It's a New Year

On account of fasting from facebook, I have decided to begin blogging again. I'm so excited about this year! I really believe God some amazing stuff in store for those pursuing Him. I can't wait to see what He is going to do in and through His Body this year. God has already revealed to me what He wants me to strive for this year. The verses He put on my heart were Isaiah 43:18-19.

18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

I feel like this year that I need to forget this past year and look ahead to what He is about to do because if I don't I could miss what He has for me. I'm breaking the rear view mirror and pressing on!

I Can't Believe How Long It's Been

I am extremely bored while sitting in my computer class today. I have nothing to do. I figured that I should write a blog while I'm sitting here doing nothing. It's been pretty crazy in my life since school has started. It's extremely overwelming trying to accomplish everything. It's so bad that I listen to the Live The Dream CD's in the morning for my quiet time instead of trying to read my Bible so early. This morning I listened to Christine Caine who is amazing. She was talking about our dreams. She said that God has put dreams inside of us all but to get them to be revealed we must have intimate time with him. She said the dreams are already there you just have to water them by being in God's Word and being intimate with him. It's hard at times with our crazy lives, but I'm really going to try to have those intimate times with God and not just at church or at life group but in my room when it's just me and God. I challenge you to make that a priority. I'm going to focus on that right now as much as possible. We might fail, but we have to keep trying and never give up. You're never a failure unless you make up your mind to be. Have a good week and God Bless!!!

Well...It's been exactly a month...

This summer has been going really well, just going bye entirely too fast. It's already almost July! I can't believe how fast it's been going. I just got back from Submerge summer camp on Monday. I think Tyler said it well when telling us what one of the students wrote to him in an email. She said it was amazing, God was there, and you could feel Him. That pretty much sums up the whole time we were there. We heard some impactful messages. One was about breaking barriers that Mike Haman spoke about. He told us not to let what PEOPLE define us as hold us back. You might have done what they said you did, but you're not who they say you are. Then we heard a message, which impacted me that most, by Josh Turner from Celebration Church. He spoke on how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. It was just awesome to hear the detail of how we're made from a scientific point of view. I mean it was uncomprehendable! He also told us a story of how his wife is so hard on herself, which totally made me think of myself. He said one day he saw her worshipping and she was crying, and so he asked her what was wrong and she said I've been asking God to show me how he sees me and he has. She said I just closed my eyes and, I saw God holding me and telling me that he's proud of me. I tried to picture God holding me in worship after his message and I was crying and couldn't help just standing there shaking and thinking WOW God loves me and is proud of me THAT much. I know all that stuff in my head, but sometimes it's hard to believe God feels that way when I don't feel that way about myself and others don't think of me that way. I'm just in awe of how God loves me no matter what I get up and do that day, whether it pleases him or not. He loves me reguardless. It made me make a committment to not talk negatively about anything but especailly about myself because GOD MADE ME. That's not respectful of him to criticize his work. I even told some of my close friends to hit me when I say things that are negative especially to do with my talent or lack of and how I look. We also heard a message by our very own Tyler Tullos from Healing Place. It was very good. He just left us with a question. He asked us if God would ask you to do something that might be unfamiliar or uncomfortable, would you trust him enough to let go and do what he's asking. That message was also challenging and left me thinking. Shortly after that service ended, we had extended worship. I decided to stay with my friends even though I was hungry and ready to go, thinking it was just be another song or two more. Well, that "short" worship session started at about 11:30 and went until I don't even know when because I left a little after 2. It was insane!!! I've never been in an enviroment of people speaking in tongues and then interpreting what people were saying. It was even a little scary at times. There were also some other things that went on that just showed how heavy the Holy Spirit was in that place. It was awesome, but just a very different experience for me. Then the last night we had our own Jason Laird from Refuge speak. It was slammin'!!!! He talked about healing and freedom. Sometimes we think that in our secrets we have freedom and protection, but that's a lie from the devil. He said that whatever's concealed can't be healed. So, we kind of did an exercise to help us. Anyone with secret sin went to the altar and confessed it to God and asked for forgiveness. Then we went to leaders and opened up to them about what we've been dealing with. It brought great freedom. I also learned that God using your mistakes to glorify himself. It's almost like the very thing you're dealing with, that you think no one else goes through,... because that's what the devil tells you... is exactly what God decideds to use you to minister to someone else in or use that "weakness" in some way. God wants to use your past mistakes and your past failures...WILL YOU LET HIM?! Saying all that, it's NOT over! Like Tyler said, we gotta bring what we had with God into our hearts and bring it into our youth groups and out to our schools. I like to think of all the things God could use us for if we brought our Submerge experience to right where we live here in Louisiana. Alright, that's really long but it's just some things I got from Submerge. I can't wait to see you people on Tuesday at Saturate, and then I'm leaving for Texas to visit my fam. See ya soon!!!

