Safe in Harbor

I've currently been swamped in homework for summer classes (bummer, right?), but the good side of that is discovering oodles and oodles of new music. Currently on my spin rotation is the uber cute Hunter Hayes. And while his music is lyrical honey, one of my favorite sets of lines of his songs seems to be the mantra to my life right now. It goes a little something like:

"These days I’m not sure if I know
What I’m doing here or where I’ll go
But, every night I say the same old prayer:
'God, I don’t have to see you. I know that you’re there
Cause there were times I thought I wouldn’t make it home
But I kept a little faith to fall back on.'
Yeah, and I’ve learned to put my trust where it belongs
And I’ve gotta little faith to fall back on."

I think what is so sweet to me about this song is the genuineness of it. I am sure we all lose faith at times. Sometimes our faith is not sunshine and glitter and gold. Sometimes it is hella hard, sometimes it makes people hate you and turn their back on you (Matthew 13:13), sometimes it just feels lonely and cold. I think that is perfectly normal because like all other aspects of life, our faith too must go through valleys. In doing so, we get to see the breathtaking view of the mountains in the distance. They must seem unattainable at the time, but truth is, if we are in the valley, chances are we were--not long ago--just on one of those mountains. And the reality our Savior promises is He'll be with us every step of the way until we get that feeling back again. I love that. I delight in that. It is TRULY where my faith is built. My God has certainly carried me lately (insert all of sophomore year of college), and in that time, I never felt closer to Him. He was the only thing I had to cling to, and I realized He was enough.

All this being said, lately I have been a strange mix of stress, excitement, sadness, nervousness, and giddiness. I am processing three course loads worth of classes this summer, prepping for a month long adventure in India (read more about this here), contemplating my junior year of college, and reconnecting some great friendships. This summer has been a load for sure. But it has also been a great revelation in the beauty in risk. I firmly believe that you will never know if you do not try. It is true for everything. If you do not walk out on a limb every once in a while--in your pursuit of knowledge, in expanding your friend circle, in relationships in general--you'll spend your whole time climbing that tree. And while that tree probably has a great, safe view, you will never feel that sweet breeze of summertime if you never take the chance...

William Shedd once said, "Ships are safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are built for." I think he is right on with this one. And I don't think that is what I was built for (when God was molding this little Southern heart, He threw some wandering spirit up in there). So here's to casting off the bowlines and learning to stand alone (and not being afraid to like it) with God to carry you anytime you need it. Happy sailing, friends!

God bless.

Did ya miss me?

Promise I'll be back soon with a good long one! Until then...

"Well I've been searching for something true
My heart says it must be you
I'd love to fall and see it through
But only if you told me to
Well I'd run through the desert, I'd walk through the rain
Get you into trouble, and take all the blame
I'd paint you a picture, write you a song
And I'd do it all over if I did it all wrong"
:)



Check out Hunter Hayes's album. I am obsessed. 

What I Almost Was

Hello sweet peeps. I have been thinking lately about that little phrase. You know the one. When things are looking bad, people pull it out just for you. When you're on top of the world, you smile and revel in it for a moment. "God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I have been smiling on this one for a while, and let me tell you why. 

If you would have told me four years ago (so we're talking half-way through high school) that I would be where I am today, I would look with disbelief. I am very grateful for the past couple years of life that have taught me a whole lot in a short span of time. There have been some heartaches and heartbreaks, some good days on the mountain and some low days in dark valleys. There have been some great people and (though very few) some people I learned to love from a distance. There were some glittering nights and some hard-worked for days. There were times on my knees talking to my God and times He was talking for me. But all of it contributed to who I am today, not who I could have been. I think who I turned out to be today, and the woman I am still working on for the future, is so much better than I could have planned for myself. 

God does not need my advice when it comes to anything, much less the path for my life. His vision is here and now, hindsight, and foresight all in one. When I have tunnel vision, he puts me back on the path He laid just for me. I prayed hard for some dreams and loves and things that were never meant to be mine. And thank God (literally, people) that they were not. While it may have looked like gold then, I know it was not gold for me. So here's to remembering that good things come to those who wait for THOSE GOOD THINGS. If I could have told awkward, ready to get out of this town baby Kels a few things I'd say--

1. One day you're going to love country music. So embrace those roots, babydoll.
2. You're going to miss this moment and want it back, so do not wish it away. This applies to all of it, I promise :)
3. Turns out there is more to life than Homecoming dances. Thank goodness for that, you social butterfly, you. 
4. At 20, you're still going to be obsessed with clothes. Save that money. PLEASE. Because in college, we discover Lulu's. And we loooove.
5. Keep being awkward. You find people that find it hilarious and love you for it. 
6. Don't forget how to do math, because shawty you going to HATE accounting. 
7. You'll never wish you slept more.
8. Read as much as you can. You miss having time for it now.
9. That time you wreck your car on the way to work and cry your eyes out? Yeah there will be days even worse than that. Brace yourself, but you got it in you.
10. And quoting my favorite boy, Brad Paisley, "Have no fear, these are no where near the best years of your life."

Big Amen to that! Thank ya Eric Church for this catchy title.

ooh baby baby. circa freshman year of high school.

yours truly. in present day.

Worth Sharing

"My plan for your life is unfolding before you. Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, or it opens up so painfully slow that you must hold yourself back. Then, when time is right, the way before you suddenly clears--through no effort of your own. What you have longed for and worked for I present to you freely, as pure gift. You feel awed by the ease with which I operate in the world, and you glimpse My Power and My Glory.

Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. 

As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My stregnth to sustain you, expect to see miracles--and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory."

-Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

I needed to read this today; thought I'd share!