Psalm 90 ...

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting YOU are God..." 

Psalm 90:1-2

"In the morning, it springs up NEW..."

Psalm 90:6a

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. .."

Psalm 90:14

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands." 

Psalm 90:17

"Talitha Koum"

Sometimes it seems like my life is getting pretty crazy... I find myself involved in a lot of different things, keeping up with friends and schoolwork, and trying to still find time for myself and the Lord. Sometimes it's easy for me to lose focus and become overwhelmed by my ever-growing workload. This morning during my quiet time I was humbled as I remembered my Lord’s faithfulness. I love it when God brings me down off of my high horse and reminds me that it's not about me...


This morning I was reading the story of when Jesus restored a dead girl to life in Mark 5:35-43. When Jesus came to the house of the little girl, the daughter of Jairus, he said, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead, but asleep.” He then went to the little girl and He said “Talitha koum” which means “little girl rise” in Aramaic. The girl immediately stood up and walked around. Jesus then gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this.


I was thinking about how interesting it was that Jesus didn't want anyone to know about the miracle he had performed. He had raised a little girl up from the dead and it should have been ALL about Him. Day in and day out, I feel like God has to continually raise me up and equip me to handle all that he has placed in my sphere of influence. I know that I am fully capable. I have to keep reminding myself that rather than asking God to lower the load, I need to ask Him to increase my capacity to handle it. Every day God gives me the opportunity to advance His Kingdom through my every action. He says, "Talitha Koum" and expects me to live and breathe every moment for Him. It's not about me. It's all about Him. It's my calling to make His name known by rising every day to bring Him honor and praise. 

Elevation Church: BOONE

"What we read about in Acts 2 isn't just an indication of what God did a long time ago, but an EXPECTATION of what He still wants to do today..." Think BIGGER.

Shelley's ENGAGED!!!

This past weekend I went home to Charlotte for Labor Day weekend to celebrate my 20th birthday with my family! Little did I know I was in for an even BIGGER celebration!! 

My older sister, Shelley, got ENGAGED!!! 

After two years of dating, Jeremy Hines has finally proposed to my beautiful sister. Now I must say that I have had the privilege of watching their relationship grow these past two years. Two years ago, I listened to Shelley as she told me how interested she was in this boy, Jeremy, who is in our brother Christian fraternity, KYX. I accompanied Shelley to a game of Ultimate frisbee with the guys just so there would be a chance Jeremy would look her way. Little did Shelley know that Jeremy had been noticing her since the first day they met. I encouraged Jeremy and watched as he began to court my sister with flowers and dinner dates. 

Now these two have one of the most God-centered, stable relationships I know. They continually seek the Lord in every endeavor and they truly are a partnership in every sense. Shelley is very blessed with a man who is God's man through and through. I'm excited to see where the next few years lead them! Congratulations you two! 

Back to Boone

Well, I'm back in the lovely town of Boone for my junior year at Appalachian State! I am so excited for what I know will be an exciting and challenging year. It has been great to reunite with my App friends and have some fun. Earlier last week, Laura came over to the apartment and my roommate, Lori convinced us to build a fort in the living room. One word, FUN. Check it out:

 

We proceeded to cook dinner (to eat inside the fort of course) and watch the classic, You've Got Mail. Over the weekend, my friend Jamie and I journeyed over to Valle Crucis to explore their General Store and sit in the sunshine. I was so captivated by the beauty that exists in this small mountain town. It was BEAUTIFUL. Here are a few pictures from our adventure:

It has been such a blessing to have such a warm welcome back to Boone. Learning to cook with Lori, celebrating Laura's birthday, beginning new classes, seeing all of my SAO girls, etc. has greatly eased the transition of summer to fall semester for me. I'm enjoying dwelling in the land. Psalm 37:4 "...Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures." 

The Latest

I've been out of the blogging world for so long (all summer!) that I'm not even sure where to begin... Here's a brief recap of what the Lord did with my summer:

1. I was an intern at Elevation Church for 12 weeks. No previous summer comes close in comparison. It was absolutely the most incredible experience I have ever had and I was so blessed with the opportunity. There is so much that I want to share (an entire notebook full of notes) so I've decided to post weekly teachings from what I learned instead of writing a novel right now!

2. I traveled to New Mexico with 6 other girls for our sorority, Sigma Alpha Omega's, National Convention!

3. I was a chaperone for the Elevation Student Summer Trip. Clayton King, Pastor Steven, Elevation Worship, 500-600 students = INCREDIBLE. 

4. I was baptized during the  Follow series along with my fellow intern, Lindsey Newton, and my mom!

5. My family took a spur of the moment beach trip to celebrate the end of summer and my little sister's birthday! After a summer of busy days and long hours, I so loved relaxing and having fun with my family!

6. The Lord opened my eyes to a whole different level of what it means to serve and honor Him. The treasure that I have obtained from a summer of growing and learning from the Lord has made my life incredibly more significant. Looking forward to sharing more soon!

