He Cares.

“If God gives attention to the appearance of wildflowers (most of which are never even seen) don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? Relax, don’t be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6: 3-34

I have Overcome.

do you ever have those days where you just wanna crawl up in a hole and not talk to anyone? yeah. today was one of those days. but after a couple hours, i just got so tired of being crabby. and once i got thinking, i couldn’t even remember why i was mad? so i thought about it, and just started naming off all the things in my head i’m thankful for. and before i knew it, about 10 min. had gone by, and i was in the greatest mood. it was like someone came and pushed the happy button. and i realized it’s all about perspective. yeah, there’s things i was upset about earlier. but there’s always going to be something we can pick out to complain about. He never told us life was going to be a cakewalk. He actually tells us the opposite. In John 16:33 Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart because He’s overcome the world. Why even bother having a Savior if everything is perfect all the time? that’s why we need Him. we go through hard times, yes. but HE HAS OVERCOME. and so whenever you’re having one of those go-lay-under-and-rock-and-melt-into-the-ground type of days, take a few minutes and think of everything you’re thankful for. and then, take a few minutes and think about the your Best Friend. and how nothing is impossible for the One who overcame.

What a Prince.

My Prince gave up His life to save me. My destiny was an eternity of unspeakable suffering - an eternity without my Prince. There was no way I could ever hope to be with someone like Him - a pure, perfect, sinless, holy, righteous, majestic, sovereign, powerful King. I was nothing but a tainted, impure, sinful, unholy, wretched pauper. There was an impenetrable wall that separated me from my Hero - in His perfect and pure holiness He could never dwell within me in my prison of sin. And yet He saw me in the midst of my miserable, hopeless, filthy condition. He loved me and longed for me. There was only one way He could save me from my dungeon of eternal captivity - to purchase me with His very blood. He spilled out His life and died, so that I could become His lily-white princess. His spotless bride for all eternity. The moment He paid that price, the wall between us came crashing down. He made a way, for me to be with Him forever. His sacrifice wasn’t meant just to keep me out of hell, but to make an ongoing, passionate, intimate, love story with Him possible. What a Prince. 

Beautiful Things.

I mess up a lot. I do stupid stuff, and miss things, and just make mistakes. But none of that matters to God. He sees me, in all my failures and weaknesses, as perfect. And beautiful. There isn't anything that I could ever do to take away His love. So why worry? Why bother to waste my time worrying about the little stupid things, when I could be thanking Him. And that's a lot easier said than done. In this world, there are so many things to get caught up in, and it's so easy to loose sight, and slip off track. But that's when He comes in, gently pushing me back, to Him and His plan. He comes in, and removes all the bad stuff. Like a Farmer pruning His garden. He takes out the weeds, and gets outs out all the bugs. But He doesn't stop there. He fertilizes all the good things, and makes them into something so much more beautiful. But we have to open the gate first. We have to let Him in. Because what good is it to lock the Farmer out of the garden and let it die, when He could make it into something better than anything we can imagine on our own. He makes beautiful things out of us.

Astounding Beauty.

Wow. What a day. I cannot even tell you how amazing this entire week has been, but especially today. All throughout the week, I've just been in complete awe of how big God is and just wonderstruck by the beauty of this life He's given me. But, today was one of those days I'll remember forever.  My dad came in my room this morning and woke me and my sister up and was like "Get up, were going on the Sanibel Thriller" well, I had absolutely no clue what He was talking about. I thought he was being weird and telling us it's time to get up and go outside. But we ended up going on this boat cruise around the entire island, called the 'Sanibel Thriller'. The interesting thing about this cruise is they see dolphins everytime they go. The cruise is twice a day, and they've never not seen dolphins. So we get there, and I'm thinking maybe we'll see like one or two dolphins but I didnt think they'd be jumping or anything like that. We'd been out on the water for about 45 min. when they tour guide announces 'here's some dolphins' and we all turn around, and there's about 4 or 5 dolphins behind the boat jumping and twirling and giving us a little show. Let me tell you, these dolphins are the cutest things. They just show off, and jump around and fly under the water, and there so stinkin' close you can see every detail on them. Some of them had scars, and you can see there mouths, and the little breathing hole on their heads. It was the coolest thing I've ever experienced in my life. But the whole time, all I could think about was how much God loves us. He loves us so much, to give us a life where we can experience crazy amazing things like this. He is so perfect. And He loves me more than anything. It blows my mind. God is so good. Man.

thank you.

