just what I needed.

I spent way too much time on Facebook and Twitter...I'm working on it but I've got a long way to go...anyways...God used these social networking sites for His glory today. To let me love on long lost friends. To allow me opportunities to pray for those that are broken and hurting. To encourage me. To remind me that He is God and I am not. To show me that I am not alone. To remind me of His perfect timing and that He really does have it all under control. 


Thank you Jesus for providing just what I needed today.


www.andymerrick.com is doing an awesome series on the goodness of God this week. check it out.
"Jesus wept. There are times we will, too. Our tears and our pain don’t mean God isn’t good. It just means we’re not God. We can only see 3.1 miles. He sees the whole horizon! His designs in this life are HUGE! The tears and heartache come first. His goodness remains constant. Hold firm to Him. He is good."

"God does not cease being good when circumstances in our life become dim."

Heather Nicole - "More often than not, circumstances arise and things take place that leave us wondering, without a reason. You can't see how anything good could ever come from the situation you've found yourself in. Don't lose hope. You are not alone, and you are not forgotten. God sees you and He hasn't deserted you. His love is ever-constant, even when the loves of the world fail."

overflow

Last weekend I got to lead a group of girls at a Disciple Now Weekend in North Little Rock. My former youth pastor is now at Park Hill and asked me along with other people I'd been in youth with to come help out. It was awesome to get to watch old friends serve Jesus with their whole hearts. To sacrifice their weekend so that students could grow closer to our Father. 

I got to lead with Alex Edmonds. We got to spend some quality time together and I'm so grateful. I am super proud of her and amazed by her talent. She has an  ep album on itunes!! you should check her out! We led the tenth grade girls. They were such a blessing. During our times of bible study they opened up and shared about how their hearts are breaking for their lost friends. The whole youth group was amazing. They worshipped freely and passionately, it made my heart smile. 

Ken Freeman spoke all weekend. If you've never heard him you're missing out. He is extremely blunt and bold and I love it!! I was challenged and got to see lives changed forever! There were about 100 people saved in North Little Rock over the weekend. One of those people was my sister, Hannah. =) My heart is so happy for her!!She came on Sunday morning and at the end of the service I found her crying with my Mom. Everyone involved in the weekend had been praying HARD for salvation and open hearts. I had no idea Hannah was going to be a part of the answer to that prayer but I am so glad that she was! 


Thank you Jesus for youth that are passionate about the Gospel and are crazy in love with You. Thank you for salvation! Thank you for moving in North Little Rock! Let this only be the beginning =) Greater things are yet to come & greater things are still to be done here!

1 Peter 5:7

for the past few months our church has been going through a series on how to be a biblical family. we have been challenged to live out the Gospel in our homes. I think my Mom has been challenged by these messages because tonight she told me we were going to start memorizing scripture as a family. I'm excited about this and hope we take it seriously and keep it up because I need that accountability. Hope, my youngest sister, got to pick our first verse. 

1 Peter 5:7 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 

I need to give everything in my life to God. He believes it is all important. None of my worries or cares are insignificant to the Father. He doesn't forget about me. He always has time for me. He doesn't think I'm boring or not fun to be around. He CARES about me.  

unending love. amazing grace.

this morning we sang amazing grace and then a cute little old man sang it as a special. it was such a beautiful reminder of the grace that God has flooded me with the past few days. He is SO good. as we sang these words my heart was filled with the joy of His presence.

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be

But God who called me here below will be forever mine
You are forever mine

perfect timing.

Romans 8:26-28 (The Message)

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

Not even an hour after I wrote my first blog entry God was pouring love out on me through my friends. I felt abandoned all weekend and then a flood of love and encouragement comes my way. Maybe He's teaching me patience or that His love will always be greatest. Last night I asked for prayer on facebook and people let me know they were praying. I got two texts from sweet girls in my life letting me know they love me. A girl's night was planned. Another friend shared Romans 8:28 with me. I am daily being reminded of God's perfect timing.

Thank you Jesus for knowing my heart and for blessing me with exactly what I needed in Your time.

never alone.

I had a really good week filled with lots of fun friends. This weekend was going to be a continuation of my great week according to my plans. Funny thing is God's plans don't always match up with mine. 

Friday after class I was going to see Emily and spend some much needed time with her in Malvern. School and work pretty much consume her life these days and we don't get much friend time in so I was really looking forward to this weekend. I gave up going on a retreat with the college ministry I'm apart of. I gave up a Friday night football game with my family. But I knew these sacrifices would be worth it.Hannah had my GPS so I googled directions but then I started feeling sick. I had prayed about going to Malvern. Something just didn't feel right but why would God not want me to go? I needed time with Emily. 

He used this sickness to keep me home. I used the night to rest, prepare for a DNOW  next weekend, and work on my documentary. These are things I needed to do but not what I planned for AT ALL. I was disappointed and lonely. I felt let down. Yet I had hope that this weekend was not a total waste and that today would be better...it was worse (kind of).

 I got to sleep in =) and spend some time with my precious little sister Hope Katherine. We played board games, basketball, and got ice cream. We went to visit my grandparents tonight which is something I've missed and been wanting to do. All good things. I should be happy, right? 

But my heart is not happy. Satan has been attacking me all weekend with lies and I've been believing every single one of them. He has been telling me that I am alone. I am not fun to be around which is why I have not been asked to do anything this weekend. I am unworthy of love. Etc. For a while I sat around feeling sorry for myself. Wishing life were different. Praying that God would make it better now.

Then I started reading my bible, God's love letter to me. And this is what I read today:

Philippians 4:4-7 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

so just now I "accidentally" found this: 

2 Thessalonians 3:3 - "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." amazing LOVE.

After reading these verses I journaled and asked for a heart change. I begged God for joy. I think what I really wanted was circumstantial happiness tonight but that's not what He had for me and I'm so glad!

I've been reading through Matthew and today I read in chapter 26. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane feeling distressed and anguished. What does he do with these feelings? He cries out to His father..."My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." again he prays: "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done." A third time He prays a similar prayer. I am so blessed to have a God who understands my struggles because He's been there and suffered through the same thing and He is suffering with me even now. I would LOVE for this nasty feeling to go away but maybe this "cup can't be taken away until I drink it". Maybe I have to endure this. Maybe it will be over when I wake up in the morning but maybe it won't. However long it lasts I am taking comfort in knowing that my Father's will is being done. 

Matthew 26 and those "joy" verses would have been enough but I turned to Psalm and read chapter 17 for today and then I read chapter 18. wow. I felt like God put this chapter in the bible just for me to read tonight. 

"I love you Lord; you are my strength. the Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise and he saved me from my enemies...But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears...He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters...He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because He delights in me...You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness...God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises are true." that's just a portion go read the whole chapter =)

This weekend was nothing like what I expected, desired, or planned. But it was exactly what God had for me. I'm still struggling with Satan and could use your prayers but I know my God is victorious. He saved the day! 


thank you Jesus for not giving me what I want. Thank you for making me have a lonely weekend. thank you for being with me through every moment. i'm sorry for not giving you all of me, for thinking i have better things to do than spend time with you. thank you for teachable moments. break me and change my heart. thank you for being for me and for never forsaking me in my weakness. your grace still amazes me. I love you!