Climbing Montana Mountains

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work 

in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 1:6


Though I am going to miss the beautiful mountains 
The simplicity of life 
I am thankful to be back for a couple reasons
I realized I was too comfortable 
We grow in those parts of our lives we are most uncomfortable
I need to grow right where I am at in my life
(Plus, I wont be missing those mosquitos!) 

I am so many emotions right now about last week
I was broken emotionally, physically and spiritually 
Yet it was by far one of the best weeks of my life

This week I was reminded that walking with the Lord is a constant journey
We are forever growing, learning, preparing, being created for Him

I should not expect to have arrived to where I want to me
As a leader, role model, impacter, women of faith
And you know I should not be expect to be even close!

I have no doubt God used this week to humble me to remind me that He is all I need
He will provide when needed
He will strengthen when need
He will carry out His plan for me in His timing

I truly believe God used this past week to show me a glimpse into what He has in store for me and to remind me that when we are walking on the path with Him we don't need to be perfect--->just keeping going forward towards Him
With Him


"Don't lose sight of the future God has for you because you want to be comfortable right now." 
-Joyce Meyer

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more 

than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us"

Ephesians 3:20 

Hiking with some athletes and our new friend and guide Austin

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not changelike shifting shadows.
James 1:17 

This was one of the coolest moments of the trip
Sharing our vision statements up in the mountains
"I am going to use my gifts of compassion, servant leadership and hard work
to bring Faith, Hope and Love to children in need ALL around the world"

I got to bond with these amazing athletes during our 18 hour car ride

"We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances.  

The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. That's when he asks "why did you doubt?" Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus maintaining complete reliance upon Him"

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When God Says GO

Lately the Lord is reminding me His plans are always better than mine 

My desire to travel, to explore, to venture out into the world is high

Not just to travel but to help, to serve, to further His kingdom

Our trip to Africa has been on my mind a lot 

I am so thankful the Lord for placed this dream in my heart

I am thankful for the women He has brought together 

I know the Lord will provide us with the right opportunity, the right timing

He knows exactly when we are going and how He wants to use us

"The LORD will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me." 

Psalm 138:8

He works every detail out just the way it should

In His way

In His timing

I will continue to ask Him to guide every step, every dream 

I will continue to ask HIm to prepare me for His plan

And then when the timing is right

When He feels the dream is ready for us

He will softly whisper....

"GO" 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 28:19

Don't plan then pray...PRAY then plan. 

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Amazing Grace

Have you ever been in life funk?

I have been in a few many in my lifetime
You know, the ones where you are 100% positive God just gave up on you
Threw His hands in the air and said "That's it, Jessie is hopeless!"
Ok, little dramatic but I am sure I am not all alone

My quiet times have been rushed and inattentive on my end

My trust throughout the day has been lacking

I am anxious, overwhelmed and tired
Where is my MOJO?!

If only I could...

...eat better

..workout longer

....read my Bible more

The more time I spend thinking I don't have time to do anything right, 

the more I stress out and the vicious cycle starts all over again the next day

If only____

If you don't know I throw myself really good pity parties

Tonight I had enough

I wont be getting to bed early

I will probably have a nighttime snack 

I haven't showered from my 60, 30 minute workout

And you know what I have been realizing?

I am blessed

I am more than blessed

While I have been looking for the world to fill the void 

He has been showing me Grace

Chasing after me is His Grace

Everyday

I feel Him whispering to slow down and come to Him

To stop fighting the world when the world will never give me peace

The world will never fill any void 

No matter how hard try, the world says I am not enough

But in Him, I find rest

Our God is the God of more than enough

In Him I find my true purpose in this world

No matter where I go, He has his two blessing men right there in hot pursuit: goodness and mercy, and no shadow of death can overshadow the goodness and mercy that shadows the child of God.

-Ann Voskamp

So in the words of the wise Joyce Meyer
"God wants progression, not perfection"

I will keep pushing on
Not to perfection
Not to the standards of this world
but towards Him

We spend all of our time seeking God for answers to our problems,

when what we should be doing is just seeking God. 