Dear God,

thank you for life. its so beautiful, and i'm so blessed to live the life i do. i want to always celebrate being alive. thank you for loving me, even though i don't deserve it. thank you for all the little beautiful things in this life, that are just fascinating. thank you for the people in my life.. i don't think i could find more amazing people if i tried. thank you for my family. thank you for all the memories we have, and all the laughter and love i have in my life because of them. they are my best friends. thank you for giving my parents the grace to deal with me, even when i'm a stinker. and for giving them the wisdom to raise me, exactly the way you want. thank you for MCA. i'm so blessed to be under the leadership of the amazing administration and staff in that school. thanks for the people in it. that school plays such a big part in my life, and i'm so so thankful to be in a school all day where YOU are the center. thanks for my friends. whoa baby they are the cream of the crop. thanks for putting them in my life, for all the times they've helped me and given me the greatest memories. i love them all so stinkin much, and being with them everyday is just the best. thank you for America. i often take it for granted how blessed i am to live in this country, and all the lives that it took to have the freedom we do.


thanks for all the little things..

sunsets
good books
Christmastime and everything that comes with that
pictures.
cozy cute socks
pineapple sorbet
candles
my bed
the seasons
movies
stars
hot chocolate
air conditioning
The Office
the ocean
.... the list could go on forever. but thank You for this life God. I never want to take it for granted. But most of all, above everything else, thank You for loving me unconditionally. for never leaving me, no matter how bad I screw things up. for giving me Your guidance, so that i can be in Your will. Yep.


Thank You For Loving Me.

Let Go

The last week or so, the Lord has just been showing me, and speaking to me that I need to let go. I need to let go of my cares, and burdens. And give that to Him. I was in Bible today, and my teacher whose husband died, and has been gone for about 3 weeks, was back today. She was talking to us just about the situation and her life and stuff like that. I was so amazed by how amazing she is. She is so strong, and she was telling us how in the midst of all these problems in her life, she has no worry. No worry. She said she still feels emotion from losing her husband, and her kids father, but she is so at peace. She isn't worried about money. Or the lawsuit. Or providing for her kids. Or being a single mother. She knows she serves a God that is never going to fail her. I want to live in that kind of peace all day everyday. Life can so easily be consumed by worrying, that you miss what God is doing in your life.  Also, today in Chapel the speaker was talking about callings. I so felt like that was for me. He was saying how your calling isn't some thing way off in the future. It's now. God places desires in each of our hearts, for a reason. I was born by His purpose and for His purpose. 

my gift to Him .

       ahh , new yearr! it's crazy how fast time flys. i feel like just yesterday my mom was bringing me to school for my first day of 1st grade with Mrs. Clepper, and me being so excited to finally not be in kindergarten.. I now had a 'number.' .. that feels like yesterday. and now, I'm a freshman. And from what I've heard, everybody always says that this part of your life, seems like such a big deal, and it's gonna play such a big part in who you become, and everything is so important .. but they all say when they look back at highschool when there 30, it's really not at all. which is totally insane to think about now. whoa. well I just really want to live fully in this moment, and not really think about me when I'm thirty. cause that's a ways down the road. how about we just get through tomorrows biology lesson first? .. 

     even though growing up is part of the process of life, I'm just relying on Him. because I want to live as passionately as I can, and do what I was made to. because I'm not gonna leave this Earth, until I've completely fulfilled His purpose for my life. I heard an amazing quote today that made me get just so excited. "Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God.' MAN. that just completely excites me. like whoa. I want my life to be everything He planned it to be, and I'm giving my life to Him as a gift. I'm not my own. I'm His child. His beloved. And I'm completely yielding myself to Him. Ohh He's so good.

