prayer

I have just been realizing more and more this school year how good prayer is. Ah man... it is so comforting knowing that we can go to God and tell him anything and everything that is on our minds. And he hears us! This year I have felt really blessed to have a lot of one-on-one prayer with close friends. I hadn't really had that much before. To know that I have people who are watching out for me, and notice when I'm down is, well, an answer to prayer. It is also really humbling. A lot of times in prayer, I come before God having to admit that I am not strong enough to do things on my own, that I need God's strength.

If you have a couple spare minutes, I would encourage you to spend some time with God. Stop from whatever distractions you have, whatever is on your to-do-list and just breathe... be with God. be refreshed. be honest. God already knows what's going on in your heart, why not tell him?

Some prayer requests I have right now are...

-Brazil mission trip in January, we have to get our visas done this week

-my health, I feel sick and haven't had energy this week, or even joy for a while

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,

and it shall be done for you."

John 15:7

no sacrifice

To you I give my life, not just the parts I want to

To you I sacrifice these dreams that I hold on to

Your thoughts are higher than mine

Your words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice

Here's my life

To you I give the gifts

Your love has given me

How can I hoard the treasures that you've designed for free?

To you I give my future

As long as it may last

To you I give my present

To you I give my past

- Jason Upton

Why is it so hard to give? to surrender? to release? It seems easier when I have things under my control. I have really been struggling with surrendering my life to God. Surrendering plans... hopes... time... relationships... I want everything to be figured out, to know what to do with my life. Why does his timing have to be so different than my own? I have been realizing that it is so much better when I place all of these things in God's hands. But it is so hard to do. The older I get, the more life seems really complicated. I feel really blessed to be at a place like CLBI, where I am surrounded by loving people who are so supportive of me. To be open and vulnerable in a safe place. being real... a good place to be.

.... I get to see my fam jam in two weeks! Can't wait. American Thanksgiving on the coast. oh yeah... :)