His Grace is Enough...

This week I have been learning all about God's grace. How precious it is. How beautiful it is. How sufficient it is. How undeserving I am of it.

I must confess sometimes it's so hard for me to wrap my mind around His grace. How every single day I fall short in my sin, with my wants & desires, yet every time I find myself running back into His arms He never seems to fail . My sweet Jesus is there waiting with open arms extending the gift of grace.

This morning I found myself asking myself one question....if everything in my life faded away would His grace be enough-would HE be enough to be my portion, my help, my EVERYTHING? That answer is yes but I'm going to be completely honest....some days it's harder for me to walk in this truth...that He is enough, that He is all I need. I find myself getting frustrated with God when He remains silent. However, I'm learning to be thankful for those times....because that silence causes me to seek shelter under His wings, to run hard & fast after Him, to be diligently on my knees, to seek His will for my life and not my own, & to just be still.

Sometimes I find myself wrestling with why He chooses to be silent. But you know what? If He didn't make us wait then don't you think we would be more tempted to lean on our own strength instead of His sweet grace? Maybe that's what it takes for us to realize His grace is sufficient enough.

So today I challenge you no matter where you are in the journey.....to stop and experience the sweet blessing of His grace. Thank Him that it is enough...that He is enough.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!!!!

Today is my best friend Kim's Birthday!!!! I am blessed beyond words by her sweet friendship!

We were roommates for three years until she just got recently married. When I graduated college the main prayer my mentors prayed for me was that The Lord would bless me with Godly girlfriends...oh my stars He has been so faithful to answer and has blown away all of my expectations in her friendship & the others He has blessed me with....He is such a faithful God!

Kim- I love you so much and hope you have the best Birthday ever! I am so blessed by your sweet friendship and can't wait for many more precious memories that we are going to get to share together...I love you!!

Pictures from Beach Retreat 09'....

Here are some pictures from last week....enjoy!

Faded Glory!!!!

Mallory did this on her computer....they nicknamed themselves Joy Jr. & Kim Jr....thought it was precious and couldn't resist!

Dinner with the band...the girls where so cool while the guys hung out.....when they left you could have heard their screams down at the beach!!

Worship.....

Sweet Friends...

Rec time at the Beach...

Blessed....

As I am reflecting on Beach Retreat 09' the one word that keeps on coming into my mind is blessed....

To have my Best Friend as my co-sponsor...
*Blessed*

To have the precious girls I had...
*Blessed*

To get to freely worship our sweet Jesus the way we did...
*Blessed*

To see lives changed...
*Blessed*

To see students come to know Christ for the first time...
*Blessed*

To show love & pray for a friend...
*Blessed*

To serve along side this amazing team...
*Blessed*

To see 1,000 students having silent sounds on the beach twice a day...
*Blessed*

To be a shoulder to cry on...
*Blessed*

To pour into the lives of students...
*Blessed*

To be the hands & feet of Jesus...
*Blessed(and so unworhty...)*

In Their Words....

Here are the words my girls used to describe BR09...

*Hinds feet*amazing*spirit stick*Kim jr & Joy jr*praying* Dr.Young*Coach America*The jerk*Frosted Fakes*sound off* sisterhood*worship*neat*memories*Jhigh*Faded Glory*4902*
Jesus*silent sounds*life change*Psalm 18*surrender*fun* Name tags*Bible*growing*pool*
Beach*love*learning*Interviews*friendship*laughter*smiles*accomplishment*do*Michael*best leaders ever*praising* Fiestas*punked*awesome*impacting*mac & cheese*bathing suits*
Relationships*dip n dots*awesome*incredible*waves*family time*belly flop*sand*worship*and so much more.....

The Beach...

This morning I got up a little early to walk on the beach & have some "alone time". I just haven't felt like myself since I got to South Padre & have been able to "fake it" & I just knew that I needed that time. Don't get me wrong--I LOVE being here & am doing what I have a passion for-plus I have the most amazing condo a sponsor could ask for I just needed to be alone with The Lord-just Him & I.

I started walking & listening to a podcast that was about whe Jesus calmed the storm-half way through I felt like He was telling me to stop. I listened to the rest of that podcast & put myself in the shoes of the diciples on that boat...

Wow--the wind was blowing, the waves where crashing, the diciples were scared but you know what-Jesus calmed the storm & He never stopped watching His friends. He watched them while He was praying from the mountain the same way He never took His eyes off of Peter as He told him to walk on water & come to Him.

Isn't it great to know that no matter what He's watching us & orchastrating every step in our lives.

JHigh Beach Retreat!

Tomorrow...(well in a few hours) I am headed to South Padre Island with over 1,000 Junior High students! Words can not express how excited & expectent I am of the BIG things God is going to do this week at the beach! Please be praying for the students hearts. That students with hard hearts would be softened, that students who have never experienced love before would, & most of all those who don't know our precious Savior would enter into a personal relationship with Him for the first time! Also pray for the staff & leaders-that God would use us through Him! I know that we all covet your prayers while we are gone!

You can follow us on the Beach Retreat Blog under my blog roll-I'll try to update some too!

College World Series!

The College World Series starts this weekend! I love sports & college baseball is one of my favorites to watch! I think it's because while I was in college I watched some close friends win the College World Series while playing at both Texas & Rice. These guys are playing because they love to play-it is out of pure love for the sport which is the best thing to watch-tune in if you have the chance!

Satisfy Us....

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
Psalm 90:14

I cherish my mornings on my porch with The Lord. To gain His wisdom, feast on His word, to have the opportunity to be still and listen.....I confess sometimes it's easier than others...to be still.

