The One You Need

Have you heard one of Shane & Shane's newest songs? It is called, "The One You Need" and oh.my.goodness....AMAZING! I think I cry every time I hear it! Tears and driving do not mix well at all! :) I got to hear Shane & Shane live in Norman a month or so ago and as I listened to why they wrote it, I couldn't help but pray that my husband would be that type of father! 

How blessed would I be to have the father of my babies be that man who loves them so much that he teaches them the true meaning of life! Every time I hear it I pray for my husband and for the man he is and will be in Christ. 

If you haven't heard the song before, you might want to grab a tissue and then click the link below. Hopefully the video will work. I know it had a few pauses, but you will be glad you waited it out once you finish the video! The words are below too.

http://youtu.be/3JfifnH3wd0

Shane and Shane's The One You Need:

Hey hey sweet daughter

I am so proud to be your father

Each day is like a gift from God

Hey hey sweet daughter

There’s no music like your laughter

And your smile is like a rising sun

You know I loved you from the start

So come in close

Take my hand for

Daddy shares his heart

I wish that I could be your everything

Be the one to give you all the things you need

Sometimes I’m gonna let you down

But there’s Someone if you just believe

Be your hero like He’s always been for me

Darling, Jesus is the one you need

No matter what you walk through

He will always love you

Just the way you are

For there’s nothing in this world

That I’d walk for my baby girl

That she’ll be happy ever after

The story of your life is still untold

I pray the King of all the Universe

Would make your heart His own

I wish that I could be your everything

Be the one to give you all the things you need

Sometimes I’m gonna let you down

But there’s Someone if you just believe

Be your hero like He’s always been for me

Darling, Jesus is the one

Who will never leave

He’s been there all along

All ready You can find to love

I wish that I could be your everything

Be the one to give you all the things you need

Sometimes I’m gonna let you down

But there’s Someone if you just believe

Be your hero like He’s always been for me

Darling, Jesus is the one you need

So??? What did you think? Totally amazing right?!?! Most of the time I hear this song on the way to work, aka my internship. I think the combination of knowing the boys I work with and get to see on a regular basis and learning about the life they came from along with dreaming about the day that my husband is on his knees praying for our children gets the best of me. Many of the boys I've gotten to know did not grow up with a father who did what this song talks about and that is heart breaking to me. Then on the other side of that I look to the future and my sweet babies with their daddy and my heart is overcome with joy. 

Jesus is the one we need. My friend, Lauren once said, "If you need Jesus to be your boy friend, He can be your boy friend. He can be anything you need Him to be." She was talking to the  youth girls at our last MOMS' & GIRLS' Bible Study. I love that too because girls are so crazy with their emotions! We've all been so desperate at one point or another to have that thing like a boy friend because of one reason or another, but did we ever stop to think that Jesus is standing there waiting for us to ask Him to be that thing we need? Many of us, if answering honestly, would say no. Growing up I'd have to of said nope didn't do that. 

Psalm 139 talkes about the All Knowing and Ever Present God. In this chapter it talks about how God has searched us and knows us. He knows when we sit and when we stand. He understands our thoughts before we speak them. We can't escape Him. He created us and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He thought about each little aspect and designed us.  So why wouldn't we want Him to fill up that longing we want and need? It is kind of silly that we run around and fill that void with everything under the sun before we just ask Jesus to fill it. 

I am so thankful that I filled that void thirteen years ago on July 29, 1998. Now instead of trying to fill a void I can focus on praying for this beautiful man who loves Jesus and one day will be the daddy to our babies. I can pray for him even though I don't know who he is. I don't know that I have ever met him, but I can pray for God to guide him, protect him, grow him, pour His love of him, teach him and mold him into the man that God created him to be to carry out His will for his life. How cool is that?

I think every woman should pray for her mate (for all you married gals: you can do this too! You just have the pleasure of knowing all about your mate while praying and praying specifically for him!!). Pray that God would prepare you for him. Instead of looking for him, prepare yourself for him. I think Lauren said this too (she is full of great stuff isn't she), I looked it up in my Bible and it wasn't Lauren, it was her husband who said it... but he said, "Become the right person instead of looking for the right person." You prepare yourself and let God do the rest. Works for me and this way allows me to do more praying. Praying for a man who will lead our household. That is a big job even before there are children involved. No doubt he will already have his hands full with me hahaha (those of you who know me, know what I mean there ;) ). 

I just think this song is beautiful. It is a pure love for the Father and for their baby girls. A complete blessing sang by Shane and Shane. 

I will bring back some of the words to end this long and maybe scattered post and say;

But there’s Someone if you just believe

Be your hero like He’s always been for me

Darling, Jesus is the one you need

Have a great weekend! Bless someone before Monday!

Kayla

growing pains...a love hate relationship?

I have a love hate relationship toward growing pains when they come from God.  Over the past few weeks I've been learning that I am lacking in one very important area of my life.  It is an area that has to grow and change. ACK! Change...Always a crazy part of life. 

