to love.

Everything we know, every concept we have, is tainted by sin and evil. no, not tainted, fully polluted. this includes our idea of love. our love is not like God's love. God's love is perfect. God's love is unconditional. We throw that word around a lot, "unconditional", but think about what it means. This is who we are without Christ:

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our day in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another." Titus 3:3

"BUT God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, where you've been...God LOVES his people.

our love is not perfect. and our love is very conditional. sure, your spouse, children, closest friends and family- we may love them no matter what they do. but we do not always TREAT them in love. we all know what 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love is. "love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong-doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." based off of that, how often would we have to say, "I have not loved."?

this song is called "Love" by Above the Golden State. (they're a new band, the CDs not out yet. but as soon as it is, you should get it!)




Father, i pray for a love like Yours! i pray i would love others as You have shown me undeserving, unconditional love. I pray for a heart like Yours, that i would seek to reflect Your image.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jer. 31:3

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

evansville:

the adventure's of elias and megan. and spiderman. and some other people, too.

he's home!

my brother is home from Afghanistan! my parents, sister, and I went to Savannah to visit him, but because of some delays (nothing too surprising there!), we had some free time to enjoy savannah while we waited.

this is me chatting with Fred (well, that's what we named him) at Bass Pro Shop.


my sister-in-law being the arms for the mannequin.


and at the beach...





and then my brother finally got home! here are some pics of his from Afghanistan and some after his arrival to the states.

okay, i'll do it!!

i am: at work
i think: therefore i am
i know: very little!
i want: to be able to teleport. or for flying to be free. teleporting would be cool though
i have: (yes, yes, more than i need! but that's what everyone else said, so i'll come up w/ something else) a funny taste in my mouth
i wish: i could teleport. (i didn't see a rule book that said i couldn't use the same answer twice)
i hate: spiders
i miss: haiti. and lots of people. you especially.
i fear: spiders
i feel: blessed
i hear: the Leeland CD. and stephanie talking to a customer.
i smell: with my nose
i crave: same things that i miss.
i search: using goodsearch.com!
i wonder: what God has planned for me...
i regret: lots of things. but i don't dwell. even the things that i have screwed up, God has used for His glory
i love: you
i ache: same things that i miss and crave. (i guess i could be more creative and not use the same answers over and over again. but oh well.)
i care: yes
i always: make a list for what i need at the store then forget to bring it with me
i am not: creative enough to come up w/ better answers for this
i believe: God is sovereign. there is absolute truth.
i dance: never
i sing: maybe in the car
i cry: on mondays
i don't always: only cry on mondays
i fight: like a man
i write: on thursdays
i never: touch a washrag or sponge without smelling it first. seriously, once that "old washrag" smell is on your hands, it never goes away!
i need: to learn to teleport
i am happy about: seeing my brother in a few days

just because

here's a video of your kiddos from my February trip.

the first song that plays is "Hide Away in the Love of Jesus" by Sovereign Grace Music, and the second one is "Hang On" by Mainstay.