the living stone

I'd like to first start out saying wow i dont think ive ever been to a nicer laundry mat in my life. this place is snazzy. haha. but more importantly id love to share with you whats been going on in my life these last couple of days. My whole life ive failed to understand and grasp the fullness and Greatness of the Lord. I keep getting glimpses of his majesty and the more I begin to grasp what he desires from me and then i am blown away by a song, or a verse, or a prayer, or his children showering me with his love. We love to say what do you do in real life? or what do you watch in real life? because this summer is so unlike the normal occurences of day to day life. but its far more beautiful. We were at a place eating lunch last night and soccer was on but i couldnt even keep up with it. like it was too much for my eyes to handle because i wasn't used to watching tv-especially sports on tv. it was crazy bc i love tv and i love movies and i love just chilling and watching. but my eyes couldn't do it because they weren't used to it. Isn't that how we are with most things? Its the same thing if you're a runner and you have to get back in shape with running or if you're a mathematician but you haven't done math in years. call it a stretch i a product of this generation can't seem to fit in. I never really did before but I really think its going to be an ajustment to go back to the REAL world with all rush hours included. Ive been in this beach small town community for about 3 and a half weeks and people just live slower paced lives here. Theres very few things open on Sundays and the stores close early and its just different. I wouldn't call my summer expierence sheltered at all though. I have seen some intense poverty and brokeness but I have also encountered the God who holds me. The same God who did a work in Saul to change him to Paul. During my talk on Wednesday I talked about Saul truly having a heart of stone and how God did work in his heart. God worked through Paul and used him. Theres people in our lives I believe we've given up on that they would let God in or let God use them. but thats the God we serve. He can MELT anyone's heart and make ANYONE a fisher of men. Why would we cast limitations on a God to marvelous and mysterious for human standards or assumptions. I've seen heart of stones melt this summer. I've seen what that surrender looks like, i know how it feels too. I also know that NO ONE is out of Gods reach for a true encounter and he continues to be jealous for them. The living stone can melt ANY heart of stone.

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him"
1 Peter 2:4


and my saga after seeking after Gods will continues...
-Mary Dimick

Love you all!

being vulnerable

worship starts here in an hour. The band is practicing as i sit here in the balcony writting this I begin to realize ive never been so open, vulnerable in my life. To a God thats opening my heart to his. I keep his people, his children and I love them. Whenever I'm in a homeowners house I always ask them about the pictures on their fridge. It is seriously the most heart opening question you can ask someone you really dont know. Ive learned about these people- also Gods children that are close to the homeowners I work for. I learn about the children, diseases that have claimed husbands, adoptions that changed a family for better, and relationships after a spouses death. Ive read poetry written by an 89 year old father weeks before he passed away, been encouraged by people perserving through their trials, and painted the living room of the sweetest 80 year old. I dont deserve these expierences. I dont deserve this life of abundance God has granted me. I dont deserve true freedom found in his grace. But God he relentlessly continues to cover me in it. He continues to open my eyes to his people and their hurts and needs and dreams. I drink thier lemonade and try to see them and love them in a way God-their father does. I fail to do that often but I want to. I have seen my lifes dreams switch drastically in the last 2 monthes. Because I have begin to comprehend this God I follow. He is a God of fullness and compassion and JOY! He loves his children and I love meeting his children. I want to begin to live a life complete because he makes it that way. He gets my career, and my thoughts, and my dreams, and my doubts, and my lack of grammer skills (haha) because he is worthy of my life's service. He is worthy of my praise!

For the dinos,
Mary D!

