Pathetic words in place of a beautiful picture.

I don't know what you think, nor how you view life. Whether you see in pictures or whether you see in words. I don't know if I'm different or if we are alike. But some days God speaks to me in pictures, I don't have a way with words, but sometimes that's the only way to share the pictures. This is how I see it...

It's dark. It's quiet. All you hear is your breath. 

It's loud and uneven, and weighs inside your chest. 

You feel dirty and ashamed, you know these feelings well. 

Your stuck where you'll always be; inside your prison cell. 

You sink a little lower, under the weight of metal chains.

And look down at your broken body, smashed beneath your shame.

The weights are just to heavy, and the cuffs are just to tight.

You've tried to break free before, but you've long given up the fight. 

Further down you fall, until your plastered to the ground.

Hope of breaking free tonight is nowhere to be found. 

Dare you open up your eyes, to view the mess your in?

Lower ever lower you sink, suppressed beneath your sin.

Does anyone see you there, struggling to be free?

Does anyone care you're there, is this your destiny?

And then something grabs your eye, you see Him standing there.

He reaches down to stroke your face, with such gentle care.

This picture is just all wrong, you shudder at the thought,

There is no way such beauty, could touch something so gaunt. 

Questions run through your mind at a sickening pace.

You are to filthy for Him, how could He touch your face?

The kindness in His eyes confuse everything you once knew.

He drops down to His knees and whispers, "Child, I love you." 

You watch as He reaches over and grabs one of your chains.

With teary eyes He says, "You don't have to feel this pain.

Child, you don't have to struggle, My grace has made a way.

I never intended suffering, I am here to take it away."

Everything gets blurry, as your tears threaten to break.

The thought of gaining freedom is more than you can take.

A life without chains, of that you never knew.

You lay there and wait, as He breaks them off of you.

You slowly open your eyes, and peak at His outstretched hand.

You close them up real tight, as you slowly start to stand.

Disappointment floods your body as you realize the weights remain.

You bitterly choke out, "Why do I feel the same?"

You wait for Him to answer, and when He doesn't make a sound,

You stare at Him with disbelief, as He says,"Child, look around."

First you see your shoulders and the absence of your chains,

Then you notice scars instead where your sin was forever stained. 

"Why do I feel so heavy?" You ask Him with confusion.

You both glance at your hands, you understand your disillusion.

Shame sweeps over you, as you see whats weighing you down,

The chains aren't on your body, nor are they on the ground. 

"Let them go." He softly voices, as you cling onto the chain.

"But my irons have always been there, what will replace my pain?"

At that He slowly smiles, "Child, I'll always be around."

You jump into His arms, as your chains fall to the ground.

In His Arms,
<3 D

Sacramento, CA ::"Let the little children come..."

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

Matthew 19:14

It was my first time visiting California and I was excited to see what all God had in store for the conference! This week was different than the last two, having only 64 attendees, it was easier to make deeper relationships with the young girls. God is continuing to teach me to rely on Him through stressful and hard situations. 

Following are some pictures of there precious faces!

After the conference came to an end, me and some friends had the opportunity to do a bit of San Francisco touring. I am no photographer, but hopefully these will give ya'll an idea of our time! :) 

Three conferences down, one more to go, next stop Indianapolis, Indiana!

In His Arms,

<3 D

Rescue

You are the source of life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of you

I need you Jesus to come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There is no other name by which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow you

My heart is yours for life

I need your hand in mine

No one else will do

Lord, I put my trust in you

I need you Jesus to come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There is no other name by which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow you

This world has nothing for me

This world has nothing for me 

This world has nothing for me

I will follow you

I need you Jesus to come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There is no other name by which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow you

In His Arms,

<3 D

Nashville, TN :: "God hath prepared..."

"But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

1 Corinthians 2:9

The Nashville conference came and went, and the next conference is just around the corner. God continues to remind me that He is the one with the plan. I can prepare over and over and over again, but "Except the Lord build a house, they labor in vain that build it." (Psalm 127:1) Eighty-eight girls attended the program in Nashville, and the Lord showed Himself mighty as He worked in each of there lives. This conference was in almost every way different from the last, and I am slowly realizing that there is nothing I can do but trust Him with the rest of the conferences. So where does that leave me? Continuing to learn how to lean on Him. Following are some pictures taken at the Nashville conference. :)

God is in control and I kinda like it that way.

Two conferences down, two more to go, next stop Sacramento, California! :) 

In His Arms,

<3 D

I know I am home when...

...no matter what time I shower, my towel is always wet. 

...it is considered "normal" to act out a fish jumping in the ocean.

...I find myself sleeping in a room where at least 3 people are snoring.

...breaking out into random songs from musicals is how to make 16 hours in a car go by quickly.

...there is more than 3 brands of shampoo to choose from.

...I look into the fridge and there is more than 9 containers of left overs.

...there is at least one person (outside of my family,) in my house at all times. 

...the going rate to pay someone to do the dishes on "your day" is 2 dollars.

...at least 2 different rooms in the house are blasting music at all times.

...anything with more sugar than frosted flakes gets devoured within ten minutes of bringing it inside.

...you can't sneeze without someone immediately imitating it.

...the shower head doesn't whistle at you.

...Moshu Sheshu and Tumbly Bumblys are the only games worth playing.

...Finding Nemo is quoted in ridiculous amounts. 

...someone's body part is always injured.

...3 gallons of milk is bought every shopping trip.

...my personal bubble is thrown out the window.

...the majority of my clothing is worn by other people.

...going to the grocery store is considered a family field trip.

...the dog is considered the personal vacuum cleaner.

...it is socially excepted to pretend you are in the Avengers.

...someone is always doing something they aren't suppose to be doing.

...everyone aspires to become a ninja.

...having a personal item is a joke. 

...the hairs in my hairbrush aren't my own.

...someone is constantly either singing, humming, or whistling.

...I have to sharpie my initials on the insides of every sock I own.

...the above..(whatever that is?) is done quite often.

...I only consume 26% of any bag of candy I buy.

...the desire to have the car window rolled down requires 2 people and 3 suctions cups.

...the garage holds 19 lawn mowers. 

...being asked if my family is a day care is not unusual when hanging out with siblings and cousins. 

...it's impossible to be alone for longer than 10 minutes.

...someone is always laughing.

I know I am home when...I don't ever wanna leave.

In His Arms,

<3 D