For anyone who wants to know...

For everyone who wants to know:

Since I can’t talk to everyone about my trip to Nicaragua I will try in this note to explain….After awhile, all though I know people mean well...Asking you how your trip was, when you yourself are trying to process it, after awhile you can only tell the same things so many times..lol. This was NOT my first Mission Trip, but it was my first time out of the country, and so therefore it was my first mission trip out of the country….It was an amazing trip, and I can’t wait to go back! I miss everyone in Nicaragua already. It was a week, that unless you see and experience it yourself, I can’t explain it. My pictures I hope tell the story somewhat, of what it was like…or at least looked like, and what we did.

Where did we stay? We stayed on a compound in Managua, Nicaragua. It was in the mountains and the weather was beautiful everyday, the views were breath taking, and the sky at night was so clear, I have never seen so many stars. We stayed in a house, everyone had a bed, and the mattress’ were some of the most comfortable I have ever slept on, in Hannah’s words the pillows are “still gravel”...haha, but the mattress' are heaven!!! We were spoiled and had an awesome breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Never went hungry; we had the most amazing cooks!!!!! Donna and Larry are the missionaries as well as Emily and Jodie live on the compound. Two of the most amazing couples you'll ever meet.

What did we do?: First full day we awoke to the news that Matt proposed to Hannah that morning at Sunrise…hahaha ;) Then we went to Tent City to give out gifts and fellowship. That afternoon we had the Christmas party for the kids that go to school on the compound and gave oout gifts. Second day, we went to give out shoes and gifts and got ready for our big give day Saturday, Saturday we had around 10,000 kids come and receive gifts…we thought we were going to be there until 5 o’ clock, but we did it in 3 hrs..we were done a little after lunch…GLORY TO GOD! Sunday we went to church, Matt and Kim gave their testimonies, and Bob brought a Word ;) GREAT JOB, gave out gifts and had lunch with them. Monday we went to The Dump (UNREAL) is the best way I can think to describe it, you have to see it with your own eyes, smell it and fell it yourself. The one we went to, was the 7th worst in the world. We saw the feeding program and gave out gifts, (tried not to start a riot) and we had the party for the goverment officials (police, major…etc) and gave them gifts for their families and served them lunch. Tuesday we went to the market, and to the women’s prison. Kim and I gave our testimonies, and Nidia brought a Word..lol. GREAT JOB. We where able to pray over the women, and give them gifts as well. We also Monday and Tuesday went and visited Nidia and Wally’s sponsored kids, as well as bob’s and gave them gifts, and anyone else who sent a gift for their sponsored child we took the gifts to theie families. Wed we woke up EARLY, EARLY and got on the plane and came home.

I wish I had the time to sit with every person who as asked me about the trip, but I can’t and I also am still processing and adjusting to being home. I love you all, and hopefully between this and the pictures you can have some idea of how the trip was. The Lord prepared me for this trip and it was amazing in more ways than I can describe. Sometimes you can’t describe an experience. Unless you see and experience it for yourself, when people ask, How was the trip? Did you like it?... etc it just makes me feel like they are asking me about a vacation. It was an amazing trip, I went because we are called to GO as followers of Christ. Not everyone has to get on a plane and go to another country but we are called to do something!! I went because I want to live out James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourself, do what it says.” We have to be doers not merely hearers of the Word!! I love Jesus with all my heart and this trip just showed me how selfish we are as Americans. We went to the Women’s prison, and the worship was amazing. I can speak a little Spanish, but not enough to understand everything they were singing, but you don’t need to speak the same language to experience God’s presence. These women have nothing and yet they are praising God and declaring Him worthy to be praised, and I come home to a Christmas Service packed and not one person (that I could see) worshiped God with all they had. They were doing their “duty” on Christmas Eve and went to Church. The message was amazing, the song choices were great, but I’m talking about the worshipers…we have so much and yet we can’t worship the God who has blessed us FAR BEYOND what we deserve. Praise God for His grace and mercy!!!! I would be nothing without Jesus Christ,but do I show it??? The trip did change me, it changed me in a way that I think I’m more passionate about the things of God!! I want to be more in love with Jesus than I am. I want to have a relationship one day that points people to Jesus, not one that distracts them. I cannot describe all that I saw, but all I know is I can’t wait to go back, and continue to go and do whatever God says. I want to be the women God created me to be, and I can’t wait to be with the man God has for me one day, and to join with him on this journey with the Lord. I pray God is molding me into the women that he will need. If I can suggest anything, get over yourself, and sit back and watch what God will do! Sorry if this was a litte blunt its just how I'm feeling...lol.

I love all of you and hope maybe this will give you a glimpse into my heart after the trip. Even if you asked me face to face this is pretty much what i would tell you..lol. Love yal...

