Currently

Watching - Arrested Development. I just adore that show, not sure if I'm liking the current season as much as the originals, but it's still quite entertaining.
Listening - Needtobreathe EP, so good! I love them a lot. 
Sipping - Not much of anything. I need to up the water by 100%!
Reading - Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. It's a very captivating book. Pardon the pun. I'm also reading the third installment of Dale Cramer's The Daughters of Caleb Bender series Though Mountains Fall. It's not too bad. It's a little bit harder to get into, but I should finish it quickly.
Anticipating - Some exciting news in my family's life!
Thinking about - Needing to change my eating and active (or non-active) lifestyle.
Working On - Planning for the future.
Eating - Healthier food. I'm doing the shred again. I'll keep doing it until it becomes a lifestyle change.

is my faith showing?

There are times when I didn't want to share my faith. I wanted to be the "cool" christian. Who did what everyone else did.

That got me no where fast.

Then I woke up.

The Person I was running away from was the very Person I needed to be running to.

I love Jesus, with every fiber of my being. He's my All in All.

Daily, I have to dethrone myself and let Him take reign again.

I'm not the same person I was last year, last week, or yesterday. I don't hang out with the same people. I can't. There have been a few times when all I want to do is hide in my old lifestyle. But, that tug is so much smaller then the PULL from my Savior!

What I watch, listen to, and read are different. I've purged so many things out of my life. I rarely listen to secular music, even when that itch to listen to Mumford and Sons sneaks up on me, I'm ready with a simple answer:

Philippians 4:8: Finally brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

Sadly, most of their music doesn't fit into that verse.

I'm not yelling, judging, or preaching. I'm not trying to condemn or even convict. But, I am sharing my heart. I don't want this blog to be something that is superficial. I'm not superficial, so everything that represents me shouldn't be either.

I love tv, it's apparent in my old posts. The excitement for a new season of shows, the anticipation of old ones. I just can't do it anymore. There are still some things that I watch that could lead others astray, but I've been learning to spend less time on things that aren't beneficial for me.

1 Corinthians 6:12: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (NKJV)

I love how scripture helps me make decisions. There are so many things I've "dipped my toes in," and if I'd read the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit, I would have never "gotten wet." My appetite for things of this world were stronger than my appetite for Jesus.

So, now we've arrived to the title of this piece... is my faith showing?

I mean I hope so. What does that question mean?

Am I only posting about Jesus, Bible verses, and my "blessed life" via facebook, instagram, twitter, my blog, etc.?

The real answer is no. I do show my faith, I just don't let my faith show me.

What? I know you're trying to figure out that last statement.

Let me break it down: I'm not going to share my faith to be showy. I've cut down on my sharing of Bible verses on instagram because it was to get likes (BIG HONESTY MOMENT). God isn't looking to see how many "likes" I have. He's only looking at my heart. The same heart that ran away from Him. The same heart that struggles every day to surrender. The same heart that gets caught up in everything else. The same heart that adores Him and wants more than anything for that adoration to grow.                                    

My "blessed life" is a redeemed. My life isn't just roses and fairytales, but real crap and dilemmas too.

I am who Jesus died for. I am redeemed.

Finally brothers, think on such things: Whatever is TRUE (Lord, may I speak only the truth, and since You are Truth, may Your praise be continually on my lips), whatever is NOBLE (God, I want stand up for You), whatever is RIGHT (Jesus, may I clothed in righteousness), whatever is PURE (God, may what I think, say, and do be pure), whatever is LOVELY (I want to be known as someone who is thought of as a woman of God), whatever is ADMIRABLE (May I do something because it's the right thing to do, not for show), - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things (God, may I strive for excellence in all You have called me to do).  - Amen

{#renreadssummer13} Non-Fiction Book #1: Captivating

Yesterday I shared my reading goals. My reading goals are lofty! But, with my mad skills in the reading department with a little added punch, I can read most if not all.

The first on the list, of course, is:
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge

I've heard many good things about this book, but had never picked it up. I almost bought it while I was in Charlotte, but something told me not to! I'm so glad I didn't, because this book was staring me in the face on a bookshelf at home!

