following grace

Y'all. its been a while. Holy cow. I was talking with a friend this morning about life and this waiting game of a season that the Lord has me in right now. Waiting for graduation, waiting to know what the rest of my life is going to look like, waiting on contract updates and internship approvals, waiting on interviews, Creation studies to END (forever and ever amen), leases to run out, May to arrive and my next chapter to begin. The whole while I was sitting there discussing the frustration yet Hope that I had in this season I just kept replaying the lyrics to one of my favorite songs "Take courage my heart, stay steadfast my soul He's IN the waiting" He's there friends. He's with you. He's fighting for you, with you. Look next to you, allow yourself to sense His presence as He runs this race right beside you, pushing you on until the very end. Who am I to rush this season the Lord has purposed in my life for go...

if i'm honest i've put off this post for a LONG time 2 months to be exact.   sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to but we live in a society where we are all guilty of only posting the beauty among the ashes. We post about the fun times we've had, the cute outfit we wore or how wonderful and perfect our friends are.   but why is it that we fail to just be real? since when was it a crime to have a messy house, dirty dishes and a life that isn't all together. we are NEVER going to have it all together.   I, too fell victim to this horror of our 21st century society. but im here to tell you, my life is so much more than my facebook status, that cute picture of my friends and that really nice encouraging tweet I posted.   friends, there is such freedom in authenticity. I don't know about you- but I don't want friends who pretend to be perfect. there is so much growth and deep rooted love in friendships when ...

wait, what is this thing called again?   oh right, a blog.   Y'all, its been SO long. my apologies.   Life is insane as always and several times I have sat down at my sweet little desk to write what was on my heart and I just stared at the screen and didn't even have the words.   However, today the Lord showed me something and suddenly all the blur of the last few months came very clearly into focus.     the last few months have been some of the hardest, trying times of my life, yet some of the most incredible moments seeking the Lord and reaping the joy of trusting Him in every circumstance.     2016 has been a train-wreck but when I get to the end of some days and get back on the tracks and see the light peaking through the end of the tunnel, it's like my personal rainbow from the Lord knowing His promises still ring true and He is always there to guide me.   today, I came across...

  something the Lord has just really been pressing on my heart lately, is my lack of patience and trust with Him. I am a planner at heart, I want all the plans in ink, color coated and set in stone from the start and im sure y'all have realized Jesus doesn't quite work that way.   He has really just been showing me over and over and over again, that His timing is so incredibly perfect. indeed it is so worth it to wait on Him and His timing. things always work better that way.   last night, as my bible study group from church had our "home" night. We all cozied up in the cutest of IKEA's furniture with big bowls of chili and chocolate to follow and we just straight up bragged on Jesus for 2 hours. and it was absolutely delightfully wonderful. just sharing my story with my sweet friends, and major events in my life that have led up to where I am now, all of them just point to one theme. His perfect timing. He is always...

life is so crazy. my planner has more scribbles and scratch-outs than a child's coloring book. but lately im learning that in my being busy I am so incredibly blessed. I sat down last night to help lead our life-group with my sweet middle school girls. and as we dug into the Word of God and his truth, and just shared honestly our doubts and misconceptions about the Lord and pursuing him daily.. there was moments I just zoned out, and was just completely in awe of how amazing God is and was especially in that moment. I mean who would've thought that i would learn such deep and heart wrenching lessons from 7th and 8th graders. gracious, if only I was that wise and vulnerable as a middle schooler. I left with such hope. their hearts of hunger for the Lord were inspirational, I couldn't wait to get home and pray for each of them and dig into the word finding answers to their questions. may it always be our priorit...

well hey there stranger! it's me again..     working 40 hours a week, it being summer, working with a new ministry at church, and living with one of my best friends; leaves zero time of just sitting around, much less finding time to focus long enough to blog.   but while the time has presented itself, here I am.. and I've got a few thoughts I want to share with you, friend.   My Pastor started a series last week, and it's got me thinking...   He started talking to us about "the Plow" we need in our lives.   because sometimes just like the soil in the field that needs plowing, our hearts are fallow and in need of some plowing some changing and rearranging in order to allow for the Lord to make us fertile, or fruitful.   just like the plants planted in the unplowed or fallow ground we can't grow and be fruitful without turning over that new soil.   "the church that refuses the plow, writes its ...