Brittney

You are Faithful

This morning i was reading "The Owners Manual for Christians." By: Charles Swindoll. and listening to the song "your are faithful" By Kim Walker, And this is just what i felt God was telling me throught the book, and encourging my heart and soul about the trip and many other things. Many it will encourage you as it did me. The last part you might not be able to relate to the it being your first trip, but i hope that something else about what he said, that God will speak to your heart. Love you guys! Have a blessed day!!

Brittney ;)



With Wisdom comes Christlikeness:

We need wisdom, not just knowledge. God is willing to give wisdom, but not on our terms. As we go deeper, He begins to entrust us with more and more of His mind. In the process we become more and more like Christ. When tragedy strikes, we don’t need more intelligence. We don’t need a greater number of skills. We need depth, the kind of depth Job had. When the bottom dropped out of his life, Job had the wisdom to say: “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23: 10-12)
We need the depth of Paul, who prayed three times for the horrible stake in his flesh to leave ( the word often translated “thorn” means a pointed instrument, like a sword), and three times the Lord said no. In response, Paul said, Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of example of wisdom as work. Rather than throw a pity party for himself, Paul privilege of experiencing even more of Christ’s power over me.”
What depth of character. What intimacy with the Almighty these men had. I want that too. I want what they had, so that my walk is such that I walk in step whether I feel good or not. Whether I get a yes or no to my prayers, I walk consistently, even when I don’t get my own way.

Wisdom is Cultivated on God’s Terms, Not Ours:

“[My determined purpose is] that I may know Him- that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person] more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know then power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His suffering as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.” (Phili 3:10 AMP)

That’s it!...halfway around the world, away from all my crutches, separated from all of those things that made me comfortable, I was given a chance to see God at work cross-culturally like never before…For the first time I would spend time in a missionary home. For the first time I would be surrounded my another culture and baffled by another language. For the first time in my life I would be the forgeiner. And I found myself again and again and again having to look at heaven and learn a whole new way of walking. And best of all, my first love really began to bloom. “my determined purpose” [perhaps Paul means “my focus”] is that I may know Him.

I have found...

----I have found---- Kim Walker

Verse 1:
I have found a peace that ploughs on through the storm.
I have found a joy that jumps over sadness.
I have found a love that lights up every room.
I have found, I've found You!

I have found a peace that ploughs on through the storm.
I have found a joy that jumps over sadness.
I have found a love that lights up every room.
I have found, I've found You!

Chorus:
Jesus, You are all I want, You are all I need,
Everything my heart could hope for.
We are longing for, the Glory of the Lord,
Cause we know there's so much more!

Verse 2:
I have found a trust that teaches how to rest.
I have found a grace that guides me by the hand.
I have found a strength that stands like a mountain.
And I have found, I've found You!

Chorus:
Jesus, You are all I want, You are all I need,
Everything my heart could hope for.
We are longing for, the Glory of the Lord,
Cause we know there's so much more! x2

Bridge:
Only You, fill my soul x4

---Holding Nothing Back: Watch this and listen to the words!----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJsc2louPes

Don't get married until.... Series

http://www.newspring.cc/series/dontgetmarried

- if you not married...you need to watch this series!! This is a sermon series they did at NewSpring Church, and Perry, Clayton and Perry's wife Lacrisha, hit the nail on the head! It really good.....so go check it out!!!

--Its just challenges you to really think and pray before you get married. Not just jump into it, but really seek the Lord. Marriage is GREAT, but God takes it serious!

Delight in Me, Dear Bride to Be

This is a poem the Lord laid on my heart... Nov 5,2009. I was having a rough night and just praying seeking the Lord...and i started reading a poem Beth Moore wrote around the time she got married...but from that, the Lord wrote this poem though me, He just spoke to me through these words. Everytime i read it, its just a reminder to just keep waiting on the Lord, He is faithful!!!

*** Delight in Me, Dear Bride to Be ****
Delight in me with all your heart
And trust me when I say
I am more than enough my dear
Don’t ever look away
I put desires in your heart
And as you wait for me
I will be faithful and do what I say as you
Delight in me
No matter how great, how tall, how fine
I am the King of Kings
You’re my daughter in whom I delight
Not just anyone can have this heart of your
So trust me in the waiting, I know that it is hard
You have been faithful, and waited on the Lord
I know that you aren’t perfect, that there has been times of doubt
But I don’t count your sins against you my child, my love, my bride
I wish you could see just how much I love you.
I am your Father, you are my Child
Not just anyone gets your heart my love
He has to search it out
He has to be so lost in me
So that He may find you
Just as your heart needs to be lost in me
So that you may see him too
I have a plan my dear
Trust me when I say
The waiting will be worth
On that special day
That I can already see dear one
When your eyes will lock
And see each other for the first time
As the one from Me
I know that you have waiting
I know that its been hard
I have seen every tear you’ve cried
And held you in my loving arms
The day I coming soon my love
But be still now
Delight in Me your Lord and Savior
Rest in who I AM
That time is coming Dear, I promise
Have yourself ready, but don’t keep looking here and there
Enjoy where I have you, and seek me above all else
The day you say I DO will be a celebration in deed
But enjoy right now my dear, REST IN ME!

