VOICE | Finding Peace in All the Noise

"Hey, God has you." 

It's the short text sent from an Asheville airport that finds me in an exhale. My father, hundreds of miles away and experiencing anxiety of his own, sends the text anyway.

God has you.

When circumstances change or our emotions run rampant, it can be hard to find peace. When demanding deadlines and confusing questions fill our days, it can be difficult to slow down enough to remember Who is behind it all, weaving beauty into our lives and sprinkling little joys throughout our days. Butterflies and birds soaring and someone sharing cake in the break room. A bouquet of carnations and a Switchfoot song to sing at the top of your lungs.

I went for a walk in the woods this week to get away from the noise.
To be present in nature, even if just for a little while.

This week, the Lord has been whispering to me about peace: "Trust in Me. I've got you." I'm learning that I don't need to know what lies ahead and that when my own anxious thoughts try to solve everything and see the end of my story when I'm still at the start, there is One who speaks to me in a soft VOICE.
He tells me to take it one day at a time.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."
- Matthew 6:34

I want to put this VOICE first. Sometimes it can be hard to hear Him, when I'm so focused on my own thoughts, the blare of social media, the magazines I read, the lyrics I listen to.

I need to carve out more quiet spaces devoid of technology,
media and other people to really hear Him.

I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way. And in case you were wondering, or maybe in the midst of it all you've found you've forgotten: Hey, God has you.

What about you?

What do you do to unplug from the craziness and spend quiet time with God?
Any tips for taking time away from technology (it's such a distraction)!
Hope you all are having a wonderful April.

Miss last week's VOICE post? Check it out here.
Or click here to read all of the posts in the VOICE series.
Talk to you soon!

BEGINNINGS | Beginning Again: Dealing with Change and New Seasons

The journey from 2018 to 2019 has been such a wild ride. I know we're already more than halfway through February, and really the new year isn't so new anymore, but I can't help but still feel in awe at how different everything feels from last year. All the change. All the forward momentum. The direction I'm going in, where I'm headed.

Yet sometimes, I don't see how far I've come until I look back.

On my lunch break a while ago, I wrote out my thoughts on this, on the back of whatever paper I had at the time (scraps of card stock and the back of an envelope). 
I never published them, but the sentiment still rings true: Change is sudden, but it also happens slowly, and then suddenly, the things that scare us don't scare us anymore. That's the best way I know how to summarize this new season, jumping into 2019 after a crazy 2018.

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Life is weird because you can feel like you aren't moving forward, but then all of a sudden you look back and you can see how everything has changed and is different now. The people I surround myself with, the church I attend, my confidence in myself and at my job. How the Lord is surprising me with His 100% better plans for my life, when I was so busy focused on my own. Things I was so nervous about don't freak me out as much. When God provides, He also provides peace.

I remember the beginning of college, and my very first day.

I remember that feeling of absolute terror I had, waiting in my mother's idling car in a one-hour parking space for Creative Writing class to start. And then, how over time, without my even noticing it, that terror transformed into intrigue and joy, and then routine. And now I can't imagine that I was ever afraid.

Maybe there will always be new fears on the horizon, and maybe it will still be difficult to navigate new seasons with faith and trust.

But if there's anything 2019 has taught me so far, it's that God's got me. He can take a weary spirit and a scared soul and calm all the fears, doubts, insecurities and worries you have and turn them into something beautiful. He can give you a fresh start that you didn't even know was possible. He can walk you into a new season of life that only He could have provided, and hold your hand along every step of the way.

Here's to a new, beautiful beginning.

What about you?

What has life been like for you lately? I genuinely want to know. What kind of season are you in: a beginning, middle or end? Also, major shout-out to my sister for letting me borrow these stellar photos. Happy weekend, friends!

Miss last week's BEGINNINGS post? Check it out here, my dudes!
Or click here to browse all of the posts in February's BEGINNINGS series.

