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The first way in which the soul is united with God is through salvation, solely by His grace.

This is followed by a period in which a saved soul comes to know God through a series of experiences, some of which bring it into closer union with Him and some take it further away. The soul learns which activities bring God’s presence nearer. It remains in His presence by practicing those activities.

The most perfect union with God is the actual presence of God. Although this relationship with God is totally spiritual, it is quite dynamic, because the soul is not asleep, but powerfully excited. It is livelier than fire and brighter than the unclouded sun. Yet, it is at the same time tender and devout. It is not a simple expression of the heart, like saying, “Lord, I love You with all my heart,” or other similar words. Rather, it is an inexpressible state of the soul - gentle, peaceful, respectful, humble, loving, and very simple - that urges it to love God, to adore Him, and to embrace Him with both tenderness and joy.

Everyone who is striving for divine union must realized that just because something is agreeable and delightful to the will does not mean that it will bring one closer to God. Sometimes it is helpful to disengage the sentiments of the will from the world, in order that it can focus entirely on God. For if the will is able in some manner to comprehend Him, it can only be by love. And that love, which has its end in God, will be hindered by the things of this world.

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- Brother Lawrence

"For God is not a God of confusion but of PEACE."

- 1 Corinthians 14:33a

1. God is bigger than anything we can imagine. He is King, He is Lord, He is Creator, He is Life, He is Hope, He isalive, He is present, He is all-knowing, He is all-loving, He is eternal… the list goes on and on. Even the best descriptions that are formed in the most intimate times of our relationship with God do nothing to describe the Lord.

2. God has decided to dwell in us. Thus, the King, the Lord, the Creator, the Life, the Hope, the alive, present, all-knowing, all-loving, and eternal is livingin usthrough the Spirit.

• What does that say about when we deny His presence or His leadings?
• What does that say about the authority and calling we have been given.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE, OVER AND ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE, IS TO KNOW HIM MORE.

I wish this song wasn’t quite so eerily familiar because I really like it. Shoot.

Words of encouragement, edification, and promised Glory…

The next few months is an incredible time of fear, the unknown, and trust. My emotions these past two weeks have been almost unbearable, literally fluctuating every five minutes from absolute terror to hopeful anticipation. From heading to a new season of time at camp with a very different staff than I’ve grown “comfortable” with, PD, medical school, Duluth, a potential housing situation that may be either beautiful or stressful… I am being so reminded that I am not in control.

The day I left Moorhead, I had some very beautiful and powerful words spoken over me in a time of fellowship. These promises I will chose to cling to and to make reality in the next few months. These are promises of GLORY, HOPE, and DREAMS. They are not promises for easiness, but will unquestionably bring the Glory of God.

• Vineyard. One person spoke that they saw my life as a green pasture, full of life, growth, nurturing soil. Another person spoke up and said they saw essentially the same thing, but that my life was a vineyard. The grapes were ripe and plentiful and the sweet wine was overflowing from the flask.
• Tenacity. This word was spoken over me as soon as I entered the house but again brought up in pray time. Jana proclaimed that I would know tenacity, not just for school but also for serving the Lord during school. She saw my heart as smoldering coals - that the fire I shine is very hot and very strong. The brightest flames are also the ones that go out the quickest - smoldering coals are the fire you have to watch out for. 
• The future is NOT normal. Do not settle for normal. It is not meant to be more of Normal.
• My ministry is completely unique - embrace it. It’s okay to feel different from everyone else around you. It’s okay if you don’t work in the exact same way - my heart and ministry are very unique and I should live in that truth (this resonated a lot with where everyone in our community is being drawn).
• Authority. I carry a spirit of authority. Not in words, but in presence.
• The authority I have in the Spirit is very unique. 
• My favor is increasing, both from God and from man.
• One person saw a figurine of my heart. She said it was incredibly intricate in a way no one else’s is and in that intricacy, it was completely beautiful. It’s a beautiful, delightful mold inlaid with pure white diamonds. (I got a picture of this in my mind when she spoke, I should probably draw it).
• Your sphere of influence and dwelling is expanding. 
• TENACITY. 
• One person saw me as Mariam, Moses’ sister, dancing and rejoicing with symbols. She said that she not only saw me with that, but that I brought other people with me into the dance.
• Another saw my future as a time to rest. That it would be a beautiful time of resting alone with the Lord. (This exactly matches the image I was getting of Duluth).
• I bring a spirit of Freedom.
• My touch will supply both spiritual and physical healing. 

invado:

Anatomically Correct Heart Illustration

I was definitely the kid who used to make my beanie babies go through a photoshoot. Definitely just found pictures of that.

The best one: the beanie baby in the Easter basket draped with a doily, the backdrop being two cow pillows. 

#weirdestkidever

(via hisbeloved-kellymarie)

(via hisbeloved-kellymarie)

Freshmen Highlights (Part 2):

• Blizzard #1.
• Blizzard #2. 
• Blizzard #3. 
• Flood #1.
• Breaking the microwave tray on move-out day.
• Somehow being convinced that working at camp would be a good idea.
• Playing ultimate frisbee every week. Watching both Andrew and Dan almost blow out joints repeatedly. 
• Having my research paper on the Iditarod be changed to an argumentative paper on the Iditarod. It was interesting to say the least.
• Many outreach outings.
• Heaving frozen, 50-lb sandbags at people.
• Learning, even if just a little bit, how crazy easy our normal day-to-day lives are by being in a state of emergency.
• Andrew’s pants ripping from back pocket to knee while sandbagging.
• How beautiful hot chocolate tastes while sandbagging.
• Flood Break 2009. 
• Rearranging our room (again) in the wee hours of the morning.
• Sledding.
• Discovering Pandora. 
• Cutting my hand while opening a scissors package.