Seasons...

These two pictures have nothing to do with this post,

other than they are my adorable beautiful nieces who need to be shown off:)!

Eva, above and Bella, below!

On to my post...

Once again I find myself in a season of transition. It was just a year ago when I was taking steps to moving to Iowa City and now I find myself taking what seems like bigger steps in moving to England.

As I have been reflecting on this past year and looking ahead at the one to come, its been fun to see where God has taken me and where He is leading me. Phillipians 1:6 - putting on paper the good work God is doing in me.

The season I am walking away from:

- Learned about & experienced God's LOVE for me more than ever. It became more than just words I say but actually emotions and feelings and truth I believed.

- Prophecy, hearing from God, listening to God (whatever you want to call it). I learned what the Bible had to say about, I practiced it, I watched others practice it, and I grew closer to Jesus through it. I am more than excited to continue strengthening this spiritual muscle.

- Gifts, Abilities, Talents : I am maybe the most confident I have ever been in knowing my gifts and how I function in the Kingdom of God! :)

- Just by nature of a church plant, I spent a lot of time "doing" and building relationships.

The season I am stepping into:

- Adventure : God has told me this, other people have told me this, it's not hard to believe. I just hope I am ready:)

- Rest : I want to know what real rest is, not what our culture calls rest, but how God truly designed us to rest.

- "Being" with God : I am good at "doing", but I know God wants to teach me more about what it means to really abide with Him - that my doing would come from my being.

- FUN & JOY : I have fun, I am joyful, but I am getting a sense that God wants to release me to a new level with this - maybe not take myself so seriously:)!?

What seasons are YOU leaving and entering into?!

Over the pond...

If you haven't heard God is moving me to Sheffield, England! (working at a church there)

Well, He's not making me move but I am feeling his nudge and taking the step of faith in going!

Just today as I was telling someone about my move coming up in August (just 2 months away!), I began to realize a few things.

1. I have yet to get my visa

2. Therefore I have yet to buy a plane ticket

3. I still need to sell my car

4. I am not quite sure who is supporting me financially

5. Therefore I am not sure if I have enough money coming in for next year (hopefully my parents aren't reading this part) :) - maybe this is a good # to stop at!

Yet, I am trusting God will provide and in the meantime I want to be found faithful.

- Faithful to trust Him with the big and small details

- Faithful to lean on Him when my emotions don't match what I know to be true

- Faithful to my current life in the states

- Faithful to believe that He will provide my every need

- Faithful to continually love Him regardless of my circumstances

I am thankful I serve a God whose bigger than visas, money, and all the big and little details.

AND at the same time, trusting is hard. BUT as I have began to realize how much God LOVES me and longs to pour out His blessing upon me - the easier it is to trust. That's all there is to it.

Only recently has it occured to me that God cares about my future way more than I do. He has a plan that's far beyond what I could dream up or imagine. Why is it so easy to forget this?!

SO...enough about me. I am curious, what are you trusting God for?! What are you asking to be found faithful in? Why are you doubting the LOVE He has for you and the future He has in store?!

Journal Reflection

My latest journal - yes I know it's a little cheesey next to the flowers.

I am a journaler or at least I am think I am in comparison to the average Joe. I just finished another journal and for the first time actually went back and reflected on what I wrote. I wanted to share with you some of my highlights from the past couple months!

Here's a glimpse into what an actual page looks like - never know what your gonna get!

What God taught me, told me, and showed me.

- I have value

- I have potential

- I am worthy

- I am BEAUTIFUL - in many ways.

God has shown me that is He is FAITHFUL (Isaiah 25:1) even when I am not. Few examples:

Gave me sorority women who are hungry to know more about God

Has put people in my life that I can learn from (especially w/ hearing from God)

Blessed me with friends I don't deserve

Renewed my passion for life and how He wants to use me

Here are some good questions that I have continued to ponder on...

* What am I called to despite my hopes and fears?

* 5 years from now what do I want to do with my life and am I taking steps to get there now?

* What kind of leader do I want to be following?

* Despite circumstances how I can be who God has called me to be?

Chicken Scratch (also known as my handwriting).

It's amazing I can even understand what I wrote!

Yikes! Hope I don't get sent away for this page.

Here's my next journal - ain't it pretty?!

Thanks to my mom, who always buys me a new journal,

I always have another one ready to write in!