When I Look at You...

I don't understand how anyone in the world can not see God.
His beauty is revealed in the sun.
His beauty is revealed in the clouds.
His beauty is revealed in the ocean.
His beauty is revealed in flowers.
His beauty is revealed in the sound of a piano.
His beauty is revealed in the strength between lovers.
His beauty is revealed in babies.
His beauty is revealed in all human life.
His beauty is revealed in a sweet little kitten.
His beauty is revealed in a warm night under the stars.

His beauty is everywhere. The people who rely on their own knowledge and
who search for things that only put holes in their hearts don't see it.
They think Christians are stupid because they don't understand.
They are blinded in a world full of beauty by hate.
How sad.

The Friday Night Jive

*

What an amazing turn out! I had a lot of fun and I enjoyed dancing with every body. I wish NHS dances were this much fun.. I guess they have some competition :)
I think that people are turned onto grinding and all that nasty trash because they don't have to use much of their brains. Once you get basic swing down it's not hard. If only everyone would give it a chance..

I really wish I would have taken dance when I was little. I would love to take more dance lessons now. :)

Anyways, I know this is exactly a week late, but thanks to everyone who made FNJ possible. I hope next year we do something at least half as wonderful :)

I'm Awake! I'm Alive! Waking up, Waking up -*Skillet*

This week has been a different one. I've been forced to adjust to being busy every night (Monday-Thursday) with school and church stuff. Maybe forced was a bad word to use ("responsible to attend" is a little bit better of a choice) anyways... it's not that i don't want to be involved in these things.. i have a lot of fun (except in the SAT prep class). I'm just not used to it, i guess. I'm so familiar with having a lot of time to do whatever i want before homework is started or devotions are done. Gosh college will hit me hard.

This week has been tiring, distracting, random, and selfish.
Devotions became a routine. Facebook became a disturbance. Homework became a burden.
Blah, blah, blah.
This always happens to me when there are a lot of wonderful things to look forward to, and I get so excited about them that i forget about focusing on what's most important.

The future has stolen my thoughts wayyyy too much.
Annoying & stessful things like driving, SAT/ACT, college, grades, & money have worried me.
Wonderful & exciting things like the friday night jive, missions trip, purdue visit, prom, & summer vacation have kept me anxious.
Everything in my head is everywhere right now.

The awesome dude who wrote Crazy Love shook me awake a little bit by saying,
"WORRY implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives."
I should probably write that on a post-it note and keep it in my locker or something because i get too wrapped up in STUPID "what ifs" and freak out that i'm going to die young or something.

Then with the great things that have been happening an Ecclesiastes verse came back to me.
"Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future" Ecc 10:13-14

HELLO, Erika, you've been screwing up all week.

So, prayers would be appreciated. I am focusing on feeling joyous/thanksful for God's blessings and calm about God's guidance/decisions about my future. At the same time I'm also trying not to be obsessive over worldly possessions and to spend more God time.
And what a coincidence that My Future Decided by Hillsong came on my playlist as i was typing that. Haha, God is clever.

Now i must go back to reading Crazy Love. I saw the quote about worry and immediately posted a blog. The chapter is yet to be finished. Let's see if the end of the chapter sparks another blog post.

We Were Made To Be Captivating While Being Captivated By Our Creator

Just finished the book Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge.
FEMALES, if you have yet to read it.. hop to it!
it's amazing! <3 it has changed my perspective on Christ
and it's a great read! Now I'm reading Crazy Love and watching
a long 14 minute video with the fun-loving author talking
about happy stuff :)
In English I'm reading Huck Finn and it's a hilarious book.
The End