1 Corinthians 13

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 


If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.  


If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love


Love never gives up. 
   Love cares more for others than for self. 
   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. 
   Love doesn't strut, 
   Doesn't have a swelled head, 
   Doesn't force itself on others, 
   Isn't always "me first," 
   Doesn't fly off the handle, 
   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 
   Doesn't revel when others grovel, 
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 
   Puts up with anything, 
   Trusts God always, 
   Always looks for the best, 
   Never looks back, 
   But keeps going to the end.

     Love never dies.

Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.


When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.


We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!


But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

feel beautiful

i saw this statement on a feed at a social networking site, "feel beautiful"  it got me thinking...what does this actually mean, feel beautiful?  what is beauty?

i have been struggling with the concept of beauty...what is it?  where do we find our worth?  value?  beauty?  in whom or what do we place our identity?  you look at magazine covers and see beautiful people who are perfect in body type...there is always the next diet or workout trend...there is always going to be something bigger and better to make you so called thinner and more beautiful.  we are always looking to the next thing...

what if we just looked to right now...to what we were given and how we were given...being conscious of our bodies and aware of what we are putting in it and taking care of it.  God created us...we are his.  the bible says that we are the temple of the holy spirit...the living god is residing in us....and we are to be good stewards of what he has given us...i want to prepare my body and my mind, my spirit to recieve all that he has for me...i so often look to my own strenght and look at my own weaknesses and limit myself...i need to allow god to infiltrate every part of my being...i need to value myself as god does...and not look so negatively at who i am...god created me fearfully and wonderfully and he loves me just as i am, and wants me to respect my body, to love who he created, and care for it.  he wants me to be healthy and not just physically, spiritually.

this is something that i have struggled with my whole life, not being content with who I am; wanting to be something other than who i am...it's an internal daily struggle...placing my worth and beauty in my weight...not loving who i am...there are many seasons, and many ups and downs, but i am sick of placing my value in how i look...i need to rest in who god created me to be...making sure to rest in him daily and seeking him and who he says i am...declaring my value and that i am loved.    when i begin doubting or thinking negative thoughts i need to declare who he says i am...that i am beautiful, that i am worthy of love, that i am made with purpose, etc....

Some Summer Must Haves...

Some more summer favorites...must haves...

Sunglasses...Everyone needs the perfect pair of sunglasses for summer.  I recently purchases some wrap-around cat eye sunglasses from American Eagle (similar to thes) that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Sunscreen...you need to protect your skin from the sun...

The perfect summer dress...something comfy and stylish...

Also for a great workout, try the NIKE TRAINING APP for the ipod touch/iphone...I have done 1 workout and am feeling it...absolutely love it already!  Try it Out...

Living in HIS presence

As I write this, I am currently watching the Bachelorette (a guilty pleasure, something I don't generally watch every week.) Today has been such a good and beautiful day...the weather was amazing! After work I was able to enjoy it: intense workout, bike ride, walk with my mom...then dinner was turkey burgers with veggies(a great summer meal). Anyway, today I have been thinking about how god gives us each day to LIVE. To fully live and experience fully. To walk on his love and mercy and grace; and to allow him to be active and working in our everyday lives. He is present, close. He is constant and always available. He desires for us to let him move. So often I go through my day not even aware of him; trying to work things pipit in my own strength. When all I real need to do is taP into him and his strength4 seek him. I don't need to strive or stress. I need to trust and have faith. I want to seek him daily, remembering his presence in my life. He is constant...he is faithful...he is good and true. Thank you Jesus for all you do!!! I am reminded of the scripture that says "abide in me. I am the vine and you are the branches...remain in my love". May we live(abide)in him every day!!!

Memorial Day Weekend...

Memorial Day Weekend...we remember those who have died serving and protecting our country; but it is also a time to get away and spend time with family.  That is what my family did.  We took two days and got away to Hill City, SD.  Not too far from Spearfish, but just far enough to get away and spend some quality time together.  We played lots of games, went on a lot of walks, read, slept, and relaxed.  Here are some pictures to commemorate our time together...

