the hurt before the healing

Come, let us return. He has torn us into pieces; He has injured us. Come, let us return to the Lord. He will heal us; He will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, He'll restore us; in just a short time, He'll restore His church so we might live in His presence. O, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. Let us press hard unto Him, and as surely as the coming of the Lord, He will respond!

While this is a song that Shane Bernard wrote, the lyrics come mostly from Hosea 6. I was talking with a friend yesterday about how God teaches us painful things. Sometimes, it seems like God enjoys teaching us painful things, but I know that's not the case. We are stubborn people who can't learn any other way. It is when I go through something painful that I most vulnerably run to the Healer. That's what He wants, right? He's wise. He knows what He's doing! For when I run to Him in those times, I do experience healing, and the things I learn from it are immeasurable. O, that I may know the Lord...that I may press hard unto Him, for HE WILL RESPOND!

20 Things

1. I just ate a fantastically (is that even a word?) well balanced lunch.
2. Cal Correnti is my favourite Correnti.
3. I look so forward to making memories.
4. I enjoy working crossword puzzles.
5. God is working on my jealous heart, and I'm thankful for it.
6. School could not end fast enough.
7. Mallory Huber owns a huge part of my heart.
8. Whit McDonald called me by the correct name today!!!!
9. I would love to be fluent in Spanish.
10. One day, I hope to learn a decent amount on the guitar.
11. Being a grown up scares me.
12. Sometimes, I think about my future career, and it excites me so much that I tear up.
13. I don't like animals.
14. Vanilla ice cream is better than chocolate.
15. You know I like you if I give you a nickname.
16. It seems that I'm going to be a lifetime big sister, and some days, I'm okay with that.
17. No matter how bad of a rap (no pun intended) it gets, I'm proud to be from Memphis, TN.
18. I can't ever decide my favourite colour.
19. The picture on my desktop is currently my favourite picture of all time.
20. Getting mail makes my day every single time.

blue lights, green lights, few lights, THE Light

The other night, three friends and I went to a blown glass exhibit here in Nashville. "Chihuly Nights" provided brilliant colors that were beyond captivating. Granted, we went on the last day of the exhibit, but there were hundreds, if not thousands, of people crowding these botannical gardens to see these lights. Nearly 20 different outdoor pieces of work and several different indoor pieces kept us awed for about 2 hours.

As the night went on, I couldn't help but think of the concept of people being drawn to the light. As we walked around, there were people of all different walks of life that were enjoying the evening, too. Some of them chose to do so while intoxicated. Other had their children with them. Some, like us, took a picnic and enjoyed the night out with friends. We were all there for one thing, though--the lights.

What is it about light that is so captivating? I, personally, am a sucker for Christmas lights. I could seriously look at them every single night during the season and be completely happy. Why is that? For me--and maybe this is true for all--the true brilliance of the lights is shown in the darkness. I hate to keep using the word 'captivating', but it's true. At Chihuly, I couldn't help but stare at the different exhibits. The lights revealed a small part of the intricateness of the glass, but they also revealed the filth of the water/land around them.

This is how Jesus works. He's beautiful, and often, for those looking for Him, He's easiest to spot in the midst of filth. You can't help but stare at Him, gazing on each and every lovely detail. O, that I may be more and more captivated by the Light of the world!