Every Womens Battle

Hay Girls, (and guys)I want to come to you as a sister in this note. I am the oldest of 4 girls, 1 of 17 grandchildren, and 12 of the 17 are girls. I always joke that when God called my into ministry He called me to girl world. I have such a place in my heart specifically for girls, to see us get our heads around this idea that we are loved and adored by our Heavenly Father. NO LOVE will ever compare to His. So as you read this ,read it as if I am coming to you as a big sister, just sharing my heart with you. One of my favorite things to do is sit with my sisters and cousins and just have girl talk. We are close in age so its just one big slumber party when we get together. And my awesome guys I'm also sharing this with you as a sister…letting you in a little into what the deepest issue is girls struggle with. If your thinking its we want to know we are beautiful it runs a lot deeper than that, I love you guys!! Girls everything I am about to say I say with love and as one with you not above you. This is an area I still have to wrestle with everyday with God. I love you and I more than anything am just wanting to bluntly sister you…if that’s ok! I’m so glad you are reading this. I’ve said this before if I had a choice I would not read my own stuff or listen to me, but I have to cause I have to live in hear and its tough living in hear I need you know that. I don’t have to convince you that God uses the foolish I hope. 2 Cor 10:12-13 “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you”Girls the biggest battle you have to admit that we battle DAILY is insecurity? As girls we are eatin alive with measurements (Physically, emotionally, literally, and spiritually.) Nothing has gotten us in more trouble or caused us more pain then our insecurities. There will never be a guy in the room checking out the girls in the room like the girls in the room. We will know more about what the person sitting next to has on then what we have on. We are constantly checking each other out seeing were we fit. Do I measure up? (Lets be dead honest!!) But I am praying for healing with this in my life and in yours. What if we really let God deal with us in this area? Cause its BONDAGE, BONDAGE! I want you to think about these three things: Who are we trying to measure up to? Who are we trying to measure up for? Who are we trying to measure God by? 1)Who are we trying to measure up to? 2 Cor 10:12-13 nothing is any less wise then comparing ourselves girls to ourselves (each other). Comparing means judging. The definition of judging – Comparing to one another the similarities and differences. Nothing is more foolish then comparing ourselves to each other. Hear is something that helped me and hopefully will help you. Give the person(s) a face – who. We have to face the [who] or we will never be set free from generalities of bondage. We want to see the truth and to be set free because nothing is making us more miserable than our insecurities…NOTHING! Ok…now this is why this is so tricky… [you may adore this person or you may despise them] [You could just as easily adore the person as despise the person] If you despise the person most likely it’s because of jealousy and it you adore the person it’s more likely you idolize the person. To women jealousy is a big thing to us (I know every single one of you girls struggle with it…don’t lie…you might not say it but we have all been at some point or are jealous of someone(s)). But it is a product of- acting out of insecurity.Who is it that threatens you? Who and why are you threatened. What is it that threatens you, and what is it you feel like they are threatening? You have to identify the root of the problem. (See guys it goes a WHOLE LOT deeper then we want to feel pretty) When someone is threatened they will act out of jealousy a lot of times in criticism. ( ex. She is just so sweet, she just seems really cool, and you say well...she wasn’t that nice. WHAT IS THAT??...lol) I have a friend who I grew up with and am still friends with today. She is one of those girls that just is so pretty its almost unfair… you want to hate her but you can’t cause she’s so sweet. But as long as I’ve know her ,every time I see her she is put together. Her hair is wonderful, her face, clothes, smile, everything wonderful.It’s just exhausting feeling like you have to measure up physically all the time. If it is not Jesus Christ who sets you apart, who when you lay your head on your pillow at night, if it is not Jesus who make you special and gives you your worth and value we are in for a life time of misery.When it is not Jesus, you are going to pick the wrong guy, your going to pick the wrong future... Beth Moore told a story of a woman who told her “tell these girls to deal with their stuff before God before they get married.” Girls, you don’t want to pick your mate out of the unhealthy side of yourself. Can God perform a miracle should you do that YES! But that is plan B and not plan A. You don’t want to be choosing your guys out of your own insecurity. If you find yourself having to look absolutely perfect for him or act absolutely “perfect” for him when he walks through the door…THERES NO WAY TO SUSTAIN THAT!! We just need to be set free, we are who we are… We need to be free to just love people.“Whoever you are most jealous of you start praying for God to bless and it will heal your heart towards them.” Christy NocklesGIVE IT UP TO GOD!!! Ask God to give you a love for a person you may absolutely despise. Tell on them, that’s fair, tell HIM! Deal with it before God…but let Him set your sweet heart free cause its miserable!!2) Who am I trying to measure up for? Gal 1:10 “Am I not trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.-Side Note- How awesome would it be if we really let God heal this in us. Can you think of nothing more the enemy would love then to distract you, when God wants to do a profound work in your life. If the enemy can distract you with something absolutely ridiculous he will. We are not going to let him, we are going to deal with this before God, because Satan is driven by jealousy. In Ez 28:14 it says he was the “anointed cherub”…but he wasn’t God.-Gal 1:10 – anyone who we seek the approval of (as a lifestyle) we are a slave to. The only way we are set free is to be a bond slave to Christ. …But whoever’s approval your trying to get, you’re a slave to. God can set you free!!God can do what He says He can do. John 5-Its no ones fault that I am in this mess with this person. I am going to take responsibility for my end of it , let God deal with them on theirs’ and let God deal with me on mine. We can cease getting their approval without ceasing to love them. If you are going to live to please people that’s going to be a tough road, because some people freely give acceptance, and some others you are constantly fighting to get. Some of the hardest people to lay on the alter before God are some of the people God will give you the most freedom from! “It’s a whole a lot easier to get God’s approval than it is man’s.” Gregg Mattes. God will always be 10 times more merciful with you than people will ever be. God is security and fulfillment…that’s were you find it, not people!! 3)Who are we trying to measure God by? Isa 40:5/ Isa 46:5 “ To whom will you compare me or count me equal. To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?” -Who are we getting God mixed up with? And this happens all the time and especially with our earthly fathers, or a host of other people. “To whom will you compare me…” -We tend to get God mixed up with people. And we better behave ourselves. If you think if my pastor fell,youth pastor, mentor, Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, Christ Tomlin, and anyone else you admire for their faith and walk with the Lord, if you think ,if they fell my faith would not survive it…then you have them mixed up with God and we better behave ourselves. God will never fall off that thrown…NOT EVER!! -People fall away from Church or God a lot of time because somewhere along the way they decided people are not worthy so church is not worthy, we need to be careful! We are all human!! GOD IS NOT A BIG US…HE IS GOD!!! “God is light and in him is no darkness at all” 1John 1:5 God has NO dark side! God has NO perverse side! God has NO impure motive towards you! NONE!God is NOT messed up! God is NOT a freak! God is COMPLETELY HEALTHY, and refuses to be co-dependant with you…AMEN!Completely full, needs nothing, self exist, He’s just GOD! So much of our misery is out of insecurity. You need not be threatened. You are completely loved by someone you can completely trust. God new what he was doing when he made you. He knew what he was doing when he set you on this earth at the time and place he did. (Act 17, Ps 139). Through our personalities sanctified God wants to do something sticking amazing!!! I love you girls and guys!!! Below is a link to a series called “Beautiful” By Perry Noble. It’s a 7 part series, but the first 2 messages are what I pray you go and listen too!!! I love you girls and guys!! http://www.newspring.cc/series/beautiful Philippians 1:6 (ESV) “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

