"S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!"

It's been a while since I had some "high-culture" entertainment, but last Saturday night I had a date w/ my roommate, Lisa, to have a BLAST!


For those of you who didn't know, our own Southern Seminary choir was honorably invited to perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony w/ the Louisville Orchestra this past weekend. There were three performances in all, and Lees and I were able to attend Saturday evening.


Can I just say that it's been a LONG time since I had heard or experienced anything SO intensely INCREDIBLE! Not only was the orchestra amazingly talented, the combination of choral talent and music was enough to give everyone there the goosebumps and leave with tears in their eyes...and I exaggerate NOT.



When you think about how we are created in the image of our creative and ordered God, to be able to sit for a few hours and sample the genius of one of His own fashioned beings (Beethoven) cannot help but to draw your thoughts and contemplations Heavenward. Such beauty found amidst a fallen and sinful people just goes to PROVE that we still retain some of the marks of His existence.









It was such a privilege to hang out w/ our good friends, Tony and Ron (who looked AWESOME in their tuxes, by the way...), and make some fun and playful memories at the Kentucky Center for Arts afterwards. Check it out!




















































Conclusions for the evening: I'm DEFINITELY doing this again, and Lisa McGary is a GREAT date. :)

Motivational "Check"

These verses hit me square between the eyes the other day. I've been meditating on them ever since...

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be srengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." ~ Colossians 1:9-12 ~

I italicized the part that struck me hardest of all.

I am a distracted young woman - I'm just going to type it out-loud. As the Lord begins to fingerpoint more and more areas of my life that need gutting and restructuring, one of His biggest projects with me involves my motives and intentions. It can be towards friends, family, men, women, circumstances - you name it; but in almost every aspect of my existence, I find myself battling with one enduring question: is how I am thinking and behaving right now out of obedience to God or enslavement to flesh?

So often my focus supplies my motivation, and - unfortunately - so often that focus is not upon the Father as it needs to be. I discover myself trying to scheme feeble attempts to force what I desire to happen in my life (with people, in different situations, for my future...). I am so thankful that the Lord is so intentional to check me by His Spirit every time; and the other day, he checked me through Colossians.

Do we live our lives - day in and day out - motivated as Paul writes about in the first chapter of Colossians? Is the reason why we are loving people, serving people, praying for people, and acting in obedience because we truly understand that it is the Lord's generous "qualification" that has deemed us worthy for eternal life? Do we allow our greatest joy (particularly in times of patient endurance) to flow from the thankfulness that God has shown us such grace through Jesus?

I know the majority of the time I don't. Yet, I am humbled once again when I realize that as I chew on this verse these next days and weeks: God is working. If I bear any fruit, it's because He is faithful to sow His seeds. If I think any differently, it's because He is longsuffering to renew my warped mind. And if I love any better, it's only because He graciously loves through me.

And quite frankly... I find that motivational.

For Perspective

"And the moon is a sliver of silver,
like a shaving that fell on the floor of a carpenter's shop.
And every house must have it's builder;
and I awoke in the House of God.

Where the windows are mornings and evenings
stretched from the sun,
across the sky - north to south.
On my way to early meeting,
I heard the rocks crying out, I heard the rocks crying out...

'Be praised for all Your tenderness
by these works of Your Hands:
suns that rise and rains that fall to bless,
and bring to life Your land.
Look down upon this winter wheat,
and be glad that You have made
blue, border sky and the color green
that fill these fields with praise.'

And the wrens have returned to their nesting
in the hollow of that oak, where his heart once had been.
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing
for being born again.

And the streams are all swollen with winter.
Winter unfolds, and it's free to run away now.
And i'm amazed when i remember who it was who built this House;
and with the rocks I cry out..."

'Be praised for all Your tenderness
by these works of Your Hands:
suns that rise and rains that fall to bless,
and bring to life Your land.
Look down upon this winter wheat,
and be glad that You have made
blue, border sky and the color green
that fill these fields with praise.'

This song has been echoing in my head for days now. A dear friend has allowed our house to borrow Rich Mullins' A Legacy, A Liturgy, and a Ragamuffin Band, and I've been practically obsessed with this piece since.

Ten years ago, I first heard this song (entitled "The Color Green") when it was being played on Z Music Television, and even then found myself touched by the music, even though I couldn't quite make out (or just ignored) the words.

As Spring is upon us, and it's promising signs evident all across our budding campus, may we exhort each other to recall the Lord's faithfulness - evident so powerfully in His Creation - this "House" he has made for us. Whether you find yourself in a personal season of contentment, discouragement, anticipation, or frusteration; keep in mind that it is just that: a season. Persevere and press on, meditating NOT upon our circumstances...

...but our Savior.

Looking Back

As of March 21st, I will have officially been single for a whole year!

This may seem quite trivial for some, but I have to give glory and praise where glory and praise is due.

About one year ago, the Lord finalized a three year relationship between me and my ex-fiance. (For those who are close to me, you know what a long and strange journey that had been). It was definitely one of the more difficult times in my life. All the questions and confusion finally came to a close, and it was at that time God burdened my heart with the necessity of really committing that following year to growing and drawing closer to Him. I came out of that experience having learned so much about all the areas in MY life that demanded complete submission unto God - I had no idea how selfish I really am. Relationships have a bittersweet way of exposing both your constructive, and consequently, your DEstructive attributes.

I am so grateful to the Lord for His faithfulness, longsuffering, wisdom, and sovereignty in my undeserving life. This past year has been the most eventful of my existence. With my father's unexpected passing, God reintroduced Himself in my life in a way I have never experienced - in a way that I NEEDED to know and understand Him. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing what this next year brings. I've learned (the hard way) to NEVER underestimate the plans the Lord has for our lives.

Reflecting back, I've learned SO MUCH in this sweet time that I've had to myself: about what it means to be a humble child of God, a servant, a woman, a friend, and a sister. I am a sinner in DIRE need of God's precious grace every waking moment of my life, and it is this realization that keeps me clinging fast to the Cross that claimed my soul.

As I look forward to seeing my roommate (and one of my closest friends) marry the man of her dreams this summer, I am so content and peaceful living in the Truthful reality that God is in control of my future. Seeing His amazing grace and compassion in the lives of my friends and family reminds me of 1 John 4:18-19:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love because He first loved us."