relaxation?

A few of the things on earth I really take pleasure in:

A clean, spotless kitchen
A tidy, clean bathroom
A home-cooked meal shared with others
Cleaning clutter and throwing things away
Writing thank you notes... 2 months late... oops!
A cool breezy room to sleep in at night

For some reason tonight I had the cleaning bug and the apartment is looking and smelling better. Much still needs to be done, but it is not bothering me as much anymore. Amazing how freeing it is to do all those things I said above. Just helps me think clearer... maybe? Or perhaps, it is just a way to relax? I began watching Sweet Home Alabama, but had to just keep cleaning. :)

Jeremiah 29:11

This verse rang through my head tonight as I walked from dinner with Rome teammates to see Luke. I don't even know what to feel or think right now and the words of truth in Jeremiah 29:11 are such a comfort knowing that He has a plan for me, a future of hope, plans that will not harm me, plans to protect and provide and encourage. If I seek Him with all of my heart I will find Him. That is what I want, maybe that is why I'm struggling right now with feeling mixed about all that is going on in my life. I need to cast it at His feet and just live day by day in surrender to Him. I must seek Him with all that I am. He is the only One worth it to make life satisfying and bring about completeness. My identity is in Him and that is all that matters. He is the One who puts the smile on my face each morning and gives me motivation to make it through each day. He is the reason I live. The kids song "If I Were a Butterfly" has been an encouragement to me this week. The words "I just want to thank You Father for making me me! Because You gave me a heart, and You gave me my smile, You gave me Jesus and You made me Your child, and I just want to thank You Father for making me me! Those words I have heard since I was a child but it wasn't until last Saturday that I heard that song by a little girl in my church that I began to think about the immense truth in those words! What a declaration! That is really who I am! I should be thinking more about who Christ is and who I am to conform to, rather than all my short-comings and failures that can be so blinding.

Lord please have Your way in my life. Give discernment and show me where to walk. I give myself to You. My greatest desire is to serve You. You are my passion and reason to live.

Six Weeks

Six weeks is a long time to get to know someone new. A year ago today my new friend at the time were wandering around a foreign city with other new friends from different parts of the world. The only thing that brought us together was Jesus.

Six weeks. Did I even realize how special this person was in my life when I met her for the first time? Did I realize that she would be the only other real friend I stay in contact with via phone?

Now as I just hung up that phone after catching up on life, I realize just how blessed I am to have her in my life. Each time I talk with her I feel refreshed and encouraged to look at life a little differently. She did that tonight, she worded my thoughts so well and helped me to know what to ask God for in a more clear, distinct manner.

I long for relationships like this where people spurn one another on. Oh how we need that. Isn't that what we are called to? Isn't that what discipleship is? Following Jesus and helping others follow Him? Sounds good, sign me up.

Thank You God for Janae, oh how You have used her in my life to show me more of Yourself. If all my internship did in the positive light was Janae, I am thankful for that!

Little did I know that six weeks would be enough time to connect so deeply with someone and in such a way that most of my other friends cannot relate.