider me pretty outgoing, a people-person and very talkative, I thrive on my recharge sessions alone and with Jesus. My parents talk about how funny it is that I've always been this way, even from the time of infancy- very pensive, one who ponders things deeply in my heart and loves times of silence/stillness.

Recently He has been slowing my pace again and telling me not to do- just to be still, to rest in Him, to love Him with everything, to know that He is God (like I mentioned in another blog post). It's definitely been difficult, but the needed refreshment to my soul. I have been more physically exhausted and in pain than ever before- my body just doesn't seem to allow me to do the things that I normally could. But I know this is no accident. It's all the Lord. I've not only been physically depleted, but somewhat spiritually, emotionally and mentally as well. In my lack of my own strength, Jesus reminds me that He IS my strength, that He demands to be my strength. He's the only one who can carry me through. And I can only fully trust Him and love Him when I come to Him in my inadequacy and brokenness. Because it's then that He's able to fill me and make me whole again.
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick... For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12 & 13b

I love the beautiful picture of the sinful woman who came to the Pharisee's house and sat before Jesus, weeping and wiping His feet with her tears, hair and ointment from an alabaster flask (Luke 7), which was probably the most expensive thing that she had to her name. What a mighty display and example of what Psalm 46:10 looks like in action! I long to worship my Heavenly Father in this way and to sit humbly and simply before His feet, giving Him my most prized treasures. Lord, would You teach me to still myself before You like the woman in Luke 7 and know that You are God. Would You remove the things that hold me back from doing this in my everyday life and break what You see fit in me so that I may be still and love You more.

the name above all names

I just started a new bible study that I'm super excited about! It's Beth Moore's Jesus study through the book of Luke, called 90 Days with the One and Only. Just what my soul has been thirsting for- an in-depth study all about Jesus, His character and His life. My precious Jesus. Words can never adequately capture my love for Jesus. He is absolutely everything to me, the very dearest person in my life; the one who I long to seek, love, worship, obey and give everything to. In fact, without Him I am nothing at all.

The more I get to know Him, the more I'm captivated by Him and the less I want of myself. His love and entire being are too huge, wide and deep to grasp. I can't possibly wrap my puny little mind around His magnificence and power. Even the sound of His name evokes such a tenderness, sweetness and love in my heart unlike any other. Jesus. The very name that signifies my salvation! One above all other names. One that's universally understood regardless of language. One that saves souls destined for death. One that some despise and use in vain. One that defined the history of this world. One that has all victory, glory and honor. One to which every knee will bow and tongue confess one day soon.

I can't imagine the magnitude of when Gabriel told Mary, "You are to give Him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). What must it have been like to hear the very first proclamation of our Savior's name since the beginning of time? The name of the Son to come humbly in the form of a servant to save the lost by bearing the weight of all sin and God's wrath on a cross, then to rise again and give us life! Oh how I thank you, my dear Jesus! My thankfulness could never be enough to measure up to what You deserve, but I give you all of my life, all that I have.

got it all together?

I'm one who often struggles with letting my guard down, besides with the Lord and my precious family. I believe that God has made me to be an encourager of others (it's something that He's engrained in my heart and that I'm passionate about because I desire to love people with His love), yet I have the hardest time wanting to be the one to lay burdens on others. So most of the time I just try to hold it all together and not let on that I may be hurting deep inside or going through a tough season. It's not that I don't want to be genuine or transparent with others- not that AT ALL actually. I love people that are that way and find it to be such a beautiful trait! Especially when the joy of the Lord is visible in the midst of their pain. So it's my honest desire and my heart. But it can still be so tough for me because of not wanting to be a weight for others (and often, most people just don't ask anyway, besides my closest friends- probably because it always seems like I'm fine). But I know the flip side as well haha... because I consider it a huge blessing to be able to share others' burdens and lift up their struggles to the Lord with them. I've been pondering all of this recently and was so comforted by the sweet touch of my momma's loving words, encouragement, and embrace last night. I'm SO thankful for her, my dad, and my brothers. Besides Jesus, they know me the best of anyone, from the inside out. They're able to see right through me to my heart with just a glance and I'm overwhelmed by their continual love, encouragement and support, which reminds me of the Lord in His constant love.

It makes me remember how much He knows us each personally and intimately. He not only formed our hearts, but He also sees into them and searches them every day. He peers deep inside, looking for hurts, wounds, worries, blemishes, sins, joys, meditations, thankfulness, faith- and He knows exactly what we're experiencing at all times (whether it be spiritually, emotionally, physically or mentally). He is the biggest comfort, corrector and encouragement- the One whose Fatherly embrace lets us sink into His arms and chest with our full weight. I'm so thankful that I can run to Him and know that I don't have to appear to have it all together, because I most certainly don't. HE's the only One who holds me together, even on the tiniest level, holding every cell in my body together. He knows all and He loves without bounds. Even in the midst of the storms, He is so near. And even when we may think He is sleeping (like when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee), His control has never ceased and His comforting presence has not left. Thank you Jesus!

a time to rest, breathe and eat salt?

