Well done.

(Most times I act mature. More often than not, I am serious. On occasion, a wave of the antonym of these two overtakes me... This may or may not have been one such occasion. Hi mom, I hope you liked your fb hack ;)

Eh oh! I am done. Done, done. Well done. I am so finished -- with school that is :) I took my last final yesterday and am so done. And today, I celebrated with not one, but TWO naps!

On another note, as I was dropping my car off at the mechanic today, I -just so happened- to walk by a pen full of chickies! Historically, I have not been such a fan of chickens (not even the wee little ones), but today, one caught my eye.

I'm not sure if you've had much exposure to chicks, but the popular feeder for these little tykes is a free-hanging feeder, like the one listed here for only $16.49. Moving on, most chicks have to peck enough feed out of the pan to release more feed from the trough.

As I was walking by the chicks today, one baby chick had -somehow?- landed in the trough itself and was having a grand ole time eating all the feed its little heart desired.

I smiled when I saw this and thought "this chick gets it!"

I don't blame it... I don't want to spend my days drinking from down stream either, I want to go to the fount. I smiled and prayed, asking God if He would be so kind as to plant me in His way. I want to be in the middle, not the outskirts, of His presence. I want to walk so closely behind Him that I'm covered in His dust. I want to be in the middle of His trough, not feeding out of the pan. Simply put, I want more. More and more and more of Him.

One discipline, that has helped me stay in tune with that desire, has been the discipline of fasting. There's just something to personal surrender, physical surrender. To me, it is an act of worship -- a way of saying that the things of this world WILL NOT satisfy, like the LORD GOD can. It is an act of surrender, but also celebration; it is another way of setting yourself apart for the wedding feast that is promised. I love it. I love the clarity that comes with it and MOST of all, the intimacy. The feeling of being "in tune" or on the same "wavelength" of the Spirit is infectious. No longer fixed on things of this world, but setting your sights on things eternal, fasting is such a beautiful way to flesh out a day. Mmk, I'm just rambling at this point BUT...

I just read this and loved every line of it AND I wanted to share it with you :)

Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade, jotted this down on why fasting is important:

1. Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.

2. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.

3. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."

4. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.

5. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!

6. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.

7. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.

My challenge to you this week is to pick a day, a meal even, and skip out on something! Be it food, entertainment, or talking; take a fast this week, intentional time to escape the noise, the distraction in your life, and focus on the King. Let me know how it goes!

{heart}
Kel

A daughter's burried plea.

I may or may not have just written this in my journal...

"I feel like writing in pencil today. It reflects the current state of my life.

Quiet, meek, unsure.

Write it in pencil and surely you can erase your transgressions with little attention drawn to the large catastrophes.

Sometimes I exaggerate, most times I think too much.

Will I ever be able to untangle and neatly wind up the emotions that I have freely spent?

Stinkin emotions; so conflicting. Stinkin heart; why must you be so misleading, but fun? Damn head; you serve your purpose, but can be ruthlessly callous at times.

What is this struggle I find myself in? This innate conflict that separates, divides?

Surely I long for harmony; for unity and peace.

Who will be the victor? Which voice will be triumphant?

Will it be a confident defeat with a standing O? Or will it forever demand a recount?

Does it even matter in the end?

Why must I be so torn?

I long for life, strive for righteousness, and find myself wading through the feces of this world.

Yet, this is my hope: Jesus, my Most High Priest, made a way for me.

These feet are anointed with His MOST HOLY Spirit.

In a beautiful exchange, He brings light into my perpetual darkness, clarity in the midst of my confusion, and hope in my hopeless hang ups.

He bridged the great divide between the daughter with dirty feet and opens arms, and her Father, longing and holy.

No longer distant, this life of mine has been turned upside down; feet scrubbed clean by The Holy One.

Clothed in a robe of righteousness, who I am that I may partake in this wedding feast?

Who am I that I may be seated at The Table?

Praise be to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners."

{heart}
Kel

The world is my oyster... Or is it?

*The 50 that I love*

There is a precious lady in my nursing program. Many, actually. But one in particular is sweet enough to ask me about my plans on a weekly basis. She is married and has a child. She enjoys asking me about my plans, about my next step, because the prospect of being able to go anywhere and do anything is exciting to her. It is exciting to me too.

In the past, she has smiled and said "Girl, the whole world is your oyster". Historically, I have smiled and said something to the affect of "Yeah, I feel that way!"

On Wednesday, I was walking the streets of Phoenix, sleep deprived and mentally drained (and it was only 9:30am), and had a divine revelation.

I don't want the oyster.

I don't want anything that the oyster has to offer.

I want the pearl.

Jesus told a story about that. He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.

Again, He said, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

This week, I realized what I want. I know what I have to give to get it, but may it be my forever joy to lose myself and gain more of my King.


*Leah, Jessica, Christina, Adrienne, Elena and Sam*

*Andrew and Lisa*

*Sam, Michael, Adrienne, Elena, Mike*

*James!*

*Mike*

*D8: Sam, Andrew, Elena, Adrienne, Michael, Joleen, Carolina and Lisa! <3*