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Cutest little man ever. Im obsessed. The end. 

"Because of these changes, we have more time for God. Spiritual concerns have filled the void left by material ones. Owning fewer things has resulted in things no longer owning us. We have put God to the test, and we have found His Word to be true. He has poured blessings and opportunities upon us. When we stopped living a life dedicated to consumerism our cup began to run over. We have seen miracles." Sleeth

Crazy Time

Crazy time: this is my brain all of the time. My brain is constantly ticking with thoughts. They may not make any sense but they are there. The leaves are changing and life is more beautiful than ever. Something about nature just does it for me. I wonder why i get so caught up in consumerism and materialism when I am the happiest at my most raw form. When I am all grubbed up, breathing in the fresh mountain air I am happy and still. I can rest in God's beautiful creation. So why do I become so wrapped up in material things? Why cant we as humans appreciate the beauty of nature? We separate ourselves from the natural cycle of life and I it is coming back for us. 

In Food, Culture, and Sustainability we have been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. It is blowing my mind. I wish I lived on a farm and raised my own food. It is crazy to think that the majority of my food has traveled thousands of miles and has some form of corn in it. Sometimes when I think about sustainability and our future I want to cry. I feel hopeless. We seem to not want to change our ways. This is what my mind can not understand. We do not look after ourselves for the long haul. 

So I just rambled on for a little while and what really intrigues me about all of this is I wonder where all of this fits into my life as I try to allow the Gospel to become more and more real in my life every day. As I see God filling each one of us with the Holy Spirit. God is working through us and he is good, gracious, and merciful. 

^"8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9 

   This passage of scripture resinates with me daily. As I read it, it takes my breath away. This is a passage that I rest my faith on. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains the basis of my faith and relationship with Christ. God requires nothing of me; only that I have faith in Him and faith in his son Jesus Christ who died for my sin. Often times I try and fix my problems myself; I also try to live a "good" life. I look inward at myself; my actions are the means by which I make up for my sin. I try and trade a good behavior ( a mission trip or other community service) for sin ( such as telling a lie). In reality, this is my sin, relying on myself to make my life right. When I start trying to fix my life I remember this passage. For it is by the grace of God that I am saved and not by my own actions. I find rest in this passage because the pressure is not on me. I will in some way always fall to pressure and sin, but the Lord will never sin and remains perfect and Holy. Christ is our redemption and I am thankful. 

Not just sought, but "sought out"

That any should be sought out is matchless grace, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it but God's own sovereign love, and can only lift up our heart in wonder, and praise the Lord that this night we wear the name of "Sought out." C.H. Spurgeon

something beautiful

^{just thought I'd share a little something sweet:}

John 15:9-17

⁹"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

Remaining with us

God is always with us. This is something that has been a topic in my life for like the past week. I love when the Lord tries to drill things in my head. It just pops up day after day whether it be a bible verse or a devotion. I am amazed by this concept. Even when we feel like I are alone in the world and there is no one to run to, he is there. As I am typing these words he is with me. I think that is what keeps me going. I know that whether i am struggling or bubbling with joy He is with me.  I guess I could even go as far as saying he is in us but i feel arrogant thinking that the creator of the earth is interesting in filling me with his amazing spirit. I do know though that he is within me whether or not i want to admit it; the only good i can do comes from him. This may not have made any sense at all and i might just be rambling but i just wanted to get it off of my mind and into words.