today is a better day.

thank you, thank you, thank you, Jesus.

for...

• an easy rotation this morning at the hotel with a really chill, relaxed supervisor who lets us out an hour early.
• meaning... 2.5 hr. break before my dreaded finance class.
• not having to go to my 4-7 PM hospitality finance class.
• getting to go to tea time, instead.
• lots of time to do school work!
• going home this weekend for the first time all semester.
• sweet encouraging e-mail from a wake forestian... putting things in perspective for me.
• Easter.

"Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

(from Genesis 22)

so, this story has been a great challenge to me this week. Abraham gave everything. he really loved God and God was above absolutely everything in his life. also, the fact that Abraham was giving up the one thing that would begin the whole nation of Israel, God's people. do you not think Abraham was confused? but He trusted God. wow.

"Give me motivation
Give me all my heart's desires
Show me something gorgeous
Show me 'til my eyes get tired
Give me all the drums and
Show me how to play them loud
Show me how to move
When I can't feel that you're around

It's clear enough to me
The ugliness I see
Is evidence of who I need

Give me the answer
Give me the way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times"

-Needtobreathe