what the what?

Hear ye, hear ye...'Tis the Gospel in its purest form...

"God created us to know and enjoy Him, and we rebelled by trying to be our own gods.

But instead of punishing us as we deserve, He sent His Son to live the life we couldn't and be punished in our place.

Since Jesus was punished in our place, our sin can be forgiven and we can be reconciled to God."

The fact that Jesus arose from the grave says that God accepted His payment for our sin.

Whoa. My Redeemer lives.
He pursues me. He has rescued me.

God is satisfied with Jesus' payment as my own for my own wretched sin. How can this be? Grace.

What could I have done on my own to make myself right with God? Absolutely nothing. For I was dead when I realized that I needed to be made right at all. Christ literally had to do it all for me because I am weak and helpless on my own.

I have nothing good within me...in fact, it is by His grace alone that I am not acting on all my sin in a way that causes my severely evil outbursts in my behavior. No, He is sanctifying my sin and growing me in His image. Thank you, God. Because I am evil, but I truly want nothing to do with evil.

I pray that I will be continuously repulsed by my own sin and grow in a holy affection to seek out Your word and Your work and Your goodness.,.

May my eyes be turned to what stirs my affections for you and not for what pleases myself so often.

Fat Tuesday

Yes, its Mardi Gras day!!! Woohoo celebrate!

This comes from the period of time when it was customary to give up something in a fasting manner for the 40 days before Easter. To fast something would be to replace it with prayer to the Lord in thanksgiving. Carnival was celebrated as the day of celebration of meat or 'carne' as when the people planned to not eat meat for lent. So they really lived it up on fat tuesday! This the culmination of the festivities of Mardi Gras. Such tradition in these events.

I have decided to give up bread. Initially, this is because I have been wanting to cut it out of my diet in an attempt to be eating more 'paleo' if you will, which is more honestly more healthy. Its a diet that is mainly lean meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and no grains or sugars. And Ironically no really beans or corn. Which I hate. But thats beside the point. I hate bread. But I love bread. And so I decided to go until Easter without it.

Then Jessica-Lauren so kindly pointed out that lent began with good intentions, but the world has made it so legalistic, like a new years resolution. We dont really care to substitute our desire for the thing we give up with prayers of thankfulness and repentance. So, I began thinking. And realized my conviction.
Perhaps more importantly, since some of my goals for the year are to make consistent changes toward a healthy lifestyle and be much more intentional with my prayer life, this seems like a great opportunity to do both.

Now may my life be changed!

Thanks Fat Tuesday.

Oh yeah, and my Redeemer. because He will love me just the same if I let Him and myself down with this goal. But I hope to grow in this. More to come.

epic

so i just found this on youtube. youre clearly not a christian if you dont love it and memorize it.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ar_k8JjVWQA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I guess my attempts at embedding a video are failing. just try this instead.

oh let me run to my redeemer

"Today you'll harden your heart by defending as good the wrongs you've done or you'll run to the forgiving grace of your Redeemer."

I saw this on twitter today. Its making me think a lot.

Im so full of brokenness and sin and that is so evident as a judge the things that come out of my mouth as an overflow of my heart. I am so innately vile that it spills out and disgusts and embarrasses me as it shames me.
But just as this is true of me, so is the existence of a much more powerful saving grace that holds its arms all the way out to me if I can manage to lift my face out of my pillow and receive it. And its so powerful and attractive that if I cant even lift my own face, grace will become my pillow and still do its work on my heart to humble me and soften me.

All goodness comes from Christ. All good in me comes from Christ's sacrifice. I am useless without Him as I am dead without Him. Right in my own trespasses, I lay dead until His sacrifice took root in my heart and allowed me to breath fully and finally alive in Him.

Why do I continue to sin and then be surprised by it?

Let me run to the open arms of grace that is my Redeemer when I feel broken and let down by my sinful self and find rest that He loves me and will sharpen me. Let me find true repentance of my sin and grow.. Let me be sanctified even if its in the painful process of refining gold by submerging it in the fire to remove the dross, my dross.

What happens at Mardi Gras, stays in Mardi Gras...