No Not One

Hay yal- Just wanted to share something cool God just is teaching me. Right now I am in the middle of reading a book by Beth Moore called “Believing God.” What is so amazing to me is God always knows what you need to hear. If I have learned anything this year it has been that His Word is powerful! I always knew that reading the Bible was important but this year I have seen the power in God’s Word in my life!! Tonight though I was reading and the chapter is titled “Believing you can do all things through Christ.”Phil 4:13. In the chapter Beth talks about Joshua and the call that God gave Him and in that He told Joshua in Joshua 1:9 “Have I not command you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discourage, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The whole idea in the book is faith. We say yes I believe IN God but do we Believe God? That passage just jumped off the page at me, that no matter what circumstances may be, to not be discouraged, God will give you every place you step your feet for the glory of His name if you let Him. My favorite part of the book was this part; Im just going to quote right out the book. “ Immediately after God told Joshua to not be terrified or discouraged, He gave him the important reason. The reason had nothing to do with the absence of terrifying or discouraging circumstances. On the contrary, Joshua had never faced anything so frightful or potentially disparaging. What reason did God give Joshua for turning from fear and discouragement in the face of huge opposition? “The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” When Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid in the storm, the reason wasn’t the removal of their frightful circumstances but the presence of their Savior. “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” Matt 14:27 Remember, faith is never the denial of reality. It is the belief in a greater reality. In other words, the truth may be that you are presently surrounded by terrifying or terribly discouraging circumstances. The reason you don’t have to buckle to fear and discouragement is the presence of God in the middle of your circumstances. Call upon Him to step His One and Only shoes onto your territory and take over like the commander of the LORD’s Army (Josh 5:15). Hear Him say to you the words He said to Joshua: “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” That place, the circumstance, is holy because God stands on it with you. You don’t have to fill His shoes, Dear One. Take off your sandals and walk barefoot in His wake.” After reading that the song “No Not One” By Christy Nockels new album that I had gotten yesterday kept echoing in my mind, Almost like God was saying there is no one like me Brittney..NO NOT ONE!! Here are the lyrics!! If you can, go get the song or album on iTunes! But I wanted to share with you what God is teaching me!! Love you guys!!NO NOT ONE: Christy NockelsNo better word than from Your lipsNo perfect life than what You livedNo greater gift, no not oneNo brighter star has ever shinedNo better hope for all mankind No higher mind, no not oneNo one has ever knownThis kind of love You've shownThere has never been a greater love Than Your sonNo, Not oneAnd there will never be a name aboveNo, Not oneWith His life You have forgiven usHope has comeHope has comeAnd there will never be a greater loveNo, Not oneNo image true or sweeter frame No simple word can match Your nameNo greater fameNo not oneNo one has ever seenThe depth of Your majestyThere has never been a greater love Than Your sonNo, Not oneAnd there will never be a name aboveNo, Not oneWith His life You have forgiven usHope has comeHope has comeAnd there will never be a greater loveNo, Not oneNo greater call - You gave us all a reason to liveNo greater love - You gave us all a reason to giveNo greater life - You gave us all a reason to shineNo greater love - forever mine!-Love yal- Eph 3:20Brittney

