I love the word captivate.
I never really cared one way or the other until one day during my sophomore year, my speech teacher complimented me after one of my speeches. He said, "Cara, your smile is captivating." To this day, that is my most favorite compliment I have ever received. I'll never forget it. In a moment of dread (public speaking) trying to hide behind the podeum, palms sweaty, just trying to get through my speech alive so I could head back to my seat - he said something so simple. Something he would soon forget saying. But something I will remember forever.
The one thing I always made sure to do in my speeches was smile. And he saw that. And even though I had braces (which were not attractive on me), he said, "Cara, your smile is captivating." It made me feel so warm and fuzzy inside. So much more comfortable and relaxed. It made me feel like I was gonna be okay. No matter how awkward I felt up there in front of my peers, doing a how-to speech about making brownies.
CAPTIVATE.
It's a song, you know. By Starfield. A beautiful, wonderful song. A song that is my prayer. Here are my favorite parts:
Strength is found in weakness. Peace in incompleteness.
You look for a heart that's open. For beauty in the broken.
My soul's screaming out to be found in You.
CAPTIVATE ALL OF ME.
I'm so messy and distracted. Undisciplined and tactless. Here on the inside.
It so perfectly describes what I've been learning lately. The Lord can do ANYTHING in and through ANYONE. In my weakness, He makes me strong. When I'm feeling incomplete, he gives me a perfect peace beyond words. He has softened my heart and opened my heart. Open to HIS will, not mine. He has shown me such beauty in utter brokenness. He has drawn me in so dearly and near to Him. So much so, that my soul screams to be found in Him.
Captivate me, Lord. Captivate ALL of me.
He's made me realize what a mess I am on my own. How easily distracted. Undisciplined. Tactless. He's changing me from the inside out. Breaking my heart for what breaks His. Creating in me a burning desire for social justice. And a love for children and broken people that could only come from above.
Captivate our hearts, Lord. Captivate our minds. Captivate our souls. Captivate us all.
XOXO
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Dreams
I came across a very wise quote just the other day. It said "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough." It really got me to thinking about my dreams in life.
One of my dreams is to become a Pediatric Orthopedic PA. I have been wanting to work in Pediatric Orthopedics since I was little kid. Yes, a little kid. You're probably thinking "how would a little kid know what a Pediatric Orthopedic is?" Well, I spent a lot of time, I mean A LOT of time at the doctor growing up. Pediatric Orthopedic doctors to be exact. Since my first visit, I knew that's what I wanted to do. Dr. Stephen Milliner (with the greatest English accent) was instantly my favorite doctor and a hero in my eyes. When Dr. Milliner left the practice due to cancer, I was devastated! But then, Dr. Gregory White stepped in and became my new favorite! And after Dr. White, Dr. Jeffrey Vaughn. These three men have been so helpful and kind. It is these doctors who sparked my interest in this field. And now, I am a Pre-Med major at Grand Canyon University pursuing my dream!
(And hopefully I'll work at Phoenix Children's one day!)
Does it scare me? HECK YEAH! It's a lot of work. A lot of time. A lot of responsibility to study this field and to work in it. A dream of mine closer to coming true with each moment of class and each moment of study.
Another one of my dreams in life is to do medical missions somewhere in Africa. This is something the Lord has placed on my heart and sparked a fire in me to do. I don't currently have a trip planned out or anything, but I'm still so excited because I know I'm going to go there one day and fulfill this dream and listen to the Lord's call.
Does this dream scare me? OH YEAH! This one scares me more than becoming a PA. But I think it will be so rewarding! God doesn't promise easy. He promises possible. And through Him, we can do ALL things.
I can't wait to accomplish these two dreams of mine. I think these dreams are pretty big. But the most important thing about them is that I don't want to accomplish these dreams for myself. I want to accomplish these dreams because I know I will be helping others. And that's what we are called to do right?
