birthday 8:06 PM

My birthday was last weekend.

And okay, so maybe my birthday isn't a huge deal to me. But the people in my life are. I feel so blessed by the people I was able to spend time with.

(don't tell anyone, but you're my favorites)

also, check out the treat tim and natalie gave me.

It's Beyoncé in cupcake-form, right?!

(ribbit) 6:21 PM

one of the world's smallest frogs.

I want.

Lord's Prayer 7:27 PM

The "Lord's Prayer", or the prayer that Jesus exemplifies in Matthew 6 is so great! It's authentic and straight-forward but deep. As I was studying about it, I found out that there are a few little ad-ons and modifications that have been attached to it over the years by the Catholic church and recited in liturgies. One of them is called the 'embolism' and it comes just at the very end, right behind "...deliver us from evil." it goes a lil' somethin' like this:

"Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

It is meant to be an elaboration of the simple "deliver us from evil" line. It's charming and I especially find the last half of the embolism to be quite beautiful.

its interesting though, reading the sentence right before Jesus says the prayer:

(Matthew 6:7-8) "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

I am the first to admit to accidentally babbling while praying, so I'm not dissing the Catholic church or calling them pagans because they added to the simple prayer. And I happened to appreciate their little commentary. But like I said, its interesting.

I wish I could learn more faster. (like more AND faster)

Jehovah Shammah: The LORD is there. 8:04 PM

I read a passage this morning and listened to a song later in the day. They very much connected in my head and in my heart...

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"

Even darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

(ps. 139:11-12)

Hello Hurricane, you're not enough

Hello Hurricane, you can't silence my love

I've got doors and windows boarded up

All your dead end fury is not enough

You can't silence my love

(switchfoot)

I imagined Jesus to be singing the song and me being able to join in with him. He is our only Hope.

iYiY? 12:23 AM

Justin Beiber has competition.

Cody Simpson is here.

Okay so maybe no one knows how to pronounce his latest song title. But who cares when you have these looks?

the last line of the verse is the coolest. 7:47 PM

"As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and i cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!" psalm 40:11-13

My very good friend was talking about something she had heard in a message. I forgot exactly what she said but it went along the lines of needing to repent and ask for forgiveness with every day. It was surprisingly a new thought, or rather a new understanding, for me. And okay, so even after hearing it, i've been needing to do a lot of this lately. i didn't agree to have a relationship with Jesus if all i was going to do was be distant with him. So here i am to give thanks and praise to my Lord who spent the last few days feeding me new mercies when and even because i was busy creating space between us. Still he remains with a patience i wish i could fully understand. "For this God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide even to the end."

The Things You Probably Won't Hear On Missions Night: 10:15 PM

AFRICA...

Where chapstick became essential to existence.

Where I confirmed that I am indeed dating the sweetest guy there is.

Where thousands of tiny beetles in my living space became the norm.

Where the boys lived more luxuriously than the girls. (heaters, carpeted rooms, daily hot showers, no bugs, no stomping from upstairs at 6am) I'm not bitter.

Where I made the decision that I am adopting a black baby because they are the cutest kind.

Where I have never heard so many random songs be sung in a period of two weeks. (i give most creds to nikki)

Where the people around you bring you the most joy and the most irritation. (but more joy)

Where i finally felt like i hung out with the popular kids. (just because we were the minority.......the white people)

Where i got my wish and miraculously became a morning person for two weeks. (short lived)

Where i was fully in support of Beiber Fever.

Where my team almost got charged by an elephant named Stompy.

Where i dishearteningly discovered my gifting is not in construction after all.

Where i've never wanted to be in so many places at once. (we had our ministry teams doing all different things at different places at the same time).

Where i am pretty sure they managed to steal a piece of my heart.