His Kingdom come

"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

These words have been ringing in my ears and pressing on my heart lately, so I wrote them on my hand of course:)

she def copied me on utilization of hands as reminder notepads...

I think as followers of Christ we spend so much time trying to determine where God is leading us, or what His calling is for our lives, but He already told us! What calling is greater than bringing and building HIS kingdom here and now on earth? (Matthew 7:10) Shouldn't that be our primary focus each day? Humbles me, thats for sure. I pray that this would be more true of my life, and that each morning I would rise up to raise up kingdom of God! I think we forget that it is OUR responsibility to bring heaven to earth. (Luke 17:20 "For indeed, the kingdom of God is 'within you.") We have the opportunity to shine light on the "door of hope," the work of the cross. This hope propels us to be on mission for the growth of His kingdom, and it allows us to trust in the eternal reward we will one day receive! (Hebrews 16:9 "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...") I want to be motivated by waking up each day knowing that while I am still alive on this earth God has something for me to do here, some purpose to accomplish in me or through me. Even though I am sometimes unclear as to what that purpose is, I know that it ultimately has to do with allowing "His kingdom to come, and His will to be done." So it is my prayer that I would be full of hope and as a result illuminate glimpses of Your kingdom through my life! I think this is how we "bring glory to God." I want to RISE and SHINE for the KINGDOM OF GOD!

Fields of gold

The smell of the harvesting fields and the beauty of the glowing golden moon just makes me stand awestruck at the work of God's hands. The street I grew up on just happens to be called Wheatfield Way, unfortunately doesn't live up to its name very well, but their are glorious fields of gold not too far away. I cant help but want to go trekking through them, or climb on the hay bales and just lay out in them and enjoy the wide open space:) I love it when the hay gets stuck in my hair and scratches my skin even. Read this Psalm the other day and I just had to give a shout out to the Lord for giving us such a sweet taste of Eden this time of year in Oregon.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat." Psalm 19:1-6

Psalm 86:12

"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Point

Just had to post these because they are purely glorious....

GuiDANCE

I watched Center Stage the other day and it made me miss dancing sooooo much. I love Ballet, goodness. But then I stumbled across this, and it couldn't be a more appropriate reminder for me lately.

"When I meditated on the word Guidance,

I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing GOD's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.

The movement doesn't flow with the music,

and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,

both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back

or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.

It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,

and attentiveness from one person

and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw "G": I thought of GOD, followed by "u" and "i".

"GOD, "u" and "i" dance."

GOD, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust

that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let GOD lead.

My prayer for you today is that GOD's blessings

and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.

May you abide in GOD, as GOD abides in you.

Dance together with GOD, trusting GOD to lead

and to guide you through each season of your life"

The one on the left... def bringin' back memories.

GOD I want to dance with YOU.

All things breakfast

Went to brunch this morning with my sister at Besaws on 23rd, solid spot. I love going to breakfast more than any other meal, and I love breakfast restaurants more than any other restaurants. This was some bomb diggity gluten free french toast accompanied by one delightful vanilla latte.

This is another quality breakfast spot called Slappy Cakes. You can make your own with whatever batter and toppings you want right there at your table. I will have one of these in my house someday.

When I was about 5 my mom got me a pancake birthday cake one year for my birthday party. Growing up breakfast for dinner was more exciting than candy or the ice cream truck. My dad used to get up and make strictly gourmet breakfasts for all my friends after sleepovers, and when I had to get up early for sports races or meets he would always have a true breakfast of champions waiting for me when I came down the stairs. In high school it became tradition with my friends to make pancakes after saturday night church, and my best friend Ellen and I have a special pan for our 2 am scrambled egg cravings.

We would also get Cinnabon every time we went to the mall (often the only thing we bought), and maple bars after track workouts. Going to college my 7 roommates and I make breakfast for all meals of the day, and on saturdays after our long runs, or before football games, we eat on the front lawn or on our roof decks. We also got baby chicks in the spring so this fall we will have farm fresh eggs. My roommate thea and I one time made "panCAKES" for dessert at our Young Life meeting.

My Young Life girls and I have "Breakfast Club" on friday mornings before school and we make the craziest of pancake variations. And of course breakfast before our after church on sundays for some quality GS and the BUBS time.

