No Room For Words

   All of a sudden, I have a stronger desire - a need - to write. So much is happening. Inside of me, and around me, and through me. Explosions of color, living water, holy fire, brand new life. God is rocking my world over and over and over and over again.
   It's awesome. I want to remember it, put it into words, share it with the world. I want to write about it.
   All of a sudden, it's so much harder to write.
   Words are hard to come by here. This place, this intimacy with Jesus, is far beyond description. It is so chock-full of emotion, and purity, and revelation, and God that I can't seem to find any room for words.
   But I will try.

Alphabet Challenge?

   Yes, I know, I know.  I haven't blogged in forever!  I feel horrific for abandoning you guys like that, and I miss you!  I have so crazy busy lately (three track meets this week!) that by the time I get home I pretty much wanna eat, shower, and sleep.  Kinda three of my favorite thing right now.  Anyway, in an effort to get back in the swing of things and such, I am starting an alphabet blogging challenge from Emily.  It goes a little something like this:

• A: Animals... talk about any pets you have, had, or want.
• B: Best Friend
• C: Cars... talk about your first car, the car you have now, any accidents, driving pet peeves, etc.
• D: Day in the Life of Me
• E: Embarrassing Moment
• F: Faith... where are you now?
• G: Growing Up... share a few childhood photos and stories.
• H: Hairstyles... what your hair looks like now, ugliest haircut, haircut you want, etc.
• I: Interesting Facts About You
• J: Jokes
• K: Kicking the Bucket... share your bucket list.
• L: Love... what are you looking for in a significant other?
• M: Music
• N: Nothing... talk about something entirely random for a day.
• O: Old... what kind of old person do you want to be?
• P: Poem
• Q: Questions and Answers... have a Q&A with some of your readers.
• R: Reading... what are you reading?
• S: Smile... five reasons YOU smile.
• T: Typing... take a typing test and share it.
• U: Underdog... what's an underdog you can't help but stand up for?
• V: Vacations... vacations you've taken or dream vacations.
• W: Wearing... what is your favorite outfit?
• X: X-Treme... something crazy you've done.
• Y: Youth... in what ways are you still a kid at heart?
• Z: Zen... what calms you down?

   This is probably not an every-single-day thing, considering the whole "so crazy busy" thing, but I will finish.  Now I said it, so ya'll hold me accountable!
   Feel free to join in down in the comments or on your own blog.  I'm excited!

God Speaks

   God works in mysterious ways. God works in many, many different ways.  In my life, he often teaches me through my own writing.  So many of the things that you read on my blog are simply me telling you what God has told me.
   When I tell you all the reasons why you don't need a boyfriend, that's God reminding me that I can wait to date.  When I write about living without fear of death, that's God giving me words as fast as I can get them on paper.  When I tell the story of the girl who struggles with self-harm, that's because God has told me to reach out to her.  It's me sitting at my computer with tears in my eyes.  It's my heart overwhelmed with conviction. 
   So while you may think I'm writing to you, I'm really writing to me.  I'm persuading, encouraging, chiding myself.  While you may think my words are meant to express disappointment and anger and tell you what you to do, they are really giving direction to me.  While you may think I'm talking to you, God is really talking to me.

Find Your Inspiration

   I was babysitting five of my little cousins yesterday.  And we got bored.  So we watched Chicken Run.  And I was inspired.  By this:

Bunty: Oh, face the facts, ducks. The chances of us getting out of here are a million to one.

Ginger: Then there's still a chance.

 

   So many times I find myself complaining that there is nothing new to write about, nothing to ignite my passion, nothing to inspire me.  I blame my apathy on my surroundings, when in reality it's not the things or the people around me, it's simply the way I look at them.
   When I look for inspiration, I find it.  I find it in the colors of the leaves on the trees, a laughing child, or worship.  Inspiration is lurking in the kind words of a stranger, hiding out around each unexpected twist and turn of the road, and right out there in the open of the big, bright, blue sky.
   Don't sit there and wait for something big to happen.  Get out there and make it happen.  Keep your eyes and your heart open.  Be inspired.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

   Today is the one year anniversary of Princess In a Foreign Land.  Can you believe that?  One full year.  This is crazy stuff, man - and so is everything that's happened in the past 12 months.  The blog has changed, I've changed, a lot has changed.
   I don't know what this next year (as a freshman, woot, woot!) will bring, but God does, and He'll be there with me every step of the way.  I'm hoping and praying for deepened friendships, more and better posts, a cell phone, the first giveaway (anyone else excited?), publishing-a-book type opportunities (ahh!), and courage to speak the truth without reserve.  May Father guide my every endeavor, show me His plan, and give me a soft, quiet heart to hear His voice.
   Many, many, maaannny thanks to everyone who has been there supporting me since those very first blog posts (psst! Mom and Dad!).  God bless you and those who have joined the scene more recently.  Father is able to accomplish more than we can ask or even imagine.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  To Him be all the glory, honor, and praise - no matter what.

