Crazy Love.

Relationships...they're everywhere. I feel like every time I turn around, another one of my friends is crushing on someone, "talking" to someone, or dating someone. And now, even more prevalent are engagements and weddings. When did I get old enough to have friends be getting married?! Craziness.

These past few weeks, Southland has been doing an awesome series called "Serial Dating." The first week, Jon spoke on "Finding Mr. Right" and referenced Andy Stanley's saying that "Your present will someday be your past and your past will be present in your future." This may seem a little confusing but just think about it for a second...what is happening RIGHT now will quickly be in the past. At the same time, what you do with RIGHT now will also affect your future--positively or negatively. In his sermon, Jon's main point was that it's not about finding the right person but actually becoming the right person. In his message, Jon reaffirmed my desire for a husband and said "We were not created to be single. It's a good thing, it's a God-thing, to desire to share your life with a member of the opposite sex." Amen. Additionally, Jon shared that our dating relationship shouldn't be our primary relationship...our primary relationship should be our relationship with Christ! This seems like common sense but I just thought it was a good reminder for everyone, whether in a dating relationship or not. I think oftentimes the sheer desire to be in a relationship can become our central focus but instead, we need to use this time to strengthen our relationship with God even more because this is a precious time where it's just us and God. Likewise, I've seen countless friends make their girlfriend/boyfriend their "god" and think that is the exact opposite of what we are called to do. Instead, we ought to use our earthly relationships to be the clearest reflection of God's love for us. We must use our dating relationships to build one another up, challenge, and strengthen our partner so that the Kingdom of God is made bigger and our Father is glorified more together (as a couple) than He is when we're on our own. Additionally, Jon encouraged us to be able to say Romans 8:38-39 to our spouse one day and confess that "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, neither anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Above everything else, our number one concern should be our relationship with our Heavenly Father and we must be committed to Him before we engage in a dating relationship. That is the way God intended it, that's the way He made us to be--in an intimate relationship with HIM.

Last week, Jon preached through some of the Song of Solomon and talked about "Man and Woman." He shared that "it is holy for a woman to want to be captivated by a man who captures her heart" and challenged the guys in the room with the question: "How do you lead a woman if you don't know where you are taking her? You HAVE to follow Jesus." Additionally, Jon spoke of obedience and encouraged us to "save as much as your can now so that you will be able to share later." I loved the part of his sermon when he spoke of Adam and Eve and completely resonated with the fact that women feel comfortable at a man's side because we were made from Adam's side. He shares that "Eve came from Adam's side. There's a reason why your girlfriend/wife wants to be pulled in close to you. They love to be hugged more than anything else because this part of a man's physique is home sweet home for them. They came from here. And they want to spend the rest of their life in the safety and security of your arms knowing that you will protect them like a strong tree." As a woman, I can attest that this is so true and love that God created us with these feelings, that they are natural and they are from God. Furthermore, Jon shared that "every woman wants to be sought after and fought for" (to which I wanted to stand up and shout "Amen!" haha). In closing, Jon stressed the importance of being a man/woman among boys/girls. We are called to find one man/woman and love, honor, and respect him/her for the rest of our lives.

In addition to these sermons, I read a great article yesterday in Relevant magazine called "Making the Most of Being Single" (http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/blog/26851-making-the-most-of-being-single). The article highlights the fact that "making the most of being single means being on your own. It's just you and God. Being single is about discovering who you are, setting personal boundaries, knowing your likes and dislikes, your passions and the desires of your heart." I think it's easy to forget about this and we are quick to wish away this time. But lately, I've been learning a lot about how precious this time is and how I should try to savor it and enjoy it rather than want to skip past it. I've been thinking a lot about how this time is so very special because it's during this very time that God is shaping me into the woman He created me to be, while at the same time, He's also molding the man I will marry one day into His likeness. During this time apart, as we are both single, we are able to devote 100% of our attention to the Lord and cling to Him in such a way that we probably won't ever experience once we are married. It's cool to think about all the work God is doing in the life of my future spouse and though I often get impatient, all in all, I realize that I want this time of waiting because God is working and I surely don't want to rush Him from the work He's doing in my life or my future husband's life. In the article, the author shares how God created Eve for Adam when He saw that it was no longer good for Adam to be alone. God's timing is always perfect and I need to continually remind myself about His timing, not mine. Finally, the article reminded me that "God is a jealous God" and He wants us all to Himself so that our lives are centered upon Him. In order to make the most of our time as singles, we need to invest all of ourselves in the One who created us and who is, in fact, the very definition of Love.

God created us to be in communion with Him and in fellowship with others. He instilled within us the desire to love and to be loved. He has given me the longing for a "prince in shining armor" and a "warrior poet" to do life with and serve alongside of. Above all, however, He created us to be crazy in love with Him because He's crazy in love with us!



*Here are the links to the sermons if you want to check them out: http://www.southlandchristian.org/series/serial-dating/

I wish...

Last night, we went to the UK vs. U of L game. Although I had a great time in the company of sweet friends (and my family!) and loved sitting outside on a gorgeous September night, I came away from the game with a heavy heart as I was reminded just how broken this campus is. Sean would argue I'm committing a classic "Jesus juke" (http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2010/11/the-jesus-juke/) but I don't really care...I can't help but wish that people got as excited about the One who saves us as they do about college football. I'm not saying this as someone who is holier than thou--I know I'm terribly far from it. What I'm saying is that it just breaks my heart to see people so broken and lost, so caught up in the things of this world, and so desperate in a search for something more. Last night, I saw countless drunk people (so drunk that they were almost passed out), as well as, girls with skirts/dresses so short they might as well not have been wearing them. Sitting in the Student Section, I heard more cuss words than I'd ever like to hear and watched one guy pick a fight with another just because he was wearing a Louisville shirt. Really, is this what life is all about? Absolutely not.

I wish people would live for Someone greater and stop falling into the trappings of this world. I wish students got as excited about Jesus as they do a touchdown. I wish girls exhibited modesty and respected themselves enough to dress nicely. I wish guys didn't think the only way to have fun is to get drunk. I wish people spent half the money they do on tailgating on helping the poor. I wish homeless men didn't have to scour the trash left behind and collect empty cans to make money. I wish people packed into churches like they pack into stadiums. I wish this campus wasn't so broken and the students here weren't in such a desperate search of something they can't ever reach on their own. I wish everyone knew about the God who loves them and the One who gave up his life so that we can live.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." -1 John 2:15-17

Worship.

I've discovered that the Lord speaks loudly and clearly to me through worship. It's like He talks directly to me when I listen to different worship songs and is such a cool way for me to connect with Him. One may say I'm slightly addicted to music...I listen to it practically at every hour of the day-when I'm getting ready, walking to class, eating lunch, doing homework, before bed, and many times in between haha. But the thing I've found is that it's through songs that I can truly hear God. He encourages me through worship, He gives me a sense of peace about whatever I'm troubled by, and He speaks truth into my life. I think it's so interesting how unique we all were created to be and how we all have our own distinct way of connecting with God and feeling closest to Him. For me, it's through worshipping but for you it may be through reading, praying, fellowshipping with others, dancing, fasting, etc. Our God's a creative God and He has inventive ways of getting in touch with each of us. So whatever it is, I hope you will discover how you most closely connect with our Father and feel the most "in tune" with Him. And whatever way that is, live by it and spend time doing it!

I've recently become addicted to a song by Elevation Worship called "This City is Yours." I so deeply connect with the song's lyrics and feel like it's what God is wanting to teach me this week, as it's been so heavy on my heart these past few days. The song's lyrics say "This city, Lord, it is Yours. Break our hearts, break our hearts for the people who are far from You, break our hearts. Teach us to love they way you loved us. Send us out. Send us out. Pour out your fire and flow through our lives. Send us out. Send us out." I truly believe this is God's call for us--we are to love others the way He loved us, just as 1 John 4:11-12 says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." We ought to wake up every single day praying "send us out"...wherever you want us to go and whoever you want us to speak to, Lord send us out! I'm especially praying this prayer for the people of Woodhill and those serving them through Serve the City. This ministry is so exciting and I love getting to be apart of it. Right now, we're in the process of expanding to new streets and houses within the community that we visit each week and it's awesome to get to meet new people and watch their faces as they look at us in confusion when we ask what we can do to help them. They laugh, smile, and scratch their heads...they simply can't believe people are just going door to door asking to pray for them or meet any of their needs. It's a super cool opportunity and I really feel God leading us to this make His name famous in this community. It's been amazing to watch the ways He's worked this past year and I'm excited for all He has in store for the people there this next year! We just have to keep asking Him to "send us out."