Every Sunrise Sings Your Praise

Sunrise:Have you ever had one of those mornings were you just wake up early for no reason? Well I had one of those Tuesday Morning. It was about 5:30am and I am pretty sure God just woke me up, He wanted to show and tell me something. Didn’t know that at the time though, at the moment I just thought well, guess I’m awake. So I grabbed my book that I am reading (Beloved Disciple By: Beth Moore) and went out on the balcony to read. At this point it is about 6am in the morning, so there is just enough light outside that I could read, the sun had not come up yet, but you could see by the colors in the sky that it wasn’t going to be much longer! Now, I looked up in sky and saw one star, one really bright star!! I just thought it was really cool so see one that early in the morning, you couldn’t see any of the other stars since the sun was about to come up, but you could see this one. It was one of those moment were you just have to thank the Creator of the Universe for the little things, like stars in the sky. Your probably wondering when I’m going to get to the reason I wrote this note. Well I thought the best way for you to understand is for me type out what I was reading as the sun was coming up, God just wanted to meet with me that morning. An intimate moment…that no matter who I tell no one else was there but God and I. It was a moment between the Lover of my Soul and I. What is even cooler is as the sun was coming up this chorus kept playing in my head “Every Sunrise sings Yours praise, the Universe cry’s out Your Name, singing praises all my days now that I am alive! It’s all because of Jesus I am alive” Were I was reading it picks up at Beth just talking about what may have been going through the mind of John after seeing all the healings Jesus had done that day. That moment when you are just trying to soak in all that happened. Don’t forget the John was a young guy, a fisherman, he was human just like you and me, so can you imagine seeing all he saw, it would be one of those moments where you lay down at night and are just trying to process all that happened that day!! Imagine getting up and knowing, this is not going to be just another day, I’m following Jesus, who knows what could happen…I agree when Beth Moore says if she were John the thought she would be laying there thinking is “Is there nothing this man can’t do?” Side note---I had no idea this is what was in store for me to read this particular morning---“When John awakened that morning, his mind could not have conceived just how many mercies were new that particular sunrise… Can you imagine walking right beside Christ? Knowing what size sandal he wore? Recognizing, His accent, And favorite figure of speech? …Remember to not over spiritualize John. He was as equal flesh and blood as you and I, but what he witnessed reached far beyond the natural realm.”A solitary place: “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him. (Mark 1:35-36)“….my dearest times with Jesus on this plant have been in the secret places. That is heaven to me…”“In Revelation 22:16 Christ said “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star.” The Morning Star is the bright planet Venus in the eastern sky before or at sunrise. I’ve seen it many mornings. When I get up to have my Morning Prayer time, outside is still as black as night. I love the comfort of knowing that the sun will rise during the course of that precious time with God. I often step out on the porch, look at the sky, and behold one star that shines far brighter that the rest. That morning not far from the lapping waters of Galilee’s shore, the bright Morning Star rose while it was still dark and lit the desolations with the lamp of Glory. Only God saw. Oh child.” Our heavenly Father asks us today, “would you rise for only Me to see?” (that is what got me))). Mark tells us Jesus went to a solitary place. To be reading everything you just read while just having seen the morning star and watching the sunrise as I’m reading just took my breath away. Even sharing this with you I’m just reminded of the part “Would you rise for only Me to see?” ---I read this later that day at the pool--- “In Mark 1:36 tells us that Simon and his companions went to look for Jesus. The only companions we have meet so far in Marks’ Gospels are Andrew, Peter, James and John, so we can almost be certain our John was among them. Notice they weren’t called disciples yet. I’m not sure they qualified as learners and pupils yet! Whoever the companions were, the terminology of the original language tells us they were tracking Jesus down, almost like a manhunt. The Greek word katadioko, translated “to look,” is often used in a hostile sense. I’m not suggesting they were hostile toward Jesus but that they were quite anxious and maybe even a little put out with Him that He wasn’t where all the people were. We see no indication from the text that they hesitated for a moment of respect or awe when they found Jesus praying. They barreled on the scene with. “Everyone is looking for you!” I would like to offer a little conjecture that the companions tracking down Jesus may have been Peter, James and John. Later in His ministry, these three men were chosen by Christ to watch Him on several different occasions in the inner places. Something caused Jesus to single them out. I believe Scripture will prove that it wasn’t their spiritual maturity. I think two primary motivations compelled Christ to draw the three into several intimate places: 1) The fact that they just didn’t “get it” at times2)The fact that Jesus knew once they did “get it,” they’d really get it!In other words, I wonder if Christ might have thought, So you’re not the boundaries type, are you? OK. I’ll take you behind some ordinary boundaries, but I’ll hold you responsible for what you learn while you’re there. Just food for thought….I have a friend whose little boy thought he was the teacher’s pet because she seated him in class right in from of her desk. He didn’t realize for years that she was motivated by his discipline problems. Why didn’t she just send him to the principal instead of expending so much energy on him? Because she knew the child had a student in him, and she was determined to find it. And she did. We’re going to see Peter, James and John get their desks moved to the front of the class. Just like children, at times they might be tempted to think the Rabbi moves them there because there were the Teacher’s pet.”I don’t know about you but I can relate! It reminds me how much Jesus loves us, and is patience, merciful and gracious with us far beyond what we deserve, and how I don’t have to instantly have it all together, I am a work in progress!Eph 2:10 “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”Phili 1:6 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The story Beth told reminds me of the kids I have at work (ASP), the ones that tend to miss behave more, or who are a little more defiant, want to push the limits are the ones you have to keep an extra close eye on, and keep extra close, but as you love on those kids that at times make you want to pull your hair out, they are the very ones that will run up and grab your neck and give you the biggest hugs your have ever had, and want to be your helper, they just want to be right there with you. So I get the idea, sometimes they have the idea you are keeping them so close because they are your favorite, verses I am keeping you close so you stay out of trouble…hahaha…Those are the moment when I really see God as a Father…I just feel him telling me “stay right herd by Me, and you’ll stay out of trouble...hahaha

