Walking Out Our Faith

Walking out our faith- that has been on my heart for a little while.
    Forgiveness is a fight. Every day choosing to forgive and to love, denying my flesh, choosing love over forgiveness; its a battle. The battle is inevitable, how I fight is up to me. I will either walk, live, fight through the power of the holy spirit or I don't.

Prayer: Lord I have come to the realization that I try to do everything in my own strength. I push You away, I try to fight the battles and carry the weapons myself, but I can't even carry the weapons. Jesus thank You for reminding me that You have already gone before me in all things, the cross and the resurrection, You conquered death. You went before me in the biggest and most important thing in the world, Your love covered me, You payed my debt. Will You help me to remember that You go before me and that You have prepared the way? Amen.

A December 27 Sky

I spy with my little eyes a heart up above, it is Jesus sharing His heart, His love. This is a picture I took on the way home from spending time with my family over Christmas break. I am so thankful the Lord painted this heart in the sky on December 27, 2011. This is the most beautiful picture I have ever taken! I love this picture so much!

Discipline

 Discipline. At first I thought about this word and concept in regards to my parents disciplining me, but there is also discipline in being consistent in actions. I need to have discipline and spend time with Jesus by reading the Bible, because I need to renew my mind. And I love finding strength in His Word.

Beloved You Are Mine

You are beautiful in my sight
In You my daughter I delight
Your shape, your eyes, I formed it all
With gentle hands and a large smile
I carefully knit you for a while
My hands fell over you as I embraced you
I sang beautifully over you,
"You are precious my child, my child."

I named You and called You

I swept you out of darkness into My marvelous light

To reach the world with your beautiful bright light

As I draw you near I whisper in Your ear,

 "Beloved You are Mine."

His Promise

Jesus I know that you have not forsaken me. Your Word says you will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you that the word speaks light and truth into every dark place, every thought that I have that I hold onto that I don't share with you, every hurt and pain, every lie from Satan, every discouraging word heard..

Writing Is a Form of Worship

     When I was fifteen years old I brought a journal to Wednesday night bible study. That night while I was sitting on the couch listening to our youth pastor teach I started writing things down as she spoke. I remember being so in awe of the idea of taking down notes while she was talking. I was writing down what I was learning and the thoughts that were coming to my mind. I remember thinking and saying to myself, "Wow, Bev, you've got to do this more often, this was so awesome!". What I did not know at that moment was that those "thoughts," were actually lessons that the Holy Spirit was teaching me.            

    Several years later when I was in college I began bringing my journal to campus crusade for Christ weekly meetings. And I later began writing during my quiet times. I never realized how much pf an impact writing was having in my life. When I was writing I was addressing my pain and hurt, I was receiving healing, I was communicating with the Lord and the He was speaking to me, I was being ministered to while I was writing. It is the coolest thing ever!
    The Lord has been teaching me so much about writing, my relationship with Him, and about worship.
    "I have a well inside of me, we all do. We all have this well inside of us, it is our job and our responsibility to keep it full, full does not mean equal to the tum, full equals overflowing, there is a constant pouring in and a constant pouring out. And whatever I gotta do to keep that well filled, that's what I'm gonna do. " -Kim Walker
    I've learned recently that the way that I connect to God, a way that I communicate with God and that He communicates with me is through writing. Writing is how I connect to Jesus. Writing is how I worship Jesus. I am so glad that we are all capable and able of having a really special relationship with Jesus and that we can worship Him in different ways.
    At times its difficult because my connection with God is writing which means that I've gotta have my journal and my pen around a highlighter and I think its got to be quiet wherever I am....but in reality I the way in which I connect to Jesus really makes me slow down. Its a very quiet and peaceful form of worship in which for as long as I have a pen in my hand the world around me stops and I can totally hone into the writing and Jesus ministering and speaking His truth into my heart and life. I love that we can ask Him to meet us where we are to have quiet times and to worship Him. I can ask Him to help me focus on Him, His beauty, and His words no matter where I am and He will do it. The distractions fade away, the noises around me somehow subside and I am able to have beautiful sweet time with my daddy and I love that.
     Having consistent quiet times are often such a struggle and at times I feel frustrated to be honest, that I have to write everything out. Jesus revealed to me a couple of weeks ago that in my life, if I dont write it out, I have not surrendered it. I felt a strong impression on my heart, "You're not free until you tell me."  I communicate with the Jesus through writing and if I have not written it down and told Jesus than I'm not free, I am in bondage, I am holding suitcases that I was never meant to carry.