NOURISH | What I Learned From Hiking the Appalachian Trail

One of the most spontaneous decisions I've ever made was to hike the Appalachian Trail. It happened like this: My father and sister had hiked the AT before me, driving up to Georgia to walk in the woods for days at a time. They were getting ready for the next leg of their trip, and there was just enough time for me to jump in, grab my sister's old pack and join them. No training, no hiking shoes, just a backpack, a bandana, some old trainers and the wilderness. (Ok, and granola. There was a lot of granola.) So...I jumped.  I was scared, nay, terrified. But also, refreshed.

My father hatched the idea for this post, which I share with you in honor of this month's theme, NOURISH.

Hiking the trail has taught me many, many lessons, like the necessity of procuring a trusty walking stick and how much I undervalue having hot water on the daily when I'm home. But it's also taught me a few things about life and nourishing my soul, which I share with you here.

What I Learned From Hiking the Appalachian Trail

We have more than enough.

Hiking the trail with only a backpack, I quickly realized: 1. Just how heavy it is to carry even a few belongings around, and 2. We have SO MUCH stuff. When I'm out hiking, I don't crave possessions as much as I miss the warmth of the indoors and (of course) my mom. But being on the AT also makes you realize just how much we constantly have things (from coffee mugs to vanilla bean candles to a stack of library books) on hand when we need them. You don't need that much in the woods, and it's kind of lovely.

That being said...I need the trees.

I am a woods person. Living close to the beach, I have always appreciated the sea but pined for pine trees. Getting out into the woods and walking through the forest each day was one of the most calming experiences ever. The stillness of the forest isn't something I get to experience in my daily life and it's both haunting and humbling. There is a quiet majesty to the woods that has my heart. 

Ditto the mountains, the sky, the stars. The things you see when you're up in the mountains is unreal. You can spend days hiking for views that you wouldn't otherwise have had access to because hiking through the AT is the only way to see them. It makes you feel accomplished and exhausted in the best possible way. Away from technology, seeing the sky and crazy expansive views just makes my heart sing.

I need to feel small.

It is so easy for me to focus on myself and forget that outside the comfort of my air-conditioned home, there is a huge, natural world waiting to be explored. The trees nourish my soul and I remember many times just talking to God as I walked. It's a way to feel closer to Him by being in the creation He established long before buildings and technology gave us the lives we have today. It's nice to feel my problems pale in comparison to this huge, wonderful world full of people and trees that our big God has made.

Our lives are hectic.

This became immediately clear to me once my only task was to wake up, prepare food, take down camp and walk. That was it - my entire day's agenda was to walk, to eat. To nourish my soul and my body. There is so much unnecessary chaos and clutter that comes with our lives and getting out into the forest helps remove you from that.

What about you?

I spent some time walking in the park yesterday and I feel like I got a small-scale sense of peace that I do when I'm immersed in the woods. What makes you feel at peace? Do you have any favorite nature spots or places that calm you down? Thanks for reading!

Miss last week's NOURISH post? Check it out here!
Or click here to browse through all the posts in the NOURISH series.

When Life Doesn't Go As Planned

Oh, hey! I have a blog. How about that?

Oh, dear....Friends, I promise I had big plans for Acoustic Erin in 2018. Plans for starting out that #JanuaryBloggingLife strong, with multiple posts a week, and a better social media game, and maybe even revamping my music blog. But, then, as it does, life happened.

Life, how dare you!

I mean it, folks.

Life didn't slow down when we moved from 2017 to 2018; it just revved its little life engine up. Everything's been happening (I got sick, friends got engaged, friends got pregnant, I started my full-time job hours, etc., etc.) but it's O K A Y. And even though life is not how I planned it at the start of the year, I love it. It's actually better.

Small Things I've Learned

I am blessed. Parents, sister, cousins, family...you are my heart.

Social media ain't nothing. Guys, if you're busy living your lives on social and stressing yourself out, then unplug, hydrate yourself and read a book. I repeat, GET OFF THE COMPUTER. Social media is overhyped and taking time away from the screen is so rejuvinating. Especially if your job requires the Interwebs.

Listen to God. He has your best interest at heart even when you really, really want something else. He has something better for you, guaranteed. It's worth the wait.

Don't try to do all the things. It's hard enough trying to handle work, school and everything else that comes with life. No need to beat yourself up over additional accomplishments. Rest in the Lord, take time for yourself and be at peace.