Friendship...what does that word mean to you? Friends are so important to me and I've been learning that over the past few years I've been the friend who listens, prays and encourages friends, but I have been missing out on that as the one who is always on that side. Do you know how hard it is to have a normal friendship where you can sit down and 'shoot the breeze' with someone who isn't always having a problem? I am learning it is EXTREMELY hard for me to have a normal adult friendship. Is that weird?

***Now don't get me wrong...I have great friends.***

God has been making me step out and trust Him and grow in Him so I can learn what it is to have that special girl friend relationship with other women who love Jesus. Last year in October we had a women's retreat at church and a lady spoke about friends. She talked about your garden of friends. Some of them are seasonal, some are constant and some are weeds. She talked about how important it was to have those weeds pulled out and trashed and to pray for those constant friends if you do not have them now. 

Immediately I knew one woman God wanted me to ask to be in my garden. To this day...I've not asked her. I have pushed the idea of asking her out of my mind over and over. I've thought, 'why would she want to be in my garden' and 'God, do you know who she is?' Ridiculous is all cases. There is no reason why I am still fighting God on this. 

The other woman I have talked to about this. But I've allowed myself to not be such a great friend. I find myself not knowing what I am doing and I know that probably sounds completely crazy-how do you not know how to be a friend? HAHA There are days that I do not know my place with her. She is one fabulous lady who loves Jesus more than most. I am blessed to watch her love her Savior. 

The funny thing is that I will pray that the Lord will give me chance after chance to share with these two amazing women and I blow it every single time. I might just avoid the topic all together or just walk by and smile.  Two days ago I was praying for the chance again and what happens in my quiet time? God says, "You want it...You got it" and I am going through a book Sheila Walsh has out and that morning was this: Today I will choose to be open with a trusted fellow believer about one of my failures or weaknesses and let God minister to me through that person. Now I know God was laughing, but come on, really? 

That day was failure again...ha I kicked myself all the way home and couldn't believe that all day I had chance after chance with not just one of my friends but both of the women I've been talking about!!! 

The prayer with this particular page says,"Creator God, you know best what is good for us, and you call me to confess my sin, to be open with fellow believers. Please help me do so for my good, for the sake of community, for protection from the enemy, and for your glory." I am pretty sure this was written just for me and that God is opening up some doors that I can't just seem to get through because I am fearful in the flesh. 

We should trust that the Lord opens doors for us for our good. We should walk through those doors without fear and expect God's hand on every knob. He knows what is best for us, we just have to walk the path.

I will keep praying for the Lord to open those doors and that I will not allow my flesh rule my thoughts. I will walk through the doors the next time I have that chance! Praising Jesus for growing pains even when I don't like them.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

It is a new day...: Life After Europe...

It is a new day...: Life After Europe...

Life After Europe...

I've been so busy since I returned home from Europe this last summer. I went into Slumber Party Mode when I got home. See my then 7th grade girls connection group from church had a slumber party coming up pretty quickly after I got home and there were lots of details to work out and get the surprises nailed down.


The party fell on a night that I had a final class for my Europe trip (and I had to go to turn in all my homework so there was no way of getting out of it, but I am glad that I got to see all the ladies I traveled with!!) and so I helped get the girls to the home we stayed at and headed to class. On my way back from class I was able to pick up my friend, Kate.


Kate is extra special to my girls. They've been able to pray for her and her family for about most of the year and they think she is a pretty big ROCK STAR! I took half of my girls to one of Kate's concerts at the Underground and they invited her to our sleep over. She told them that if she was free she would be there. If you know anything about me, you know that I love to give surprises! So I told the girls that Kate couldn't come to the sleep over. The girls did not say a word when I told them. They looked like I had just told them that their pet had just died! They were not happy at all! HAHA


So after class I went by to pick Kate up and took her with me to the Slumber Party. I think the girls were more shocked that I lied to them then actually seeing Kate! They were so funny too. Another surprise was Arrean, a lady I know from church. She is a local Avon lady and she came out and did a spa night with the girls. We were painting nails and poor Kate was just sitting at the table. One of my girls was needing her nails painted so I told her she should ask Kate. You would of thought I asked her to do something off the wall. She was like, I caaaannnnttt do ttthhhaaatttt. Remember Kate is a ROCK STAR so I said, HEY KATE, I THINK WE NEED YOUR HELP OVER HERE PAINTING NAIL! Kate was there to hang so she joined us and that girl was so funny because she wouldn't let Kate paint her nails! No lie...it was really cute!

Later that night we did facials and when it was Kate's turn every girl had to have a part in getting the mask on Kate's face! I am so thankful for the friendship I have with Kate. The Lord brings friends to us is such sweet ways! My girls love her and think she is such a ROCK STAR and I am thankful for Kate's heart for the Lord and how my girls can have her as a Christian role model.

Here we all are after we got our masks on! Aren't we BEAUTIFUL!!! 

 And then another surprise was a photo shoot with the girls that next morning! We did make overs on all the girls. Here is Rachel getting her makeup done by our very own QVC Girl, Nikole! We are so blessed to have Rachel as the mentor for our girls! She is one beautiful girl who loves Jesus!

 Our girls in the van ready for our outing to our photo shoot!

We took their pictures at Arcadia, OK at the old buildings.

