a need for community

Yesterday was a spectacular day! Not only did I spent quite a bit of quality time with my Creator, I also joined the local church I've been attending while at school! How awesome is that?! My first year of college was solely focused on my personal relationship with the Lord, which was great at the time because it's definitely what I needed, but after a long process of coming back, I felt the need to experience the worship of my Savior with a community of people I was a part of. Even though I loved the church I was currently attending, I wasn't plugged in at all. This is where Jenna (my awesome roommate) and Hope Chapel come in. When I expressed wanting a church community she eagerly invited me to go to Hope with her and after the first service I attended I knew that God had answered my prayers point-blank. It has been an awesome (like God-awesome) experience getting to know people in the church and getting involved in community group and a women's ministry. God has once again (as always) blown me away with His awesome timing that is in NO way formed around my perceptions of time. I'm excited about what He's gonna bring in the future through this awesome church community! His plans are perfect, sometimes we just need to be broken to understand.

the beauty in rising

So I've just been home, and although I was there for 4 days, I didn't have time to make it down to the beach. Tragic, I know. There is just something about the stillness of the beach in the winter that calms the soul. My favorite part is watching the sunrise. Lately there have been more downs than ups in my life and it's a bit discouraging. But one thing that God is constantly reminding me of is that He hasn't, nor will He ever leave me...wow. Although I can say that without hesitation, believing wholeheartedly is a completely different story. Such an elementary principle, but really, each day is new and His promises are new every morning. It's my choice to either be overwhelmed and taken down by the frustrations of life, or to rise up to the awesome occasion and calling of living for my Creator despite my circumstances! It's a daunting task, but it's accompanied with His promises which never fail. How sweet a thought. That's the beauty of a sunrise.

This picture was taken by WBLiveSurf on January 28, 2011