i got up at 6 this morning and headed down to the beach access to watch the sun rise. i was supremely comfortable in my light pj pants and favorite green hoodie, though the wind blew stronger than i'd anticipated. the sky was light but the huge ball of light had not broken the surface of the horizon yet. i sat on the steps and took pictures and meditated on the beauty of creation. i don't understand how anyone could believe that it could possibly be an accident. a few pairs of people walked along the sand, enjoying the solitude of the morning. i also basked in the quiet.

when the sun was well risen, i returned to the house and began my study on idolatry by looking up all the references to the word 'idol' in my little Bible concordance and typing them out on a Word document. i'm going to google idolatry and get some other people's thoughts. then i'll probably write some of my own. but the one opinion that i'm really interested to get is God's. i'm beginning to get just a little sense of it from the references in the Prophets. i want this sin removed as far from me as the east is from the setting of the sun.

i'm eager to begin 9-month. work will be nice and i won't deny that i'm excited about being with everyone. i'm also stoked about living for God every day...walking with Him in the morning, through the work day, and in the evening. i anticipate Him changing me this year and i intend to do everything possible to allow Him to work out the character flaws in me and create in me a clean heart that seeks His glory and pursues His holiness. in fact, i'm going to end this thought right here and go write down my goals for this year.

lata'!