in His presence.

i love babysitting. seriously, there is nothing better than watching someone's kids and getting to leave at the end of the night and get a full nights sleep. i mean, i want to be a mom someday, but babysitting is really as good as it gets! its like the best of both worlds!

i love when i get to a house and the kid(s) have one thing that they love to do with me. at one house, its painting fingernails for 3 bright eyed energetic girls. at another house, its watching Tinkerbell the movie with another little girl that dreams of being Ariel one day. this is the same girl that thinks her daddy is prince charming!

God doesn't babysit me, although i think sometimes my behavior warrants babysitting, but that is besides the point. but there are things i LOVE to do with Him. i love to rest in His presence. i know that sounds so general, but have you ever been there? have you ever been so fully wrapped in Him that you get goosebumps?

it happened on my way home today. i was singing How Deep The Father's Love For Us (sung by Nichole Nordeman) in my car and felt it. the goosebumps traveled all the way from my ankles to my head. you know, that kind that overwhelms you? it came at this part:

it was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
i know that it is finished


sometimes i cannot even imagine how or why He loves me the way He does. i don't think i am supposed to.

like i said, i love babysitting, and the fact that the kids love doing one special thing with Miss Tiffany. but what the kids don't know, is that as much as they love doing that with me, i love just being with them. i like to think God thinks that too. in fact, i know He does.

Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

44 days.

i can hardly believe, that in 44 days i will be on the other side of the world. i don't even have the slightest vision of what it will be like.

today, a mom came to drop off her child while she was in a bible study. she looks at me and says "use this for however God tells you to use it for your trip." i was stunned. seriously, God shows me His providence for my life/summer just about every day. think about it.

who knew that when i was 22 i would want to become a teacher? and who knew that at the same age, i would go on my first trip to Asia? who knew that at the age of 24 i would be teaching my own class? God did.

sounds incredibly cliche, right? you only hear that for newborns and graduating seniors. its the verse that i have heard so many times, i can quote it in my sleep.

Jeremiah 29:11


"for I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope."


i take great comfort in knowing that He gave me a future and a hope. i don't know why i am so surprised when God shows up. He does all the time, and sometimes i don't even take notice.

You Are For Me-Kari Jobe

So faithful, so constant
So loving and so true
So powerful in all You do
You fill me, You see me
You know my every move
You love for me, to sing to You


I know that you are for me, I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come now
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me, who You are


So patient, so gracious
So merciful and true
So wonderful in all you do
You fill me, You see me
You know my every move
You love for me, to sing to you


I know that you are for me, I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come now
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me, who You are