Thank you Lord for these people.

Because only people last.

• Josh. Brother, you've brought so much joy to my life and a skip to my step. Thank you for being someone I can trust with everything. You've shown me how to love and love God better, and thanks for putting up with me these past few months. You've shown great endurance, even when I can be extremely frustrating. My words can't seem to form just how much I love and respect you. I feel completely comfortable and safe with you, and also safe to be truly me. Thank you, babe.
• Bree. Sister...the joy of the Lord is IN you! You've shown me what that looks like, and how joy is truly lived out. It's been incredible seeing the Lord provide faithfully, and you respond quickly and faithfully to Him. Our conversations and adventures have done so much good for my heart. Thanks for spontaneous hallway prayers. You will always be the best longboarding buddy. Thank you.
• Promise. Sister, you have such a beautiful, worshipful heart. You're such a great artist and worship leader, but have remained completely humble in your talent. You've shown me how to better listen to the Lord and praise Him for who He is. Your story is one of the Lord's providence and gentleness towards your heart. You're a wonderful friend. Thank you.
  
• Erin. Sister, despite distance, you've done your best to keep me accountable, even when things get tough. Everything about you radiates the Lord's handiwork. Your heart to help and listen is my favorite. You've shown me so much authenticity just in being real with me...and figuring out life, boys and school with me, even though you're not here. I'm glad I can call you in tears and hang up encouraged in the Lord. I can't imagine not having you in my life. You will always be the sister I never had. Thank you.
• Andrew. Brother, it's been so exciting to grow with you these past few months. You've shown how me how the Lord is faithful, and how He speaks. Thanks for being so open about things. Your heart is truly genuine, and you're a great example of a man seeking after the face of God. The Lord has such a great vision for your life, and I'm glad I get to be a small part of it. Thank you.
• Ben. Brother, you are ridiculous. Thank you for being blunt and telling me what I need to hear, but also for being able to listen. You've shown me how to just move with the spirit and be okay with that. You've been shaped into a pretty awesome leader, and you're a really good example to the high school guys. You're like another brother to me and I'm thankful you've put up with me. You never cease to make me laugh, even when I feel like crap. Thank you.
• Kara. Sister, you've been such a good friend even when I wasn't and when you're thousands of miles away. Your wisdom is from the Lord and coveted and I love that your character is always so honest and open. You've shown what it looks like to be a free spirit, but to move where the Spirit takes you. I look forward to your coming home so we can really talk. I love your smile. Thank you.
  
• Tony/Mindy. Bro-sis, I don't understand why God didn't bring you guys around sooner, but I'm so glad we all get to be friends with you now. Tony, thanks for bringing the Word in unique ways and making us think uncomfortably. Mindy, thanks for sharing the deepest parts of your heart with me. You two have meant so much to me these past few months. Thank yous.
• Caitlin. Sister, I haven't seen you at all this semester. But your encouragement and words from Africa have helped me see people differently here. God's crazy that way. You've shown me a different side of God that I probably wouldn't have seen, the more compassionate, showing un-favoritism God. I'm glad you're home now and I can't wait to learn more with you in the upcoming months. Thank you.
• Emily. Sister, you have been such a joy in my life. I'm so glad that after thirteen years of being friends, we can finally go to school together and figure out hard stuff about God. I think if we never saw each other for years, we could still pick up where we left off. You've always been so full of grace and mercy to not just me, but those around you. I look forward to seeing where God leads you. Thank you.
  
• Amanda C. Alaskan sister, you're so far away, but I'm so glad we've kept in touch. You've shown great faith in stepping out of your comfort zone with your husband to a place completely different from here (okay well we don't have moose here) to start a new life. That took a lot of courage. You've shown your faith in God more clearly, and that's encouraging. I hope I can visit you soon. Thank you.
• Kellie. Sister, you make me smile so much. I've enjoyed our MWF morning talks, however hard they've been. You've made me seek hard after the Lord and have a deeper thirst for His truth. I've enjoyed seeing you grow in the Lord and in your relationships with those around you. You've also blossomed into a great leader with being an RA. You're such a wonderful encourager. Thank you.
  
• Amanda K. Sister, it's been a joy to learn with you this semester. I don't think I've ever heard a complaint out of you, and that's quite a feat for most people. You've shown so much encouragement and friendship to me and to everyone in our group. I'm envious of how easily you meet people. I'm excited to see where the Lord takes you! Thank you.
  
• Wendy. Sister, I'm so glad I met you. You never cease to have a smile on your face, even when you're not feeling like it. The Lord has grown you so much these past few months and it's been awesome to watch that take place. Thank you for being a good friend, despite both of our hectic schedules. You've shown great persistence and joy in the Lord. Thank you.
• Jessie. Sister, I'm so glad you came back. The junior high drama days seem such a thing of the past, but that's where we started. You've shown me more than I could explain to you in regards to how the Lord saves and restores someone. Your friendship and example are of great worth and I thank you for sharing your heart with me.
  