Meet the other Elevation interns... They're awesome! 

http://interns.elevationchurch.org/

Being an Elevation Intern

I cannot express to you how much I am LOVING interning with Elevation Church. It is an incredible, exciting, fast-paced environment. I have learned so much already and I have only been there for a week! I am so honored to be under the leadership of so many wonderful men and women of God. I am also grateful that I have quickly become friends with the rest of the interns. They are all so special and perfectly placed as interns. This week, we had to endure many trials together:


- The incredibly fast-paced environment in which the staff works.
- BOOT CAMP- that's right. We have boot camp twice a week and we are competing for a prize at the end of this semester. The staff is doing this as well except they are a little more hardcore! Buck Buhler and Kelly Hubatka serve as our personal trainers. They call it Body by Buck and let me tell you... it is no joke. My partner Scott and I are totally going to win. 
- The interns went on a 6 mile History Walk of the church at 6:00 am. It was a wonderful bonding time for everyone and I LOVED every second of it. (Even though we were all so sore from our first boot camp!)
- Our INITIATION into the staff... Let's just say that it involved hot sauce. The staff was pretty excited about it... Check it out: http://yfrog.com/5k49869028z?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dd6c472d55134e0%2C0

It has been an amazing week. I LOVE working with the eGroups. I am under the awesome leadership of Jay Rabon, Elevation's eGroups Pastor. However, I also get the pleasure of working under Paul Cunningham, a wonderful man of God and a wealth of knowledge, and Jamie Waldron, Student eGroups Director. I have already learned so much about myself, the church, and building relationships with others. This morning, I got to witness so many people walking forward and giving their relationships and lives over to Christ during the Worship Experience. It is truly an honor to be in this position and have this incredible opportunity...


Thanking God for this season in my life that He has graciously blessed me with. I look forward to sharing more about my internship experiences with you soon! Over and out. 

Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer

This past Sunday was my older sister, Shelley's graduation from Appalachian State! I am so happy for her, but I am sad to see her leave! I have so enjoyed getting to know her better as a sister, a best friend, and as a roommate this year. I remember coming to App as a little freshman and always seeking Shelley's help...I basically copied everything she did! 
Exhibit A...

Haha! I had the best time living with her in our little apartment this year. I will miss waking up and having my coffee with her, seeing her perfectly ready and watching Boy Meets World (wishing I could wake up early enough to watch it too!), baking cookies, watching tons of Bones episodes, sitting in the sun at Durham Park, walking the Boone loop, eating lots and lots of pasta, having the apartment decorated on my birthday, riding the Appalcart together every morning, joining SAO, and wanting my college life to be like hers. 

Shelley, there's so much more I could say. But I am thankful that we are sisters and not just roommates. I have the privilege of enjoying those things with you forever. I am so proud of you today! 

Those hours of studying and working hard have finally paid off! God is going to use you for such great things...what a strong woman of God you are! I am continually inspired by your passion for life, your motivation, and your driven personality. It is no wonder that I have so desired to be like you. You have been quite the role model for me throughout my entire life. 

May God be glorified in everything that you do...always glorified. I am so excited for you as you begin this exciting new chapter in your life! I LOVE YOU! 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." 

-Numbers 6:24-26

Her Children Arise and Call Her Blessed...

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet momma- an amazing woman of God and the most caring person I know. I am constantly amazed at your ability to do it all; You encouraged my creativity; You taught me how to love life; and I have never doubted that you fear the Lord. I am so blessed to have had your constant support, advice, discipline, and love growing up. Thankful that you taught your three baby girls how to become strong, Christian women in today's world. I love you!!!

"Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruits of her hands and let her works praise her at the city gates." Proverbs 31:28-31

A Different Heart

"A person with a different heart doesn't see life as it appears on the outside. Instead, she sees life from the heart, the way God sees it. She follows what God tells her to do in her heart, not depending on what she sees with her eyes. You need to learn how to see God with the eyes of your heart and follow what God shows you is really true. It's like looking for God's secrets as you would search for treasure. The ones who have different hearts find the treasures of heaven that God has strewn all throughout their lives so that they can always find JOY wherever He is." 

- The Mission of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson

SUMMER PLANS!

I am so thrilled that summer is finally here! Summer is my favorite season for so many reasons. I LOVE warm weather, I love spending time with friends and family, vacations, cookouts, late night movies, etc. This summer, I am so honored to have exciting plans!

I have been given the opportunity to intern with Elevation Church this summer! What a blessing! I will be under the direction of Jay Rabon, eGroups Campus Pastor, and Paul Cunningham, Groups Director. I am so excited to learn and grow in such an incredible environment. I am hoping to soak in everything I can about the culture of Elevation Church so that I can bring it back to Elevation Global: Boone. I am constantly amazed at the way the Lord is directing my life...His plans are so very different from my own, and for that I am grateful! (I clearly don't think big enough...)