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Live Out Your Calling

I have always been a dreamer, well maybe more of a hopeless romantic

A year ago I could not have told you what dreams I had

Yes, there those dreams of getting married and having a family

But I never found myself having real specific dreams 

However, this past year the Lord has placed dreams on my heart that I never saw coming

It has been one whirlwind of an adventure to fulfill some of those and then to dream some more

This past year I have also felt more doubt then ever before

I fall into Satan's trap of thinking I am not good enough to have dreams

I am too foolish

They are too big

 They cant be accomplished

It is just Satan's way of attacking us in our most vulnerable state

Satan knows when we start dreaming, we get dangerous

We gain hope and confidence!

We discover just how powerful we can be when we are filled with the spirit to fulfill those dreams! 

Our true calling, our purpose for His kingdom

So, tonight I would like to share those dreams

Almost all of them are dreams that have come into my heart just this past year

God is doing amazing things in my heart

He is transforming it exactly for Him

For His kingdom 

The Lord has placed these dreams on my heart for a reason

He promises to fulfill those desires of our hearts 

 Beautiful and exhilarating

I dream to travel to Africa and shine the light and love of Christ on many children

I dream to travel to every major cities Children's Hospital and pass out Joy Jars

I dream to have a platform that allows me to go into hospitals and spread faith hope and love. 

I dream to be baptized in the Jordan River with my husband, Beth and kevin

I dream to be debt free in two years

I dream to have a marriage that has a ministry and platform to share the gospel 

I dream to travel the world with my husband

I dream to have a family and raise my children to know Christ and be an example of His love

I dream to travel the nation and run races for charity

I dream of helping young women who have walked along the same path as me

I dream of having a marriage that serves others and is a godly example to others

I dream of marrying the man God created for me in front of all my friends and family 

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He Knows

So, yes it has been awhile since I have written

Not that I don't have anything to write about because I do! 

A lot

God is continuing to teach me, lead me and guide me on His path

He is continuing to bless me more than I know

And most importantly He constantly shows me grace when I fail

A lot

Over the past couple weeks God has been showing me one very specific lesson 

He knows my dreams

He knows my desires

He knows He will fulfill those in His time

If I trust in Him and know He wont lead me astray, then why do I forget to live in the moment?

It is easy for me to get excited about my dreams I forget that I still have a purpose for today

I look past all the blessings He is showing me today

I don't ask how He can use me today

Each day is a new chance to glorify Him

Each day is a new opportunity to grow in Him

Each day is full of blessings and His grace

You see, because each day has a specific reason 

Each day is part of His ultimate plan to use you in this life

He is slowly molding you, guiding you, preparing you for His glory

And when the timing is right He will open that new door

A new dream will be fulfilled and better than you ever imagined

And then the preparing and molding starts over again as He guides you to another dream

Instead of asking God "What's next" which implies waiting around for something to happen

Approach each day with the question 

"I am yours today Lord, how can you use me to be a light for You, today? "

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Directly to the Mailbox

  

          -----------------------------------------

DON'T LOSE The WONDER, The JOY, The CHILDLIKE ENCOUNTERS you can have every day

They help you see and listen to God a little better

Don't take things too seriously,

             You'll miss the purpose for which God placed them in your life                
        

God has given you teams to coach, families to raise, friends and neighbors to cherish, and LIFE to experience ABUNDANTLY (John10:10). 

Don't let the ENEMY of your soul STEAL any of it.

Do that and you'll press ... ONWARD and UPWARD.

My own little blessings

                                                

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A Mothers Love

This past weekend we got to celebrate the best and my favorite woman on this earth

My mom

Who has always been the one to encourage and inspire me to grow? 

My mom

Who has taught me the importance of telling the truth and living out that truth? Even when that meant going up to my coaches house to tell her the truth because I told her I was in 5th grade when I really was in 4th.

My mom

Who has always been there to dry my MANY tears and wash away my doubts?

My mom

Who is proud of me no matter what I do in life? 

My mom

Who prays everyday for my future husband and believes in our future marriage? Even when I thought I was going to marry Devon Sawa or Superman.

My mom

Who has taught me the power of prayer?

My mom

Who has showed me the love, patience and kindness?

My mom

And most importantly, who has showed me how to live out my faith, how to be a women of faith, a Proverbs 31 woman, a Wife of Noble character?

