dreams of flying

check this out. it's a blog of pictures that were put together to show kids imagining they could fly. one of those little joys in life. enjoy.
Dreams of Flying

the finisher

Do you mean to challenge me?
Because your speech is threatening to the writer of your history,
Through a future perverted by envy.
Your whisper may sway the weak, but when I speak it roars the sea.
Your challenge has been met, because with a breath I could snap your neck.
This wont be like the first time you tried,
Because my patience and mercy for you has run dry.
You've watered among my bride and started seeds to feed your throning flight.
I will sing to the world your storm is capturing
And the angles will join me...
We will sing to a world reborn from suffering.
But mark my words,
Because if that tree keeps them from seeing me
I will burn off your limbs and you will never shade again.
You will bow at my feet or I'll rip out your knees
And make of your face all the carnage you crave.
I am the Finisher and I am Forever.
I will sing to the world your storm is capturing
And the angels will join me...
We will sing to a world reborn from suffering.
From the armories the angels sing. You will see them end this suffering.
From the armories the angels sing. You will fear them when they lift their wings.
They will sing to a world reborn.
They will sing as I cut off your horns.
I'll cut off your horns.

(the finisher: oh sleeper)

restored. renewed

so this week has been the crunch time of the semester. so far i've been able to coast; classes haven't been that hard, no big papers or projects to sweat over, tests have been spread out and all that.

this week is when all my professors decided to swing for the fences.

floor retreat this weekend.

ambassador guys night saturday night

theology project due monday (six pages)

statistics test tuesday

theology midterm wednesday (covering all the material we've learned so far)

geology test thursday.

so naturally i was feeling a bit overwhelmed waking up this morning. with a full day ahead of me, i was trying not to think about the load of work that's piled up.

then i went to chapel. it was on a whim; most of the guys from my hall decided to sleep in so i thought about just doing the same and working on some of this homework. but i went. and God met me there. the chapel was entirely acoustic worship, focusing on resting in God. the peace that we sang about resonated in my heart. the rest that i can't find right now met me there. His love covers me and holds me in his hand and i can take comfort that he will be with me as i go through this week. not on my strength, because that will wear out. i work and push through with his strength.

God is close and knows the things we go through. God is good and loves us.

the Lord is my shepherd, i shall not want.

he makes me to lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

for his name's sake.

even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

i will fear no evil, for You are with me.

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life

and i will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23)

lyrics

Before the world was made
Before you spoke it to be
You were the King of Kings
Yeah you were, yeah you were
And now you're reigning still
Enthroned above all things
Angels and saints cry out
We join them as we sing

Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God forever

Creator God you gave
Me breath so i could praise
Your great and matchless name
All my days, all my days
So let my whole life be
A blazing offering
A life that shouts and sings
The greatness of our King


Take my life and let it be
All for you and for your glory
Take my life and let it be yours

-Fee.

insight

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better."

Colossians. 1.9-10

i (still) don't get it

i'm still learning about this thing called love. it seems that it's something God is trying to get me to understand. specifically, His love for me. the love of a God for His creation. the love of a Father for his child. the love of a Shepherd for the lost little one.

i've been hit with how foundational this understanding is; if God loves us, and we know it, then we can love others. if God loves us, and we know it, we don't have to love ourselves. if God loves us, and we know it, we can trust Him with our lives. if God loves us, and we know it, then we are free.

i think what it comes down to is the fact that i feel like i have to earn God's love. i've been told since i was born, and maybe before then, that it can't be earned. but for some reason, it doesn't really connect. i feel like i have to live a certain way, avoid certain things, participate in other things, do this or that, avoid this or that. subconsciously, i guess that would make me worthy.

but it's all over the bible that this isn't possible. i am human. fallible. marred. prone to wander. yet that doesn't really hit me. maybe not outwardly, but my attitude says that i can do it.

God. i'm sorry for thinking this way. i don't know if i'm doing it consciously or not. i don't know if i mean to do all this. i need a change of perspective. You are the God of all truth. please explain to me that i cannot measure up, and that Your love is still freely given, based not on what i do but on Your image in me. i want to learn to love you more. and i still feel like there's more to say.