Call the surgeon, Mend the pieces

I've lost a friend and it's heartbreaking.
Sometimes the things in your life that seem most secure, are the things that can slip away the easiest.

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

Sunshine, won't you be my mother
Sunshine, come and help me see
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath

We are crooked souls trying to stay up straight,
Dry eyes in the pouring rain where
The shadow proves the sunshine
The shadow proves the sunshine

Too scared better runaway
Hold fast till the break of daylight where
The shadow proves the sunshine

Oh Lord, why did you forsake me?
Oh Lord, don't be far away away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord, don't look the other way

be careful what you pray for...

This summer I prayed that God would make my RA job my mission field... and boy has He!! I have had more intense conversations and things to deal with in these first 2 weeks than I had the whole year last year. But it has been SO good! Another thing I prayed for this summer was boldness. That God would give me the courage and grace to say what needed to be said and to share the Good News with people who need hope. I've had the opportunity to pray with girls on my floor and to begin to see change come to their lives.
I am an RA for a reason.
I am on Smurthwaite with 9 residents for a reason.
I am at Ichthus for a reason.

God is doing amazing things in Manhattan - I've seen SO much evidence of that in my life and in the lives of other believers I've talked to.

Let's not miss this, guys. Let's press into the Kingdom and see in come here in Manhattan, KS.

Summer...

I have officially been on summer break for 4 days now. It's been 4 days full of: friends, way too much food, tropical sno, odd hours of sleep, and procrastinating unpacking.
This is the first day I've been up before 10am.
As much fun as I've had these past few days, I am SO ready for my internship (Emmanuel Baptist) to start. I can't wait to move back into the church. I can't wait for the morning devotions. For crazy last minute decisions. For going to The Gathering to be part of my job. To reconnect with my girls. To get to know new girls. To build crazy-close bonds with the other interns. To go to the Argentine district in KC. To go to youthfront.
To be broken. challenged. renewed.

Also, I can't wait for Meg to get here.

WIN

I'm so glad that if I marry a black man, we will have a place to shop for furniture together.

Ode

I'd like to give a shout out right now to cheese.

I just really like it.

I've never tried a cheese that I didn't like.

It's just so delicious and so versatile.

I would eat cheese with almost anything and you can never have too much cheese on something.

So go eat some cheese.

Cheese can even produce images of the Virgin Mary. (Also, to lady in this pic: i NEED that lipstick)

D-Now!

I get to go spend my weekend with highschoolers and middleschoolers and i am SO pumped.

Pray for a weekend filled with the Holy Spirit.
Pray that the will of God is accomplished in every single one of the kids and leaders.

Thanks, friends!

Job

So I finished reading the book of Job yesterday. Wow. That book is intense and so good.
As I was reading it and listening to Job speak, I was agreeing with how he was feeling and thinking and then Elihu comes in and I'm like, "Oh. Right." In Job 34:10 Elihu says, "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong." So right there I'm convicted.

Then God comes in and He asks Job in 38:4-7, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements -- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

And the questions like that go on for the next 2 chapters. I feel like Job's response is so appropriate.
"Behold, I am of small account, what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth." (40:4)

Seriously.
Who am I to ever question God?