Two years

My heart will sing no other name... Jesus, Jesus

Two years (730 days) ago today, I gave up everything. I gave up selfishness, pride, anger, greed, envy, and doubt. Then I was given love, humility, grace, mercy, generosity, and faith. My life was changed forever. In a way that is bigger and greater than my words could ever say. In a way that to this day, still amazes me.

I was empty. Searching everywhere for something to fill the void left inside my heart. And little did I know that one trip to camp would change that forever. for all eternity. Wow.

After a year of going to church and being poured into, I truly understood the Gospel on 7/21/11. I learned that God loves me more than anyone else ever has or ever will. He loves me (and everyone else) so much that He came onto this earth to live a perfect life and then die an unimaginable, brutal death which we deserved and He did not. He was then sent to Hell to bear the wrath of our sins. OUR sins that we committed. That's every lie, murder, rape, etc. that ever has been committed and ever will be committed. He did that for you and for me. and then He miraculously rose from the grave. He defeated death, proving that He is the true Savior, coming to tell us that if we believe in Him and accept His sacrifice, we will be able to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

What amazing love. The ultimate love. Perfect love. Wondrous Love. I thank Him everyday for this amazing gift He has given us all and I pray that He will never stop using me for His glory. I have given my life over to Christ so that He can use me to bring more people to His kingdom. That has been, and always will be, the best decision I'll ever make.

In this life I will stand

Through my joy and my pain

Knowing there's a greater day

There's a hope that never fails...

No weeping, no hurt or pain

No suffering You hold me now

You hold me now

No darkness, no sick or lame

No hiding You hold me now

You hold me now

For all eternity

All my heart will give

All the glory to Your name

You Hold Me Now By Hillsong Chapel

Eager to Serve

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." -Mark 16:15

Lately, I have been so eager to go out of this country and share the Gospel. I have good friends going to Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa this summer and my sweet friend Meredith will be taking a gap year to do mission work in three different countries! I am so excited for my friends and I cannot wait to see the many different ways God uses them, but I keep thinking "why not me?"

I keep asking myself: Why doesn't God choose me to go out of the way to tell others about Him? Am I not faithful enough? Do I need to try harder? Why am I not called to missions? Then I realized...
I am.

Last week at Barnes and Noble, Katie, Meredith, and I thought it would be awesome to go up to strangers and tell them about the huge impact Jesus has made in our lives. So we did it. No harm done. We shared the Gospel in the middle of Barnes and Noble in Hoover because that is what He has called us all to do. Then, we sat in the car and prayed individually for each person that we talked to. "Go into all the world" We don't have to be halfway across the world to be on the mission field. Our everyday lives are our mission field. Every moment we're in, every place we go, and every person we meet should be seen as an opportunity to share the Gospel.

I think it's amazing that my friends have been called to international missions and I do believe that God will call me to that someday too. I know He has called me to full-time ministry and whether I'll be in India, Africa, or Alabama, I know that Christ will be right beside me as I share His love with others. "preach the good news to all creation." For now, I'll take every opportunity I have to show others what Christ has done for me. After all, people in America need Christ just as much as people in Africa do.