Blown Away

*Monday- my week started off pretty normal with work that morning, and rescueing a family of kitties (all in a days work haha). I rounded off my evening with practicing the talk I was gonna preview the next evening for my Chrysalis/Crossoads team. If you don't know what these names are they are simply two subsections of a community known as Emmaus (check them out!), and is geared specifically towards highschoolers/college kids (girls in my case). The participants in this event will spend an amazing weekend getting to know their Savior better. It's basically a spiritual leadership training weekend. Anyways. I was prepping for this talk, called "The Prodigal", and basically freaking out because I was so nervous about giving this talk because I would be sharing my testimony along with the story (which I had never done for a group of people). I had been praying since I volunteered (yeah, volunteered, like a crazy person) to give this talk that God would give me the courage and strength to get my story out there, and that He would touch lives through me and my story of His awesomeness in my life.

*Tuesday- I had a first aid/cpr class to attend that lasted like all day, and I wasn't able to practice my talk very much. After I got out of that class around 4 I went and printed off my talk and then went home to practice till my lips turned blue before our meeting at 6. Now this went pretty well until I looked at my phone and it said 5:33 and I had a 20ish minute drive (not counting traffic shenanigans) to the place where our meetings are. Now I was already nervous, but add thinking you are going to be late to your own speech time is pretty crazy haha. No worries I got there on time (with only a little speeding Mom 😉 ). I get there and everybody is asking if I'm ready (hah!), and I shrug and say as much as I can be. Probably having the "deer in the headlights" look most of the night. Some people give their 4th day talks, Kelsey gives her talk, and then BAM its my turn (pretty sure I have cold sweats at this point). I have 4 people go out in the hall with me to talk out my jitters for a minute and then pray over me. Let me just say these ladies are awesome and just encouraged me so much! As I was explaining my fears and why I was so nervous one of the ladies said that she had chills and just KNEW that God was gonna show off through me, and that it would be awesome 🙂 They start praying over me and they speak so much life into me it's crazy cool! Saying how they knew tht God was going to use me and my story for His glory without a doubt, and that He would give me the strength and courage (my favorite words, that they didn't know were my favorite) to share my story. I of course start crying like a silly person haha. They finish up, and it's finally time. I grip the little golden cross they gave me like I was trying to kill it, and go on in. When I hit the podium is when I gave it up to Him, and let Him carry me through it. I told my story with tears, smiles, and of course a bit of humor in there too 😉 It felt so crazy just letting go and letting God take control! The Holy Spirit was without a doubt inside of me guiding my heart and words. As I talked I just felt peacefull. My heart stopped pounding. Before I knew it people were crying too as my story of God's loving grace filled the room, giving me small smiles and nods of encouragement to continue. The burning passion inside of me that is for God's forgivness and willingness to be make us clean was overflowing like an ocean by the end. I finished up my talk with a quote which I'd like to share with you too. It is by a man named William Sloane Coffin and it simply says: "I love the recklessness of Faith. First you leap, then you grow wings." That quote is sooo wonderful and true! So after I finish I calmy walk out of the room to be prayed down by the same 4 ladies. Again they spoke so much life into me. Singing praises at my willingness to be so raw and truthful about my sin struggles, and at God's divine mercy and loving grace. They kept saying how much of an impact my story is going to make for the girls in November, how much of an impact I had already made that night, AND that I was going to impact the world with that story too. Did you hear that one? I AM GOING TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST WITH MY STORY OF HIS FORGIVNESS AND GRACE. I just had chills writing that statement. Some of them knew aout the WR, but holy crap that is such a strong statement. She was completely confident in saying that. They also said after it was over that they felt God had me right where He wanted me. Epic. I can finally say that God's desires and mine are in line. That where I am and what I am doing are in line with His will….how awesome is that?!? After they prayed me down I had to go back into the room and hear what people's comments were about my talk, and maybe some ways to improve it. Here are the most heard words across the board: Wow, Amazing, Powerful, passionate, brave, courage, strength, and hope. And all of those words would not have been there without God helping me through that talk. Basically every table shared that near the end everyone got goosebumps from God's presence in my words. I cannot even begin to express how awesome that night was for me! I went home in a daze of God's love 🙂 So there is evidence that all of the prayers that Ive been getting are definitally being used by God in my life, and I thank each and every one of you for supporting me and praying for me! Keep praying because this journey God is taking us on is far from over, remember this is ONLY Tuesday's story!

