life takes work

nothing in life comes easy. i'm just beginning to realize that. i'm realizing that if i want to really succeed, excel and grow in anything it takes a lot of work, pain, and effort. but it is soo worth it.
i can't just sit in front of my computer and say how much i love basketball-i have to work out, run, shoot, practice. i have to DO basketball to excel.
i can't just want to be an A student-i have to work, manage my time, complete assignments. i have to DO school to succeed.
i can't just say "i love you"-i have to pursue, serve, help. I have to DO love to grow.
and the list goes on.

but you know what? God didn't just say "i love you" he didn't just want me, he didn't just sit on his throne-he acted. he sent his son to conquer death, to pay the debt i could not pay. and he succeeded.

therefore
even though life takes work and the journey seems long and hard
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
because of Jesus i can do all things and only through Jesus can i do all things. He gives me the strength to run this race and by his grace i will finish strong.

Our God

"Do you give the horse its strength
or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
Do you make it leap like a locust,
striking terror with its proud snorting?
It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strenght,
and charges into the fray.
It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
it does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against its side,
along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, 'Aha!'
It catches the scent of battle from afar,
the shout of commanders and battle cry."
Job 39:19-25

Doesn't God have an amazing way with words? Not only is the bible full of truth and glory, it is a masterful piece of literature. Not only did he CREATE this amazing animal, his description of it is magnificent. Stunning.

school

this is my life right now. (taken on my mac photo booth)

my life is basically, school, sleep, eat, school, class, school, another class, school, more classes, babysit, school, yet another class, school, relax, church, school, repeat.
so, i'm busy, and overwhelmed at times (ap lit. is no walk in the park-although i do enjoy it :), but honestly i wouldn't trade my life for anything. i have an amazing family, crazy good friends, a warm house, plenty of food, the ability to learn, and most importantly a savior who loves me so much he died for me. what more could i possibly ask for? yeah, maybe i wouldn't choose to spend all my time doing school and yeah, maybe i don't always get along with my sister, but really, really i have everything i could ever want.
His grace is sufficient for me.

I realized something...

As I was revamping the look of my blog (like it?) I reread my post on beauty and realized I have an answer to my question (i kinda already knew the answer when I wrote it the first time..but now it's more fully developed :). I realized my question was a matter of aesthetics (spelled correctly on first try-what now?), which asks the question "Does beauty inhere in the art itself, or is beauty supplied by the eye of the beholder?" (Philosophy and Education, Knight) The answer (from a biblical Christian worldview) is this: Beauty is in the eye of THE beholder. In other words, God. He is the standard for beauty. He is beauty and he created everything beautiful. Yes, we have our preferences; but ultimately it is God who is the standard.
And you know what else is super cool? We are created in the image of God. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (Gen. 27&31a NIV) We reflect God (although our reflection is like the foggiest mirror or the murkiest pond, the most distant shadow and faintest remembrance), we create and imagine, love and hope, and are attracted to beauty and we are beautiful because HE IS.
"One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the
LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD 
and to seek him in his temple."
(Psalm 27:4 NIV, emphasis mine)

promises for my future

The other day we were at our local high school celebrating one of my oldest (and closest) friend's graduation. As we were sitting there, burning in the hot sun, the girl who placed second in her class gave a speech. One thing she said really struck me. She was talking about the future and how none of us know what it holds (true), but as she was speaking about this she added, "we have no promises for our future" and I couldn't help but think of how dismal, hopeless, and scary the future must be for her. NO idea what the future holds, no one to run to when everyone leaves, no one to bring ALL her troubles to. I am sure this high school graduate, second in her class of two-hundred eight students has much knowledge, but all the knowledge in the world could never replace the promises God has given me. He promises to never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:5), he promises that he knows the plans he has for me-he has plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), he promises to answer me when I call him (Jeremiah 33:3), he promises to give me rest (Matthew 11:28), and he promises to come back for me. All I need to do is call to him-come to him. I wouldn't trade these promises for all the knowledge in the world.

Constance

Steady,
Like rain-
falling.
Consistent,
Drumming on the ground.
No matter what,
Always
Unmoving-
God
Doesn't depend on my circumstances,
No,
He planned them all.
Doesn't depend on how I feel,
No,
He created my emotions
Doesn't depend on me at all,
Because-
He is
He was
He will always be.