in him is the fullness of all things

| Josh Garrels | April 14th | Chicago | You guys, I am so excited. My favorite artist IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD is coming to play in Chicago. (course i am also excited because he hails all the way from the great state of Oregon!) His music has literally been playing on repeat on my iPod for the last year and a half (you may think that I am exaggerating. I am not). I had the privilege of seeing him play in Corvallis about a year ago and I have never been so impressed by a live performance. Not only was I so impressed by the way his love for the Lord was so incredibly evident in his songs and his demeanor when he sang, but I was even more blown away by his humility on and off the stage. So, to all of my Chicago friends: please join me for a night of fantastic music and fellowship. You won't be sorry!  You can buy tickets HERE . Here is a video of my favorite song of his. Let me know if you want recommendations of more songs :) "Farther Along" - Josh ...

It's crazy how being in the presence of God changes everything. Worship has this unreal ability to shift our perspective. We go from setting our eyes on things that are fleeting--fear, hardship, stress, anxiety--to setting them on the One who never changes. All those things suddenly seem so small and insignificant in the light of who our God is. This has been a very trying last couple of months. While I was so blessed  with the opportunity to go back home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I have found that going home always seems to make returning here that much more difficult. This term has been INCREDIBLY difficult and I find myself questioning why I am here all the time . I know that is probably not the best thing but I think that most of it has to do with the fact that being here is keeping my from being at home with my friends and family. And also...there was a boy. And things didn't work out. And God has been gracious in allowing my heart to heal and by allowing me to ...

The orphan clings to Your hand Singing the song of how he was found The widow rejoices For her oppressors are silenced now You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore When You could just be silent and leave us here to die Still, You sent Your Son for us You are on our side The runaway falls at Your feet You are what he has searched for The rich man is broken When he stands beneath a sky full of stars You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore When You could just be silent and leave us here to die Still, You sent Your Son for us You are on our side You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore When You could just be silent and leave us here to die Still, You sent Your Son for us You are on our side Still, You sent Your Son for us You are on our side

Music Playlist at MixPod.com I hate all your show and pretense the hypocrisy of your praise the hypocrisy of your festivals I hate all your show Away with your noisy worship Away with your noisy hymns I stop up my ears when your singing ‘em I hate all your show Instead let there be a flood of justice An endless procession of righteous living, living Instead let there be a flood of justice Instead of a show your eyes are closed when you’re praying you sing right along with the band you shine up your shoes for services but there’s blood on your hands you turned your back on the homeless and the ones that don’t fit in your plans quit playing religion games there’s blood on your hands Ah! let’s argue this out if your sins are blood red let’s argue this out you’ll be white as the clouds let’s argue this out quit fooling around give love to the ones who can’t love at all give hope to the on...

Sometimes, I try and run away from God--not necessarily deliberately, but subconsciously, I guess. I get caught up in a cycle of sin and I think that God is too angry with me and that there is no way that I could possibly face him. Have you ever felt that way? Whenever I find myself in that place, the Lord seems to draw me back with this song. [Luke 15:11-32] In a whirlwind caught away Broken lips have carried you to a place Where you don't know just how you ever got this far away from here Thinking somehow you could cross the point of no return But my love will never end Whatever reason you've been running I just don't care anymore Already forgotten whatever happened with what went wrong I just want you to come home Incarcerated, borrowed shame Freedom was the promise they took away And now you're left with what you find so hard is forgiving yourself I see something far away Could this be the day to take you in these arms and wash all of the wasted days and year...

Tomorrow morning, me and 3 of some of my favorite people will be roadtrippin' it down to the Golden State of California (specifically San Fran) for 3 days. We have no agenda really which is incredibly exciting. We see it as a ripe opportunity to be lead by the Spirit for a few days as we fellowship with people as well as enjoy each other AND God's creation. Ironically, though, it is supposed to be hotter here than it will be in San Francisco which is sort of counter-intuitive but as my dear friend Alexis says, "It's all good!"

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace ; Streams of mercy, never ceasing , Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above. Praise his Name , I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love . Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I'm come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure , Safely to arrive at home . Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood . O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander , Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart , O take and seal it , Seal it for Thy courts above. O that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face ; Clothed then in blood washed linen How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace; Come, my Lord , no longer tarry , Take my ransomed soul away; Send thine angel...

The other day my friend Courtney and I were working feverishly hard at Dutch Bros when like, five 90's pop songs came on and we couldn't help but smile. So for today, we are taking a break from new music Wednesday and doing 90's throwback Wednesday! There's a little of everything: pop, country, alternative, r&b...I hope you enjoy! What was/is your favorite era of music? *sorry about the duplicates*

My friend Jesse shared this song with our house church last night. I really sense God's heart for me through the words of this song. Behold You have come over the hills upon the mountain To me, You will run. My Beloved, You've captured my heart Behold You have come over the hills upon the mountain To me, You will run. My Beloved, You've captured my heart Won't You dance with me, Oh Lover of my soul, to the song of all songs? With You, I will go You are my Love You are my Fair One The winter has passed and the springtime has come With You, I will go You are my Love You are my Fair One The winter has passed and the springtime has come Won't You dance with me, Oh Lover of my soul, to the song of all songs? Romance me, Oh Lover of my soul to the song of all songs.

So you know what this beautiful spring-y weather makes me want to do? run through a field of flowers and listen to some bluegrass. pc: flickr here are some of my favorite twang-a-lang-lang songs: Now get out and enjoy that elusive sunshine!

I'm back! You know sometimes it's so hard to get up the gumption to write on this thing but once I start, I find that its actually not so bad ;) I suppose its been a fairly average week. The highlight I would say would be going to The Way up at Solid Rock Fellowship in Beaverton, Oregon. Not that The Way hasn't been awesome every single time that I've been there, but this past Friday was exceptionally spectacular because my very own college pastor IAN NELSON was bringing the message! He is so gifted when it comes to speaking so of course he did a great job. Have you ever noticed how when you are watching someone that you know speak in front of a large group of people you tend to pay more attention? Like every little detail involving their surroundings seems to be carrying impending doom if they make the wrong move? It was so funny, we were sitting front and center and we were watching Ian pace back and forth as he spoke [a normal occurance for our ADD pastor] and we not...

Thats right, I did. I found that I'd been reading so many other blogs and I thought, "hmm. maybe I'll just start one". So I did. Part of me is skeptical as to whether or not anyone will read this but I'll just leave that up to God. I'm not really sure what this will consist of besides my thoughts and what God's been putting on my heart, and perhaps a few pics but it is my hope that I will actually be faithful in blogging my little heart out...at least until school starts, that is. I guess I'll just share a song that the Lord has so graciously blessed me with. Has anyone heard of a song called Desert Song by Hillsong? It's such a great exhortation to us as God's children to choose to praise Him no matter what our circumstances are because HE is God, and not only that, but He is a good God. He can see what our earthly eyes can't always see and like Romans 8:28 says, He is working all things together for our good. Jill's testimony is so m...