Frustrated with the amount of time and energy I spend worrying about such trivial matters.


Your will be done, Oh Lord.

I've been made new.

Holland Rescue Mission. A snowy Thursday evening. After having the wonderful privilege of leading worship, I took my seat among the group.


"It is finished!"


The room was overcome with an eerie silence. In the midst of loud coughs from years of smoking, heavy eyes from sleepless nights, and souls deeply in need of comfort, the gospel was proclaimed. Beautifully. Passionately. 
With tear filled eyes he spoke of a judge. Humbly he spoke of a man who plead guilty: whose future seemed to hold nothing but a life of payment for his crime. 


"You are free to go", said the judge.


Free? No sentence? No payment?
To the world it seems as if justice had not been served.
But.
That judge knew grace. The crime of the man had already been paid for by another.
With wide smiles and broken spirits,
We rejoiced.
Because we are just as the man who committed the crime. We deserve to pay.
But.
Our God, the Judge: He knows grace. Our sin has been paid for.
What a wonderful call to rejoice and be glad!
Our hope is not in our ourselves,
but in the life and death of another. Jesus. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Emmanuel. The Lamb. Jehovah. Alpha and Omega. Light of God. Bread of Life. Our Mediator.


He has conquered. He is victorious.
Rejoice with me.

I've been learning a lot these past few weeks.
Never thought I'd be the kind of person to go out on coffee dates. Seeing as I hate coffee. Turns out, they're my new favorite thing. God has been revealing and glorifying Himself in the conversations I've been having, lately. He speaks to me through the words of others. He shows me His character through others testimony's. He calls me to His love through others joy. He breaks my hard heart through others struggles. 
He is near. 
I'm anticipating graduation. I don't know what God has in store for me in this coming year. Such a cool spot to be in, I think.
I'm thankful for a kindred spirit who shares my priorities - even when they are much different from our parents or community's. Speaking of community, I'm psyched to begin sharing/learning/working out idea's with friends about community. So exciting. I miss the boiler room. I miss the prayer garage and the love feasts. I miss danmike on the guitar and the lit candles and art.
I'm learning to simplify: both materially and emotionally.
I think I'm learning how to have a free spirit. 
My soul is hungry for intentional, passionate worship.
I'm overwhelmed with the wisdom of authors. I wish I had/took more time to read all the books on my list.
I need to get some new piano music. I miss letting myself go on the piano for hours. I was asked to play during the services at church. Yes, please.
Still haven't thought much about one my best friends moving at the end of the month...
I've had moments these past few weeks that changed me. Deeply. I feel like my thoughts/perspective/ideas/actions have been very influenced, lately.


Thank you, Lord: for growing relationships, snow, roses, thrift stores, families, forgiveness, restoration, humility, and vitality.

Learning to treasure:


---> Forgiveness.
---> Humility.
---> Wisdom of the ages.
---> Reading
---> Musical genius.
---> Simplicity.
---> Structure.
---> Photography.
---> Quiet.
---> Letters.
---> Encouragement.
---> Challenge.
---> Mittens.
---> Love.
---> Servant hearts.
---> Expression.
---> Spontaneity. 
---> Creativity.

Loving the sweet sound of "Girl from the North Country" ---> Nicholas Gunty.
I've got quite a lot on the brain this evening. 
Wishing I had enough time and ink to write it all down.

I'm diggin' these.