At the beginning of every year, our team takes time to ask the Lord for a word or phrase for the upcoming year. Normally, I love doing this and eagerly wait for the word the Lord wants me to focus on. Well, last year it was contentment. And boy, was it a hard word with a lot of difficult life lessons. So this year, I honestly didn't ask. I didn't want to face another year where I was so incredibly challenged to grow and mature🤦🏻‍♀️. 

But that's not how God works. And I am so thankful. 'Word of the Year' or not, things will happen in life that will challenge us. We can either learn from it, leaning on the Lord and His understanding, or we can run and try to deal with it in our own strength and intellect (this has never worked out well for me, tbh). The best part - He is faithful to with us through it all. He is faithful in the fun and joyful times. He is faithful when you genuinely have no idea what the next step is. And He is faithful when sorrow knocks you so hard to the ground you don't know how you can get back up. HE. IS. FAITHFUL!

So, my word for this year (a little after the fact), is yield. Full surrender to follow His lead. And in it, there has been so much peace.  

As 2024 comes to a close, like most people, I start to reflect on the events of the past year. I have had my share of ups and downs, normalcy and crazy curveballs. But through it all, I have seen the grace and mercy of my loving Father, who never gives up on me. I am so incredibly thankful for all this year has taught me and look forward to what the Lord has in store for 2025! 

I have been absolutely amazed at how much the Lord is moving in various areas of my life, both personally and in ministry. What started out as small dreams and ideas are now growing and maturing. It's funny, the older I get, the more I am okay with simply waiting for God's timing to make things grow. His plans are infinitely better than mine!
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This past weekend, a bunch of our staff went to a retreat center a couple of hours north of Corpus Christi. It was such a sweet time together. We had long times of worship and prayer, reviewing the past year and casting vision for what is coming, and generally spending time together having fun. My biggest take-away was the importance of putting Jesus first in everything and allowing Him to refine the parts of me that are not completely sold out for and to Him. 

Check out the song list from our first night of the retreat:

I have absolutely loved the last few months here in Corpus Christi! As I was planning out this blog, it struck me how much of what has happened since August has been new. New schools, new ministry, new opportunities, and new life. It's a wonderful time to celebrate all of the new things that the Lord is doing! 

In September, we launched our first ever DTS! While we may have a smaller school than most of us have ever been a part of, we see God's sweet hand in this time. Most of us are participating in the school in same fashion, whether it's staffing, leading times of evangelism and soaking worship, helping with the sailing track, or assisting with kitchen support (that's me!). It's been a time of growing together as a pioneering base. Added bonus for having one of my friends, Wayne Fife, come down from my home church to teach. That was pretty special!

The DTS is currently in their 9th week and are headed to YWAM South Texas for a week. They will be learning about evangelism and then putting it into practice working with refugees across the border. Then, at the beginning of December, they head to YWAM Derby (England) for their 2 month field assignment. Please keep them in prayer as they prepare for their ministry time there. 

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I grew up in a Christian home and read the Bible stories surrounding Christmas every year, but never thought about it in these terms. This past Sunday, Pastor Mike from New Life Church in Corpus, shared some insights we can take from Luke 1:5-38. It spoke to my heart so much that I wanted to share it with you. If you have been struggling with understanding God's faithfulness, unanswered prayers, doubt, or frustration, this may speak to your heart as well. 

Zachariah, a priest in the temple, and his wife, Elizabeth, walked faithfully with God. Scripture tells us that they were righteous in God's eyes and were careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. It also tells us that they were not able to have children, in a time when being "barren" meant you or your husband had sinned and were being punished. Regardless of what others believed of them or how they felt, they continued doing what the Lord asked of them. They were faithful. Then on an ordinary day, doing exactly what he did on a normal basis, Zachariah was met by the angel, Gabriel, announcing the answer to his and Elizabeth's prayers. They were going to have a child.