wow. yesterday i saw this video that someone had made of our trip to new orleans last month: “when you see it like Jesus saw it, then you will do it like Jesus did it.” i miss that all so much. to be the Church wherever we are..not sitting in a pew in church on sunday mornings but out reaching to the poorest of the poor, to the broken hearted. i just keep thinking of this verse… 

“religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their afflicition, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” james 1:27

(Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours…)

  

: ) i’m sitting here listening to christ for the nations and simply thinking…and resting in His peace. i’m so thankful right now and i know that there are so many good things to look forward to. just being able to live each and every day for Christ…to be able to bless others…..oh, it’s so good. i was talking to my mom about college again last night and if it is really worth going four years to get a degree in counseling. i really think that i’m going to go for two years for missions/general studies. if, for some reason, i am meant to stay longer or study something different i’ll know…but for now, i’m looking forward to it. i have a little while though, so i’ll be patient.

anyway, i read this little story last night and i loved it…a lot. so here it is…be blessed by it. i’ve got to get back to work : ) rest in Him & have a beautiful weekend.

   “There is a legend that tells of a german baron who, at his castle on the rhine, stretched wires in the air form tower to tower so that the wind might treat them as a wind harp and thereby create music as it blew across them. yet as the soft breezes swirled around the castle, no music was born.

one night, however, a fierce storm arose, and the hill where the castle was struck with the fury of the violent wind. the baron looked out his doorway on the terror of the wind, and the wind harp was filling the air with melodies tht rang out even above the noise of the storm. it had taken a fierce storm to produce the music!

haven’t we all known people whose lives have never produced any pleasing music during their days of calm prosperity but who, when fierce winds have blown across their lives, have astonished us by the power and beauty of their music?…”

i read psalm 107 this morning and it was such a beautiful picture of God’s love for us. i was blessed by it. the last couple of days have been stretching…but i really think that i began to lose sight of choosing joy inspite of my circumstances. it is so so easy to sit around and feel sorry for yourself instead of standing on solid ground, and knowing that the Lord has a purpose in every circumstance, in every area of our lives. i was reading streams in the desert and read: “God is never in a hurry. He spends years preparing those He plans to greatly use, and never thinks of the days of preparation as being too long or boring….desperate days are the stepping-stones on the path of light. they seem to have been God’s opportunity to provide our school of wisdom.” isn’t that the truth? He is so patient with me, and His love extends as He pours out grace upon grace.

..i need to get back to finishing my college application essays & all now .. be blessed….

“Let them thank the Lord for His s t e a d f a s t love…for He satisifies the

longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things..”

:psalm 107:

simply put, my heart is so heavy tonight.
i pray for peace…for guidance…for wisdom…and more peace.

“who am i that you would love me so gently?
who am i that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am i that you would speak to me so softly
conversation with the Love most high…
who am i?…”

“I love those who love me, and those who seek Me, find Me” proverbs 8:17

(i will seek You,
 Jesus.)

i’ll write more soon. : )