Spring Rain

Tonight my eyes follow the form of the trees; bare branches stretching their long fingers into the cool, clear sky, reaching towards the setting sun as it disappears—a sphere of gold melting into the distant hills. When the rains come, those bare branches will blossom into the most delightful hues of rose and lavender as the flowers open up to be kissed by the raindrops. Then as the sun comes out, all the earth will come alive.

And God will smile.

A walk.

A late night walk with the Lord

stars gracing tree branches

like white lights

no sound but my voice

no motion but my feet

I cry out to Jesus

anger melts away

His heart revealed

and my own aligned

losing myself

I stand alone in His eyes

Loved.

Satan banished

told off

I refuse to agree with his lies

in the still night

I walk with the Lord

Calm.

Joyful.

Victorious.

Anger forgotten

hope renewed

peace accompanies

my footsteps home.

Tid Bits

Just what my life looks like this week....

Last night was my last time at the Life Center. It was hard walking away, knowing that I may likely never see those kids again! Here is a shot of myself and Destiny

Lord be with these kids--protect their hearts. Guard them from the schemes of the enemy. Give them a deep hunger for You, and satisfy all their desires for You. Watch over them and love them even more, now that I cannot.

Only a week and a half now remain to the school year, so I am starting to consider thinking about packing. Maybe next week. :)

I will be spending Easter Break with my best friend, Brooke, at her aunt and uncle's house in western MN. Glad I will have that opportunity since Brooke is leaving for Laos after the school year ends and I won't see her till June! Today in chapel all of the interns were prayed over and commissioned to go out. Less than 5 months now till I will be living in Thailand.... :)

Rejoicing always,

Jules

Treasured Memories

Memories are beautiful, and memories captured on paper through the years are a cause of great rejoicing. Here I am enjoying the ones that have been saved and treasured through a journal my mom and I have shared for the past 6 years.


*Props to Holly for capturing this moment. :)

Crosswalk 2011

This morning we (the mentoring team) dropped off 10 groups of students in the middle of nowhere Minnesota on their Crosswalks. Here is the team I dropped off 2 hours from campus, near Murdock, MN--117 miles from BCOM. (If they look happy it's because they didn't have a clue what their surroundings looked like yet!) Their task is to return to campus relying solely on the Lord's provision. They have nothing but Bibles, journals, a cross, and water bottles, and cannot ask for money, directions, rides, or food. It's awesome to watch the Lord provide--I know, because a year ago I was doing a crosswalk on this very weekend! It's challenging, but faith building, and the end results are incredible.

Look Up

Have you ever noticed that the darker it is, the better you can see the stars? Can you imagine what the stars looked like in the wilderness?

The Israelites wandered in the desert wilderness for forty years--led by the Lord, but neglecting Him. They swayed between worshiping the Almighty God with reverential awe, to cursing His name and pursuing idols--like a perverted waltz between two lovers... or three... or four. How many lovers did they turn to during those forty years? The Lord was undoubtedly with them, His presence visible through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. In Numbers 14 we are told that God was seen "face to face".

Sometimes the Lord leads us into the wilderness for a season. It is dry, we complain, and yet the Lord faithfully makes His presence known to us--perhaps not through pillars of cloud and fire, but through the daily undeniable endowments of His love. Is the arm of the Lord too short to provide for us beautiful gifts, even in the desert? If only we would be wise enough and trust Him enough to look up and see them! Think about how incredible the stars would be in the wilderness; only in the deep, deep darkness would they be so luminous.

Next time you find yourself walking through the desert, make sure you look up. You wouldn't want to miss one of God's glorious gifts that He bestows on those He loves. And you know that He loves you. Even under affliction, even in pain, even when joy is hard to come by, He is still thinking of the ways that He can remind you of His irrevocable adoration for you, His child. Look up.

Oh Unbroken Heart

Last week I had to write a poem on the judgment of God for class. I shared it with a friend and he said I should share it with others.... so here goes. :)

Oh Unbroken Heart

Oh unbroken heart,

Such deep walls of callousness

Standing against Almighty

You think you will win?

Placing yourself above the rest

Willing that you should prove

Preeminent

But this is proof of your own

Damnation

Do you not know His nature?

Oh unbroken heart,

He requires your death

Truth, love, righteousness

Cannot dwell with

Revulsion, conceit, impurity

Why not turn and find life?

Oh unbroken heart,

You choose your own destiny

Your eyes reveal

Bitterness, anger, betrayal

Against the One who has shown

Patience, tolerance, kindness

Do you think He will overlook you?

Oh unbroken heart,

Your deeds declare you damned

For He cannot go against Himself

If only you would seek His face

You would find His mercy

To be yours

Oh unbroken heart,

Cry out, let your guard down

Be broken and find yourself

Made whole