Wednesday, August 15, 2012

losing control

Recently, I have found myself in a few situations that have been completely out of my control.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?


Last week dad had a seizure on our back porch.  It came in an instant.  Took over his body.  And he was convulsing out of control.  As I held him, I felt like I had zero control.  I couldn't stop it.  I couldn't make it better.  We just had to get through it.

He ended up going to the hospital and they didn't have any real answers as to why it happened.  But, praise God, he is back home and doing pretty good now. 

2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.


Praise God that, even when everything seems to be spiraling out of control, He holds it all together.
He has a plan.
In His loving arms we can find rest, affirmation, and healing. 
He will always come to our rescue.  

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.


Our future.
We can do all we want, make all the decisions we can...
but life always turns out differently than we plan, huh?
If we're being honest, our lives are always out of our control.
Anything we think we have control over is usually an illusion.
He is the only one that holds our past, present, and future.

4 The one thing I ask of the LORD—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.


I found myself wishing I could transport all the people I love to Colorado.
Every single one of them.
We could all live in one town.
We'd be happier than could be.
*sigh*  
But that is out of my control.
Only the LORD determines our times and places.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.


In times of trouble, chaos.  When the storms come.

He stands.
He stands.
He stands.

6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.


What a beautiful picture that psam 27 paints.
In all times, when we have no control, He holds it all.
He hides us away in his sanctuary.

In his HOLY sanctuary.
He extends peace to us like a river (Isaiah 66:12).
Just His sweet voice singing over us (Zeph. 3:17).
And in His awesome power, 
He makes us his royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

:)
And so, we are able to stand with Him,
in the midst of losing control,
and worship His Holy, powerful, victorious, wonderful name. 





Tuesday, August 7, 2012

the high of July

"You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever."
-Psalm  16:11

Wow...I mean...wow.
July flew by.
I took a break from almost all internet for the month and it was amazing.
God blessed me this month more than I could possibly say.
I feel like everything changed.
It was all too wonderful for words.

So, let's do this...
Let's look at some pictures and I'll narrate about the happenings of July:

THE BREMILY WEDDING!
If there was ever a relaxed, blissFULL, fun, God-centered wedding...it would be Brett & Emily's wedding.
From the Bachelorette party, to open house & getting to meet all their friends from OK, to rehearsal dinner, and a beautiful wedding day.
I feel so so blessed to have gotten to spend time with all my family AND meet so many awesome people.
Two families.  Now one.
And it feels so goooooood :)

4th of JULY:
Brett + Emily were in MX but the rest of us were able to relax for a lovely holiday together.
We broke out the groomsman's gifts for some backyard knife throwing,
ate food from the barbie, and just enjoyed the junk out of being together.



"I am praying to you because I know you will answer, o God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
By your mighty power you rescue those
who seek refuge from their enemies.
Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings."
-Psalm 17: 6-8
SHOOTING:
Blake, Brice, Kylie and I went shooting with my brotha from anotha motha: Terren.
Have I mentioned that I love shooting guns? haha well, this love seems to grow every time I go.



OKlahoma:
I road tripped back to Oklahoma with my newest sissy in law: Emily!
We only stopped talking when we were belting out Rihanna & having a dance party.
Truly moments I will remember and cherish forever.  I love that girl!
Once in town, I ended up spending a few extra days and exploring OK with Brett's friend, Kent!
We seriously did everything.  It. Was. AMAZING!
Everything from shooting, building fires, 4 wheeling, and cherry eating to staying at a lake house, exploring a monastery, meeting a bunch of new people, and seeing all kinds of red-necks.
Couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  Such a blessing!





NYR:
So then came my annual trip to the lovely Roundup Ranch...
Awesome camp (as always).  God spoke, hearts were changed, and we praised God in the valley.
Praise God!  Bryan got baptized, we hiked, I cooked, and God blessed it all.




CAMPIN':
Went camping for the day with Brady, Tirza, Brice, Harrison & Ollie!
Minturn, CO is where we ended up.  Awesome camp site all to ourselves,
cute town, explored a super old cemetery, hiked in Holy Cross Wilderness (most gorgeous hike I've EVER been on), and our camp stove exploded on us!
Haha it was such a great little get away.  Love my family :)







oooh baby, last but not least:

Mount Elbert: 
Irene and I had been wanting to do a moonlight 14er for quite a while.
So, we got together, convinced some guys to come with us and started up the mountain at midnight!
We hiked almost the whole way by moonlight (God's flashlight).
Ended up hiking around 20 miles for 12 straight hours with no sleep.  
It was BY FAR the most physically exhausting thing I've ever done.
BUT, we did it (thanks to GOD), the sunrise was gorgeous,
we made an awesome pancake bfast at the top,
and I'm pretty proud to have hiked the highest mountain in CO :)