Some Extra Lovin'

And just because I love you, here's a song to celebrate unconditional love (and it's so stinking cute).

You are Loved

Happy Valentines Day, loves

I just wanted to take a few moments to celebrate a love that is more eternal than the twelve dozen roses that will die in two days.  That is life-giving, not cavity-giving like the box of chocolates.  That is sincere and genuine, not like the card he picked up at Walgreen's two minutes before he came home.  This is the kind of love that all other loves should measure up to.

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

"I have loved you with everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

And I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.  I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. 

Hosea 2: 19-20 (ESV)

The LORD your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness'

he will quiet you with his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

This is a love that is unconditional.  And no matter how many times I am Gomer-- rejecting and running from this overwhelming affection--the Lord continues to pursue my wild and rebellious heart.  This is the reason that I am willing to gloriously ruin my life for the gospel. How else can I respond to such relentless pursuit? 

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of 

you

but to do justice, and love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Be Mine?

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; 

all day long they press their attack.

Psalm 56:1

Now if there's any verse that aptly describes my life right now, it's that one.  Just kidding! 

But Valentine's day is tomorrow, and while I'm not a big fan of the holiday in general, I do love making and sending Valentine cards.  Here are some of my favorites: 

This perfectly illustrates awkwardness that is middle school (and most of my) relationships:

(via: source unknown)

As  college student, this means a lot: 

 (via: Etsy)

And who doesn't love a fox wearing a top hat?

(via: Rifle Paper Company)

To Chop or Not to Chop

I go through moments of restlessness when I need to change something.  I have the urge to pierce, dye, or tattoo something.  Usually I can just take a few deep breaths and the feeling goes away (hence the lack of piercings, dyed hair, or tattoos) but recently I've had the urge to cut my hair.  Ever since my mom stopped choosing my hair cuts, I've had medium to long hair--never going shorter than shoulder length.  Lately I've been fighting the itch to chop it.  And while I dream about a Ginnifer Goodwin-esque pixie, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to pull it off.    

(via: source unknown)

I would be open to something more along the lines of these styles. 

 (via: source unknown)

(via: Sacramento Street)

(via: Cafe Cartolina)

(via: Le 21 eme) 

 I do have a few reservations: Curly hair tends to do some weird things when it's short. I'm super low maintenance and I'm not about to wake up earlier to fuss with my hair.  I've had my fair share of awful haircuts (psuedo-mullet, 50's housewife, little Amish boy) and while a pony tail was always a quick fix for those monstrosities, this cut wouldn't be so easy to hide.
What do you think?  Chop it? Or take a deep breathe and wait for the feeling to pass?

Chasing Sunsets

Apathy is so sneaky and so destructive.  I fill my day up to overflowing to feel more important, more loved, more needed.  But all I'm really doing is distracting myself and creating complacency and indifference.  I don't have time to care.  I'm too tired to help.  It's much safer to not get involved.

But Christ did not call me to a life of not getting involved.  He got involved.  He got messy.  And he calls me to do the same.

I've been reading Malachi lately and God is tired of Israel's laziness. "But you say What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts."  (Malachi 1:13)  God has just declared his glory "For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations" (Malachi 1:11a) but Israel can't be bothered.  For them, it's a hassle to sacrifice their offerings to the Lord, so they cut corners or give the bare minimum.  How often throughout the day does God declare his glory but I am too busy, tired, [fill in the blank] to notice?  How often do I give myself half-heartedly to the people around me?  A half-hearted sacrifice is worse than no sacrifice at all.

I have a friend who will literally drop everything to watch the sunset.  I've seen her stand outside in freezing weather to see the heavens declare the glory of God.  She's not content to just look up at the sky, say "How pretty" and go back to life; she searches for clearings between buildings and openings in the landscape for a better view of the sky.  She literally chases sunsets.

I want to chase sunsets.  I want to pursue the Lord, people, and this adventure with the same intensity, born out of a genuine desire to love.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, 

or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

The sacrifices of God are a 

broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God,

you will not despise. 

Psalm 51:15-17