hungry

It's technically day two of Christmas break for me since I just spent the past few days at the ranch with some stinkin' awesome friends. (check out Krissy's blog to see pics from the week & all her other cool posts: kgmackenzie.blogspot.com) Shout out to God for seriously blessing me with the most encouraging and legit community of people to surround myself with.

Okay, confession time.

Since I don't keep in touch with that many high school friends, breaks like these are get-away times where I scrapbook until I run out of things to scrapbook about, get in bed at 9, visit my grandma, watch excessive amounts of reality TV...and read books? Shoot, might as well call me a grandma.

Anyways, today was a big day. I went to Barnes and Nobles and not only spent hours staring at books I WISH I had time to read, but I finally bought the beloved Hunger Games. Now I'm diving headfirst into the series obsession. Yep, the addiction has begun. When I got in bed at 9 (I wish I was kidding), I reached over to my nightstand where the Hunger Games is now competing with my Bible for space, and I seriously had to stop and make a decision as to which one I picked up. I'm not going to lie, I wanted to pick up the Hunger Games...BUT I didn't. I started reading Psalm 119. Go ahead, read it. The whole chapter, all 176 verses of it, reveals David's heart and HUNGER for His Word. Not only that, but David claims multiple times that he loves it. 

"And I will delight myself in Your commandments,

Which I love.

My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,

Which I love, 

And I will meditate on Your statutes."

"For Your Word has given me life."

"You are my hiding place and my shield,

I hope in Your Word."

I guess you can say I'm convicted. Should I love the Word like David does? Yes. Do I love the Word like David does? Not most days. Slap to the face. But what a sweet reminder from Him...I hear you, Lord.

Just a few more pages of Hunger Games before I go to sleep won't hurt, right?

what a week.

Wow. I almost forgot I had a blog this week...I guess I'm still getting used to this new, fun, creative outlet.

Well, it's been a while and I must say that this week has been one of the most joyful, exciting, hard, spontaneous, chaotic, busy weeks of my life.

Let me fill you in on what the Lord has been doing...

 Saturday:

My BEST FRIEND in the entire world got ENGAGED. The Lord brought her a wonderful guy and he liked it so he put a ring on it.

To propose, he made a movie about her and how she embodies the Proverbs 31 woman. Yes, I bawled my eyes out during the entire thing, but what a wonderful reminder to strive towards Him and allow Him to make me into the virtuous woman that he wants me to be...with noble character, kindness on her tongue and one who, because of Him, is worth far more than rubies.

Although I thought I would be constantly reminded that I am dreadfully single during the weekend in Dallas, the Lord gave me such a wonderful heart full of joy and excitement for my sweet friend of 18 years. Couldn't be happier for her. :)

Oh, and I was crafty and made that cute pinterest banner for the engagement party...hey, I was proud of myself.

Monday:

This picture may look confusing to you, BUT in a nutshell it shows the fact that I am going to be a PLEDGE TRAINER for the new chi o pledge class in the fall. Holy moly, I have yet to believe it. I knew that the Lord was preparing me for something and I was NOT expecting this. So thankful and excited to pour my stinkin heart out to these freshmen and be the hands and feet of Christ next year.

This, my friend, is a STREAM that He has created.

Tuesday:

Today was Chloe's 21st birthday. Jen and I woke up at the crack of dawn, Chloe skipped class and the day was filled with laughter, yummy food, target runs, and manicures. As we were driving through the streets of Austin with music blaring, I couldn't help but smile and be overwhelmed with contentment and thankfulness for the sweet, sweet friend's the Lord has incredibly blessed me with. Chloe is moving to Uganda in January to be the assistant director at a women's home in Gulu. This girl is the picture of obedience and truly abandoning everything for her Maker. 

Fast forward a few days and you'll find me here, braindead, laying in my cozy bed because now I am amidst the chaos of finals. sick. 

However, no matter how stressed I am, this has been my anthem this week:

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus, I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You

with joyful lips."

psalm 63:3-5

chapstick, chapped lips, and things like chemistry

It's been one of those days where your "to do" list is so long, it makes you want to cry. 

However, amidst the chaos of today, I have been given so many provisions from the Lord it's insane. Just to name a few...

I'll start with the little ones :)

1. My lips were so chapped all day, it hurt. I was in my car, just so happened to reach into the abyss of my console (which I never do) and what do you know, there appeared some chapstick. Thank You, Jesus.
2. During my 6 hours spent on campus today, I was starting to get extremely hungry and didn't have any money to get a snack. With my stomach growling, I dug through my backpack and found a butterfinger. Thank You, Jesus.
3. I had been trying to access something that was due on the internet all day, but forgot some vital information in order to log on. When I stepped foot in my class, my friend that I sat next to had the same problem as me, was working on it and so graciously gave me the email of a women that could help me. Problem solved. Thank You, Jesus.
4. I was feeling tired, irritated and had the "stuck in traffic" blues. I immediately get an encouraging and uplifting call from a friend. All better. Thank You, Jesus.
5. I have two parties to plan for this weekend and that means twice the baking, cooking, grocery shopping, etc on top of everything else I have to do. A few hours later, two of my roommates so graciously volunteer to bake and help with decorations. Thank You, Jesus. 
6. I have been stressed about money and finding work over the holidays. I get an email this morning from a friends mom that owns a retail store asking me to work and help out over Christmas break while I'm home. Again, Thank You Jesus.

Bam. No matter how long and stressful this day may have been, the Lord was STILL in it and in control. 

Now, I'm off to cross things off my list. WHOOP.

God is good.

P.S. any Relient K fans get the title? hope so.

Isaiah 43:19

I'm an avid blog-reader but sure as heck never pictured myself as the blog-writing type. I'm a business major, and if you know one or are one, you know that people like us can't write. Blogs were for my eloquent writer friends that have wild imaginations, read lots of books and have profound things to say. Honestly, I sit here in my quiet room as the rain is pouring down outside chuckling at myself for 1) signing up for a blogspot account and now 2) writing my first post. This is it, I have converted from blog-reader to blog-writer. Let's see how this goes...

This whole blog-writing idea started with the title of my blog and where it stems from. Meet one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 43:19 (ESV):

"Behold, I am doing a new thing:

now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it? 

I will make a way in the wilderness

and streams in the desert."

I'm a 20 year old college student who will be unleashed into the terrifying real world quicker than I think, and quite frankly I battle daily with the Lord as to if I can trust Him with my future and if He will provide. This verse comforts me. Over the past semester, I have viewed my life as the wilderness and the desert in this verse. Not that I feel desolate and lost, but I see the rest of my life as a vast blank canvas that the Lord is going to radically make something beautiful with. And it excites me. As I internship hunt, wish for a husband, stress about my future career, wonder what the rest of my life holds, I am reminded that my Lord and Savior is preparing me and doing a new thing in me. Although I may not see it now, He IS going to make pathways and streams where there are none and I need not worry because the God who made the stars has my life already figured out for me. Praise Him. Journey along with me as I sit and watch the Lord provide.

I'm standing at the edge of the desert...

Lord, lead the way.

-KT