He Knows You and Loves You.

As I was cleaning up my room today I stumbled upon a letter I wrote three years ago... it goes like this:

"Lord,

You know my heart. You know everything about me. You know my thoughts, you know my pains. Every tear you wipe away. Every smile, you rejoice. You know every desire that burns in my heart. You know my faults and flaws. You know my gifts and talents. And you oh Lord made me exactly the way you wanted. You wouldn't have me any other way. Help me find value and meaning in your words of life. Remind me that you love me with an everlasting love and that you have an amazing plan for me. You know the hurt and pain of all the broken people in this world. Yet you long to be near us. You long to be near the broken and the hurting, the outcasts and the homeless. Lord, pour out your love on me, so that I can pour it out on the people around me. Give me compassion and understanding. Open my ears to listen, my mind to understand, my heart to love and my eyes to see."

I pray that this encourages you and reminds you that God is the complete expression of love.  He will wipe the tears from your eyes and carry you close to his heart through life's journeys. He knows you and loves you.



(I wrote the above prayer/letter while on SOAR Heartland in 2008. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in that amazing program with the incredible team I was with. Each and every person on that team has inspired and encouraged me in so many ways. If any of you are reading this.. Thank You!)

Unchanging

I've been thinking about the people in my life lately.  My friends, my family, my professors, my church. People who've been in my life since I was a baby and new friends that I've just met this week. I've been thinking about people who I continue to grow closer to and people who grow more distant with each day. Sometimes I wonder how friends can so quickly lose touch? How is it that one second you can know everything about a person and the next have no idea how they are? 

Whether you've lost loved ones as a result of circumstance, or distance, or a simple growing apart, we've all lost someone. Sad to say I've lost more than I would have liked this past year. I don't really think anyone can replace those friends but I can confidently say that through the hurt I've experienced God has challenged and forced me to grow in my faith. I know that my life will continue to be filled with hurt and loss. People will come into my life, and people will leave my life. Amidst these uncertainties I can find peace and joy in Christ because He will always be there. Others may leave, but God will remain. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows." 

James 1: 17

For all the people who have ever been a part of my life... Thank you.

You have inspired and encouraged me to grow into the person I am today.

I feel blessed to have you in my life and thank God daily for who you are.

If we ever grow apart (which I hope we don't) I pray that the Lord will bless 

you in all that you do. Thank you for changing my life.