"the art of deep seeing makes gratitude possible."

this quote came to my mind in the middle of the day yesterday.  wednesdays are usually hard days for me.  i'm not sure why.  they just usually aren't my favorite.  but when this quote came to mind (likely not from my own mustering.. hmm..ehem, *God*), i decided that for the rest of the day, my eyes would see things deeply.

deep seeing:

like unoccupied benches in the wilderness to read in weather that lets you
like hibbard's brilliant orange against the sky's brilliant blue
like stumbling upon jazz night in the cabin
like meeting with friends in the middle of the day at a public university to read and ruminate on God's word
like yui, with his sunglasses inside like a diva (:
like lynette, a caf worker who stands in the same spot every day and remembers my name
like windows that let in the golden hour light in the hibbard penthouse
like friends standing for freedom
like the lyrics "Your name is like honey on my lips, Your Spirit like water to my soul"
like night class getting out early and walking up the hill in light

i am no expert at deep seeing.  if anything, most of the time my eyes are bent towards whining.  but would you, along with me, ask God for eyes that see deeply today, friend? 

deep seeing makes gratitude possible.
deep seeing makes gratitude possible.

// because my professor said "no class" and i said "it's time for an adventure!" (:

today, i was inspired by the daily, ordinary, rainy.
we live in a beautiful world.


i am learning so much to stop and look around and see these days.

moves me every time.  i come back to it every time i need inspiration.  that song!  i just love it!

well geez, louise! if that smile doesn't just say "wanna be friends and share this cupcake with me? and then i will make you feel loved and valuable all the time because i have a heart of stinkin gold" then i don't know what does.. (:

but seriously, friends.  this one's got a heart of gold.

this is my dear friend, syd, and she LOVES Jesus and is always always letting her heart be shaped by Him and she has a passion for people to know Him, especially high school kids, and she reminds me of truth and points me to beauty and she watches documentaries and reads about women's rights and she wheezes when she laughs (: and she loves beyonce and she's a fan of patagonia and french press and just people in general.  i wish so badly that everyone could know her!  but if it's not possible for everyone to know her, i am honored to be one of the ones that gets to be touched by her life.

getting to know her heart is one of the biggest honors for me.  i do, i feel honored to learn more and more pieces of the heart of this incredible human. 

today i will choose Jesus.  i will follow Him because He is worthy of my life.
today i will take deep breaths.
today i will remember.  i will remember that He loves me.  i will remember why i am here.  i will remember His faithfulness.  i will remember that He is King... that He is God and i'm not.
today i will notice the people around me.
today i will definitely listen to sleeping at last.
today i will live in freedom.
today i will throw off the sin that so easily entangles.
today i will turn my eyes upon Jesus.
today i will see myself and those around me as image-bearers: fearfully and wonderfully made.
today i will look for chances to serve.
today i will enjoy God and thank Him for each blessing.  like sunshine and food and learning and femininity and community and my bed and and and..
today i will drink coffee.
today i will welcome discipline.
today i will wear flannel.
today i will look at the sky.
today i will do things i don't want to do.
today i will venture into nature.


today i will be loved by God and today i will love Him.
today is a new day and i am a new creation

p.s. if you've been thinkin i'm a really good photographer, thank you! but... sorry... any cool picture you've seen on this blog comes from... pinterest.  i know i know!  my secret's out!  i'm a user!

-- Bob Goff// Love Does

http://simpleandsincere.weebly.com/1/post/2014/01/you-are-the-air.html

thanking God for my beautiful friend becca and her words that breathe deep love for Jesus.  touched my heart today.  oh, i love this girl dearly.

this is the part that gets me the most:

"they may seem dead, these straight white boxes
but my God has a way of loving that reaches into all depths
and pulls me out of all darkness
even if that darkness is the steady glow of artificial light on white walls

He streams through the windows, penetrating my eyes and my skin
He whispers "hope" while my education professors scream "hopeless"
He brings child after child to me to show His tender physical touch
He speaks in the voice of dr. stephens, reminding me it is all about loving people
He gives me an attitude and a confidence i know are beyond myself

even here among these suffocatingly white walls and straight chairs
you are the air that breathes life into this dusty soul"

mm.

proverbs 16:24