Urban Park

It's January. It's 70 degrees out. And I've been blessed with a schedule that allows me to have a Wednesday at 3 p.m. free to bike into Cameron Park and take some pictures.  Hanging in my hammock, journal in hand, camera bag lying beneath me, my attention is turned to just how fast the world moves.  I forget how constant my Father in heaven is, and how carefully and close He watches over me with His goodness and love.  His rest and peace are necessary for me to live for His Kingdom in a fast-moving and hurting world. A spectacular slice of beauty in the midst of a broken city.  Cameron park is a great metaphor for the way He has taken my heart of sin and made it pure. I am thankful for the reminder that I am known and cared for intimately by my Abba, Father.

Who says Waco isn't beautiful?

Life and Peace

"To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace"

Romans 8:6

God, grant me the ability to constantly dwell upon You. May my thoughts aim towards glorifying Your name, knowing that I will find deep satisfaction in life, and a peaceful rest throughout my day.

Happy MLK Day

Every Christmas our house receives a lot of cleverly crafted and well-put together Christmas cards from our friends/neighbors and their roommates. Our house has skipped over the Christmas card fad for the past couple years and elected to send out the elusive Martin Luther King Jr. Day card. I mean, how often do you get a card to celebrate the wonderful work of the ol' baptist minster Dr. King and his wonderful ministry that fought for justice and equal rights for all.  Here are some of the shots from the MLK photo shoot:

Team pic

gettin coached up

lob city...

vintage ballin'

On a more serious note:

We so often forget that Dr. King's work was fueled by his passion to see the desires of Jesus fulfilled on earth.  One famous quote from the March on Washington speech, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" comes from the bible in the Old Testament, Amos 5:24.  Everything he was and did came from God working through him. So much so that he was eventually martyred for it. Imagine the things we can do with faith and courage like Martin Luther King Jr.

How am I called to administer justice in the way Jesus and so many Saints did? How do I pursue God's desires and stand up for the Kingdom in a broken world?

Some things to think about on a weekend to celebrate one of the greatest Christian leaders in American history.

2011 Year in Review (thanks Rebecca)

In the spirit of a blogging tradition of my sister's where she recaps here past two years in photos, I have decided to do the same with my inaugural blog post.

The moments from 2011 that I will remember the most are:

ringing in the 2011 with ma gal

her first visit to the Chi

Capitol Hill activities for Kevs bday

my home for the spring semester

a week in London

Amsterdam fun

European death hockey

Travel buddies strolling the streets of Paris

Copenhagen frigidness

Carnival!...and Beach

The land of William Wallace

stealing Rebecca's friends. she's that awesome

Irish wonderment

training everywhere. in style.

a spontaneous trip to Switzerland after a missed train to Prague. perfect.

skiing the Alps.

Barcelona, the start of a 3 week backpacking excursion

the places He brought me. 

Cinque.

new friends and travel companions.

a spontaneous trip to the Greek islands

Santorini, the perfect finish line to an amazing three months

home for easter with the fam. mom and aunt twinkies.

Back to Texas. Capitol Hill crazy scavenger hunt in Austin

this happening

road trip out to Colorado with my Jillionaire

Snowpacalypse up at Camp Timberline

summer friends, amazing disciples, and epic tanks.
4th of July, the best day of the summer.

pops visit to me up at camp

my two sisters for the summer

#wildmenofGod

a slice of heaven.

finishing the summer off by conquering Longs Peak.
(it only took me 2 tries)

beating the girlfriends football team.
the start of my last year at Baylor.

mommas new hubbie Paul

J-illy visiting for a Chicago fall 

the first ever Baylor win versus OU.
and a well-earned field rush.

daily learning and growth in my major

being home for Thanksgiving with the ones I love the most

reuniting with old friends

this guy.
and this guy

watching Father move in jr. high students

our last BU football game as students

an RG3 Heisman victory celebration

the three best friends anyone could have

joyful Christmas time

family moments

2011 was one adventure after another, and each one brought me to a greater reflection of the glory of God and His son Jesus Christ. He has revealed Himself to me in more great and beautiful ways, and what a story He is writing with my life.  May 2012 be about making Him increase and me decrease. May He receive the glory and fame that are due to Him through my life. 

If you actually made it through all those pictures I give you mad props. Even bigger props if you watched several of the hidden links. I promise this blog will not have another post in this photojournal style for a long time. In the future I aim to conjure up some words and bring forth a relevant thought or two.

Happy reading.