it was one of those days

my first "moodboard"

Transitioning from winter to spring.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that on multiple occasions I've announced that my dad is an avid runner. So far he has run four 50-mile races and just last year, a total of 1953 miles. Yesterday morning at 6 a.m. he began a 100-mile race and to my knowledge is still running right now, 18 hours later. I'm really proud of him and wish I could be there to cheer him on. Anyway, I have shared with friends before - "if only my dad was passionate about Jesus as he is about running."

I think anyone who has been praying for a family member or close friend as long as I have been praying for my dad understands how discouraging it can be sometimes. But when I began to think about the goodness of God, He told me this:

"I hear you. You don't have to worry. I haven't created a zealous heart in your father without purpose."

He also reminded me of Habakkuk. The book begins with Habakkuk asking something like, "How long do I cry for help before you hear me?" Which isn't far from how I feel some days. The Lord replies:

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." (Habakkuk 1:5 ESV)

Here, again.

Christmas things

December always brings a bunch of busyness but it the best way. Even out of college and free of exams, I've had very little time to blog as much as I would like. Anyway, I'll interrupt my series of Biltmore posts to share things I've been doing this month.

  

Christmas First Night @ Anderson

 

Classy Christmas Party

Biltmore Life: Part 1

For the last year and a half, I've lived in this house. A lot of memories are here, most of them I'm holding onto. Some things have changed quite a bit. Its funny how much it has changed in a seemingly short amount of time and I didn't realize it until I found these pictures.

Our little front yard; on a rare occasion that it didn't/doesn't look like a parking lot.
Also note, our own Everglades Experience Project that has since been removed.

The living room when we only had the one unusually long couch, a malfunctioning
cable modem & a rather large (and outdated) TV. And we had an actual coffee table.

The giant coffee posters and the old blue couch, home of the bikes (unpictured).

Linoleum floors and a kitchen table. A leaky sink and no coffee pot.

A few necessities but no decorations yet. I was still transitioning from dorm life.

A moldy couch and our backyard, also the Saturn.

Paige and I had just decided to move in with Jordan. It was the summer of 2011. We didn't know what we were getting into. I spent the majority of this summer in the house alone, no internet and no cable. Just working at the coffee shop and driving to Greenville to see Asher at least once a week.

It was uneventful so far.

"How I go to the woods...

“How I go to the woods

Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.


I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.


Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.


If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.”


--Mary Oliver

sunday bike ride

Seventy degrees in November was just right today. We rode our bikes downtown to catch the end of the Veteran's Day Parade. The transition of leaves is now in full swing.

we are carriers

If you're anything like me, you might drag your feet a little bit reading through the second half of Exodus. If you are unfamiliar with this part of Scripture, it is when God begins giving Moses very detailed instructions on building the Tabernacle and its furnishings. My first response to it was something like, "What significance does this have for me? I don't even know what a cubit is."

"Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you." -Exodus 25:8 (NIV)

Following this verse, the next five chapters of Exodus explain specific measurements and materials for the Tabernacle. God had a special purpose and place for each part of the establishment. He knew that this would be complicated so he even had two specific men (who He equipped with "ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship") to make sure all of it was built as He had commanded. 

"...so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." -Exodus 40:34 (ESV)

Imagine the weight of responsibility to build something worthy of the presence of God, a place worthy of His dwelling. Man… God's holiness. In 2 Samuel 6, the Ark is being carried to Jerusalem. One of the oxen trip and this guy puts his hand out to catch the ark and he dies immediately because it was a violation of God's law to touch it. I think this means that if the Holy Spirit were to inhabit our sin stained bodies, we would die immediately simply because we are so far from God's holiness. 

But then there's the Gospel…

Because of God's intense and unconditional love for His people, He sent Jesus to redeem us. With our selfish and sinful hearts, He died for us. We no longer have to worry about carrying around the Ark of the Covenant because God has specially made us with a specific purpose, given us life and redemption through Christ so the He can dwell in our hearts.

So, two things I take away from this:

1. We get to carry the Holy Spirit. 

   Because God chose us.

   And wants to be everywhere we are, so He is.

2. In the same way God had an intricate design and plan for the Ark, He has a plan for us. The best plan.

into october