He's everything.

Uhh wow. I just love this so much. I want to know Him on a deeper level. Thats my hearts cry. For this year. Just to know Him more. On a deeper, more intimate, personal level. Where I can realize this more. And just take myself deeper. This year is just gonna be so great, but different. And I want this kind of relationship with God. Like Paul had. Where I'm just constantly aware of HIS LOVE. Just ahh. How He loves us. I want to have the kind of understanding, that I can just be living my everyday life, in a state of peace, and contentment, because I know the kind of love my Father has for me. He strives after my heart. He goes after me, with such passion. To me that just blows my mind. That the God of the UNIVERSE just wants me, and my heart. Even with all my failures, and mistakes, and all the stupid things I do. He still goes after me with everything. Ohh Jesus. What a love. And He gives me the choice. Even though He could just have me on His own. He lets me decide. And I want to have that same kind of passion, for Him. Like a burning fire. That can't be put out. Cause I'm His beloved, and He is mine. Mmmm. The father that never lets me down. The best friend that doesn't forget stuff, or disappoint. The helper in every area of my life. The path which I walk on. The air that I breathe, and the beat of my heart. Alpha. Omega. BEGINNING AND END. Whoaw. My mind has a hard time understanding forever. FOREVER. His love never fails. Or ends. He's everything. Mmm. Wow.

The Vine and the Branches .

'I am the real vine. And my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear fruit. And every branch that is fruit-bearing He prunes, so that it'll bear even more. You are currently pruned back by the message that I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me, just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear fruit by itself, but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine. And you are the branches. When you're joined with me, and I with you, the relationship intimate and pure, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is a deadwood, gathered up, and thrown out on the fire. But in you make yourself at home with me, and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my father shows who He is. When you produce fruit, you mature as my disciples. I've loved you the way my Father has love me. Make yourself at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done. Kept my fathers commands, and made myself at home in His love. You didn't choose me, remember? I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit. Fruit that won't spoil. But, never forget to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.'

falll (:

this just makes me so excited for fall. now don't get me wrong. i love summer. love it love it love it. but fall is also just AMAZING. if i had to pick one, i couldn't even decide.

so yes. as excited as i am for fall, i'm sad summer will be coming to a close. september is in 3 days, and then school... whoa. kinda not ready for school to start.. i mean i'm excited to see my friends. i'm excited for fall. i'm excited for what my freshman year'll bring. but after summer we have to wait 9 more months..

but i love fall. haha

life is beautyful .

just some pictures that make me so happppy . ahh . photography is amazing . and life is so great .

american honey.

i was just listening to lady antebellums 'american honey.' and it made me think about when i was little. and how easy life was. and how silly things were, and just all that. everything was so innocent when we were little. haha just running around and having no responsibilities and depending on our parents to do everything for us. but eventually we all have to learn to fly. but that doesn't mean we have to grow up. i know getting older means more responsibility and all that, but we don't have to change our outlook on life. i love still being stupid and just embracing life.

there's a wild wild whisper blowing in the wind,
calling out my name like a long lost friend.
oh how i miss those days as the years go by,
nothings sweeter than summertime.
and american honey..

she grew up good. she grew up slow. like american honey. 

thanks for the memories.

ahhhh. i just love summer so much. i just had one of the best weekends everr! i loved every minute of it. going up to the lake with my famm and best friend. it was so what i needed. and i just loved doing nothing. and relaxing, and skiing, and tubing, and EATING EATING EATING. ahh it was so wonderful. its one of those weekends i'll just look back on and smile. from getting up on skiis for the first time, to a JB freakout scream session down the highway, to sitting on the dock starring at the full moon just in awe of my Maker. i love life so much. and am so blessed to have who i have in it. summers almost over, and then school starts back up again. so i want to make these next few weeks count. and just pack as much in as i can, to finish this summer out having done everything i wanted to. i just love the time to do whatever i want. and relax. ahhhhh summer.

fireflies.

