little things

I walked into Starbucks for a hot drink and sat down with a warm heart. I wasn’t planning on this warm heart or alone time with God, but God is good at planning spontaneous dates. After ordering my drink, I noticed the girl that walked in. God was highlighting her. He adored her. I felt as though I was supposed to buy her drink. My flesh got nervous… “would she think that I was hitting on her? would it be weird? what if she says no? how will she respond?” I was about to ignore the prompt and sit down, but I found my arms reaching for my wallet and my legs running to beat the cashier from swiping. The girl was shocked. To be honest, I was shocked as well. The cashier was also shocked. There we were, standing there completely shocked. Haha. Finally the lady swiped my card and the girl put back hers. It was a beautiful exchange. I told the girl why I was purchasing her drink and her face brightened, so did the cashiers. The outcome of this simple gesture was interesting. The cashier wanted to bless me. She told me that as long as I was there throughout the night I could have anything on the house. This reminded me of heavens resources. *grin* Then I sat back down with a warm heart and my hot drink.

You can never out give God. Next time you feel the desire to share what you have been given (time, a hug, money, or other resources), I encourage you to do it! There is NO lack in the Kingdom. There is always enough.

 

 

a proper introduction to 2012

From India to Austin, Austin to California and back again, Kansas City to Oregon, Pennsylvania to Georgia, Ohio to Austin, and once again from Austin to California and back again. My year has been full of transitions and my suitcase easily accessible. While I love to travel, it is nice to recollect on the past year with the knowledge that I will be in California for 6 whole months. I suppose I am beginning to feel the desire to nest somewhere….nah. I love travel just as much now as I did a year ago, if not more, but I am in a unique season. While this season is still unfolding, I would like recount the beauty of 2011.

What transpired in 2011 is mind boggling. I had the privilege of going to India, I wrote music and bought a guitar, I moved out of the house that I had been living for the past two years, I graduated from College, I took a road trip to Oregon with my family, I adventured in Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and Ohio, I moved to California, I went to Hawaii with my family, I visited Austin for over a month, and then I moseyed on back to California to greet the blessings and mysteries of 2012. -phew- The lessons I learned in the past year have been priceless. I feel like a different person in the best of ways. I feel more stable, because, through hardships and transition, my roots have grown deeper into the heart of God. I can feel it. I don’t get flustered as easy I used to and I look at the future with such hope. I think this is because, if anything, I have begun to embrace the present. I have been learning how to love what is in front of me (friendships, seasons, living arrangements, places, and even myself). There is something very calming in the fact that there really is “no lack in the Kingdom.” There is also something very secure in the Love of God. He loves me and I know it. I don’t have to earn it. I can’t tell you how many times HE spoke it to my heart, or how many more times I will need to hear it, but I believe it in a deeper way now than I did before. He is my stability. His love has shaken me to the core time and time again and I am left undone. Thus, I look back at the past few years and am amazed. What once seemed annoying or random, now has such purpose and significance. God really does guide the steps of the righteous. He knows my destination and He will bring it to pass. I can rest in the shadow of His wings. He has provided every time I have been in need and He will do it again. This is my journey. These lessons are part of my unfolding story. Banning Liebscher says “The process is the very thing in your life that prepared you for what He showed you…. God shows you and then He grows you.” This is very very true. I know that I am stepping into a new season, but one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t trade my history with God for anything, not even the hard parts of the process or the tension that often presents itself in transition. I see what He has done through the process and I now know the continued outcome of embracing each season.

2012…I welcome you with enthusiasm.

little blue eyes

I had the privilege of sharing a room with my little sister over the winter break. It didn’t take long for us to become fast friends. She is a beautiful wonder child.

Before heading to the airport yesterday, I decided to play my parents piano one last time. A few minutes in, a teary blue eyed little girl ran into the room. She plopped herself onto the chair next to me and cried. Of course, this brought tears to my eyes. I absolutely LOVED spending time with this precious one and was sad to leave. With tears running down both of our cheeks, I remembered how precious tears are to God. He keeps them in a bottle. These little droplets of salty water don’t occur in heaven. So, in moments like these, tears are like worship. You see, I know that God has me in California for a season, but it is still hard at times. Like most humans, I sometimes long for the people that I love in different places. In these moments, I may shed a few tears. It is worth it.