• Jordan. Sister, our friendship has come a long ways, hasn't it? I think I can truly say that I've learned so much about life from you and watching your example. You've shown such a peace in the Lord and His ways that's catching. I'm seriously intrigued by how you put yourself in so many places and stay so deep with the people you meet. That's a gift the Lord's given you. It's been so cool seeing how you've grown throughout high school and now that you're in college, you're finally at the age where I thought you always were. Your wisdom goes far beyond your years and thanks for sharing that humbly. Thank you.
  
• David. Blood brother, I'm so glad we're friends. This year, I've seen you grow so much and I love your eagerness to seek God. You always find ways to make me smile, and you've surprised me with your wisdom. Your encouraging words to me have meant so much; and it's just different when they come from a member of your family. Our car rides and rock concerts are the best. I love having you around. Thank you.
  
• Brandy/Nathan. Bro-sis, wow. Don't think I've ever learned so much about life from a couple before. Nathan, thanks for wanting to be a part of my life and for teaching me about godly relationships. Brandy, thanks for keeping me accountable (even when it's hard), and teaching by example. Watching both of you interact with your kids and with each other gives me so much hope for the future, and my relationship to your family is completely invaluable. Thank yous.
• Consuelo. Sister, you've become a second mother to me. The Lord is doing a mighty work in your life, but you might not see it yet. The Lord is fiercely jealous in love for you. You've shown me that a boss can become a close friend and that a business can become a close family. I truly respect you and have enjoyed working alongside you and learning from you. Thank you.
  
• Monday night bible study brothers and sisters. Friends, you are true community. We're not there yet, but we will continue to seek the Lord's face in finding what that looks like. You've all shown me a different aspect of the Lord's character, and how each one of us has a different unique role in the body of Christ. Girls, you are beautiful. Guys, you have so much integrity. You are all ridiculously fun, beautiful people and words cannot do justice how much I'm incredibly thankful for you. Let's learn love through words and action.
  

I could go on and on about every single person I know and share how the Lord's taught me something from them. I hope everyone takes time to inspect their relationships and find what they're truly thankful for in the people around them. Some of these things above go without saying. But I don't ever want to take people for granted. I've done that too often. I cherish each one of your friendships, and I do thank the Lord for His allowance in letting me know you deeper.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Excerpt:

Taken from Mark Matlock with Youth Specialties. Totally resonated with my heart:

"I can't tell you how many times I've heard a group challenged to go out and take their campus by storm. Everyone is revved up, then Monday comes and nothing happens. Was the challenge not a good one? Did people not believe it? The challenge may have been lost in this life-stage confusion—assigning a task that the group isn't ready for or capable of achieving. I believe we have a generation of church-attending students who are conditioned to inaction. They cheer and weep—yet the know deep inside that nothing will happen, and no one will really be all that concerned that nothing happened. We need to be very specific in our challenges, but also equip hearers to fulfill the challenges. The challenges also need to be measurable. (Just what does "take your campus for Christ" mean anyway?)

Ministering to young people can be awesome. Not only are they spiritually active now, but great opportunities await them further down the road as they enter adulthood. But let's go beyond just "firing them up." Let's help them go the distance."

"Times are a 'changin'..."

Leaves change, He doesn't.
He is Faithful, so is he.
he is colorful, just like the leaves.


My life has been a whirlwind of plans, thoughts, frustrations, and lessons lately. It feels like I'm learning to love and loose all over again, on several levels. Refreshing is too light a word, but that's the only thing that I feel that describes it. It takes me so long to realize things and to put them into practice, but I'm seeing that that's just part of learning. So I'm getting over that.

The beauty of the Lord has been made more real to me over the past few weeks. I sensed a transition and I had to take it. To keep going the direction I was going... I would die. I could guess a million different reasons why this is, but that's not of real importance to me.
I see him in the faces of people now.
I hear him in conversations.
I feel him when I pray.
I taste him in the sweetness of worship.
I smell him in doing ministry.

And to you, I say:

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I k e e p a s k i ng that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

He's not just good to me, but to those around me and He's coming through and will continue to, even when we don't pay attention to Him.

Centurian post.

I've come to the conclusion that as long as you've had a vibrant prayer life, I wouldn't think it all bad to have arthritic knees.

From a paper.

