Pursuit

God is interested in the condition of our souls, not the fact that we adhere to a certain set of rules.

Voddie Bauchum said, "God is not after a people who will tie themselves up in legalistic knots so that they merely do not carry out on the outside what they truly are in their souls." Dang.

See, its not the fact that we obstain from sex, murder, etc. It's about the pursuit of pure things. The pursuit of peace, joy, love. Its about the observance of patience and justice. It's about having a praise-filled speech, and an encouragement to others. It is about alligning our desires with that of the Lord. What he is about, I want to be about.

I think all of this has probably been said before, but it's what I need to hear right now. My affections toward the Lord need to be realligned. I lay down my idols... there are many. I want to know You more. I am so sorry I have put other things before you.

I am in pursuit. watch out.

Calloused Hands

If you search my family history, you will find a farmer whose crops lasted through the great depression. You will find a woman that treated illnesses that threatened her tribe of the Navajos. If you search, you will find a famous piano player and harpist. You will find an entrepreneur and a baker. If you search my family history what you will not find is a college graduate. Ever since I can remember, my mother and father have told me how important it is to go to college. How they wish they had the opportunities I have been given so that they could get a degree.

I would never say that everyone needs to go to college to be happy, or successful. That completely depends on what your definition of those terms are. I will, however, say that the lord expects us to be good stewards of the talent he has given each one of us. Be it academically, musically, socially, or monetarily. He wants us to reap a plentiful harvest with calloused hands and sun kissed skin saying we did as much as we could with everything we were given.

I am about to enter my second year of college. I am a year behind of where I should be, but hopefully my maturity in other areas of my life, will somehow balance this out. After all, I didn't spend this past year twiddling my thumbs and building sandcastles... only to be washed away with the increasing of the tides. This next year will be incredible. I can feel it. That feeling you get on Christmas morning when you are opening presents. that one present, for some reason, tucked away in the corner, you just know it will rock our face off. That's exactly how I feel about this year. I got my scholarship award letter a couple of days ago. The Lord is entrusting me with a chunk of change, and I really want to be a good steward of that. I want to learn everything I can from my professors and peers. I want to read every page I am given. I want to struggle and wrestle with the text. I don't want to wait til the last minute to start a paper. I want to have intentional community with my roommates and friends. I want to be able to look back and have no regrets. I want to walk with the Lord boldly. I want to love others deeply. not just romantically. What an adventure this next season holds.


Bring it on.

Ladies and Gentlemen

There was once a time when gentlemen opened doors for gentle, delicate and demure ladies dressed in modest attire. The would giggle softly and establish a sense of propriety in both public and private exchanges with one another. Chairs were pulled out at the dinner table and handwritten letters linked lovers with distance between them. Promises about forever were kept.

Now, women dressed suggestively make advances to men in dimly lit venues. They press their bodies against one another while being photographed for the latest promotion displaying "ideal nightlife." They may go home with each other that first night, they may not. It can be sure, though, that when he gets home he will find her on some social networking site, and most of their communication will happen there. If it does grow into something more serious, don't worry, the ball and chain can be removed simply with little to no consequence. After all, you just don't love her like you used to right? Or things have changed beween the both of you? Or you think you may have married the wrong girl?

Today when bachelors meet women with and standards at all, we are regarded too picky. Therefore, many girls are forced to lower their standards, but in the back of their mind they realize they should be treated with more respect.

Well, I do declare, that I am a lady. Your coarse language and vulgar catcalls do not make me swoon. Your respect towards other women, -including your mother-, and me is much appreciated and will not go unnoticed. Your courage to ask for my telephone number and not my screen name is not not overlooked. You are welcomed to ...for once... be a man, step up and treat women like ladies, they are to be treasured and cherished.

And for the ladies, encourage. encourage. encourage. Gentlemen value a lady's encouragement.

"A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." Proverbs 31:10

-miss melanie ann

We all Have a Story...

Cornerstone

Got back from Cornerstone two days ago, and I still don't feel completely back to normal. Ill go into more detail in another post, but here is what sums up the past week.

1. my ride deciding to go home the day we got there. :/

2. 3 spider bites that got first aid attention

3. unsuccessfuly catching a frog

4. incredible music, and some not so credible music.

5. megaphones, band promotion and pick-up lines

6. sun, rain, dust, mud

7. forgiveness finally

8. not being able to find my tent for an hour after a late night potty break

9. sunburn

10. fun reunions

Here is a video to hold you over until i post something again.