Ode to Craigslist

All I have to say is the best of craigslist gives me great joy.

with all my heart.

I am continuously astounded by our God.

From the beginning of time, it was all about Jesus Christ. The Savior. The Messiah. The one who would come and fix everything, to make us whole again, to bring us into the kingdom of our perfect, loving Father. 

Sometimes I am overwhelmed with who he is. How can he know every one of us, individually, all of the tiny crevices in our soul and our deepest fears and desires? He created the earth and stars and energy and movement and art and love . . . and yet he wants to know me? Never have I felt more loved, more complete, more joyful and more faithful than now. I have no reason for it, except that the Lord is to be praised. He has raised me from the miry pit and has set me feet on solid ground! 

I used to pray for more faith. I believed, but I wanted to believe more. Lord, help my unbelief! Looking back on my journey, I am stunned that he was working and moving in every piece of my life, whispering, "trust me." The same way he wove together our human history, always pointing towards the Savior, he has woven my life together - always pointing towards the Savior. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that God is faithful. What does this mean? The Lord will finish a good work created in you that he began when you chose to give him your life. The Creator of everything, seen and unseen, is in control of your past, present, and future. What better caretaker do we have than the one who created us to be in perfect unity with him? 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6 

things i find myself doing instead of studying

Some of these are legit, some... not.

• blogging
• spending hours on craigslist discovering how cheap I could live in Bangladesh, Ireland, or Australia
• myspace-ing Germany's #1 girl pop band (No Angels)
• finding new things to dip animal crackers into (peanut butter, today)
  
• carefully inspecting the suspicious bruise on my arm
• organizing my work space (again)
• writing Compassion letters
• reading magazines
• cleaning out my purse (and discovering $20. worth it.)
• facebook and email. obviously.
• talking about Dayna's wedding
• researching bridesmaids dresses for Dayna's wedding
• spending quality time with the knot.com (for Dayna's wedding)
• researching $2,000 cameras to pretend I'm a pro photographer
• standing around in the kitchen eating food
• sharpening my colored pencils
• watching Ami cut peoples' hair
• sweeping up hair
• watching "Beauty Shop" on BET
• spending a couple hours on Lifetime's Total Beauty Makeover website

You think if I'd put this much time and energy into studying for my exam I'd make A's. But would it be worth it? Definitely not. I like all those other things a lot better. Let's just hope I graduate...

sweep me away

It's such a peaceful feeling to know that I'm not trying to impress anyone but the Lord.

Sometimes I feel his presence around me so strongly. When I woke up on my birthday, I could feel his love pulsing through me, as though he was letting me know that he was celebrating my existance, my birth, my purpose and my role in his kingdom. I can't describe the feeling of his love... while I know that love isn't a feeling, when I do feel it, it's like the way the sun falls over everything in the early morning, the way a berry tastes at the first bite, the way music fits together to orchestrate my favorite song. He knows me so deeply - every desire, every hurt, every joy and delight. I am truly known, and he is the only one who will ever be able to fill all of those barren places in my soul. 

Just you and me, Lord. Despite my trust issues, I know that I can trust you, with everything. How joyful and peaceful to know that you'll never leave me. 

you sweep me away, sweep me away in your love

where nothing else matters...