Meet PiNK's Intern!!!!

I know it has been a while...but I have a good reason. It's summer Bible study season. Therefore, I've been trying to dedicate every minute of every day to the study. If you have been following for a while - you know this is my favorite time of year!

Over the next couple of posts, I will introduce you to some fun new people. PiNK Ministries has 2 Summer Interns this year. Saying they are a blessing to me personally and to PiNK Ministries is a complete understatement. They both bring such a passion, excitement, and love for Jesus and the girls this summer. Summer Bible study would not be possible without these two girls. They have been working with me for countless hours getting everything ready week in and week out. So thankful to Jesus for bringing these girls to PiNK this summer.

In this post I am going to introduce to you, Kaci.

Kaci, has written a post for y'all, but I'm going to give you some fun facts about her first...

School: Junior in College at ACU

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Food: Mexican Food

Favorite Verse: 1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 139:13-15

Favorite Starbuck's Drink: Soy Green Tea Latte

What she wants to do when she graduates ACU: Not sure what she wants to do yet, but she knows that God will use her communication degree along with her family studies minor for something that follows His plan for her life.

And now, here are some inspiring words from our new Intern, Kaci:

Teenage girls. Oh what a hard age to be, especially in the culture we live in today. Between society, schools, magazines and other media, teenage girls have so much to compare themselves to. Fitting in is the hardest thing to do as a Christian teenage girl. The world tells us that we need to be like them, but the Bible tells us to stand out. Where can girls these days find the balance? Well, with other Christian girls of course!

I have been given an amazing opportunity to work as an intern with Rachelle Oneacre. Rachelle started her own girls’ ministry called PiNK. I became involved with this amazing ministry last summer. In just one year, God has quadrupled her ministry. Rachelle is on fire for the Lord and practically tells everyone she meets. Well actually she doesn’t have to tell you, you could just know by talking to her for five seconds. Rachelle’s passion for teenage girls really sparked an interest with me.

Last summer, I did not fully understand the entirety of having an all age girl Bible study, with the youngest being in sixth grade and the oldest being a college girl, like myself. But the more I became involved and began to understand the importance of younger girls having older, Christian role models, the more it began to make sense. My sophomore year of college, God was stirring something up within me that I cannot describe. All of a sudden, I became obsessed with the younger generation of girls. These teenage girls have it so hard; which explains why I am here today. I am at PiNK because I believe that in order for girls who are walking the narrow path to righteousness to keep their eyes ahead and avoid as many trials as possible, they need the support of other girls who are going through the same thing. I strongly believe in the power of relationships. Our God is a relational God. That has been my main theme this past year because it helps me to focus on the relationships around me and realize how valuable they really are. Throughout the Bible, we see that God created ways for us to always have relationships. When he made Adam and Eve, when they created family, when God created church, when people formed friendships. How beautiful!! God knew that we could not do a life in Him alone so He gave us others to support us when we’re down, to encourage us when we feel worthless, and to challenge us to live a life that is ALL ABOUT HIM! This is what PINK is about and I am so excited about what God has in store this summer! He was already working and teaching me before Bible study even got started.

This past semester at college was about waiting on HIM. Probably the hardest thing to do for a human is to be patient, but what’s even harder is giving Him complete control. It has taken me a very long time to realize that my life is so much better when He has total control over it. On paper, the concept sounds easy, but try relinquishing every thought and plan you had for your life and start walking blindly into the darkness of the unknown. Scary? Definitely. Worth it? More than you know. So the start of this Bible study was very challenging for Rachelle because Bible study had grown so large that we now had no place to hold everyone. Rachelle’s search for the location finally ended Monday night before Bible study after having talked to every place in the Cypress area. We definitely learned to embrace the concept of God’s timing when He provided us with the perfect location late Monday night. Although it can be honestly frustrating for things not to go according to your plan or the way you would have wanted it to turn out, God’s timing is never late and is always on time. I’m anxious to see how this theme continues to play out not only in Bible study, but throughout the rest of the summer.

There are so many new girls at Bible study, most of whom I got to talk to, and let me tell you…wow. I am so excited for the hearts of these younger girls! We also have some new leaders and what amazing girls they are! I cannot even begin to describe how awesome these girls are in this blog, but stay tuned and you will start to see not only how awesome these girls are, but how majestic and powerful our God is.