So I leave my house filled up, satisfied, ready to face the day but sometimes it seems when I hit my desk I already feel empty. The converstaion in my head goes something like this...Um Lord...it's only 9:30. I think to myself....what happened? I spent time in your word, I diligently prayed, then why Lord have I already fallen short? Some days I am quicker to show His love and on others I find myself an emotional mess.

My favorite part of that verse is that we may sing for joy. I so badly want to sing and be glad in all my days. I want to be remembered as a girl who was joyful at all times. And not just a fake joy-a genuine, real, authentic joy that shines through even when I feel like I am on a rollercoaster ride of life's ups and downs-I so badly want to exhibit a joy that is contagious because the joy of The Lord is truly my strength. I believe with all my heart that in order to find joy we have to be thankful. When I choose to be thankful I find myself viewing things differently. It's a choice. If I find myself thankful for my job that long check list of to do things really isn't all that bad. When I am thankful for those who have hurt me-love abounds. So today I challenge you to be thankful for all the things in your life no matter where you are in the journey.....the good, the bad, & the ugly. While letting Him satisfy you along the way.

Grab life by the mane....

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."

- Mark Batterson

Greater Things are Yet to Come...

Yesterday as I was driving the song God of This City came on the radio. As I heard the intro music come on it literally sent chills up my spine and I looked down to find goosebumps on my arm.

Let me explain.....our Student Ministry is right in the midst of Beach Retreat. This is a week they take High School and Junior High students to Gulf Shores & South Padre to unplug for the week.

Our High School Ministry is in Gulf Shores right now and I keep on hearing all about the amazing things The Lord is doing there! I am headed to South Padre next week and am very expectant of what The Lord is going to do in the lives of the students, leaders, and staff.

It's funny looking back in my prayer journal....I prayed almost a year ago that The Lord would give me a heart for Junior High students and oh my stars has He been faithful to answer! My heart for these students is overflowing with love. I desire to pour into them with everything that is in me. To inspire & encourage, all while telling them about the love of our precious Savior. I so badly want to be the hands & feet of Jesus to these precious students & again am so humbled that He has in-trusted me with these students.

I believe with my whole heart that greater things are yet to come for these students & the 210 Student Ministry. I can't wait to hear about the big things The Lord has done on the beach in Gulf Shores and then get to witness it first hand next week in South Padre!

Called to love even when it's not easy....

I love it when The Lord meets you right where you are. Last night my sweet friend Kara called me and said that I'd been on her heart all day and she had been praying for me. Our conversation eventually lead to the sermon that was preached yesterday at the 11:11 service.

I heard Dr. Young's version of 1 Peter but Dave Riggle's was a little different. Kara shared with me two major points from his sermon that really hit home.

"If someone offends or attacks you-it's natural to defend yourself. Self-restraint is strength-it's supernatural strength. It's radical love lived out."

Let's get real...throughout life people are going to step on our toes but we have a choice....to retaliate or show them love. Am I saying that's easy....oh my stars no! But as Christians it's what we are called to do & praise The Lord He gives us that strength because I know I couldn't do it without Him.

Dave then told a story about a soldier who was picked on over and over again by his commander. When it was done did he retaliate? Nope-he went and shined his boots....he served his commander after being humiliated by him in front of his whole squad. When the commander came to his soldier asking him why the soldier looked at him and said these powerful words..."Christ put a love in my heart for you."

Then he challenged the congregation to love and serve people even when they are unkind to them. (I'm going to unleash, I'm giving them to You.) that we can let go because our precious Savior can take it. To release them to the righteous judge the one who can handle it.

Umm I'm pretty sure the ONLY way to do this is through my sweet Jesus. Thankfully we do not have to walk this journey alone and through the grace we have been given we are able to extend that grace to others even when it's not easy.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ Jesus forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32

Childhood Friends...nothing better....

Yesterday my childhood best friend got married and had a dinner reception for family and friends. It was so great to visit with the three girls in this picture-Kristel (the bride), Jaimie, Kristin and I have been friends for over 19 years....some a little longer than others but I can't help but smile at some of the precious memories we have shared together! I am so thankful for my sweet friendship with these girls....they are a blessing to me! There really isn't anything better than seeing people who you have walked through literally every season of life with & whether it's been 2 days or 2 years since we last talked it's amazing how it feels like nothing has changed....I love you girls so much....you are so precious to me!

Francesca Battistelli....

KSBJ puts on free concerts to the public at local Chick-fil-a's throughout Houston. I had never been to one before but just couldn't resist because one of my most favorite new artists Francesca Battistelli was there! If you don't have her CD you should get it!

I had never been to a Brown Bag concert before so I had no idea what to expect-think over 1,000 people at a Chick-fil-a....it was insane but totally worth it! Here are some pictures from the concert!

Footprints on My Heart....

This weekend is promotion Sunday at Second Baptist.....my first promotion to go through as GiGL Director at the West Campus. You know....I thought it would be easy....or maybe I was just fooling myself into believing that it would be.

After hearing countless stories yesterday from different Kindergarten parents about how I have impacted the life of their child I was literally moved to tears. Some came in for pictures others just shared sweet stories. The sweetest memory of it all for me was that to wrap up When I Grow Up we had the kids come as what they want to be when they get big.....so many of them came dressed as me.

I am so humbled by the fact that The Lord would put me in a place to impact the lives of these kids. I am so unworthy of that place but so thankful for the blessing to be able to impact the lives of these precious kids.

Even though they are four and five years old these kids have left footprints on my heart that I will never forget. Every hug, every I Love you, every story....they have impacted my life and taught me so many sweet lessons along the way.

I am so thankful to play such a small part in the big picture The Lord has for them. There are some people who may look into my room on Sunday's and all they see is a room full of preschoolers singing and dancing. My answer to them....you so don't get it....I am getting the privilege and honor to start laying down the foundation that we know as Jesus Christ while they are leaving footprints on my heart.