The faith I see in Ruth

One of my favorite bible stories is the story about Ruth and Naomi's friendship. Naomi had 2 sons who were married to Ruth and Orpah. In a short period of time her sons and her husband had both passed away. In that culture you would go back to where you were from and find a new husband to take you. Naomi told Ruth and Orpah to go back and find husbands and prayed that the Lord would be kind to them for the kindness they displayed to her. Orpah said goodbye and went on her way but Ruth wouldnt go. Ruth was committed to Naomi and told her where you go i will go and where you stay I will stay. your people will be my people and your god will be my God. can you say WOW. Ruth stayed and God blessed her with a new husband named Boaz but the relationship Ruth has with Naomi is such a unique, special relationship that I think is such a treasured one. This story ties in to my life perfectly this week because on Monday I met an incredibly wonderful elderly woman named Ruth. She started to cry when she was telling me her story and has I hugged her and as she cried on my shoulder I knew it was one of those moments I wouldn't forgot. Strangers united in Christ, in service, and in this amazing womans strengh. Shes an 80 year old dealing with the illness of her beloved husband and all the stress that goes along with that care. She visits him at the nursing home every day and sits with him all day long. She is faithful to him like Ruth was faithful to Naomi. I see God in the people Ive met this summer. From Arizona to Florida I see people seeking the Lord amongst their daily challenges. I see him in the widow of the house we are painting, I see him in the homeowner yesterday who was driving today and stopped on the road to thank us. and tell us all about the amazing woman we were currrently working ons house. We dont deserve ANY thanks. This isnt about gratitude this is about faithfulness (like Ruth's to the King) It is such an honor to serve the King's children. Im learning what it really means to be Gods hand and feet. Its sitting in the widows living room, working with youth groups from various denominations and backgrounds but being united in the one king we serve, and beating many many middle schoolers in dodgeball :)

I want to become the 20 year old I hope to have helping me out when Im 80.
That's what Im working towards.

Thanks for being my friend
-MCD

My friends have courage.

Hello dear friends. I hope this blog has found you in high spirits and stress free?! maybe? just maybe? Well heres what is on my heart today...

Although all bible stories are amazing I find the story where Jesus heals the Paralytic to be exteremly powerful and touching. Its found in the book of Luke in chapter 5. if you want to look it up or google it :) lolz. anyway what happens is Jesus is teaching the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They are gathered in a house and there are so many people all around the outside of the house too. Basically these guys have a friend who is a paralytic and they believe that if they can get him before Jesus then Jesus will heal him. They couldn't get in the house so.. THEY GOT ON THE ROOF AND WENT THROUGH THE TILES AND LOWERED HIM INTO THE HOUSE!
verse 20 says "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven".
The faith of this parlytic mans friends moved Jesus to heal him.

I was thinking about this story today and realizing that I have friends like that. I have friends that break me through roofs to see Jesus. They carry me to his feet. I bet I'm not the only one either. I want to be that kind of friend for my friends. A friend that would do something so radical, so daring so their friend could be healed, touched by the king.

On a side note I really enjoy popcorn shrimp.

Kind Regards,
Mary D.

FREE

Hello from Port St. Joe Florida!

Im writting this in the coolest little coffee shop in a small town called Port St. Joe. Im so at peace here. sitting in this coffee shop stirring up the biggest dreams in my head knowing my God has the biggest plans for me.
2 things folks.
1. I wrote a bucketlist. You guys should write one. It gives you some direction, hope for bigger dreams, and it helped me see some stuff ive already accomplished. Ive been to 3 continents. not too shabby for a 20 year old.
2) im giving up politics.
-when your personal views get in the way of loving on people for Jesus something has to change. Something has to be done.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me".- Matthew 16:24

In order to pick up the cross you must leave other things behind. The truth is you cant hold it all because you werent made with the intention to hold it all. I'm ready to take up the cross and I'm leaving many things behind. For this cause I will give up my life in entirety. Because the Lord is worth it. He deserves it and so much more that I'm not even capable of offering. but ill give what I have. Francesca Battistelli has a song called "free to be me" that really reinerates what Im expierencing and feeling right now. These are the lyrics for your wonderful viewing pleasure.

At twenty years of age
I'm still looking for a dream
A war is already waged for my destiny
But You've already won the battle
And You've got great plans for me
Though I can't always see, 'cause

I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl
I thought I had it figured out
See my life will turn out right
And I'll make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt, 'cause…

And you're free to be you
Sometimes I believe
That I can do anything
Yet other times I think
I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and you tell me
That I've got all You seek
And it's easy to believe, even though
And you're free to be you


We are free in Christ. But will you accept that freedom he's granted you? I told my dear friend Mallory yesterday that I'd rather be a Noah then a Jonah. Id rather be called CRAZY then be running from the will of God! cause this crazy kid is FREE!

Godspeed,
MCD