I had a dream...no really I did.

It is so amazing to me how God makes us listen, or I guess in this case I should say allow me to listen. I feel like I haven't spent time in the word like I should. Yes of course I talk to him daily, in the morning is "our" time together but I haven't sat down for 30 minutes or so like I use to and soak myself in His love and in the word. At night when I lay down I like to take the time, think about my day, day dream about things, pray, you know just stuff. I went to sleep last Thursday night like any other night ending in my nightly talk with God. I work up the next morning and Psalm 119 was in my head, I blew it off and went on with my morning. Shower, Jesus, coffee, work. I got to work and STILL had Psalm 119 coming to my mind. It wasn't overwhelming but like a little tap on my heart...I finally got a morning break and decided to look up the verse. I sat down at my computer looked it up and began to read. I started reading and was amazed, the more I read the more amazed I became. I needed this! Verse 2 states "Blessed are those who keep his statues and seek them with all their heart." I couldn't help but smile. At the same time it made me smile, it made me think. Am I seeking him with all my heart? I continued on...I don't know if you guys keep up with our ministry blog but you should (www.bethegirlministry.blogspot.com) We needed a new verse for being pure and what do you know verse 9 states "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word." I picked up my phone and text Alicia (who is not only my close friend, and roommate but also my business partner) I told her about the verse and what happen, she said "WOW! that is crazy." So our next blog had that verse. I went through the weekend still just a little shocked and in awe of what happened thanking God every time I thought about it. 

Lastnight I painted my nails, washed my face, thought about my day and began to pray. I can't remember if I was drifting into sleep or in a dead sleep. I woke up this morning with my normal routine and all the sudden I thought James 1. I brushed it off yet again. I was pretty busy this morning but on my way to work it came back on my heart, I turned up Third Day and kept going. I got a break at work again and looked up James 1. The past few weeks our sermons at church have been about faith. So of course I have prayed for more faith, questioned my faith (not my salvation, but if I honestly put ALL my faith in him) and when I felt froggy asked him to test my faith. The past week or two I have been questioning faith in general (its human, I guess.) Let me back up for just a second, I check my twitter and tweet very randomly but I checked my twitter yesterday and saw this "It wouldn't be faith if there weren't any doubts" I smiled and laughed. So back to this morning I started in on James and what does verse 2-4 say? "Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trails of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perserverance. Let perserverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." I could go on and on because that whole chapter blew me away!!!! I was totally shocked, amazed and thankful. After I soaked it in I laughed a little. It is crazy to me how he allows us to listen. I feel like he was right there when I went to sleep and just whispered in my ear those books of the bible. I feel that he was saying "Okay Jana, you are worried and questioning things for no reason. I am here. And I AM TESTING YOU. Because you asked, and it is going to make you praise and honor me more!"

He is such a loving and awesome God, he continues to AMAZE me everyday. If you don't know him personally I wish you would take this awesome experience and have a desire for Him and an experience like this to call your own! :)

xoxo
-J

God. Text. Stop light.

It's been awhile since I have posted, I have been super busy. From working out to work, friends, and the ministry. Alicia and I went to church on Sunday and I have to say it was a Holy Spirit filled worship and sermon. Something that I needed to hear, something that I can't even begin to explain. I felt like I should have just gave Jesus a high five for the message he just allowed me to hear, funny thing is he already had everythingplanned. Sunday after church Alicia and I ran to Wal Mart and Target we usually go to Wal Mart and grocery shop for the week but she went Saturday while I hung with some other friends. We have recently became addicted to Glee, so while at Target I bought 2 Glee CDS. I of coursr popped them in first thing when I got in the car and haven't thought twice about it. I love the music and everything that goes along with it, but the past 2 days I have felt convicted of what I am listening to. Now, there is nothing wrong with the music it isn't vulgar or crude but it is for sure not "Jesus loves me." While I drive to work I take some extra time to Worship and talk with Jesus...of course I haven't been because I have been jamming Glee. I decided this morning to turn it back on to my normal radio station, they spoke of nothing inparticular but at the end of my drive I had a smile on my face and just that "spirit." This work week has been something different for me, I am now an actual employee not just someone in training... aka I have more responsibility. I had to close the branch for the first time which was pretty stressful for some reason. I am so ready for this weekend I can't hardly stand it!! (Spending some time with my mom, nieces, friends, ect. some of my most most most favorite people in the world.) I was ready to go home, by the time I got in my car I had tears bubbling up in my eyes. It had just been one of those days, I was ready to go home. On my way home I was praying for some peace and comfort. One of the sentences that came out of my mouth was "Lord, I know you don't have anything to prove to me, I know you are here. But send me something...a song, anything to lift my spirits." Listen, I am not saying 5 minutes later I am talking seconds later my phone goes off. It was a sweet sweet friend from back home. The text simply said "Oh Sherry." Now, while most of you are thinking okay????? We use to sing that song when we worked together and we would laugh and laugh. (much more to the story than that but for the sake of time that is the jist.) I immediatley started grinning from ear to ear. All I could do was sit there it total awe, shock, thankfulness, and amazement. I thanked God over and over. I felt like he was saying..."Anything else my child?"  I don't know if you guys find this a big deal but I couldnt help but want to jump around and say WOW!! You get even more awesome every day!! Which he already knows! :) I of course replied to my friend and told how what just happened she inturn told me she was having a day as well, thought of me and that song and had a laugh. God is good isn't he??

Welp, there ya have it.

God is great.

xoxo
-J

Reality check.

