((I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. they are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. then you will call to me. you will come and pray to me, and I will hear you.)) Jeremiah 29:11-12

when God’s plan for our lives includes things that perhaps we didn’t plan for, perhaps weren’t part of our fragile and fleeting plan, what is our first response? emotion, overwhelming emotion. emotion in the form of restlessness, tears, anger and the crushing heaviness of defeat. emotion that has the potential to destroy us, that eats from the inside out. emotion that could keep us from our breakthrough if we let it. in the aftermath, after emotion has run its course where do we look? back down? back at the situation in order to be yet again swept up by the wind and the waves? no. we look up. the only way out, the only way over, the only way...

when we see people who are living out big lives, who seem to see differently, who love so radically, and live every day fully, something inside of us longs for the joy we watch in their sparkling eyes. something inside of us cries out, it craves the fulfillment they have, it is in agony without it, without our true purpose, without our God given assignment, but how do we get to where they are? how do we capture that sparkle and have it for our own? there is no twelve step program to that place of unspeakable, untouchable brightness. there is no school, no job, no relationship that I can tell you will get you there, and even if there was, how could a uniform mold fit your life? you who were formed uniquely by the hands of the Creator. it could never fit you and the live that you have been given. a life as unique as your fingerprint. every moment, every day, every year you live is part of...

so here you are, wide eyed, buzzing with excitement with a world full of possibilities at your fingertips. so here you are, ready to start a journey that you have been waiting for forever, the beginning of a big bright future. the beginning of a vibrant life. there is a story God is writing in you and through you during this time and every day is another page. i cant tell you for certain that during this time there will be dark days, but i promise that the bright days between will eclipse them. there will be days of isolation, but i promise a community is being orchestrated around you, God does not intend for you to walk alone. there will be lonely days, but a year from now as you soak in the life that you have built on a firm foundation, the lonely days will be a distant memory. there will be days where you question. where you know that it would be easier to walk another road, and...

((trust in the Lord with all of your heart. in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.)) PROVERBS 3:5-6

((whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you say ‘this is the way, walk in it.’)) ISAIAH 30:21

((the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken, who can change His plans? when His hand is raised, who can stop Him?)) ISAIAH 14:27

what can be said about the Sovereign unassailable will of the Mighty King? can we question anything that is thrown our way if we are seeking His voice, His face, His heart from the first brilliant burst of morning light until the slow burning embers of dusk sink down past the horizon? can i look at my circumstance, my life, my relationships, my days, and truly question if they are not being used to create something beautiful? i believe that my God is a God of peace and even in this time of immense...

((clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.)) COLOSSIANS 3:12

compassion: pity, favor, grace, mercy.
this can only be defined as the unexplainable feeling we encounter when we see others suffering that evokes an an extreme desire to reach out in whatever way we are able, ultimately resulting in leveraging our full effort to do so no matter what the sacrifice.

kindness: goodness, uprightness, gentleness. the inner desire to be available, to be positive, to be constructive, to be light. kindness can be defined in a million actions, but in this context I believe it to be best pinned to sharing the life we have found in Jesus Christ not only through spreading the gospel verbally, but by being an example in all we say and do.

humility: lowliness of mind, modesty. this is the realization that He is God and we are not. nothing we can ever do, ever...

the first time i blinked out tears to you was the start of something new. we were new, the feelings were new, the year was new and i was scared. i guess i have always been scared of new, it’s natural, we like what we know. i was scared because this newness was disarming me, your unyielding love was disarming me, your piercing green eyes were disarming me, and your words were opening up my heart. i didn’t like that. it took time, but as the newness of the year wore off, so did the alarm, and as i sank deeper into you, into our love, me being afraid wore off too. because you were safe, you were here, you were home. you were my person.

the last time i blinked out tears to you was the start of something new. this is new, this path is new, alone is new and i am scared. i guess i have always been scared of new, it’s natural, we like what we know. i am scared because this newness is disarming...

life is broken, it is short, it is chalkful of chaos, pain and sorrow, but, oh, how sweet it is. i believe in the comeback story, i believe that in God beauty always comes from ashes, the prodigal child always comes home and the ending is always happy because that’s who our Father, our Sovereign Lord, is. He is a great, highly exalted, merciful King who is able to do exceedingly abundantly more. in that affirmed power, in that unshakable, unchangeable love i find myself with an unsinkable soul, a soul that finds rest because i am aware of who i am, and who He is. i am aware that the highest power is fighting on my behalf constantly. i am aware that He has my best interest in mind. i am aware that my God is able to turn things around in a split second, He is able bring life from certain death in a moment. He brings impossible situations around to rapid breakthroughs because He is glorious...

in the silence, in the waiting, still we can know You are good.

((God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. so, we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.)) PSALM 46:1-3

i am holding onto You, in the middle of the storm i am holding on, i am.

((be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation, I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.)) PSALM 46:10-11

no raging storm can ever defy one word of faith

((do not be afraid, just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. the Lord Himself will fight for you, just stay calm.)) EXODUS 14:13-14

promise maker, promise keeper, You finish what You begin

((what shall we say about such wonderful things as...

what does it mean to trust God from the bottom of your heart? does it mean floating through life with no goals, plans, or dates for the sake of obeying? does it mean you’re sinful if you do like to prepare? i believe neither, i believe that trusting God from the bottom of your heart call for a life of open hands, open hearts and open lives. i believe that in order to maximize God’s glory in us and through us, we should make plans, we should lean into God while making them, seeking His wise counsel above all others. however, if our expectations for our plans don’t meet our reality, we still praise God. we recognize that He is higher, His thoughts are higher, His ways are higher. He is above and before all things and to truly understand the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ is to trust God from the bottom of your heart.

((trust God with everything, from the bottom of your heart, don’t...

i am walking through my days with these knots gnawing at me, in my very innermost self, i feel heavy. Jesus, You see me, nothing is hidden from You. i am so weak, so broken, so tired, so bare, but maybe that’s exactly how You want me.

((if your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, He’ll help you catch your breath.)) PSALM 34:18

((the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit.)) Psalm 34:18