6. vacare deo

vacare deo: to make oneself empty for God.

and this is what i'm practing this week.

meditating on His holy and precious Word. the Truth.

emptying myself of that which does not honor & glorify Him. because isn't that what this life is all about? is that not the reason that He created us?

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
       to receive the glory and honor and power,
  for you created all things,
      and by your will they existed and were created."
                     -Revelation 4:11-

and how can i possibly have a mindset of worshiping Him if i am not emptied of the things that distract me from Him?

5 - love

it five o'clock. i call him and let him know that i'm on my way home. he says he can't wait to see me. he says that he loves me. i hang up the phone and i can't help but to give Him thanks. thanks for this job. thanks for this car. thanks for this traffic that keeps me in His perfect timing. and thanks for him.

he greets me in the kitchen with his is dimpled smile that caught my eye from day one. "dinner's almost ready" he tells me as i look around and see the table set for two. the sink that i left full of dishes is empty. the floors have been vacuumed. the bed has been made. the dogs have been walked. and i fall into the comfort of his arms. the same ones that worked hard all day to tidy up the house. and he knows that this is just the way i like it.

amid the long days of work, the late nights filled with job applications, Bible study preparations, and school work, he keeps his promise from that day. his promise to love me. to cherish me. to lead me. to provide for me. and to protect me. he's faithful. he's giving. he's selfless, everyday.

it's early in the morning and the moonlight is peeking through the crack in the blinds. i lay there and just watch him sleep. i take it all in. these gifts that He has given. this quaint apartment that has just enough room for the two of us. the pantry full with food. the piano that brings me to worship Him. that sewing machine from my grandma. the picture on the dresser from that extraordinary day. those two sweet puppies all tucked away in their bed. this man that works hard and loves hard. this life that i don't deserve. i lay there and praise Him. i praise the One who made it all. and gave it all.

and this is love. selfless. sacrificial. constant. everyday he lives out this love in our covenant relationship. he looks to the One who brought us together. for guidance. for strength. for wisdom. for everything. because that's the only way. because He's the only way.

this love is not perfect. because he's not perfect and i'm not perfect. the only perfect love comes from above. this love is unconditional. the ultimate sacrifice of One's life for another. this love is bigger than our love. this love is bigger than us. and I praise Him. for His perfect work on the cross that saved us. for the ultimate sacrifice of His death so that we might have life. for His unconditional love. for His perfect plan.

i praise Him for this simple everyday picture of His love that He has given me through him.

4 - update

i'm back and super excited about my blog! i gave it a new look, a new picture, and since i got a new (last)name, i thought i would give it one too. (: God has been doing so many exciting things in my life that i can't help but share them!


in may, i married my best friend. the past 8 months have been full of love, happiness, stress, bills, laundry, meal planning, lots of cleaning, cooking, budgeting, crafting, homemaking, hectic schedules, and more joy than i could have ever planned for. being married to a man that seeks the Lord daily while striving to provide for me, protect me, and lead me, is truly an honor. i so treasure our morning devotions and times of prayer together and i think one of the most important things that i have learned through it all is this:


marriage is a beautiful and sanctifying covenant relationship between a man and a women that can only be enjoyed to the fullest when the One who created it is at the center.

so since may, i have had the joy of being a wife and homemaker and i love every day of it. i love cooking and cleaning and organizing. and  i love having a sweet little apartment to decorate and call "our home."

(more pictures here)

Mr. has been super busy as well. he is currently in his last year of undergrad at liberty. he's doing everything online so that he is able to take classes, work full time for j.crew and serve at our church. (he really is amazing!) if all goes as planned, he will finish up this summer and start seminary in the fall. we're still praying about which seminary that will be, but he's hoping to do everything online for that as well so that we are able to stay in virginia. 


we really do love it here! God has blessed us with the most amazing christian friends and a wonderful church. we both have full-time jobs, food on the table, and a roof over our heads. we have so much to be thankful for and everyday i am reminded that,


God is faithful to meet our every need. He is loving, just, forgiving, full of grace and mercy. He is sovereign over all things and He constantly sustains us. 


what a great & mighty God we serve!