T.R.U.S.T.

I will be the first to admit that I have trust issues. Serious trust issues. I don't trust well or often but that is changing! Spring Break was such a great time of relaxing and digging deep with Jesus. I was determined to get to the root of these trust issues and that I did. What an amazing journey!

I have been so encouraged that God continues to show me just how trustworthy he is. That he has everything covered. That he will protect me, provide for me and guide me along the way. How has he shown me these things recently? My upcoming trip to M3.

I was worried about my housing situation, my job, the money that I need to raise to get there, among many many other things. As I have laid these things at his throne he has simply asked me to trust him and I have been trying to do just that.

Housing situation: our landlord is letting us out of our lease 2 months early so I don't have to pay rent over the summer.

My job: my boss is letting me have my job back as if I never even left.

The money: well, that journey isn't complete but I wake up each day and tell Jesus that I trust him for the $4000.

All the other things: He is ever so patient with me as I pray through those fears and concerns.

Before this mini-revelation that I had over Spring Break, I would try to overly plan in order to compensate for my mistrust. It's really a horrible and vicious cycle. But, as I have begun really trusting Jesus with my past, present and future there is less of a need to plan. I can simply approach circumstances with complete confidence that Jesus will see me through to the other side of it. Talk about freedom!

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10

TT (Week 5)

I am really struggling to find something to write for tonight. It's not because I lack things that I am thankful for but because I cannot narrow it down to just one thing. Hmm.

Today more than ever, I am thankful that God is trustworthy.

I've learned SO much about this in these past couple of weeks which I am going to try to condense into a blog post for a later date. Allowing my heart to experience this has literally changed my life.

Getting Things Done

The journey of raising my support to go to M3 this summer has been stretching, tiring, and exciting all at the same time and it just started!!

Yesterday, I may or may not have moved my computer and printer to our living room to work on my support letters. The Wildcats were playing in their first game of the NCAA tournament which I clearly could not miss but I had to work on my letters so I combined the two which you can see above.

Nothing like spending your Friday addressing, stuffing, stamping and licking over 70 envelopes!

Current Brain Condition

Most of the time, the condition of my brain can be observed through the condition of my bedroom. My room is usually a mess because my brain is always going, rarely having time to slow down and rest. So, I guess you can infer the condition of my brain based on this picture I took today.

Just going in my room stresses me out. I have SO much on my mind these days. M3, Personal Refinement, Homework, Class, Grades, Work, Babysitting, Second Mile, Volunteering, Kids Ministry. Man oh man, it's going to be a long two months. But, I know I will make it. I'm just going to have to give up going to bed at 9 pm and waking up at 8 am. Oh, the life of a college student!

Community

A couple months ago, I was hanging out with some kids at a Valentine’s Day party. I got to talk with one of the girl’s moms for a while. She works at a church in town and was sharing some of her experience with me. We were talking about babysitting and hanging out with families and she said, “Second Mile is different because you guys are a community.” In the moment, I thought, “well yeah we are.” But when I thought about it later that comment really struck me. We are living in such a way that people recognize that we do life together.

I think that’s the way Jesus intended for us to live. That the body of Christ would be filled with people who not only celebrate the good things in life but are willing to walk in the trenches with other people when things get really tough. See, community life is not all puppies and rainbows; it’s definitely one of the hardest things in my life. I have my own junk and brokenness and so does every other person around me so it causes conflict and heartache. But, when you get through that stuff, the most beautiful things are on the other side like trust, vulnerability and deep unconditional love for one another. I’ve tasted those things in my three years at Second Mile and there is no way I’d give that up for the world.

In my past posts, I’ve written how much love my community but words will never do it justice. I am blessed more than I even know. I am grateful for the people who came to this city to radically amplify the name of Jesus and for a friend who asked if I wanted to go to this church they heard about my second weekend living in Tucson. Without those two things, I’d have no idea what it means to live in community.

Thankful Tuesdays

I almost forgot about Thankful Tuesdays. Yikes! It's definitely not because I don't have an array of things to be thankful for but mostly because I'm ridiculously tired from the festivities of the day.

This Tuesday I am thankful for Jesus' relentless pursuit of me. In the past couple of days, God has reminded me that He chose me, He knows everything about me and that I am worth the pursuit.

What great truth to rest in!

40 Days of Water

A great friend of mine brought to my attention this event that Blood:Water Mission is doing over lent. It is called 40 Days of Water. You can read more about it here.

There are SO many great reasons to participate in this but really it comes down to one thing for me. People in this world are lacking basic resources that you and I often take for granted. I'm just not ok with that, so for now I am trying to help the situation how I can.

Even though I don't participate in traditional lent, I can give up my QT runs and iced vanilla lattes if it means kids can drink clean water. It will be hard, no doubt about it, but I think it will serve as a great reminder of the blessed life I live.

Here's to 40 Days of Water! I hope you'll join me on this adventure!!

Thankful Tuesdays

Tuesdays make me so happy. Mostly because throughout the day I reflect on the past week and am reminded of all of the "grateful moments" that I had. It's so hard to pick just one things that I am thankful for. But, here it is for this week...

I am so very very thankful for the ways that I have been shown recently that I am appreciated.

It's such a good feeling to know that people notice your hard work and that they are grateful for what you do.

On that note, I am trying to tell those people how much I appreciate the way they appreciate me. As much as I like to know that I'm doing a good job, I want to reinforce the great job that those people are doing in my own life to make me feel valued. :)

the busyness of life

It seems like the weeks are just flying by these days. I can't believe that this semester is almost half way over. Next week is Spring Break. Hallelujah!

Last weekend, I went home for my sister's wedding and to spend some time with the family. It was a good visit and I was very excited to hang out with my nieces. I just love those girls!

(This is Rayna. She was the "family photographer")

(This is Nova. I seriously am infatuated with this child! )

Since my life has been so CRAZY these days I haven't been able to blog about anything good, well except the Hillsong concert. But, many things are swirling around in my head and they will make it to this blog in the coming weeks. I'm pondering community life, kids ministry, being an example, refinement and many other things. Be looking out for many blog posts to come!

He Has Overcome!

Last night I had the opportunity to go to the Hillsong concert with a great group of friends. It was such an amazing experience to say the very least. Seeing thousands of people worshipping Jesus along side the Hillsong band was indescribable. Their new CD, Aftermath, is full of profound lyrics. It was a picture of what I think heaven will be like some day.

Here are some highlights from our trip:

- Long car rides with 4 other girls where no topic of conversation goes undiscussed.

- Great conversation about life.

- Greasy NYC pizza downtown.

- Singing our hearts out for 3 hours.

- Seeing people accept Jesus that night.

- Being reminded that no matter what church we go to, we are the Church.

- Waiting in line for 30 minutes in the In-n-out drive-thru so that I can get a milkshake.

- Checking my mail at 1 am when we got home. (that one's for you Jenn! I have an obsession with checking our mail)

I echo all of the great things that our group has said about the concert last night. My heart is really full. This adventure was so worth it!

Thankful Tuesdays

It's that time of the week again! :)

Today I am thankful for my community and how much they take care of me. I love you, Second Mile!