Younglife Camp 2013

As most of you know I lead at Younglife for Meridian High. Last week I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to camp again this year. I've been doing this every summer since Greg and I got married, with the exception of last summer since Everlee wasn't ready to be away from me yet (and vice-verse).

Honestly, I wasn't ready to lead this year. The last 2 years have been so rough on me spiritually. Josh's accident was less than a month after I got back from camp the last time and this time last year was when my sweet friend Kristi took a turn and her husband Justin had to leave camp to be with her. This would also be the first time I've left Everlee for this long! So, needless to say, my heart wasn't prepared but I could just feel God pulling me to go, and let me tell ya, He smacked me upside my head the first night and said 'FYI Jessica...this is about ME not YOU!' I fell in love with this group of girls so quickly, their love for God and each other was so impacting! Not only did these kids get to hear the amazing love story of Jesus Christ but my heart was filled to the max by Him! I came back more in love with God but also more in love with this ministry and the other leaders who make it possible!

We had a few girls make some life-changing commitments to the Lord and it just makes me so proud to know we serve an amazing God who changes lives for all eternity and heaven is having a party when these commitments are made!

I took over 500 pictures...so I won't slow your computer down with that many... here are just a few! If you think about it, keep these girls (leaders too!) in your prayers! They are truly amazing!

These are all our Idaho leaders!

I was blessed with these 2 women who were leading with me this year. All 3 of us had Kristi as our leader in Highschool and we each have a great story of how God used Kristi to change out lives! It was so fun to hear their stories about her and I know she was smiling on us all week!

Insta-Friday!

Yippee it's Friday! Our week was super mellow, just what this momma needed!

I'm linking up with Life Rearranged!

Hooray for a teeny-tiny-pony!

Trying to teach her to bite her PB&J not open it up and lick it...not really getting it yet

These beauties finally started opening, I have triple the amount on the plant as last year! Can you smell the goodness?!

Apparently we do a lot of eating around here!

We balance it out by walking and doing lots of Jillian Michaels!

Hope you all have a Fab Friday! I know I will be doing lots of celebrating one of my favorite people this weekend!!

Be a zealot of prayer

For years I have had this internal struggle on how to deal with tragedy, both in my life and the lives of others. I will stay up way too late going over the "what ifs" and the "what can I do" praying for those involved and for God's peace.

Recently, for Younglife I gave a short message on how God equips us to deal with whatever life throws our way. I know God gave me this topic, not only to help kids understand God's relationship with us but also for me to understand He won't give me or anyone else something we can't handle. Sometimes this seems like a cop-out to tell people but when you walk through something hard in life you will see how this is 100% true.

I've heard people say so many times, "bad things happen and that's life" and I don't necessarily disagree, but it's a dangerous path to take because we can become desensitized to the world around us when tragedy strikes.

In our media driven society it's easy to get caught up in the blame game... gun control, parental control, public school system, homeschooling, vaccines, trans fats, or high fructose corn syrup...blah blah blah. I think it is extremely important to be informed and decern these issues with God's Word and what He says {except trans fat and high fructose corn syrup- I was just kidding}, but if these issues derail us from loving on people and becoming insensitive, then we are not heeding the Word of God. 

We live in a sinful and fallen world. Period. That is the main thing we need to remember instead of trying to put blame on whoever and whatever is to focus on God's Word and know He is in control.

I love this passage- {Romans 12:9-21}
 ^"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The most important thing I have learned, and it's so simple, be constant in prayer. We can't control these things and we know God is in control. Pray and hold fast to what is good.


There are so many issues to focus on, I'm not saying each of us needs to be a zealot for all of it and we all can't jump on a plane and help out in these areas of our nation or world {as much as we'd love to do that} but we do need to be praying and that is what we are called to do! 

On the other hand, we also need to be rejoicing with those that rejoice! Read about the good that is happening around you. Sometimes it's a sweet as a teacher who is spending her weekend making gifts for her seniors, a couple celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, or the awesome guy who gave a waitress a $1,000 tip! Those stories are out there, you just have to dig through the muck sometimes.

That being said-
Lets keep Oklahoma in our prayers as well as do what we can to help- Hello Apparel is selling adorable tanks for $15 and 100% of the proceeds are going to OK Red Cross.

One company to keep in your prayers and your twitter/facebook/reader feed is Liveaction.org.
Liveaction.org is a great non-profit company that is exposing the crime of abortion and doing what they can to stop it. 

God calls us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" {Romans 12:15}
In the good and bad we are to be there for people and pray without ceasing.

 
 

Insta-Friday!

Now that I got through Thursday's Office finale, I think I'll be okay... I seriously had a hard time! It was the one show that Greg and I watched from beginning to end together and I just love it! It's my fav and since we own all the DVD's I'm sure we will be watching for years to come!
And yes, I do know these people aren't real and I get being sad it weird, but I don't care...

Now, for my week as I link up with Life Rearranged- It was very productive and relaxing!

Mother's Day was relaxing just like I wanted. New flowers to brighten up our little home was just what I needed!

After the little takes a {3+ hour} nap I do my work out and then lately have been taking advantage of the warmer weather and take some time for myself and soak up that sun!  My heart and white gams are thankful for it.

This has been my go-to lunch for awhile now...basically everything but the kitchen sink salad with THIS yummy avocado vinaigrette dressing from Whole Foods.

We have been doing some spring cleaning around here and I tackeled our walk-in closet. I have a big bin of dress-up clothes for Younglife and Everlee thought this was her new look. I think she pulls it off pretty well. Katy Perry eat your heart out.

This weekend I'm looking forward to fresh kokanee salmon, cooler weather, cheering a special someone through tweets during her first half-marathon, more spring cleaning and most likely a delicious nap on Saturday.

What are you looking forward to?

Happy Friday!