I can't believe how quickly time has passed over this past month! Craziness! This recent season has been one of different challenges, but the Lord is always up to something amazing and His faithfulness never fails :) What a huge blessing and hope to cling to!

I can't help but think of Him throughout it all and how intricately He intertwines everything in our lives for His divine, mighty purposes. I saw a cardiologist today and, as I'm waiting to have some tests done, the doctor ordered that I take a time of rest from everything, even if just for a few days, that I monitor my breathing and that I eat more salt. Salt?? Yes, salt. Haha, that's right :) Salt by itself can be very dehydrating to the body, but when it gets stored in the kidneys and a person's water intake is high, the kidneys will retain more water in the body (to flush out the built-up salt) so that person actually becomes much more hydrated. Regardless of the medical understanding, I can't help but think about all of this in a spiritual way as well :) It dawned on me this evening that the three things the doctor ordered me to do perfectly capture what the Lord's been speaking to me lately.

He's been calling me to really REST in Him each moment- not do; just rest- something that doesn't always come naturally or easily to me. Resting in Him means knowing Him more, feeling His presence, and spending all of my time with Him. He's been showing me how to truly breathe in His goodness and His light burden. To lean into Him with all of my weight and to lay my doubts, fears, burdens and hurts at His feet- not trying to carry my burdens or the burdens of others on my own, or cling to my worries. Finally, He's been teaching me about being flavorful salt to this incredibly dark world, ready to be persecuted for His name and longing to share Him with others. That's my biggest desire at work and what my prayer has been since starting there. I just want people to see and taste Jesus through my life. And it's amazing to think of how the Lord designed it so that our souls are refreshed, alive and hydrated when we're in His will of being His salt and light in the world (just like how we need salt to keep hydrated- I actually thought the opposite was true until today :)).

It may seem kind of weird to make a connection between what the doc told me and what Jesus has been asking me to do, but I love the creative way that God works! It's almost comical, but amazing how uniquely He reminded me today of three of His desires for me in this season :) A time to rest, breathe and eat/be salt.

the simple things

I love the simple things in life! The things that may seem tiny or basic, but that bring such joy and are treasures from Jesus. So I thought I would make a list of a few of the simple things that I'm thankful for lately :) I also have to include some pictures, because I'm a total shutter bug! I'll probably be doing that in as many of my posts as possible :) I LOVE photography and being able to capture the beautiful moments in life that can't always be described in words. So anyway, "these are a few of my favorite things"! (I'm feeling in the Sound of Music sort of mood :)).

I'm so thankful for the sweet times that I got to have with my family this past week over Thanksgiving! We went to the mountains for a few days, which was such a blessing! I love them more than it's possible to describe! I don't think there's even a dictionary word that I could use to sum up HOW incredibly much they mean to me. No matter what we're doing- whether it's driving in the car, all singing and dancing to Christmas music, poking fun at each other, getting competitive in some crazy card games, cooking destroying our turkey haha (that's a story for another day!), doing puzzles, skiing, sitting by the fire in the condo and talking about the Lord, walking through the snow to get to the heavenly Starbucks (joking :)), or any other random thing you can think of- I absolutely treasure our time together! We also went up with our close family friends, the Pearnes, who we adore! We have so many fun memories together :)

a walk around the gorgeously lit village with my momma

before a beautiful day of skiing with the boys

let the games begin!

Sorry for the blurriness/graininess in some of the pics. They were taken with my mom's camera in somewhat dim lighting.

some proud double-hand solitaire champs :)

team caffeine all pumped up (I wonder why haha :))

after a day on the slopes

I'm thankful to hear my precious cousins' voices over the phone (who now live in California and who I miss like crazy!).

Aren't they beautiful? 

I'm thankful to be able to see my best friend's smiling face for 10 quick minutes in between class twice a week. She's amazing!

I'm thankful be able to cry out to God for a miracle with another beautiful friend whose family just received a very difficult diagnosis.

I'm thankful to spend time with the most awesome group of jr highers each week at church and to see how they're growing in Jesus.

I'm thankful for the beautiful, quiet, snowy days (like today) when the Lord slows my pace.

I'm thankful to be able to write letters back and forth with one of my other amazing cousins/sisters in Oregon (both who I miss dearly!).

I'm thankful to even have a home, food to eat and clothes to wear (things that I can so easily take for granted while others throughout the world live in absolute poverty). 

My heart is filled with complete gratitude for so many things, starting with the simple ones, that I couldn't possible list them all. Let alone you want to read them all :) But the Lord knows and sees my heart. Oh what an incredible life with Him!