Got back from our spring break mission trip to Memphis on Friday. Such an amazing week, and plan to update more about what I learned, think, am excited about & all that happened soon.

However, I did want to share my team's recent GLEE performance with everyone. It was mostly for a "fun" element with really no purpose other than getting kids excited & enjoying ourselves putting it together. See the link below, and ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ5G9LHC2oQ

PRAISE BE TO THE GOD WHO ALL GOOD THINGS COME.

My best friend is getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of my life is changing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

& im pretty terrified.

but i take courage in the Lord...I cast my cares upon Him, knowing He is faithful & will do it. Whatever IT may be.

Ash came & she went. It was such a blessing to have a piece of "home" enter into my new life for a few days. It's so weird that one of the people who was my everyday normal has now become an event of the month because it's so rare that I get to see her.

Friendship is funny. Looking back over the years we have known each other & having been through so much, it's so wonderful to continue to share a friendship that is not separated by distance. Even as I write this & think on it, it's amazing to me that God calls us His friends when we are in Christ. I appreciate so much the truth that my friends, both near & far, new & longtime, were made to reflect the relationship that is offered to us by Jesus. Just small glimpses of His glory & yet friendships create such a joy and peace that is unexplainable.
Having her here, immersing her in my new norm, gave me such a comfort and blessed feeling that can only be a gift from God.

Thanks Ash for being in my life, being my friend through the years & supporting me in this new season of my life. It points me straight to the arms of our Savior and that is the greatest blessing of all. You are loved, appreciated and valued beyond measure :)

I hope everyone has friends such as mine, because they are truly the greatest!

**1 John 4:7**
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love COMES FROM GOD. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

http://www.mosaicstudentsnwa.blogspot.com/

This is our Student Ministry blog that I have never posted. I recently was in charge of the newest blog post "How do I as a Christian overcome sexual temptation?"...interesting.

But besides that, it's also just another way to see what is going on in my life & ministry as we seek as a team to invest in students and families for the eternal. We desire to make Him great...& I hope anything that you check into challenges, encourages & enlightens your heart into deeper understanding of the God who created & loves you.

Blessings in this Valentines season :)

So I just threw myself a dance party in my room for the first time in years. Sounds weird and awkward that I would admit to that out loud let alone on my blog, but it gave me some perspective that I thought to share.

As I was dancing, I felt so free, unable to stop smiling (probably at how ridiculous I looked) but really not caring about anything. Just freeing my mind, body & spirit to feel the freedom that is offered to me in everyday. Our lives should be no different than this dance party because of the gift that Christ offers to us in the cross. He died to bring us freedom, to show us the Truth; the promise that if we claim it, believe it, we can know true unhindered freedom. It's such a wonderful gift, an unspeakable blessing of love that surpasses knowledge. In Christ, WE ARE FREE. Free from worry, bondage of sin, expectations of others, finding our worth in something other than who He claims us to be. I am so thankful for this gift of freedom, I just wish I was constantly aware & meditating on it so I could have dance parties in my heart all of the time. Life is suppose to be fun, a fun adventure of meeting, knowing, seeking, loving and worshipping God.

So my challenge: Have a dance party and realize that God has come to set you free so that your life could reflect His promises to the world. And recognize that it brings Him to joy that your heart would dance in His presence.

Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy
that my heart would sing to you and not be silent,
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

This past weekend I was able to be a part of something great. It was called Help Portrait. It started with one guy & became an international movement of photographers coming together, giving up a day & taking pictures for families who otherwise could not afford them. I literally went to bed that night exhausted from the amount of blessing & just pure joy that I was able to experience through just talking, serving and loving people. Although I was not a photographer, they asked for volunteers to assist with all other kind of needs...so I helped with make up :)

I attached some links below so you can check out what it was all about & some stories that made the news. I hope you are blessed through just hearing about it!

http://www.help-portrait.com/

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-368249

http://www.4029tv.com/news/21952248/detail.html

My wisdom to bestow on you is this...serve & love people all of the time, not just events or opportunities that bring forth the need for it. People are always in need of service & love; & honestly you will become the one more changed. God will use others to change you & ultimately it shows you more about who He is.

Blessings during this season! May your eyes & heart be fixed on that which truly matters.

Just wanted to say that I am thankful for things that are not listed. It seems like everyday the Lord gives me a new reason and way to express gratitude.

Also challenged with another thought as the Christmas season is upon us. Often this time of year creates a lot of different things...possibly stress, fear, excitement, joy. Whether there are a lot of bills, gifts to buy and figuring out how to pay for it all, or family time that is good, wholesome and refreshing, we will all be challenged through this season. Amidst it though, we must rememeber in light of all things, there is Jesus. We celebrate, although sometimes loss sight of the true reason, that Jesus came to earth as a human to live as a human never sinning so that He could fulfill His purpose by dying for our sins to bring us eternal life.
Did you see that...Jesus' purpose when He came into the world was to die. He was born to die. And sometimes we think we are doing is hard, seemingly meaningless or unimportant. But God even used death, to create for us a picture of hope and to bring us salvation.
So as you celebrate this season, as you are faced with new challenges that the season brings, remember Jesus. In light of everything, there is Jesus.
For Christians, Christmas is a time of celebration because of what Jesus did, but really it shouldn't be different than any other day in our lives because in everyday, in everything we remember & seek Jesus.
Jesus is not only the reason for the season, He is just the reason.

Be encouraged to know that no matter what season of life you are in, fun & exciting or challenging & painful, Jesus promises to beside you & never leave you...you just have to be willing to recognize His everpresent, faithful presence.
You are loved.