Sunday, December 29, 2013

true hope

Romans 5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And let us rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The Holy Spirit has poured out God's love into our hearts--> this brings hope! First, let me say: what hope is there apart from Christ? I haven't found much. I want the Holy Spirit to be strong inside of me. So that the love of God may be what runs in my very veins, what pumps my heart. 
Thank you for that hope, God. Thank you for the utmost sacrificial love you offer. 
I have learned you should not give your whole self to anything but God. It is dangerous & unhealthy to set all of your hopes and confidence in the love of/from ___________ (your spouse, your family, your career, your country, etc). It is so safe to go all in for Jesus. His love is enough to carry you, to sustain you. 
Oh that this would be engraved on my heart I would never forget or doubt! 
Holy Spirit make it so.

Friday, December 20, 2013

today: gratitude

Lately when I am asked "how are you doing?" I never quite know how to respond. From the outside I lead a blessed life (truth), but inside I'm like a dryer: tossing around my emotions, struggles, and victories. And sometimes those thing are banging on the door of my chest.

TODAY, however, on the last day of school before Christmas break (YEE HAW), I feel much gratitude toward Life, and the Creator of said Life. 

I am thankful for students who give me jars of m&m's and fuzzy socks as christmas presents. 

I am thankful for [free] chocolate croissants that are warmed up until the chocolate oozes out. 

I am thankful for women on my faculty who are kind and make me laugh. 

I am thankful for friends who walk through the *figurative* dirt of life with me. 

I am thankful that Target had The Family Stone (a fav movie of mine) in the $5 section!!!

And lastly, I am thankful for texts from friends (Fawell) that remind me to meditate on the hope I have through Jesus Christ. 

As one of my favorite blogs says: 
            Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough!

Thursday, December 12, 2013


This music makes me want to take a moonlit stroll in the snow, down Mason street, with the lamp poles casting an orange-yellow glow on the street, and look at the Christmas lights on the houses.

It makes me want to curl up in a warm blanket with a good book that gives me a good cry. The kind of cry that is cathartic and makes you feel sad and relieved at the same time.

It makes me want to sit in a favorite coffee shop while it's raining outside and I'm having good conversation with a good friend, clutching our warm cups of something delicious.

It makes me want to take a drive through the winding roads of the Blue Ridge mountains on route 33, and stare in awe at the thick forest, and not worry about what needs to get done.

Can you guess I'm missing Virginia?