Hi, I'm writing here now.

I've been in a season where God is calling me to write with a more specific purpose, as opposed to sharing my heart here when He calls me to. So, in an effort to be obedient, I am switching my efforts to encouraging teen girls, which is a huge passion of my heart. Check it out!

re-creation

I forgot how much I love love LOVE Nichole Nordeman. Her music is so poetic and peaceful.

This song is moving my SOUL today.

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

The lyrics are so pretty...and are making me think about God's ability to recreate and rejuvenate and re-purpose us over and over and over again. It completely doesn't matter how much we screw it up. God is like the most amazing loving repair shop ever who can mend the most broken of hearts. This song reminds me of what we teach the kids about "God sightings." It doesn't mean you're adding anything, it means you are looking at the world with a "God-lens." Seasons to some people can just be stuff changing and weather changes. But with a "God-lens" it suddenly becomes this beautiful transformation that reminds us of how God constantly changes our hearts and helps us grow.

I love learning how to love bigger.

in today's news...

"Your life is a life of blessings. I take joy in watching

you live. I love seeing you happy. But even more, I love

seeing you grow. I love seeing you be dependent on Me.

I love watching you try something new, even if you fall

down after a few steps. I love when you take chances,

stop hesitating and run full speed ahead when you feel

My push. I didn't make you to sit on display, unharmed,

untouched, for everyone to watch and smile at you.You

are going to be saturated with My very heart-but your

have to get out of your display case.Take courage, My

dear one. Be willing...

your life is so safe, Kristin...your life is so

s.a.f.e"

-God

prayer life

Have you ever heard anyone say "the love life you have is exactly the love life you want?"

I heard that yesterday and started thinking about the other kinds of 'lives' we have, specifically our prayer life. And I definitely think we have exactly the kind of prayer life we want. Meaning, if we really wanted one, or a deeper one, we would do it. We would have it. We would make the time. It's up to us. God's ready when we are.

I'm a list girl, so I have been trying to nail down some of the characteristics of the prayer life I want, and the steps I need to take to get there.

Here are a few:

-I want my prayer life to be full of joy.

Whether things are going well or not so great,
spending time with God creates an irreplaceable joy that
lives inside...and that helps bring beads of joy into even the
roughest situation. I don't think that kind of "optimism" or whatever you
want to call it doesn't just happen. It's not a natural response.
The joy builds from faith and trust in Christ.

-I want my prayer life to be fun.

Believe or not, prayer and spending time with Jesus
can be really fun. Though there is definitely a time for contemplative,
quiet, serious prayers, it's not my day to day style. I like to be loud,
I like to laugh, I like to be dramatic in the presence of the King.

-I want my prayer life to be spontaneous.

Sometimes it's important to plan, especially when you're
trying to create habits. But I also want to leave room for complete
spontaneity so God has room to move and work without me trying to
direct our time together every day. Plus, really amazing things can happen
when you don't plan every second out (and trust me, I AM a planner).

-I want my prayer life to be inclusive.

When I pray with others, I want them to feel drawn in. I want to stay open
to what God can do through people coming together to praise the Living God.
I want to be open and welcoming and challenging.

Oh, my God You've turned Your eyes
now my heart can come alive.
only You have come to find me
only You have come to pull me out
only You have come to save me
no one has ever loved me
like the way You love me...
wrap Your arms around me.
-etwc "save me"

pure worship

I really connect to God through music. Along my journey I have found that lots of other people do, too. Hense, I'm very into sharing music God uses to form my heart and annoint my spirit and to guide me along the way.

Currently, I have been digging into some old worship favorites of mine. I'm working on creating a prayer space in my house, and it has been so fufilling to dedicate it as a sacred space as I work on it. So, I have been listening to cd's from college that really blessed me at significant moments in my life And now, six years later, are continuing to have a significant impact on my spirit.

The cd's are from a collection called "Enter the Worship Circle." Here are four things I LOVE about these cd's:
1) It's very raw.

If you're looking for perfect pitch 100% of the time, with incredibly timed harmonies...this is NOT it.
But it is real and emotional and freeing worship.

2) The are original songs.

I don't know about you but I get sick of the same old worship songs after awhile.
So discovering new worship is very refreshing and worthwhile to me.

3) The lyrics are convicting.

They don't mess around with worshiping the Holy Spirit.
Their lyrics get right to your heart and they're truthful.
They don't shy away from human nature, sin, anger and disobedience.
They sing about God in a fresh, loving way and they sing with such beautiful abandon.

4) It's so Spirit-led.

This stuff is for real. It's totally Spirit led, and you can tell from the first track.
Some songs are three and a half minutes, and some songs are ten.
They are in it solely to worship and lead others into it. I love it.

SO-check it out!

God's enough

God is teaching me a lot about patience. To wait on His timing, not mine, is so unsettling sometimes because somehow I think that I know better and I'm slacking off when really the Lord is prepping me for what lies ahead..even minute to minute. So when the slacking off happens, I'm only hurting myself because then when things come my way I feel slammed. God's still there, of course, but it feels different, as if I ran away from Him a bit.

Psalm 73 is still really speaking to my heart this week. It comes up every now and again and I just find myself in the same kind of rut...looking at others wondering why they seem to have it better and why things I'm going through things and why certain things don't seem to be getting better. But in the end God is enough. The world really has nothing we need. It's a very freeing truth.

I'm also learning that more about God's love. Each time I get a glimpse of how truly incredible His love is, and my capacity to love grows. The fact that God not only just loves us while we deal with stuff-good or bad- but He loves us THROUGH stuff. We don't have to worry about God being offended or feeling left out or taking something the wrong way or anything...because it's unconditional love. When we're angry at God or confused or hurt or sad or broken or whatever...God just loves us THROUGH each and every step of the way. That is very different...verrryyy different from the way I love people. I need to work on that.

Tangled up
In the great ridiculous
Way you love
it is the only way to live
There’s no escape
When you look at me that way
-"my only"

vbs

Heavenly Father, place your holy hand upon our plans. We lift up to you Vacation Bible School and every child that will be with us next week. In these next two days, may we prepare a place for kids to meet you, or know you deeper. Where there is stress, put peace. When things seem out of control and hectic, show us the majesty of your unique creations. Thank you for the plan that you have for each of the ministers and each of the children. You are Almighty and we trust you with each and every day.

We pray specifically for the kids who don't yet know you and your amazing power. Who don't know that you are their Father who loves them more than anything and created them so unique and special. May they catch a glimpse of who you are and how badly you want to be their best friend.

We pray specifically for the ministers who will be serving with us. Bless them in powerful ways. Send the Holy Spirit to pour energy, enthusiasm and love into them. We thank you for sending them for our team. Use the gifts you gave them to help them serve cheerfully and be a reflection of your love.

You are the Author of our lives, and this week is another chapter you have scripted. May we acknowledge your presence at every turn. Thank you, Father, for the blessings and the opportunity. We pray all this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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Join us in prayer and intercession for vbs: Start TODAY (or whenever this is read) and pray with us everyday at 3:00pm until next Friday, June 25.