Another song that's been resonating with me this past week is "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant. Through this song (on repeat pretty much all week ha), God's been reminding me just how great HIS name is. Some of the song's lyrics say, "Every fear has no place at the sound of Your great Name. The enemy, he has to leave at the sound of Your great Name. Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us. Son of God and Man you are high and lifted up and all the world will praise Your great Name...Redeemer, my Healer, Lord Almighty. Our Savior, Defender, You are mighty!" I just love this song and find such comfort in it--no matter what's going on in our lives, Jesus is our Redeemer. He's our Healer. He's our Lord, our Savior, and our Defender.

In addition to speaking to me through worship, the Lord has given me a great sense of peace about my future. I feel content and satisfied. I'm no longer craving a relationship and feel happy just the way things are. These past few weeks, God's been teaching me a lot about the need to depend solely on Him and trust Him with everything. I cry out multiple times a day, "Lord I need You, oh I need You"--I need Him to get me through every hour of every single day because without Him, I am absolutely nothing. Additionally, I'm learning (the hard way) that though people may disappoint you, our Heavenly Father never will. Ah it's a hard lesson to learn and I'm really not enjoying it. But, I know that in the good times and in the bad, when things seem to be going well or seem to be caving in all around me,  God is always, always, always GOOD and He's got everything under control so I just need to trust in Him and step back so He can work.

Speaking of watching God work, He's doing awesome things through our Shift Group and I love getting to lead with Erin. Our first night, we had 10 precious girls come and last night, we had 10 again...only this time 4 of them were "originals" and the other 6 were new! So...if everyone comes next week, we'll have 16 girls...not that it's about numbers, but it's just super cool to see these girls come into community with one another and I'm so excited to "do life" with them throughout this coming semester. It's fun to talk with them and hear how they're feeling about things...I remember life as a Freshman like it was yesterday and it's weird being two years down the road and at a place where I can give them advice and try to calm their fears. I love it. Above is a picture of our group from last night...one of our girls had a birthday on Monday so we got to celebrate with a cookie cake!

[[For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.]] -Psalm 95:3-7

Set the World on Fire.

"Don't worry about what you "should" do, don't stop yourself with mind games about what you "can't" do--go get what you want believing that you can."

I read this quote the other day in my leadership class and just loved it. It made me stop and ask myself, "What would I do if the sky truly was the only limit?" and "If I wasn't afraid of failure, what things would I try, what conversations would I have, and what places would I go?" Seriously, why do we limit ourselves and put ourselves in a box? I just read in 1 Peter 3:14, "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." And again, I'm reminded of Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" If we truly believed this and recognized that God is always on our side, then shouldn't we stop with what's comfortable or makes us feel good/safe/happy and live lives that acted out Philippians 4:13 in which we honestly believed that we "can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."

The article I read the above quote from was about Eleanor Roosevelt and talked a lot about what drives us--what our passions are. In thinking about it, my passions are pretty obvious (at least, I really hope I live out my passions and that others can see what my heart beats for just by looking at the way I live my life). I'm passionate about Jesus. I'm passionate about kids. I'm passionate about helping others. I'm passionate about world hunger and children who go to bed hungry each night. And, I'm passionate about loving others the way God intended them to be loved. As 1 John 4:7-8 says, "...let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

What is it that makes your heart ache? What makes it beat faster? What makes your mind race and makes you want to go out and make a difference? What keeps you awake at night? What. are. your. passions?

This is one of my favorite songs and ties in perfectly with this entire idea. Here's my favorite line(s):

[[Take my dreams, come and give them wings. Lord with You, there's nothing I can't do.

My hands, my feet, everything. My life, my love, Lord use me.

I'm gonna set the world on fire.]]

On a side note, we got to visit Ally in the hospital this morning and were amazed at how well she is doing! She ate a little ice cream and her beautiful smile lit up the room! Our Father is SO good and it's evident He's at work throughout this entire ordeal, just as He promised! Please continue to keep her in your prayers for a full recovery...God is certainly answering them in big ways!