My best friend.

Well, today is not her birthday. And it's not "National Best Friend Day" or something, or that I'm aware of. No, today is just an ordinary day...but it's an ordinary day of which I have an extraordinary friend. I met Mary B. when we pledged Alpha Chi Omega this past fall. We're pledge sisters and we lived in the same dorm this past year. I can't say we became best friends right away but after a few round about ways, we became close quick. And now I can't imagine my life without her.

Ironically, I remember getting close to Mary B. when a lot of other blessings came into my life. Some other sweet acquaintances became sweet and close friends...and Merb and I became the closest. This was early October. Because we're both from Birmingham, we spent holidays at home pouring our hearts and getting to know each other in the way I believe God intended sisters-in-Christ to get to know one another. To help one another, encourage one another, and bear the burdens of one another. Following Christmas break, we were literally inseparable. Like we walked everywhere together, wouldn't eat a meal without each other, and were texting all the time of what we were doing next (kind of sounds like a boyfriend...). But, seriously, she was my best friend and my biggest encouragement in my walk with the Lord. We shared our testimonies on a shopping trip in Walmart and cried over what God had done in our hearts at Village Dining. Everything was so chill...no drama in this friendship. She became the first real best friend I ever had--and have. We hold each other accountable and we're constantly trying to build each other up. Of course, I've made mistakes and had to ask for forgiveness from my best friend several time. In true Merb fashion, she's crazy graceful and willing to forgive me. I am thankful for her.

She's been off at camp for the summer and I got to see her last night! My heart was filled with joy. She is so awesome...gracious, generous, kind, and an example. She has a heart for Jesus and his people. She is the example of what I think is the "gentle and quiet spirit" God calls His daughters to have (1 Peter 3:4). I am thankful for her. For our friendship. And for such an encouragement in Christ! Love you Merb. Your heart is beautiful. Come home soon!

Abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Sometimes I forget about God's faithfulness and I feel as if I'm just floating along alone and that God for some reason has forsaken me. What a joke--I am the one who has forsaken my God by turning my back against my loving Father and I am the unfaithful one as I put my relationship with the LORD on the back burner. As I've voiced before, and what seems to be my central theme each post, He is relentless in pursuing me and I am relentlessly stubborn.

Every time I doubt and turn my back, God is screaming at me "daughter, I am here! I am faithful! Look what I am doing for you--look what I have done for you." He has always been faithful; how could I question that He is still faithful and will continue to be all the days of my life?

My prayer life has still been struggling lately, but through admitting my inadequacy, God has shone through my weakness and has drawn me to Himself in prayer more and more. I have asked Him things and I have laid out my heart before my Father--and my burdens before the cross. Boy, has He revealed to me His faithfulness today!!! I would never "test" God, but I did need Him today. I needed and craved to see His faithfulness. I just sat down and thought about the prayers I've cried to the LORD lately. He has answered so many. Not only that, His will has been done. So powerful.

So if you need some encouragement in God's faithfulness, today God was is faithful because...

My grandmommie, who faced lung cancer for the second time in two years recently went in for her CT Scan last Friday. Praying for what we wanted (clear results and a healthy Grandmommie), but more so praying for God's will to be done and for Him to be glorified (if she wasn't healthy, to show His faithfulness by being her strength, as well as her continued comfort and protection), we got the results back today. THE CT SCAN WAS CLEAR!!!! Praise God for this. Praise God He is steadfast in His faithfulness. He is so gracious and I'm so thankful I have the chance to spend more time on earth with Grandmommie. I am so grateful He has drawn her to himself and saved her. WOW. He's good!

God was also faithful today in that He showed me how He plans to use me this week (I would appreciate some unspoken prayers for this, prayer warriors) after I have asked Him each morning on my way to work!

That's not it...He was also faithful when I went in for a toe procedure. I was scared to death to be quite honest and almost chickened out. But He was my strength. He kept me safe. He got me through it--and now my toe is healthy and I feel better. Crazy how He cares for even the littlest of things (or body parts). He is a faithful and loving Father.


God has shown me His faithfulness in many other things today that are so common that I continually forget or take advantage of...like clean water, food, a job, my parents' jobs, my family's health, a home, a car, insurance, etc. so. many. things. that show God's faithfulness and His continued blessings.


He is a good and just and loving and faithful Father. He is great and majestic. Praise Him for everything said above. Praise Him for saving me and choosing me to show His faithfulness and love to. How humbling.

Friends, I hope you're encouraged. Sit down and check where God has been faithful to you today. Can't think of anything? Look in His word; look what He's done for you. He was faithful then, so He'll be faithful now and again. You will be grateful and truly blessed by it! Happy Tuesday!

"But you, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." -Psalm 86:15
(PRAISE HIM FOR THAT TRUTH)!!!

