Senior Year

Sorry I haven't posted all summer, but I was busy! I had an internship in Colorado Springs at Alive Communications the first half of summer, and the second half I nannied full-time for 3 kids. My experience in Colorado was unforgettable and I truly learned valuable information about the Christian book publishing industry. Since school started up again about a month ago, I have been in a transition period. As much as I loved my internship, it definitely made thankful to have one more year of school left.I am more aware that I need to live my last year of college to the fullest.

I actually read quite a bit this summer, which was a goal of mine. The one book I feel a duty to mention, is Bob Goff's book, Love Does, which is the most inspiring book I've ever read. Bob lives his life on the edge, doing stuff with Jesus. He doesn't just talk about doing stuff; he actually does it. I highly recommend his book. Two days ago Bob came to speak a NW Austin fundraiser, which I was a part of. In person, Bob is just as energetic and full of life as I imagined! After the event, Bob met all the leaders at Lady Bird Lake and we all jumped into the water at 1 am. No regrets. It was awesome. He actually signed my book, and the inspiring words he spoke to me were "Love God; do stuff." What a cool guy!

I promise you cannot read this book, and not be changed!
 

SUMMERTIME!

I just got back from a Younglife camp in Arizona, where 200 Austin Younglife Leaders, and myself completed a Work Week. Our goal was to make the camp as beautiful as possible, so that kids might taste a bit of Heaven when they come this summer. It was a life giving trip; we spent the mornings silently in the Word; the days working, and the nights playing. We even made the infamous roadtrip out to the Grand Canyon, where we watched the sunset, and a solar eclipse! Joy is the only word I can use to describe the entire week, and what it brings to my heart. Each day I would wake up, and give my worries over to the Lord; my worries about housing next year, my internship in Colorado this summer, relationships that need improvement, and the Lord took them, and replaced my worries with peace. After a draining year of school all I needed was a playful trip to be reminded that I am Gods child, and rejoice in that truth. However, our speaker Billy reminded us that God doesn't just speak to us in camp settings, or as he refered to it as on the "mountain top," but He seeks us out in the mundane (driving, class, work, cooking, cleaning etc.), basically anything that causes us to want to live in the past or future. Instead God is speaking to us all day, and is wishing we would be with Him in each moment. He said the best thing we can do is speak the Gospel to ourselves all day long, and remember that He is right there with us. I am thankful for this reminder, because even on the ride home, I found myself wishing we were home already, but then I thought about Billy's talk and I reminded myself that God is right there with me, and I rejoiced in that moment. The point of it all is that if we as believers only rely on the "mountain top" moments to last us a lifetime; it isn't going to work, and eventually we will get burned out. This trip came at the perfect time, and completely filled me up, and reminded me to live in that mindset, especially this summer when I will be away from my friends, and family in Colorado.

Spring Break Bliss

I am back at school and I am looking back at my awesome Spring Break spent at home with my parents, at the beach, at SXSW, and best of all READING! Over the break I finally got to tackle the widely popular book The Hunger Games. If you haven't heard of the books, where have you been? The Hunger Games is a quick read and very entertaining. Anyone who is not drawn into the plight of Peeta and Katniss are crazy! I recommend if you haven't jumped on the Hunger Games bandwagon, you does so immediately, and then buy tickets to the midnight premiere of the film version this Thursday night!

Happy Hunger Games!

NEEDTOBREATHE

I went to the Needtobreathe concert last weekend at Stubb's and was completely blown away by their performance. I cannot stop listening to their music, so I thought I would share one of my favorite songs with you all!

"If you're lost and lonely you're broken down. Bring all your troubles come lay 'em down"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PN-BMHi5L8&NR=1&feature=fvwp

A Little Bit of Romance...

Since it is Valentines Day and all, I decided that I would share one of my favorite romantic fiction authors of all time! Her name is Francine Rivers and she is quite famous among the Christian community. My favorite books of hers are the Mark of the Lion series and Redeeming Love. The Mark of the Lion Series takes place in Rome about 70 years after the death of Christ. The book follows a steadfast slave girl named Haddasah, who clings to her faith through great trials and persecutions. The first two books are gripping and I whole hearted recommend them as a must read! Then Redeeming Love takes place in California during the 1850's gold rush and follows the journey of an unlikely couple and God's faithfulness toward sinners. The story is a fictional interpretation of Hosea in the old testament and Rivers best-selling book! I've read this book many times and I will never get sick of it!

Happy Valentines Day and if you're anything like me  you will stay home tonight and read!!! Yeah!!

Oh My God Shine Your Light On Us...

I just returned from NW Austin Younglife Leader Retreat, and lets just say it was rejuvenating. My spirit feels rested and prepared to start showing up, and begin pursuing kids at the High School, where we offer Younglife. During our time of worship, Andy Baxter lead music for us in his interactive style of worship. He posed the question to us through song, "Why did you have to runaway." These simple words struck me, because Jesus offers us a life 10,000 times better than we could ever fathom, yet we as Christians constantly forget this and fall away from his Holy Presence. If we do not stay in constant communication with our Father in Heaven and daily die to ourselves we will never live the life Jesus had dreamt us to live. I was sobered by the our talk this weekend that Jesus could come back to Earth any day, and at any time. I need to remember to live each day as if Jesus were coming back. What urgency we would live with, if we could only rememeber that. I pray that I live my life each day as if Jesus were coming back for us. The parable in Luke 15 talks about the prodigal son, and after squandering his inhereitance, he comes home to his father. The scripture says that his father saw him walking home in the distance, just as if he watched for him every morning. During his talk, our speaker posed the question, "what would it look like if we waited for Jesus every morning and just looked out to the East wondering if today will be the day he returns".

 

 

Reflection...

It's my last day of the break, and I will be driving back to Austin today for school. This break gave me exactly what I needed to relax, and redevot myself to the Lord. Looking back at my busy schedule in the fall, I am amazed that I survived everything, HOWEVER without my Fathers encouragement I would have given up. I was constantly thinking semester, what can I give up? Something in my schedule has to go, but what? I have school, work, Younglife, sorority, volunteer, small group, and the list goes on, but I realized there is nothing I can give up. God gave me this busy schedule for a reason. He didn't lead me to join groups and missional communities just to quit, no he is faithful to me. Not once did he leave me during the semester, no matter what was going on, I knew he was there supporting me. He provides me with that kind of Peace that transcends understanding.

 

"As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens" Jesus Calling

 

Now i'm just sitting and reflecting over the christmas break I just spent in Houston... I'm realizing

from a worldly standpoint it appears that I did a lot of nothing over the break, (since I didn't spend christmas skiing in Aspen or New Years at a party with 100 friends) but from an eternal outlook, I spent precious time with my family and my Heavenly Father. This is exactly what I need to be rejuvenated and prepared for this next semester, and all the trials and triumphs He has laid out ahead of me. I just pray that I stay strong in my faith this semester, and that I never loose sight of the things that are truly important.

 

Remember...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 

Fruits of the SPIRIT

I had a great small group discussion about the fruits of the spirit, where we actually drew out our interpretation of the scripture... such a great lesson! Galatians 5:22-24 & John 15:1-7!!!