I always kinda fancied the idea of owning my own coffee shop or bed and breakfast with my best friend Ellen, and it's gonna happen and naturally be the best all time (with the best coffee of all time).

I also plan on having mostly breakfast at my wedding. I will have none of this fancy foods that mesh well together business. I think its quite perfect to have root beer floats, peaches, sweet potato fries, ribs, cinnamon rolls, pulled pork, and pancakes. I want my wedding cake to either be layers of crepes, or Pazooki (Young Life style)

1 Peter 3:4

Every morning

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Ephesians 6:10-18

"The next ten minutes"

I'm quite fond of longboarding places

were I can lay in the middle of a field and read, write, and listen. Here are a couple of quotes from the book I am reading (Forgotten God by Francis Chan that just screamed at my heart.

"I think a lot of us need to forget about 'God's will for my life.' God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intent to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions."

"It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day. I believe that part of the desire to'know God's will for my life" is birthed in fear and results in paralysis. We are scared to make mistakes, so we fret over figuring out God's will."

"To submit and give up everything truly is radical and terrifying. However, when I think about it, walking in my own wisdom, contrary to the Spirit's leading, is even more frightful."

"When your heart speaks take good notes"

Sweet summer splendid scents

Top favorite smells of summer:

1. Freshly cut hay and fields

2. Fire; Bon fire lingering on my clothes, campfire s'mores, fireworks

3. Fresh baked blackberry peach cobbler

4. Lake hair 3 days later

5. BBQ grillin' corn and ribs

6. Coco Butter lotion and Aloe

7. Fresh Kettle Corn

8. Fair food and deep fried anything

9. My dad's bacon

10. Farm fresh fruit and blackberry jam

11. Tracks surfaces that have baked in the sun all day

12. My bed sheets after leaving my window open all day

13. My hands after holding on to swing chains

14. Lemonade and sweet tea

15. Daisies

Some of these smells are so close I can see them and taste them, but others I smell from afar. As I breathe in each of these distant smells, I look around searching for the source, desiring to be nearer to it. I pray that just as these summer scents appeal to all my senses, so would the aroma of Christ in me appeal to everyone I interact with. I pray that I would give off the aroma of Christ in a way that is pleasant and desirable. That I would bear a scent that compels people to search for it's source, the source of all things good. Furthermore, I pray that in finding that source that people would eat and drink it in, that they would lather it in their skin, that they would hold tight to it, that they would rest easy on it, and that they would continue to follow it's leading ALWAYS MORE.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Spoken Swiftly

In spite of my delight in Taylor Swift Lyrics a put all the bestest of lyrics into one brilliant "song" that I would sing, if I could. Next time I meet her I'm gonna give her these make a song that will sing me swiftly to sleep every night:)

read my previous post

Ultimate Swift Song

I don't know what I want, So don't ask me 'cause I'm still trying to figure it out, Don't know what's down this road, I've never gone with the wind, Just let it flow, Let it take me where it wants to go, I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run, Counting my footsteps praying the floor won't fall through again, You take my hand and drag me headfirst, fearless, And I don't know why but with you I dance, In a storm in my best dress, fearless, I was riding, shotgun with my hair undone, In the front seat of his car, Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold, The night you danced like you knew our lives, Would never be the same, Friday night beneath the stars, In a field behind your yard, You and I are painting pictures in the sky, And sometimes we don't say a thing, Just listen to the crickets sing, This night is flawless, don't you let it go, I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone, Sweet sensations, And anticipations, Calling commotion, To my emotions, Maybe this is wishful thinking, Probably mindless dreaming, Untouchable like a distant diamond sky, I'm reaching out and I just can't tell you why, So many things that I wish you knew, So many walls up, I can't break through, The way you move is like a full on rainstorm, And I'm a house of cards, If there's a train movin' fast down the tracks, I hope you caught it, Drop everything now, Meet me in the pouring rain, And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town, This is a big world, that was a small town, Flash forward and we’re taking on the world together, So don't you worry your pretty little mind, People throw rocks at things that shine, And life makes love look hard, The stakes are high, The waters rough, And we know it's never simple never easy, Wasn't it easier in your firefly-catchin' days? When everything out of reach, someone bigger brought down to you, Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild 'til you fell asleep, Before the monsters caught up to you? We'll sing hallelujah! We sang hallelujah! Hallelujah!