Life

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. "

1Timothy 6:6-19

On Friday mornings I get the priviledge of hanging out with some of my favorite girls as we pull ourselves out of our warm beds and peaceful sleep and love on those we are called to love by serving breakfast at The Bridge. This morning in particular, Lauren, Jenn, and I were in the back: banana, nutrigrain bar, yogurt. Banana, nutrigrain bar, yogurt, and the occasional clumsy spill (ok, ok, not occasional. Jenn and I were incredibly klutzy this morning). As we were chatting while we worked, we suddenly heard one of the most strikingly powerful voices we had ever heard. One of the men had gotten on the microphone and began singing "How Great Thou Art". I think Jenn's words describe it far more accurately than I can...

"this morning when that man started singing, what was cold in my stomach and on my insides began to fill with warmth as he hit every note. it was one of the most beautiful sounds i have ever heard. it might not be because he was the best singer around, but you felt his heart in it, his desperation, and the words he was singing, you could tell that he believed them and needed them."

I followed that beautiful statement with a question to Jenn and Lauren that I knew was rhetorical for all of us:

Have you girls ever felt, especially when we go there, slightly envious of some of these people, in their incredible hunger, desperation, dependence on the Lord? I feel that way almost every time we leave, and ABSOLUTELY...hearing it in that man's voice this morning made it even more present. The toys and trinkets and things of this world draw my heart away from Him, and make the ability to have an insatiable hunger for the Lord seem nearly impossible. How crazy is this life, that this flesh of ours fights Him every moment He attempts to humble us and do a good work in us, yet His Spirit inside absolutely tugs on my heart for this kind of humility and passion.

Be reminded of who He is, the blessed and only Ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords...in whom life that is TRULY life.

So thankful for the women in my life. SO thankful :)