worry

is denying the existence of God the Father.

penny pincher-- part 1

if you chew a lot of gum, like i do, listen close. this simple and easy change that can save you big in the long-run. here it is. chew half a piece of gum at a time. that's it!

now watch as your gum stash lasts you twice as long. that savings adds up fast.

deep, deep hatred

i hate Satan. oh how, i hate him. he breaks apart families, twists truth, poisons hearts with bitterness and lies. he is the prince of this world. God hates Satan, too. God has given him power because we were not satisfied in God. therefore, we must cry out to God to save us from the evil in this world everyday.

on my mind, my heart

tonight, as i try to focus for a big test tomorrow, i am moved deep down in my heart. i am moved by three things.

injustice. my heart cries out for abused, forgotten, and hurting people.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony." 
Luke 16:19-15

Detroit. i believe God has been preparing me for it for years. i've been listening. i know that the time isn't right now. but i feel that it is close. i am praying for patience. i am praying for Detroit. to me, it is so beautiful; there is so much hope. God feels the same, but more so and more perfectly. "Detroit, lift up your weary head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" amen, Sufjan, amen!

orphanages. orphans, abandonment, loneliness, hopelessness, corrupt systems, cold hearts. i remember when we went back to morocco to visit our old friends and to pray for the country, we spent a day at an orphanage. oh how i begged my mom, could we adopt? she tried explaining to me how it wasn't allowed because we were foreigners. "that's so dumb," i thought. "if moroccans aren't adopting them, then why can't we?" it's something i can see in the future, adoption, or foster care, or something the like.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'” Galatians 4:4-6




even when my heart is heavy, my Abba says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

this is me

with no make up, and little hair.

hear my cry

as i rend my heart, will you rend the heavens?
as i look to you, may you shine your glory.

forever young

today, my grandma turned to me and asked, "how old are you now... 15 years old?"

last week, i applied at a little coffee shop in livonia. the manager thought it necessary to let me know that i had to be at least 16 to work there.

whenever i am around the middle schoolers that i volunteer with, too often another leader does a double take then laughs, "oh claire, that's you! i thought you were one of the kids."

it's not a curse, i know. just gotta keep telling myself that.

all i am and have and every hope to be

all of my ambitions, hopes and plans
i surrender these into Your hands

for it's only in Your will that i am free