Coming a long way

This past weekend was our Laguna Beach annual retreat.While packing for it I got to thinking of last years retreat.
So let's take a trip down memory lane.

One year,
52 weeks,
365 days ago we went to laguna beach.

To this day I refer to this trip as my changing point.
Honestly I do not know where I would be if I hadn't gone on the trip.
While there, I got baptised in the ocean.
Talk about an amazing feeling, it's like when I came back up I was renewed,
   I was a completely different person.
This is where I truly put my focus on the Father and ran with whatever He gave me.

So that leads to the last year.
I still trials, bad decisions, and mess ups because in no way am I a perfect person.
But I became a better person.
I had conviction for things that I could have cared less about months before.
I realised that I am not worthless, I have something to offer.
I learned where my heart is and what God's calling me to do.
Even through all these epiphanies, hardship still came.

At one point in this year, a decision I made, I regretted soon after.
I literally broke down,
I like to refer to this as my breaking point.
I had hit rock bottom and God was convicting me something fierce.
But instead of letting it wreck me, I learned from it.
I grew from it.

I grew where I was planted,
  made new friends, good friends,
  did internship which taught me more than I could imagine,
  learned who I was.

I know it's crazy to say that I've only been at this probably shorter than some of the youth.
But when I grew, I grew quickly and strongly.
I am now stable where I stand.
Yes the enemy still attacks but now I can take him on.
He doesn't scare me anymore.
I know my weaknesses and I own them.

I am well on my way to being a Proverbs 31 woman.
I have done a complete 180 in the past year and am grateful for everyone who was there.
Those who spoke life into me,
picked me up when I was down,
believed in me, when I didn't believe in myself,
who have given me opportunities to show I am capable.
I love my Renew family and am blessed to be with them.

So now that we covered that, let's get to this year.
This year was a little different for me,
I actually was a part of the making of laguna,
I had responsibilities here.

I honestly went into this weekend not knowing what to expect.
But God rocked my world.
I found myself on my face in front of Him,
found myself laughing and crying at the same time,
found myself jumping and dancing in His presence.
My God is amazing.
The worship was amazing
but most of all seeing these kids transform, grow, find themselves and press in is the most amazing feeling to have.
I pray that everyday they can go hard after God like they did this weekend.
They don't need laguna beach to have a life altering ordeal.
Just talk to God, love Him, worship Him and show Him that you are listening.
He will take care of the rest.

You will be amazed at how far you can come when you focus on the Father
 and actually live your life for Him.

Chapters in your story

I know we may all wish that life was a cake walk.That we can just stroll through life with ease, but we can't.
Everyday something happens.
Everyday someone struggles.
Everyday someone falls.

But everyday someone also hears about God.
Everyday someone overcomes.
Everyday someone is saved.

I know at times, especially for me, it feels like things can't get any worse.
There's a million and one things coming at me all at one time.
Sometimes it's easier to just curl up and shut out the world.
Or to just give in to the enemy.
But in the end, that really benefits no one.

When tough times come flooding in, the only person who can hold you up is God.
Turn to Him when you become overwhelmed and you will overcome.
He will guide you through the struggles and never leave your side.
Without struggle there is no strength and without strength there is no story.
Everyday is a lesson for us, every bump in the road is something to learn from.
The things you go through shape you into the person you will become.
They are chapters in your story.

That being said, let no one tell you that you can't overcome your past.
Use your experiences to connect to someone who's going through the same thing.
Let that be the guiding light in you reaching others.
Take your past, accept it and learn from it.
With God, nothing can hold you back.

As the song goes,
"You are more than the choices that you've made,
 You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
 You are more than the problems you create,
 You've been remade."
 
Don't let who you were dictate who you will be.
Don't let past decisions or mistakes run your life.
Never say you aren't good enough to be a Christian,
or reach others because of what you did at one time.
Use it as a testimony.
Show them that no matter how bad they mess up, there is forgiveness.

There is a lot of things out there the devil will tempt us with.
Be strong not only in your faith and walk,
but in those you associate with.
We've been through it, we are here to help.
And I am in no way saying I am perfect,
I still have temptations and weaknesses, I've just learned to look out for them.
I can stand my ground against them.
And I focus on my strengths because I don't want them to become weaknesses.

