New beginnings..

Hello again!

It has been so long since I've blogged and SO much has happened. So here is a little update of what's been happening lately.

God is taking me into a new chapter of my life and I'm so incredibly ecstatic to see what He has in store.

I guess I'll start from the top...

First,

I graduated from the University of Memphis on May 5th! FINALLY! After four long years, I made it. I graduated with a double major in Spanish and Sociology and it was definitely a challenge, but extremely worth it. I was blessed to be able to celebrate with my family and close friends AND my cousin, Sarah Beara, surprised me from California to come to my graduation. It was the BEST gift I could have received. 

Second,

Since I graduated college, I had been praying that God would direct me to the next step He wanted me to take. Back in April I was involved with the KONY 2012 campaign and Cover The Night. The organization who put it together in the Memphis area was, Operation Broken Silence. 

I decided to take a closer look into what they were about and a possibility of a position there. I was so thrilled when I looked at the website and one of the 2 open internships was for EXACTLY what I went to school to do. It was for a Refugee Research Intern, which involves doing things that I learned with Sociology. So I immediately sent in my resume, not expecting a quick response, and a day later got an email from the director and set up an interview. 

The interview came and Mark asked me to do the internship on the spot! TALK ABOUT A GOD, DIVINE APPOINTMENT! I am so excited to be a part of this awesome team of people and to be able to have a hand in making a difference in the community of Memphis. 

Check out their website!

OPERATION BROKEN SILENCE

These are just two of the incredible things that have happened in my life lately. I'm so stoked to see what God has next!!!

I'll also be blogging about a super awesome change that just recently came about in my life...it just was too much to put in this blog as well...it needs a post of its' own ;)

Be encouraged today.

You may be in a similar position I was in after graduation, wondering what the next step was, but ALWAYS remember Jeremiah 29:11

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (The Message)

Until next time...be blessed.

xoxo

2 Corinthians 3:18

"All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

New music

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love getting new music, especially if it is fun and upbeat, but still uplifting and encouraging.I've purchased a lot of new music recently and have been jammin' to some pretty great tunes.

One tune I downloaded was, (I'll admit it) Justin Bieber's new single "Boyfriend"

I'm not even going to lie, it's a very catchy song. And a new upcoming British artist, Cher Lloyd. She has great, fun music. 

The other music I've downloaded is the soundtrack to October Baby, a new movie that came out last weekend, which I HIGHLY recommend that you see. But be sure to bring a full kleenex box, it's definitely a tear jerker.

Another great album, is Ascend the Hill's new one called "O Ransomed Son" If you have never heard Ascend the Hill, NOW is the time to listen to them, I promise you will not regret that decision! Fantastic worship music with a cool twist to it. 

You can get a free download from the website www.comeandlive.com.

The last new, incredible music, is Britt Nicole's new album "Gold." THIS IS A MUST HAVE ALBUM!!! She has an incredible voice and is a Christian artist with very relevant music. She also does a song with one of my favorite rappers, Lecrae. So you definitely need to go to ITunes now and download this album. You also will not regret that decision!

And doesn't she just look fabulous on her cover?!?!

Here's the song featuring Lecrae called "Ready or Not"...ENJOY!

NOW..

Go download all this fantastic music and happy listening!!

The Countdown...

The countdown begins...

20 DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION.

This semester I decided to finish this race out strong. But it would not have been accomplished without my amazing family, incredible boyfriend, Jeremy, and friends cheering me on and, most of all, a big, incredible, amazing, passionate, God backing me up. 

It all seems so surreal that I will be a college graduate in less than a month. And even though I have NO idea what step to make yet, I know that God is guiding my footsteps and I trust in Him to lead me.

It has been scary not having a career set and lined up for me right when I graduate, but I feel the voice of my Abba Father telling me that I will know when it's time to step up and make a change, but for now I must finish what I've started here in Memphis. 

It's that passion and comfort that has kept me going and will continue to keep me going.

"Passion is a driving force behind a person of will and dreams, and it is the factor that allows them to accomplish EVERYTHING with EXCELLENCE. It is a GOD PASSION." -Tasha Rick

Be encouraged today.

