January:
A weekend that has started lasting friendships. The last weekend of January I was a leader of a disciple now at FBC Trimmier. One of my good friends is the youth pastor there and he didn't know that I would forever be thankful for him asking me to lead the girl's small group. That weekend I met some very precious girls who taught me a lot. There were six girls there and all but one girl came from a broken home life. Hearing these girls pour out their heart to me was incredible. I enjoyed how the Lord allowed them to feel comfortable around me after meeting me only two hours before. Since then, I help out with FBC Trimmier youth group on Wednesday and Sunday nights. I am blessed to be able to continue relationships with these girls and the other girls that have come on a weekly basis. I pray for Warehouse Youth Ministry and that the Lord continue to mold these precious sisters of mine into beautiful women of God.
February:
This month brought A LOT of growth spiritually. One of my journal entries seems to say it all.
Covered by Your love
Lord, I come to you with thanksgiving. You fill my life with joy. I can't describe my awe of your works in my life. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. God, You challenge me with long days, meetings, and relationships. God you know me full well that my body is tired. May I continue to be blessed by Your strength. You provide for me in every aspect of life and I apoplogize for not giving you the thanksgiving you deserve. Lord, THANK YOU! Allow my life to be an example to those in my life. Let Your light shine brighter than ever through me. May You be given all the glory. I lay down my life to follow you. Let my life be transformed by your works on the cross.
Undeserving of your grace and love, EJ
March:
My highlight of March was spring break. For spring break, I went on Beach Reach for the second time. Leading up to the week of spring break, I along with 37 other UMHB students went through a six week training. During these Monday night sessions, we learned how to relate to those on South Padre Island and built community with the others going on BR. Beach Reach is an outreach mission trip on South Padre Island. During the week, we as beach reachers provide free rides and free pancakes to anybody on SPI. While giving rides or sharing a meal, conversations occur and with attentiveness to the Holy Spirit the conversation will hopefully turn to spiritual matters.
The week started out VERY rough for me. Building up to spring break, I wasn't even sure I was going to go and I struggled with comparing this year to last year. We left UMHB on Friday, we stayed the night in Victoria. In Victoria, our teams practiced van rides and we had time as a group to bond. Saturday morning we drove the rest of the way to South Padre. That night, we went to Port Isabel and had amazing authentic Mexican food and had a meet and greet with the other 700 beach reachers. After dinner, we went to Island Baptist Church and walked around praying with other beach reachers about the week ahead. Sunday through Tuesday was very numb for me. I felt as though I shouldn't be there and was struggling to find joy. Tuesday before worship, my good friend Ryan and I talked and we both were sharing the same feeling of being spiritually numb and just weren't feeling Beach Reach. During worship, I took time to write out my prayer to the Lord.
"Lord, I feel inadequate. I feel like I don't belong. Lord, I need you! God use me, break me, mold me to who I need to be. God, I am NOTHING without you. Lord give me more than words to speak! Words that my team needs to hear! God, I need someone to pick me up, I feel like crap. God, I need you more than ever. I pray that I can bring you glory each and every day. I am running on fumes God. Help me be strong for you this day and every day thereafter. God, I need you to consume my soul and allow my focus to be solely on you!"
The rest of the week the Lord provided so many opportunities to have conversations centered on Him. I can't even imagine my spring break without beach reach. I thank the Lord for breaking me so much that I actually felt something. I have built great friendships and strengthened old friendships. If I had to sum up beach reach in one word it would be "all-encompassing." I was revealed throughout BR how unique the body of Christ is and when we as believers have one goal and unite together just how powerful we can be. "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."-Romans 8:28
April:
All semester I have been student teaching. I have been at Lakewood Elementary, Lake Belton Middle School, and Belton Middle School. I have learned a lot about how to relate with middle schoolers. My favorite part of student teaching is seeing my students outside of school and hearing them say, "Hey Coach Jackson!" I really look forward to each day and just how they keep me on my toes! Only three more weeks and graduation May 5th!!!!!
May the Lord bless you and break you to build you up stronger!
