clear eyes, full heart

i feel like the last two months i've really lived up to my blog title.
well, i guess just the crazy part.
the whole "white woman" thing kinda sticks with you.

anyway,
it's been a crazy two months.
and i'll recap maybe not so quickly.

my sister got married.

it was a crazy weekend full of laughter,

 

special moments,

 and, most importantly, dancing!

at the end of september,
 i moved out of my apartment and home

for the past three and a half years.

it was definitely a bittersweet time.

i'm back living with my parents.

who knew i'd be 28 and living at home.

weird.
{i'd prefer not to have this photo documented}

the giants made it to the world series!

i really love post-season giant's baseball.

i spent a week in socal visiting some dear friends.

after a month and a half of battling,
i finally got my visa!
i think the phrase "best day ever" might actually apply.

i've worked my last day at the VA for a while.

it's been my home away from home for the past four years.

i'm still blown away about how the Lord got me there,

but that's a story for another day.

 the giants are playing in the world series!

did i mention that?

packing.

trying to prioritize your life into two suitcases that 

weigh less than fifty pounds is proving a challenge.

i leave for india in SIX days. 
unreal.
i haven't really had much time to process it all.
in all honesty, some days i feel totally 
unprepared for all that lies ahead.

the tv show friday night lights came up recently,
specifically the famous words of coach taylor:
"clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."
i know it's completely cheesy
and completely out of context, 
but i think i have a new way of looking at this phrase.

my eyes are clearly fixed on the 

task set before me and on my prize-Christ.

my heart is full with support and affirmation 

from those around me, and full with 

the promises and love of the Lord.

i can't lose. 

romans 8:31, 37-39 says this:

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

a bit of a stretch, i know.
but i don't really care.
every girl needs a theme
and this is an obvious contender.
 
i probably won't post again until i'm in india,
and then i'll really live up to that crazy white woman thing.
so we'll see ya then!


cincerely,


cindy

 

it still hurts

when you loose someone special in your life,
it takes a while for the hurt to go away.
tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my grandmother passing
and i'm not sure the hurt is ever going to go away.

despite missin' her somethin' fierce, 
i find immense joy in the fact that 
she is with her Savior in heaven.

today i went through some photos with my mom.
it was sweet to remember my grandma and 
how many different hats she wore.

a daughter, sister, and cousin

a friend

a mother

 a hard worker

 a beauty

 a family woman

grandmother 

 babysitter extraordinaire

adventurer

more than any of these things, 

i remember my grandmother's love for Jesus.

every chance she got, she would share about Him.

she didn't care if you had the same faith or not,

if you were eight or eighty,

or if you spoke her language.

 her bible was littered with markings

from years of studying

as painful as not having her cheerful laugh

and convicting spirit on earth,

i can't wait to be reunited with her one day

as we worship God together for all eternity.

Eleanor Dorothea Jacobs

September 1, 1916-April 9, 2012

Easter: the day after

easter is my favorite day of the year.
without Christ rising over 2,000 years ago,
life would look and be totally different.
my life, your life, everybody's.

one of my easter traditions is to read through 1 corinthians 15.
it's a basic argument for why the death 
and resurrection of Christ is paramount.
at the end, paul reminds of the victory foretold in isaiah:

"'Death is swallowed up in victory.^'
 'O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?'"

as amazing as easter is with its focus on such amazing truths,
it becomes like so many holy days:
remembrance on important realities 
that seem to not impact our lives after a few days have passed.
 
i read this section of scripture anew yesterday, with my focus extending to verses 57 and 58:

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."


we have victory because of and through the risen Christ!
and while we rejoice and reflect on that, let us not forget to act.

i pray in this renewed season of victory in Christ, that i would work abundantly for the Lord,
being steadfast and immovable.

and i pray the same for my brothers and sisters.
may we "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!"





cincerely,


cindy

Merry Monday

happy monday, all!
hope you find encouragement and 
strength through His promises this day.

Psalm 86

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am godly;
    save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.

Be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all the day.

Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.

In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you answer me.

 

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.

All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.

For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    unite my heart to fear your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant,
    and save the son of your maidservant.

Show me a sign of your favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

cincerely,

cindy