On the Homestretch

On Saturday, I got out my handy, dandy planner and planned out the REST of my summer. Literally day by day--hour by hour for some days. I created many to-do lists that are long and a little overwhelming, I must say. Why did I settle down to do this tedious/annoying/not fun task, you ask? Oh, just because summer is OVER in like 23 days. I got word on Saturday that I will be moving in August 2nd...haha what? It seems like summer started just a few days ago. I had all this time to shop, to get work done, to craft, etc. and now I have so little time...not to mention I'm having surgery in 3 weeks so my summer is cut even shorter! I'm taking a class, I'm working, I'm leading a Bible study, I'm a daughter, a friend/girlfriend, and a sister...so little time! Now don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to move back to Auburn. I've been ready since I moved out. But...I just thought I had more time! AH!

Soo...what is the point of all this? What is God teaching me? How does this prove His sovereignty and His faithfulness? While I'm still learning this, I know God is sovereign in that He is humbling me: I can't do it all and I have to rely on my Father. All of these things are His will--His timing. He is teaching me patience--I asked for a patient heart this summer, after all. He is faithful because upon my reliance on Him, things will get done when I just let them and stop worrying about them. Sounds silly- but it is not. He is my Father and my provision--I can rely on Him for ALL things.

OKAY-Well, that was my five minutes of off-time. BACK TO WORK FOLKS! Have a great Monday/week! Rely on God's provision!! Love ya.

Teach me Your way

Since work began, I have been so busy! I work during the day each day and by the time I get home...I am exhausted! Not only has this taken a toll on my blogging life, it has really effected "my" time. Quiet time is such an important part of my day to me. I spend this time--sometimes an hour or more, sometimes less than depending on my schedule--in prayer, memorizing scripture, and reading God's word. Lately, this time has been slacking--sometimes I realize I haven't devoted any of this time to the Lord in a day. This does terrible things to my spiritual health and peace. As a child of God, I am designed to continually be in communion with God. I NEED Jesus every day and I NEED grace. I need conviction, I need peace, I need spiritual growth. And I have been lacking and slacking. Truth is, I have not made it a priority. I come home and am so tired..it goes to the back burner. But that's not okay. Truth is, this time and my devotion to the Lord should come before all things...work, school, friendships, family, down time. And my sinful nature has let it go. Praise the Lord He is patient and never ceases to pursue me. Praise God he is gracious and full of steadfast love and faithfulness. I am so thankful that even when I fail and fall away from the Lord, he is there to pick me up and draw me back to himself. He loves me, he knows me, he wants me. This truth is enough for me to want him back...yet I still fail and leave it to fall away. God is good and sovereign. I am weak and in need of a Savior. He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

So in conclusion, I am not perfect and I need Christ. I'm struggling, but his grace is sufficient and he is a patient Father. I can trust in him and I will run to him. I am thankful of this conviction that Christ is to be the center of my life...not the last thing I focus on each day. Again, praise him for these realizations, grace, peace, and life.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. -Psalm 86:11

Crazy Weekend with a side of Busy Monday

Sunday, for Father's Day, my family and I went to the lake. Dad got a new boat this summer and we are surely wearing it in out. For the most part, it was a fun day! Just filled with your usual family chaos. I am very thankful for my dad this weekend. Sometimes, I fail to remember how much he does and how much he is willing to sacrifice for my family and me. He is a good earthly father...he showed me Jesus, taught me about praying, loves me, protects me, and is very gracious. I'm very blessed to be able to say that. I also missed my granddaddy a lot this weekend. He meant a lot to me and I hate that he is gone. You can see what I think about my Auburn granddaddy here (make sure to scroll down a ways). Last night, William's family--grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole shebang--was gracious enough to have me over for dinner. I hate not having a big family, or any that live near, and it is so fun to be around their big and loving family! It was a really fun day and this weekend was a blessing.

Today, I started work. I am working at the same place I did my senior year, teaching gymnastics at Vision. This summer, they are holding a six week camp, so I am working with preschoolers and some elementary students each day! It has been such a fun day. The camp part ends at 3, but I go back in the evening to teach a couple of normal gymnastics classes. Because it is a Christian gym, we get to read Bible stories and what not to them...I am so excited to be able to teach them about God's word and share Christ's love with them! They are precious and this summer will be so fun. Tiring, but so worth it and fun. The Lord provides...he is my strength and is always faithful. 

I have been struggling with a lot of back pain lately--I didn't know how bad it was until I had to lift kiddos all day long today! I am going to see a doctor tomorrow, so friends, I humbly ask for you to pray for me. Pray for doctors to have wisdom and that God will heal my pain. Also, a medication I'm on right now has not been sitting well with me. I ask that you pray for healing in that, too, and that a solution can be found. Ya'll are great! Hope everyone is having a "good" Monday!

                  A wedding William and I went to in Memphis Saturday.

                                                      The groom's cake!

