on track.

via

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,  for those who are called according to his purpose." 

-Romans 8:28

It's funny how God affirms the truths that he's spoken to us in the sweetest of ways. Last week, our Sunday school teacher taught a lesson at bible study on grace and our purpose. The more he went on, the more my ears perked up. I had downright had this exact message spoken to my heart almost exactly one year ago.

Read this.

If you've already read it, reread this.

It's truth.

God's truth.

We all need to be reminded of it. To not let Satan stand in the way of our purpose. Persevere. There is no mess too big for God to get you out of and use for his glory. He longs for you, whether you've been walking with Him day by day or have gone astray. It doesn't matter if you're "on track," "off track," or "on the wrong side of the tracks." God is the track. He is there. He is waiting for you. Longing for you.  Longing for you to get on the track with Him. Ride life together. Today is the day to submit to God's call, despite the lies being whispered in your ear. Listen to the truth instead.

sur la table.

This is the greatest thing ever. It is a "Table of Remarkable Eras and Events" from the first edition Encyclopedia Britannica in 1768. Sometimes I have a hard time visualizing the biblical timeline in context of a more secular timeline of history, so this is so wonderful. ...plus I have a freakish love for medieval and ancient history (Thank you, Madame Williams, French and Humanities teacher extraordinaire).

Jesus + coffee.

Print via Etsy.

—Happy Sunday, y'all—

it's a wonderful life.

   

     Somehow, I graduated (a year late..so what). By the grace of our Savior, I am employed (401-what?). I walked that stage, turned that tassel, and pranced across campus (through the rain, no umbrella..grr) to greet family and friends on the other side of my Samford degree in Essie Peach Daiquiri-ed hand.

     To say the past month has been a whirlwind would be the understatement of the year. It was also set up like a set of biblical miracles, one after the other...with that little rain shower to show me that I indeed was not dreaming :) ... . I absolutely never thought I would have crossed the stage at graduation with a great job in line and an apartment waiting for me. Praise the Lord for His provision! To say it was an easy month would be a complete lie, though. Depending on the strength of the Lord, both physically and emotionally, is the only way I could make it through. It's so easy to believe things will not work out the way you want/think you need them to. Sometimes, as in my case, they work out far better than you could ever imagine. Praying for God's will, not yours, is one of the scariest things you can do, but so far it's never failed me yet. One of my biggest weaknesses is not having faith that God's will and my will align. My friends and family can attest to that after two months of freaking and and near panic attacks. Despite all of this, I crossed the stage, I'm sitting in my new home, and I start my new job in 3 days. Sounds storybook to me.

     Another shout out to all of the family and friends who took the time to come for graduation, and to those who couldn't make it, but who were every bit as supportive! Remember my "no man is an island" revelation? So true, and I'm so grateful for the people God has placed in my life. Nothing like a huddle-full of people to make you feel blessed and loved. God has blessed me far more than I could ever deserve. (..and I'm working on those thank you notes.. promise!)

     I can't write about graduation without writing about the shining beacon/country club, with its manicured lawns and incredible professors, who helped me to grow in every way. I can't imagine any place I could have fit and grown more than at Samford. Seven years ago, I toured the campus, absolutely adamant before I entered those gates that I would never step foot on this campus after my visit. Entering those gates is all it took to change my mind. Two years later, I had only applied to Samford, and there was no turning back. The friends, coworkers, circumstances, and professors I had have changed my life. It surely was not all fun, but you haven't lived until you've sat on a bench in Ben Brown Plaza with a Tervis full of an Arnold Palmer and the sun shining down on you. I'm so grateful for my time at Samford and for the relationships I've carried out of those gates. So humbling.

I am blessed beyond belief, and I can't wait for the next chapter to begin Monday! Praise the Lord!  

   
   

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Centennial Walk after the Prayer Breakfast

Talk about blessings..I'm watching this one walk down the aisle tomorrow! 

Let us adore Him!

Beautiful wreaths on the doors of Hodges Chapel at Samford.

I went searching on Tumblr and Pinterest for pictures for this post for a few days, but honestly, the pictures I've taken this season were the best. This isn't the case because I have some fancy camera or have amazing photography skills, but because God has shown his glory to me even in the midst of the most difficult parts of my year.

This year, more than ever before, I'm realizing the true gift that Christmas reminds us of. I don't think that you realize the heart wrenching impact of Jesus' birth until you've fully realized and received his utterly undeserved grace. I guess we don't understand the importance of something until we realize that we need it.

Jesus came to us in the absolute humblest way to show us that he understands it all. He was born in a barn. Not a Pinterest-y, chandeliered and decorated barn, but an actual Old McDonald, ee-i-ee-i-o barn. Then Jesus spent His first night in a manger – a feeding trough for animals! I don't care what circumstances you're under, that's rough. God, what a picture. The news of his birth was brought to and spread first by the shepherds, who in these times would have been the lowest men on the totem pole. The whole circumstance set up Jesus' existence on earth as our mediator to God. His whole existence served as a way for God to experience life as a human, as the most humblest of mankind, to show that He came for every one of us. He went through it all, blamelessly, to save us by His grace. To say He experienced everything. Every hardship. Every temptation. Every heartbreak.

"Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!"

                                                                      -Philippians 2:6-8

Our Savior lives. He came to bring us LIFE. Let us rejoice! Let us remember the real meaning of the season. Let us receive our sweet King!

Joy to the world, the Lord is Come!

Let earth receive her King! 

I Will Wait.

I guess this is just as good of a time as any to use those Pinterest wedding pictures. :)

Well I came home like a stone

And I fell heavy into your arms

These days of dust, which we've known

Will blow away with this new sun

And I'll kneel down, wait for now

And I'll kneel down know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step, and relent

Well you forgave, and I won't forget

Know what we've seen and him with less

Now in some way shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

Now I'll be bold as well as strong

And use my head alongside my heart

So tame my flesh and fix my eyes

A tethered mind freed from the lies

But I'll kneel down, wait for now

I'll kneel down know my ground

Raise my hands, paint my spirit gold

Bow my head, keep my heart slow

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you  

                                                   

                                                   -Mumford & Sons

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This song has been bothering me in a good way for a few weeks. This is like Ruth. Totally about God, yet totally about a man & woman. I can't shake it. It's in my journal, ingrained in my brain, and on my heart. It makes me teary eyed every time. Lord, give me someone who gets this. 

This one just deserves an amen.