stars in the sky

"They made their way three-quarters up the dock and lay down on their backs looking up. The elevation of this place seemed to magnify the heavens, and Mack reveled in seeing stars in such numbers and clarity. Jesus suggested that they close their eyes for a few minutes, allowing the last effects of dusk to disappear for the night. Mack complied, and when he finally opened his eyes, the sight was so powerful that he experienced vertigo for a few seconds. It almost felt like he was falling up into space, the stars racing toward him as if to embrace him. He lifted his hands imagining that he could reach out and pluck diamonds one by one, off of a velvet-black sky."
- Wm. Paul Young, The Shack



I have almost finished this book, and so far, this is one of my favorite passages. It immediately brought me to Chris Tomlin's song, "Indescribable," and reminded me of times when I have laid on the cement roof in Miguel Aleman, Mexico, and looked up at the stars, thinking, There is no way that I cannot love and want to know a God like this.

"Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and
You know them by name.

You are amazing God."

- Chris Tomlin

always first

It's a good thing that God is nocturnal (or I'm assuming that He is) because I always seem to "get around" to time with Him in the wee hours of the morning. As is the case now, at 2:30 am. My roommate (who is awesome and incredible, and I couldn't ask for a better one) and I decided to hold each other accountable for this Lent promise we've made, and today she showed me a section of her devotional book that really spoke to what we are committing to do. The key verse for the chapter is out of Matthew 10 and is about taking up our cross and following Christ. The author of the devotional (Purity for Young Women) writes: "If we are to trust Christ, we must trust Him and place Him at the very center of our beings. Jesus never comes 'next.' He is always first."

It hits me now how true that is. I am looking back and realizing how much stuff I put before God today so that my time with Him has been pushed back until late late at night. I got all of my homework out of the way before I got to spend time with Him. How incredibly backwards is that? I yearn for the desire to really want to spend time with the Lord every single day of my life, but I so often find myself wanting other things more. I find myself "too busy" all the time, whether that's actually being productive or whether that's wasting my life away on Facebook. A quote that the author gives in the devotional speaks to this exactly:

"Make a plan now to keep a daily appointment with God. The enemy is going to tell you to set it aside, but you must carve out the time. If you're too busy to meet with the Lord, friend, then you are simply too busy."
- Charles Swindoll

40 days

So I'm beginning this blog with the intention of writing in it every day during Lent. Or at least I will try. I've grown up practicing the traditional "sacrificing" of Lent, giving up something each year to, in a very small way, reflect Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross at Easter. I've given up chocolate, soda, sweet tea, etc. When I was younger, I used to think I was clever and would say I was giving up homework. One thing I've always been told though is that it can also be beneficial to "add something," or promise that you will try something for the 40 days of Lent. These have always fallen through for me; I've tried "being nicer to my sister" or "working out more," but they never get accomplished. I believe it's because adding something beneficial to your life is less concrete than not eating a certain food or drinking a certain beverage. However, this year, I am committed to my Lent promise.

I am doing the traditional sacrifice, and I am going 40 days without eating pizza. This might be difficult when pizza is the only edible option at the dining hall. However, I am also trying a new thing.

I realized tonight during a time of worship at my school that I have never spent time with God every day straight for 40 days. Never. Ever. In the 8 or so years that I have called myself a follower of Christ, I have never gone a longer amount of time than 2 weeks or so in which I have consistently talked to the Lord, read His word, or spent time in prayer. So that is my commitment this Lent, one that I am not going to forget about.

I so often forget about God's role in my life as a friend. He is my best friend, so why would I not want to "hang out" with Him every day. He already knows everything I am going to say, but that doesn't mean He doesn't want to hear it. God enjoys hearing from us. As it says in Zephaniah, He takes great delight in us. When we wake up in the morning, God says, "Yes! I get to spend another day with her!" That is so incredibly awesome.

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will
for you in Christ Jesus."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18