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Saturday, January 10, 2015

"For All That You Have Done"

Just before Christmas break, I listened all the way through Rend Collective Experiment's latest album, Campfire Christmas.  As much as I enjoyed the folk-infused Christmas carols, it was the last track that caught my attention.  I recognized the tune as "Auld Lang Syne,but I was captured by Rend Collective's new lyrics.

Your grace will never be forgot
Your mercy all my life
Will be my source forever song
My story and my light

From mountain top to valley low
Through laughter and through tears
Surely the goodness of my God
Will follow all the years

You know our failures and regrets
You've always led us home
Redemption's arm has raised us up 
Our triumph in the storm

In unity we'll stand as one
As family we'll go
Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand
Into the great unknown

For all that You have done for us
For every battle won
We'll raise a song to bless Your heart
For all that You have done

As I've listened to this song on repeat over the last few weeks, it has quickly become my self-proclaimed "song for the year."  These words are a heartfelt offering of thanks to God "for all that He has done" in the past, a reminder of His work in the world in this very moment, and a declaration of my trust in Him for the future.

I shared this song with the middle schoolers at chapel on Friday, and I'm hopeful that it will remind us of truth as it comes to mind.  God is good, and I will continue to raise a song to testify to His faithfulness!

(I'm hiding behind the piano in the picture above!
I loved getting to lead chapel worship with some of my friends this week!)

Monday, January 5, 2015

Seek.

It's a new year, and we are once again surrounded by goals and resolutions.  My experience with setting New Year's Resolutions in 2011 has led me to focus less on the goal-setting and more on the lesson-learning.  I want to begin each year - and live the whole year! - with more of an awareness of how God is at work in my heart and in the world around me.

Rather than having a check-list of must-dos, I gravitated towards the idea of having "one word" for 2015.  I asked God to help me discern His word for my year - a year that will bring lots of change and transition, bittersweet goodbyes and new beginnings.  So, it's not a surprise that I first thought of the word "trust."  Trust?  Really?  It seemed a bit trite.  I even told a friend that it was too obvious - of course, trust will be a big part of this year and should be every year!  I wondered if this was the word I was supposed to settle on.

A few days later, the Lord brought the word "seek" to mind.  Immediately, I began to think about how this word connects to my current situation.

I am seeking His leading and guidance for this fall (where to live, which grad school program to choose, how to connect with people), as well as the months and years to come.
I want to be intentional about seeking out meaningful conversations with others, both in this community and wherever I live next.
Most of all, my heart's desire is to seek Christ and know Him more, but I want to learn more of how to seek Him.

Yes, "seek"!  I did a quick Scripture search and found this:

God wants me to seek...
His face (Psalm 27:4 and 8, 105:4)
His strength (1 Chronicles 16:11)
His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
His will (Proverbs 3:6 NLT)
The Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)
Justice (Isaiah 1:17)
Peace (Proverbs 34:14)
With all my heart (Psalm 119:10, Jeremiah 29:13)

There is no mention of seeking answers, solutions, or shortcuts.  Seeking isn't a means to an end, but a valuable process in and of itself.  I pray that this year will be one of actively pursuing Him - not just to figure out what He wants me to do, but to truly know Him more.

Taken from: http://tinyurl.com/mx3fm9v

As I "seek" this year, I'm claiming these promises...
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
I will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10)
All my needs will be met (Matthew 6:33)
The Lord is good to me (Lamentations 3:25)
I will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7)
He will answer and deliver me from my fears (Psalm 34:4)

What is your "one word" for 2015?

Taken from: instapray.com

I'm linking up with Velvet Ashes, where women around the world are sharing their "one words."  #OneWord365 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Month at a Glance: January 2015

January 1:  New Year's Day
January 7:  All-Staff Breakfast
January 8:  Classes resume
January 16:  Walking Together Movie Night
January 21-22:  Middle school midterm exams
January 22:  Middle school basketball
January 23:  Teacher work day
January 23-24:  Home basketball games
January 26:  Beginning of Quarter 3
January 30-31:  Home basketball games

Happy New Year!