I breathe in

I breathe in deeply knowing that this quiet calm won't last very long. 

I may want this moment to last... but I know I'll love the change when it comes.

 

My job has seasons of busyness.

Last year was the 1st time I took on this special assignment and in early June I found myself overwhelmed with work... for the 1st time in my life. But it was good, my comfort zone was stretched, my abilities grew, the challenge, the unknown... it was good for me.

 

Why?

 

Because I had to rely on HIM,

not my own limited abilities or my limited strength.

But I have one great resource in God.

In Him I have everything.

 

 

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

face to face

As I sit in my room reading in Exodus tonight I can't help but to be thankful for what Jesus Christ did on the cross...

When God called Moses and his people out of the affliction in Egypt... God commanded Moses to build a Tabernacle so He could "dwell among them" (Exodus 25-28 gave the instructions on how it should be built). But in the Tabernacle a veil was woven and hung "The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy" (26:33).

People could not go into the presence of God.

There were rules, sacrifices, daily offerings, and a veil that separated them from the presence of God. But not for Moses... "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (33:11).

That verse really got me thinking about my life today. When Jesus died on the cross that veil was torn. "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..." (Matthew 27:51). It's mentioned again in the book of 2 Corinthians "... the veil is taken away in Christ" (3:16). When Christ died and the veil was torn people were now able to enter the presence of God and talk with Him as Moses did!

And that's what I have today. No rules, no regulations, no daily offerings. God doesn't want sacrifice, but obedience. And as a Father who knows best for His children, I should want to obey.

But before I get side tracked....

God's presence, face to face.... I can talk to God "as a man speaks to his friend". And this is all because Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sin...

and yours too.

a year to celebrate

2011 was a great year. It was wonderfully busy and excitingly wonderful. It was full of surprises, love, and so many new things.

Here's the recap:

• In January I discovered Apple Cake and went skiing for the 1st time in about 10 years.
• In February I was a camp counselor at Snow Camp with ODBC and cooked Pad Thai for the 1st time.
• In March God taught me a lot about faith and trusting in Him for the future.
• In April God brought me to Grace Road church and I made this Clementine Cake!
• In May I bought a bike and started to bike to work!
• In June I spent a few weeks at Locust Hill preparing for and managing the Expo tent during the LPGA! woah
• In July I celebrated 6 years with Christ and on the very same day I met this man: 

• In August I went to Raleigh to visit my brother, paid off my car, and played tennis under the stars!
• In September I started dating that man officially and became busier than I've ever been before <3
• In October we went to NYC for a day and took a road trip to my favorite little town for a dear friends wedding.
• In November we stuffed our weekends with events and enjoyed Thanksgiving with family.
• in December we went to NYC on a rainy day, decorated for Christmas, celebrated my 27th birthday, and enjoyed the holidays immensely.
• It was the year I took a huge undertaking at work (read: managed the sponsor accounts and the Expo for the LPGA), rediscovered my love of photography, made some incredible new friends, and learned a lot about myself in Christ!
• And as I said... it was the year I met this man:

2012 will be a year of great things too:

Growing deeper in Christ.

Learning to make sushi.
And falling more in love with this life God has given me.

fotography

 baby beauty

 blue eyed

urban nature

 abandoned

deep blue something

moments in time

I could tell a story, or I could let my photos tell it for me...

Cityish

urban beauty

green

night lights

nyc transportation

manhattan

dubs

joy

love

art

an invitation to Joy and Peace

I've been having a lot of conversations with someone in my life right now about being rooted in Christ. About keeping Him the center of life and all we do. Seeking Him for direction and being open to His will. Last week as I flipped the calendar in our kitchen from August to September, I saw the new verse for the month:

Isaiah 55:12
For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace;
the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

After reading this a few times I thought about this whole idea of being "rooted in Christ". I thought about how it brings joy, it brings peace. Joy and peace that are not rocked by circumstances or our surroundings, but set deep in our hearts. Maybe when we have this... we would see the world around us rejoicing as well.

I really love all of Isaiah 55. It starts out proclaiming:

"Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money, come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

It's an invitation... to everyone, no money needed. But it's not for physical food or water (though He's comparing it to wine and milk, not water or crackers), it's an invitation for Him. The chapter tells us to seek Him, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (vs. 6). He tells us how much greater His thoughts and His ways are than ours (vs.8-9). Think about it, it's an invitation to an abundant life!

And we shall go out with joy and be led out with peace...



wherever I am

Once upon a time I wrote something entitled Sorting Mail for Jesus. It was a reminder to myself that wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, however exciting or menial it is... of where my heart needs to be while I'm doing it.

In a way, here I am, in that place again. for now. With the exciting challenges of the LPGA done I've changed offices once again (returned to my original office I should say) and as I was sorting the mail this morning I laughed and thought to myself "I'm doing this for Christ".

My attitude and heart for this office and the people in it needs to be in that place. always.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24