Alabaster

Goel

"Goel"

Kinsman-redeemer

A kinsman-redeemer's role:

1. To ensure that the hereditary property of the clan never passes out of the clan.

Leviticus 25:25-30

2. To maintain the freedom of the individuals within the clan by buying back those who have sold themselves into slavery because of poverty.

Leviticus 27:47-55

3. To track down and execute murderers of near relatives.

Numbers 35:12,19-27

4. To receive restitution money on behalf of a deceased victim of a crime.

Numbers 5:8

5. To ensure that justice is served in a lawsuit involving a relative.

Job 19:25; Psalm 119:154; Jeremiah 50:34

He has chosen us to be His,

yet so many times we say,

"hold on, God, I am busy right now."

I am guilty of this.

I need to refocus and stay focused on Him.

Christ is our Kinsman-Redeemer.

Delight

"The Lord your God is with you.

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you.

He will quiet you with his love.

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

He knows my inmost being and He still delights in me.

That is unconditional love.

2012

Hello there.

It's been a while. 

Here is a look of what this semester brings.

A 6 week study of Ruth.

Taking 12 hours of grad classes.

Working 35 hours a week trying to teach children to read.

And marrying my best friend.

It's going to be a good (and busy) semester. Bring it on.

Unorganzied

You know my life has gone to pot when my desktop looks like this:

Ew.

Hugs.

Seriously.

They are the best.

I love hugs.

And I have been blessed to get them everyday.

I have loved getting to know the little kiddos at my school.

Friday, a 3rd grade boy came into my room.

Just to say goodbye to me and give me a hug.

Today, I was at a table working with a group of kiddos.

A boy, who is in one of my earlier groups, was called to the office to leave.

Before he left, he came over to the table and hugged me goodbye.

There's a girl who has asked me everyday if she can come home with me.

Another girl continually tells me my hair smells good.

For instance, today she said, "Your hair smell good, again!!" :)

AND when I wear my hair curly, all the kiddos notice. 

They tell me how pretty I look.

I stinking love them.

I love loving on them.

Let There Be

"The earth was without form and void
and darkness was over the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, 'Let there be Light,' and there was Light."

Genesis 1:2-3

Where there is darkness

Let there be Light

Where there is nothing

Let there be Light

Weak

I'm worn out.

Drained.

Tired.

Exhausted.
But I am reminded to take heart.
Hold on to hope.
Take courage.

A Novel. In a Sea of Magazines.

Everything you do makes me want you.

You are a novel in a sea of magazines.

You make me nervous. You make my heart beat.

You are red in a sea of black and white.

You are fire. You are dynamite.

I love you, Matthew Jared.

Grace

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints."

Revelation 22:21

I love how these are the last words of God's Word.

May we humbly receive the grace of Jesus Christ.

May we be strengthened by His unfailing grace.

May we know that we are saved by His grace.

May we remember we are not bound by the law, but rest in the grace of Him.

May we know that His grace is sufficient for us.

May we feel His grace everyday. His mercies are new every morning.

Never

Dr. Ogle taught me to never use the word "never" when talking to someone.

For example, "You never do ______."

I now know why...

It's hurts when someone you love says, "You are never kind to me."

Stories

Something I have realized from being home away from my friends

is that I love listening to people's stories.

I have always known that I love to listen,

but never have I realized that I long to know what is going on in someone's life.

The other day my brother, David, had a Quest reunion.

For two weeks he went to Washington with a group from the church he goes to.

It is a time for them to get away from the busyness of life and really listen to what God has for them.

During the reunion, the leader, Jim Bailey, spoke Truth into each individual that went.

I teared up at least 5 times. I wanted to bawl, but I didn't. 

I loved hearing about what God had taught them and what He is continually doing in their lives.

I wanted to cry, mostly because of how redeeming God is, but also because I was reminded of the many times my best friends poured into my heart and how often we shared our stories with each other of what God was doing. 

Don't get me wrong, this still happens. Just not as much.

The thing is. I took spending 24/7 with my friends for granted.

I miss it. A lot.

I miss walking into our farm house and running obnoxiously upstairs to see my friends.

I miss laying in their beds (sometimes farting in them. hehe) and cuddling.

I miss having the opportunity to talk about life ALL the TIME!!

I guess what I am trying to say is that I love stories.

I love hearing what God is doing in anyone's life.

I need to be more intentional.

Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Sons & Daughters

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Holy Week: Good Friday

Holy Week: Tuesday

Holy Week: Monday

Love

My favorite day ever.
{captured by Jon Quigg}

Glory

I have come to the realization that I am not good at blogging every day.
I am okay with that. :)

Today I read Psalm 108.
I loved it.

"My heart is steadfast, O God!"
David is saying,
"My heart is immovable. It belongs solely to God. It is firmly placed in Him."
Man. I want this. I want my heart to long for God every waking moment.

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

"Let Your glory be over all the earth!
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!"

All of who we are and what we do is for His GLORY. Nothing else.

Wonderful Surprise

I haven't blogged in like 5 days or something.

That is because my Matthew Jared asked me to be his forever.


I am so very blessed to have him in my life.
I can't wait to dance in the minefields with him forever.