Testify

I say a lot of things.


I was going to expand on that sentence, but I felt like it really just needed to stop there. I say a lot of things. I do.
My friends are often the topic of my conversations, blog posts, statuses, tweets, whatever. They usually show up...a hot ton. Even if I don't mention them, our catch phrases (hot ton being one of them) show up or something they said or even something we discussed.
God created us to be relational beings - hence why we desire such a deeply rooted relationship with HIM, though we often might put something else in the place of that.
He also created us to have relationships here on this earth. I can testify that I have learned so much about having relationships in the past few years. In high school, I invested my entire energy on maintaining relationships and smothered almost every single one of them. When I came to college, I wasn't so awesome at being friends and, honestly, I still put too much stock into them sometimes. I get caught up in learning about people and knowing them and being there for them that I go overboard. God has been working on me, though. I'm trying to be more diligent about feeling that same way with him - desiring His presence, wanting to know Him more and learn about Him.
It's definitely a learning process. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely adore time with my Abba Father, but I'm easily distracted by .. everything - school, relationships, anything yellow.......

None of that is the point of this post, though. I'm having an overboard moment and I want to express it here.
God used this really incredible analogy last year in the middle of an art history project to give me a glimpse of how He plans things. (I discussed this a little here and here.) He weaves the lives and paths of people together to create this wonderful, glorious picture.

I'm not quite sure where He's at in this picture, but I've been touching base with some pretty incredible people. Today was probably one of the worst days I've had in a while. I honestly didn't want to be in Rome anymore today - I wanted to hide out on some deserted (but WARM and SUNNY) island by myself and just sleep forever. I've just been exhausted for the past two days - mentally, emotionally, physically, and in every way possible. Today was just the pinnacle of it all. I was drained and couldn't shake it, but I was constantly running into someone who would encourage me or just smile or say "hey friend" and talk with me for a bit.
Tonight I actually got the opportunity to visit with two of my dearest friends. One told me that when we chat, they always end up with a smile on their face. The other spoke some incredible life over me that I can't even begin to explain right now because they confirmed SO much in my life that is just wild. I'm still processing.
Both of these ladies bring me so much joy because their hearts are absolutely, beautifully in love with the Creator of the Universe. They are true women of God, seeking after Him with diligence and just such sweet spirits. I love it. I love love love it.
I can't tell you how much joy it brings to sit and talk about everything under the sun AND God. It's just nuts.
God has called us to be lights in the darkness. These two ladies were definitely lights for Him today amidst the darkness that overshadowed my heart.
Grateful doesn't quite do my heart's feelings justice.

(The Crux of it all)

So much has happened in the past 4 days. My heart has been in a thousand pieces all week - over and over again I've seen how Satan destroys, tears down, divides, and demolishes the hearts of God's people and renders their minds incapable of escaping the memories - even in my own life.
Twenty of the twenty-four hours allotted to Thursday were awful, but I spent 4 hours with incredible people - one hour at a meeting that, though my headache overwhelmed me, brought a peace to my heart. The other three were spent with these beautiful ladies talking about hilarious things, serious things, and God things.

If God can come in on a day like today where everything falls apart and patch it all together like He's magical Elmer's glue.....I am beyond confident that He will come in and restore the hearts, minds, and bodies of His people. HE.IS.HEALER.

"No, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him who loved us." - Romans 8:37


stick that in your juicebox and suck it, satan.

carmex and a little dark chocolate

Days like today are just good.

[my blog is turning slightly towards a journal...uhoh]

Hannah came over last night to have a movie marathon.
HAH
as.if. 


We ended up talking for 8 hours straight. I can not seem to recount exactly what we talked about, but I can tell you it was some good stuff. It amazes me that we can still have so much to talk about.


I finally fell asleep on her sometime around 1:45 or 2am only to wake up at 8:30 to roll over until 10:45. After having a bit of lunch [some tasty bowtie alfredo - love me some pasta] we returned to my room and just talked, again, until around 5...and we still weren't done. 
But all of today was spent talking about the Bible. We started out talking about Nazarite vows, ended up in 1 Corinthians 11, brought up The Google for some background research on the church at Corinth (ohmagoodness - if you've never done BG on some of the stuff in the Bible if not ALL of the stuff there, you will literally shock your pants off when you read some of it. The way it is all interconnected and woven together ... LIKE A TAPESTERY ... wow amazing). 
Sidenote: tapestry is important because the slam-poet last night on the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Vancouver...and consequently a note written by Mrs Cheryl. It's just good. I can't begin to explain it.
From the research on Corith we ended up in Romans, which somehow lead us to Exodus and then to so many other things. I don't remember where it went from there. It just got jumbled. I DO know that Romans 14 is now one of my favorite chapters of the Bible for at least right now [it's so hard to have a favorite....because it's all good. Literally]. The Lord definitely used Rom 14 to open my eyes to a lot of things - to humble me and smack me about  my pride and really just bring some things full circle. It was good.

I love coming home if for the very reason that Nan and I get to sit together and search and read and learn. It's the best kindergarten class, I promise. You'll find no other better one anywhere. 

I dare you guys to do some research!!!


Tonight I'm not sure what's on the agenda but I'm about to dive into one more essay that I have to turn in from last week. Then I'm praying there will be a coffee rendezvous, but whatever is in HIS will! 
Sad NA was canceled this morning due to snow/ice and I will not make it back to Rome in time for CR's services in the morning. =/ Praying this Bible study takes off sometime soon!!

I hope all of you are doing well. :) Can't wait to share what the Lord does next. He shows me more and more that He is leading me.