Thoughts and what nots...

Well as of right now i am bored out of my mind. I am so use to having 500 things to do in a given week. For the last, going on 2 weeks i have had nothing schedules that i have to do, other than staying busy hanging with friends not much going on. Its amazing how we can get so use to going,going, and going that when we have just a few weeks to relax we don't know how...

I start working in July at Hide and Seek Day Camp www.hideandseekdaycamp.net but until then i don't have too much going on. I finding myself trying to fill my days with stuff to do and places to go, people to see. Its just funny to me...

I am excited though with all that God is doing in my life these days! I have the most AMAZING FRIENDS!!! God has truely healed and retored some friendships!! Also i am just growing and learning about my awesome and amazing Savior!! I can't even begin to explain all that im learning right now...im just excited and in love with Jesus. This last Mon i came home from hanging with a friend and my mom looked at me and was like Brittney you are glowing...and for the life of me i didn't know what she meant. When i thought about it i knew what it was...its was Jesus...i am just gittie over Jesus!! It exciting!!! I have never been more content and satisfied with were God has me. I know i am exactly where God wants me. I made going to NorthStar Church www.northstarchurch.org permanent and since then door after door has opened. No because im at North Star but because of obiediance. If I'm learning anything...its to listen to God and do what He says!! Take God at His Word!!

I do not take credit AT ALL for where i am at. My friend told me something that stuke out...we were just talking and he was being funny,but he said, God is proably just still working on your guy cause he has to be able to lead you spiritually. Honestly what i wish people understood is that God Word has its own power...i don't take credit AT ALL for any life change, or good advice, or wise counsel i may give. Its all Christ in me. It not because i have it all together. Cause i SURE don't! Without Jesus and without God's Word i would be in pit!! A BIG PIT!! Sometimes is frustrating when people think you have it all together...they have no idea how difficult it s to live in here!! Sometimes i want to tell all the people in my head to SIT DOWN...hahaha ya know! Alli do is run to throne of Grace and Mercy!! And get into God's Word which is living and active and powerful. You closest friends need to be people who love Jesus and spur you on, and have people older than you that you can learn from, people your age to do life with, and people younger than you to invest in. Its all who you surround yourself with, to do life with. What you let in...thats what i wish people understood was the secert. It just makes me thankful when people say things like that. I wish they knew i don't always have it together...i just love Jesus!! Thats it!!