XOXO
One of my dreams is to become a Pediatric Orthopedic PA. I have been wanting to work in Pediatric Orthopedics since I was little kid. Yes, a little kid. You're probably thinking "how would a little kid know what a Pediatric Orthopedic is?" Well, I spent a lot of time, I mean A LOT of time at the doctor growing up. Pediatric Orthopedic doctors to be exact. Since my first visit, I knew that's what I wanted to do. Dr. Stephen Milliner (with the greatest English accent) was instantly my favorite doctor and a hero in my eyes. When Dr. Milliner left the practice due to cancer, I was devastated! But then, Dr. Gregory White stepped in and became my new favorite! And after Dr. White, Dr. Jeffrey Vaughn. These three men have been so helpful and kind. It is these doctors who sparked my interest in this field. And now, I am a Pre-Med major at Grand Canyon University pursuing my dream!
(And hopefully I'll work at Phoenix Children's one day!)
Does it scare me? HECK YEAH! It's a lot of work. A lot of time. A lot of responsibility to study this field and to work in it. A dream of mine closer to coming true with each moment of class and each moment of study.
Another one of my dreams in life is to do medical missions somewhere in Africa. This is something the Lord has placed on my heart and sparked a fire in me to do. I don't currently have a trip planned out or anything, but I'm still so excited because I know I'm going to go there one day and fulfill this dream and listen to the Lord's call.
Does this dream scare me? OH YEAH! This one scares me more than becoming a PA. But I think it will be so rewarding! God doesn't promise easy. He promises possible. And through Him, we can do ALL things.
I can't wait to accomplish these two dreams of mine. I think these dreams are pretty big. But the most important thing about them is that I don't want to accomplish these dreams for myself. I want to accomplish these dreams because I know I will be helping others. And that's what we are called to do right?
XOXO
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Because. . .
My amazing roommate shared this with me a couple nights ago and I instantly fell in love. I will definitely be keeping this. . . For a long time.
Because. . .
I made her. . . She's different. She's unique. With love I formed her in her mother's womb. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember with great pleasure the days I created her (Psalm 139:13-16). To me she's beautiful. . . I love her. I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh and the silly things she says and does (Psalm 193: 17). She is herself, and no one else. . . this is how I made her. I made her pretty, but not beautiful, because I know her heart, and she would be vain. . . I want her to search out for her heart and learn that it would be Me in her that would make her beautiful. . . and it would be Me in her that would draw friends to her (1 Peter 3:3-5). I made her in such a way that she would need Me. I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be. . . only because I want her to lean and depend on me. I know her heart. I know if I had not made her like this, she would go about her own way and forget Me. . . her Creator (Psalm 62:5-8). I have given her many good and happy things. . . because I love her (Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32). I have seen her broken heart, and the tears she has cried all alone. I have been with her and have had a broken heart too (Psalm 65:8). Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone only because she would not take My hand. So many lessons she had to learn the hard way, because she would not listen to My voice (Isaiah 53:6). So many times I have sat back and sadly watched her go her own way alone, only to watch her return to My arms, sad and broken (Psalm 34:18). And now she is Mine again. I made her and bought her. I paid a high price for her, because I love her (Romans 5:8). I have had to reshape and remold her. . . to renew her to what I had planned for her to be. It has not been easy for her. . . or for Me (Jeremiah 29:11). I want her to be conformed to My image. This high goal I have set for her because I LOVE HER (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Beautiful, isn't it?
XOXO
Because. . .
I made her. . . She's different. She's unique. With love I formed her in her mother's womb. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember with great pleasure the days I created her (Psalm 139:13-16). To me she's beautiful. . . I love her. I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh and the silly things she says and does (Psalm 193: 17). She is herself, and no one else. . . this is how I made her. I made her pretty, but not beautiful, because I know her heart, and she would be vain. . . I want her to search out for her heart and learn that it would be Me in her that would make her beautiful. . . and it would be Me in her that would draw friends to her (1 Peter 3:3-5). I made her in such a way that she would need Me. I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be. . . only because I want her to lean and depend on me. I know her heart. I know if I had not made her like this, she would go about her own way and forget Me. . . her Creator (Psalm 62:5-8). I have given her many good and happy things. . . because I love her (Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32). I have seen her broken heart, and the tears she has cried all alone. I have been with her and have had a broken heart too (Psalm 65:8). Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone only because she would not take My hand. So many lessons she had to learn the hard way, because she would not listen to My voice (Isaiah 53:6). So many times I have sat back and sadly watched her go her own way alone, only to watch her return to My arms, sad and broken (Psalm 34:18). And now she is Mine again. I made her and bought her. I paid a high price for her, because I love her (Romans 5:8). I have had to reshape and remold her. . . to renew her to what I had planned for her to be. It has not been easy for her. . . or for Me (Jeremiah 29:11). I want her to be conformed to My image. This high goal I have set for her because I LOVE HER (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Beautiful, isn't it?
