With Grace in Her Heart...

And flowers in her hair

Inside my brain this morning…

This is just an excerpt of my journaling experience this morning. After quite a bit of confession, this is where my mind went:

I’ve been feeling inspired by scripture lately. I saw this tattooed on a kids chest this morning: Romans 8:18

   ’I CONSIDER THAT OUR PRESENT SUFFERINGS ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED IN US’

Then, after reading Song of Solomon, this: Song of Solomon 8:6

    ‘…FOR LOVE IS AS STRONG AS DEATH…’

There was a shooting at the midnight Batman premier last night. 50ish victims. 12 deaths. My heart breaks for humanity today. But through tragedy comes unity. I don’t agree with many things Obama says or does, but he spoke to America this morning so beautifully that it made me cry. He acknowledged the tragedy that happened earlier this morning, touched on serving justice to whoever committed the heinous act, then was so positive about remembering love—both toward those who died and those who we are still so lucky and blessed to have around.

   …LOVE IS AS STRONG AS DEATH…

I am so thankful to have love. To be able to produce it. To be able to receive it. The Lord has blessed me so much because of His love. I am thankful everyday, even when I don’t realize or acknowledge that it is of Him. I pray for these families in Aurora, Co. I pray that they are being comforted by their Heavenly Father and Earthly Loved Ones. I pray that they know that they are loved. 

corn chip feet

corn chip feet

I just wanted to take a minute to respond to the #stopkony frenzy that is overtaking social media. I am a strong supporter of Invisible Children. I have been for the past 5-ish years. I went on a big kick in high school and early college, and not that I lost interest after that, but it was just really difficult for me to stay active once I got to college, became a Young Life leader, and worked on relationships within one specific high school. I couldn’t stretch myself too thin.  Now, this is the year. #stopkony2012 is all over. The video has gone viral. I’ve shared it on facebook, even sent it to my not-so-technologically savvy mother who has the most tender heart of anyone I’ve ever known. I love the support I’ve seen from people who I, honestly, didn’t think would be active about such foreign affairs. My heart is full of joy for that aspect of this atrocious war.  I met with a friend for breakfast this morning who told me of her own troubles dealing with pain and hurt. My heart broke for her and her friends as well. When I got home, I sat at my computer to eat my Chick-Fil-A biscuit and check my twitter feed. So. Much. Kony.  I was thankful. Then I came across some blogs that were criticizing the way Invisible Children was going about running their non-profit organization. That they were using money they earned to pay for travel expenses or to shoot their awareness documentaries. Honestly, this led me to a lot of frustration. How do people expect a non-profit organization to travel to Uganda so frequently? How do they think the public will be influenced without some sort of media informing them of what is happening in the war zone, as well as what people like us are doing about it?  Ignorance is not bliss. Maybe for those of us who are unaware, but the children suffering and being tortured in our world are not experiencing the joy of life that Jesus desires for us.  So I encourage everyone who is watching the video to do their research as they see fit. But my plug is this: I don’t care how we do it. I don’t care what organization does it. I don’t care who endorses it. I don’t care. But I do care for my brothers and sisters in Uganda. I do care about their freedom. I do want them to experience a full life of love, joy, education, family—all the things that I know because the Lord has provided it for me. It’s up to everyone who lives that sort of life to help those who don’t. Allow your heart to break for these children. Allow a love that you don’t understand to overtake your heart and support them. They need us. 

I just wanted to take a minute to respond to the #stopkony frenzy that is overtaking social media.

I am a strong supporter of Invisible Children. I have been for the past 5-ish years. I went on a big kick in high school and early college, and not that I lost interest after that, but it was just really difficult for me to stay active once I got to college, became a Young Life leader, and worked on relationships within one specific high school. I couldn’t stretch myself too thin. 

Now, this is the year. #stopkony2012 is all over. The video has gone viral. I’ve shared it on facebook, even sent it to my not-so-technologically savvy mother who has the most tender heart of anyone I’ve ever known. I love the support I’ve seen from people who I, honestly, didn’t think would be active about such foreign affairs. My heart is full of joy for that aspect of this atrocious war. 

I met with a friend for breakfast this morning who told me of her own troubles dealing with pain and hurt. My heart broke for her and her friends as well. When I got home, I sat at my computer to eat my Chick-Fil-A biscuit and check my twitter feed.

So. Much. Kony. 

I was thankful.

Then I came across some blogs that were criticizing the way Invisible Children was going about running their non-profit organization. That they were using money they earned to pay for travel expenses or to shoot their awareness documentaries. Honestly, this led me to a lot of frustration. How do people expect a non-profit organization to travel to Uganda so frequently? How do they think the public will be influenced without some sort of media informing them of what is happening in the war zone, as well as what people like us are doing about it? 

Ignorance is not bliss. Maybe for those of us who are unaware, but the children suffering and being tortured in our world are not experiencing the joy of life that Jesus desires for us. 

So I encourage everyone who is watching the video to do their research as they see fit. But my plug is this:

I don’t care how we do it. I don’t care what organization does it. I don’t care who endorses it. I don’t care. But I do care for my brothers and sisters in Uganda. I do care about their freedom. I do want them to experience a full life of love, joy, education, family—all the things that I know because the Lord has provided it for me. It’s up to everyone who lives that sort of life to help those who don’t.

Allow your heart to break for these children. Allow a love that you don’t understand to overtake your heart and support them.

They need us. 

Dinner Parties

are fun. are funny. 

I like my young life friends. and I like cooking. and laughing. and taking awkward pictures where Sterrelllife sticks up her middle finger. 

and sleep.

Le Ballon rouge by Albert Lamorisse (1956) Real life Up!?

Le Ballon rouge by Albert Lamorisse (1956)

Real life Up!?

(Source: andrewharlow)

my nutrition professor is so boring. I wish I knew he was a nice man to make this class more bearable… But I don’t. 

Look at my cool friends!

Look at my cool friends!