lead. in the way of The EVERLASTING

'a harvest is appointed' 

hosea 6:11

Today I spent several hours at sweet Margo's house landscaping with her and her roommates. It was an absolutely incredible time of hard work and reward. It started off pretty sunny yet cool, then some lovely clouds came in and then the floodgates were opened. and we played so hard in that rain. because why not? Boulder flood round two. Funny? kind of. 

Moving up to Boulder has been insane. this place is unreal. Even though i've lived in CO my whole life, I am struck every time I look at the flatirons. and they're seriously right in front of my face. so accessible. (my friends and I decided to climb them at 1130 the other night. so there's that.) this campus is stirring something up in me.  Everywhere I look there are thousands of men and women my age seeking one thing: truth.

The church I go to at home is actually in a series about lies and truth right now and it has challenged me to examine what i believe my truth to be. my truth is the bible; the living and working word of God which we have the ability to comprehend and apply if we so choose. (what a gift). I'm fascinated by that. Language and communication and passion and how they all tie together to create the foundation of human interaction and morale. Truth in Boulder is the same as it is in Centennial and Purdy and all across the world. This is the truth which i've accepted and the truth that holds my heart and my life. And how sweet is this truth. We have a savior that freely extends fruitfulness and ABUNDANCE to those who simply say 'yes'. yes Jesus.

So much of this campus says no. no Jesus. no vulnerability. no.

and that's heartbreaking. but it's a victory already won. the curtain is already torn. and We can rejoice in that. 

this place is burning with desire for something more. It is perfectly groomed for seeds to be planted. for front yards to be completely re-done. for whole bushes to be rolled out and for new soil to be laid. (I came to this realization this morning while actually doing these things -- hence the metaphor, eh eh?)
 the seeds have been laid. they will continue to be laid. and the harvest has been {is} appointed. indulge. that is the invitation. 

"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

john 8:31

truth=disciples=freedom

amidst all of these new and exciting opportunities I've found myself checking in to this truth. relying on it. it is my compass. I've set my bearing (heavenward) according to It. my favorite psalm (139) echoes this desire: 'and lead me in the way of the everlasting'.

what a request. Jesus, lead me in the way of the Everlasting. so bold. so on point. that is my heart's posture. particularly right now and ideally forever. 

along with this truth comes freedom. and I'm slowly figuring out what exactly freedom in Christ looks like. so far it's been a beautiful dance. so truly beautiful. one aspect of it has been in worldliness and entering into this new phase of my life of freedom to do whatever I please: caving on a mountainside, spur of the moment breakfasts at Snooze, cooling off in rivers, running in a whole new town on whole new trails (SO FUN), midnight hikes, random ice cream dates, cliff jumping, bike riding, flexibility and curiosity that can be pursued, d.i.s.c.o.v.e.r.y. 

this freedom is a little different.  but it's free willed. and extravagant. and I'm exhilarated to be walking in it.

recently the doxology has been a very sacred praise that's been resonating for me.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow /

Praise Him, all creatures here below /

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host /

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost //

 dox·ol·o·gy

däkˈsäləjē/

noun

noun: doxology; plural noun: doxologies

a liturgical formula of praise to God.

He is a King worthy of praise. active worship. something to consider.

that is all.

peace be with you.

r

new stomping grounds
Flatirons, Chautauqua, Boulder, CO
AUGUST 2014

green tea and fresh mint leaves whilst landscaping projects
Harvard House, Boulder, CO
AUGUST 2014

sparkly post-caving hands
Golden, CO
AUGUST 2014

{all I have seen}

"That which was from the beginning, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we LOOKED upon and have TOUCHED with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have SEEN it, and TESTIFY to it and PROCLAIM to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have SEEN and HEARD we PROCLAIM also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." --- 1 John 1:1-4

June 1 2014. Term 1. Camp Barnabas. This was the verse of discussion for family time. I was challenged with these questions:

when was the last time you heard Him? when was the last time you saw Him? when did you last touch Him?

Questions that seem as if they should be natural to respond to but I found myself really racking my brain. I didn't like that. Over the course of that week I worked avidly to pause and let those moments resonate. This is what it looks like to see Him. To touch Him, to hear Him.

It's interesting to me that the way The Lord speaks to me is never the same. It always looks different. He never stops creating. I like that. He never stops creating wonder in me> then He surpasses all expectations and says, "HERE! I am here. Here in the breeze. Here in this smile. Here in this conversation. Listen to me, daughter." Just listen. Just be. Meditate.

Transitioning out of the place I have been in for the past three months back to [now, here, home, normal?] has looked so different from what I thought it would be like. It's only been 4 days. In those 4 days I have wrestled with how to return, completely refined, still in progress, to the place where all my roots are. What does this active process of learning to live while still living abundantly look like? I'm really not sure. And I'm really okay with that remaining unknown and slowly unwrapping whatever this new phase of life may look like.
|| One thing I know to be True is this: ||

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." --- Romans 12:2

I am constantly being renewed. Renewal isn't necessarily a season. It's really a choice that has been made very evident to me this summer. I desire it so deeply that I have chosen to wake up every morning with intentions to be renewed. For my eyes to remain open and my spirit to remain vulnerable. Such a perspective has yielded an incredibly fruitful harvest that I have been able to take everywhere with me. Purdy to Austin to Dallas to Shell Knob to Denver to Boulder. It is woven into my heartstrings.

Another new way The Lord has been romancing my heart is through solitude. I never ever in a million years thought that I would enjoy being by myself as much as I have been this week. It's a very foreign thing to me but has been a beautiful dance which I am confident will cultivate into something I can't imagine right now. [habakkuk 1:5] so many PROMISES.

This morning I woke up at 8:02 (another new thing. camp time=no sleeping in=my body wants to wake up early and I love it), made myself an omelet with fresh vegetables from the garden in my backyard (abundance) and sat on my back porch with a lemon scented candle eating and reading my bible while it rained. In that moment there was the recognition: this is how the Spirt speaks. This is how He is moving in this very second. And I get to pause and dwell in everything this moment brings.

---- raindrops hitting the table on the patio. birds chirping. air blowing. candle flame wavering. paper kites singing in my ears. -----

\\\ earlier this afternoon when I was driving during a rainstorm I turned around a corner, saw the mountains and felt like I had been punched. I think it was one of the first times I took an actual breath since I've been home. A full inhale and a full exhale filled with tears. {complete release} After 18 years of seeing the mountains every day I never expected to look upon them and be stirred up so intensely. But then again, who are we to have expectations? Why do we put our Creator in a box? Comfort? I think yes.

This is what I have seen. This is what I have tasted. This is what I testify to be True.

Barnabas on the Lake
JULY 2014

Sweet Carolyn
Camp Barnabas
JULY 2014

/ s a b b a t h \

JULY 2014

"all I have SEEN teaches me to trust The Creator for all I have not seen." --- Ralph Waldo Emerson