lamentations vs. microwave

lamentations 3 has always been my absolute favorite chapter of the bible. after i tell people that, they usually think i am off my rocker, because it's so freaking depressing in the beginning... but you have to read the depressing junk to make the ending of the chapter that much more incredible. 

 ¹  I am the man who has seen affliction
       by the rod of his wrath.
 ² He has driven me away and made me walk
       in darkness rather than light;
 ³ indeed, he has turned his hand against me
       again and again, all day long.
 ⁴ He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
       and has broken my bones.
 ⁵ He has besieged me and surrounded me
       with bitterness and hardship.
 ⁶ He has made me dwell in darkness
       like those long dead.
 ⁷ He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
       he has weighed me down with chains.
 ⁸ Even when I call out or cry for help,
       he shuts out my prayer.
 ⁹ He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
       he has made my paths crooked.

c'mon people, i know it's america and we are part of the "microwave generation," but we can still read entire chapters in the bible, even if it takes more than a couple minutes. i don't mean to sound like i'm not a part of the microwave generation... i enjoy hot pockets just as much as the average 19 year old. i just enjoy reading lamentations in my free time too. ;]

......

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
       the bitterness and the gall.
 ²⁰ I well remember them,
       and my soul is downcast within me.
 ²¹ Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:
 ²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.
 ²³ They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.
 ²⁴ I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
       therefore I will wait for him."

the packing of my suitcase.

packing. is. not. fun. 
also, I have not cleaned my room properly this entire summer.. so that makes things a little bit difficult. 
however::: i am excited! very excited. and nervous. but excited too. 
heres the deal: i leave sunday to go on a year long adventure with an amazing Christian organization called youth encounter. i will be traveling all over the u.s. in the specific area between michigan and louisiana. 
annnnnnnnd.. drumroll: heres the best part: i get to play music. the entire time. music, music, and more music. it's a good thing that i love music, otherwise it would be pretty dumb to randomly go on this adventure. 
but for real, God has a plan for me. and right now He wants me playing the piano and singing for a year. i can handle that! 
i would totally post some pictures of my half packed suitcase and disaster of a bedroom, but A: i don't know how, and B: my horrible messy room would scar you for life.