When we look at the verse, “love your neighbor as yourself,” I think we look at the word ‘neighbor’ and assume that it means everyone, so we have to put on a false front with people, yet still love them. I love what Gornik recommends: seeing them as not only neighbors, but friends. “Friends” has such a “nicer” connotation yet stronger implication. With our friends, we open ourselves up to vulnerability, compassion and heartache. We parallel love with intimacy with our friends, but we assume that loving our neighbors means something different. No, I’d venture to say that it’s the same love we’re to show our close friends that we do to our neighbors and those in our community. This implies that churches should see those around them. Not just as numbers that need to be befriended and helped, but as companions we get to know on our own journeys, helping, loving and learning together.

Dying to live.

"You're not ready to live for anything until you're ready to die for something."

How many Christians would be able to agree with this. I mean, heartily, truly be able to say that they love Jesus enough to die. I can't imagine anything better.
Plus, if you're going to live as to win the prize, you've got to show consistency. Once you've really, honestly truly tasted the love of Christ, you will not be the same. He is completely able to be trusted and his mercy is insurmountable. Yes, I fear my God, but He’s abounding in love for each person equally, and I’m wanted by Him. He wants my attention. Try as I might, there is nothing I can do that would make Him love me less than He already does. He’s unchanging in that, too. The good things we do are filthy, filthy trash in comparison to how good He is.

Let me go on record as saying, Lord, take my life. What could you do that would be better? To be in Your presence is the sweetest thing imaginable. If I'm here, I'm learning that this isn't my home, nor should I worry about here. Yet...how we live our lives here will reflect eternity. So I'm okay with being here, too. Either way is fine with me. As long as I get to be with you.

I called. You answered
and you came to my rescue
and I want to be where You are...

Jesus we're living for your Name. Take, take, take it all. Take, take, take it all.


How long, o Lord...how long?

Don't rush me.

Life seems so short sometimes.
Other times it flies by.
What makes the difference? I'll never know.


...and if I have not love, I am a clanging cymbal.

There is no failure here, sweetheart... just when you quit.

Don't move
Don't talk out-a time,
Don't think
Don't worry, everything's just fine
Just fine.

Don't grab
Don't clutch
Don't hope for too much
Don't b r e a t h e
Don't achieve
Don't grieve without leave.

Don't check, just balance on the fence
Don't answer
Don't ask
Don't try and make sense.

Don't whisper
Don't talk
Don't run if you can walk,
Don't cheat, compete
Don't miss the one beat.

Oh, it's all relative. It's all numb. We all get it sometimes. That's the easy part. It's fluid. Just do it. It's comfortably paralyzing. Don't go there. Don't get out. How can it be dangerous? It's safe. It's fine. Keep your balance. Just stare straight ahead and don't flinch.

It's the tinglies that come once you start realizing you're numb that hurt the most. It's the release that feels like it's killing you. It's the closest thing you've felt to being dead. Or close to it. The life-giving flow comes back. How do you beat it? The only way you can. It hits you like a wave, you ride it out. Because it's bringing you back to life.

Just don't quit. Whatever you do ...don't ...quit.

This excites me.

It's a beautiful day.

Good Lord. We're not going to hell in a handbasket, people.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. I'm a conservative moderate, but I believe in change. So sue me. Change doesn't scare me. I think we've been screwed in more ways than one and our system of "justice" hasn't gotten us anywhere. I might get in trouble for saying this, but I believe that to assume that we're supposed to stay a "Christian" nation forever is foolish. In my home, I've been taught that "stagnation is healthy". Now, I disagree.
'Well, we've always done things this way. Democracy is the only solid way of doing things because Jesus instituted it in this country.'
I'm not bashing democracy. [sidenote: every time I type 'democracy', 'democrazy' comes out accidentally. Ironic?] But do we think that things are always going to/have to stay the same? Things change, and so do methods and leaders. I shrug my shoulders at this whole election thing. Yes, sheesh, I voted. But I didn't vote to further my own personal interests, I voted with a larger lens in mind. How will my vote affect my kid's lives? How will this produce long-term benefits for people in the long run? Times change, so we can't keep doing things the way they've always been done. Maybe this guy will help us out. I pray he does. He's jumping into a choppier lake than most presidents have in the past. And I'm choosing to stay optimistic.

My king doesn't run this country. He owns this country. He made the soil we walk on. He sends the breeze through the trees of Central Park. He created the intricate minds who invent medicine. He keeps the homeless warm at night. He holds the solar system in place. He makes the sun set over the Pacific every evening. He keeps families together and watches over those that aren't. He's also at work through the systems of our nation, no matter how corrupt and broken they are. I'm proud to be a part of this country, but I also own up to the dirty parts.
It would be foolish to ignore the fact that satan is also at work. But... he loses in the end, remember?

God hasn't abandoned us or left us for dead or without hope. Yes, there is hope. But I'm not putting it fully in anyone but Christ.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13.8