So I got to experience Mardi Gras the way Mobile does it, and has done it since 1703, which if you know anything about Mardi Gras, you know that it didnt start in nasty New Orleans until 1718. SO there. Not only was being immersed in the culture amazing as I got to participate in the parades, elegant balls, and festivities, but I got to do them with my family. And I got to share my family with some awesome friends from UNA. I had the best weekend ever. One of my life goals is to make more road trips and see more of this worlds culture, and I got to make a mark on that one.

So we arrive in Mobile to stay with my family. Fortunately, they let us have their whole house! They were staying at this amazing hotel called the Battle House, built in 1851, ADPi's say what! Anyway, pretty much the moment we got there, they were itching to initiate us into Mardi Gras and gave us so many presents! Special beads for their mystic societies and themed parties, light up headbands with medusa-like string things, koozies, boas, the works ok. It was great.

Time for the parades. We went to about 4. One before each ball and the saturday ones were bright, long, and bountiful. Members of these societies that host the parades ride on floats that fit into a theme, and they throw many goodies to bystanders, no fabric-free entertainment required. This is the original Mardi Gras in Mobile, after all. The throws are beads, moon pies, stuffed animals, plastic cups, candy, toys- Cher caught a tomahawk! what- peanuts, frisbees, doubloons, roses, and even ice cream sandwiches. It was great fun to see my cousins on their floats in their costumes and masks. On the walk overs before the parade even starts, they hand delivered us bystanders roses and garters and beads. Its tradition.

Then we went to the Ball...twice. As invited guests, we got all fancy in the hotel in our long dresses and tuxedoes and of course beads. All made up we run outside, just in time to call a limousine to taxi us to the party. Apparently, we only do things in style. Once there, we hand our tickets at the door as they quickly inspect that we are dressed appropriately, I suppose. Since my cousins are society members, they are already backstage and we go sit in the balcony to watch the tableau vivant, in which all the members are introduced and there is even a choreographed celebration of the leaders and board members of the society. For my cousin who is in the men's society, we cheered as the board came out in their feathered headdresses and matching colored escort. Then the Inca, the leader and he did his performance as the crowd below threw him doubloons. Then came the queen, in her beautiful white gown and exquisite train. She came to meet her husband as he came down from the ceiling in his fancy costume. They took their tour of the floor in all their elegance. After all the members were introduced in order of their floats and waltzed from the stage to meet the beautiful queen, they dispersed for the party to begin. For my cousin who is in the women's society, we again sat high and cheered for her and her members as similar elaborate introductions took place. They each came out to their song of choice and then the party began. We had food in the rooms belonging to each float group and drinks alike. There were a few different bands. Lots of dancing and merriment to celebrate the season of carnival.

We brought back so many goodies, gifts, masks, and memories!

I am such a lover of culture and tradition, that we all know I ate up every moment of this experience and am likely to return.

hungry for the games?

holy cow. im cannot wait until the entire soundtrack is realase. i will have it.

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars

<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><iframe src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:732819/cp~series%3D1148%26id%3D1518071%26vid%3D732819%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A732819" width="512" height="288" frameborder="0"></iframe><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Get More: <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/swift__taylor/artist.jhtml" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Taylor Swift</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/taylor-swift/732819/safe-sound.jhtml#id=1518071&amp;vid=732819" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Safe &amp; Sound</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Music</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/video/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">More Music Videos</a></p></div></div>

The Hunger Games Soundtrack tracklist avaible March 20th, while the film premieres on March 23rd.

The Hunger Games: Sounds from District 12 and Beyond

01 Taylor Swift (Feat. The Civil Wars) – “Safe & Sound”
02 Taylor Swift – “Eyes Wide Open”
03 Arcade Fire – “Abraham’s Daughter”
04 Kid Cudi – “The Ruler & The Killer”
05 Miranda Lambert (Feat. Pistol Annies) – “Run Daddy Run”
06 The Civil Wars – “Kingdom Come”
07 The Decemberists – “One Engine”
08 Glen Hansard – “Take the Heartland”
09 The Low Anthem – “Lover is Childlike”
10 Punch Brothers – “Dark Days”
11 Secret Sisters – “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder”
12 Birdy – “Just a Game”
13 Ella Mae Bowen – “Oh Come & Sing”
14 Jayme Dee – “Rules”
15 Carolina Chocolate Drops – “Reaping Day”
16 Neko Case – “Give Me Something I’ll Remember"

And more...

