mmm painting and listening to hammock. wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
wednesday was the last night of small group with these beautiful ladies (minus a few who aren’t in the photo). i had the privilege of leading a small group over the school year for these sixth graders. it’s amazing how much they taught me. these girls love God and each other so much… it inspires me. it has been such a blessing being a part of their lives.
i love, love, love these girls.
“The vocation of the local church could scarcely be more exalted. Called out of the world to be a light in the world, to be a united family among the disunited families of the earth, to be indwelled by Christ himself, to be the apple of God’s eye, to be graven on Christ’s hands, to be the glory of the image of the Holy Trinity, to be an embodiment of the infinite love of the cross, to be a collective portrait more beautiful than any other in the world — that is the church, the local church, the new people of God.”
— Timothy Savage
“There stands the mysterious cross — a rock against which the very waves of the curse break. He who so mercifully engaged to direct this judgement against Himself hangs yonder in profound darkness. Still He remains the Morning Star, anouncing an eternal Sabbath to the world. Though rejected by Heaven and earth, yet He forms the connecting link between them both and the Mediator of their eternal and renewed amity.
Ah, see! His bleeding arms are extended wide; He stretches them out to every sinner. His hands point to the east and west; for He shall gather His children from the ends of the earth. The top of the cross is directed toward the sky; far above the world will its effects extend. Its foot is fixed in the earth; the cross becomes a wondrous tree, from which we reap the fruit of an eternal reconciliation.”
— F.W. Krummacher
mmm. this is beautiful.
i am in FLORIDA!
yes, i am spending my spring break in panama city beach.
(side note: this is also my first time EVER being in florida!)
being here is only by the grace of the Lord, and by his amazing provision in my life.
i am looking forward to a week of serving the Lord and growing in my faith. i know he is going to do incredible things on this trip.
prayers this week are much, much appreciated.
you are the salt of the earth. but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. you are the light of the world. a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. in the same way, let your light shine before others. that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
[matthew 5:13-16]
isaiah 43:18-19
forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
see, i am doing a new thing!
now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
i am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
rest in his perfect love.
tonight, i set aside time and had a date with the Lord. yes, i spend time with God each day, but this was different. it was a time of just me and my heavenly father, no interruptions, free from the chaos of life — a time to just rest in his love.
that was just what i needed.
i find myself striving for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. i continually depend on others to satisfy this void; and, when they don’t fill it, i become depressed and disappointed. the truth is, is that only the Lord can fill my emptiness.
God’s love never fails. it is perfect, unconditional, and everlasting. so why keep running from it? why keep trying to fill the void with things that disappoint? why keep holding myself to unrealistic expectations and trying so hard to be someone i’m not? why keep believing lies instead of believing the truth?
i am precious to the Lord.
i am his child.
i am complete in him.
i need to stop running, and trying so hard, and just rest. rest in the Lord’s love.