Boot Camp...What Was I Thinking???!!!

I just got back from Boot Camp this afternoon for the Saturate intership at Healing Place Church. It was much more difficult than I expected. It was most definitely something to get us interns to realize that everything we do this summer won't be enjoyable and easy, but we're going to have to be ready at all times, be hot in the Louisiana sun, and be all out crazy and ready to serve no matter how we feel. It was a weekend filled with unexpected wake-up calls at 2 a.m., obstacle courses, and cleaning and making things perfect for those coming after us. It was a great challenge not only spiritually but also very physical. We had two great services about sacrifice and about the excuses we as Christians make about why God can't use us. It was very informative and convicting at times. I learned a lot about what it really means to sacrifice and that sacrifice isn't bad that all it is is giving up something you love for something you love more. I always thought of sacrifice as really bad, but it's actually beneficial to us. We also got to reach out to the Winbourne community by handing out chocolate and picking up trash. On top of all that, we had so much fun playing games and competing against one another. I still can't believe that my beloved orange team beat all the girls and GUYS teams in the OBSTACLE COURSE and all other areas. I'm so proud of us. I think almost dying during the obstace course was definitely worth it!!! :) Well, there is so much more I could say, but this is already really long. I can't wait to see y'all on Wednesday, and y'all keep serving it up for JESUS and SACRIFICING it up. Stick close to Jesus this summer and remember that when no one else is there for you then He is. I love y'all!!!

Over a Month!!!

Wow! I haven't blogged in over a month. I can't believe it has been that long. I had an incredible weekend going to hang out in N.O. with my friends. We watched some basketball there for AUU, a basketball league. I had fun watching the games and then we walked throughout dowtown New Orleans and ate some seafood for lunch. We had a lot of fun! It was a weekend to remember. I also got this incredible gift from one of my friends because we met a year ago yesterday. I was very surprised to find that they had bough me something. It's a beautiful cross bracelet. I love it!

As far as this week goes, it's been a really easy start at school. I'm so excited cause we get out of school in 17 DAYS!!! I can't wait. I have so much planned for the summer. I'm going to participate in Saturate, a high schol summer interniship at Healing Place Church. That's going to be amazing. I know my life will be changed forever. I'm also going to Submerge summer camp in Panama City Beach, Florida with Healing Place's youth group Refuge. I know that will be a blast. Then I'll be working for one of my friends and babysitting, and I might even be working for another lady's hair salon. It's going to be a busy summer, not to mention, trying to get in shape and eat right during the SUMMER. Wow, so much to do and it all starts in less than a month!!! Oh, I want to give props to Victoria Kelly for really bringing it last night at Bethrowthed. (can't spell) She did an amazing job leading our Bible study talking about who we are and that where we are isn't who we are. Way to go girl!!!

The 1st Anniversary of the 19 yr. old

Well, yesterday was Jason Guidry's 20th Birthday. It was amazing. I was looking so forward to it, but I unfortunately didn't feel very well yesterday. But I did manage to go spend some time with him and our friends and his family last night. I got to bring him his gifts yesterday afternoon. We bought him a Halo 3 messenger bag, a card I made, a Napoleon Dynamite card, a stuffed duck. a rubber duck, and some clothes. I think he really likes them and it was wonderful being able to give him those gifts because he most def. deserves them. From there we went to eat at Hello Sushi and then went to Satrabucks. It was a lot of fun getting to fellowship with some of the greatest people I know. It was a great day and I hope there are many more to come. So, next time you see that gaming boi you can wish him a belated birthday. I hope to see all of you people from Refuge soon. I'm so upset I had to miss church this past week because I wasn't feeling well. I hope y'all enjoy your last 2 days of spring break.

I'm so EXCITED!!!

A while back I had mentioned to one of my friends about coming to church with me but shortly after forgot about it. Then the other day, I was talking to a Muslim about her beliefs and mine and I was like, oh yeah, "Amy here's my number in case you want me to bring you to church." So, she called me, but I couldn't go pick her up that week. So, yesterday we went and got her and she came to Refuge with me. When she got there she said she wanted to cry she was so happy. Then during worship she was being touched by the Holy Ghost, it was so obvious. I just left her alone and let God deal with her. After worship, I said something to Candace and Candace told my friend hey and she began to cry and say how she felt God like never before. It was incredible!!! At the end of service she got saved. I'm so proud of her and I want to help her grow in Christ in any and every way possible. She hadn't been to church since 4th grade and is now in 9th. I give all the glory to GOD!!! It was so awesome and messed me up bad, but good bad, if you know what I mean.