Letting go is never easy.

What do you do when the stage of life your in currently seems to be impossible? When one thing after another seems to spring up, it's like trouble has found purpose in the quote, "never say die." You're in the middle of a storm, and it will not let up. I am acknowledging the many blessings, but the thing I am asking for is not selfish or sinful, I think it's actually quite responsible. I want freedom from trouble and the storm. I wish I could just hide away until it is over, but that is not an option. I must face the storm, and yet I have no power that can sway its coming or going. Once again, for the millionth time this year, I have to let go of the issue and wait for deliverance. I hope it comes soon.

This is a picture of the skyline from my friend's roof.

So much grace!

It's amazing how you much more you notice the little treasures and blessings in your life when things are rough. The way that the Lord provides is astounding, encouraging, and sometimes scary because He asks to wait. I don't like waiting and not knowing or having certainty, but then He always come through with something even better than I could have imagined. There are so many blessings to count right now, and yet I still feel a bit on edge about certain situations. I'm so thankful that God knows, that it's in His hands, and that He never panics like me. I hope that my ears and heart are open to learn and receive from this time what He will give me, or how He will transform me.

Glory is not found in these shambles...

In the smallest corners of our minds, man knows that it longs for glory. I would like to assert that man does not know what glory is. There may be a faint etching of the reality in our minds, but what do humble creatures like ourselves know about glory? We run after fame, money, attention, reputations, physical perfection, sex, possessions, and eternal youth. While we waste our lives searching for and dreaming of what this world deems as glory, the lowly live in it and know it. The outcasts who see the world as upside as their King did are compelled by the growing notion of it. To live is God's glory and gain. To desire His glory at any cost or state of life is freedom and joy. If the world understood this, if it knew what glory is and the only One it belongs to, perhaps there would be less striving. One day it will come to fruition, and I long for that day. Come Lord Jesus, come.

June

All I have to say today in light of the new month of June, is, "press on friends, don't stop fighting, don't quit no matter how much you want to."

Entangled

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope/wait in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

The word "wait" in verse 31 literally means when things are entangled in each other. Like a piece of rope, all of the chords are entangled together creating one rope. Therefore we have, those who are entangled in the Lord will renew their strength. As the pastor said, "we are not holding on, we are being help up." Let this be a call for you to be entangled in the Lord so that their is no breaking point of where He begins and you end. May we be found in Him.

Amazing PIctures!

Quite recently, my younger brother got engaged and this past week, they had their engagement photos taken. The photographers are Aric and Casey. They are married and work as a team, I love their work. The two of them always manage to find beautiful places to take pictures, even in Lubbock. = ) They did an amazing job capturing Brett and Kim's personalities on the camera. Below is the link to their blog. If you scroll down a little, you will see the entry about my brother, Brett, and his fiance, Kim:

http://aricandcasey.com/blog/

OH, and if they get 30 comments on their blog entry, they get a free copy of their favorite picture. Feel free to leave a comment if you are so inspired.

Commitment

I was thinking today about how God calls Himself the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. It then made me think of the dialogue that comprises the vows of marriage. Here is a sample text I got offline:

"I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

There is nothing light about these vows. I was thinking about how God is faithful in all these things on His end, and I need to be faithful in my side as well. I need to love Him more with every passing day, for richer or poorer, through sickness, health, good times, bad times, joy, and sorrow. I need to learn His love, so that I can even begin to love Him unconditionally in return. I ought to support His goals, honor, and respect Him. Whatever grieves His heart, ought to break mine too. The things that bring Him the most joy, His glory, should become my greatest joy forever. I should consider Him first, and put His desires before my own.

I am so thankful that God upholds His end, and I pray that you and I can grow in upholding ours more with everyday.