- Kaci

Music Monday!

I love the chorus to this song:

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

The average woman consumes 6 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. To say ladies care about their appearances is an understatement.

This song sends a message to girls today that needs to be shouted on a mountain top.

Girls listen up: The devil wants nothing more than for you to believe the lies of this world, but let me tell you something - you are beautiful just the way He made you. You don't need to conform or become what some friends, boy, TV Show, or magazine tells you to be. All you need to conform to is God and His Word. Cling to Him. Imitate Him (Eph 5:1).

I love Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things!" We get so focused on things on the earth that we push aside the whole reason and purpose on why and what we are here to do. We were created to worship and bring Him honor and glory in everything we do. What a privilege and an awesome/humbling opportunity we have as Christians - carrying His name.

God tells us what He thinks of us:

Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Girlfriend - take note of that last part: "...I know that full well" Do you know that "full well" or are you just reading it? If you know it than you walk, talk, and act like you know that full well. The only way you can know it is by being in Him on a daily basis - seeking His plan and His ways for your life.

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Catch that - YOU are His workmanship. That is something you should write on your mirror with a dry erase marker. You are God's workmanship, girlfriend. Don't believe any different and don't let anyone make you think any different.

Psalm 45:11 - "The King is enthralled in your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." I'm just in awe of this verse. My King is enthralled by yours and my beauty. HONOR Him. Question for you - Are you honoring Him in what you say, how you dress, what you watch, or even how you treat your parents? Girlie, let me tell you. I didn't see a question mark after that verse. God is telling you to HONOR Him - Your King in EVERYTHING!

The beauty that matters most to God is on the inside, but it will be reflected in how you present yourself on the outside.

Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

This week I'm highlighting:

Song: More Beautiful You

Artist: Jonny Diaz

Radical

I'm an avid reader and love it. I'm normally in 2-3 books at a time. Typically I read Christian living, leadership stuff, and random topics I am currently studying. Right now, I'm reading Radical by David Platt and it's rocking my world...here is a great video. You should definitely check out this challenging book...

Easter!

I know I'm a little late in posting this recap... but better late than never. There was just so much goodness from Easter weekend I can not just skip over it. I just have to share some fun pics with you from the weekend.

Friday - My Man and I actually attended Easter service. Our church had 6 services for Easter and we decided to attend the early one on Friday. That way, there could be extra seats open for guests on Sunday, and after we served we could head out to be with family. It was such a wonderful service...I'm in awe of my Savior all the time, but I just love the extra dedicated day to remember my God is ALIVE.

On Saturday - My Mom, Grandaddy (My Mom's Dad), My Man, and I went for an amazing Easter brunch at the Club. It was so fun to laugh, eat a delicious breakfast, and hang out with some of my favorite people. We missed Dad - he had to work that morning.

Here are a few pics from brunch.

On Sunday - My Man plays bass at our church for worship - so after we served we headed straight to Momma's like a mad dash because she whipped up probably the best breakfast ever for the family. She makes cinnamon rolls (picture below) better than Cinnabon and Pioneer Woman's recipe. They are honestly AMAZING. She had bacon, eggs, and whatever else you could think of - plus she made homemade chocolate milk. It was divine.

Since My Man and I get up at 4:30a for church on Sundays, we headed home and crashed for a bit before the big Easter spread with the family later.

It's tradition in my family to have ham, potato salad, baked beans, and homemade rolls for Easter meal. Of course there were deviled eggs, coconut cake (which is what I had), and some pies.

Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Jesus being alive with your friends and family.

(Easter with My Man and My Daddy - working on music of course.)

(Easter - Momma and I)

Birthday!

In my family you don't have a birthday "day" you have a birthday week... So birthdays are super fun! This is being posted late - but the "birthday month" just ended. :)

Starting on Sunday the week of my birthday, I got a text from my Momma, "The birthday week has begun!!! Woohoo!!!" And then from there, fun/random gifts like a new pink watch, bath stuff, and more appeared each day!