    Lately the Lord has just really been stirring my heart.   With the end of school stress, moving into my first place, learning to adjust to summer and getting news I never wanted to hear.   it has been quite the adjustment, but such a glorious one. there's something about just knowing him intimately that beats anything I could ever explain.   ya know I've been thinking  he knows each and every hair on our head he knows the bags under our eyes after long nights he knows the wrinkles on our forehead the lines on our hands..   but do we know him like that?   is it possible that we're missing the point. we say we know him but do we really know Him?   It's been my goal in the past few days to just be still, and know.   quite frankly sometimes or all the time I'm lost. I look up and don't know the cleared path is and I know how to walk, but I don't have any idea w...

People often laugh, along with giving me crazy looks when I make it known that I'm an introvert. through and through.   I love people, like LOVE them. and I love spending time with people and laughing and making memories.   but nothing says heaven like moments alone. these moments are harder and harder to come by as life progresses, but when I find the still silence and the ability to just sit and savor each and every minute of it. I leave so refreshed.   since starting college, I have learned to cherish the times that I'm able to just slow down, to stop and just rest at the feet of the Lord. to reflect on his goodness.   this week, was nothing compared to last week but it was still quite a challenge.  I constantly live in survival mode.   yet, the Lord was so gracious as to allow my only class to get cancelled today, creating an hour of silence because sometimes, planners, pan...

Y'all the Lord has done amazing things in 2015 so far.   I hope and pray that each of you have sat at his feet and tasted of the joy that 2015 holds already.   I always have an urge to post, but sometimes I just don't really have the words to say.   Today's Friday, this week has been super crazy and life this semester consists of handwriting (thank you elementary education degree) endless emails daunting discussion board posts long hours of lectures never ending reading assignments homework galore leadership duties working 4 days a week and applying for a new leadership position including interviews and such. soaking up every moment spent with friends and trying to deny the odds that I will soon take on the nickname "hermit"   but y'all  there is so much joy in the chaos of life. Jesus works in the smallest of spots to provide such life and happiness such comfort, hope and peace even when the due dat...

I don't really do the whole New Year Resolution type deal-   because lets just be honest, I'm definitely not gonna be at the gym every day at 6am for 365 of days of the year. If we're really being honest I'll probably never in my life be at the gym that early.   being a full time student with 18 credit hours, working 5 days a week, being on leadership and just being a teenager in general is plenty to keep up with for the year.   However, my close friends and I have conversated about some things I do plan to implement in 2015. and several others have asked, so I'm gonna be brave, and share. because millions of strangers keeping me accountable is never a bad thing.   While I've made some smaller changes before the new year such as eating healthier, using organic natural products, scheduling weekly phone calls/ time with friends and some other small things to increase my years and keep my friendships thriving...   my mai...

There once was a day, a day that I promised to do something so incredible, so time consuming, and yet so freeing..   I promised to blog often. To keep the world wide web up to date on Austyn's every life event. and then life took over, and we see where that went.   But 2015 holds new opportunity, and while I can't promise which opportunities I will take advantage of, I can promise, to simply try. try to make time, try to make blogging a priority, try to let this be a place full of thoughts, life events, pictures and Jesus.   so with that being said, here's to 2015 {even if im 48 hours late..} being a year of new beginnings new blogging habits and raising HIS name from every rooftop.   Life lately, has been so full of Him. and oh friends, what a joy it is to truly delight in Him.   Just say, "Yes!" and let Him take you for the wildest ride of your life.   There is no greater joy in making a decision...

This past Saturday, some of my friends and I got the chance to run the Color run, for a local pregnancy center I was involved with last year.   It was so fun to raise money and run for such an amazing ministry, that the Lord is blessing left and right.   So many young women, and their babies lives are being saved as they walk through the doors of the PC and hear the gospel and are helped in the most desperate of situations.   #fortyandfreetobecolorful   these jello legs were so worth the fun! ;)   -Austyn