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? You've checked out my list, right? If so, what am I missing? What have you read from that list?

{Follow me as I read on instagram @ren_was_here or #renreadssummer13}

I'm cataloging all my reads there and of course you can also find me at goodreads! 

Summer Reading List 2013

Summer is right around the corner. It's started for some already! My first road trip starts next week with my family.

I have so many books I want to read right now... Old, new, library, ones to purchase, ones that have been collecting dust, some stored away on the Kindle.

Here are the books I'll be tackling this summer! Of course it's an advantageous list, but I'm sure I'll make a dent. I'd love to finish it, but I'm going to be realistic!

Fiction:
1-3) The Mark of the Lion Trilogy
4-6) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
7-11) The Narnia Series - The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle
12-13) Crossed and Reached by Ally Condie
14) Though Mountains Fall by Dale Cramer
15) Pride and Prejudice

Non-Fiction:
16) Made To Crave
17) Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
18) Crazy Love
19) Radical
20) The Omnivore's Dilemma
21) The Pursuit of God
22) Boundaries in Dating 
23) The Circle Maker
24) Jesus Is...
25) Captivating
26) Love Does
27) The Me I Want to Be
28) Not a Fan
29) Praying for Your Future Husband
30) Real Marriage

I won't be spending a cent on any of these! I either have it on the Kindle, own it (or my mom or sister does), or getting it from the library! Buckle your seat belts, it's going to be a literary summer!

first one of the summer! always have a moleskine for notes (this is my mothers). I usually have a highlighter as well!

What are you reading this summer??

Currently

Currently I'm...

taken pics when i sat outside

gotta b stylish even in polo's

got a little sunburn on the nose

no caption needed

Watching - Upstairs/Downstairs  - Not as good as Downton Abbey, but it's not bad. Always need some british drama in my life. I'm also watching Grey's Anatomy. I started again from the beginning. I'm currently on end of the 3rd season. The episodes will soon be new to me.
Listening - Elevation Podcast. So good, every time!
Sipping - Starbucks: Latte (soy or skim)  Scooters: Soy Chai Latte and I've been sipping Kombucha at the room
Reading - Just finished The Book That Transforms Nations by Loren Cunningham. Soooo good and so powerful. It re-ignited the fire inside me! I also finished The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers. My favorite by her was Redeeming Love still. I'm starting Captivated tomorrow!
Anticipating - Vacation next week!
Thinking about - Goals that are set before me to complete!
Working On - Not eating junk while I'm traveling for work.
Eating - Besides the junk, tons of good food from the meal plan for Summer Shred. She's doing it next month as well. I'm doing it! Gotta start a lifestyle. It's not going to happen over night!

where in the world

I've started many things, I just haven't been documenting them here. I've been working on my goals, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding. Depression has started to set in. I'm feeling quite tired and spent.

Right now, I'm working up in Omaha for a work and it's hard to eat healthy when your working 12 hour days. I had been doing well eating properly and working out, but since I've been in omaha, my lifestyle choices have become poorer and poorer.

I realized that I was aiming for perfection instead of aiming to be a Daughter of the King. I seem to take God off the throne a lot and try and do my best. The thing is, God never fails, I always fail, and somehow my biggest failure is failing to see that.

God has given me those goals, He has called me to so much more than I am at the moment. I have potential. Not just the potential I can produce, but the potential He has put in me! It's Him through me.

It's my cycle. I thought after YWAM, I would have conquered that cycle. But, I'm starting to realize it's not my power. It's God's. I have to daily lay down my life at His feet. I can't surrender and then try and be my own "god." That's not how surrender works!

God has called me to do certain things that I haven't fulfilled, and I'm realizing quite quickly that He hasn't silenced His voice, but I have! I believe in an active God. One Who speaks and is involved in our daily lives if we let Him be. There's nothing wrong with going your own way if your striving for mediocrity. But, He has called us to be so much more.

Ranting and ravings help me hash out what's been going on. I honestly don't like blogging just when something's going on. But I need to start living under His expectations and not mine. If i start living under His, I won't be disappointed or feel alone.

How do you realize you've taken the "reigns" from God?