Lullabies into anthems.

"'Cause that's what He does. He takes little songs, little lullabies and turns them into anthems. His eyes are roaming throughout the earth, seeking to show himself to those whose hearts would be fully committed to Him."

- Christy Nockels on the story behind "We'll Sing Along"

It's going to take a while for my heart to unpack the imprint that Passion 2012 made. 

You just get ready, sweet friend, for the song mentioned above to drop on the album. I've not yet listened to Christy bring life to the lyrics without ending up with little "baby tears" as I call them in the corners of my eyes.

Great God, wrap your arms around this world tonight.

Photo credit: 1

Lessons from choir-singing.

Shelley Giglio tweeted this picture of choir practice.

I told you last week that I had musical news to report. The report, which you're aware of if already, is that I'm so humbled to get to be a part of a movement that's turned my life upside-down since sophomore year at Samford.

Passion Conferences unite a generation--mostly college-students--for Jesus's fame and reknown. This year? The Georgia Dome opened doors to 40,000 pairs of feet shuffling in for opening session.

Whoa baby.

The Passion choir--all 200 of us--is but a drop in the ocean of 40,000, but this experience of ushering in some of the hymns of our generation just stirs my heart. 

Because the thing is, I'm not that great at singing. Sure, I can carry a tune in a bucket and avidly cheesed it up in Samford Step Sing, but I'm talkin' we are backing Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels. Let's just say that not every ounce of blood from the two Baptist ministers of music in the family trickled down to me.

But that's the blessing in this.

We are baby ants up there!

Looking out over a wall of faces in the Georgia Dome last night, seeing things from the flipside I'm not used to, it hit me. It just makes you just wanna bless, free, and speak truth over that generation of students--in a desperate kind of way.

"If any message, whether in print or person, was truly His idea and doused in His anointing, 

He has tested it meticulously on His messenger."

- Beth Moore, So Long Insecurity

Remember that advent season? That time of experiencing (still experiencing a bit) a time of binding and captivity? Time of experiencing battle with the enemy? I was just there. That season was doused in His annointing for such a time as this.

Because yesterday, today, and until Thursday, I can sing out and look over faces and declare louder than I could six months ago the freedom that is knowing Christ. It's a sharper image to me. It's a story I can actually tell now because God tested that message meticulously on me, the messenger.

I never desire that these posts be about me. I don't. Sometimes, I really don't know how to tell the story otherwise though than through just messily explaining what God's teaching me. But I still think He doesn't want me to keep this lesson to myself.

The one about meticulous testing.

'Cause when the clouds start to unblur and the sun peaks through, testing always begins to make a lot of sense. I know we all know this, but sister, it's a reminder I think we're going to need to tell each other a lot in this life.

At least someone can keep reminding me!

Click here to watch a live stream of this year's conference or to learn more!

Little Miss I'll get tough.

I think I need this. Photo courtesy of Tumblr.

Songs you should listen to:

1. The entire Passion 2011 "Here for You" album. FINALLY! Unreal voices shouting Jesus' name. I'm addicted and will be runnin' to this for months! I'm still convinced one mornin' I'll wake up and Christy Nockel's voice will come out of my mouth.

2. Little Big Town's cover of Bruno Mars. Clearly, I'm a sucker for a good cover, and a D.C. radio station played it during my trek to Richmond yesterday a.m. Now if only it would be released (they jammed it at a concert in early March)...

Oh, I see you my girl. Photo courtesy of Little Big Town.

Shameless ADPi Plug: Karen Fairchild (the brunette one) is an Alpha Delt, from my chapter. The blonde chick? A Phi Mu from the Alpha Gamma chapter at Samford. Karen came to our ADPi Homecoming tailgate a few years ago--she's a total hottie.We're so proud. Bow-wow, Bulldogs.

3. "Little Miss" by Sugarland--shot to the heart. Every line hits a little too close to home, or wherever this place my heart and head are restin' these days is called (I feel I'm too far too long from home). You see, this job is hard. I don't wanna scare you off it's something you're considering for your organization, because I know a lot of women read this that are applying to be consultants for NPC groups. You'll be ok; it's one of the coolest things you'll ever do at 22. But you neverevereverever stop. Like, ever. The "be my guest, i'll make more anytime it runs out" part? I cracked up--story of my life this year (probably before that if I'm honest). Sometimes you just need a good song to jam to and remember you're not the only girl out there that thinks she (well, with Jesus by her) can literally take on the world if she could just get through the next week and get one more skinny vanilla latte...

It's alright. It's alright. It's alright.

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

Photo courtesy of Bippity Boppity Boo.

Greetings from Indy and goooo Hoosiers! I'm back to the LC grind after a good Christmas break and even better weekend. You see, my head is reeling after this weekend's Passion 2011. I am a huge supporter of the mission of the Passion conferences, and though they're TECHNICALLY aimed at college students, I know I'm a coupla months out (I promise I was still allowed to go) yet absolutely immersed in the colleges of our nation. In Christ's church that spans those schools. And in the unbelievers at those schools.

Maybe it was all the STUFF (and by stuff, I would like to use a stronger word, ha. It was that bad.) I struggled with in college until I finally realized there is nothing better than living in His love to glorify His name. Nothing better. Nothing sweeter. Maybe it's my job as a sorority consultant. Whatever it is, I love this age. And I sure love my Savior.

Random art hanging up in Atlanta this weekend.

And worshiping with 22,000 people in one place all weekend is just a cool glimpse of a tiny, baby, microscopic sliver of heaven. It's such a blessing...

 

Notes from sermons by John Piper, David Platt, Francis Chan, Beth Moore, Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, and more spill over pages of my journals alongside prayers and praise. Because with my earthly words I always somehow try to describe a Being who made galaxies. I'm strung out, overwhelmed, and completely thrilled about what God is doing with his church among 18-25 year old people. Strung out, overwhelmed, and completely thrilled that a HUGE, ferocious God looks down and sees this little girl from Alabama that stands 5'8" and has brown hair and a recovering shopping problem and unwavering Sour Patch Kids problem and says:

"Hey you. My love. I'm gonna use you, too. Like I used Paul, Esther, Mary, C.S. Lewis, Beth Moore, your mama, and so many more of my children. I will also use you to tell about me. I tell you to go to ___, let's go. If I tell you to give away all this stuff you think is so necessary to breathe, do it. Follow me. ME. Jesus Christ. This is all for my glory. Your citizenship is in heaven with me now. Forever."

Jesus. Is. SO. Good. He demands so much. We have no right to ask "why" or to cut out the standards we don't like. When you make your own universe, you kinda get to come up with your own rules. But the rewards are going to be so heavily dripping off of us when we are made raidant in heaven and look at His face...

I'll post more as soon as the whirlpool that is my brain settles. See? I can't even write.... Sheesh. That usually comes easy as breathing.

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go."

Genesis 28:15

Hello, Indiana.

Blog post title: "Awake My Soul" by Mumford and Sons. Get on it.