This is a super sappy random mushy post but I honestly don't even care anymore. It's better to just be real.

Yo, what I'm trying to say here is, no one has it altogether. And if you're at a phase in life where you thought would be more organized or put-together, or if you thought you would have accomplished more by now, you can just relax. You can rest in Christ. The Lord has a better plan for you and it will make your heart whole. It will exceed all of your expectations in a wonderful way.

What about you?

How do you unplug from the craziness of life? How has your 2018 been?

Falling in Love with Christ Again

Good morning, y'all!

I write this post by hand in a coffee shop before the world has woken. Hurricane Irma left my family safe but without power for roughly 3 days, and during that time I re-visited what it means to create in the analog sense. Writing by hand is beautiful and time-consuming! BUT I DIGRESS

I wanted to remind you of the LOVE that is in the Father.

I have been forgetting lately that the love of Christ is a relational love. There is a reason He is called our Heavenly Father, folks. He wants an intimate relationship, not religion.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" 
- Romans 8:15

Lately I have been viewing God in a way very apart from who He is - as someone stoic, judgmental, as if He were looking down on me. God has to judge sin, of course, but He came to earth to SAVE and to LOVE and to DRAW NEAR, and that is something I've been wrestling with. When I feel guilty, I choose guilt and my own thoughts over grace, which is just not the truth.


Beautiful cousin is beautiful.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him." 
- John 3:17

If you are in Christ, the Lord is not counting your flaws against you. I love when He sends me reminders like this, even in a coffee shop. I guess I just need to dig into His Word more and absorb what He is trying to tell me. Because without Him, I'm a mess, yo.

So that's it!

Just a quick reminder that I am loved and so are you, and that the Lord's love gives us strength. We have all the hope and peace we will ever need, despite what our brains try to tell us. P.S. Did you notice something different today? *dances and points to URL* FREE PIE FOR EVERYONE! If you have any trouble accessing things, please let me know!

What about you?

What do you love about the Lord? How do you grow your relationship with Him? Is there anyway I can pray for you? P.S. Thanks for everyone who reached out during the hurricane! Means a lot! ♥

this is literally just a post about rainbows

For photo credit, click here.

Yo, so I've been a bit MIA in the blogging community currently (I blame school, my newspaper job, and Harry Potter) but I thought I'd drop in even for a quick second just to share something little with y'all.

The other day I was sitting in front of the French doors in my room (my house has a mini-balcony and my room opens up onto it but that makes it sound so much cooler than it actually is) trying to read the Bible. And sometimes, I really struggle with that. But as I was thinking, I looked up, and there was the most vibrant rainbow.

I love when God does little things like that! I saw it and had the faintest feeling that there was a verse it reminded me of, the one where God talks about rainbows. I didn't remember what verse it was, however, and went about my day.

But then today, the Verse of the Day site posted their...well, verse of the day, and whadda ya know:

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

~ Genesis 9:16

I really can't recommend the Verse of the Day site enough. It always blows my mind with its insights. And it's pretty cool to think that God cares about the little things -- even making me smile at a rainbow. :) 

+ I have been so bad at blog reading, guys. It's actually abominable. Also, I'm supposed to be writing an article right now but pssssh I'm not. ;)

peace will win & fear will lose

I was listening to twenty one pilots' Vessel album yesterday (#throwbacks) and found myself paying more attention to the lyrics than usual. This part of "Car Radio" really jumped out at me:

"There are things we can do, but from the things that work there are only two. And from the two that we choose to do, peace will win, and fear will lose."

That last line is especially important, because lately I have been swallowed up by fear. I regularly struggle with worry, that's nothing new, but in the past week, my anxiety has grown into a gentle terror. This has something to do with the fear of the unknown (I got a second job as the News Editor of my college's student newspaper and I am reallllllly nervous), but possibly also my lack of peace and trust in the Lord.

It's odd; I know in my head that everything is going to be alright, but not knowing what will happen, or even how it will happen, can send me into a bout of fear. I was thinking about that this morning while listening to this song from Paramore's Riot! album ("I try to patch things up again, to calm my tears and kill these fears").

