adventures in orlando...

day 1

we started off in l.a. around 7 p.m. at the fly away on our way to lax.

here we are. ready for our originally 10:18 p.m., delayed to 10:50 p.m., flight. the delay provided us with the opportunity for conversation with brian, fellow passenger of our flight to orlando. i decided that my job has made me more able to talk with people from a variety of backgrounds. very interesting.

here we are in the air, almost ready to land.

finally, in the hotel lobby. just a little tired. oh, and my hair is already starting to freak out because of the humidity. fun times. ha ha.

we will be going flying later on today. peter pan style, not on a plane. pictures will follow. :-)

who do i want to be?

this is the question of the day. what sort of a person do i want to be? what message do i want my life to speak? what are my goals, hopes, dreams, future? big questions, but no so many answers. i do, however, know a few things...

-i want to live a life that points back to god as good and gracious, a life that brings him glory and leads others into relationship with him.
-i want to be a blessing and a source of encouragement to others.
-i want to love others deeply and to allow others to love me.
-i want to be different, not status quo.
-i want to have an impact on the world around me.
-i want to live a life with an eternal perspective in mind.
-i want to be who god made me to be and to follow him wherever he leads. he truly does know best.

lord, you know it's hard to do these things. life is not easy, especially the sort of life that you call us to live. praise you that you are always by our side and are desiring to provide us with all that we need to be who you made us to be. thank you that you have a plan and a purpose for each one of us. please lead us and guide us, and draw us nearer to you.

"'not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,' says the lord." (zechariah 4:6)

thank you that we don't do this alone but according to your strength. you are good, lord. amen.

truth and freedom.

john 8:32 “’then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

2 corinthians 3:16-18
“but whenever anyone turns to the lord, the veil is taken away. now the lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom. and we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the lord, who is the spirit.”

galatians 5:1,4-5
“it is for freedom that christ has set us free. stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…you who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from christ; you have fallen away from grace. but by faith we eagerly await through the spirit the righteousness for which we hope.”

john 10:10
“‘the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; i have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’”

freedom. life. truth.

let's do it!

what does my life point to?

this has been the question of my life lately: what exactly does my life say?

if someone were to look at me, my countenance, my facebook profile, my myspace page, my relationships, my attitude at work, etc. what would they think? what does my life point to? what is it accomplishing? what am i investing my life in? and does it matter?

such good questions. such important questions. such easy questions to ponder for two seconds and then move on. however, that is not the point.

if we let them, these questions can be life-altering. that is what i want.

i don't want to live my life mindlessly. i do NOT want to go through the motions, live my life selfishly, etc. i want my life to count.

truth and love. this is what i want.

jesus + the beach = good times.

lisa, it's NOT about you being strong enough. it's about allowing my power to be made perfect in your weakness. "when i am weak, then i am strong." (2 corinthians 12:10) "'not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,' says the lord." (zechariah 4:6)

trust me. i have not forgotten. i've got you, girl. you're in my arms. i love you with an everlasting, unchanging, perfect, unconditional love. you are mine. i will NOT let you go. i've got you--now and forever.

--jesus to lisa

dwelling in the truth is SO much better than the alternatives. we have a good god!