*Wednesday- I'm still in awe the next morning of God showing up in big ways last night, and am just stoked to get the day started and see what else He has in store for me! I wake up and go in to work. Work flew by because of my shock haha. After work I had to run a few errands before going to my AWANA group. I get there a little early and review the nights lesson. We have our group worship time/lesson and then we break up into small groups (or life groups). Danielle and I have only two girls that night. We meet out in the prayer garden and begin having a discussion on the lesson, and all that jazz. We talk about how we truely picture God/Jesus in our own minds, we also discuss how we think satan looks. Good answers and discussion stem from that. Somehow we get on the subject of demons, and just feeling a darkness near us at times. One of the girls shares how she's had a full on encounter with a demon (freaky stuff), and says that she and her family feel like it was because she had just learned of her spiritual gift of prophecy/dreams and they were trying to get her off track. Did you notice what that gift was? Prophecy. Holy crap most adults don't even know what their spiritual gifts are much less recognize one such as prophecy. This is a teenager people. I didn't even think about things like this at her age, not even close. Then after that girl finished her story the other girl says she knows what her gift is too. WHAT. Yeah, God is awesome. The other girl said that she is supposed to lead people to Christ through her musical and singing talents, and let me tell you that she said this with great confidence. She also shared that even know she knows how God wants to use her she has been discouraged of late because she was kicked out of the church band where she used to go for some reason, and that people had made fun of her. How sad. After she got done with her story Danielle and I decided that it would be awesome if we prayed for these young girls and encouraged them to persue God's will in their lives and to grow and develop in their spiritual gifts. Amazing prayer time with the Holy Spirit guiding our words for these girls. We did have one slight problem that night though that we got into trouble for… Remember I said we went out to the prayer garden? Yeah, we didn't tell anyone we were going out there and then we were so wrapped up into our discussion and prayer time that we run over by like 10 minutes at least. Oops. Parents and leaders were frantic. We felt soooo bad, but oh my goodness how wonderful our discussion time! I feel like the enemy was trying to discourage us in talking with these girls and encouraging  them. Don't worry He's not going to win. We apologized to the parents and leaders and things were better. We set a designated meeting place, and promised to watch the clocks better. Haha. Go me for it only being the second night with these girls and we basically hid them from their parents haha. Again, I feel like all of these things are happening because of the prayer that has went into me and these girls. I thank God for the people that have worked with these girls before I got to them because they are bearing the fruit of other people's hard work. That night I just lay in my bed completely in awe of God. My prayers filled with praise for Him and His awesome works. End amazing night #2

*Thursday – I wake up and take care of the baby kitties, and then run a few errands before work. I got to reserve my copy of the new Needtobreathe album, woot! 😉 When I get to work things look like they have been chaotic. It's cool though, God and I got this. Not long after I get there someone says "Hey, Ashley left you a envelope" Ashely is a girl that has been shadowing our vets for the past few weeks that I haven't gotten to know really well, but can still tell she is a pretty cool person. She had left me $30 for my trip! I was in shock. She left a note saying that she felt bad she couldn't come to my race the past Saturday. Can you say that God is amazing. Then about an hour after that one of my co-workers who had taken some of my bracelets to try and sell at her other jobs dropped off the money she'd made so far. How much you wonder? Over $80. Wow. I'm in like a stupor of God's provision and just plain epicness. He is really showing off in my life this week! After work I had some good chill time with Courtney just talking about some of the things God's been doing lately. *sigh* God is good. End amazing day #3.

*Friday – So i've caught you up to where we are now. Me writing this blog for you about how amazing Our God is! I can't wait to see what else God is going to do today, not only in my life but in the lives of the poeple that surround me. I keep praying that He will keep filling me up, and presenting more ways to glorify Him. With all of this being said I also should mention that I haven't really stressed over my financial support this week that I have been struggling with hardcore style last time I wrote a blog. I guess I just needed to refocus myself on God and what He wants than trying to worry over something that He has in the bag. He has got me to this point so I know that He will get the money there for me. I have basically 3 weeks to get the rest of my $3,500 in before my deadline on OCT 2nd for training camp. If anyone can raise that much money in 3 weeks it's God, fo sho. I pray that God keeps my focus on Him and His works instead of the stress of trying to raise $15,500 to go on this trip not counting my vaccines, passport (that I have still yet to get too because I am waiting on my reissued birth certificate to come in the mail), and a few extra pieces of gear. BUT like I said I know God's got this, and I just need to wait on His timing and not my own. Trust in Him completely and He will reward you! Keep those prayers coming, and as always God bless! Also never hesitate to contact me if you questions or comments on here, fb, email, or call/text me! If you have prayer requests that I can help you pray for let me know! I would love to return the love and prayers I have experienced so far! *BTW I haven't forgotten about the update for my fundraising event, I just had to write this blog first before I burst 🙂