we're in this thing together

There's an air everywhere
Of inconsideration and despair
I don't consider you
And you don't consider me
And it's well understood
That we don't care

How quickly we forget that we don't have walk this road alone.  That God gave us each other for a reason-- to help one another through this crazy thing that we call life and search for Him.  Together.

*Raises hand*  I'm guilty of being anti-social.  I like spending time with myself, weird as it may seem.  I love snuggling up on the couch with a good book and a mug of hot green tea and no one to disturb me.  I love turning "The Best Thing" all the way up when no one's home and sliding around in my socks playing the worst version of the air guitar known to man.  I love baking cupcakes in the kitchen and making a mess with no one to tell me to be more careful.  Yeah, I'm definitely not your typical teenager that has plans every Friday night.  But I think God wants us to "hang" with other people.  Especially other Christians.

Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.  And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.  --Acts 4:32-33 [HCSB]

"Of one heart and mind."  That means instead of being people, we should be like one person.  Now I'm not saying that you should ditch your individuality and become like everyone else.  Nothing like that.  We're all part of the body, and we all have different roles to play.

So the body is not one part but many.  If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.  And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.  If the whole body were an eye where would the hearing be?  If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

Now there are many parts, yet one body.
So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!"  Or again, the head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you!"  But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.
--1 Corinthians 12:14-18, 20-22

Don'tcha see?  We need each other.  We need to be together.  To encourage.  To pick each other up.  To laugh.  To cry.  To just know someone's there.

You know we don't have to wait until the end of the night
Just to say that something's wrong and maybe nobody's right
We're all victims in a battle we never had to fight
It's okay, it's alright.  Steady now, we're in this thing together
--Steady Now, Brandon Heath

Don't worry, guys.  We're in this thing together.

And I'm glad.

poetic prayers: a collection of writings.

For L
Hey Daddy, it's me again
I wanna ask a favor -- for a friend
You know he's really dear to me
So keep him close so he can see
With Your eyes, beyond this world
Keep his heart from being twirled
Into tangled, confusing knots
Let him remember truth he's sought
He tries so hard; let him succeed
He'll follow You, so take the lead
Down the path You've laid for him
An eternal one that doesn't end
Keep him strong, keep him firm
Standing solid in Your Word
I'm asking You, I know you will
You love him more than I do still
Give Your guidance, You direct
When the roads all intersect
Keep him alert, always aware
Keep him close, this is my prayer.

For Z
My Jesus, You know he's in my heart
But even if we are apart
Let him stay so unashamed
Only glory in Your name
Let his eyes sparkle because he understands
You have a greater, Master plan
That goes beyond imagination
A different thought; Your own translation
I know I haven't prayed for him
But I'm glad I am 'cause now I'll send
A blessing of joy, hope, and peace
One of love and sweet release
Of freedom ringing loud and clear
Running like the wind, no fear
Give him strength and desperate desire
To know You more, to lift You higher
His laughter is the song of grace
You put that smile on his face
And I'm so glad you did, dear God
Glad he's not on a road that's broad
If it's Your will, show him my heart
And read our story from the start.

For A
A, oh how dear she is
She rarely takes, she mostly gives
But God I know that's she's in pain
Take it from her, make it plain
That miracles can still occur
That our hearts can still stir
When You work, hold nothing back
Give her everything she lacks
Strength to endure the awful ache
And assurance for her heart's sake
I love her, God, and so do You
So show us all that You can do
We know You can, we know You will
If we ask, if we are still
If we give You glory, praise
Give us hope and give us faith
But give it to A, most of all
Hold her up, don't let her fall.

Thank You.

For S
You told me to pray for him
I don't know why, but this I'll send
I know he's hurting -- I long to take it
Please, dear God, let him make it
Through this thunderstorm of life
Through the pain and through the strife
You love him and so do I
He's so strong; it's in his eyes
Keep him fighting the inward battle
Against the world, against the devil
You know the war's already won
That he's Your child, Your beloved son
That beast is just mad his life's forever
That they won't live in hell together
Don't let him whisper dreadful lies
Let him look to heaven, towards the skies
Can he see it?  Can he feel The Light?
Breaking through his darkest night
Save him, Father, when he asks
He has a future; he's not his past
He's forgiven, beautiful, new
One of Yours, the chosen few
God, he's made for more than this
Don't let him give way to death's kiss
Keep him standing tall and firm
Store in his heart, what he's learned
Don't let him be fooled by satan's show
He's worth more than he'll ever know.

love,
anna.

prayer. focus. i thought this was the perfect way to begin the new year.

peculiar treasures + soul sisters.

Friend.  Such a simple word... such a beautiful thought.  Someone to share your heart with -- your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your favorite songs.  I love the idea of a friend.  Always have.  Until one day when I didn't have one.

And I had Jesus.  I know that.  I had my parents, too.  Believe me.  I know how exasperating parents can be and how they make stupid, irrational decisions that send you spiraling down the social staircase.  Those stupid, irrational decisions are to protect you. All they want is the best for you, even though it may not seem like it.  I promise you they do; that they're two of the best friends you'll ever have.

But I'm not going to go through the whole story of how I became friendless.  I'm going to tell you about the peculiar treasure in my life.

"...Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people..." --excerpt from Exodus 19:5 (KJV)

This verse tells us that if we obey God's voice and keep His covenant, we'll be His peculiar treasures. Notice the words peculiar and treasure aren't usually placed together.  But that's why I like it so much.  Because it pretty much says, "Look, if you follow God, you're gonna be weird to the world.  But that's okay, 'cause you're like a priceless gem to Him."

In the Christy Miller books, (ya'll have read the Christ Miller books, right? They're rad.) Christy and Katie call each other "peculiar treasures" instead of "best friends."  Because they're more than friends; they're family.  They're soul sisters.

Which brings me to my soul sis, Kathryn.  My dear, dear Kathryn.  She sends me pretty letters, writes on my Facebook wall for no reason, makes me a video just to introduce to me to her friends.

It all began with a simple email.  I decided to take a blogger-break and she just told me she would miss and to have fun doing whatever.  And I said thanks.  And then we began writing one paragraph... then two... then three... just talking 'bout life.  We just kept uncovering things we had in common!  It was a weirdly awesome thing for me, feeling friendless and all.

Her mom finally agreed to let us be pen pals... and the rest is history.  Even though we've never met, we're connected at the heart.  We can finish each other's sentences and quote the lyric the other needs to hear.  We both love Brandon Heath and have a yearning passion to stand in a little red phone booth in London.  God knew I didn't need just any friend. He knew I needed a soul sister.

"Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one that is truly reliable?" --Proverbs 20:6

Not many.  And I'm blessed to say I am one of the few.

And Kathryn (since I know you're reading this):

"Several state lines keep us apart, but don't lose sleep 'cause I'll always keep you in my heart." --Adam Young, Sky Sailing

Thanks for being the Katie to my Christy.  Can't wait till we meet... in this world or the next :)