XOXO
Friday, January 20, 2012
Experiencing Him
Tonight at Grand Canyon, Francis Chan came to speak. I have to admit, a big part of why I wanted to go was this longing to experience God in that room. I had expectations for tonight. All of which were met. I wanted God to speak through Mr. Chan and touch me like never before. Cut to the core and make me feel His presence on a whole new level. Experience Him, really, truly experience Him.
But before he came on stage to speak, a band played. A band I've never heard of. Rend Collective Experiment. They're from Ireland. (My kind of people!) The accent was unbelievable! The music incredible. . . And the lyrics, so beautiful. So real. The message, so true. So refreshing. So emotional. So pure. Everything I have been feeling and needing to hear was said in those amazing songs. Tears running down my face. Literally THEE WHOLE TIME.
Love those moments.
I love the moments when everything that's been on my mind, consuming my thoughts, all goes away and He is my focus. I can't even explain how much I have been needing a night like this. Everything about it was perfect. The songs. The message. The Lord.
His love and grace and mercy and character were revealed to me in a whole new way. The words went deep into my soul and made me realize things I've never realized before.
Like I said earlier, I went into tonight wanting to experience God in that room filled with people listening to a great message. But as Francis Chan stood up there and spoke, I felt as if he were talking to me directly. He addressed me exactly where I was. He said we should be going out to nonbelievers seeking out moments to share the love grace of our Father with them and experience God in those moments. Those scary, awkward moments when you don't know how the other person is going to react, but you know that you are a part of God's work. You are going out trying to make disciples.
I did experience God in that room tonight like I had been longing to for some time. But it made me want to go out and share the message of our Savior with so many who haven't accepted it or maybe who haven't heard it. And made me want to experience Him in those moments. I don't just want to experience God sitting in a pew listening to a sermon. I want to go out into the world and experience Him on a whole new level, knowing that I am carrying out His work. Making Him proud of me, and fulfilling my purpose on this earth.
I want everyone to experience Him the way I did tonight.
XOXO
But before he came on stage to speak, a band played. A band I've never heard of. Rend Collective Experiment. They're from Ireland. (My kind of people!) The accent was unbelievable! The music incredible. . . And the lyrics, so beautiful. So real. The message, so true. So refreshing. So emotional. So pure. Everything I have been feeling and needing to hear was said in those amazing songs. Tears running down my face. Literally THEE WHOLE TIME.
Love those moments.
I love the moments when everything that's been on my mind, consuming my thoughts, all goes away and He is my focus. I can't even explain how much I have been needing a night like this. Everything about it was perfect. The songs. The message. The Lord.
His love and grace and mercy and character were revealed to me in a whole new way. The words went deep into my soul and made me realize things I've never realized before.
Like I said earlier, I went into tonight wanting to experience God in that room filled with people listening to a great message. But as Francis Chan stood up there and spoke, I felt as if he were talking to me directly. He addressed me exactly where I was. He said we should be going out to nonbelievers seeking out moments to share the love grace of our Father with them and experience God in those moments. Those scary, awkward moments when you don't know how the other person is going to react, but you know that you are a part of God's work. You are going out trying to make disciples.
I did experience God in that room tonight like I had been longing to for some time. But it made me want to go out and share the message of our Savior with so many who haven't accepted it or maybe who haven't heard it. And made me want to experience Him in those moments. I don't just want to experience God sitting in a pew listening to a sermon. I want to go out into the world and experience Him on a whole new level, knowing that I am carrying out His work. Making Him proud of me, and fulfilling my purpose on this earth.
I want everyone to experience Him the way I did tonight.
XOXO
Thursday, January 12, 2012
In The Middle Of My Little Mess
This song says it all
"So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD"
XOXO
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