Drifting is dumb

Kacia mentioned this past week how she was at Blissdom and heard a talk from Jon Acuff. He mentioned shower moments (click Kacia's name to read what those are), and it's an idea I've been thinking of much since I read it.

As I showered this afternoon, I waited for the moment to come. It didn't, but my hair got clean, so I guess you win some you still win some.

Anyway, as I write this, it's Wednesday, nearly midnight and I'm having a shower moment as I listen to music and prepare my mind to shut down for a few hours of rest. I'm well aware that my version of a shower moment is completely not a shower moment. It was simply a moment of clarity.

I've been feeling distant from God lately, but I've never really questioned why.

Probably because I didn't want to admit it, and mostly because I fully know the issue.

If I'm distant from God, it's because I'm not going near Him.

It doesn't get much more complicated. I've let my mind get filled with stuff and spent far less time simply living with Jesus. I'm still reading my Bible, learning and sharing, and praying, but it's different.

I'm not chatting with Jesus. I've written much about prayer, and one thing I really believe is that if I come to Jesus with the little things, He won't seem far away when it comes to the big things.

There are a few big things happening. Things that cause my body to have migraines and aches (how my body deals with stress), and that leave me crying in bed at night.

So my shower moment is simple really, all these words aside.

I'm distant from God because I've let myself drift.

And drifting is dumb.

Christ is my cornerstone. He is my firm foundation. He is my daily bread. He is my living water. He is my salvation, and He is the grace I so desperately need each minute.

Drifting is dumb, and it's done. In the forums on the Influence Network, there are some good words and perspectives on being intentional. That was my plug for the network. I like the place. I think you should join, if you love Jesus and are a female, today is the perfect day to join.

Basically, it's time for this girl to get intentional with my faith again.

How about you? You doing okay? Am I right in the fact that drifting is dumb? yeah I know I am. No but seriously, am I right in saying that it takes an intentional heart to remain close to God? How are you being intentional?

{a walk through} psalm 26

rejoice in hope

{a walk through} psalm 25

( girl behind the blog is at the very bottom. skip down to watch, or take a couple minutes to read my heart )

THIS PSALM! Oh. This one holds so much for me. It was here that I went the week before I met a boy I dated a couple years ago. The same words brought me sweet comfort when the relationship ended. And those same words, well, they're the ones I go do when I'm in my deepest moments of needing Jesus to show up.

Almost any verse in this Psalm is one I could share my heart on. Similar to Psalm 23, this was a hard one to describe, to break down, and to share. Not because I don't like it, but because I need these words so often.

It's not that I'm sad all the time, but I'm rarely out of brokenness, if that makes sense. Because my sin is great. I'm so thankful my God is greater.

I'm so thankful to not be in the head and heart space that I was when that Psalm first was introduced to my heart. I can still go to these words, but the girl that literally sobbed them out on a park bench mere days before being asked out, that same girl who weeks later sobbed them out on her couch, that girl has grown.

Her need for God remains.

In that season, I wrote this piece about God really entering into a moment when I needing rescuing. I'd love if you read it. It's a moment I treasure, a moment when God really impacted me and taught me that He is the deliverer.

Looking at these verses now, it's the very last line that sticks out to me. Maybe it's because at church we're walking through the Easter story focusing on the words Jesus spoke from the cross, and forgiveness is so huge in the story of the cross.

When I call out to God for deliverance, I call out for more than just to be let out of the hard things. I ask Him to forgive me, because I know that nothing good will happen if I hold on to my sinful habits. I need Jesus to enter in, to offer me the same forgiveness that He offered to the thief hanging on the cross next to Him. A thief who, though he knew very little about Jesus, knew enough about Jesus to know that Jesus could forgive him of his wrongdoing. And Jesus, because of His character, His love, His goodness, He said today you will be with me in Paradise.

That same Jesus is the one who saves me from my sin, by offering forgiveness.


P.S. It's Girl Behind the Blog Day!! YAY!

Be sure to watch it (meh, be sure to watch it only if you want to!), pop over to Ashley's blog or Chelsea's Blog and add your own VLOG! It's a great way to meet bloggers.

(the YUMMIEST cookies in the world are found here)

(and if you'd like to read a very funny story about a cooking mishap of mine, well, click here)

The best way to get new (to you) clothes!

Yesterday a few friends came over to swap some clothes. The idea is super simple, but before I'd heard of it a couple years ago, I never would have though to host one myself or even go to one.

We've all got clothes, accessories, and just stuff sitting around that we don't use.

A clothing swap provides a perfect solution.

I bring the stuff that I don't wear as much anymore.
So do you.
And so does another friend and another one and another one.

Somehow, there are mounds of clothes, every time. I've never been to one where there haven't been tons of clothes!

Then you all lay it out, walk around looking at each other's stuff and taking what you like.

Depending on who is hosting, rules vary, but we ran whatever we grabbed by our friends to make sure it actually looked good on us.

I walked away with an awesome leather jacket. I would probably never buy it on my own, but I'll definitely wear it now!

Seriously, look at all that. That's six girl's shirts. That is a lot of shirts.

We kept it simple (as in I wasn't a very good host, but my friends are wonderful) and just had cupcakes and chips, wine and soda.

What about you? Ever been to a clothing swap?

(also, this is how I feel about my Sunday)