A quote to live by.


“Nothing is more practical than finding God, 
that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. 
What you are in love with, 
what seizes your imagination will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings,
what you will do with your evenings, 
how you spend your weekends, 
what you read, 
who you know,
what breaks your heart, 
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. 
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”

He is a mighty savior.


He will take delight in you with gladness.


With his love, he will calm all your fears.


He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
 
~Zephaniah 3:17
 
This is one of my favourite verses. I adore singing so I think thats one reason why this verse means so much to me. Tonight I haven't been able to get this verse or the image of God singing over me out of my head.
 
It is incredibly encouraging as I have been sitting at my computer screen longing to run away from the mind melting essay that is before me.
 
As I paused for a moment to think about this bible verse the song 'Just The Way You Are' started playing...I listened closely to the lyrics and it truly hit me...
 
This is what God thinks of me...
 
"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
  Because you're amazing
  Just the way you are
  And when you smile
  The whole world stops and stares for a while
  Because girl you're amazing
  Just the way you are"
 
So in that moment as I soaked in the lyrics I imagined God singing these words over me.
It made me smile.
So I thought I would share that with you :) because He thinks the same about you too.
 

 
This is the best version of the song.
 
March has been ridiculously busy, I'm turning 21 next week so I'm sure I will blog all about the celebrations next week :)

Over the past few weeks (or should I say years but increasing these past weeks)

God has been telling me...

'Trust Me'

He has been making His point clear through different people, circumstances and situations.

You see every now and then I sit back and realise 'Wow. I am in my final semester of final year.'

This excites me but also scares me. I know fear should not limit me and it sure doesn't limit God but it is a crazy thing to trust beyond yourself, especially when so many times you've been hurt by trusting others.

But God is whispering...

'Trust Me'

He whispers through the beauty of His creation, through songs, through study, through ministry and people.

It's hard to live in the tension at the moment between finishing this degree and trying to figure out what comes next.

I want to be fully dedicated to the now so that I don't miss anything but I can't help dreaming (also worrying) about what comes next. Most days I feel pressured to try and figure that out from others around me.

I can't answer that question yet and I'm asking God to help me be ok with that. All I know is that I want to glory Him in everything I do and show people a glimpse of the Love that He has shown me that has completely changed my life.

I know God is preparing me, I just don't know what for....yet.

And right now I don't even think knowing is important...

Trusting is important.

Believing God's promises for me and trusting that He is enough is important.

And in that proccess I know God will lead me where He wants me to go.

Today on this day set aside to celebrate love I am reminded that I am Loved, even when I'm not.

I am Loved, not because of who I am or what I've done, not based on my ability to love or do something great... but simply I am Loved.

Unconditionally Loved.

I still can't quite grasp or fathom the enormity of that Love.

It is Love that is self-less, patient, giving, eternal, everlasting, unending, unchanging, unfailing...

This Love has won my heart over and over again. I am deeply thankful for the sacrifice that God made for me in sending His Son to lay down His life for me so that I could know True Love.

He choose to send Jesus so that He could lavish His Love upon us.

To me that is worth way more than receiving a Valentine's card, chocolate or flowers.

God gave the greatest gift....unconditional, sacrifical Love.

I hope today you will celebrate this Love.

Happy Love Day!

Music reminds me of who I am
And who I could be.

That's why I write about songs that have spoke to me.

My friend Bec introduced me to this incredible band Gungor. And WOW am I grateful that she did. I have just listened to their new album 'Beautiful Things' for the first time. I am in love with their joyful sound, worship filled lyrics and honesty.

The lead singer Michael Gungor writes:

“If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps and sing songs together, there’s not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create – the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren’t bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world – then that matters.”


That's what I want. I want to enter worship and see the face of God, witness the unfolding of His story in the world and be changed. I want my selfeshness to be washed away by looking deeply into the heart of God. I don't want a flat earthly experience but to join the angels in heaven who can't stop singing. I don't want to be robbed of a true life changing encounter because I'm too focused on myself, my own issues and my own failures. I want to surrender these to God and believe He is making me new.


I love the album, but the song I was first introduced to was 'Beautiful Things' this indeed is one of those songs that reminds me who (and Who's) I am and who I could be.




Beautiful Things 
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make me new, You are making me new

My dear friend sent me a text today to tell me to read/watch this on 24-7 Prayer website.

I was left feeling encouraged that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

It is definitely worth a listen/read.

This is the link to the website:

http://www.24-7prayer.com/features/1411

The Ache:

Awake my soul- Mumford and Sons