Reaching People

Last night, I was driving home from a long planning meeting I had for the youth ministry summer camp I am helping head up. It was an extremely exhausting meeting that lasted 6 hours. I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious about how much needed to get done to pull off this huge summer camp event. I was emotionally and mentally spent. I kept repeating to myself, "Jesus, let these students encounter you. It will make these long hours worth everything. Jesus, let these students encounter you. Jesus, let these students encounter you."

On my drive home I was listening to music and singing my heart out. (This happens regularly!) I heard my phone go off. I looked down and I noticed that I had received a Facebook message from a friend of a friend. She sent me a message that read, "Hey girl!!!! Check it!!! Your story is changing lives in BC Canada!! Killer message girl! Keep doing Gods work." She also attached this photo:

 

My heart skipped a beat! 

Before receiving that message, I was questioning if all my hard work that I am putting into the ministries I am a part of, is paying off. I know it is probably not the best thing to question, but sometimes if I am not focused on the reasoning for why I do what I do, (Which is Jesus), I can start to feel discouraged. The message she sent me couldn't have come at a better time. God reminded me of this: "You do what you can do, and I'll do what only I can do!" 

I am so blessed to be a part of what God is doing. He is so incredible. He has been working behind the sense in my life, refining me, teaching me, correcting me, and continually loving me. This video and the lives it is touching is merely a byproduct of what God has done personally in my life. Having a personal relationship with Jesus shouldn't just impact your own personal life... It should undeniably impact the lives around you.

Get real with Jesus so you can experience true freedom.

I give everything over to You Lord

The Art Of Transparency

I decided to put together some footage of times I filmed myself when I was really vulnerable. I have been going through some difficult times in life and instead of shrinking back, I really wanted to speak up. I wanted to express that going through hardships in life isn't easy and often times it makes you question things. & That's okay! But I have been trying to find the beauty in the midst of pain. I hope to inspire you to be honest and transparent in your own life. As hard as it is, there is so much freedom that comes with being open!

I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, or similar situations that you're facing. Post a comment below so I can hear from you! 

I give everything to You Lord 

Don't Fear Darkness

I had a revelation! Although it has been several gradual realizations that have culminated into this one “Awe” moment for me. I am so excited to share this with you.

While at work I decided to put on a Youtube video of Christine Caine while I was finishing up a few projects. I clicked on a message that was 26 minutes long, and began to work. Everything Christine was saying was absolutely beneficial to me and was getting me amped while I sat at my desk. {I was attempting to focus more on my work then on her message but she’s good!}Out of the 26 minutes it wasn’t until the last one minute that God used something she was saying to completely confirm, affirm, encourage, challenge and excite my spirit. My God is so faithful to graciously be answering my prayers. I have been praying for vision and direction and guidance for where and what I am going to be doing in this next season of my life. But listen, I haven’t just been shooting prayers to the sky and hoping that God hears me. I’ve been praying with diligence and a desperation and fervency. Not just prayers that imply that I want to hear from God, rather, I need to hear from Him. I am desperate to do what He has called me to do and my passion is overflowing. I just want it to be able to leak into the areas that God has planned for my present and my future. So here is what reached my heart from what Christine Caine was speaking on. 

Christine Caine told a story of her little girl and how she bought her daughter a flashlight. While in Walmart, Christine put batteries into the flashlight and as they were getting ready to pay, her little girl turned the flashlight on. Since there was so many florescent lights in the store here daughter couldn’t see the flashlights light in contrast to the other lights in the store. Christine’s little girl looked up at her and yelled, “MOM, my light doesn’t work in the light, we need to find a dark place.” It was then that Christine turned to look at her daughter and completely paused. She stated, "My daughter couldn’t see the light because of all the other light in the store, which meant her light was ineffective in the midst of all of the other light that there already was." Christine then challenged the audience {myself, via the Internet}on how we should not be a people who are scared of the DARK since we are called to be the LIGHT. We can only truly be seen or useful if we venture into the dark places of our generation where our light {By God’s Grace} can be distinguished from our surroundings.

I have been told from my Pastors Erica & Jason Parrish that they really believe that I am called to the dark places of the world. Since Erica, Jason and myself have a pretty extensive track record and have been in relationship and ministry together for 7 years, I trust their words and I know they saw and still do see a vision for me. I have heard their words when they have told me this over the years, but it hasn’t been until recently that I have actually experienced what they really believed I am called to. It has turned from “Pastor Erica & Jason believe this,” into, I believe that this is truly my calling - To go into the darkest places of God’s world, where not everyone is privileged to go into and to bring God’s light. A light that is so piercing and bright that not even the people who are bound tightly to their sin can deny it. A light that demands freedom, restoration, physical healing, spiritual wholeness and the acceptance and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know where my platform will be. Who God will have me build relationships with  or how I will connect with, or the encounters I will find myself in. I can’t even imagine what I will face and the fight that will rise up in me. But I have caught the vision God has been slowly laying out in front of me, and I am running with His truth and promises over my life. I am thrilled to be living this life. Through all the hardships and trials I still understand the worth fighting to make God’s name famous! I love my God!

My goal is to dispel the darkness with my little bit of light.

Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I give everything over to You Lord

God Is...

God is the back to my bone.

His Word is the blood to my vessels.
His Vision is the beat to my heart.
His Grace is the movement to my motion.
His Church is the House to my home.
His Name is the perfect in my imperfection.
His SON is the free to my freedom.

His existence IS, WAS & forever will BE

I give everything over to You Lord