This song shows that you are not alone, but can overcome.

Built on Love

Every morning on my way to school and afternoon on my way home I tend to find myself like a giddy school girl.

As we drive down 15th street, getting closer to Balboa Ave
   my heart skips a beat,
   my breath catches,
   my stomach is filled with butterflies,
   and I get a silly little smile on my face.
Heck as I am writing this, I have that silly smile plastered on my face.

Why you might ask?
For the sheer fact that I know I am about to see a specific building.
To anyone else this is just a building,
but to me, it is so much more
it is my future.
One day I will own that building.
If you know anything about me, I have probably brought it up.

Let's just say, it has been a big part of my heart.
God put it there about a little over a year ago.
One day, it will be transformed into a safe haven for abused women and children.
It will be some place they can go when in need,
they will receive more help there, than they could ever imagine.

I want to be a way out for these people.
No person should EVER go through something like that,
no person is disposable,
every life is a blessing,
every person is worth living,
every person deserves to live unafraid.

I have so much planned already,
I dedicated a journal to planning it.
What will be offered, the foundation it will built upon.
Classes they can go to, and opportunities they can receive.
God will be first and foremost in the plans and all offered there.
Because without Him, none of this would be possible.
I thank Him for putting this on my heart, and giving me the opportunity to succeed.


He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. -Psalm 72.14
Take this as sort of my mission statement, the first thing those hurting will see when walking into my safe haven.
For they will be rescued.

Can't you see the potential? I know I can.

Three Little Words

We all have those moments when we know that a good talk is coming.Those times God puts something on our heart that we know we should share.
You could say a heart to heart.

Sometimes that doesn't really get me involved.
It's not until someone (normally PC) says those three little words,
  the ones that show me he's being for real,
  the ones that let you know it's important,
  the ones that tell you he wants you to understand
  and take something away from the talk.

Hear. My. Heart.

Those three words can completely turn it.
When I hear them, I sit up and listen.
So now it's my turn.

Please hear my heart when I say that you have the opportunity to reach the lost.
At times it will be hard, because it seems no one is listening, but in all reality you never know.
Take a stance for who you are and the God you follow.
Be a beacon of hope and light to those struggling at your school.
Shine so bright that they want to seek God because of the example you are.

And always know, there is someone there to help you too.
We are a family and will always be there to support one another.
Never feel like you can't come to someone older and ask for help.
That's what we are here for.
To encourage in hard times and rejoice in the good.

Interning to Overcoming

Instead of spending my summer days lounging around or hitting up the beach,I spent my days at church.
Deciding to intern was probably one of the best things I did.

I feel like with interning I was able to take my potential and run with it.
It gave me a place to express myself,
   grow in my faith and walk,
   learn about God,
   make lasting friendships,
   and grow my family.

I spent four+ hours a day, three days a week, for nine weeks with eleven of the most amazing people.
What I love about us?
We have a bond that will join us together forever.
We will always be there, good times or bad.
We care about the others and how their walk is going.
We help keep each other strong.
We refuse to be stumbling blocks.
We are the interns of 2011.


I walked away from this experience with much more than I ever imagined I would.
I walked away stronger in my faith,
   with a better understanding of who I am through Christ,
   with a hunger to grow,
   knowing what my calling and passions are,
   and most of all with some of the closest friends I will ever have.




Pastor Cory gave us the title "Overcome"

Whether we know it or not we truely did overcome.
We overcame personal struggles,
    temptations,
    difference of opinions,
    emotions,
    heartache,
    and countless other barriers,
But most of all we ovecame the hardship of saying goodbye to a man we had just spent nine weeks with. To a mentor and friend, who spent countless hours pouring into us and guiding us over the years. Who saw inside each of us the man, or woman, Christ has envisioned us to be. A man who helped us realise our faith. That man is Pastor Cory Henderson.

I just wanted to thank him for all he did. For giving me the opportunity to intern and overcome.

Now, I'm not saying we are done overcoming.
Everyday we will have to overcome something.
Whether it be overcoming a fear of stepping out and speaking up about God,
or taking the chance to reach out and help someone hurting.
No matter what we face in our everyday lives,
we have two choices
    Overcome it
    or let it overcome you.
What do you choose?