Beach Visit on April 11th?

While sitting in church yesterday morning, I leaned over to my friend to ask her what she was doing, and she generated quite a laundry list of things, and then she asked me what I was doing, and I said, I have no idea, but I really want to go to the beach! Well, that was the end of it, we decided that we would spend the gorgeous April afternoon at the beach!

Do I really live in NJ? Because, normally we're still cold and it's raining, but on April 11th I went to the beach and I wore my bathing suit and I got a little pink on my back!

I love the beach! It's so relaxing, I got to take my first beach nap of 201o!

I have already decided that this must happen a lot this year! I miss just running down to the beach for a few hours! I love living so close to the beach! I also need to invest in a beach chair so that I can get even color for the first time in my life! I've better start working my my base tan before my cruise in July! Oh I can't wait for it!

Quiet

Umm.........it's amazing how much He speaks when you're actually quiet! Do you ever try not talking and just listening?

Thankful Thursday Week 6

The 6th Edition!

1.) Bright, Cheerful, Warm, Sunny Spring Days!

2.) New Life: I've been amazed by the flowers this year and the new frog that's appeared in my parents pond!

3.) Growth: There has been a lot of growth in my life over the past year! It's been such an awesome journey and I can't wait to see where He takes me in the years to come!

4.) Teachers who are your Advocates and Mentors!

5.) Reconnecting with Old Friends

6.) Expectations: I've had a lot of high expectations for many past and upcoming events and I haven't been let down yet! WOOHOO

7.) The Internet: I don't know how this whole job thing would be going without it! I spend hours on the internet looking for jobs and finding addresses and it's amazing how easy it is!

8.) Ceiling Fans: We haven't put the screens in our windows yet, so I don't want to keep them open at night for fear of bats joining me, so I'm grateful that I have a fan in my room that creates an awesome breeze!

9.) Easter: This Easter was awesome! The Worship Experience Sunday morning was electric! I'm so thankful that we have Easter!

10.) My Car: as much as I complain about it, Grandpa gets me to and from many places and we've had many adventures together over the past 6 years! He's been pretty faithful to me! Now, I just need him to hang in there about another year so that I can save up money to buy a car and move out!

This week has been a journey.....what are you thankful for?

Song of the Week #5- Holding Nothing Back

Well, if you know anything about me you know that I'm somewhat of a social network junkie. I'm on facebook and twitter and I have this blog but most recently I've joined as site called Women in Worship Network. (http://womeninworshipnetwork.com/) It's organized and maintained by Vicky Beeching. She is a worship leader from the UK. (Her accent is pretty sweet!) So, she had this great idea to create this site for Women who are involved with worship. You don't have to be a worship leader, you can just be a woman who enjoys worship or you can be involved with worship.

Anyway, while checking out the site, I found a forum about song lists for easter. The women who are a part of the site posted their set lists for easter services. I came across this one song in particular that I was intrigued with probably because it was recorded by Jesus Culture. It's called "Holding Nothing Back." It's originally by Tim Hughes and well he's a genius so you can't go wrong with anything by him. Anyway, I found a video of Jesus Culture singing this song and I was caught by the end of the chorus.

The words are not complicated or elaborate, they just spoke to my heart today! So here's "Holding Nothing Back" originally by Tim Hughes.

I am chosen I am free, I am living for eternity, Free now forever You pick me up, turn me around You set my feet on solid ground, Yours now forever

Nothing’s gonna hold me back Nothing’s gonna hold me back   Nothing’s gonna hold me back

My chains fell off my heart was free I’m alive to live for You I’m alive to live for You Amazing love how can it be?  You gave everything for me You gave everything for me Everything  You’ve washed my sin and shame away,  the slate is clean a brand new day Free now forever  Now boldly I approach Your throne,  to claim this crown through Christ my own Yours now forever  

Free to live Free to give Free to be I’m free to love You [Last time only – Lord]

I love my Small Group

Wow, it's been amazing to see the transformation of our small group in the last few months! I felt like we had record numbers last night for during a school year! We had 11 people there last night and the conversation was so engaging!

A few months ago we started Max Lucado's study on Acts. I didn't really know what to think of it at first because up to that point it was really only the girls who had ever used books to lead their bible studies and now this was going to be a new experience, and I was just a little nervous! But, I had nothing to be nervous about! Last night we finished up our study on Acts Chapter 8 which is the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. I have to tell you, I've probably studied that specific chapter about 3 times thus far in my life, and last week and this week were totally eye opening!

I've never put a lot of effort into learning more about the Holy Spirit, and finding out how He works, but this studied has broadened my understanding of Him. It's because of Him that our conversations have been stretched and we've gotten to bond as a group! We're sharing stories and being real and honest and truthful! It's fantastic!

After that we get to have prayer time separated from one another! This is my favorite part of the night! This time is so precious to me! We get to share with each other what we've been going through over the last week. We get to sympathize and empathize with each other but we also get to rejoice with one another! The more time we get to spend together the closer we all get and the more comfortable we become and thus the more transparent we are!

Transparent isn't a word that I would have used a few years ago, because I just wanted to keep my problems to myself, but after getting smacked upside the head a few times last week, I'm becoming ever increasingly aware about the importance of being transparent. I've been finding out that the more transparent that I am, the more that is revealed to me about myself. When I'm talking about one thing, God links a thought to something else that needs work too! It's really super cool!

So, try it! Try being transparent with someone! See how God pulls you and stretches you and reveals things to you that you didn't even know about!

What a day!

When I woke up this morning I didn't think that today would turn out the way it did! I didn't realize that He had a mission today to do work, but boy did He do work in me today! It has been exhausting, exciting, frustrating, and amazing all at the same time! I found out things about myself that I didn't even know were there.

My new word for life at this moment is: TRUST

I wish I had guts like my twin to tattoo it across my foot like her word! But, I don't have those kind of guts so, for right now, I'll just write it everywhere!

Are you willing to be open for Him to do work?

Thankful Thursday Week 5

This past week has been crazy. I've been here there and everywhere! I've watched 3 different dogs this weekend, and it was pretty fantastic! So here are my thoughts, this week!

I am thankful for:

1.) My Car: last friday I was without it and I missed my freedom to go where I want, when I want all day long!

2.) Freedom

3.) Washing Machines

4.) Weddings: A friend got married this weekend and it was beautiful! They were so gracious and asked me to sing at their wedding and I was honored! I'm so happy for them both and wish them all the best!

5.) Snail Mail: I got a very unexpected note in the mail yesterday and it just brought a smile to my face!

6.) Gluten Free Broccoli and Beef Stir-Fry: It's so good! I could eat it all the time!

7.) Songs that just send you into a deep thought. They just speak to you in ways that you've never understood and it's such a wonderful feeling!

8.) Waking up in the morning, with the sun already shinning through.

9.) Infection Free Eyes: I've been fighting an infection in my eye since October and I think it's finally gone! Take that stupid infection!

10.) Small Group: We are having the most amazing time together and learning so much! I love them and what they have to offer each and every week and I love the girls who can share details of life with each other and honestly care about you!

it's been a fantastic week! What are you thankful for?

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