I don't even know where to begin.... well, hi. :)
After seeing Kristen's blog I decided this would be a good way to keep everyone back home posted on what's going on in my life and how God is using me as I venture off to Brandon, Mississippi for 10 weeks of my summer to be an intern at First Baptist Church. I am definitely excited to reconnect with my 9th grade girls I had the opportunity to lead at their D-Now a few months back as well as Kevin and Brenna and all the wonderful people that I met on my first visit and will meet this time around.
Someone asked me a few weeks ago, "Why can't you just help at your home church that way you don't have to leave everyone?!" And I honestly had no answer for them. So much has happened in my life the past few months and God has worked in my heart more than ever. I've learned more about myself and what I want out of my life than I could have imagined. I knew from the first time I was asked to come down there though that God had answered my prayers and that's where I was supposed to spend my summer. I know that there are many wonderful things in store and God is going to use my heart to serve and love and encourage in the lives of these teenagers.
I'm not really sure just yet how EXACTLY all God is going to use me or what my purpose is but, I know it will soon be revealed to me with patience and obedience of what He is asking of me. I am prayerful that I can continue to answer God's call, no matter the worldly desires of my heart that I can drop it all and be obedient of his will. That's another big thing God has taught me lately.. is patience, trust, and obedience.
Patience that all things will work out how He wants them to on His time and that amounts of time are so irrelevant if it is a thing of God it will always work out for the better when it's supposed to. Trust that no matter the circumstance and the fears you're feeling, you have no choice but to let go and let God take control... I've never been good at trusting Him or anyone for that matter but it's funny the unexpected ways and people God places in your life to give you glimpses of what that looks like. And finally, He's been teaching me obedience and showing me the blessings of obedience even just by my two best friends. I look back now and think what a long road it has been to find Leah & Keiley but I stuck through all the mess and through up's and down's I now have such wonderful strong women by my side no matter my mistakes.
FINALLY:
I ask you all to be prayerful as to what God has in store for me this summer and in different areas of my life right now that I've been dealing with that I will give Him full control and trust that things are going to be okay.. well better than okay when He's at the wheel! I ask you pray for the students I'm going to impact this summer and the various ways in which God is going to use me in their lives and the lives of others. Be prayerful for the Ballard family and their gracious hearts for allowing me to live with them for 10 weeks and opening their home and hearts to me and that they can manage to put up with me that long ;) God has some amazing things up His sleeve not only for this summer but for me and my friends, for a specific person of my heart, my family, and in each area of my life He is up to something. If any of you has anything I can pray about for you, feel free to message me and I'd be glad to.
Thank you for taking your time to take interest into my life and in what God is doing and for all of your prayers. I begin this journey taking off next Friday May 28th, so let's see what happens! Love :)
After seeing Kristen's blog I decided this would be a good way to keep everyone back home posted on what's going on in my life and how God is using me as I venture off to Brandon, Mississippi for 10 weeks of my summer to be an intern at First Baptist Church. I am definitely excited to reconnect with my 9th grade girls I had the opportunity to lead at their D-Now a few months back as well as Kevin and Brenna and all the wonderful people that I met on my first visit and will meet this time around.
Someone asked me a few weeks ago, "Why can't you just help at your home church that way you don't have to leave everyone?!" And I honestly had no answer for them. So much has happened in my life the past few months and God has worked in my heart more than ever. I've learned more about myself and what I want out of my life than I could have imagined. I knew from the first time I was asked to come down there though that God had answered my prayers and that's where I was supposed to spend my summer. I know that there are many wonderful things in store and God is going to use my heart to serve and love and encourage in the lives of these teenagers.
I'm not really sure just yet how EXACTLY all God is going to use me or what my purpose is but, I know it will soon be revealed to me with patience and obedience of what He is asking of me. I am prayerful that I can continue to answer God's call, no matter the worldly desires of my heart that I can drop it all and be obedient of his will. That's another big thing God has taught me lately.. is patience, trust, and obedience.
Patience that all things will work out how He wants them to on His time and that amounts of time are so irrelevant if it is a thing of God it will always work out for the better when it's supposed to. Trust that no matter the circumstance and the fears you're feeling, you have no choice but to let go and let God take control... I've never been good at trusting Him or anyone for that matter but it's funny the unexpected ways and people God places in your life to give you glimpses of what that looks like. And finally, He's been teaching me obedience and showing me the blessings of obedience even just by my two best friends. I look back now and think what a long road it has been to find Leah & Keiley but I stuck through all the mess and through up's and down's I now have such wonderful strong women by my side no matter my mistakes.
FINALLY:
I ask you all to be prayerful as to what God has in store for me this summer and in different areas of my life right now that I've been dealing with that I will give Him full control and trust that things are going to be okay.. well better than okay when He's at the wheel! I ask you pray for the students I'm going to impact this summer and the various ways in which God is going to use me in their lives and the lives of others. Be prayerful for the Ballard family and their gracious hearts for allowing me to live with them for 10 weeks and opening their home and hearts to me and that they can manage to put up with me that long ;) God has some amazing things up His sleeve not only for this summer but for me and my friends, for a specific person of my heart, my family, and in each area of my life He is up to something. If any of you has anything I can pray about for you, feel free to message me and I'd be glad to.
Thank you for taking your time to take interest into my life and in what God is doing and for all of your prayers. I begin this journey taking off next Friday May 28th, so let's see what happens! Love :)