Then, after my morning devo and bowl of cinnamon blueberry oatmeal (#praise), God gave me this verse:

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" 
~ Romans 8:15

I love when God sends me verses like this. I regularly check the Verse of the Day site (check it out, it's pretty rad), and many times the Scriptures posted there just sing to my heart. Not to mention that yesterday's Daily Bread passage included this verse:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 
~ Matthew 6:34

Ok, God, I get it. I don't need to have any fear. I know I'm far from finished learning this lesson, but it's nice to know regardless that I have a God who wants me to allow Him to give me His power and peace.

+ What about you? How do you handle fears and worries? Do you have a favorite song that addresses anxiety? And what is your favorite breakfast food?

God, Friends, & Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Every now and then the Lord blesses me in such an incredibly specific way that it just blows my mind. And let me just say, this weekend has been Blessed To The Max. THE MAX

Before I delve into the gloriousness, I wanted to preface this post by saying that at the start of Sunday morning I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. A bit blue. Lately I have been noticing that sometimes, friends grow up, get out, and move on. Other times, this may only be my perception of things. But regardless, I was feeling a bit hurt, a bit lonely. And I was lifting that up to the Lord like a pitiful, mopey child: 

"Do I even have friends anymore?"

Cue God being God. {He's pretty good at that.}

My sister (on the right) got a text from my cousin (in the middle) inviting us to tag along with her on a mini road-trip reunion of sorts, to visit our old Bible college. Which I was a bit apprehensive about, because not only have I not been back to my Bible college in a year, but I also left it feeling quite negative about the whole experience. And so I was a little nervous about going back, especially because I felt like maybe no one there liked or remembered or cared about me.

This was my prayer:

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.'"

~ Deuteronomy 1:29-31

And well, God totally answered it.

When we arrived, our friends flocked to us, laughing and hugging us all, some almost tearful. {The visit was a surprise.} It was so refreshing to talk to my old pals and hear how much they had missed me, what God was doing in their lives, and to remember good times.

It's cheesy to say, but through that one visit, I could feel all the lies and bitterness and negative thoughts I'd had about Bible college and my friends for a solid year just fall away.

To think that God would answer my prayer of hurt feelings with a visit of such tenderness and joy, only several hours later, well....that is something to me.

After the visit, my cousin and sister and I crashed at my parent's tiny cottage an hour or so away, and slept hard. {Introverts + a full day of socializing = major recharge time.} Then this morning on our way home, we decided we'd better stop for breakfast. We "randomly" stumbled upon this bistro we'd probably passed a hundred times, but never ever eaten at before. Lo and behold, the place was not only adorable, but our waitress was also a Christian and knew people from our hometown! From my cousin's very church, in fact!

You may also note that my cousin and I are holding fabulous plates of CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES WITH WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP. Silly to say, but this was a moment of mini-liberation for me, as I usually never allow myself to enjoy such treats like this. But today was something different...a step in the right direction, yes?

When I got home, the mailman delivered me the Mumford and Sons vinyl I ordered a week or so ago. {Also set to arrive soon? Gerard Way's Hesitant Alien and The Killers' Hot Fuss records.}

WELL HOT DANG!

I remember once that my pastor said if you ask God to take you on adventures, He will. And I don't know, these past two days have felt very much like adventure to me. And none of it can I take credit for! Jesus is just that good. He rights the wrongs, shouts the truth, and heals my hurt heart.

God is good. 

+ I have so much more I could say about all of this, but this post is already a veritable novel as it is, so I shall refrain. But please let me know how you all are doing, because I have been pretty MIA in the blogging world as of late...egad!

trees can't make me happy; compliments can't make me smile

I went to the park for a solitary, contemplative walk. I took my iPod, and put on my headphones, sans music, and just walked. And all is good, but sometimes I'm insane in the membrane, yo. As in, the world around me is completely calm and still, with all as it should be, and yet my brain still goes in a thousand different directions, worrying me out of peace. 