I've been thinking about fireflies . I saw them in a field earlier this summer and felt like I was in one of those princess fairy tale story books .. you know the ones where there's a field just filled with fireflies . and they always end up catching them in their jars and gazing at how beautiful they are . but what the storybook never mentioned was what a firefly really looks like up close . its this beautiful magical thing at a distance . but when you look at it closely you see thats just a regular ugly bug . it looks like a beetle with fire on its butt . I saw them that night and just wondered ... what do they look like up close? the story books never covered that part . and then I realized there just normal beetle bugs . I was thinking about the night I saw them today and realized something . fireflies are like so many things in life . there so beautiful far away .. and they look like the most magical amazing things ever . but when you get them upclose , your come to the realization that there just like everything else . in this life, the world makes some things look so amazing and beautiful . and you don't understand you've been fooled until you see it for it's true colors . But Jesus gives us something better than beauty far away . He gives us life to the fullest , and doesn't scam us for something terrible once your stuck with it . Thank the LORD that Christ died so we could live the life that He created us to . 1 Timothy 6:12 tells us to ' Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called . ' The true One doesn't go back on His promises of what our live is . He gives us life , and life eternally .

writing music all day.. it's just one of those days. where its dreary weather but inside the creativity is flowing. writing music is like my out from what is going on.. cause I just put it onto the paper and make it into something beautiful. music. even tho sometimes I hit a wall. and come up blank. but that's when I listen. and I always end up coming with my best songs out of those days. hmmm thank Jesus that He created music.

Happiness.

Sometimes I think people get confused with what happiness really is. They base it off of what the world makes it out to be. Your happy if you get things, your happy when people treat you right, your happy when things go your  own way.. but that's not what being happy really is. In this life, there are many things that disappoint people. But we have to Creator of Happiness. In Phillipians 4 it says not to worry about anything. But to bring your requests to Him. SO why worrry? Just let God handle it, and live this life with a smile on your face. Because He brings everlasting happiness that never fades.. even if your having a bad hair day(: So don't sweat the small stuff and just be happy. Because when it comes down to it, we have nothing to be upset about when the maker of the world is our dad.

His Beauty..

When I woke up this morning, I was just thinking about life, and everything I have to do, and just being stressed out. But God began to show me not to take this life for granted. That we need to take the little things, and enjoy them. He is just so beautiful. And so big. And if were all worried about stupid things that don't ever end up mattering in the end, we'll miss it. SO, today my goal is to just notice His beauty all throughout the day, and to make the little things count.

TRUSTING HIM.

Wow. Life has just been so crazy lately and God has been showing my some amazing things. I've been learning so much lately about stepping out in faith even if it's not easy. Like this little boy jumping to his dad. We have to trust God to be there to catch us. Even if it's a long way down, and it's hard to jump we do it because we know He will never let us fall. Because God's will is where you have to be if you want to be complete. And sometimes it's hard to leave your comfortable atmosphere, and step out into something totally different. But if that's God's plan for you, then that's where you'll find peace and happiness and everything He has for us. When your in His perfect will, that's where your success will be. And that's what God's been revealing to me as I've had to do exactly that.

Bloggger?

Hmmm , so I'm not exactly sure how this whole blog thing will end up working out. It'll probably just be something I end up using to vent.. or get my feelings out.. but who knows. It could turn into something more than that. I never was good at keeping up with my diaries when I was little. I would get one, and write in it everyday for about a week.. then once a month, and before you knew it, it'd be lost. SO i guess we'll just see how this goes(: