It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. Romans 7: 21-25Tumblr (3.0; @alifethroughlens)http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/Me (doing an interview for class): What do you live for? What might you be willing to die for?<br /> My dearest friend, Mia: God. God. And see I want to be willing to die for anyone, I really do. People I know, I would be. But I wish I knew everybody, but I don’t know everybody. I would totally die for you guys and my family. I would do anything for you guys, except drugs and creepy stuff… please don’t quote me on that. <br /> http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/16270631463http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/16270631463Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:33:06 -0500<p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t want to look at people anymore.<span>  </span>I want to see them.<span>  </span>I want to see them and then I want to be absolutely miserable—miserable, lousy, and sick with love.<span>  </span>When I see someone, I want there to be a giant chasm in my heart.<span>  </span>I want to see what He sees—the hurt, the beauty, the fear, the gifts, the pain, the potential.<span>  </span>I want to love like Jesus loves.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And then I want God’s grace to fill the gaping chasm in my heart; I want it to fill up so much it starts running over.<span>  </span>And then when it runs over it spills down to my feet and I walk just where He wants me to walk.<span>  </span>And higher, His grace fills my legs and I’m not walking anymore, I’m running.<span>  </span>And higher and higher, filling every internal crevice, into every little alveoli of my lung, so I exhale and God breathes His peace.<span>  </span>And higher and higher still, His grace reaches my shoulders and then rushes down my arms and out of my hands.<span>  </span>And I learn to serve.<span>  </span>I learn to let Jesus serve His people through me.<span>  </span>Yet higher still His grace rises, and out of my mouth He speaks life!<span>  </span>And higher still to my eyes, and now I truly see the world.<span>  </span>Truly see the magnificent, fragile, lost child of God.<span>  </span>Heir to a throne—royalty. The grace goes higher still to my mind and I realize I have only begun to understand the depth of His love, His yearning for reconciliation, and His thirst for justice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is what I want.<span>  </span>Jesus, please.<span>  </span>Let it be so.<span>  </span></p> <!--EndFragment--></p>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/15679409566http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/15679409566Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:10:15 -0500<iframe class="tumblr_audio_player tumblr_audio_player_15667933902" src="http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/15667933902/audio_player_iframe/alifethroughlens/tumblr_lxmvsxfUdS1qklxnc?audio_file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Falifethroughlens%2F15667933902%2Ftumblr_lxmvsxfUdS1qklxnc" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" width="500" height="85"></iframe><br/><br/><p>My favorite song in all of human existence for now. </p> <p>staytheshores.bandcamp.com</p>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/15667933902http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/15667933902Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:24:33 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lphogesuiz1qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Oh, there are rocks,</p> <p>That will always hold in the sea.</p> <p>And erosion can’t stop their being</p> <p>Oh, no currents can defeat them.</p> <p>And I am thankful for the love </p> <p>These rocks have always given.</p> <p>- Rocks & Daggers, Noah & The Whale</p>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8544992628http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8544992628Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:29:00 -0400MichiganLyricsNoah &amp; The WhaleRocks &amp; DaggersPictured RocksRocksNaturePhotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpfw29S7OE1qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503607428http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503607428Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:18:00 -0400KayakLake SuperiorPictured RocksSea ArchSummerWaterPure Michigan<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpfvcf4yXt1qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503111836http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503111836Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:02:38 -0400GrassSummerSunsetPictured RocksPhotographyMichigan<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpfv70ZhQ91qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503004241http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8503004241Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:59:23 -0400WatercolorPhotographyNaturePictured RocksMichiganFavorite Place in the Entire World<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpfuplbP2H1qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8502650247http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8502650247Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:48:56 -0400Pictured RocksLake SuperiorNaturePhotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpfucp8aB11qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8502381948http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/8502381948Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:41:12 -0400NatureMichiganMushroomsForestPhotography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm6jizJpN51qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/6116507068http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/6116507068Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:28:10 -0400OwlWildlifePhotographyBlack and White<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm6jbvA2wl1qklxnco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/6116374949http://alifethroughlens.tumblr.com/post/6116374949Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:23:54 -0400OceanWaterSummerSandBeachFlorida