thoughts

I think that one of the best feelings in the world is to know you have friends. That sounds sad...like I never had friends before. But it's a new kind of knowing. To know there are people who you when you're with them there is no place you'd rather be. That they pray for you and laugh with you and pour out love on you and that you do the same for them. I realized this weekend that I have a lot of different friends like that. And I mean different. Different ages, genders, personalities, etc. And that is truly the body of Christ.

"Our culture says that feelings of love are the basis for actions of love. And of course that can be true. But it is truer to say that actions of love can lead consistently to feelings of love.'
-Tim Keller
I've been thinking about how this applies to my life in a lot of different ways. It's definitely good for romantic relationship stuff, but I think it can be said for just loving people in general. And loving and pursuing God as well. The thing about love is we don't always feel it. But it is stronger and truer than a flighty feeling, its a depth of knowing that you love someone, and deciding to follow through on that no matter what.

"If it is right, it happens. The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away." -John Steinbeck
I've been thinking... this really is true. And it's such a comfort.

I've been thinking... sometimes you don't have the words to pray. So you come to God with the mess of it all and trust that he knows. It's happened a lot lately. It takes a lot to just surrender, and hand over the tangled thoughts and troubles that I can't sort out. Sometimes praying is not organized and neat and using the right words. Sometimes its a mess. But that is incredibly human. It only shows God's power to understand and care for us. Even when we're a mess. Because we're a mess. It's frustrating for me sometimes because I want prayer to be a certain way for me to feel like I've gained something or done it right. But some days it won't be like that, and its okay. Surrender the mess to God and accept it as real and human.

What did you do with what I gave you?

"How will you answer the King when He says: 'What did you do with what I gave you?"
-Crazy Love by Francis Chan

I thought about this question and what I would want my answer to be. God gave me certain things, and I have choices about how I use them. What am I going to do with what He's given me?

alive

                                             What sets you alive? What lights you up?
For me, it's writing. For me, it's the way the words pour out onto the page, and the fierce, uncrushable hope that words can change lives and open eyes. The way that words become real- ink on paper becomes living breathing, stories. The way I've learned the deep capacity of my mind and soul to bring this power to life- how will I use it? What will I do with all the words inside of me? I don't know yet. I'm still waiting for it to unfold.
                               But what about you? What lights you up and sets you alive?

                         

things i've done this summer

Well... it's officially September!
It's been a crazy good summer. To recap, I've made a list of some of what went on for the past three months.
 Things I've done this summer:

• slept under the stars. (It was pouring rain, and there wasn't much sleep involved, but I'm sure the stars were there... somewhere under the huge thunder clouds) 
• went skinny dipping ;)
• woke up early to see the sunrise... an experience of a lifetime, even though it happens everyday.
• hennaed my hair. At first it was an alarming orange color, but once it was washed a few times, it was a beautiful auburn. Totally worth rubbing brown, smelly henna paste all over my hands & hair. 
•  had a bonfire on the beach. complete with belting out kumbaya and having a ranger come and report us for not having a permit (its the great outdoors, okay? nobody owns it and nobody can tell me where i can and cant build my fires.) (just kidding, that sounds awful...)
• Jumped off the pier at magnolia beach
• got stuck on top of steel force at dorney park for about 10 minutes, and thought i was going to die
• went surfing
• got a dreadlock

Yup! As you can see, its been quite eventful. One thing I love is living life spontaneously. I don't want that ever to end.