New stuff you gotta checkout!!

I got the be Christy Nockels Albums today and it its so AMAZING!! Here are the lyrics to one of the songs that i have just come to love! Please checkout this album. Also the new Hillsong Album: Across the Earth is out. I saw them in concert last Wed May 27th. Hillsong: Atlanta. God is just so amazin...there is nothing better than worshiping in the rain and thunder to the God that made it ALL! So checkout those two albums!!

NO NOT ONE: Christy Nockels

No better word than from Your lips
No perfect life than what You lived
No greater gift, no not one

No brighter star has ever shined
No better hope for all mankind
No higher mind, no not one

No one has ever known
This kind of love You've shown

There has never been a greater love
Than Your son
No, Not one
And there will never be a name above
No, Not one

With His life You have forgiven us
Hope has comeHope has come
And there will never be a greater love
No, Not one
No image true or sweeter frame
No simple word can match Your name
No greater fame

No not one
No one has ever seen
The depth of Your majesty
No greater call - You gave us all a reason to live
No greater love - You gave us all a reason to give
No greater life - You gave us all a reason to shine
No greater love - forever mine!

In case you wanna know!

One of my favorite things to do is listen to sermons via…internet/Podcast!!! I’m a dork…but I love it!!! So I thought I would share with you some of my favorite sites and preachers/teachers so you can check them out if you haven’t already!!
Beth Moore: http://www.lproof.org

NewSpring Church: Perry Noble is the man!! Love him he always brings is and just tells it like it is!!! http://www.newspring.cc and go to http://www.newspring.cc/students to listen to Brad Cooper the student pastor at NewSpring!!

Mike Linch: http://www.northstarchurch.org

iTunes: North Point Community Church: Andy Stanley and from time to time Louie Giglio. You can go to www.youtube.com and watch his series “How Great is our God.” or "Indescriable", and "Hope"Also on iTunes, Francis Chan, Beth Moore, Rob Bell, Charles Stanley and more!! iTunes is AMAZING!!! And Podcast are FREE!! YAY

Big Stuf Camp: you can listen or Francis Chan,Stuart Hall, and Jared Herd www.bigstuf.org or go to http://www.theechogroup.com/?page_id=37 to her hear Jared and Stuart!! I love these guys!!

Sermons by Louie Giglio: http://www.268generation.com/2.0/splash3.htm

Hillsong Church: Pastor Brian Houston: http://hillsong.com/

Love you guys!!Brittney =)

WOW!!!

So God has been rockin my world lately!! Well He is always doing something but really alot lately!! I have been doing the study of Esther by:Beth Moore..SO GOOD! Its so cool how God knows just what you need to hear when you need to hear it! I'm trying to find away to summerize all i have learned and am still learning..i have 3 more weeks of study to go...but what God has really hit me over the head with is do not bow down to people. Don't be a people pleaser. Love those who it might seem its hard to love. Also i need to focus on the plank in my eyes and quit worring about the stick in my friends eye. Just being real with God and laying it all at His feet and even when its hard to see God in a situation trusting He is in it...He has everything under control!!
Also just got in the mail all the Sessions' from Passion 07' : Got me some Louie Giglio, John Piper, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, and others!! The Beth Moore one is doing a number on me!! Just talking about incesuries!! Its a session that is just for women and its so good!! I was listening to it in my car and i had to pull in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot and sit and listen for a min and just let it all sink in!! God is really working on me...and im praying that God will help me not let these stupid things the enemy keeps trying to bring up destract me from What all He is doing!!
I know there is a person i need to talk to about a situation and when the time comes, its comes!! All is God's hands..i just have to follow!!!

FINALLY..pics from Disney 09'

Some friends of mine from Bible Study ran in the Disney Marathon in Jan 2009 and so a group of us from Bible Study went down to Disney with them to 1) moral support don't ya know 2) GO TO DISNEY..haha. So here are just some pics....i can't put them ALL up cause there are too many but i'll put the some so you can get the idea...
Also side note..having nothing to do w/ anything. my best friend and I watch High School Musical 3 tonight..it was so good...we are such girls...we actually cried at the end..hahaha...sad i know..hahah gotta love it...but anyway back to picks. The group that went was A.J,Matt,Nathan,Austin, Lindley,Megan, Jessica, Megans' Parents Tony and Kim, and me of course!!

Romanced

God truely is the lover of my soul. He knows just what to say or do to just capture my heart.Other than through His Word its always through song. So many times i just don't know what to pray. I have no idea how to express in words what on my heart. Which is why its so comforting to know that God knows my heart. And there are three songs that i have heard before but tonight God just used them to give me words to praise Him. Just to show me that He is near, He knows my hearts longings, He knows and he is near. And in my heart i know that to be true and these three songs are just my prayers, praises to my King and Lord Jesus!! Who knows me so intimiatly it blows my mind. In His name my enemies scatters, In Him i can rest for nothing can touch me for i am in Christ. Satan may try and still my joy but my joy comes from the Lord my hope is in Jesus not people or things. I am a child of the Almighty God, i am safe in the shadow of His wing! He is my comfort...may the lyrics to these songs be your prayer as well!!!

