Sing Me the Legends of the River

"Sing me the legends of the river,

Tell me the story of the Sky.

 

Because I want to grow,

I want to know,

I want to understand.

Paint me a picture of the landscape.

Dance me the dance of the waves. 

In the river is the model of creation.
Our lives like the river to the sea.

Sing me the legends of the river,

Tell me the story of the Sky.

Author Unknown

Changes

Things sure are changing here on Walton's Mountain.

More like the Tennessee Mountains, but I couldn't resist showing off my old soul by making a Walton's reference.

But anyway, the changes. First off, you may have realized that my internet home now has a new name. Instead of "Chasing Joy," my blog is now titled "The Wanderer." I like this a lot. Chasing Joy began to seem too selfish...like my mission is to do whatever makes me happy and nothing else. I didn't mean that in the slightest, but I wanted to make sure I didn't come off that way. And besides...I already have joy. It's not something I'm chasing, it resides within me. It's the joy of the Lord, and I just have to connect to it and let it show.

To me, "The Wanderer" means that I don't have all the answers, and it's ok. Because...

-J.R.R. Tolkien

I'm not sure where I'll end up in this life, but I like the idea of wandering. A personality test I took recently told me that I'm a seeker, stating that I like "adventure and original experiences that stimulate and challenge [the] status quo." So, I'll be wandering around this earth, seeking to spread as much joy and love as I possibly can. The way I see it, as long as I'm wandering with Christ my wandering will never be aimless.

Take the personality test here: http://personality.visualdna.com/

I usually don't buy into these things, but this one was pretty cool, although I did have to enter in my own faith in place of their inner strength message. 

The second change is that I'm off Facebook until March 1st. My dormitory hall is doing the "40 Day Revolution" by Richard Mull, and part of the revolution is a fast. It may seem arbitrary, but Facebook really has become too important to me. Being off of it for awhile will be healthy, and give me more time for more important things. It's been difficult for the first few days, but Kellie Pickler's new album "100 Proof" has been keeping me company as I find new things to do with all of this extra time!

So...I guess you can say I'm spending some time working on myself. I always want to be bettering myself; deepening my relationship with Christ's and others. And I always want to be sharing the love and grace that Christ gives me with others. 

Other news: I've found a church in Cleveland that I really, really love. I'm so thankful!

Promo shot for Rescued

Rescued is coming soon! The dance show I've been working on (with Unity Dance Troupe) since last semester is almost here! I'm so excited. This message (slavery) is so important. I went to a forum tonight with various advocates raising awareness for sex trafficking prevention, and once again it hit me how big this issue is, and how captive our nation is currently being held. 

Do some research on the issue, and if you're in the area come see Rescued! February 10-11th in the Dixon Center at Lee University. Check out http://146taskforce.org/events/rescued for more info. 

This post has gone on way too long, but then again I say that at the end of almost every post, so it looks like that's one thing that isn't changing. Thanks for sticking with me. 

Blessings, 

Caroline

....The wanderer. 

New Favorite Songs

From the night time to the morning I am aching for a better part of me.

Time is love, gotta run

We'll go home and lay down safe in the arms of love

So what if I can't kick a soccer ball into a goal?

I feel like I could lift 500 pounds with my soul.

This last song was written by a friend of Brad Paisley's who suffers with A-T. Brad recorded the song, and is now donating all the royalties to A-T's Children Project. Just another reason to love him. Read more about it here: http://www.theboot.com/2011/12/13/brad-paisley-hard-life/

In the palm of His hand.

Imagine the hand of God. Now look at His palm, and imagine me sitting there, just chilling out. That's pretty much where I like to reside 24/7. Everything is better when you're in the palm of His hand.

Not only am I in the palm of His hand, but my destiny resides there also. He's got it taken care of already, even though all I see right now are a bunch of question marks.

"'For I know the plans I have for you' declared the Lord..." Jeremiah 29:11.
That's great Lord, buy here's the thing: I DON'T know the plans you have for me, and that's where we have an issue. I'm a planner. I like to ask a lot of questions and know things way in advance. So living with my destiny in the palm of the Lord's hand, with no actual clue of what my life is going to turn out to be...that scares me.

I guess I should rephrase...WE don't have an issue, I have an issue. Sometimes I really don't know how to handle not knowing where my life is going, but the Lord doesn't even waste a breathe on it. He's already taken care of everything. Despite all of my doubts and fears, as long as I'm resting in the palm of His hand I'll always be in the right place at the right time. My destiny is already set in the Kingdom of Heaven.

As hard as it is to let go of control over my life, He really knows what He's doing. Actually, He knows more about me than I do, so letting Him take care of me is definitely the better option.

The best part of living in the palm of His hand is that I get to live soaked in His love. Why do I ever worry?!

I pray that you've found your place in the palm of the Lord's hand, and while you're there you let go of all worry, fear, stress, anxiety...and just rest. There's no better feeling than knowing that you are taken care of by the God of pure love.

Things I don't understand...

...and probably never will.
This is just a completely random list of a few things I don't understand. Some of them are funny and meaningless, some of them are legitimate concerns.

1. Why guys get buzz cuts. Really, fella's, not your smartest idea. 
2. My musical taste. Lately I've been listening to everything from Alan Jackson, Ben Rector, Needtobreathe, Lady Antebellum, Boyce Avenue, Jesus Culture and even a little bit of Justin Bieber. Can't put me in a box...
3. Why people tend to limit God, and dictate what He can and cannot do (or will and will not do) without Biblical backing. 
4. Ryan Gosling's voice. But I don't have to understand it to love it. 
5. Why Christian's are so divided. The fact that Christians sometimes have to defend their own faith to other Christians bewilders me. 
6. My impatience. Why can't I ever just love where I am and what I'm doing at the current moment instead of always wanting something more or different? I'm not saying that I hate where I am or what I'm doing, I just always find myself daydreaming about all of the other places life could take me, and wishing I could be there now (but probably at the same time be where I am now. Again, this confuses me.)
7. Cynism. I'll never get why some people (especially apathetic teenagers) with extremely fortunate lives always expect the worst out of their situations. 
8. Why God loves me so much. That one blows my mind each and every moment of every day. 

Basically, the world would be a better place if everyone were more loving, accepting, and joyful. And if guy's didn't get buzz cuts. That's all, folks!

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Better late than never...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know, I know...it's already the middle of January. But even though my well wishes are late, they are still sincere.

I had to best month at home. It was probably my favorite Christmas break I've ever had. The fact that I live away from home now makes going back so much sweeter. Plus the fact that my whole family was together for the first time since August made it so much fun.

Displaying some Christmas gifts!
New sweater, make up and curling iron :)

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and that 2012 is treating you well so far. I pray that you all continue to seek Christ, and build a relationship with Him deeper than you've ever known.

I'll write a longer update about Christmas break soon, but at the moment I'm still settling in to being back at Lee and starting the brand new semester (it's going great so far!). Once I've wrapped my head around everything you'll definitely be hearing from me.

Till next time :)