how marvelous, how wonderful.

oh my my my. this has been a beautiful week. one of my dearest friends gave her life to Christ this week and it has been such an amazing thing to witness. i think new believers are such an encouragement to our own faith. it's incredible how God does a work on their heart almost instantaneously! this girl has been so lost and confused for a long time and after some one on one time with her, a message at co, and a lot of prayer, she finally realized what she was missing. on tuesday night, i got to spend an hour worshiping with her! her heart was literally broken for God! she had so much passion that night and it was so inspiring. the lord has been working hard all around me. i've felt his presence more than ever this week. maybe i am seeking him harder than usual, i'm not quite sure. whatever it is, it's been fantastic. i feel fully alive and very excited for things that are happening here at murray. i'm getting closer to a wonderful group of girls and i know we will be friends forever... i just have that feeling!

lately, i've been extremely upset over a boy and i hate this. i want to be at peace with being single and grow closer to Christ. i know that i need this alone time to get back on track and the last thing i need is something to distract me from that. but i can't control my feelings. i desire so badly to stop liking this person because i don't know where it is going or if it is going anywhere at all. i just feel very frustrated with the whole situation. my "feelings" always get me into a lot of trouble. i'm praying for God to quench my need to feel loved and to have somebody there. i need to remind myself that he is preparing someone that i will spend forever with; someone who will pursue me; someone who has christ-like qualities and will push me towards my Savior, daily. i know this person exists and i have to remember God is faithful to those who love him. i'm keeping my eyes on the prize, father. let them not stray towards relationships or acceptance but only towards you and your glory.

hope you enjoy these pictures of our lord's creation. feel free to share any pictures that you find or places you've enjoyed God this week (: peace and blessings.

random post for this cold monday.

25 things about me (:

1. Ever since June 2008, I've been living my life for Jesus Christ. It's a crazy/joyful/beautiful adventure that is anything but easy. But I know what my purpose is and how could I ever turn away?

2. I am super impatient 90% of the time. It's something I need to work on.

3. College has been super scary and strange but I am learning so much about myself and my relationship with Christ.

4. I have met the most beautiful people ever in Murray, KY. They make my world complete (:

5. I miss my best friends in Lexington everyday of my life.

6. Younglife has impacted my life in too many ways to count and I will be forever grateful for what God has done through that organization.

7. I podcast the services from Southland because I miss it so much and I believe so much in that church and what it is doing in the community.

8. I have the world's best roommate! We always have so much fun together and she puts up with so much from me (: BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL girl!

9. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the leaves changing and Halloween and Thanksgiving and it getting cooler outside. (as long as it stays above 40!)

10. I miss a lot of people who, at one point or another, I was very close with but I know they impacted my life and have helped shape me into the person I am.

11. I love the word beautiful. I think there are so many people who use it to describe something that can be seen but I believe it is something so much deeper than that.

12. I really really wish that I hadn't gotten hurt cheerleading my junior year.

13. I wish that people didn't rush to grow up. Being young is so much more fun (:

14. One of my biggest pet peeves is fake people. I hate when someone acts one way when you first meet them but you quickly find out they are the complete opposite.

15. I hatehatehate depending on people for things. I've been disappointed too many times in my life.

16. I don't think I have a particular style. I just wear whatever I feel like wearing.

17. I get along with the majority of people I meet. It takes a lot for me not to like you.

18. One of my biggest flaws is that I am a people pleaser. The majority of time, I put others feelings in front of my own and although that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's not always beneficial for my own happiness.

19. I know what I want to do with my life but I know that God's plans are bigger than my own. So I'm learning to just sit along for the ride.

20. When I fall for someone, I fall hard. But I try not to let my feelings show so I don't end up getting hurt.

21. I think that every person is good deep down. We all just make mistakes because we believe the lies that the world tells us.

22. I have fallen in love with Murray. It's such a simple, pretty place to go to college. But I would never want to live here after college is over.

23. After college, I would love to travel the world and then move somewhere south like Georgia or South Carolina.

24. Some of my closest friends are scattered all over the country and my heart literally hurts when I think of how much I miss them. December 27 is going to be the greatest day of my life.

25. I am a happy little girl and I have been truly blessed with a wonderful life and fantastic friends. What more could I ask for?! (:

for you - i sing, i dance.

so for the past few weeks, i have been struggling with temptation very badly and last weekend i fell into it. there hasn't been any external pressure what so ever. all of the people i hang out with know my beliefs and know that i don't drink. the pressure was entirely eternal. i let satan take an inch and he ran with it. since then, i've been so torn. what happened? where did i decide to turn my back on God? i've been lifting up my worries to our Lord and praying for him to take the desire to sin from my heart and to reveal his purpose in this hard time in my life. i know that God didn't cause this but i know that he can take the mistakes that i make and turn them into learning and growing experiences. i've been asking my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for me this week because i believe whole heartedly in the power that prayer has. last night, i had a long, wonderful conversation with my dear dear friend jimmy. he is someone who i know is very close to the Lord and i know God uses him to push me to the limit and break my heart. after that conversation, i felt a lot more at peace than i had all week long. thank the Lord for honest, loving friends! after my conversation with jimmy, i went to campus outreach (a ministry that i am beginning to fall in love with). nate discussed records; past, present, and future and how we believe those records give us eternal life. we rely on our own deeds to become closer to God when we know that Jesus is the only way. in this, i realized where i fell. i have been relying on the "christian" things that i do in my life such as going to church, reading the bible, worship, bible studies, etc. instead of relying on Christ. i can't even explain how God used nate to pinpoint this problem in my life. it was incredible. after the message, one of my close friends broke down and told me she feels lost and as if she has no purpose in her life! God literally broke her heart!!!! i got to speak truth into her life and tell her how God has saved my life. she saw first hand that christians are no where near perfect and that we don't have to make ourselves clean for God to love and accept us. my friend kaci and i got to pray together for her and i lost it! THIS IS IT FRIENDS! this is where joy is found. this is why we follow Jesus Christ. he is so incredibly faithful, merciful, and full of grace! PRAISE HIM! i am finding community and seeing God in ways that i never have before. i am learning to follow and trust in the Lord with my whole heart. what a blessing it has been to feel broken. God is the way, the truth, the LIFE! our happiness can only be found in Him and how wonderful it is that he will never fail us! friends, i feel truly alive again. i can't wait to see how God uses me on this campus and how i grow over these next few years!

these are some pictures of my favorite season! i hope your day is filled with the love and joy Christ brings and you see Him in new and interesting ways today. LOVE ALWAYS.