Resting Place

I mentioned in my first post that my nursery school kiddos have taught me a lot. They have showcased such innocence and honesty during our afternoons together. As I have helped them be the best little people they can be, they have stretched me to become a better person myself. A better Miss Carrie.

Here is a picture from this afternoon--out on the ball court with my main man, G.S. He is as all-boy as they come, but this baby's rough-and-tumble nature, dirt smeared little cheeks, and sweaty hair are delightfully balanced with sweet giggles and even sweeter hugs. After buzzing around the playground until his four-year-old heart is pounding, G often collapses into my lap for a recharge. 

Today, as I ran my fingers through G's messy tangles, I noticed a wild parallel to my own life. I realized that just as this little boy needs a lap to fall into when he has completely tired himself out, I also have a favorite resting spot when my tank is on empty.  At the end of long, strenuous days (this final exam week, especially), nothing comforts me more than dropping all of my weight right into the lap of my Father. I can come, scraped up knees, dirty hands, and all to this place of quiet rest where trivial pursuits take a backseat. A place where bigger, better, faster gives way to deep breaths, serenity, and perspective. Today, I am thankful for a place to "park it" when I am overwhelmed with life's chaos. I am thankful for the lap of my Lord--always welcoming, always comforting, always rejuvenating. 

^" Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Luke 18:17

Lessons From Home

Amidst all of the hustle and bustle that being a college student brings, there are some weekends that I just need to be home. While I enjoy worshipping the Lord in Oxford and in Drew's hometown of Booneville, there is nothing quite like a Sunday spent in my home church. The church where my paternal grandfather pastored for more than twenty years. The church where my mom grew up watching her father lead the choir. The church that introduced my parents, sparking one of the most inspirational marriages I've ever known. The church whose grounds boast beautiful moss-covered fountains and gorgeous flowers in the Kennith and Jean Kirk Memorial Garden, dedicated to my grandparents. The church where I now watch my dad, filling his father-in-law's shoes, leading members in worship services every Sunday. The church that raised me. Home. My heart is always blessed by a Sunday at home, and yesterday was one of the best.

I think it's pretty standard of us as followers of Christ to find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same sins. While our prayers are to overcome these obstacles in our faith, our devotion to the cause is often lacking.

The first chapter of 2 Peter begins by describing the glorious promises the Lord has in store for us as his people. Peter discusses our escape from the sinfulness of this world and God's promise to help us overcome such desires. Verse 5 says  "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge." 

Peter's goal in this section is to remind us that as believers of Christ and believers in his promises, we can't be passive and half-hearted in our faith. God never intended for us to sit back in effortless following of Christ's teachings. For as much as the Lord has promised us, we are called to make every effort in our power to honor him. We honor him with a virtuous heart, and a heart like that can only be supplemented by knowledge of his Word. As our Biblical knowledge increases, we will be able to better apply it to the sinful areas in our lives. The more familiarity we have with the Word, the better we are at defending our hearts against ungodly intrusions. If there are continual areas of sin in our lives, perhaps it would help to step back and see how avidly we are seeking a defense. The best armor of all is right in front of us, ready to be applied to our transgressions. Defense wins ballgames, folks. Give it a shot!

Get Carried Away with God's Word today!

A Quick "Hello!"

Welcome to "Carried Away!" For those of you who don't know me, I'll give you a little bit of background on myself.

To a wonderful couple of over 30 years, I am daughter. The baby of our family of four, I pretty much fit the profile. I am striving to be half the woman that my mother is, and I will always be Daddy's little girl.

To a 6'3", 27 year old businessman, I am sister. The 6 year age gap between us seems to shrink as we get older, and I wouldn't trade a minute of cutting up with him for a lifetime with a different sibling.

To a handsome, intelligent 24 year old, I am girlfriend. I represent several failed attempts at cooking dinner, shrunken tshirts after trying my hand at laundry, and, by his account, I am a budgeting disaster.  Despite almost three years of these red flags, Drew is still by my side, living life with me. I have never met a person who makes me smile like he does, and I am so excited for the years to come with him!

To the University of Mississippi, I am about $1,000 in parking tickets, 8 semesters of tuition money, and 40-ish used textbooks. I'm kind-of kidding. During my years at Ole Miss, I have learned more about myself than at any other time. I have transitioned from girl to lady while planted in Oxford, and I would dare say that I am in the midst of the best years of my life. In August, I will begin my senior year here, then it's off to graduate school. I'll be documenting my final year pretty frequently on this little blog, so prepare yourself. I'm sure you'll find yourself as in love with Oxford living as I am!

To a special group, I play two important roles. I am both friend and sister to over 300 girls! Crazy, right? Joining Kappa Delta sorority was one of the best decisions I ever made, and while I never had a biological sister, these gals have filled that gap beyond its capacity. I am currently living my last weeks as a tenant in the KD house on campus. While it's been a crazy year of community bathrooms and the like, I will always cherish memories of the up-all-night sleepovers, 24/7 girl talk, and friendships I have made through this sisterhood.

To a class of 18 "bunnies," I am Miss Carrie. I am playmate, confidant, and time-out enforcer. I am a great big hug on arrival, and a high five at each day's end. These 3-4 year olds have completely stolen my heart and grown my love for children more than I ever could have imagined. Watching them grow up has been so much fun, and I am so thankful for all that my time with them has taught me about potty training, runny noses, and life in general.

Finally, to my heavenly Father, I am beautiful. I am the same mistakes over and over again. I am all things human and all things ungodly. I am imperfect, unbalanced, and undeserving. But, in my Lord's perfect eyes, I am redeemed! Reedemed by the blood of the Lamb, I am a sinner saved by his never-ending grace. He is my strength and my portion, and I am completely in awe of the beauty He's brought to my life. As I take steps in my faith, Christ is teaching me more about myself every day. He's showing me that my value and true worth can be found only in Him, and He has revealed to me more joy than I could ever put into words. For all of the above people, I am thankful...but with my King, I am Carried Away!