Even though you might not know where you're going or what the next step is, God knows and will not forsake you in this season of uncertainty. 

  

    XOXO

HAPPY MONDAY!

Devo Mix Up!

Happy Wednesday!

I hope everyone has had a blessed and great week thus far.

Today, I wanted to talk about how to not get stuck on a hum-drum devotional routine and how to mix up your daily time with Lord so you don't become used to the routine and take for granted the time you have with Him.

If you have an IPhone, Android or other "Smart Phone," which is a huge amount of the population nowadays, a great way to mix up your devotional time is to download the YouVersion app and set different daily devotionals. 

There are some great resources and tools that can be utilized so that you can continue to grow in the Lord while enjoying the diversity of it.

The plan that I chose to do a couple days ago, is a Joyce Meyer Women's Devotional and it is POWERFUL. It lasts for 2 weeks and then after it's done, I can choose another great devotional offered by the YouVersion app.

Here's the step-by-step way to get to this specific devo on the app:

1. Go to the "Plans" section of the front page:

2. Go to the "Devotional" section if you just want short, 2 week inspirational devos:

3. There are several different options for devos here, I personally chose the Joyce Meyer devo:

4. For this next couple of weeks, I chose to do the Confident Woman Devotional:

This shows the verse reference for the day and also the daily reading.

It's some great stuff there!!!

Another great way to mix up your time with the Lord:

Create a worship playlist that lasts about an hour or so.

This is a great way to worship and pray for a specific amount of time.

Here's my example of the current playlist I have: 

I have a variety of songs from several different artists and it's a great mix for worshipping and praying.

I hope you have enjoyed this lil devo tip in order to keep your relationship and time with the Lord fresh and new.

Here's one of the songs from the playlist that is INCREDIBLE!!

"Holy Spirit" by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

   

   

A great day...

Today, April 5 is a very noteworthy day.

For starters, April 5th is one of my dearest, childhood friend's birthday,

Becky Leigh Herlihy 

This lady has been there for me through thick and thin and is such a warm hearted person! 

I've been so blessed to have her as one of my greatest friends and as the big sister I never had.

I'm so proud of you and you are such an inspiration to me to live out the plan God has for me!

HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY BECKY BOO!

Also,

April 5th marks ONE MONTH til I graduate from the University of Memphis.

I will be a COLLEGE GRADUATE! What????

 I can't even believe this chapter is about to come to an end.

But I have learned so much and I am so ready and excited to see what the Lord has in store for me just around the corner :)

Now, last, but certainly NOT least...

April 5th marks 10 months with this amazing man of God

I am blessed beyond words to have been with my best friend and love of my life for this long.

We have gone through so much together and have grown so much and I'm so stoked to see what God has for our future.

I love you, Jeremy Dane Louison.

I know this is only the beginning of the incredible journey we will have together for the rest of our lives

God has blessed me so much with these two, of the MANY, incredible people in my life.

"Friends come and go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."

Proverbs 18:24

Go hug on your family and friends today and thank God for them!

xoxo

Encouragement

Hello there!

I just wanted to give a little dose of encouragement for the day.

For those of you who have a hard time reading the Bible and really having a set schedule of doing it, here's a boost that might help you create a daily habit of it...

About a month ago, I went to this awesome conference and the preacher said this and it completely rocked my daily walk with the Lord.

He said, "Every time you open the Word of God, that's your face-to-face encounter with the Lord."

When he said that, my jaw dropped to the ground.

I mean I've heard that said before, in a way, but when he said that it just opened my eyes.

It is SUCH a privilege to be able to have a face-to-face encounter with our LIVING Savior!

When we have that as our mindset, it will be so much easier to read the Word (in my opinion).

Pastor Matt Anzivino of my incredible church, Raleigh Assembly of God, said this last week in his sermon...

"We need to quit reading the Bible as the history of what Jesus used to do, but read it as the outline of what He wants to do!"

Isn't that just so powerful???

I will leave you with this amazing verse:

"Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 (The Message)

Allow the Word of God to put you together and shape you up for whatever task you might have today.

xoxo