mom

sunday is mothers day. i am here in reykjavik iceland and my mama is 3110 miles south and a little west, in north carolina.
this will be my first mothers day not living in the same city as my mom and i dare say it might be a harder thing for me, than for her. there were many years in which i lived very selfishly and rarely even called my mom or family although we lived just 5 minutes apart. nowadays i cannot imagine life without them. they are loving, supportive, forgiving and have put up with so much shit from me that its hardly funny. my mom spoils me with her kind words and fresh squeezed apple juice. the former, everyday, the ladder just when i am in n.c. for a visit. i share her love for flowers and gardening so we enjoy shopping for, planting, and caring for plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables together. she demonstrates the testimony of jesus as she loves with selfless tenacity, always wanting more and better for me than for herself. she is a perfect confidante, tenderhearted yet strong, childlike yet full of wisdom and understanding and truly a gift from the Lord.

jesus

i really enjoyed a movie i saw this week, called August Rush. the non-believable plot, was won over with a magical sense of knowing that we are created for something more, which beckons us, if we listen.

i also really enjoyed some teaching i heard on friday night from a swedish guy, on priesthood. it was a challenge to forget being mr. nice guy and blatantly lay out the gospel to everyone we meet, as in, take responisbility for them as their priest. i was offended by this guys arrogance (in christ and what He did on the cross and on what He did within this guy ) but challenged me step up to the plate, and fully rely on the great position i have been given in jesus. it is a great position. full of power. i can be bold in what jesus has done for me and i should be.
thank you jesus for the great things you have done in my life. you saved me, you healed my body and you have removed my constantly disappointed demeanor, and replaced it with joy, love, peace, and a continual urge to press in to God and to ask for more love. jesus i want more. as the song says, i want to burn with passion for you God.

nothings gunna hold me back

i am blown away right now with the jason upton cd, key of david. it does something to me each time i listen. it literally changes me. the first 5 times i cried. now i am just chilled with the overwhelming feeling that God is near me. Halleluiah!!! because of jesus, the holy spirit is near, but thru this music, i can feel Him more. and it makes me feel gooooood!!#%%$/&%#%&
purchase the key of david

11:32pm,january 28th 2008

feeling farther from home than ever.
i feel desperate, empty, hopeless.
.......but i am learning to speak icelandic. AND

this too, shall pass. takk fyrir jesus!

WAIT........wait...... wait.

i am blown away by the way God moves into my life, just in the nick of time, when i have almost died, and swoops me up in exhilerating encouragement. its worth it. those times that feel soooo bad that seem soooo horrible in the moment are so insignificant after God does His thing. hold out.