Facebook, git outa here!

Yes, I said it. I'm out on Facebook. For the past couple of months I've been without one...and it really has been amazing! FRRRRREEDOM! I thought to begin with it might be hard, but in all honesty I can't begin to explain how much my relationship with God has grown since I've cut the ties. It's so refreshing! And to be honest, I don't care what everyone else is doing at every moment of every day! And since we're being honest, some of you people need to get a life...I mean, I'm just sayin. If I didn't have so many students to keep up with, my phone would be next! I love the feeling that any of my free time right now I'm allowing God to use. It will change your life!!

He is Yours.

Alec at Next Level Camp 2009.






What I live to see. This brought tears to my eyes. I love him so much.

I Love My Team!

I truly love my job. I'm so unbelievably blessed! They're so fun!

Don't say the "S" word!

One of my co-leaders, Julie Chriswell, and I have decided to get together today and pray for every one of our girls by name. Yesterday during our small group we encouraged the girls to start this year out with a bang! Seeking after, surrendering, making the sacrifices necessary, and using their life to glorify God in every way this year. We come with a heart expecting God to do big things this year, and so thankful that He is letting us take part! Think back to high school....it was a tough time for a lot of us....these students NEED our prayers! It a time in life that they are tirelessly searching for themselves, what better time to point them straight to God. Join us in prayer!

Life!

The last week has been pretty eventful for me.

I spent the weekend with my mom, her mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law in Dallas at the Gaylord Texas Hotel. That place is ridiculous. It was amazing! It's so big. If you ever have the chance....check it out! We did a bit of shopping... ;)

Last Saturday my papa died, so I spent several days back home, in Abilene, remembering and spending time with family. It was a sad day, but a great celebration of a long life lived!

Saturday I got to help with Meredith and Patrick's baby shower for little Jett! It was a good time. Can't wait for my little one....well...yes I can, but you know what I mean! I'm excited!

Then last night I got to attend an old friends wedding at our Woodway campus. It was beautiful! I got to spend a lot of time with a lot of old friends! I went with my best guy friend for years now...Joed! :)

Lesson Learned...

Suffering is God's tool to expose our false belief, and the mess is intended to drive us back to the only sure hope we can have.

God will often walk us through paths that deliberately confront our attachments and prejudices and fears and aversions standing like roadblocks in our relationship to him.

THIS is why I love Gary Thomas.

It's a sure reminder why today, for the first time in my life, I welcome the mess. I welcome the suffering. It's where I hang my hope. The sooner we all learn it, not the easier it will all be, but a better understanding of the God we serve is sure to follow.

I'm learning to despise a life of complacency and comfort. The enemy thrives on such people. Are you comfortable? In your opinion, is life perfect? If so, you better hit your knees. Rest assured that God's love for you will far outweigh your comfort. How will you respond?

Continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Col 2:7

Students

Today I got to go to lunch with a student that I've never hung out with before. I LOVED it. I love the doors God is opening in my ministry right now. I later got to hang with a few of my regular students at Starbucks. I love my job. I'm truly blessed. I love getting to hear the hearts of our students, and the ways they are allowing God to use them and change them. The things they are going through. The struggles they face. I love being able to be real with them.


Beth says it best:

"We have a God-given invitation - if not responsibility - to join the process of someones divine deliverance from peril or pit. When deliverance happens, the payoff is glorious."

Meeting with them and hearing their hearts is a strong reminder that this isn't about me.

I scream to You.

The pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm going to walk through the valley, if You want me to

So when the whole world turns against me and I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer my cry for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley if You want me to


2 Cor 12:10

Stand.

So I hit the gym after work today in the FLC, reluctant not only for fear of running into someone I probably wouldn't feel like talking to, but also because they insist in playing KSBJ. Really? Who works out to KSBJ? Nonetheless, during my run I couldn't help by over hear the DJ make the statement- "It takes courage to stand during the darkness, and wait patiently for the light to shine." I repeated the statement several times in my mind before almost asking myself out loud- what does that even mean?? What does stand mean in that sentence? It's easy to say....but what does that really look like?

What does stand mean for me? I've given it some serious thought. Some serious prayer.

I stand when the first place I run is to God.

I stand when I refuse to make myself too busy to feel.

