Blessed.

"Those we have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord." - James 5

...Feeling super blessed today, and its not because tomorrow is Friday. Although that is a blessing in itself.
First week of school = almost complete.
Every year is always different, and I'm so excited to see what God will do this year. I feel so lucky that God has placed the most amazing people in my life. My volleyball team is probably the most entertaining group of girls you could meet, they crack me up.
Sometimes when things seem really good after a rough couple months, I hear the lies of Satan telling me to not enjoy the good times, because the bad will be coming soon. I know I need to enjoy what God puts in front of me whether its good or bad. But today, its a good day.... praise the Lord! :)

" I form the light and the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things." - Isaiah 45:7

& Here we go...

Last Sunday, my youth pastor spoke in church about the missions trip to Mexico our church went on. He talked a lot about how on these trips we see so much more then ourselves, and these trips are needed. Mission trips fuel me, they fuel everyone. But my pastor really talked about how we don't need "Mexico" to do that. Or any other place. Especially for my life right now, my mission field is right HERE.

I go to a very large public high school. I am constantly surrounded by people who don't know Jesus and who need to see Gods grace and hope everyday. In a huge environment of temptation and evil, God needs me here. I cannot wait to travel on my next trip and see new things, but for now my year long mission trip is right here, everyday. Starting tomorrow! Pray for me...haha

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Life and Death.

I've never really seen or experienced a death in the family. My grandpa died when I was like 7 but I wasn't super close with him and didn't fully understand. But tonight one of my best friends, Alex Lynn, lost her dad to a heart attack. I've never had to hold a friend like that and know that for once there was nothing I could do or say to take her sadness away. I could get her food, tell her its going to be okay, give her bible verses..but nothing could take away her pain.
It made me think about the shortness of this life on earth, and how joyful I am that I get to live forever with Jesus, so does Alex. I'm SO thankful that the majority of my friends will be my "friends forever"..and i mean forever in Heaven. So cool.

" After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."  - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

This is my crazy friend Alex, one of the strongest girls I know! :) The friend who will stay up late and each cookie frosting with me! <3

Mexico 2011!

My church and I just got back from a week trip to Ensenada, Mexico. Every year we come back on this high for Jesus. 3 homes were built for 3 different families in 4 days. We visited an orphanage where you could just see Gods love everywhere. We held carnivals for the kids in the community. It was a trip that you just serve and serve until you feel you don't have much more to give. It definitely made me want to be more of a servant no matter what country I am in. We get back to America and all of the reality and stress comes knocking on our doors.
I love Mexico and the people there, there so blessed with an overload of love. They might not have all the materials we have, but they have so much more inside of them that they rely on. I love seeing that there is SO much more to life then just my own.  "We love him, because he loved us first." - 1 John 4:19