nothing compares.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ . Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord!
For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection..." Philippians 3: 7-10

Praying that you will look to Jesus, dear friends! He is worth everything you have!! Give it all to Him! Surrender your lives to the One who loves you...and know that He is with you through it all! Nothing else matters...all of this. Our lives here on earth. Our relationships. Our jobs. Our appointments. Our plans.

None of it compares or even comes close to the wonder of knowing Jesus! I hope and pray each and every one of you comes to know this Savior.

He loves you!

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Oh, that we would all remember what Christmas is truly about!!

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people!! Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord! This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”

And tonight....I will praise the Lord!

Tonight is my last Christmas concert at Great Bridge High school! A bitter-sweet time for sure. So many happy memories have been made with my orchestra. Orchestra is actually one of the main reasons I went into public school sophomore year, after being home-schooled my entire life. I cannot even express the joy I feel when I am up on stage playing!! I literally just close my eyes, move with the music, and imagine I am playing for my One true love...my Savior and my King.
To HIM be all the praise forever and ever!
Praise Him with me dear friends! He is worthy! Praise Him in all things...all circumstances...all situations. He has always been faithful to you, and will never ever ever stop! He is so good! What a loving God we serve!

"Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with tambourine and dancing,

praise him with the strings and flute,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!"

Psalm 150: 1-6

 

hope.

today was difficult for some reason. i woke up excited it was friday, yet as the day progressed, that excitement dimmed. i guess im just burned out. i have really been pushing myself hard with school. i am so motivated to crush it. i want to get an A in nursing, and i certainly am not getting it handed to me. but on the other hand, i have been getting more excited about being a nurse. i can't wait to just help people....

which leads to the hardest part of the day.

 

i saw my sweet libby tonight. i haven't seen her in so long because it is really really hard to see her with her being home trying to rest, and me being a full time high school senior and nursing student. but the lord has all of that figured out too.

but yeah. i was with my daddy, and he went with me to take libby and justin their dinner. Vietnamese noodles for justin and chick-fil-a soup for lib. when she opened the door, i wanted to cry. she looked exhausted. and sick. and utterly worn down. and all i wanted to do was scream, "Oh, God why!!!!!!" I wish i could have cancer instead of her. i wish i could help her. i wish i could actually do something to help her pain go away. but all i can do is stand back...i am utterly helpless. there isn't anything i can do.

but... my Father can do something.

so friends, please.... please pray for a miracle with me. pray that this awful cancer will flee from libby's body in the mighty Name of Jesus. pray that she will be completely healed. pray for justin....it's killing him to see his sweet wife battling this. and pray for hope. we all need hope.

i know and believe God can and will heal Libby. i believe that with all my heart. it's just really hard sometimes. but He knows. thank God i don't have to have all things figured out! and thank you for all your prayers and encouragement. means the world to me.

 

now off to watch a christmas movie and drink some hot peppermint tea! love ya'll.

 

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:2-5

Sweet Libby and her little dollie girl, Ava

www.libbyryder.blogspot.com

could there really be a place for me?

i think God is unbelievable. he allows my favorite story, the Chronicles of Narnia, to be made into amazing movies, the third of which is coming out this friday... and then my favorite musical artist end up doing a soundtrack for it!! AND i haven't related with a song so much in my life. wow. God...you are so good.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do, friends! :)

at peace.

so it's 10:02 pm on a monday night....and i'm exhausted beyond description. i think i'm running on 3 hours of sleep since friday. i have a huge nutrition test tomorrow and about a zillion other things i should be doing. oh, and don't even get me started on all my other school work. and yes, i am asking myself the same question: why am i blogging again???
i don't know. it just hit me.

i feel really happy right now.
strangely content.
peaceful.

praise be to God! if i weren't so tired, i would heave a giant sigh of relief. hehe however, like i said, it was a long weekend. i was at a young life camp doing work crew with about 50 other kids. we literally cleaned and worked from 10:30pm friday night to 2:30pm sunday afternoon...and i mean non stop. it was the most exhausting, rewarding, and amazing experience. i got to serve kids that they might know the Savior's love! i cannot express my joy.

and i just wanted to let ya'll know, if any of you have been praying for me...i think it's working. i am peaceful and trusting God. and it has been a long time since i have trusted Him completely, dear friends. in everything. the stress about college. the constant awareness of my own shortcomings. my worries of never being loved or never having someone want to cherish me. these things all just sap my joy and steal my enjoyment of God away from me. i don't want to live that way anymore.

so thank you. whoever you may be.thank you for your unseen support through these difficult seasons. thank you, if you are praying. it means more to me than i can even say. i don't even know who reads this blog and if it's even encouraging.but i want you to know that i pray for you daily!! i pray that the Lord speaks through me-a simple girl who needs her Savior day after day- and that you hear his "well done" and feel His love. He gives me these words. they aren't mine. i honestly wouldn't be able to just sit down and write like this if it weren't for Him.

so yes. i am thankful. thankful for you. thankful for Christmas. thankful for violin and piano and voice. thankful for the Word of God. thankful for hot cups of tea. thankful for running shoes and an ipod.thankful for country music. thankful for my parents and sisters. thankful for my Young Life family and friends.thankful for hope.....
and thankful for my flannel covered pillow that is calling my name.

love you guys.

you are my refuge...

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from Him.

Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

He is my mighty rock, my refuge!

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge!