F-O-R-M-A-L

That's right. This weekend was AOII Spring Formal. It was SO much fun. We went to Birmingham to the oh so gorgeous Alabama Theater. I felt like I was in the 20s! The band was Tim Tyler. I had a great time with so many fun people. I am so thankful for all the friends the Lord has placed in my life this year! Here's a little bit of the night in pictures!

Awkward Family Photo

This picture may or may not be on the famous blog Today's Letters for Fist Pump Friday this week!! Yay!! Go check it out!

My rockstar hair done by the fabulous Ami Butterworth.

This picture makes me laugh. Some people were doing frowning pictures and this is the best frown I could come up with.

A Yummier Side of Easter

Although chocolate obviously cannot compare to the Gospel, I do think it is one way that God shows his love for us, so I decided that delicious Easter candy was worth a post of it's own! Here's a few of my favorites. Hurry to Wal Mart while it's all on sale!

Why this Friday is SO good!

I feel like the gravity of this week is just now beginning to hit me. I have been running around like crazy with school stuff, and have failed to take as much time as I would've liked to be still and let the Gospel knock me off my feet yet another time. Friends, I want to run and jump for joy! God in his perfect holiness could not associate with my sin. He created me, yet I spit in His face. Instead of leaving me to suffer as I deserved, He implemented a plan of redemption that began before even time. He sent His only son, but not only that, part of Himself. The Trinity has never been separated - save once. Jesus Christ came to earth and lived the spotless life I should've. Then he suffered a death that I can't even begin to fathom. I feel like the cross gets so glamorized nowadays, and I'm as guilty as the next person. Imagine if people had decorative paintings of electric chairs all over their homes, and wore small renditions of them on their necks. That's what the cross was in biblical times - an instrument of torture and death. Yet the reason we make it beautiful today is because of what was accomplished there. On the cross, Christ drank to the dregs the cup of God's wrath against sin - a cup that was mine to drink. On the cross, Christ cancelled the demands of the law against me and against you. When I stand in the court of God's judgement, He looks at me and sees the perfect robe of Christ's righteousness and declares me innocent. Even now, he is at the right hand of the Father pleading continually on my behalf. Does that not blow your mind? When I think about the cross and all that it entails I am humbled beyond belief. Who am I that the LORD of creation would love me this much? When Christ gave up his spirit, the curtain in the temple that separated the holy of holies was torn in two from top to bottom. What our great High Priest accomplished for us here is incredible - He made it possible for us to come before the Throne of Grace with confidence, because we don't come in our own merit. All praise and glory be to Jesus Christ - the Messiah! 


Here's a couple snipits of Scripture and hymns, etc. to keep your heart focused this weekend!


He left His Father's throne above, 
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love, 
And bled for Adam's helpless race. 
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, 
For O my God, it found out me!
-The hymn "And Can it Be"


Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light, 
  the air supply breath,
  the earth bear my tread, 
  its fruits nourish me,
  its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me, 
  thy heart hastens to my rescue,
  thy love endured my curse,
  thy mercy bore my deserved stipes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation, 
  bathed in thy blood, 
  tender of conscience,
  triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.
-from The Valley of Vision


When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14


Also go read the lyrics to Beneath the Cross of Jesus in my post entitled "Hymn of the Week"


I realize that I got a little excited and carried away in this post, and maybe threw out a lot of terminology and symbolism that probably confuses the mess out of some of you. So, if you are left feeling super confused, first of all keep in mind that we will never 100% grasp all of this on our side of heaven. But, it so worth trying. Every time you understand it a little bit more you will be blown away once again. So if you have questions, facebook me, email me, call me. Clearly I would LOVE to talk about it. Or go to someone else you trust. Don't neglect the most beautiful of all treasures!

The Best Mascot Ever

Well today, I walked out of Haley like thousands of students do every day. But today, Aubie happened to be standing there. He motioned to me to see which way I was walking, and he held out his arm to me. He walked me all the way down the concourse. It was awesome! Yet another reason why I love this place so much!

Book Plug

In case you were unaware, I have a slight obsession with John Piper. Ok, I take that back. It's more than slight. I heard him preach live for the first time at Passion over New Years. When he came on stage I felt like a 12 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert. I just started this book by him, The Passion of Jesus Christ. It is broken up into 50 reasons Christ suffered and died. It is a great book to read to prepare my heart for Easter. Each reason is only two pages, so I can read it in short spurts. Each page is full of scripture, and resonates the truth of the Gospel in every word. It is so good to be reminded over and over again of the seriousness of my rebellion against God and the overwhelming power of his grace. If you are looking for a quick read that is jam-packed with truth, pick this up!

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Isaiah 53:4-6

Beautiful Feet

I just spent all my homework time looking up MTW internships. If this blog is supposed to be a representation of me, I think I've done a poor job emphasizing one central thing. World Missions. I don't even know how to do justice to the longing the Lord has placed on my heart for cultures and places that do not know him. When I was four years old, a girl came and talked to our Children's church class. She was about to leave for China for two years, and asked us to pray for her every time we ate rice. If I had to trace it back to one moment, it would be that. I have since prayed for and written letters to many single missionaries. Ever since I can remember, I have been obsessed with other cultures. Missions Festival is my favorite weekend of every year. I was blessed immensely by working on the missions committee at my home church while still in high school. I am hesitant to tell people that I want to be a missionary, because I don't want to place myself in God's will. And frankly, I will do whatever he calls me to. Missions can happen in Auburn, Alabama. Also, the desire of my heart is still that the Lord will give me a husband, and I will follow his leadership as we seek the Lord's will together. However, I can't help but hope that at some point that will takes me completely out of my context of normal life, and into another place, where I am forced to rely solely on the one who gave up everything for me. 

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.  Habakkuk 1:5

You said "Ask, and I'll give the nations to you." Oh Lord, that's the cry of my heart. Distant shores and the islands will see your light as it rises on earth. -Shane and Shane