Considering it has been a month and a half since I posted anything, I have a LOT to catch up on, and I'm not sure I can bring myself to leave any of it out, sooooo I decided the most entertaining way was via pictures....ENJOY!
Once upon a time, my longest and incredibly dear friend GOT ENGAGED!! That's right fellas, Katie B is officially off the market. I'll get ya some tissues if you need it ;) I prayed specifically on my drive to Memphis that the Lord would allow me to share that moment with her, and He so lovingly opened doors for me to do so! It was such a perfect weekend with family and friends and I know every small detail of it was a way of God showing me how much He cares for all of us :)
Once upon another time, a group of adventurous Emerging Leaders in a 5K Mud Race!!
Check off the bucket list and SO worth it.
BEFORE...
DURING...
AFTER :)
I know you are all being overcome by envy as you're reading this. I just can't apologize for it.
My Discipleship-Group (group with one leader and 2 Emerging Leaders that meets weekly for accountability and learning/growing together) got to celebrate a Birthday! This is Dom and she likes cupcakes. Especially those with matches for candles...
Our Discipler's name is Andrea and we love her so much! She is a Pediatrician and such a great example of what it means to follow Christ. We are both so grateful to learn from her. The amount of support the Lord has blessed me with is truly so much more than I ever realized.
One time I spent 14ish hours making Apple Butter. Ok, ok, techinically the crock pot did all of the work, but it still sounded cool to say it that way. Yummmmm
Call/text for the recipe! Or just look on Pinterest like the rest of the world. There's only about 57 versions of this homemade deliciousness. Take your pick!
And last but not least, I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!!!! I had no idea how much I could love a little baby until I heard my dad say the words (with all of my family watching my reaction via video chat in the background) "Thought you should be the first one to call me Grampa."
I cried when I found out, I seriously cannot accurately explain the joy that I felt. I was so excited I bought a few things in celebration the next day :) Gender neutral shades of course, per my sister-in-law's request. I love this sweet baby so much already, ah!
ONE MORE AWESOME THING! DON'T STOP READING YET!
In class, we are going through the Bible chronologically and I am being incredibly humbled each and every day by the beauty of the Holy Word of God. "How beautiful are the feet that bring good news" is so true of those who are teaching me the depth, truth, and perfection of our Holy Scriptures. I am overwhelmed with how much I am learning and how much I need to learn!
One lesson I would love to share quickly is that of the Exodus. We went through the entire first five book of the Bible, and learned that time and time again God proved HE CAN BE TRUSTED!! The most incredible way He proved that was on the night of the Passover, as all of the Israelites and Egyptians alike awaited the final and most deadly plague that was to reveal God's judgment on them. Every person in that country was to be condemned to death because of sin, but the Israelites were graciously spared. Why? Because they were covered with the blood of the lamb. And the same is true of all of us today: we are all equally condemned to judgment and death, but the only thing that separates us is the blood of Jesus.
I am a sinner: full of pride, judgmentalism, and self-righteousness-deserving of judgment by a Holy and just God. The only thing that sets me apart is that I am covered by the blood of Jesus by faith-and nothing else. Not because of anything I've done, but solely because of Christ. I am a sinner saved by grace and I am falling more in love with my Heavenly Father because of His great love for me. Our God is good, He is just, and He is loving. Praise God for His perfect grace revealed through Jesus and prophesied through the book of Exodus.
*Stay tuned next time for a detailed descriptions of this testimony, which I was privileged to share with my class recently. Talk to y'all soon!
