with my eyes on the sky

I don't think I can watch the news anymore.

I was sitting in my living room, unwinding after a hard day of work, when I heard it. Another tragedy. Another shooting. Another act of cruelty that ended with lives lost, families shattered. And in that moment it quietly occurred to me:

"I don't belong here."

Really. I don't. I have been feeling like this more and more lately. The closer I get to God (and I desire to be much closer than I am to Him right now), the more I realize that He is good, and this world is so, so broken. It makes me wonder how anyone who doesn't have the hope of Christ gets through a single day.

Without Jesus, I seriously can't imagine the state I would be in.

"Instead, they were longing for a better country -- a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

~ Hebrews 11:16

In short, I'm tired of merely existing in this life, and not sharing the tremendous HOPE we have in Christ. I can no longer sit by and watch my friends (or strangers) suffer in this darkness and say nothing.

There is hope.

There is a way out.

HE has made a way.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

~ Galatians 2:20

+ Talk to me. Where are you at with Jesus? What's your take on our world's present darkness?

the existence of arms, among other things

Have you ever had one of those moments where you become 
suddenly conscious of the coolness of something you've accepted as average your entire life? 

I was just watching the music video for twenty one pilot's new song "Heathens" (check it out, check it out) and halfway through, as Tyler Joseph was being his dark and twitchy and overall enigmatic Tyler Joseph self, it occurred to me how wonderfully weird it is that human beings can sing. 

Just think about that -- we can sing. We have been given an instrument inside of our throats called a voice, and everyone's sounds different, sounds like them. And the best thing about it is that when we are really moved or impassioned about something, we can LITERALLY channel that through our voices and create songs.

That's incredible! 

I don't know, when I start thinking like this, things can get pretty trippy (like that one time I became suddenly aware of the existence of my own arms) but why not see the extraordinary in the ordinary? I find it fascinating that, sinful as we are, God decided to bless us with the ability to write, run, dance, dream, sing. 

I could go on about this, but I shan't. 

Though it does make me wonder how awesome heaven will be, if we have been so blessed on Earth.

Now seriously, go listen to that new twenty one pilots song. 

trees can't make me happy; compliments can't make me smile

I went to the park for a solitary, contemplative walk. I took my iPod, and put on my headphones, sans music, and just walked. And all is good, but sometimes I'm insane in the membrane, yo. As in, the world around me is completely calm and still, with all as it should be, and yet my brain still goes in a thousand different directions, worrying me out of peace. 

But then God hits me out of the blue with this:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

~ 1st Corinthians 6:19-20

Man, God is good. Sometimes He just drops little "I love you" notes on me like this. It's when He answers the small prayers and sends me the encouragement I don't even think to ask for that I most smile at Jesus' faithfulness. 

Be still.

+ I tend to think too much. One solution? Memorizing the Word. I'm so bad at this! It takes dedication, and I like to distract myself....a little help?! How do you memorize Scripture?

who's your daddy

Meet my father: 

Appalachian Trail hiker

Passionate piano player

Spontaneous, sassy dancer

Comforter & confidant

Complete goofball

Emotional & empathetic

Leader, provider, friend

Father's Day 2016 has been going just dandy. The day began with an epic run (for me) and a couple of hours of gardening (for my father.) Then, my family and I went out to eat for a bit of brunch, before relaxing around the house with the U.S. Open (a Father's Day tradition) playing in the background. 

I love these sleepy Sundays, and I love my dad.

Happy Father's Day, everyone! ♥

greater things are yet to come

Do you ever feel like God won't just give you what you want?!

I must admit, I have felt like that a lot recently.

But I'm learning that when God says no, it's often because He has something even better in store for us. I can be so stubborn, and feel like I've had to learn this lesson a thousand times over, but God truly does have bigger and better plans. I always think I know what I need, but I don't. He has shown me time and time again that if I had gotten what I wanted in the moment {like a boyfriend, or a job}, that I would have messed it up, or picked incorrectly. 

As a writer, I'm fascinated by stories with intriguing beginnings, middles, and endings, 

but I have to learn to drop the pen and let God alone be the Author.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

~ Ephesians 3:20-21

To which I heartily say: Maybe it's time for me to start dreaming bigger dreams.

+ I wish I had more to say, but I have been really bad at blogging/blog commenting lately. I have been sneakily reading y'all's posts like a quiet ninja, however, and loving all of the updates!