Love and Blessings
Brittney

More of you: Meredith Andrews

In this dry and weary land my eyes grow dim I can not stand without you
My heart aches my body longs I cry to you restore my song again, again
How can I find you Lord your all that I adore my soul is thirty for waters life rivers of joy I’ve tasted and I’ve seen there is no one else come now and hear my plea for more of you I need more of you
Have we reached the end of me I turn away from everything but you God
Who on earth can satisfy its you I need my very breathe of life, you are life
How can I find You Lord your all that I adore my soul is thirsty for waters of life rivers of joy I’ve tasted and I’ve seen there is no one else for me come now and hear my plea for more of you I need more of you!!
More of your power and more of your spirit more of your love in my life
More of your passion and more of your vision teach me to see through your eyes
How can I find you Lord you all that I adore my soul is thirsty for waters of life and rivers of joy I’ve tasted and I’ve seen there is no one else for me come now and hear my plea for more of You I need more of you Jesus I need more of you!!


Choose: NewSpring

Let me be in love with what you love
Let me be most satisfied in you
Forsaking what the world has offered me
I choose to be in love with you
I will choose to be in love with you
Let me know the peace that’s mine in you
Let me know the joy my heart can sing
I have nothing Lord, apart from you
I choose to call on Christ in me
I will choose to call on Christ in me
For in the fullness of who you are
I can rest in this place
And giving over this my journey Lord
I see nothing but your face
And I bow down, humbly I bow down
Humbly I bow down I bow down
Let me know that you have loved me first
Lord me the weight of my response
For you have longed pursued my wandering heart
I choose to glory in the cross Yes, I will choose to glory in the cross
For in the fullness of who you are
I can rest in this place and giving over this my journey Lord
I see nothing but your face and I bow down humbly I bow down
Humbly I bow down I bow down


Completely: Ana Laura
The secret of life is letting go, The secret of love is letting it show, In all that I do, In all that I say, Right here in this moment, The power of prayer is in a humble cry, The power of change is in giving my life, And laying it down Down at Your feet, Right here in this moment Take my heart, Take my soul, I surrender everything to Your control, And let all that is within me lift up to You and say, I am Yours and Yours alone, Completely This journey of life is a search for truth, This journey of faith is following You, Every step of the way, Through the joy and the pain, Right here in this moment Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life Hear me say .I am Yours and Yours alone, Completely-

IT WAS EARLY

So i am watching a series my Perry Noble right now called "Beautiful." You should check it out if you are a girl. Or a guy...its titles a series for women and the men that pursue them...its really good. here is the link to go check it out!! http://www.newspring.cc/series/beautiful

There is also a song that the the worship team sings during worship that i had never heard but i feel in love with it and the words. These words are my prayer!!
Choose: Authors Christy Nockels and Nathan Nockels Let me be in loveWith what you loveLet me be mostSatisfied in YouForsaking what the World has offered meI choose to be in love with youI will choose to be in love with youLet me know the peaceThat’s mine in youLet me know the joyMy heart can singI have nothing LordApart from youI choose to call On Christ in meI will choose toCall on Christ in meFor in the fullnessOf who you areI can rest in this placeAnd giving over this, My journey, LordI see nothing but your faceAnd I bow downHumbly I bow downHumbly I bow downI bow downLet me know that you Have loved me firstLet me know the weightOf my responseFor you have longPursued my wandering heartI will choose to glory in the cross x2In the fullness Of who you areI can rest in this placeAnd giving over this,My journey, LordI see nothing but Your faceIn the fullness Of who you areI can rest in this placeAnd giving over this,My journey, LordAnd I bow downHumbly I bow downHumbly I bow downI bow downLet me be in loveWith what you loveLet me be mostSatisfied in YouYou have long pursuedMy wandering heartI choose to be in love with youI will choose to be in love with you

At some point i will upload some pics from my trip to Disney i went on with some of my friends. If i could go back and redue the trip and not be constipated and PMSing that would be great i prob would have been way more fun...then i was at times. but i still had a good time..considering. so i will out up some photos at some point...

So for now enjoy Perry Noble and NewSpring Church and also i am reading 3 books...
"When godly people do ungodly things" Beth Moore...SO SO SO GOOD!!!
"Crazy Love" Francis Chan...ALSO VERY GOOD
"Identity" Eric Geiger...GREAT REMINDER OF WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST
...what i love is 2 out of the 3 of these my friends Matt and I are reading...he already read Identity..now we are both reading "Crazy Love" God seems to always be doing similar things in our lives around the same time...its really cool to me!!!