No one likes to have reality checks but it is just something that happens from time to time. Whether God shows us, or someone that you are not expecting it from. Like I said previously I visited Georgetown Baptist Church and really enjoyed it, while sitting through worship and the sermon I had this conviction about not being happy with being single. Now let me back up, a few months ago I read a book which I would recommend to any single girl "When God writes your love story" by The Ludys. It allowed me to "get a grip" if you will. That it was okay that I was 21 and no where near being married, and with no potentials at hand. Like everything, that okayness wore off. God allowed me to move to Austin and in my head I just knew I was going to meet someone here, it just HAD TO HAPPEN. I found myself actively looking everywhere I went, which I thought was a great idea but in all actuality it is not for me. I walked in to church last Sunday and thought "Oh he is nice looking, wonder if he is in the singles group?" "Hmm..I wonder what his name is?" And as I sat there I knew I was wrong and that is NOT what God has in mind for me right now. Now, not that I was lusting after these men but instead of looking at them as my brothers in Christ I was looking for MY potential with them. What if I would cause them stumble? What if they caused me to stumble? All these questions and concerns filled my head I started praying. God allowed me to move to Austin and has handed this ministry over on a silver platter! I knew right then and there that my focus should be the ministry not my future, or my future husband. God has that in his hand and it is all planned to a T. I had this feeling that I wasn't going to get married when I thought I was which of course because my time and Gods time is different. I prayed and let it go...so I thought. A week passed and I was talking to my friend Leah about the same issue, it looked as though still a week later I was thinking and consuming myself about it. She made a comment that I will never forget...and right then I had my reality checked. "How are you going to teach and preach to young girls that it is okay to be single, when you aren't okay with being single yourself?" Funny eh? Here I am gearing and praying up about this all girl ministry, and wanting to teach them its okay to be single and to pray for their future husbands yet that is something that consumes my thoughts? That wasn't okay with me, and I know God is saying "Jana, you know what is right, you have prayed about it and I want to take it from you...you just have to give it completely to me! Not a little, not only sometimes, fully, and RIGHT NOW!" So that is my challenge. I know God has someone for me, and I have no clue about any details. That is the beauty of it. I love the scripture and used it all the time, I think it is perfect for this situation.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" -Jer. 29:11

He has bigger and better plans for me! I can not wait to see what they are! :)

xoxo
-J

That song in my head.

Yahoo for the weekend, eh?! :) This is has been a great first week of work I must say. I guess because of the craziness and newness of being here I have almost ignored a very important person trying to speak to me.  Jesus. <3. I have been a slacker on my quiet time this past week and God has for sure let me know. I have had this song in my head all week and had not a clue as to why, I am not even sure I have heard it this week. It is "The more I seek you." And the only part I could remember is ..."The more I seek you, the more I find you. The more I find you the more I love you." It was clear to me Thursday the TRUE meaning of what I was singing. I was wondering why I haven't I felt close to God? Why do I feel he is so distant? I wasn't SEEKING him. I wasn't trying to die in my flesh daily and live for him. I felt awful, I know everyone sins and has "dry" spots in their walk with God but it broke my heart. There is so much he has done and is doing for me, why can't he have 30 minutes of my morning? I sure could work out for an hour, or spend my time on Facebook instead of diving in the word and allowing him to speak to me. I started a Beth Moore study before I left home and have only cracked the book several times. I am in need for some worship and fellowship with other Christians, which is proven to be good for the soul. :) Part of something we should do...FELLOWSHIP! I am around Godly people at my home, but it is different to get out and meet new Christians and people who are longing to be closer to God. We are going to visit Georgetown Baptist church tomorrow and I am thrilled. I will be praying for a home church here. What better way to find friends than at church right? I am so excited to start this year off here and I am so ready to get plugged in where I need to be!!

So...I have a lot to do, and with my saviors help I am ready! :)

Until later gators!

xoxo
-J

Hey new girl!

Today was my first day at my new job! It went extremely well, everyone seems super nice and the banking center is small, a lot like home. I guess in a weird way it made me have a sense of security. Like I said a few days ago I was getting a little home sick, but I have to say I have made myself a routine and it has helped tremendously. My friend Alicia and I have joined Plant Fitness and we are going 3 times a week for now. We go in the mornings! I love going at that time, there is really no one there and it gives you a boost to your whole day. So that issue was taking care of! :) I went to dinner with my Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Jessie that live about 10 minutes away, we had a blast...we always do! While talking to them I found out that they go to a Baptist church in Georgetown, I was pumped! I haven't found a "home church" yet. I didn't want to stray away from my Baptist roots, but did not want to find myself in my same old comfort zone by going to a small small church. They said it was HUGE and had a College group! :) I am anxious to visit Sunday. Maybe that will become my home!

Oh and by the way...I died my bangs red and took my fake nails off. It didn't take long for Austin to get a hold of me! :)


xoxo
-J

Let's get it started!

Well hello friends!

 My friend Alicia blogs, my friend Becky, along with my cousin Katie. I have just recently moved to Austin, and thought this was a great way for my family and friends to keep up with me.I am super excited to see what God has instore for me, in the new chapter I am starting. I have been a stay at home roommate going on 3 weeks now and it is killing me. I start work on Tuesday and can not be more excited. These past 3 weeks have been sort of a blur for me, I went home one weekend for my grandfathers 85th birthday, although it was a WONDERFUL weekend filled with family and friends, I find myself a little homesick here lately. I am thrilled to start a routine tomorrow I know that will help with that. Anyway, keep coming back my friends I have a feeling this will be a new addiction for me! :)

xoxo
-J