 We went on many Hikes ("Walks")...it was so beautiful!

 Family Picture...

 God is so creative...there is beauty all around us...

 Serving breakfast saturday morning...We each had to make a meal...

 Crossing the cattle guard proved rather difficult, reinacting getting stuck the previous day in sandals...

 Yet another family picture...

 Siblings!!!

 Dad and his Daughters...

 Kels and Whit conquering the mountain!

 Sisters...

 Posing for the camera...

 Brother and Sisters..

 With our "Walking" Sticks...

 Playing Games...

Whit making a bracelet!

I AM...

 "In a World of unrelenting changes,
                                      I AM the One who never changes.
    I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
                         Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned.
         I created a beautifully ordered world; one that reflected my perfection.
Now, However, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. 
                                    Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty.  
         The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing clower to me.                                                        In My presence you can face uncertainity with perfect Peace."




Revelation 22:13 - - I AM the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the First and the LAST, the Beginning and the End.

Heaven is FOR Real...

I just finished reading a book titled, "Heaven is For Real."  It is about this  3 year old boy who visits heaven, and through the story describes his encounters and what he saw during his time there.  I really enjoyed it, and it opened my eyes to see beyond today.  That God is real, and that He truly does love me, and wants to have relationship with me.  That there is more to life than just here and now, and that the things that they describe in the BIble.  Heaven is real, and though we won't know or see fully, but can know that it is God who works things out for His Good. He hears and sees and knows, and in the end of this story.

Jesus is Real, God is real, and heaven is a Real place. We are living for something so much more and so much greater. God has purposes and plans, and in the end He wins. He just shows us bits and pieces, and not all in full. He is the glorious designer and creator, the one who is over all. He is sovereign, and He is good!

These are a Few...

These are a few of my (recent) favorite things...


1. Double Iced Americano...with SF VANILLA and a little Non-Fat Milk.... and a hint of Cinnamon...mmm...mmm. Delicious...

2. My New Lamp...Simple and Understated...

3.  Candles...

I recentely recieved such a sweet and precious gift from someone...a candle...the name of it..."A Day on the Beach."  I like to light it and pretend like I am relaxing in the sun on the beach.  It helps to make these rainy days much more brighter...

4.  The Musical Musings of Mr. Chris August...

Ode to the Taurus

Ode to the Taurus...

Today we part ways...

What a sad, sad day...

  It has been a great almost 7 years.  

We have had our good times...we have had our bad...

But you have been such a very dependable, sturdy, and a trusty friend.  

Many miles we have rode, along highway, by-ways, and dirt roads.  

You drove me to college and back again, to and from Nashville, and many miles between South Dakota and Colorado.  

It has not always been easy...but we made it through...in snow storms, ice storms, blizzards galore, rain storms, etc. 

 Thank you for all the years you got me through.  

I will never forget you.  

Always in my heart, not far from my mind.  

I will remember all the times you helped me by. 

 Now it's time to part ways, I hope you get help so you have better days.  

Our times come to an end, and you have found another friend.  

Be good, stay strong, and I pray you travel many miles more.

I will miss, but know there are sunny days ahead. 

God Speed, Dear Taurus.

You will be missed.

Blessed...

God is amazing...He uses others to show His love and faithfulness.  Yesterday I was having such a hard day at work.  I was in pain from a knee injury, and it just seemed like everything was going wrong.  Later that morning a co-worker told me that someone had dropped off a gift for me.  Not sure what it was for or who it was from, I opened it and found a sweet encouraging note a candle.  I love candles and I so needed the encouragement that day.  It was like God knew I needed that.  It was Him sending a gift saying, Lindsay I see you and I know you.  I am with you, and using you.  If that was not enough about 10 minutes later, another co-worker said, Lindsay I found this on a table, and it has your name on it.  Opening it up, I found another encouraging note from another individual, and a tip.  God is good.  I just began crying because I knew it had to be God.  This has never happened to me, especially at work.  He knows and sees every detail, and He is God.  He is in control and His love for me is so great.  I realized that yesterday, that He is in the details and works in mysterious ways.  What a blessing those two indiviuals were.  They had no idea what was going on with me, but God knew, and used them to remind me of who God was.  There are no words to describe how I felt, but I am thankful for them, and for how God works.