One Engine by The Decemberists

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proverbs 31 woman wannabe

Let me become a woman from Proverbs 31:10-31 that I may always glorify the Lord in my actions and thoughts. 

Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the LORD

 ¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find? 
   She is far more precious than jewels. 
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, 
   and he will have no lack of gain. 
¹² She does him good, and not harm, 
   all the days of her life. 
¹³ She seeks wool and flax, 
   and works with willing hands. 
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant; 
   she brings her food from afar. 
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night 
   and provides food for her household 
   and portions for her maidens. 
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; 
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength 
   and makes her arms strong. 
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. 
   Her lamp does not go out at night. 
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff, 
   and her hands hold the spindle. 
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor 
   and reaches out her hands to the needy. 
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household, 
   for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself; 
   her clothing is fine linen and purple. 
²³ Her husband is known in the gates 
   when he sits among the elders of the land. 
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them; 
   she delivers sashes to the merchant. 
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing, 
   and she laughs at the time to come. 
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, 
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household 
   and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; 
   her husband also, and he praises her: 
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently, 
   but you surpass them all.” 
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, 
   and let her works praise her in the gates.





Oh to be a woman who fears the Lord this way....


Who is excellent and more valuable than the most precious stones. 
Who's husband trusts her and values her opinion and her workings. He gains so much from her work and her love for him that he lacks absolutely nothing
Who does her husband good by encouraging him and not harm by not supporting him or thinking for him or tearing him down. Forever.
Who searches for supplies with which to make things with her idle hands. She has wiling hands to do the work that is necessary.
Who prepares for her family like merchant ships bring supplies form afar.
Who wakes before the sunrise to plan the day and provide for her household. 
Who is compassionate for all those in her life, including those who work for her.
Who is wise among the property and knows the value of land and works for it with the labor of her hands.
Who knows the value of her work and confidently carries to the market to make her skills profitable for the good of her household.
Who works into the night to ensure that all the work is done.
Who spends her time making clothes for her family and for sale that her house may benefit. 
Who has an open hand to her supplies for the poor and has a keen eye for the needs of others that she may serve them and honor the Lord while she does it.
Who is not afraid of disaster for her household because she trusts in the Blood of the Lamb for protection in His sovereign power.
Who honors the law and the customs of the land. 
Who is honorable with clothes of purple that she has earned with respect of the community.
Who has a husband that is well known and wise as he sits with the elders at the gates in the community.  
Who is wise about her handiwork and is carful to sell them to the merchant to benefit her family. 
Who is faithful in her work and builds a reputation for excellence and responsibility with the merchants.
Who is clothed in strength and dignity, traits echoed in praise by her husband. 
Who is trusting in the Lord's sovereignty to laugh at the times to come as she knows that He will provide for her. 
Who has learned from other women in her life and has much wisdom in her character. 
Who breathes and teaches kindness from her mouth, and her heart.
Who is constantly looking to the needs of her household and community and does not sit idle and wasting her time. 
Who is a good and faithful steward of her time. 
Who has reared her children in truth and righteousness so that when they wake and see how she cares and provides for them, they call her blessed in thankfulness for her.
Who has respected and loved her husband so that he praises her each day as he is thankful that she is his partner. 
Who's husband says, "There are lots of wonderful women who do great things well, but you my lovely wife, surpass them all in beauty, loveliness, strength, and valor. I love you/"
Who knows that charm is deceitful and will lie to get its way.
Who sees that beauty fades and looking to it for security will lead to vanity and heartache. 
Who has been taught that a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised, and she lives her life to love, respect, and fear Him, the one true God., 
Who will see the fruit of her labor for the Lord because His word does not come back in vain and she will be praised in the gates of her city as well as in heaven for doing the work of the Lord by caring for those around her. 


May these women arise and be praised as they praise the Lord everlasting.

oh the tanning bed burn...