But then God hits me out of the blue with this:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

~ 1st Corinthians 6:19-20

Man, God is good. Sometimes He just drops little "I love you" notes on me like this. It's when He answers the small prayers and sends me the encouragement I don't even think to ask for that I most smile at Jesus' faithfulness. 

Be still.

+ I tend to think too much. One solution? Memorizing the Word. I'm so bad at this! It takes dedication, and I like to distract myself....a little help?! How do you memorize Scripture?

the reason i threw my magazines into the wastebasket

I really need to be writing my English exam right now (it's the dreaded Exam Week, y'all #how #why #saveme), but something is on my heart so I'm going to pause and share it:

Body image.

Before you roll your eyes and dismiss me as Just Another Young Woman Blogging About Inner Beauty, hear me out. Interestingly enough, what I want to tell you comes from a conversation I had with my Dad.

That's right, folks. This little guy is my father. Good old Pops.

Also, if you're thinking that this photo explains a lot about 

my particular eccentricities, that's because it does.

I DIGRESS.

You may or may not know that body image is something I struggle with, and have combated for what feels like a while now. I'm not going to say much about that other than it's a very self-centered kind of sin, one that makes me focus only on myself and my perceived flaws. It's a good tactic of the devil's to keep me always obsessed with self. 

How could I possibly find my true worth in Christ if I'm always worried about my weight? How can I change the world if my biggest goal in life is to be thin?

The Story: The other day I was eating lunch whilst perusing a stack of Teen Vogue magazines.

The Bit of Backstory: I used to really like Teen Vogue, not because I have any actual interest in high-end fashion (please) but because I love photography, design, and the cover stories were amusing enough. But when I went away to Bible college, I felt the Lord pulling on my heart to rip them up. I treasure my magazines, so that was tough, but with God's strength, I did it. I realized that the images I was putting in front of my eyes were harmful, damaging to me. They were helping me set unattainable standards for myself without my half-realizing it.

Sound familiar?

Anyways, over the past month, I picked up a copy (or four) of the magazine from the library discount store. I wanted something to read, as I no longer have any magazine subscriptions, and I apparently love to re-learn hard lessons. *sigh*

My Dad noticed me reading them the other day, albeit a bit skeptically.
And then today, he asked me to show him the issue with Emma Roberts he had noticed earlier.

Here are some images from that issue:

Note: I'm not skinny-shaming (oh gosh) or hating on anybody who naturally has this body type; I just know that for a 22 year old woman with my own frame, it is wildly unattainable.

My father, in all his "old-man" glory, is so full of wisdom. I'm so grateful to God that I have a Dad who is willing to call me out and speak truth into my life. We had an honest conversation about how unhealthy it is to look at these magazines day in and day out. Vogue is bad enough, he said. Teen Vogue literally showcases images of children made to look like adults. 

And it's true. It's a double offense: not only do very young teen models working in the fashion industry become subjected to sexualization, but the older women looking at these images think there is something wrong with their own bodies because they don't look anything like the people pictured.

This is sad.

And it leads to an unrealistic (and binding) game of comparison.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."   ~ Proverbs 14:30

I've been praying lately that I would be a woman who celebrates others' victories, not envies them. If you're like me and struggle with comparing yourself, you may find it hard to be happy for others. So often, we feel like we don't measure up. But, we all fall short. We're all imperfect. And there will always be someone skinnier, prettier, or more talented at watercolor painting than you. But if you put all your stock in being the "best" at something, where will your worth be when you're no longer on top?

"My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

~ Psalm 139: 15-16

My magazines now sit in a crumpled heap at the bottom of my purple wire wastebasket.
I'm not saying I won't have to re-learn this lesson again in the future (my track record says I will), but I'm grateful God used my father to address this issue with me tonight.

One more thing: I casually mentioned to my Dad that I picked up the magazine from the 25 cent pile at the library. It hardly cost me anything; it was practically free. But then he turned to me and said,

"It's not free. It's never free."

And you know, anyone trapped in the lifestyle of comparison, they're not living free, either.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

~ John 8:36

+ Props to you if you read all of this. I mean it. Also: please notice the distinct lack of gifs in this post. 
I showed restraint. That's what I'm talking about, people.