Chapter 19, community: part 1

 What I've learned about community so far,

. . .


God knows I would rather be alone than with people. I'd rather lock myself in my room with a book or Netflix + forget the World.

I've never noticed how truly lonely that is.

I'm a homebody. I crave a good book, a blanket + nothing else. It worries me that it never worried me how comfortable I am with being alone. Lately, I've been encouraged to seek community. And while it's overwhelming  + I would truly just as well stay home, I'm starting to see the blessing of opening up and letting people in my island. It all boils down to trust and intentionality. How do I stay growing in Christ if I'm not with His Church?

"A lack of Church life makes us vulnerable to the enemy."- Steven J. Cole

In order to put on the full armor of Christ, I have to get into a community of believers who will encourage me + whom I can encourage.

"Your vibe attracts your tribe."

Makes me wonder sometimes, what I am attracting? Am I glorifying Christ with my action, my words + attitude?

who am I attracting?


. . .



Further reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

chapter 17, reflections on easter + some nuggets and worms with coffee

I appreciate the beauty of these three days + the impact those three days many, many years ago had on my life, right now. 

to be honest, i don't appreciate it nearly as much as I should, nor do I spend the time to really meditate  + reflect on the beauty of what Christ did at the cross, and then at the tomb. i take it for granted some times (read: a lot of times). 

my brother makes the most bomb coffee, ever. 

but, God. 

He doesn't give up on me, He fights for me + He loves me, deeply. my prayer is that I love Him + others with that same intensity. That I walk a life that honors Him and brings Him glory. I think about this some times and I wonder what I reflect when others look at me. I am not perfect, I fail Him daily and my love for Him seems lacking somehow. 

can I have some sauce to go with these nuggets?

but, God. 

it took me a while to write this post. part of me felt inadequate to write about God, because I'm so broken and so undeserving. i am in no way trying to excuse sin, but I think that God loves us because of our broken, because of our wandering hearts. He loves us because He is God and there is so much love in Him. i'm honored that He chooses to love me. my prayer is that He will give me a heart for Him all my days, that I will bring glory to His name, that for all my days, I will love Him with all my heart.

Book nerd in the making.

chapter 16, a wilderness

silence rains steadily
against my soul

a desert place where
there is no drink 

a storm of dust 
rages war within me

my heart, failing
my Spirit stands, waiting


waiting means taking God as our refuge, as our rock. it means not being moved or troubled by the distractions of this World that cause us grief. it means I believe in His promises; that they will pass.

in quietness + confidence shall be your strength, Is. 30:15

wilderness is a place of waiting, of taking courage and not losing heart (Ps. 27: 13-14).

rejoice in the wilderness.

may He be glorified in mine.

Amen.

Chapter 15: Pico de gallo situation

Pico de gallo, my lifetime friend. Goes well with everything and you can do no wrong when it comes to making it (read: easiest recipe evah')

Ingredientes:

- Two handfuls of fresh cilantro
- 1 1/2 white onion
- 1 lemon
- 3 tsps salt
- 4 tsps vinegar

|I made a big batch, measurements will vary to amount made.|

Easy peezy instrucciones:

- cut onion in small pieces (the smaller the better)
- cut and squeeze lemon on onions; mix
- pour vinegar; mix
- cut and wash cilantro, and add to the onions; mix
- cut tomatoes in halves and slice, add to onions and cilantro, but don't mix right away
- sprinkle salt and then mix

I'm sure you can just mix it all together, but I find letting the onions rest with the lemon and vinegar allows for a  much better mixing of ingredients. Again, with the salt, I sprinkle on top of the tomatoes and then mix. That's just me though! Again, no way you could mess this up!

I paired mine with fish tacos. Da bomb ✊🏼