Caroline

This Year Has Taught Me...

After a long, hard week of exams, papers, and projects... I have FINALLY completed my sophomore year of college!! TOO WEIRD! It never ceases to amaze me what each year of college brings. This year, it has brought change, excitement, stress, hope, new beginnings, etc. and I have loved every second of it. 

A few things I have learned from this year...

- My Lord is ever faithful. Through the hard times, He remains strong and steadfast- an ever-present help in times of trouble. He is capable to fulfill my every need and love me with a love like no other.

- It is an incredibly rewarding experience to be in a position of leadership. I have found so much joy taking on leadership positions this year. Being Prayer Chair for SAO has been an exciting and challenging experience. It has presented me with opportunities to be broken, hurt, put back together, and filled with life in Jesus so that I might be an example to the ladies in SAO. Being Next Level Coordinator for Elevation Global: Boone has given me the chance to pray with those who are lost and were found and fill them with life in Christ. 

- Waiting for and finding true love can be quite the challenge. But when God presents you with the prince He has prepared, shaped, and created just for you, the wait will be worth it. This is something I have had to come to understand this year. I have had to put my complete trust in God this year and allow Him to take control in the area of relationships. Never have I been so challenged...but God has truly transformed me from a girl to a woman this year. So grateful.

- True friends are invaluable. I have so enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful women this year. I am grateful that the Lord has brought these women into my life for a reason. We are able to share our struggles and our joy with one another, pray for each other and lift each other up. I love spending time with them and I know that we will be friends for life. 

- Choosing a major seems like a concrete decision...until you realize that God has the final say. I'm not sure why I stressed out so much when deciding on a major. I have come to realize that God has the power to shape my life the way that he desires it to be. It is quite the roller coaster ride, but an incredible rush when you see what God had planned for you all along. ALLOW Him to take control. 

I am so thankful for my sophomore year of college. It has truly been a year of growing for me. 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful." 

- John 15:1-2

Just wanted to quickly share with you guys that our 3D Easter service at Elevation Global: Boone had 7 salvations. That's a total of 14 salvations since we started 3 weeks ago!! PRAISE! I had the honor of praying with two new sisters in Christ and I just LOVED watching them accept God's love and grace. The Lord is certainly moving in Boone, NC...


"Your life is one of the greatest testimonies to the GOODNESS and creative capabilities of God that you are EVER going to behold. For what He has already given you, for after He can redeem your life after it falls apart, or remake your heart after its been shattered. No matter what you have experienced, your life is stamped by the GOODNESS of God." 

Lord, you are SO GOOD. I adore watching you work in my life. 


PS. Excited for our final week of Grapes and Giants this coming Sunday at Elevation Global: Boone! Check out this sneak peak into our next series on relationships: Mr & Mrs. Betterhalf!

What Makes a Good Leader

I am so honored to share this news with you- Next year, I will be the President of Sigma Alpha Omega, the Christian sorority on App's campus. I am THRILLED! The Lord continues to pour out His blessings in my life, and I am in awe watching Him work. I am so blessed to have served under such amazing leadership this year as Prayer Chair and I have learned so much from each of the seniors about Christ and community with one another. Here is the new Exec Board for next year! We were celebrating our beautiful seniors at Senior Night last night. In the words of Kelsye Hughey (my VP!) the fate of the sorority rests in our hands... dun dun dunnnnn. haha

My two favorite seniors!

My sweet sister Shelley. I'm going to miss her so much! Good thing we're related.

Old and new Prez!

The Lord has been teaching me about what makes a good leader and I shared what I've been learning with the other SAO leaders at the transition meeting. Check it out:

"A common leadership saying is that a leader can only lead people as far as they have gone themselves. I couldn’t agree more. But there’s one facet of this truth that we need to be careful of, especially when it comes to the way we communicate to inspire and motivate the people we’re leading.

A person walking ten miles ahead of you is a hard person to follow.

It’s one thing to say you’ve been ten miles ahead and you’re going to lead them to the destination. It’s another thing to tell people I’m ten miles ahead, come find me. Leaders lead the way. Leaders should inspire people to raise their game by their life and what they say. Leaders can only take people as far as they have gone themselves. 

The highest compliment you can give to those you lead is to demand the best from them. Don't apologize for expecting excellence. God deserves it, and people are capable of it. Call it out.

But leaders also have to live and communicate in such a way that the people following them believe it’s possible to get to where they’re going. What you need to do is be a person who can challenge them to move from 5 to 10. And then 10 to 15. And so on. You’ve already been there, so you can inspire them to get there. But it’s also something they’ll believe is possible.

In your leadership, aim to be an example that people can aspire to while still being a person that people can relate to. Then you’ll be able to lead people to where you’ve been.

http://www.stevenfurtick.com/leadership/a-hard-person-to-follo/

Thankful for the opportunity to become a great leader- one who expects excellence while also being a constant supporter.