What have I been doing with my time? you might wonder. To be honest, I oftentimes ask myself that same question. When I’m at school my minutes seem to turn into hours which turn into days which turn into months. I’m not really sure how it got to be nearly January but it has and I’m thankful for it. This past semester was by far my hardest, academically, and I made it through…with my best “report card” to date. Go figure.

Beyond academics, though, it has been a busy semester. Between all of the homework and papers I try to find time to sleep, be with God, be with my friends, figure out what next year is going to look like for me–a college graduate, yikes!–and you know, the normal stuff that goes with “college life.”

I have been blessed beyond measure, though. Despite the long nights, and hard conversations, it has been sweet. Being a senior has made me a bit nostalgic as I tell the freshmen on my hall what college is like. Remembering all of the times I got into trouble with student development, the craziness that I was my freshmen and sophomore year (and still am?), and the friends that have accompanied me along the way. It really is ridiculous when I think about all of the people I have met, loved, and done life with at Covenant. Some of them have graduated, some are younger than me, and some are in the battle of senior year with me.

I am so SO thankful. This time of the year always seems to make me look up from my homework and busy-ness and to reflect on how gracious God truly is.

(continue reading…)

   Maybe its the weather. Maybe its just me. Maybe its the combination of a drizzle rainy day and it being early in the week but I have the strong tendency to slip into a reflective or contemplative mood. Whenever I get into one of ‘those moods’ I love sitting inside a coffee shop, next to a window, with a good cup of coffee, my favorite pen, molskine journal (a.k.a. my sanity) and/or my laptop. Reading, writing, and reflecting. I love it.

Holidays also have this effect on me and this Thanksgiving break wasn’t necessarily any different. As I talked to family and friends I couldn’t help but think of the ways in which the Lord has changed me. The way He has changed my family. (continue reading…)

 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. v. 1:2-3

Have you ever wondered what kind of man Hosea was? I mean, seriously. For God to tell you, “look, I want you to marry this woman and she will become a whore. She will give birth and then she will leave you. She will leave you in hopes of finding something better, something different. She will never be satisfied. While she does this I want you to love her. I want you to care for her from afar. I want you to reflect the kind of love that I have and will show to the people of Israel….’

(continue reading…)

When I signed up to be an R.A. I never thought I would be placed on a hall that didn’t have a name. Never, in a million years, did I think that I would be responsible for naming a hall. Hall names are forever. Seriously.  They make up the identity of the hall, the reputation of it  throughout campus. Nope, I didn’t think that job would be mine nor did I want that kind of burden. What if my kid comes here and finds out that I named the hall…

(continue reading…)

Baby was sleeping. I had a few hours to get some stuff done. I pulled out my laptop, plugged it in, and waited for it to boot-up. Itunes launched and I remembered that I had about 6 minutes of a sermon I had began listening to on the morning of July 16–the day Will had his accident.

(continue reading…)

“I failed.”

That little sentence use to be so hard for me to admit. You see, I operated out of a “failing is worse than death” system. Failing was always out of the question. I would create such high standards for myself, that were impossible to achieve, and when I would fail or not measure up, well…I was pissed. I couldn’t be seen as anything less than perfect. At least, thats what I thought… (continue reading…)

I have seen the power behind memorizing scripture and how it has transformed my mind, personally, and the effects it has had on my everyday life.

It had been on my heart to begin to memorize some portions of scripture this semester/year but wasn’t exactly sure what to memorize. Through some different things that are happening on my hall and in my own life I decided to memorize Romans 6, 7, and 8. I told my roommates that I would love for them to join me in this (i really didn’t give them an option, haha) as to set a tone for the hall and we are aspiring to do so.

I spent some time on sunday learning how to print on 3X5 cards off of my printer, got them laminated yesterday and began the journey this morning. I have been encouraged by the ways in which God is working in the lives of the girls on my hall and also in my own heart.

I’m excited to pursue holiness with my roommates and those close to me, in this way, and may you take this as a challenge in your own life. Just as I am challenging myself.

May we be forever changed.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who have died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:1-5

written about 3 weeks ago @ the crooked tree in uptown. if you haven’t been–GO! its amazing

–

sometimes i feel like i should just blend in with the culture. that it would just be easier if i lived a complacent, comfortable lifestyle. not only living apathetically but really doing whatever i wanted. sometimes i just want to rebel against the ‘rules’ of christianity…the list of “do’s and don’ts.” Something that I have termed, List Christianity.

that frame of mind gets interrupted when i wake up and realize what i have done. that i have reduced God to little boxes in which i feel as though i have to put check marks in them to feel as though i have accomplished something. somewhere along the way christianity became a chore, a job…routine and boring.

how did i wind up here? where did i take a sharp left turn into the oblivion of confusion. when did this…my thoughts shoot off into a million different directions. i think list christianity begins to take root in my soul the moment i become fascinated with everything else besides jesus. the once quite whispers of lies become screams that i can’t drown out. they overtake my mind and i begin to fight but its just too hard. i can’t fight it alone. i sadly give up. (continue reading…)

while i was on vacation in kansas city last week, i really slowed down and realized how badly i need to–more than i had been. my time in KC was such a sweet time to think and talk stuff through with one of my dearest friends, Jacky.

the following is taken from a journal entry I wrote on July 7…just a little glimpse into where my heart has been

(continue reading…)

As a youth ministry staff we are reading through Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell. We had to read the introduction and first chapter and write a 1 page response by today, Tuesday. In order to prepare and make sure I actually got it done, I went to a local coffee shop off of Cedar Springs–Buli.  I really love their chai and carmel latte’s and the atmosphere is so chill. To help you better understand why I am laughing right now even as I write this…picture this image… (continue reading…)