Earlier in the week I received a package from one of my best friends who is serving in the mission field (I blogged about her earlier). She and her precious little family are in the Philippians. She sooo blessed me by remembering!

On Wednesday morning (the day of my birthday) I have to say - was just an absolute blast. I was so blessed to be spending my birthday morning doing what I love the most: studying God's Word and being with the people I love: My Bible Study family. That morning all the ladies gathered together to say goodbye to a precious Bible Study leader who is moving and they ended up surprising me by singing Happy Birthday...and the song was lead by an awesome friend of mine.

When returning to our specific Bible Study rooms, I was surprised, and in awe of, the cake balls (seriously the best thing ever...straight from Heaven I tell you), roses, and fun gifts. The women in my class made my birthday morning soo much fun and they blessed me beyond I can tell ya.

After a fun morning with the ladies...I had lunch with Momma (with another fun gift) and headed home for a nap since I get up at 5 am on Bible Study days. When I pulled in my driveway, there were balloons and fun birthday goodies in my yard! I had been birthday punked.

Thankfully I got a nap before meeting my family for dinner at the glorious Pappasito's. My man and I LOVE our Tex-Mex like no other. We are all about chips, salsa, fajitas, and the beautiful Pappasito's special sauce.

We stuffed our faces with goodness and then they sang the fun Pappasito's Birthday song...

My Momma made me the best cake that has ever hit your lips. When she asked me what kinda cake I wanted for my birthday - I told her I wanted a "ding-dong" cake. This Momma is already honestly known for her cooking and mad baking skills, but this cake will be served in Heaven. Just in case you don't get a slice here on earth...after you greet Jesus in Heaven, make sure you run to the bakery and grab yourself a slice of this cake.

My Parents had everything personalized for me...if you know me, I'm all about personalization. I think it's sooo fun!

And no family gathering would be complete without a game of Aggravation.

Shout out: Thank you to my Man, my Mom and Dad, Bible Study ladies, friends, and family for making my birthday sooo fun and special. Love you all dearly!

Music Monday!

I'm sorry I did not give y'all a heads up on being on vacation last week. My man and I took a week off...but I'm back and ready to go.

This week I'm highlighting...

Artist: Jamie Grace

Song: Hold me

This video wasn't even released a week ago...I just love this sweet girl. Isn't she amazing?!? If you know me, you know I'm a HUGE fan of TobyMac. Toby discovered this sweet thing, Jamie Grace, and is actually the one singing with her in the song.

What an awesome song about God holding us.

Psalms 73:23 - "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand."

Psalms 139:1- "even there your hand will guide me, you right hand will hold me fast."

Love that she brought these scriptures above about God holding me into a song for girls today. Girls need to know that God is there holding them and guiding them when they seek Him.

Mother's Day

You know I love the Skit Guys and had to share this with y'all...

With all kidding aside, I'm so thankful to have the Mom that I have. Saying "thank you" to her seems so small, knowing how much she did for me as a Mother. She is hands down the best Momma but besides that, hands down one of the most loving, giving, and passionate about Jesus people I know. And I'm more than proud to call her my Mom and friend.

As you know this past semester I had the privilege of being around many wonderful Moms from leading a Mom's Bible Study. The last lesson was on Leaving a Heritage based on the following scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 - "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your heart. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

While preparing for my last lesson, my eyes filled with tears and gratitude. So thankful God gave me an amazing Mom who not only could quote the above scripture, but lived it to its fullest. She loves the LORD with all her heart, soul, and her strength. She is passionately in awe of Him. Momma took those commandments and impressed them upon me because they were already upon her heart EVERYDAY. She talked about the LORD like the scripture said to...when we got up, sat down, walked, and lied back down. Obviously the LORD's goodness was always on her lips.

I'm not one to be at a loss for words, but I'm so thankful beyond words of gratitude for my Momma. Thank you, Mom! Thank you... for seeking Him first because He just flows right out of you! For being my friend, one I can laugh with, cry with, talk scripture with, understanding about everything, believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself, and always pointing me back to God and His Word.

Had to share a few pics of Momma and I...love that we can have so much fun and act goofy together.

I love you more than I can express and am truly blessed to be your daughter. You are a true Proverbs 31 woman.