I stand when not only do I listen, but I apply.

I stand when, instead of using your company and approval, I use His.

I stand when every stronghold in my life has been defeated. Forever.

I stand when regardless if it makes sense to the world, I obey.

I stand when every single aspect of my life points to Him.

I stand when I refuse to fit the mold.

I stand when I know that no matter what life throws at me, I am His.

I stand when I finally realize that all my guilt and all my shame is nailed to the Cross.

I stand when I understand that my Savior walked this Earth with boldness and without apology.

I stand when I realize that I'm nothing.

I stand when I realize I'm merely a vapor in this thing we call life.

What does it mean for you?

Happy Birthday, Ang!

You're so special to me. Thanks for all the years of putting up with me....I know it wasn't always easy. I cannot express how truly grateful I am for everything you've been in my life. Especially over the last couple of months...you've been a wonderful support. I don't say it often enough, but when I do it's true....I LOVE YOU!

Answered...

I found myself almost laughing tonight as a looked through my journal. Countless prayers over the last 9 months begging God to use a situation in my life. Asking to be changed by the situation, molded, and grown. As I sat I realized that for the same situation, on this very night, I was crying out to God asking why.......why is this happening?

It all became so clear. Because I asked Him to.


I don't know why I'm surprised. Does He ever work the way we expect Him to? Thankfully, no. Thankfully we serve a God so much bigger than any emotion, failure, or sin we could ever feel or experience. THANKFULLY WE SERVE A GOD OF INTERRUPTIONS....otherwise, who would I be today?

There came such an encouragement with that. I don't care how hard it gets....I will never stop searching after my Savior. I will never lay down and die. I will go where He leads.

My heart, today.

The reason why I stand, the answer lies in You.

You hung to make me strong.

I am not my own.

Psalm 138:7-8

10th says it best...

How long must I pray, must I pray to You?

How long must I wait, must I wait for You?

How long 'til I see Your face, see You shining through?

I'm on my knees, begging You to notice me.

I'm on my knees, Father will you turn to me?

One tear in the dropping rain, One voice in the sea of pain

Could the maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breakin' heart? One light, that's all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You are

Won't You come close and hold my heart

I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes

So much can slip away before I say goodbye.

But if there's no other way, I'm done asking why.

Cuz I'm on my knees, begging You to turn to me

I'm on my knees, Father will you run to me?

One tear in the dropping rain, One voice in the sea of pain

Could the maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breakin' heart? One light, that's all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You areWon't You come close and hold my heart.

So many questions without answers, Your promises remain

I can't sleep but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

One tear in the dropping rain, One voice in the sea of pain

Could the maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breakin' heart? One light, that's all I am

Right now I can barely standIf You're everything You say You are

Won't You come close and hold my heart.
Hold my heart, could you hold my heart? Hold my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbuFQrhKPmI

Psalm 34:17-18

Gary Thomas

I went to church Saturday night alone on purpose, and more importantly expecting to hear from God. I walked in a little late, again on purpose, and quickly found a row to myself. Without knowing it, one of my favorite speakers and authors, Gary Thomas, was speaking. I absolutely loved it. God showed up.

Gary was speaking on Matthew 6:33- But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you.

Gary said this quote:
"An unfocused, or a scared Christian becomes a dead Christian."

He went on to give 12 different verses throughout the Bible that talked about God reminding us to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. He reminded us that our focus point of the visions that God gives us should be like a laser. Strong and direct. Seeking first His kingdom means doing so in any circumstance. He also talked about how America is notorious for thriving off crisis to crisis, how throughout his life time he could count at least 8 "worldwide crisis", and how this world we live in will take any measure to keep us from focusing on His kingdom above all. We live under the pressure of living in a constant state of pending, inevitable doom.

He gave several examples of how we can become so easily unfocused and so easily scared when is comes to advancing the Kingdom. When Jesus hung on the cross his last words were, "IT is done."

What is your "IT"? What is my "IT"? Gary posed the question- How am I called to advance His kingdom?

The twelve verses: Gen 15:1, 21:7, 26:24 Josh 1:9, Jud 6:23, 2 Kings 1:15, Jer 1:8, Ez 2:6, Dan 10:12, Mat 1:20, 28:5, Acts 18:9