Me.  1 year ago. ♥

Shout Out!

   I am astounded by the number of people from other countries visiting my blog!  Visitors from Russia, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, Belgium, and many more, with German topping the list.  Germany, dear Germany, how are you? 
   So this is a post of recognition and thanks.  A shout-out and an invitation.  All you lovely foreigners, this is for you!  Please leave a comment and a bit about yourself.  I am dying to know where you are from, how you found my blog, and whatever tidbit you would like to offer.  If I get enough feedback I will feature your comments in an upcoming post!  So, do share. :)
   Oh, and Germany!  Here are some pictures I found of your beautiful country on Pinterest.

Rothenburg

Triberger wasserfall, Germany

Bremen by night

When I Truly Write

   I find myself browsing, dreaming, looking, wandering and wondering.  Too much fantasy, not enough writing.  I find myself spending too much time in the blogosphere without actually getting anything done.  Too much fluff, not enough writing.
   But writing.  It's what I want to do, what I was made to do, and what I have to do.  It is me letting a piece of my heart go free and see the world.  It is hanging a part of my soul on display for all to see.  It is this short, teenaged, somewhat timid girl trying to make her mark on the world.
   Really writing is letting the words tumble out of my fingers without interference from my brain.  True writing  comes from the deepest part of myself, the Michaela that no one sees otherwise.  The Michaela that is a bird in a cage, let out to stretch her wings only when I write.
   Writing is a pure, exhilarating gift from God.  It is channeling emotion and love and depth straight from Him to my paper.  It is turning off the logical, sensible, opinionated voice and listening to the still, small one.  Writing is sharing with you what He has given me.
   And besides... if I didn't write I might explode from all the words trapped inside me without any escape.

Say It

   I had to ride the bus today.  On the way home, with my knees propped up on the next seat, I thought, People really to expand their vocabularies to include words that don't start with "f."  And then I thought, So why don't you tell them? I've struggled with that question the rest of the day.
   It may surprise you amazing blog-readers, but I can't share my heart and tell it like it is.  I may seem confident and outspoken here in bloggy land, but my lips can't form the words when I'm face-to-face.  I hold it all in and hide it beneath my quiet, nice, good-girl rep.  There is so much I want them to know, to understand, but I can't just say it.  I contain my feelings and pour them out on paper.  I can share it with the whole world on the web, but not with the one person I need to tell.
   Why is it so hard?  Why can't I let it out, show them the truth?  Why can't I say the words running through my head?  Why can't I show them what God is telling me?  Why do I hide my true self?

   I need to make a change.

This is Why

   I write because sometimes I just have let it all out.  I have to release my emotions.  Sometimes I've held it in long enough and I have express myself, my feelings, my sorrows, my love, my desires, and my passions.
   I write because the words come out different on paper.  Because sometimes I just can't do it any other way.  I try to tell you what I'm feeling, but I can't just say what's on my heart.  Let me write and the words flow easily.  I can share them with the world.
   I write because that's how God made me.  He gives me the words and I put them down on paper - and up on the web.  I write because Father wants me to.
    I write for you - and for them, and for everybody.  I write because there is a message that needs sharing.  The truth will set you free, but how if nobody tells you?  I write to show the world what God has shown me.

Happiness

   I've formed a habit of saying one-word sentences that describe how I feel.  For example: Calmness.  Coldness!  Confusion. (I did not mean for that to be alliteration!)  And when I saw how many pageviews I have: Happiness!
   My blog has been seen 1,032 times since I started in July!  That achieves part of my goal, which is amazing, but the other part actually hasn't seen any progress at all.  You guys have been great, but there haven't been any new people.  Can you get me some more followers before my birthday?  10 more days!
   Another bit of news: we had our first snow today!  I lost the bet with my dad about getting out of school early (it was his idea), but it's still exciting!  Sadly, someone decided they would just take the memory card out of the camera, so I can't take any pictures, but here's a cool snow picture I found on Google. :)

Have I ever mentioned that I love tree-lined streets?