summmaatime

After a lot of serving in Tuscaloosa, Matt, Madeline, Parker, and I took a little lake vacation:

I got my wisdom teeth out a week ago. Mama took the liberty of taking several videos of me after I woke up from the surgery. Needless to say they are hilarious and I acted a fool! No, I will not be posting them anywhere. Praise the Lord I hardly swelled at all! And it was a good couple of days to just chill out.

Mama and I took a little trip to Atlanta. We met up with Matt and went to the Braves game! No, I didn't pay much attention to the game. I just like the atmosphere.. And the Braves won so, Go Braves!

Now I'm busy packing for JH Ranch, the best place in the world. Located near the small town of Etna, California. This will be my 4th summer out there and the 2nd summer on staff! I'm so excited for what all the Lord has in store. Of course, being away from my friends and family for 11 weeks isn't completely ideal, but I'm so looking forward to all the new friendships to be made. Not to mention reuniting with all my best friends from last summer!! The Lord taught me so much last summer. It was one of the biggest seasons of growing I've ever been through. Such an amazing transition time from high school to college. Needless to say, I know this summer is going to change my life and I'm fully open to whatever He has to offer. Here's a snapshot of last summer:

Have a blessed summer!!

Times by Tenth Avenue North

I know I need You

I need to love You

I love to see You, but it's been so long

I long to feel You

I feel this need for You

And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Now you pull me near You

When we're close, I fear You

Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done

Are You done forgiving?

Oh can You look past my pretending?

Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become

What have I become?

I hear You say,

"My love is over. It's underneath.

It's inside. It's in between.

The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel

The times that you question, 'Is this for real?'

The times that you're broken

The times that you mend

The times you hate Me, and the times you bend

Well, My love is over, it's underneath

It's inside, it's in between

These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks

The times that you feel like you're falling from grace

The times you're hurting

The times that you heal

The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal

The times of confusion, in chaos and pain

I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame

I'm there through your heartache

I'm there in the storm

My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone

I don't care where you fall, where you have been

I'll never forsake you, My love never ends

It never ends."

April 28, 2011

April 28, 2011 a tornado devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

Relief efforts have begun. I have been amazed by the servanthood of Church of the Highlands. We are supplying the city with necessities and sharing the love of Christ. Our very own Tuscaloosa Dream Center is forming within days of the disaster and we, as a campus, could not be more excited about what the Lord has in store for this city. You're the God of this city. For more information on how to help with the tornado relief visit this website: http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/relief

I'm home for the day to rest before returning to Tuscaloosa to continue blessing the city and all the people affected by the tornado. I ventured to the backyard to capture the beauty the Lord blesses us with. I was reminded of a song...

Look at the way the flowers bloom for You

They want to show You there beauty, Lord

Running waters dance, You and I romance

Unto You be all the glory. Unto You be all the glory

The angels dance around You

The earth it sings about You

Open up the heavens, Lord

Let Your Kingdom come to earth

My praises all surround You

My soul can't dance without You

Open up the heavens Lord

Let Your Kingdom come to earth

Jesus Culture- "My Romance"

Yes, we're experiencing lost, devastation, pain. Feeling helpless, useless, confused. Asking why's and what if's. But in the end God is God. He is above what we can see, imagine, or relate to. And His way is unbelievably perfect. It was a precious reminder to see His beauty in the flowers. In nature. So if His plan is perfect why don't we trust it? I caught myself thinking how helpless I felt once the storm hit. The wind controlled me. Pride stepped in and said, "YOU can feed people, YOU can give them clothes, YOU can love them." ha, WRONG. JESUS can do all those things through me. I really am helpless. But I'm always helpless. Jesus is the only good thing in me and the only reason I am able to do anything. And we will praise Him in this storm, because we know His beauty will be revealed as revival breaks out in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. To You be the glory, forever and ever!!

You're the God of this City

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation, You are

You're the Light in this darkness

You're the Hope to the hopeless

You're the Peace to the restless, You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done here

Chris Tomlin- "God of this City"

Continue to pray for the city. We are rebuilding the city on the foundation of Christ.