seraphs and superlatives

Holiness, holiness is what I long for. Holiness is what I need. Holiness is what you want from me. So, take my heart and form it; take my mind, transform it; take my will, conform it to yours, to yours, oh Lord.

Faithfulness, faithfulness...

Righteousness, righteousness...

to yours, to yours, oh Lord.

I have been thinking and praying about holiness after encountering, and seeing with fresh eyes, my sin juxtaposed with a perfect God. I have grown comfortable with my flesh, and blinded to truths that were so evident not long ago. I have allowed my own heart, my own mind, and my body to become corrupted. Tonight, my brokenness was met with open arms.

Lord, you used Revelation 4 and 5 to show me that you are worthy of worship, and you used it to awe and flatten me, just as the twenty-four elders and four living creatures fell down before the Lamb. And we began to sing a new song.

You are sorting out my imperfections. Lord, you really are taking away what pollutes me. Even though I so often feel lost and am frustrated by that, Lord I can feel that things are changing, and that things are changed. You are restoring clarity to a very clouded heart, mind, and body.

You are growing my confidence in you, that you really do have the ability to take away the cancerous things that seem to have metastasized, by bringing purity.

Turn my deserts into gardens. You are, you have, and you will continue.

Because of having met you, and because of knowing you, there are things I could not see that I can see now; that I did not know that I know now, because you taught me, because you have done work to mend what once was broken.

Lord, give us the ability to see you and hear you and follow you. Keep us trusting in you, that you are the one doing the work, and that you are the one who is faithful.

Transform our hearts that we may be a people who bring transformation.

You do really good work Lord, you really do.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Isaiah 6:3

(adapted from the prayer of a dear friend)

mint julep, plantations, and oaks a'plenty

Tour of the Oak Valley Plantation just outside New Orleans during the heat wave that was early August. We had a chance to visit Lauren and help her get moved into her house and classroom. What a beautiful visit filled with loving people and memories made.

New Chapters

7/29 (from a bit ago)

Today started before the sun, but it was well worth the sleepy eyes. I was able to make breakfast for my good friend Jason before his last day of nursing school. Look forward to that coming day myself, but today I was proud to see him finish. It doesn't seem real that he moved into our house only a year ago. God has done much through him in that short time to bless me and the other men in the house. I will truly miss, and cherish, the fun and impactful times that we have shared, from launching things from atop our roof, blasting our pecs at the gym ;), talking girls, to challenging each other to pursue God with fervor, praying together, and memorizing verses...glimpses into a blessed friendship.

Last night several of the guys in our house went out to eat to have a last hurrah with Jason, and then had a great time acting a fool on the roof. But afterwords, when things settled down, we were all able to pray together and God's presence was clearly present. Burrito fajitas, hanging out on the roof, prayer, and tears...good night.

...But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

These words seemed to frame the night and preceded the following verse, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Jason and several others are moving from Columbia and anxiety can be easy to come by when unknowns are in the picture. God provides. Two words, often hard to believe, but continually true. Jason just received word today that he is being hired for a job in Hawaii as a videographer for a marine park, and is leaving on Tuesday, trusting in the God's providence.

I'm encouraged by those who continue to trust when details are fuzzy. Keep the faith.