Christ's Humility

God has been totally faithful in providing me with great girls this summer who encourage me in my faith and also who have hearts for the Lord. He has been even more faithful in putting together a Bible study this summer for these girls and myself, which provides weekly fellowship, encouragement, accountability, and a time to learn more and more about our heavenly Father. It has been AMAZING so far! Praise God for these girls! We are studying Philippians and God is already opening our hearts to beautiful truths about Himself.

We meet tonight (Thursday is easily my favorite day of the week) and are going through Philippians 1:27-2:4. I still haven't prepared, honestly, but this is even more of a testimony of God's strength shining through my weakness. I just pray the Lord will speak through me--He has been continually faithful through this and never ceases to grant me with words. So humbling...nothing I say is of any significance without the Holy Spirit shining through. Anyway, I have to say I am very excited to get into Philippians 2; it is all about Christ's humility and how that is an example to us. We are to lower ourselves the way Christ did--He was equal with God, the Creator of the universe!!, yet He didn't care. He still came to serve us, to be equal with us, and to die for us, but this was not all just for us but more so for God's glory. Why is it so hard for us to take on this same humility when we are so much lower than who Jesus Christ is? Why don't we assume this same role of selflessness, serving others and serving God all for His glory? That's what we're called to. But we fail...a lot. I do. I know this passage (Philippians 2), it's written on my heart, yet I still become self-centered and worried about my own agenda. I still become frustrated with others and with my own weaknesses. I still fall to temptation and neglect Christ. This is not what God called me to do. However, God is also a god of grace. And He lavishly pours out His grace on me--a sinner, the lowest of the low. This is another example for us: how humbling is it to pour out grace on others and show forgiveness relentlessly? It is a challenge.

So tonight, I am excited to meet with my sweet friends and pour out our hearts to one another. May God be glorified in all conversations and may we humbly exalt our Father. Hope you're having a great day!!

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:1-4

Hello Again...

Most likely, once I post this, NO ONE will read it being that I haven't blogged since February...this is four months later. If you read this, thank you...but what I say truly doesn't matter much anyways! This summer, I plan to do better at blogging--my friends have such precious blogs and I feel this is a great way to keep up with friends so far from Hoover! But, don't hold it against me if I don't post anything until August. Thankfully, my salvation isn't based on my blogger skills. ----> JESUS JUKE.

ANYWAYS, a lot has gone on since February...but reality is, can't catch you all up on that. But lately...I have been home from a month now from Auburn. It has been a weird adjustment coming back home to parents, a growing 15 year old brother, home cooked meals, free laundry, and having to drive places...but it has been good. For those of you who don't know, I really DID NOT want to come home to Hoover this summer. After going on a mission trip over Spring Break to Port St Joe, FL, I was humbled that the Lord used me there and my heart longed to go back for the summer (it still does). But, it was not the Lord's timing: he has called me to a mission field back home.

It seems that coming home is the easy alternative for someone in college who is a follower of Christ and seeks to further God's kingdom: why do that when you can go to a camp and tell kids about Jesus? or go on a mission trip? or have an internship? or stay in Auburn for a certain job or position? Well...I thought so, too. But coming home to love on/encourage friends and family, to show others God's grace, and to continually live out/spread the gospel to loved ones around you is HARD. But...He has called me here and I have been stubborn for awhile. I found myself very frustrated in how hard it has been to be back in Hoover...leaving the fellowship with godly friends and being away from the amazing discipleship and leadership in Auburn has been difficult. Not until the last few weeks in Hoover have I found community that spurs on my faith--God has been ever-faithful again and He has eased my burden and provided me with comfort/peace that ONLY He can give (Philippians 4:7). But y'all...it's not about me. I'm learning DAILY that it's not about me, my wishes, or EVEN my comfort. No, it is about His glory and His strength shining through my weakness. It is about me being filled up by Christ then pouring out to those He has called me to. It is about His power and love and grace mending broken relationships and making all things new...waking up the dead and drawing them to Himself. I am HUMBLED God chose me to come home and learn about Him and share His name. Fill me up and send me out LORD! All for Your glory and Your name.

That's the funny thing: though this summer has been somewhat tough and trying, it has been so good and just what I needed. God has taught me about relying fully on Him and that I'm not strong enough (or ANYTHING-strong, smart, wise, whatever-enough) to do anything WITHOUT my Jesus. He has shown me that He is faithful, my provider, my strength, and even my comfort. He is sovereign and He is just. People will come to Christ with or without me. He will be glorified with or without me.

So friends, I leave at this...being in Hoover is hard but God's plan is perfect. If I'm not spending my summer loving on others, encouraging others, working for others, or praying for others...I am wasting my life and I am wasting my time in this mission field that I have been placed in by God. I have seen so much fruit in my life and in the lives of my family members and friends that I cannot help but smile and thank God that I am here and get to see what He is doing...humbling. I am in love with my Savior and thankful for His relentlessness in pursuing me and pouring out His grace/love on me. Pray for me, please, that I will not be relentless in loving, encouraging, and sharing Christ.

Jami