CHANGE. If there was one word to describe my life, that would be it. Things are changing, moving, ending, shifting & starting. New chapters are beginning & old ones are closing. This is an amazing time in my life, at times its heartbreaking, at others there's such joy I cant even describe, & sometimes I have to wonder if its all even real. But through it all God has been there with His unwavering grace, mercy, understanding, love, & perfect plan. I know I don't deserve all the blessings I have in my life - I'm not even sure if I understand all the pain either. But I do know that He is there giving me strength, loving me, promising me that He will never let me go. I'm trying to understand this whole grace thing, what it means to truly love, and what it means to be His follower, His child, His daughter. I know I'm still a work in progress; day in and day out I fail. I fall to my knees not knowing where to go or where to even begin. I long to just be in His presence; to be at a place where I can just let go of my pride, my fear, my dreams, my worry, my shame, my hopes. To just surrender it all.
Lord, where ever you take me. Where ever this path might lead me to. Teach me what it means to surrender it all. To search and find; to seek and be known by you. Father, please don't ever let go.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. "

Ecclesiastes 3 : 1- 15

Lord in you I find my strength, my comfort, & my courage.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

~ 2 Corinthians 3:5

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

~ 1 Corinthians 13 : 7

So tomorrow I begin what will hopefully be my last year of undergrad. Crazy isn't it...

All sorts of feelings and emotions come up when I think of this next year. Mostly im excited to see which paths my life will take- what next adventures im bound to experience. What things God will be teaching me and showing me through people, experiences, and choices I will make. As a kid I always loved this time of year - mostly because I always got new school supplies. Im telling you, there's nothing like a new box set of crayons or markers - just waiting to be opened and be used. Well that's how im feeling right now, after having rested and been rejuvenated these past few weeks im ready to see what's around the corner.

My prayer is that through out this next year I don't lose focus on the things that are important. That I not only listen to the things God speaks to me about but that I act on them. That I humble myself to know that I cant do this on my own, to find courage and strength in God because only through Him will i find what im looking for. That I live a life that is honoring to Him. To live a life that's worth living.

"I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

~ 1 Corinthians 9: 23-27

ahhh sleep would be awesome right about now. i really need to work on this whole sleeping pattern thing, its on whacked out mood at the moment.

So summer is officially here! I finished off with finals last week - I cant even begin to tell you how good it feels to be done. So after finishing up with school I went camping with friends up in the woods somewhere, it was totally sweet. It was exactly what I needed. And now in a couple hours ill be on my way to summer camp with Power House. I have to say, my summers started off pretty sweet. I have a feeling that God is just about to rock my world, and you know what, I think im totally okay with that. Im excited to see what's in store for me this summer. Hope you are all having a fabulous summer so far. Ill be seeing ya. ciao.

Learning to Need You

by Justin McRoberts

I've forgotten

Just how sweet your

Mercies are Lord

Could you remind me

You've been faithful in my weakness

Father your love

Overwhelms my soul

I'm learning to need you

I cry out your name

I am in need of your mercies, Jesus

Despite my pride and my shame

I'm learning to need you

today's the day

Really, where did May go… on that note where did this whole year go? It’s crazy to me that I’m only a couple weeks off from the end of my spring quarter. On one hand I could say that I’ve been way too busy and pre-occupied to notice this year go by. But personally, I’d like to think that I was having too much fun and enjoying life too much to really notice. Maybe that’s just my optimistic side coming out. Is the glass half empty or half full type of thing (most definitely half full).
So as I was driving home last night and I got to thinking of how easy it is for me to think that there will always be a tomorrow. It amazes me how effortless it is for me to fall into this mindset. How often times I go through my day, ending up not doing things or saying things because I just assume that there will be a next time. But in all reality thats not true at all. I’ve been buying into this lie because truthfully I don’t know what tomorrow might bring. I’m only assured of right now, today, this very minute. I’m not talking about tedious tasks that we have throughout our day - like cleaning your room or getting the oil changed- those are just tasks that come with the job description called life. I’m talking about those moments, those conversations, and those dreams that you’ve always thought of having but have always left for another day. How many chances and how many opportunities have I missed because I’ve been too afraid to risk, too preoccupied, not thinking or believing that today might be the day to act. But you know what I've decided, that today just might have to be that day for me. I want to risk more, laugh more, hope more, dream more, live more, and most important... LOVE more. I might not know what the future has in store for me, but what i do know is what God has in trusted to me right now. He is my strength, what have i to fear?

So I leave you with those thoughts. Maybe today is your day too…



Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. ~ Phill. 4:13 The Message


In the end, it doesn't matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished - a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flow all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice.
~ Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

So here I am on my first full day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Im here with City Team Ministries, helping out the community here. Im so excited for the week ahead and for the opportunity to meet people, work with them, and hear their stories... The people here have gone through so much and there's so much to do. But at the same time as I get to meet and interact with them im putting a face and a story behind the pictures I've had in my mind these past few months. These are some of the kindest most loving people I have meet, and its only the second day =0). I was giving a tour of the area right along the waters edge. It was unbelievable site to see. I never imagined the type of destruction that there was out here. I know I've seen pictures on the news and stuff, but nothing can prepare you to see things in real life. So please just have the community here and everyone affected in your prayers. I know that there's been great lose in this area but I know that God is doing some amazing things in this community and in the hearts of the people. I cant wait to see what God has instore for this trip. I hope you all are well back home, you all are in my heart and prayers. See you soon.