Dreamin'...

I'm ready to pack up my bags and go to Africa.
Something about this place calls to me and I can't tell you why. I've never been there (yet) but I can't get it out of my head or my heart. If I had the chance, I would go in a heartbeat.

Someday...

                                     I want to love on children affected by AIDS and poverty.

             I want to experience their culture and find out how they live

                                                     Discover their world.

Someday.


"Take my dreams, come and give them wings. Lord, with You there is nothing I cannot do. "
(Set The World On Fire)

Psstt..

Just in case you forgot...

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!!!

Well for me, at least.

The next few days are busy with finals, grad parties and trying to keep myself together until school is finally over. It's worth it.

Summer means....

Sunshine & Beaches,  Tanlines & Flipflops, SUndresses & Sunglasses, Bare feet & Freckles, Sleepovers & Movie Nights, Smore's & Lemonade, Guitar Music & Laughing, Best friends & Family reunions, BonfirEs & StaRgazing

I simply cannot wait.

Safe In His Arms



The past two weeks have been hard. Really, really hard. You know that feeling when it seems like everything crashes down and there’s nothing you can do to stop it? Yeah, I’m beginning to get used to that feeling. It’s not fun at all, but I’ve learned some important things too.

1)      God is good. God isn’t just good because He makes good things happen (which He does), but because it’s who He is. His very nature is that he is a sovereign, loving, good God. It’s so easy to get caught in the emotions of a bad situation and not be able to look outside of our “box” to see the bigger picture. We blame God for bad things that happen in our lives and ask how he can be good if hard times come into our lives.  A perfect God is not defined by the events in a fallen world.  An awesome God is not defined by the situations that he allows or stops, but by the fact that He is God. Every day. All the time. Forever. He is good. And if He is good all the time, then why should we only praise Him in the good times? I’ve found that even in the hurt and the tears and the confusion of a tough situation, when I look at WHO God is, I can’t help but praise Him. It’s like Peter trying to walk on the water. The storm was bad, and things were scary. It was easy to ask “why is this happening to me?” but instead Peter fixed his eyes on the Savior, not the situation. I’m so thankful that my God isn’t defined by the events in my life and that He is good all the time.

2)   I’ve learned that God gives peace. I’ve always read about the “peace that transcends all understanding” and I believed it was true but I’ve never experienced it until recently. On the night my family received some really hard news, we should have fallen apart. Everything came crashing down mentally but somewhere in my heart there was a small whisper saying “there is so much more than you see right now. Wait to see what God will do.” I can’t say it stopped the tears or my mind was at ease, but I knew (and still know) that God is in control of everything that’s going on. I love resting in that peace.

3)     I love the church!! I’ve gotten the chance to see God’s people in action and I seriously love it. It’s been amazing to see people pour out love to a family in need…it’s such a beautiful picture of what God intended the church to be like. I’m so proud and blessed to have such amazing friends that love God and others so much.

{{“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalms 32:7}}

                                                                              You will be safe in his arms,

                                                                              You will be safe in his arms,                             

                                                                       For the hands that hold the world

                                                                               Are holding your heart

                                                                               This is the promise he made

                                                                               He will be with you always

                                                                              While everything is falling apart

You will be safe in his arms

                                                                                     -Safe:Phil Wickham

Random Joys

Today I was thankful for…

•      Beautiful weather- Even though I hate winter for the most part, spring wouldn’t be as exciting if there wasn’t something to compare it too. Maybe there is a plus to living in Michigan…
•      Coming late to track practice-I have to run by myself so I get time to think.
•      That dead time in school after AP tests are over-3 movies in one day...glorious.
•      Journals-there is nothing like sitting out in the sun pouring your thoughts onto paper. It’s the best therapy there is.
•      Little friends- the two neighbor boys (3&5) were playing in my backyard today as I was doing homework and I got distracted. I forgot how wonderful the world of a child is. Everything is exciting and new.
•      Phone dates- I love laughing with friends even if it is over the phone and not in person
•      New music-Gungor, Hillsong, Brooke Fraser, Shawn Mcdonald, Mat Kearney…enough said.
•      Family time-it seems like I never see those three wonderful people I live with anymore. It’s good to sit and talk and laugh.
•      Time- I’ve missed having time to relax. It’s a splendid thing.
•      "Family”- my un-biological brothers and sisters never cease to encourage me and make me laugh.
•      Promises-“ For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths will I guide them; I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16
•      Sunrises-I've noticed that the sun now rises just as I'm getting up for school. I think God knows how much I love sunrises.

Look for the little things...they might make your day! :)

Be still.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

Its hard to drown out the noise of everything we have going on. We fight for what we want- always working towards something. Restless. But when we are still and focus on the more important things, we realize that we aren't the ones winning battles... or even fighting them for that matter. God is fighting for us.

Good Friday Thoughts

In Christ alone my hope is found

 He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand.

___________

This song gives me chills. Not because of the music or the way the words are arranged but because of the amazing TRUTH that it states. It's easy to forget how incredible this story is. We so often brush it off as another holiday and a time to go to church but when you really think about Easter and the story behind it, you can't help but stand in awe. It is a day to celebrate the greatest act of love in history. Christ overcame death itself in order to save the souls of the very people that killed him. That is the epitome of love.

{There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13}

____________

"No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny."

I love resting in that promise-that the God who created life then defeated death commands my destiny. It is a truth that revolutionizes the way that you think and live your life. No matter what happens in life, this all-powerful God is still in control, protecting and loving you through it all. (Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalms 23:4) That is an incredible promise.

____________

I hope that you realize this Good Friday how deeply you are loved. 

Sincerely, Annie

Here in the power of Christ I stand.