The view from where I sit.

What is happening to the world? Facebook gift cards? This is ridiculous. Kind of embarrassing even.

Looking Deeper

"God, when, if ever will I be free?
What does it truly mean to forgive?
Tomorrow marks one year from when I broke through
Months of hurt to find only a broken spirit and abandoned life
What does normal look like?
How can I live without fear and oppression and doubt of my own validity?
Restore me, redeem the time I've lost
Keep me from that sort of blindness, from that pain
Restore my mind, that I might actually believe that I am complete, beautiful, whole"


I found the above text written on a piece of paper in my Bible last Sunday, something I had written during this past summer. God has been working on my heart so much and has been so gracious toward me.
The last six weeks or so have been an absolute whirlwind since I have a lot going on, and generally about this time into the semester, I'm exhausted. This semester has been different though, in so many ways. :) I have been learning a lot about the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to lead me, as I lead worship especially. I have been exploring the freedom that comes by living honestly before God and others and have watched God prove Himself faithful on my behalf. I have seen the text, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" come to fruition in my own life. I have seen God stir the heart of His people in lives around me, and I am thrilled! He has put a new song in my heart and has truly been redeeming time that I thought I had lost and wasted, and He's re-energizing me so that, as I run with Him, I do not grow weary.

I write this to say that life is certainly full of seasons, and though the desert places can certainly be barren, the fruit that comes during the harvest is plentiful and well worth the wait. There is comfort in knowing that God is my Victor, that He is for me. I hope you can trust that He will do that for you also if you wait on Him.

The mark of a man: the pondering pose. Ben has now passed into manhood, or at least figuratively. Donning a new hat and shirt, he chose to get a quick meal from Wendy's so we can get back home to watch the baseball game. The best part...the Wendy's staff joined us in a melodious Happy Birthday chorus. :)

Well Ben and his buddies started a club at school called "Bowlers in Lake Forest," also known as "BILFS," and made these accompanying shirts for the officers of the club. I'm not sure if it's blasphemous or not and really I'm not sure if it's the greatest representation of Jesus. HOWEVER it is hilarious and seriously made me laugh ridiculously hard. He and his buddies have a significant club membership now as the member count is now near 140. Clearly these shirts are epic enough to only be for officers, so Ben wears it proudly. More tshirt designs are to come. I'll keep you in the loop.

Woooo! As you can tell i'm bored since i can't do much due to the condition of my ankle. Therefore...many picture updates.

Rock climbing!

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Inspiration Point

Hanging out at thousand pines for VSB retreat! Woooooo! It's so pretty up here!

Rehearsing with VSB!

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