rev 21:3-5a

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

This... This is what we have to look forward to. I'm excited.

lost in wonder

i hold nothing.
He holds everything.

i break promises.
He never has, nor ever will-- since the day he gave his promises to Abram.

i am flawed.
He is everything i would ever imagine to hope for; He is perfect.

i am a simple nobody.
He is everything.

and i am lost in wonder at why a God as perfect as He is would ever come to lay down his life for one like me.

a thank you note

Dear friends,

Thank you. Thanks for allowing me to share my life and thoughts with you (not just on this blog). Thanks for listening to what I have to say, though it's not much.

Thank you for keeping me alive. Thank you for letting me see hope.
Thank you:
-for pointing me back to Christ constantly.
-for the support you've given me through thick and thin.
-for laughing with and at me.
-for letting me see the good in people after all.
-for smiling.
-for reaching out to me.
-for your troubles.

I could go on and on, but this will have to do.

Thank you for being my friends. I greatly appreciate it.

This, however, is just another place I don't belong.

wake up

this is our chance.
let's take it.

take it or watch others take it from you. opportunities often come only once.
we are, like it or not, the future of our country. this is our moment, this is ours.
the future lies in our hands.
don't miss it.

don't be caught unaware, wondering what happened. reality happens. reality is real. wake up, shake up, bring yourself to realize that time isn't forever. we're made for a purpose. look around with an eternal perspective, for 70 years is nothing compared to eternity.

join me. wake up our generation. let's do things. things that matter-- not only for our futures, but especially to God.
live, love, laugh, and above all, give Him the glory of everything we do.

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDD--- ohi pretty music

you see, I tend to get bored while eating.

only really exciting sandwiches make it better. unfortunately, I don't get really exciting sandwiches often.

durrrrrrrrrrrr

home at last

We stood years apart, yet our frail little hearts kept hoping and hoping; we pressed on on the path that promised love, peace, rest, and best of all, eternal joy. We traveled as one collective mind--with one end goal in our individual minds, though differing in age, size, race, and gender. The path was narrow, the path was hard. It was a race not against one another, but one to finish the race. Many would run, yet many would fail. It was a race full of hardships, trials, pain, and stress-- but in not one moment could there be no soothing effect to be found in the promises and sweet comforting words of the one who awaited us at the end. We learned to keep our eyes straight, to keep our feet steady, but also to look to Him as a child looks up to his father. There were treasures awaiting us, we whispered to one another excitedly. A reward. 

Our efforts were not in vain, nor were the tears and blood that stained the very ground that we walked upon. We would fall, we were told. We would experience weakness beyond imagination, yet still the sweet hands of Jesus guided us and picked us up time and time again as we fell to the ground weak and weary. Not once were we alone; He was always there. He stood and walked and talked beside us, raising our eyes and hearts to gaze and focus upon the saving work of the Cross-- the wooden cross that bridged the massive chasm that seemed endless beneath our feet. 

"I did this for you," He said, "that you may enter in. Run hard this race, dear child; my blood has been spilled for you."

Then...at last. Home. We had done it. We had finished. We had run the race. We had fought the good fight. We had run hard with endurance, raising others' hopes with the everlasting promises found in His abounding grace--for in truth, nothing we had done was in our strength. Each time we fell it was His hand that picked us up, brushing off the dirt and blemish that stained us. And at last, at long last, we had arrived. No sweeter, no more comforting, no more piercing words could have been said as we stood finally face to face with our maker:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter in the joy of your master."

And finally with the multitudes of creation we fell to our knees and raised our voices as one in praise to the King, crying out, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!" 

And so it was, then and forevermore.