Today we celebrate one of the most Godly, humble, inspiring, unselfish men I know. I am so blessed to have him as a physical picture of my Heavenly Daddy. Love you!
February 22, 2012
February 16, 2012
Love gracefully
Love...
It seems to be a theme lately. Not the sappy, romantic kind that everyone hypes about but the real, genuine love that knows no boundaries, sees people for who they really are, doesn’t change because of circumstance, and doesn’t hinge on personal judgment.
A while ago, I decided to love people without judging them. I asked God to teach me to see people for the way He did. Slowly, I’m learning what this looks like. How do you love unconditionally? How do you accept someone even if you don’t condone their behavior?
A few weeks ago, I was reading 1 John 3. Verse 18 really jumped out at me...
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and in truth
Some days later, I thought of the phrase love gracefully. I don’t know, it just came to me and I thought it sounded cool. At first I was thinking graceful in the elegant sense but then it hit me--that’s exactly what love is, full of grace!
We manifest our love toward others in through our actions; extending them the grace we have received ourselves. We don’t have to agree with their choices or beliefs (that’s between them and God) but we can speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and point them to the One who loved us to the point of death.
Love is a conscious decision to put yourself aside and see others the way God sees them. It’s treating others with the respect and dignity they deserve because they are made in His image. It’s getting past the outward manifestations of deeper issues and meeting people where their heart really is.
May God continue to teach us to love gracefully in deed and in truth.
February 08, 2012
January 17, 2012
January 13, 2012
Freedom Friday: Passion 2012
Last week 45,000 college age individuals gathered at the Georgia Dome for the Passion 2012 conference. We soaked in wisdom and insight from spiritual mentors of our generation, we worshiped the name above all names--Jesus--and fought for justice with the Do Something Now campaign. This year's campaign was centered around freedom for the 27million indivduals trapped in slavery today. Students were educated on the topic through a short film and a panel discussion with leading abolitionists of our day. At the end of four days over $3million was raised to fight for freedom. But it's not about numbers. It's about Jesus. He binds up the broken hearted and sets the captives free and uses poor college students in the process.
We are a generation united for freedom
Click here to learn more about Do Something Now, watch the Freedom Film, and get involved.
January 11, 2012
Top reads of 2011
Think by John Piper
"All thinking, all learning, all education, and all research is for the sake of knowing God, loving God, and showing God" ~John Piper
A logical approach to using your mind for God's glory.
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
Erasing Hell dives into the scriptures in hopes of finding the truth about the afterlife of those who do not say yes to Jesus. The answers they come to are pretty clear but ultimately the decision about what to do with them is up to the reader...
Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
Instead of going to prayer-meetings to get into a 'good frame,' we should live in a good frame from morning till night, from night till morning, and prayer and praise would be only another form for expressing the love and faith and obedience we had been exercising amid the pressure of business.
Elizabeth Prentiss, Stepping Heavenward Click here to read my review
Mirror Ball by Matt Redman
"All the big dreams and visions we work toward are within reach if we will harness our gifts and energies and pull together in one direction" ~Matt Redman
A beautiful series of vignettes and insight from personal experiences about "living boldly and shining brightly for the glory of God"
Heaven Trilogy by Ted Dekker
A gripping page turner telling the same story three entirely different ways--God's relentless pursuit of man.
Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning
A series of devotions that challenge and encourage.
What did you read in 2011? Any recommendations for 2012?
December 27, 2011
Nutcracker 2011 recap
Even though this was one of the craziest Nutcracker seasons I've been through, I would definitely say it was also one of the best. Though I did the same roles as last year, I would leave the theatre feeling fulfilled and knowing that this is what I was made to do. My body would be exhausted but my heart full of the joy. I can't help but think sharing the Nutcracker magic is a teeny tiny taste of what heaven is going to be like. It's always a little bittersweet when Nutcracker ends but I know it wouldn't be special if it lasted forever. Until next year...enjoy the pics! :-)
I love this theatre
Photo by Jared Tan
Photo by Jared Tan
Photo by Jared Tan
Pedro and Abi got engaged at the end of bows one day!!
December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!!!
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
~Luke 1:67-79
December 14, 2011
December 12, 2011
Hello!
- I'd love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions or comments. :-) Also, I don't mind if you link to my blog but please email me before using any photos or content. Copyright 2008-2011
