(1)Social life.
(2) Good grades
(3) Plenty of sleep

Pick two. Welcome to college.

This is actually a bumper sticker my friend Isaac told me about. I'm reposting it because I have found it to be pretty accurate. For those of you who are considering asking what college life is like, see above. For those wondering how you can pray for me... see above. Basically... that should answer a lot of questions.

That said, God is still incredibly faithful. Always has been. Always will be. I am so weak. Busy. Tired. I mess up. I procrastinate. I get lonely. I don't always know what to do. "But He gives more grace."

Believe Me Now

Steven Curtis Chapman

I watch you looking out across the raging water,
So sure your only hope lies on the other side.
You hear the enemy that's closing in around you.
And I know, that you don't have the strength to fight.
But do you have the faith to stand?

And believe me now, believe me here
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe me now.

I am the One who waved my hand and split the ocean,
I am the One who spoke the words and raised the dead.
And I've loved you long before I set the world in motion.
I know all the fears you're feeling now.
But do you remember who I am?

Will you believe me now? Believe me here.
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you.
So believe me now, believe it's true
I never have I never will abandon you.
And the God that I have always been,
I will forever be.
So believe me now

I am God, who never wastes a single hurt that you endure.
My words are true and all My promises are sure.
So believe me now

So believe me now, believe me here
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe me now, believe it's true.
I never have I never will abandon you
And the God that I have always been
I will forever be.
So believe me now.

to my friends...

Hello world!

I just felt the need to let you know that I hadn't fallen off the face of the earth. I'm still here. I can't promise any substantial posts... hopefully... but definitely no guarantee.

But... God is so faithful.

You know what I'm saying (?)

So good. And the fact that he's wearing a Scrabble t-shirt makes it even better. :)

Totally Like Whatever, You Know? - Taylor Mali

Finished

So yeah... lots of songs. It helps me process. Haven't managed to get the words on paper any other way. So here's another one.

[1]
Broken, so ashamed of who I am, and who I’m not,
Painfully aware of my own inadequacies,
Distracted by the voice of my accuser taunting me,
Trying to ignore the fears gnawing away inside of me.

[pre-chorus]
So I cower in a corner afraid to make a move,
Forgetting You’ve completed what I’m trying to prove.

[chorus]
You made the greatest sacrifice to take away my sin
Your blood poured to the ground so that I could be free,
So who am I, to live in fear and shame?
And who am I to doubt the work You’ve done inside of me?
As You died that day, You said, “It is finished,”
So I will rest in the work that You’ve completed.

[2]
Everyday, accusations tear away inside my soul,
And I wonder why You would love me.
But there’s no condemnation, but mercy in Your wounds,
And it’s Your perfect holiness that God’s justice sees.

[bridge]
God poured out His justice on You in place of me,
So I don’t need to heed the voice of lies.
I can have boldness to enter in before the King,
In full assurance Your salvation is now also mine.

Fall

[1]
Oh sinner lost and fearful, wandering silently through the night,
Recognize the hope extended and run to the light.
Reject your twisted ways and confront your helpless state,
Flee freely to the only place where love has made a way.

[chorus]
Fall before the feet of Jesus, don’t you know you need Him now?
He’s the only Savior for us; praise Him as we humbly bow.
Cast your cares on Him who loves us, He redeems our every tear.
Trust His everlasting promise, His faithfulness calms every fear.

[2]
To the one who knows that this lie has entrapped them for too long,
Are you tired of pretending? Accept what you’ve known all along.
Reject your pride and fear here and fall broken at His feet.
Come be washed clean at the only fount where love and justice meet.

[3]
Oh weary, wounded Christian, redeemed so long ago.
Have you now forgotten why you started on this road?
God has never left your side; He’s been faithful all along.
Look back to see His kindness, look ahead with faith that’s strong.

[bridge]
In every age, from every place,
He is calling us to come,
Claim the promises He’s made us,
Trust His Word, His love, His Son.

He's Always Been Faithful

- Sara Groves -

[1]
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him amazed,
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

[chorus]
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me

[2]
I can't remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain.
I can't remember one single regret
In serving God only and trusting His hand

[3]
This is my anthem, this is my song,
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, He will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.

"better than I deserve..."

Words fail. I don't even know what to say.

So, since I can't seem to come up with my own words to describe the events of yesterday, I'll borrow the words of others. It was amazing.

"We're going to talk about the you that is really you."

"Jesus Christ is Lord!"

"You alone can rescue, You alone can save. You alone can lift us from the grave. You came down to save us, led us out of death. To You alone belongs the highest praise."

"How are you?"
"Better than I deserve and not as good as I hope to be."

"How can I pray for you?"

"Your salvation is not about a feeling you have all the time. It's about the desires of your heart."

"God is just really amazing."

"Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

"It's so cool to see God work."

"He knows my name, He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and He hears me when I call..."

So yes. Yesterday I got to see a dear friend. I got to see what God is doing in my life.
And best of all... I got to see, again, the power of the Gospel.

Journalism Quote

"Woe to the reporter who lets a story slip by simply because he didn't understand the significance."

-Dr. Sillars