I pray that I am obedient to respond to God's promptings, because you never know what is going on with someone else and that little something might make a huge difference.  God is sovereign, and He uses people to encourage and show love to his children.  If we were only willing to listen, and quick to respond.  "He is acquainted with ALL our ways."  Praise God for how He works and moves!  He is Good!

Weekend of Compassion

God's Heart, Our Hands...

This past weekend instead of having church in a building, we had church outside.  We were God's hands in feet to our communities.  There were many projects around Spearfish and the surrounding communities.  I was with a group that worked at the Bella Pregnancy Resource Center: sorting clothes in the baby botique, paining, cleaning, and doing some work on windows.  It was a beautiful day, and a great time serving.  The theme for the weekend was God's heart, Our Hands.  We are called to serve those around us, not just those inside the church.  God's heart is full of compassion for others.  May His heart be Our Heart!

Cleaning Gutters, windows, and planting flowers...what a great crew!!!

Abby and I sorting through the many baby clothes for the Baby Boutique!

Some cute kids getting their hands dirty...

Trust and Obey...

This weekend I saw a movie, "The Adujstment Bureau."  It brought about a lot of questions and thoughts relating to God.  I began to think about God and his plan for each one of us.  God has a wonderful and perfect plan for my life, and he knew it before the day I was born.  He is not surprised by my choices or the way I act.  I don't always live  my life according to what his plan, but when I am walking inside his will, I am walking in his plan and purpose for my life.  I don't always understand it, but I know God and I know His Ways are good, and His plan is Good.  He Loves me, and Desires only the best for me.

God keep me in the center of your will.  I want to submit my desires, and my plans at your feet, and lay down everything I desire or have known, so that you would increase in my life, and that I would walk fully in all you have called me to do.  Help me to see you more clearly.  A lot of it comes down to Trust.  Trusting Him, and knowing that He is working and won't let go of me.  He will do what He says he will do.  I want to believe Him at His word, and allow His work to be perfected in my life, that others might see His great and marvelous works.

T R U S T  and  O B E Y

Words of the World Versus Words of the Father...

By Raquel Rodriguez

1.cut out words and phrases that represent the life that the world offers. 2. go through the Bible and wrote down scriptures that represent the abundant life God promises. 
It is increadible how much garbage is out there.

Here are the two lists: Cut outs from Magazines

• Perfection Perfect
• Fashion
• Men, Men, Men
• Go Shopping
• Smooth legs
• Beauty
• Independent
• Real Remedies
• Upgrade
• Love in this Club
• SHOW YOUR SKIN
• Weight Loss Supplement!
• Experience what Paradise feels like
• Relationships
• Tough Bisexual
• BAD GIRL
• STD
• Budweiser
• LOVE
• "I need some cleavage"
• Secrets
• Juicy Goodness
• Catch up with the latest chisme (gossip)
• What makes you kissable?
• Flirty
• "I don't see the point of marriage. But when I need love, I get my love."
• DIY Abortions (Do It Yourself) <--freaked me out
• You want a prettier what? Belly button? Toes? Va-jay-jay? You won't believe the parts some women are tinkering with in their quest for so-called perfection.
• Women abusing prescription drugs
• Sleeping Pill Junkie
• Men, Sex & Love
• "We had sex in an airport bathroom."
• ACNE
• Need ade prevention?

