He is good.

Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Be our shepherd and carry us forever. Psalm 28:6-9

Life has been up and down for several days. 

I was admitted into the MS/MBA program at University of Texas at Dallas and it's been a frenzy to get paperwork filled out and money through.

I've been worried that things were not going to happen according to the school's deadline and in turn, if this was something God really wanted for me. 

I prayed about it last night. I cried for mercy and God's answer on this big (and expensive step). His affirmation came this morning when everything on my checklist completed itself. 

It's a good day. It's a God day. 

Trust in the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. 

I love it when I'm wrong.

Hope you'll hang out with me this week. I'll retell stories from this weekend's National Mar Thoma Youth Conference where more than 200 youths in the U.S. gathered in Houston, TX for fellowship and worship. 

That's a lie. I'm probably one of the most stubborn people on the face of this earth. I think I know-it-all and act like it, too. Sometimes, it gets me trouble and other times, I have the gumption to back it up.

My recent ego-ism: I did not think I was going to learn anything this weekend at conference. In recent years, I've learned a lot about the attributes of God through experience and scripture. So I must have gotten it all and know it all, right? So my main agenda was to have fun and enjoy being around people of same mind and thought.

I was undermining the Bible with just that one thought. And God showed up this weekend to prove me wrong.

Brad Cauley preached at Austin Stone Community Church for several years before moving to Houston where he serves now. After speaking to the Mar Thoma church at past conferences and retreats, he's familiar with the struggles and issues we face as a community.

Phenomenal doesn't begin to describe his talks. He prefaced with this warning, "God is going to wreck you this weekend."
He did not lie. I was so in awe; my jaw dropped and eyes didn't blink as He spoke awesome truths.

He divided the portrait of God in three--His Creation, His Power and His Image in us.
Basically, God has revealed himself to us so that we would reveal God to others through us. 
It's a complex statement which is why it took about four days to consume it all.

Brad's ability to create visuals and metaphors  (poop brownies, don't walk back to the Porta-Potty, the Do-God, etc.) that permanently sketch themselves in your brain were simple and down-to-earth. No matter your age, you did not walk out of his sermons fruitless.

Thanks Brad and the Holy Spirit for showing me up this weekend.
I love it when I'm wrong.

Let me tell you about Chris Chacko.

Hope you'll hang out with me this week. I'll retell stories from this weekend's National Mar Thoma Youth Conference where more than 200 youths in the U.S. gathered in Houston, TX for fellowship and worship. 

Chris Chacko was a stranger to me until Friday night.
It was a moment none predicted.

I'd heard rumors of him before.
"You don't know the Chris Chacko?" they said.

No, I didn't. Not until I was hit strategically in my left eye by a flying dodgeball.
A dodgeball that was launched by none other than

CHRIS CHACKO. 

Thus started this friendship between this 19(?) year old and I.
Yes, he is a cutie. But more than that, he loves Jesus. I didn't see him take that necklace off or the glow of faith on his face vanish for one moment this weekend. Meeting him was on the Top-5 highlight list for National Conference. I hope you're lucky enough to know him.

Date night.

Being single isn't easy.

It's even harder if you don't get out and enjoy being single. 

A bestie of mine caught up over wine, martinis, and sushi. Everyone around us were on dates...we decided to have our own date, too.

We talked about family and boys, work and school, reassured ourselves that life was going to be ok though it looks NOTHING like we thought it would.

It's times like these we have to remember to be in the present. We don't know what's ahead, but why dwell on that?! Do your best now and everything else will fall into place.

And while you're waiting, have a glass. 

Wash it off with some Peace.

I just spent 40 minutes on Facebook (doing nothing but stalking all of you) and making myself anxious!
I gently (threw) my laptop on the floor and flipped to this in my devotional.

I needed this so much.

Understanding will never bring you peace. That's why I've instructed you to trusting in Me, not in your understanding. Human beings have a voracious appetite for trying to figure things out, in order to gain a sense of mastery over their lives. But the world present you with an endless series of problems. As soon as you master one set, another pops up to challenge you. The relief you had anticipated is short-lived. Soon your mind is gearing up again: searching for understanding (mastery), instead of seeking Me (your Master)...
My Peace is not an elusive goal, hidden at the center of some complicated maze. Actually, you are always enveloped in Peace, which is inherent in My Presence. As you look to Me, you gain awareness of this precious Peace.* 

The Gospel written in simple syllables.

When I read the first sentence, it hurt. I was just thinking about why something wasn't working out the way I planned it when it hit me--YOU PLANNED IT. It never works that way. 
I can fall on my face a million times before learning this lesson.

Wash your plate of anxieties and stress with Peace. Stillness. Faith.
In the Creator of the Heavens and Earth.

And stop trying to work it out.

What do you need to exchange with God for Peace? 

*From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.