real talk

I find it a little humorous that my closest friends are normally more on the quiet, shy side.

through a series of non-coincidental events, I have been blessed with a steadfast friendship.

countless text messages, laughs, tears, hugs, i love you's, and painful vulnerability have enabled Emma & I to know each other and be fully known ourselves.

this is an irreplaceable love.

this morning, we were both a little down, and feeling bombarded with lies..
but with the revelation that that's exactly what they were--lies..
I refused to have a pity party.
I sent this message to her,
and I'd like to share it with you.

"it's kinda cool if you think about it..to get attacked and hear lies..because it means we have something that the enemy wants. We are daughters of the most high God and have favor in His sight. HE LOVES US! I feel like I'm getting bombarded with lies..but right now I'm just praising God for who He is and rejoicing because He saved me in order that I know the truth and don't have to listen to these lies."

it's so simple, yet we often forget the victory of Jesus's death and resurrection.

"He will [HAS]swallow(ed) up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken."
Isaiah 25:8

over coffee

today I skipped exercise
to
talk,
grow,
share,
learn,
love.
with a friend.

Claire started out as my employer;
we met the day she moved to my hometown,
and as I spent the last three years of my life nannying for her,
we have let each other into our lives.

today we discussed our daily joys and struggles,
and the promises of our God.

I've often heard it said,
"God puts people in our lives for a reason",
and although it sounds cliche,
today was an awe-inspiring reminder of
how He designs our lives
and intentionally forms our paths.
Praise God!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, 
according to the power that works within us, 
to Him be the glory in the church 
and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20&21

strangers

a note from a stranger

my dear friend, Emma, received this note from a cashier after a lunch out.
a stranger paid for her meal.

these noteworthy moments are inspiring to say the least..

but how often do we overlook the random acts of kindness?
or surpass an opportunity to perform one,
because we doubt the impact that it will have.

my mentor has written about me on her blog for two years.
her readers have been praying for me
and leaving comments of encouragement..
I even recieved a doll that one reader
hand made for me!

the kindness of strangers overwhelms my heart,
and fills me with joy and hope.

therefore, be encouraged today--surprise a stranger with kindness!

"An anxious heart weighs down a man, but a kind word cheers him up."
-Proverbs 12:25  

a hero of sorts

I had dinner tonight with a very special friend,

my mentor.

I call her kp.

she hates capital letters and snakes.

she loves Jesus, nutella, reading, 

and her girl.

she has shown me unconditional love

when I needed it the most..

even when i didn't want it.

she listens to me

laughs with me

cries for me

and covers me in prayer

the full story of our friendship will come later..

however,

I'd like to share just a few things that I 

love

about my mentor:

1: her hugs

2: the way she listens

3: she laughs at my jokes

4: she's incredibly smart

5: she makes me feel genuinely loved and accepted

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

moving forward

        

everyone has it.
a struggle.

no one is exempt from the trials of our flesh.
..except Jesus..but I'm pretty sure you're not Him.

so what is it?
your struggle?

maybe it seems overwhelming to you,
or maybe you don't think it's a big deal..
but to think that it placed Jesus on a cross will put the  
latter into perspective..
and to think that HE ROSE AGAIN will bring into perspective 
the first.

so what is my struggle?
depends on the day.
sometimes I feel as if I have too many to count..
until I also count my blessings,
which always outweigh the hurt.

so let us move forward.
count your blessings..

starting with the fact that you have air in your lungs.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
 In the world you will have tribulation. 
But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

please contact me if you would like prayer for your struggle today,
I would be honored to pray for you!

365

                                                                   

Yesterday I began a journey to read the entire bible in 365 days...

Eager to break in my new ESV Study Bible, 

I began my day's assigned reading,

but I realized how much I needed the footnotes to help me grasp the full meaning of the text..

then I realized,

I am incredibly blessed.

not only has God lavished me with material things that the majority of the world will never know,

He has given me a chance to read His word in multiple versions, with numerous study aids, and mentors to help me understand His word..

and yet I still doubt,

I still skip days without reading,

and have no idea what it's like to know a world without the word..

and then there are those..

who meet in secret,

who don't own their own copy of the bible,

who don't have the bible written in their own language..

and yet..

their faith moves mountains.

HE who promises is faithful,

and I am thankful for the conviction.

Revelation 7:9

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every Nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

To learn more about bible translation movements, check out:

http://www.wycliffe.org/about/statistics.aspx