Bible promises

• Psalm 37:4 // Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
• 1 Timothy 4:7-8 // But reject profane and old wives’ tales, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
• Proverbs 31:30 // Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
• John 10:10 // I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• John 10:28 // And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
• John 12:25 // He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
• 1 Peter 3:3-4 // Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

This was an awesome activity, a real eye opener. What are you exposing yourself to? Examine your life. It's crazy the things that we read in magazines, the lyrics to the music we hear and the shows that we watch. The empty promises of this world are everywhere and rather than making us "beautiful" they contaminate us. I encourage you to remove yourself from them and open God's Word. In it you will find an endless list of promises that will wash away the lies we have believed. The abundant life found in Jesus will produce in us an incorruptible beauty. I leave you with this amazing verse:

You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3

where does our worth come from?

By Arielle Royer

A few years ago, I was really into fashion & style. I mean really. I bought all kinds of style magazines, went onto tons of fashion blogs, and went shopping all the time. I constantly checked to see what all of the celebrities were wearing and what brands were the best. I'm talking about two hundred-dollar jeans and a dress in every color. It really became such a distraction in my life. I felt like I was wasting so much time on something that really didn't mean much of anything.

Fashion and shopping are not bad within themselves, they really aren't. However, so much of my time was focused on what I wore and how I looked rather than one: being content with what I had and two: focusing my attention on the eternal rather than temporary things. My desire to look and dress nice was not bad, but my motivation was. I was motivated to focus my attention on my looks so that I could gain approval from others. I was unhappy with what I had and how I looked rather than finding my value in Christ.

"If I need jewelry, makeup, or fashionable clothing to feel valuable, I have transformed those objects into idols because I expect from them what I can receive only from the One I claim to worship." -regina franklin

We live in America where we are constantly bombarded with materialism and tips on how we can look more beautiful. Our worth is found by the way we look, the clothes we wear, and from physical beauty. This is a lie has taken over so much of our generation. My heart breaks for young women, who are constantly chasing after this false beauty and materialism which will never satisfy. No matter how many pairs of shoes you have, no matter if you have the right brand of makeup- you will still want more. Sure, the little indulgences will make you happy, but only for a short time. A real and lasting joy can only come from Him. You are made beautiful in His eyes regardless of the clothes you wear and your appearance.

"In other words, I must choose to see myself as God sees me. I must choose to consider all things in my life in light of their spiritual importance. I must choose to set aside the world's definitely of beauty.....rather than making sure that my hair is in the right place, I ensure that my heart is in the right place. Rather than worrying that my jewelry doesn't match my outfit, I contemplate whether my attitude matches what i profess to believe. Rather than wondering if others see me physically beautiful, I focus on whether others see Christ's spitirual beauty in me. But the process is not without struggle." -regina franklin

Can you relate? What's your relationship with fashion and shopping?

Without God...

Today, in the middle of a Bible Study, God so convicted me...I am not putting Him first...I am putting so many other things in front of her...the tasks and things I have to do for the day week, etc.  I need to make Him apart of everything, and give him my first and best.  I am nothing apart from him.  I can't do anything without him.  He is in control and needs to come first above my friends, my family, my work...I am trying to do everything in my own strength, and I can't.  I need Him...He is my strength.

Family::Hill City Adventure

My Grandparents stop by on their way home from Arizona, so we decided to go to Hill City for the afternoon/evening.  We stopped in Rapid City at the new Sam's Club that just opened, and then headed onto Hill City, stopping at Prairie Berry Winery, and then going to Alpine Inn for dinner.  Here are some photos...

Luke and Grandma wine tasting...notice the empty wine glass...Luke said it characterized them more to have empty glasses then full

Grandma and I

Grandkids with Grandma...

With Dad...

Whitney's "comfy" seat...

Alpine Inn

Take Heart...

"Life is full of challenges.  It is not an easy ride for anybody, and we all face different circumstances, and confront pain in our lives.  

John 16:33 In this life you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.  

The beauty of the aftermath of the cross is that Jesus is with us, God Emmanuel.  He has overcome.  The fight that we’re in, He has already won."

quote from Joel Houston (Hillsong United)