Paul confronts Peter...and me

I'm in mid exam week, and let's just say its serious crunch time. I feel as though I've been distant from the Lord for a few days because my focus has been else where, trying to handle tons of school things, finding a job, etc, etc, etc! Today, after spending some much needed time with Jesus, I find myself so, so consumed by an awesome message, and I wanted just to share my thoughts here.

I read Galatians 2:11-21, and then my notes from my bible study earlier this year. In this passage, Paul speaks about how he had to speak to Peter in Antioch. Paul had to speak up to him because Peter was in the wrong; he was living like a Gentile but calling himself a Jew, and thus bending the rules. Peter was leading people astray from the Gospel, and Paul, a servant of the Lord, was chosen to speak to Peter.

Verse 16 says, "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." The law that is mentioned here is all about the custom of circumcision for salvation. Paul knows that circumcision or nothing else have anything to do with "being made right with God." All that matters is faith!

Just that simple thought ("All that matters is faith") makes me smile. This means that I'm not expected by God to do anything else in this world except to have faith. He knows that we are not perfect, and that we are human. He knows that even having faith is a huge, touch thing when Satan constantly pulls us the other way. What an amazing thing it is that because Jesus came, walked this same Earth we walk today, and then He died for OUR sins, we are saved and made holy!

My favorite verse, Colossians 1:22, says "Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." God has brought us into his presence, not vice versa. We can't do anything to gain salvation. All we are called to do is to have faith. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that we are a new creation in Christ. We can't become a new creation from anything else. Only Christ can do that. I hope that simple reminder makes you smile too. Just pray that it may take some pressure off of you and whatever you feel pressed or required to do. Nothing is required of you except to have faith, to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind," as Luke 10:27 tells us.

fantastic friend and fellowship filled weekend!

This past weekend was splendid, and just an all around good time to revamp for this last week of classes! Friday night, the Young Life committee put together a Ladies Spa Night. We were treated like princesses, and got the royal treatment of facials, scalp massages, pedicures, and of course chocolate covered strawberries and so many other treats! Afterward, a few friends came over to watch the infamous Hot Rod (one of the greatest movies ever made!). Saturday began with some sweet fellowship with my dear friend Emily Murray. We woke real early to go yard sailing together, and I found a vintage Polaroid camera and a cool Mason jar. After, I met my Young Life team for brunch and then we went to the Tregembo Zoo in Wilmington. After we all separated and got ready for Ashley High School's prom! We went to Bojangles for dinner, and all shared a Tailgate Special. We were chaperones at the prom, and it was fabulous! To me, prom never gets old, especially because it was at the aquarium! My friend, Katelyn, and I had so much fun interpretive dancing to almost every song. Not to mention, we got to see alligators, sharks, and fish for free! Sunday was more relaxing, as I went to church, to lunch with some friends afterward, and then spent most of the day lounging around. I did sand a dining room table and a nightstand that I'm preparing to refinish! After such a crazy weekend, I feel good about the load of work I have to do this week! Here are a few pics from the weekend too. Love you all!

Hannah and me getting our pedicures! I was kind enough to give up my chance to relax to give her a hand massage. Somehow she didn't feel like returning the favor!


Amanda, Matt, Kyle, Brittany, Scott, Me, Katelyn, and Braiden




Our prom dinner at Bojangles


Group shot at the zoo entrance! Scott, Jason, Braiden, Katelyn, Kyle, and Brittany

A little more...

I was thinking about what consumes my days, and I realized apart from school, my biggest commitment is to my ministry in Young Life. Young Life is a relational ministry that reaches out to high school students who are not Christians or are not walking with the Lord daily. I'm a Young Life leader at Ashley High School in Wilmington, which means that I go to the school, meet girls, and form friendships with them, in hope of being able to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. My precious girls are so great and fun, and I love that I can see all the ways the Lord is working in each of their lives. Being a leader has changed me and has grown me in so many ways, but overall I feel as though I am so much closer to the Lord than I have ever been able to say. Young Life is a super great ministry, and I'd love for you all to check out their website (especially the Mission Statement and the Five C's). They give a lot more information about what I do! www.younglife.org

Lots of random pictures!

I'm posting lots of random pictures because my blog was not up and running when lots of fun things happened! Keeping up with one of these things is tough work on top of school and Young Life, which both serve as part-time jobs!

Listening to music downtown one night with Tara, Emily, Maegan, and Hannah!


This one is from a Jay Sean concert a few weeks ago. He came to play at UNCW, and a few of my high school girls LOVE him, so I decided to join!


For Hannah's birthday (she's second from the right), we surprised her and took her on a ferry that led us to Southport. I was super impressed by the ferry, and the fact that it was only $5 for one car!


These last two are from last weekend's Azalea Festival. Brittany and I rode bikes downtown, and that was quite the workout, but definitely worth getting out of $15 parking downtown!