True Life: I want a tattoo

Attention all readers... apparently I have a rebellious side. Tattoos and nose rings have been on my mind lately. I don't know if I am just having a mid-college life crisis or what, but I have really been considering one or both of these things to be a part of who I am.

I have been contemplating the idea of a tattoo for about... 2 years now.
Before you freak out (mom and micah), I will first list the reasons that this probably wont happen.
1. My mother will no longer help me pay for school. This is a problem considering that school is sorta a huge expense...
2. My husband does not prefer that this happen.
3. Im kinda scared.
4. Im afraid that I would hate my tattoo in approximately 20 years.

BUT if I were to get one, these are the tattoos that I would consider.
I love the placement of this tattoo..... but this is the one that I would be the least likely to get... (mine would be smaller though).

The pros to this tattoo would be that I could have part of my favorite chapter in the bible tattooed (Isaiah 61). I consider this to be a huge part of my calling and would love to have these words on my body so that I could be constantly reminded of this calling. However, no one would see this tattoo (besides during the summer) and it would hurt really bad. Also, the whole point of getting a tattoo would be to use it as a means to talk to people about Jesus and people would not see this tattoo enough to be used as a ministry tool.

Of corse, I enjoy the less obvious tattoo placement of this tattoo...

If I were to get a tattoo here, I would have it say the word "eternity".  This would be a really good conversation starter and hopefully would make people ponder eternity and where they are headed.

Like I said, the chances that I will actually get a tattoo are slim. But I have pondered it quite a bit. An alternative idea that I have come up with is the idea of getting a white-ink tattoo. These are less obvious, and less of a commitment because (from what I hear/read) they fade within approximately 5-10 years. However, they look kinda creepy (like scars)... see

Its a possibility.
Hmmmmm..... Madi has a rebellious side? Who would have ever guessed :)
I just love creativity and expression of creativity.
Summer 2012 possibly?
Guess you will have to wait and see :)

The Weight of Glory

I can't believe I am going to write a blog about something I read for school... but I am. I am fortunate to go to an amazing school that loves to talk about Jesus, Oral Roberts University. Because of this, we get to read really cool stuff that has to do with Jesus :). I will start by saying I am SO grateful for that because I haven't always had that luxury (all of those reading from Missouri Valley may now reply "Amen").

We read "The Weight of Glory" by C.S. Lewis for my comp 303 class (which I was sorta bitter about having to take because I felt that I had already taken it, transferring sucks). It was sorta long, really dense, and at times hard to pay attention to BUT I ended up being extremely blessed by it, so now I shall share that with you.

Here is a brief synopsis of what the essay is about: Lewis mentions some of the promises that we are entitled to as believers (1. we shall be with Christ 2. we shall be like Him 3. with an enormous wealth of imagery, we shall have "glory" 4. we shall be fed or feasted or entertained and 5. we shall have some sort of official position in the universe, ruling cities, etc). Lewis focus, however, is on promise 3: that we shall have glory. Wow... GLORY, me? us? Yes.

So what does this mean? Are we even worthy of glory? Lewis brings this up, the fact that Christians are uncomfortable being rewarded at all, especially with glory. Lewis explains this beautifully when he says, "The reward he is going to get will, in actual fact, be a natural or proper reward, but he will not know that until he has got it.". I believe the previous quote is how we remain humble. The reason we are so uncomfortable with the fact that we will be rewarded with glory is because we feel we are unworthy (and we are, BUT His grace...). We feel that in order to achieve a great reward we must do something great. But God remembers EVERYTHING we do, he especially likes to remember all of the good things we do (Mark 9:41-I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward). God is so good, and he rewards us according to our good works. Every person is destined for glory (according to Lewis) but the beauty is that God gave us a free will, the ability to choose to claim that glory or not.

What really got me was the discussion in class. We discussed the fact that if we really view everyone as destined for glory, how then will that change the way we treat people. I found myself welling up with tears in class because of how heavy this notion is. When you really see people as either destined for glory, or not, it becomes this incredibly heavy issue. Like, everything I say to someone is ultimately assisting them into glory or to horrible corruption. Heavy. Lewis closes the essay by making the point that because of this very premiss, "there is no ordinary people". You are not ordinary because God is extraordinary and He made you in His image. You are extraordinary, destined for glory.

"The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken."

James 4:6 
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The V Day.

Hello All,

As we come off of one of the most hyped up holidays (that really felt like more of a normal Tuesday for me) I would like to leave you with some of my thoughts/highlights of the day.

This is my second Valentines day as a married woman. Needless to say, it was the best one yet! So what did we do? Go on a date? Eat a candle light dinner at home? Watch the notebook and reflect back on our first date? No sir. All of those things are great (maybe exaggerated the last one a bit), but lets be real, none of those things are practical on Valentines day. Restaurants are packed out the door, movies are full as well... and plus what makes one day of the year more lovable than the rest?

My honey came in from school today (after sending me texts about how horrible traffic was) and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Valentines Fail!" :(. The poor guy had drove all the way, battling horrible Valentines Day traffic, to the mall to get me a phone case that I had expressed interest in and they didn't have the right one for my phone! He was trying so hard to be thoughtful (because I am very anti-flowers, so he has to be creative with gifts). Although his efforts were very appreciated, and might I add adorable, I ended up with no physical gift for Valentines day. But what I did receive was even greater!

We ate dinner, conversed about some things that were on my heart, worked out (found out that we actually really motivate each other while working out), and then just hung out. Simplicity is bliss in our marriage. We plan on going to a movie/out to eat maybe this weekend once all the V-day crazies go home and return to being bland.

So, I guess the lesson learned is that when there is no time for elaborate ValenTIMES... make time :).
I love my hubby.
I love you.
Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!

Seriously though, do I have time for this?

Alright, heres the deal. Im being very vulnerable right now and quite frankly it makes me a little uncomfortable. I've wanted to start a blog for a while now but have been rather intimidated. After several deeply considered attempts, followed by backing out, I have finally decided to pull up my big girl panties and take a leap. You never grow without first becoming uncomfortable. So here. we. go. (Im cringing as a write this).

I feel like I am an inspirational, creative, sporadic kind of person. Perfect for blogging right? Hopefully. Ok but seriously, I am a creative person and I have been searching for a good outlet. So here we go, what am I going to write about in this time that I don't have you may wonder? Well... I have no idea but I'll try to give you a rough outline.

I love Jesus with all my heart, He is my inspiration and will be for most of my posts. I also love Micah John. He is a full time law student and full time child, the two make an interesting pair that I know as my husband. He will provide some interesting topics to discuss as well. I also am a full time student, wife, employee, and friend. My life is full of hilarious times, tough times, and not enough time. I plan to begin to document all of these cherished times in this little blog.

I can't wait to start this step of faith. (eeeek... I feel like I'm signing the yearbook of someone really important or something...).