A Thankful Heart

    I really am thankful. I realized that I do not normally stop what I'm doing to thank the Lord for what He is doing, and just praise Him. I have been overwhelmed by how he is working, how he is answering my prayers, how He is in control, I love how His timing is so prefect! Its beautiful.
    I am thankful that even though my life is crazy, there is so much going on, so much change, my relationship with Him is constant.
    I am thankful that the Lord has given me peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, I love it!
I think this is a verse that I really loved reading this week and I probably ought to memorize!
    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

A Season of Change

  It seems that since I got back from summer project nothing in my life has been the same, it has been a season of change. I'm learning to be a bible study leader, learning, growing, this is a season of change- in every single part of my life. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all of these changes, but the Lord truly has given me a peace that has taken me by surprise.
   I am unbelievably thankful that my relationship with the Lord is the only constant aspect of my life. I am so thankful for His word.

Proverbs 30:5   Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God...

" A mighty fortress" by Christy Knockels


Our God is a consuming fire,
a burning Holy flame with glory and freedom.


We will keep our eyes on You
A mighty fortress is our God,
a sacred refuge is Your name,
Your kingdom is unshakeable,
With you forever we will reign.

Our god is jealous of His own,
none can comprehend His love and His mercy.
our God is exalted above His throne,
high above the heavens, forever He is worthy.


We will keep our eyes on you, 
so we can set our hearts on You,
We will set our hearts on You.

        I love the character and attributes of my daddy, the God that I serve.
        Jesus es mi fortaleza, Jesus is my fortress.
        I love the safety and security that we as His children are able to find, that gives me peace.

Santa Cruz Summer Project Testimony

    On May 25 I boarded a plane to Santa Cruz, California excited and ready to get my hands dirty for Jesus.  The first five days were spent helping to prepare the motel for the students on project and familiarizing myself with the city.             

    In Santa Cruz we worked among young high school and college age students that were residents of Santa Cruz and nearby cities.  Working on the boardwalk was a great way to reach out to the people of Santa Cruz.  I worked for Miller’s Sun Shops, a company that owns several retail stores on the boardwalk.  I had the opportunity to answer my co-workers’ questions about Jesus, share the gospel, build relationships, and encourage them. 

    As a project we invited our co-workers to our meal times and theme parties where we could get to know them better in a fun and casual setting.  At every meal and theme party a student from project would share their testimony.  We also provided breakfast to Hispanic day laborers, sharing the gospel, passing out Bibles, and praying with them. We also held out reaches in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday nights, using various outreach tools we were trained on at the beginning of the summer. We held a service called Monday Night Live each week which included worship and a message from a local pastor. 

   All fifty-nine students were a part of a leadership committee: housing, Monday night live, outreach, prayer, socials, and special projects.  These committees were seven to eleven students serving the project in various ways.  I was a member of the prayer committee and was encouraged to be in a group with six students who wanted to learn more about prayer.  I was thankful to pray and trust the Lord with these students to do mighty works in the lives of the people of Santa Cruz. 

    I am thankful that the Lord allowed our project to be united under His great name, with one focus; to share the Gospel.  It was remarkable to see the Lord at work in people’s lives; many of our co-workers were receptive to hearing more about Jesus and the gospel. 

   College students from the mid-south region have come for twenty years to be a part of the Santa Cruz summer project.  Many of our co-workers eagerly anticipate the arrival of the “Christian crusaders” to answer their questions and experience the community of the project. We all loved being a part of making an eternal difference, whether by planting a seed, watering it, or praying with them to receive Christ.  This summer we saw over ten people receive Christ as their Savior!

      Words cannot express how thankful I am to have had your support through prayers and financial giving.            There were many times that the Lord reminded me of your prayers for the project and that in itself was an encouragement.  This summer was a very significant season of my life, I am thankful for all the Lord taught me, and I am grateful to have been a part of the 2011 Santa Cruz Summer Project! Thank you so much for partnering with the Lord in His relentless pursuit of the lost in Santa Cruz!

His Daughter

Friend.Sister. Cousin. Leader. Student. Granddaughter. Young woman. 

     I feel like I put on different hats and play different roles through out the week.
     Growing up my dad would tell me before I closed the door on the way out to hang out with friends, Don't forget who you are and whose you are. I am so thankful that I am a daughter of the Most High King and that I can find my identity in Jesus Christ.
    "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. "Galatians 3:26-29

Quite the Journey

I found out today that I will be leading a Bible study with one of my friends from summer project on campus at North Carolina State University. I am so excited! I am more excited than nervous at the moment. Tonight some of the leaders for east campus met to put up flyers around campus to get the word out about our first social which will be taking place tomorrow night! I am so excited to meet new people, especially freshmen and reach out to them and invite them to check out Campus Crusade for Christ ministry!