Back to the Forest

Little snapshots of life in the Piney Woods: blessed as always.

Ihop with some lovely friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Adventures with these two goofballs.

Fun/interesting moments with bro at the wheel.

Iphones...always a big hit with the babysitting group.

Enjoying God's creation on mom's lovely bike with the comfy padded seat (I think I'm getting spoiled).

Painting party with Andrea. Becca worked really hard on hers. Can you tell?


The following two videos and picture chronicle a momentous experience in Caleb's life. I'll let him explain it to y'all.

It's been fun :).

That's my life. Earnestly expecting the coming trip to COSTA RICA. Enjoying life in the beautiful piney woods. Missing college station. Counting my blessings. Thanking God.

While finally working on the unpacking adventure today, I ran across the following little poem written last semester. Lately I've been working on some other things but am not quite ready to post them yet. This was written after reading 1 Peter 2:21-25 and has been helpful for reminding myself of how much more I need to work on trusting in the Lord. May it be a blessing to you even with all of its little imperfections.

Do you not think that He who on

The cross would bear our sins,

Might ever still our souls regard

As precious stones to win?

How futile we, who spurning cast

The Shepherd from our gaze.

And think that we could better choose

The pathway of our days.

Yet still He loves with aching care

And longs our hearts to mold.

Would that we place our trust in Him,

The Guardian of our souls.

I think that the phrase "Shepherd and Guardian of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:25) is such a powerful one, don't you?

In fact, that entire section of 1 Peter is beautiful. Read it, then tell me some things you've learned from it. :)

Lastly, here's a verse from my reading this morning:
"For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You." - from David's prayer to the Lord after he had been established as king over Israel and told his kingdom would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:27). It made me grateful that even the great king David had to find the courage to pray. When I stop and consider just who GOD is, I struggle so with drawing "near with confidence to the throne of grace." I'm so thankful that David found the courage to pray his prayer because of the Lord's "revelation to Your servant." Today, I read His revelation to us, and grow in confidence as David did. Confidence in prayer is still an immense struggle for myself yet I thank God that David found the courage to pray. May we be ever more bold and humble in our journey through prayer. After all, our confidence comes from the very "blood of Jesus" (Heb 10:19). We can enter the holy place. We have a great High Priest. One who sympathizes with our weaknesses. Even when those weaknesses include a timid and trembling heart.

I pray that this post has been beneficial para ustedes! Off to watch the high school jazz band perform their last concert. Should be spectacular :).

Pura vida amigos!  

Controlled by Love

Hola amigos!
It's summertime and in three short weeks I'll be headed to...COSTA RICA!!!
Wow.
I am earnestly striving to be productive and find ways to serve others in these three weeks. With productivity in mind, I decided to add writing on a blog to the list of things I want to accomplish before heading south of the border. I plan on keeping up with this blog while in Costa Rica and thought that if I started the habit of writing on it now, that habit will be easier to continue while abroad.
We'll see. ;)


I'm not very good about sharing what I'm learning or what I'm writing with others. I write frequently and it is beneficial for myself. However, it does little service to others by staying locked away in a journal. I'm rather timid about it. So, before leaving for Costa Rica and writing about my experiences there, I've decided that I will start posting various writings. They are by no means fine-tuned or edited to perfection (I'm a horrible editor). Yet if it is of service or helpful to any of you then I will be glad for posting them. Comments and suggestions for improvement are ALWAYS wonderful! May this little blog be a blessing to each of you. It is my desire to glorify God through it.


"Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:11


My blog's title is...Pura Vida!
Why?
Pura Vida is a common saying in Costa Rica (shout-out to Daniel Mateo for first teaching me this). According to the highly reliable source that is wikipedia, "Pura Vida" means -


"Pura vida literally means Pura = pure and vida = life, but "Pure life" in Spanish would be "Vida pura" instead, so the real meaning is closer to "plenty of life", "full of life", "this is living!", "going great", "real living", or "cool!"^[1] It can be used both as a greeting and a farewell, to express satisfaction, to politely express indifference when describing something ^[1] or even to say "thank you". The phrase has become widely known; this highly flexible statement has been used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) since 1956.^[2] Some foreigners view the phrase as an expression of a leisurely lifestyle, of disregard for time, and of wanton friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits, enjoying life slowly, and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes small and large alike."


This is the kind of life I am striving to live. A life that is pure. A life that is enjoyed slowly. A life showing resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits. A life of celebration. Pura Vida sounds very similar to the abundant life that we have in Christ.


"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." - John 10:7


My life is abundant because of the One who guides my path. It is an incredibly joyous act, to live a life with Christ. It is at times difficult, at times easy, and always incredibly joyful to live with the peace which surpasses all understanding. I thank my God that I might not live for self, but live for Him.


"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." - 2 Cor. 5:14-15 


Christ died for all. And because of His great sacrifice, the love that He showed controls us. Living for self is no longer possible. We must live for Him. We are, after all, "new creatures" in Christ. 


"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."


How are you living for Christ? Are you controlled by His love? Am I?
Just a few little thoughts for this lovely Monday night.
Have a blessed one friends.
And, of course, Pura vida!