Preciado

Just for the record I am completely in love with the Spanish language. It has so much more feeling and meaning than English does. I came across this word “preciado” which you would think would mean “precious.” No no no, It means so much more than that. It means “prized or valued.” Cool, yes? Let’s take this a step further. When I was growing up I learned the song Jesus Loves the Little Children. Pretty much everyone learned that song, it’s a Sunday school favorite. So in this song there is a line, “red and yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight.” To me that song has such a deep meaning now that I know how to sing it in Spanish. To God we are more than just precious we are prized and valued. I just got off the phone with a friend of mine. She struggles with wanting others approval and, well, just wanting to be liked. I think it’s something we all struggle with at times, especially girls. Here’s the thing, people are stupid. They like some people and don’t like others, and it’s pretty much for no reason, just because that’s the way they work. People can be rude and heartless and could sometimes care less about how you feel about being left out. People are messed up. Want to know the good news? God loves us. We are his prized and valued children and he does indeed care about you. He will always accept you, hold you, hang out with you, understand you, and treasure you. You don’t have to worry about finding value anywhere else because in Him you are at your height of beauty and aptitude. Take heart in knowing that every day He looks down on you as he holds you in His arms and says to you in all languages, “Te amo, mi preciado.”

Growing Up and Letting Go

Growing up and shrinking down
Shrinking into a shell so as not to be found
So that I may find myself and be free
Freedom in the end is what I so desperately need

Sometimes the hardest part of growing up is letting go
Letting go, of control
Simply placing one foot in front of the other
Making sure my umbrella is out in stormy weather

I find peace more and more
In falling short
Short of others’ measure
Instead listening to the small voice that calls me “Treasured”

Never ceasing to stand up for what’s right
To constantly fight
The battle of purity
And eternal security

Making decisions of my own
Not by parent remote control
Leaving the nest
And looking to God for the rest

Just cut the strings
And spreading my wings
Flying no more
Learning to soar

Finding my power in weakness
Knowing that Satan is relentless
Remembering that God’s in control
And just letting go

Bring A Towel...

I’m curious as to the thought process behind people who say one thing and do another. I’m not sure if they do it purposefully or they are just that ignorant to how much it hurts others around them. I’ve seen a lot of hypocrisy, sadly from growing up in the church, and it never ceases to baffle me how they think it’s ok. It irritates me more than I will ever be able to put down on paper. I understand that it’s hard being vulnerable, really I do. It’s my biggest weakness, but there is a difference between putting up a wall and lying to those around you. I rather be shut out completely than told a lie and get caught believing it, only to find out that it was all a muse in the first place. Show you’re weakness! Be human! It’s not that bad; I will respect you so much more. Messiness is part of being a human. It’s going to happen if you’re passionately following Christ. See, because if you run long enough, far enough, with enough passion, on a rocky road, you are eventually going to trip and get scraped up a little bit. Falling is ok! Jesus loved the messy! Think about who he hung out with on a regular basis… the sinners. The religious guys hated it. Jesus didn’t care he loved them because they were his. Don’t you see? That’s what it’s all about- HIM! Being a wonderfully crafted beautiful creation of Christ is not about being perfect at all. It’s about embracing your messiness, grabbing a handful of paper towels, and taking off at full speed after Christ. I hope you do trip up sometimes too, because every strawberry on your leg will remind you of how imperfect you really are and how much more you must rely on Christ. He’s the janitor that comes in and cleans up after you laughing all the way and saying to you, “O you messy, messy child, I love to watch you grow.” Be a messy mistake maker. Don’t worry, I’ll bring a towel.

You Make It Real

So if any of you have been keeping up with me you know that college has been somewhat of an amusement park. I’ve had the ups and downs of the roller coaster and the heart in your throat moments of the massive superman like rides. I’ve even felt the slow suspended meaningful moments of the ferris wheel. On every ride I’ve seen Jesus pop up in the most unexpected places. I see him more frequently as my college experience continues. I’m a big music person and I’m constantly discovering new songs to fall in love with. I heard a new song the other day that I really like. It’s not a Christian song, if fact, I’m pretty sure it was written about a girl but I think it expresses how I feel about Christ at this point in my life.

There's so much craziness surrounding me
There's so much going on it gets hard to breathe
All my faith has gone you bring it back to me
You make it real for me

Well I'm not sure of my priorities
I've lost sight of where I'm meant to be
And like holy water washing over me
You make it real for me
And I'm running to you
Cause you are the only one who save me
That's why I've been missing you lately
Cause you make it real for me

When my head is strong but my heart is weak
I'm full of hurricanes and uncertainty
But I can find the wordsYou teach my heart to speak
You make it real for me yea
And I’m running to you
You are the only one who save me
That's why I've been missing you lately
Cause you make it real for me

Everybody’s talking in words
I don't understand
You got to be the only one
Who knows just who I am
And you shine in the distance
I hope I can make it through
Cause the only place
That I want to be
Is right back home with you

I guess there's so much more
I have to learn
But if you're here with me
I know which way to turn
You always give me somewhere,
Somewhere I can learn
You make it real for me

And I’m running to you baby
Cause you are the only one who save me
That's why I've been missing you lately
Cause you make it real for me
You make it real for me

He really should be the one we run to, the one who makes everything real. I think it’s cool how a song can say that without even meaning to. It reminds me that God is in everything. We don’t have to invite Jesus to out life parties for him to show up. No fear or failure playing bouncer will ever be able to keep him out. He’s always somewhere we can run; He always understands; and He will always be completely real and consistent. It gives me hope that no matter what ride I decided to get on in life’s amusement park, Christ will always be the one at the controls.

Baggy Sweatshirt and Pringles

Why is it so hard to be real with people? Everyone hides in some way, right? I mean you pretend to be tough because you’re afraid of getting hurt, or you pretend to be vain because you really do hate how you look. I think people are just afraid of others finding out who they really are. We live in a world where we are constantly told that we are not good enough. It is forever shaping us to be self haters and mask wearers. It has focused are view on the exact opposite of where God wants it. See, God sees us as beautifully created children of purpose. He doesn’t make mistakes. We are wonderfully made and when we cover that we cover God’s handiwork. This is something I struggle with on a daily basis. I don’t see myself as necessarily beautiful by the world’s standards. Sometimes I feel as if I have to cover who I am so that others accept me. It manifests itself in many ways. Some days I run my straightener through my hair hoping if I get it just right it might distract from my other faults. I laugh at jokes I don’t think are funny just to fit in. There are even times I’ve acted mean just to cover the pain I was feeling. It’s funny, I thought I would fall back into that once I got to college, but I find myself being more and more confident in who I am. Today a friend of mine randomly showed up at my door. I was pretty much completely unprepared. I had my basketball pants on, and, due to the fact that it’s freezing in my room, was snuggled in my biggest, baggiest, warmest sweatshirt. She was just coming by to talk and maybe worship a little. We popped open a can of Pringles and sat around talking about life. I found myself being completely open and honest with her. I wasn’t worried about her judging me or her think I was a loser; we even got to worship together. I found out that Jesus doesn’t really care what you look like when you come before Him- He really only cares about your heart. Jesus is just funny that way I guess. He’s pretty proud of that which He has created. I think that we as the creation should be content in who we are and work on conforming our hearts to his image. I think everyday should be a baggy sweatshirt and Pringles day.





Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message)
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.