Before the throne of God above

So lately I have been listening to this Shane and Shane station on Pandora while I'm getting ready in the mornings. I have fallen in LOVE with their newest CD "Pages". Its actually not that new, (2007), but its new to me! So if you haven't listened to it, I encourage you to check it out! This is a pretty well known song but I just LOVE the lyrics.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

86 days

DAYS TILL...

1. The days of the long distance relationship are over
2. My name will begin and end with E
3. I will be moving away from 2 Twin Bridge again, this time for-eva
4. The person sharing my bathroom will NOT be stealing my clothes 
5. I'm getting MARRIED!

Nope, I'm not counting down or anything...

Another reason why I can't wait to move to Denver!

Denver Seminary!

Yesterday I found out that I have been accepted to Denver Seminary for a Master of Arts in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health! Hopefully, I will be starting school next spring. 

Why do we minister?

Motivation for ministry does not come from the ministry, the motivation for ministry comes from the unveiling of the glory of Jesus Christ.

--from an email I got at work. 

This is totally something I have been thinking about lately! Then I saw this on someone's email signature and I just had to post it. 

Sometimes when God becomes your "job" it becomes a routine and you forget that ministry is first and foremost for the glory of God. And not for your own personal glory. This idea hit me over the head when I was in Guatemala and I have been thinking about it ever since. I was very convicted of doing ministry for my own personal satisfaction and fulfillment (to feel good about myself), rather than to serve the Lord. Have any of you ever struggled with this? Anyone? How does this even happen?

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?

I guess we just start to find identity and in good works and what we are DOING (who we think we ARE) instead of what Christ has DONE and who He IS. What an empty pursuit. That is just not the Gospel! 

Romans 5:8 "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinner's, Christ died for us." 

Somehow I forget that God's glory is my sole purpose in life, whether in full-time Christian work or not! It is when I see His glory that my heart is turned toward ministry. Lord, please continually remind me of this truth. It is freedom! 

This picture has nothing to do with this post. I just like it :) I took it on our last night in Antigua. 

I can't wait to move to DENVER!

A few reasons why I'm so excited to move to the "Mile High City" (in no particular order)

1. Of course, the scenery. 

Denver has tons of parks and lakes against backdrop of the Rocky Mountains

2.peer pressure to be healthy! 

The city has bikes you can rent and return around the city. Its like REDBOX for bikes!

I can't wait to cook yummy meals like this!

3. Finding fun local places to frequent

We found this place when we were in Denver in March. Its right in the middle of a neighborhood and the ice cream was delicious!

3. Being only 1/12 hrs away from Estes Park! I have gone there almost every summer since I was little. Jin went with us when we first started dating, lots of fun memories there :)

Fly Fishing

At the top of the Aerial Tram

Of course he was a pro :) haha!

4. Outdoor activities

This is the flagship REI store...of course they have kayakers out front

And being able to go skiing on the weekends!

Pictures!

Learning how to paint!

Some ladies at church

Davida and I acting out the story of Jonah with the kids

Eating lunch together...it was so good!

Claudia Veronica

Sweet smile

Samuel loving his reflection

Natasha, Ashley, and I after we finally finished painting!

Vivi!

Sweetest little girl

Reading about God's love in Spanish!

love this family :)

In Antigua!

Ferndanda at the beauty shop

Joyful

You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence, 

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 

--Psalm 16:11