My mother 

I am not a mom yet but when I do become one, I know exactly who I want to be like

My mom

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting: but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 

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Just a Glimpse

I was absolutely blessed to have my best friends supporting me!
So inpsired by them all and blessed to have them along this journey!

I was able to go down to Cali and run a 5k for The Jessie Rees Foundation

This past winter a little girl named Jessie stole my heart

I have since then made it my mission to help her continue her dream of spreading JOY

I dont know why this charity has stole my heart but it did

My heart has found a passion so deep I never thought was possible

A passion and desire to forever help bring children hope, joy and a future

Have you ever had a glimpse of what you think God is calling you to do?

Just a little taste of what your future holds, your dreams and goals?

I did last weekend when I decided to run the 5k

After the race I met my friends by the The Jessie Rees charity table

Just having your best friends support you is an amazing feeling

But I felt like I needed to talk to the founder of the charity and father of Jessie

His name is Erik Rees

I read all about the charity online and the letters he writes to his daughter in heaven

I am forever inspired by his strength and faith

I just needed to tell him

If you know me, you know I can be a little reserved so after talking myself in and out of doing it
I found a the right time and walked up and introduced myself

A blink of a moment

That was all it took for me to see the glimpse of my purpose

We chatted for a few minutes

I told him how inspiring him and his family are

We talked about the weather and our SPU connection

He then thanked me and hugged me goodbye

But I knew it was not goodbye

It is only the beginning of what I truly believe is my future

I kept asking myself "Is this real? This is happening?"

I felt like I was in a dream

My dreams

They are becoming true and real

I am back home in Seattle now after two weeks of "glimpes" of my dreams

Sometimes I feel my heart becoming heavy and thinking "what now God?"

I am yearning for God to teach me to just TRUST

Trust He has me

Trust He will work things out

Trust that He has something absolutely amazing in store for my life

So much more than I can ever imagine

A life that radically shows that He is God of all

A life that honors & serves Him

A life that fills, rocks and shakes me to the core of my being

However, I must not forget to be thankful during this time of waiting
I must wait Intentaionally
Wait and remember that moment chatting with Erik
That glimpse, that taste of my future
That moment my dreams slowing became reality
I was reminded these past two weeks just how BIG our God is
And you know what? Our goals and dreams should be just as big!

I dont want to barley get by
God created us to be brave
 Created to excel
Created us to live a life of adventure
Take risks

 “(smile) I’m yours today Lord, I’m ready now and listening…” 



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In Living Those Dreams, You Dream Again

Well, Hello there May

Where did the time go? I cant believe it is already May!

It just seemed ike yesterday I was ringing in the New Year

The season of spring has sprung around the Seattle area

You know what else has sprung?

My dreams

goals

desires

HOPE is alive

 thriving

Last spring my passion for childrens charities began

Fast forward 12 months and here I am

Just completed my first half marathon for a St. Jude

I saw "my first" because I know this wont be the last race to complete for charity

This was a weekend that was only a spark of my dreams

 Only a glimpse of what I feel is my future

One of the best parts of the weekend was spending time with my best friend Sarah

She drove from Alabama with her husband Jon and 3 month old, Everett

Sarah is a friend that no matter the distance we remiain close

We share our life with each other, all the ups and downs, dreams and desires

We spent the weekend doing just that but in Nashville!

We always talk about traveling together and going on adventures

They will be moving to Germany for three years and I cant wait for those adventures!

I flew by myself on the way there and then we all flew back together

Baby Everett was so good on the two flights home!



Blessed and humbled by all the support I received. Thank you for your donations, but most importantly for your thoughts and prayers.

I was truly blessed with amazing support for this race

I know so many people were cheering, praying and thinking of me during this race

If I could just run for charity the rest of my life I would

I dont know where I am going with this passion of mine but I know I am on my way

My dreams, goals and passions that I have are being fulfilled

 The best part is I know God has only just begun

I have realized this past year the power of a dream

Let go and just dream

We actually live today, in our dream of yesterday, and in living those dreams we dream again

God places those dreams on your heart for a reason

Listen to what God is whispering to you

I encourage you to block off some time to dream

Set some goals, get after what you can, and dont be afraid to dream

If you dont ever dream it, it can never happen!

^" Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Ephesians 3:20  

My daily reminder

“The Future Belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”

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