At the moment

The past week was Spring break... I will admit that I am not ready for it to end! Yet, part of me is excited to get back to life and business.

Without going into too much detail I will say that I needed to read this and I am glad I ran past it.

Ephesians 1:18-23

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. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Sometimes its good to remember the point and the goal. The reason for all of this work and all of this constant heartbreak. Though it is of the kind healing it is still painful. That reminds me of one of my favorite Robert Louis Stevenson poems: The Celestial Surgeon http://www.poetry-archive.com/s/the_celestial_surgeon.html

Also, I ran into this link to the Journey church online... http://www.journeyfranklin.com/I kind of love it and I want to visit. The approach they take is so honest and so true to what I think church is meant to be for individuals as well as the community. It is truly beautiful.
Right now I'm listening to the podcast on Marriage is a Set-up/Displaying Life Through Death :http://journeyfranklin.com/podcast/message022810.mp3 . I find this to be so true, honest, and most of all... real and I think we need more of this in church and community. The pastor mentioned in this podcast that"Theology is played out in the brokenness of our lives", which was also something I needed to remember. You can't run away, you have to stay to experience all parts of life. The death, and the new life. The repetition of the process of transformation.
Do listen if you get a chance I think it really emphasizes that point even though it is in the context of marriage there is still a greater point within the context of the sermon! :) I think you will find it to be enlightening both in content and approach.

Here's for looking up and going forward friends!
Love always, always love <3

Amen.

I have nothing to add. This is perfect, right, beautiful and everything I hope to be:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

7 things

Nicole did this on her blog so I thought I would too! :) I'm on Spring break right now and it is wonderful to get some rest and time away from the norm. I went to Disney World for a short trip with my mom, sister and JL, and I need to load my pictures soon. Then tonight I got to have dinner with my parents and Uncle Dick who was in town for business. It was so great getting to reconnect with family! The best thing about Spring break is being able to rest! Lord knows I need it and I'm going to take advantage of it right about now!

Ok here we go! 7 random things:

1. When I'm nervous.... I work to get over it, but if it does show my voice shakes and I turn red and I try to stay quiet.

2. My favorite item in my closet is.... hmm, it changes everyday I love my dresses though... especially sundresses!

3. Reading at a coffee shop ...... For my lighter reading I usually stick to allegories, and anything by Robert Louis Stevenson or Hans Christian Anderson.

4. My favorite childhood memory is..... Just living... breathing, smiling and playing in the sun with my sister and my mom, and going to the park as a family especially when our puppies could come! Naps, playing dress up, dancing... Even though its a little different now I still do most of these things... :)

5. Something you may not know about me is.... Its easy for me to truly love people, but its much harder for me to like anyone, yet part of me loves and likes everyone because they are all beautiful children of God. Also, I'm naturally very shy, but have recently become extroverted so I kind of go back and forth between the two.

6. A true friend.... this is still something I'm trying to figure out, and I'm starting to understand it but I can't quite put into words. I just know I have some lovely friends and I am so thankful for every one of them and everything I have learned in the processes of these friendships. The people we associate with influence us so much more than we think.

7. Something I hope people think of when they think of me is.... That I truly love them. That I live a life of boldness, love and kindness. I work hard to do what is good and what is right. Also, that I am just so in love with life, the life that God has given me and I hope to take it in and experience all that I can because it is beautiful and there is always something to learn and/or appreciate! :)

Inadequacy of Humanity

Maybe sometimes we have to experience that men don’t love us, (or how incapable men are at loving us) in order to fully understand that God does. By men, I do mean men individually, but much more than that I mean mankind. Humanity is so incapable in the area of loving each other.
Though, I hope to be different. If that could even remotely be the case it would not be possible through me.

Identity

Where do you find your identity?

More importantly, where do you think you should you find your identity?

I would love for all and any of you who reads this to answer those questions, either rhetorically, or (preferably in a comment). :) I would like to see what you guys have to say. I am planning on thinking about this and posting another blog about it later... so long as I get responses!! ;) I will also add my thoughts on the matter.


Every breath is Holy (part of God's will), remember that today... think about what that really means. (I'll probably write more on that later too. I wish I could write all of these blogs now, but its midterms! I am also about to go to my RA interview! Prayers are graciously welcome!)

I truly love you all,

Jennifer