True Growth

What does it mean to grow spiritually? It is commonplace for Christians to pray for growth and increased faith. While this sounds like an incredible request, I have been questioning whether growth is what we truly want. Do we ask for growth because it seems like a good thing, or do we honestly hunger for deep, meaningful, challenging growth?

Growth comes through challenges that stretch us beyond where we are comfortable. When I left for Kenya I prayed that the Lord would use this time for me to impact those I am serving and to grow my spiritual life. Growth is a dangerous thing to pray for because the Lord allows challenges that test whether or not we are sincerely seeking Him. In Kenya I have experienced insecurities and frustrations on a small scale that made me question the sincerity of my prayer. Am I willing to accept the terms of God's plan and trust that the challenges are part of it? We are not promised easy lives. In fact if we are growing, it is more likely that we face certain challenges. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." [James 1:2] When I feel nervous or out of place instead of wishing those moments away I should be using them as opportunities to trust God with every moment. Growth comes through time and the Lord is constantly giving us chances to grow. "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." [Philippians 1:6] The process of growth does not have an ending; if we are willing it will continue.

After my first week in Kenya I have loved experiencing a different culture full of beautiful, passionate believers. I am learning to embrace the challenges and honestly pursue true growth as I seek to follow in the footsteps of the Lord.

Truly Live

What does it mean to truly live? Does it mean living day to day or stopping to breathe in the glories of the world around us? There is so much that we look over and pass by without truly seeing. 

He loves us....

What an incredible night. Getting settled back into the school routine and remembering why I'm here. To glorify God and worship Him! A degree and a future job is a wonderful goal but what does it mean without Christ as the center? We were created to worship Him and make Him known to the world. We were created to love and to be loved by Him.

How many lies is the world feeding us today? The world tells us what beauty is, what courage is, what success is, what peace, and hope, and hatred and love are. In a society almost solely focused on image, it can be nearly impossible to hold on to the promises of God and find worth and peace only in Jesus Himself.

{creative One}

I love art... I love to see the skill and creativity of a painter, the blending of individual colors into something exquisitely beautiful. Photography: the art of capturing a moment in time and preserving it forever in a frozen fusion of luminescence, nature and creativity. Or music. What could be more expressive than portraying thoughts through melodies. The rise and fall of emotion entrapped within the notes and keys. What about dance? the expression of feeling and emotion. Interpretation of art through movement and creative release. All of these art forms tell stories and capture the creative capacity of people-- of artists.

Exploring reasons why I love art has caused me to evaluate why it exists in the first place. Is it just a pastime invented by individuals as entertainment and expression or does it ultimately reflect our Creator?

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.  ~André Gide

Well, isn't God truly the greatest artist? Did He not design the mountains and waters that artists seek to capture in their work and the sounds of wind and nature reminiscent in music? Didn't He give us the light and shadows utilized by photographers and the bodies gracefully trained by dancers? I've been asked why I  love art and why I think it is necessary. Well, I say it is essential to experiencing the beauty, majesty and creativity of our Lord. He created beauty and when we express and create, I like to think that it gives us a glimpse into His heart. God gave us color and light and nature and he also not only gave us intelligence, He gave us creative thought and the ability to create and express.

Let me ask you something, what is not art?  ~Author Unknown

No matter if you are an art lover, or have a casual interest, or if it is not something that sparks your passion, we serve a creative, expressive, artistic God. Just look at the stars on a clear night, the brilliance of a sunset, the majesty of the mountains or the power of the rolling sea... His fingerprints are in His work and His signature on His art. All we have to do is take a moment and see.

Art is Man's nature.  Nature is god's art.  ~James Bailey

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.  ~John Lubbock

Dancer...

“Dancing with the feet is one thing,

but dancing with the heart is another.”

- Author Unknown

“To dance is to reach for a word that doesn’t exist,

To sing the heartsong of a thousand generations,

To feel the meaning of a moment in time.”

- Beth Jones

"It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer."

- Shanna LaFleur

love... songs...

What amazing songs about the astounding love and power of Jehovah the Savior. How He loves us and longs to come to our rescue. There is no one else in whom we can trust so fully. Oh, how He loves us...  <3

Rescue   -Desperation Band

How He Loves Us   -David Crowder Band

Arise, My Love

When all seemed lost, the Father had a plan.
When hope was gone, the Son rose again.
When sin shackled our hearts, He bore our chains.
When death reigned victorious, He conquered the grave.
When darkness endured, His light blazed through.

Sin, where are your shackles? Death, where is your sting? Hell's been defeated, the grave could not hold the KING.

We have been offered everlasting life, but on this Easter day we cannot forget the unspeakable sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. He arose on the third day conquering death and sin. Yet, He first had to suffer torment unimaginable. When death seemed victorious the Father looked down and proclaimed, Arise, My love! Christ took the world's sin to the grave and when He arose sin did not follow. Death and sin remain in the grave. Nails did not hold Jesus to the cross, love did. Perfect love sacrificed everything so that we might find life through His death.

He is risen! <3