Made For It.

I was made for relationship.  I’ll show you why,

To start...

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”  -Genesis 2:18

And then in Ezra...

When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. -Ezra 3:1 

There were 42,360 in the whole assembly. Plus 7,337 male and female servants. And 200 male and female singers.  [why they weren't considered as part of the assembly I'm not sure...?]  All gathering as one man.  Dang. That's a lot of people. Together. Close together.

And then in Acts...

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. -Acts 2:1

And then he has them all speaking, communicating with one another. He brings them together through language. Albeit the fact that they don't actually speak the same language. Amazing, no?

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.-Acts 2:44
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God-Acts 2:42
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.-Acts 4:31-32

And then in my life...
It seems I forget just how important being 'together' with people is to my well-being.  How much it adds to this rise and fall of my chest.

Experience one:
Family friends stopped over for an impromptu meeting.  They’ve known me since I was a baby.  As we sat in the living room sharing stories and happenings, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  It was surprisingly refreshing.  I realized how much I had been missing social interactions like this.  Being in a larger group.  Just visiting.  Something you dread as a child-sitting around with your parent’s friends-was the best time I’d had in weeks.

Experience two:
Lunch.  Sunday.  Best friend.  AMEN.  I haven’t had quality time like that with Meg in awhile.  While we munched on french fries, sipping orange juice and coffee, we shared about family and friends, life and living.  And while that might seem like a strange mixture of breakfast and lunch, it was just what I needed off the menu.  I can’t thank you enough Meg for your friendship.  You are the true definition of a faithful friend.  A friend who is consistent, despite my consistent inconsistency.

Experience three:
Ryan and Kendra.  I spent most of my high school years with these two.  And unfortunately, very little time since.  Despite the latter, being at their house felt like being at home.  They are an incredible example of what it looks like to glorify God in the face of great trial. Psalm 119:74 says, “Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word”-I see you Ryan and Kendra, and I rejoice.  Because of your hope in the promises of God.  [Please Definitely] Check out their blog for more on that, because selfishly, I just want to highlight the gift of their friendship.  Albeit so much time apart, being welcomed in and feeling loved and known and comfortable with them, was a such a blessing.  Another wonderful reminder.

All three of these interactions happened within just twenty-four hours.  Apparently God wanted to really drive this point home- between reading His word and blessing me with the tangible experiences of the importance of friendship.  That I am indeed made for relationship.  Clearly with others, and most especially, with Him.

I'll have the Sweet Filled, please.

'Tis so _________ to trust in Jesus.

[hard]
[frightening]
[foolish looking]
[counter-cultural]
[seemingly counter-intuitive]
[crazy]
[submissive]
[idealic]
[earth shaking]
[cataclysmic]
[life giving]
[life altering]
[fullfilling]
[exciting]
[comforting]
[hope giving]
[reassuring]
[empowering]
[consuming]
[simple]

 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.

There are so many words with which I fill that blank.  Sweet not being the first pick.  And then I listened to this song by Page CXVI.  [Who are about to become my new favorites.  Not to be pushy, but you need to add them to your list too.]  It speaks of the sheer goodness of trusting Christ. 
Yes, life with Jesus is sometimes all of those words listed above, but this was a quick reminder not to forget that 'tis truly just sweet to trust in Him.
 

 Jesus. Jesus.
How I trust you.

In Crossing The Line.

the moment where your dripping toes are hanging over the rocky edge
dark water and swirling foam thirty feet below.
the deep breath and gumption that makes you lean forward
setting your foot into nothing,
one and then the other.

that is where it happens

where you earn your stripes.
where you learn a thing or two.
it isn't while your speeding through the thin air.
or when the water sucks you in with its icy grip
nor when coming up sputtering with the taste of adrenaline still on your lips.

the heavy was at the beginning.
standing on that line.
with your heart pounding loudly in your ears.
that aforementioned adrenaline coursing through your weak feeling veins.
you stand at a crossroads.
with shaking hands you contemplate sitting this one out.
you try and convince yourself that you won't really be missing anything.

that you don't need to prove yourself by doing this.
that life won't be much different if you pass just this once.

but you do.
and it will.

you do need to prove yourself.
to yourself.
if you pass just this once, you might just pass up the next
and the next.
the good stuff takes place when you muster up enough courage and cross into the scary
leaving the comfortable back on the other side.

may we keep jumping.
despite the risk.
in spite of the risk.
for the risk itself.

for what it teaches us.
about giving up and giving in.
of letting go.
taking a deep breath and throwing your unsteady body and caution to the wind.
here’s to hoping that its what we learn
while we stretch our toes over that line.
in that moment where we are test and tried.
may we not be found wanting.
instead may we find Goodness.
no matter the deathly chill of the water below.

Getting Owned.

While listening to this song I wondered...
What does it look like for you to own me Lord?

What does it look like today?

By George.

Many a man, many a woman, fair and flourishing to see, is going about with a rusty moth-eaten heart within that form of strength or beauty.

If God sees that heart corroded with the rust of cares, riddled into caverns and films by the worms of ambition and greed, then your heart is as God sees it, for God sees things as they are.  And one day you will be compelled to see, nay, to feel your heart as God sees it.




A man does not live by his feelings any more than by bread.

And when he can no longer feel the truth, he shall not therefore die.  He lives because God is true; and he is able to know what he lives because he knows, having once understood the word that God is truth.  He believes in the God of former vision, lives by that word therefore, when all is dark and there is no vision.


-George McDonald

from George MacDonald by C.S. Lewis

Comfort and Justice.

9“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples

to wa pure speech,

that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord

and serve him with one accord.

10 xFrom beyond the rivers yof Cush

my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,

shall bring my offering.

11 z“On that day ayou shall not be put to shame

because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;

for then bI will remove from your midst

your proudly exultant ones,

and cyou shall no longer be haughty

in my holy mountain.

12 But I will leave in your midst

a people dhumble and lowly.

eThey shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,

13 fthose who are left in Israel;

they gshall do no injustice

and speak no lies,

hnor shall there be found in their mouth

a deceitful tongue.

iFor they shall graze and lie down,

and none shall make them afraid.”

14 jSing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

kThe King of Israel, lthe Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

16 zOn that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

mlet not your hands grow weak.

17 lThe Lord your God is in your midst,

na mighty one who will save;

ohe will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

18 I will gather those of you who mourn pfor the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.3

19 Behold, at that time qI will deal

with all your oppressors.

And rI will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change stheir shame into tpraise

and renown in all the earth.

20 uAt that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

vwhen I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Zeph. 3

Profoundly Cute.

Alright.
So this isn't profound or anything.
But then again maybe it is.
Because it's about the cutest thing ever.  And maybe being cute is profound because it's just plain good.