having His strength, eyes, and Ἐλευθερία!

Well.  Last weekend I went home because it was dad's birthday.  I first went for a run on the beach.  After running until I wanted to hit the ground, then walking, and going b/w those for what I didn't know was 2 miles UPWIND.  I decided to turn around and go down wind-making everything easier.  So I ran the WHOLE 2 miles back to my car and just praised the Lord the entire time.  For giving my body the ability to do this, to let me grown physically in my endurance.  It was beautiful.
Oh. yes.  we got a dog.

Jonathan, Jake, Dad, and Maybe-the dog.  Oh Gulfport.

Going to my hometown where I have the ability to run as far as my heart desires on-looking the basis of my tattoo, 'risk the ocean', and being within minutes of my few life-long friends left in Gulfport is starting to become a special place in my heart.  When I view life outside of my MC bubble, it has lately been filled with excitement and positive change, and happy emotions.  And I honestly forgot about the sacrifice involved with going overseas to teach or whatever.  So I slightly prayed for God to help me have His eyes on it all.  Oh it happened-fast.  I have found myself overcome with too many emotions.  Crying over the fact that my family won't be within driving distance.  And that they honestly don't get it.  I don't expect them to; Jesus can do that in His timing.  So-with all of these realistic thoughts in my head as I am driving back to school....

The weather is PERFECT.  Blue sky, 70 degrees, sunny sky, windows down, Passion 2012 CD, just me and Jesus.  And my heart suddenly yearned for such a grey sky, the need to NOT roll down the window, the feeling of momentarily dying when riding in a car; this is what I know I will have daily in a few years.  It was probably one of the weirdest yearnings my heart has had in a while-thanks Jesus.  That though I am only beginning to have real eyes on my calling, it is not lessening.  But either way it was such beauty to see; that I know my heart will long for overseas.  So while I am here and have unlimited access-I will enjoy it!

Ἐλευθερία-freedom.
The New Testament uses the Greek word eleutheria (noun) for freedom from sin, from the law, and from death.

ἐλευθερία, n  \{el-yoo-ther-ee'-ah}
1) liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation  2) fancied liberty  2a) license, the liberty to do as one pleases  3) true liberty is living as we should not as we please

As you know last summer I learned about freedom, and last semester I continued to grow in it and am this semester.  I feel it is something that Jesus has helped me understand I just want everyone to know that I have freedom, and I am ok with sharing my freedom, and would love to help anyone grasp theirs.  However-satan is powerful and can convince you and I that anything is not possible.  That you didn't learn something.  So.  I am SUCH a visual person that I want to display for myself that I have freedom, so every time I look down I will see eleutheria and remember this summer and what Jesus taught me at C!C and continued and will continue in me.
Based off 2 Cor. 3:17- This is a great song all about this verse..  Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!  PRAISE HIM FOR THIS!  However 'the' song that I will relate this tattoo is this song.  It's by Shane and Shane-called Liberty.  Though I am not directly getting anything from the song like I did last time; I will continue to relate freedom and liberty and my tattoo to the verse above and that song.