I am thankful to have access to a tanning bed for free at my apartment complex. this is ballin. yeah, yeah I know that they are terrible for you, but I do believe in the sovereignty of the Lord who directs my life and as soon as He wants to take me out of this world, He will. Just hoping He so kindly produces a lovely husband for me before that happens...

Anyway, today a sewed and entire skirt for myself! With a lovely floral pattern and pink/white seersucker pockets and waist. I am so proud. Next I will be making my sister one for her birthday with a very customized print. I am excited for that one!

Great week planned, lots of sewing and planning, and driving to Mobile! I cant wait to get the show on the road. I have to pack up a little of everything in the wardrobe. I cant wait to spend time with family, along with Britney and Cheryl!

I really do need to be doing some more reading, but that will have to wait.

I am certainly humbled lately about how the Lord chooses to use us to bring others to His glory. He can even make someone be so attracted to the beauty and irresistibleness of the Holy Spirit that they think they  might be in fact wildly attracted to the person who simply has a relationship with the Lord. I certainly believe that those who have been given a new heart in place of the dead stone heart mentioned in Isaiah something are such beautiful people. What a lovely spirit the Lord puts about those that are His children. The existence of the Holy Spirit in a person can make another person basically chase their relationship with God until the pursuer has found truth on His own. But this still is the workings of the Lord. He magnificently points us to Himself using people, things, tragedy, words, all things are His subject. Nothing can escape His plan. How beautiful it is that we can do nothing on our own, but are commanded to trust fully on Christ for salvation and for life. If this doesnt make me excited, then smack me around and get me in the word because I need some Jesus in my life to make me grateful and humble to His work! He tells me that He plans good works for us to do in His glory. I never know what these will be, or could be. But it has come to my attention that some of these ways are simply by peppering my language and conversation, and this is because of my love for Christ and inability to stop talking about Him, with words of salt and truth. I just cant control who can be listening to me or who may be incredible changed by something that I say. This is what makes leading others so fascinating to me. The saying is certainly true, "More is caught than taught." I have just got to love Him and serve Him each day and pray to make Him known in all that I do. It is He who directs my steps.

May my language be ever careful to speak of love and truth with the confidence that His word does not come back void. May I love the gospel and the redeeming of souls much more than the potential awkwardness of talking about my faith. I dont care if someone doesnt want to hear it. It just may change their lives.

Let me become a woman from Proverbs 31:10-31 that I may always glorify the Lord in my actions and thoughts.

slacking...

I definitely have been failing on the blogging front. But then again, I did begin this journey with being honest with myself that I might let myself down... I have made some huge discoveries about life that I wish I had the energy to think through again and type out, but I have been feeling quite sickly as of yesterday and this short post is just going to have to do.

I have been growing a ton in dgroup already. The Lord has prompted me to just think about life, my struggles, my wounds, and He has let me bump shoulders with some awesome women that have made me so glad that I know them. They are teaching me a lot. Lots about true companionship. I am so thankful!

Jess and I have decided that we are each others closest thing to a relationship right now. Haha. And have concluded that we are content with being each other's closest person and that there are no boys to be our person right now. This is the single life. And we are embracing it. We have had so many adventures, and I think Colleen thinks we are nuts, but she has been taking care of us in our sickness today. She is great.

Sidenote, I looooove the fact that I can hear trains from my bed. It makes me think of my Memaws house. She is beyond precious. I got to take Jessica home with me last week and she got to hang out with them and see my funny family. It just never ceases, the silliness. But that's my life and I love it oh so much!

I love what Jesus is teaching me right now about life, joy abundant, womanhood, and freedom right now. More to come on this as I process.

As for my #goalupdate, I am currently reading the Hunger Games for the 2nd time and I plan to read the rest of the trilogy as soon as I get back from Mardi Gras in Mobile with Arby and Julie. This weekend will certainly have a post on its own!

My next goal is to be reading this gem for sunday school :)

not sure how it got this backwards way, but oh well. I expect it to be amazing, especially since Ms. Scottie is teaching us from it. She has so much wisdom! I know that I will be documenting much of her wisdom from this class.

Praise the Lord! for goodness, and for silliness :)