This is probably my favorite picture of all. The girls are laughing and having such a great time! It couldn't be any cuter! Candi did a great job as our photographer!

Each party we have there is a mission project that we do. This party we had Mission Project: Baby Blankets! We were given a ton of fleece and so we made baby blankets out of them and took them to the Hope Pregnancy Center-North in OKC.

Here is Candi and the girls working hard on the blankets

We had to finish them on Sunday in class... Then a few weeks ago we took them to the Hope Pregnancy Center-North and let them hand Gayla White, the director, the blankets and she shared with the girls how important the blankets were and gave us a tour of the center. It was so cool for them to see how important their blankets really were!

The girls have graduated to the 8th grade and so did Candi and I! We get to teach our girls one more year!! We are pretty pumped! I am thankful for Candi and her heart for the girls! I couldn't ask for any other women to help lead these girls with! Candi, Lauren and Rachel are jewels.

School has started and I am in my final year of graduate school! PRAISE JESUS! Homework is not fun at all right now. I am completing my internship out at the Boys Ranch Town in Edmond, OK. It is a wonderful place and I am so thankful how God has placed me out there. To see the connections in how He guided my life through my undergrad years and now and connected me with the people He did to get me to BRT now is too cool and done only in a way God could do! 

That is my life, school, BRT, church...It might not seem like much, but I love it and am so blessed by each area. God is teaching me new things everyday and stretching me in ways I don't really want to be stretched because it is not easy, but He never said the Christian life would be easy. I have no idea what He has in store for me tomorrow, next month or after I graduate, but I know I want to be right there in the middle of it when He is ready to show me!

I guess I'll leave you with a verse that I like...

The LORD says, "Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. DOn't you see it?" Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV

Playing Catch Up

The blogs below were typed while I was on the trains during my trip. I couldn't post them until I got home so here they are! Enjoy! Kayla
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Blog from wales to London:

 On the train back to London I didnt have anyone sitting next to me. So I stuck my headphones in and turned on my choices for my 'soft travel music'. I typically always listen to Jami Smith because her music is relaxing and it gives me that refresh feeling in my heart. Not to mention Jesus always speaks when I'm 'away' from the world. I have added a new CD to my travel music! It is a CD called Reflection by my good friend Kate Eacret. You Need to purchase this cd! It is by far one of the best (sure I'm a little bias, but it truly is fabulous) you can purchase it directly from her or at http://www.tatemusicgroup.com   then click on store and search Kate Eacret




So during the train ride from Cardiff to London I was able to list to Kate's Cd and Jami Smith's Bravo God. During the time it takes to listen to two complete CDs I was able to rest and take a nap and then watch some of the most amazing craftsmanship I've ever seen! The buildings here are more intricate and more beautiful than any in America!

The landscape is more Beautiful than america too! Now I'm not putting down America by any means. I am blessed and so thankful to be an American and an Oklahoman! I wouldn't enjoying living anywhere else right now. But God sure did an amazing job on the landscape. All He ever does is perfect but sitting here looking at it just takes my breath away. Here is one of the many songs I listened to by Jami Smith. Her song Love like you love
You and you alone Have the words of life 
That can change my heart Can renew my mind 
Take this life teach me to love 

Love like you lo - ve Love like you lo - ve 
I am different, I am changed 
By Your mercy I can Love like you love 

Now, now I can see How your love Changes me 
When I die You are strong 
I am less You come along and shine 

And you show off you love Love like you lo - ve 
I am different, I am changed 
By Your mercy I can Love like you love 

Oh oh oh eeh oh

I've said that I've never done anything like this trip before. I've been on mission trips to different lands with people I didn't know before but we had one purpose, one mission. This trip is completely different. I'm enjoying my time, making new friends and seeing amazing places. Our professor said before the trip that if we have a problem with someone to let her know. My initial thought was, really? That shouldn't happen...and if it does why wouldn't we tell that person not you? Bahahahaha boy I was so wrong! On mission trips you can look at that person an say something along the lines as, I love you like Jesus but you are irritating me so I'm walking away for a bit. And since we don't have the same focus on this trip those words just don't do the same. Haha it has been interesting to see the irritations play out between all the women and yes we are a group of all women so some should be expected :). I think we've handled it pretty well but I will say a few days in the trip if you would of asked me if I wanted to go home I would have said yes. WHAT?!?! But what about all you get to see and your presentation? Believe me I got over that really fast. I just had to remove myself from a particular person and I found that by doing that I could enjoy the rest of the trip! Jesus sure taught me some lessons there and I'm thankful for the lessons, but they aren't fun while you go through them :). 

We will be in London (Paddington Station) around 3:00 pm and then we have to go to another station to catch the Eurotrain to Belgium. We will get there tonight around 9:30 which is about 3:00 pm for Oklahoma. 

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Blog from London to Belgium typed earlier in the trip...
We made it to the Eurotrain but not until we spent some time at St. Pancreas. We had to get dinner and prepare for security checks/passport showing. While we were waiting we stopped at Gelato Mio for some gelato. I got dark chocolate and watermelon with whipped cream. Okay so the dark chocolate was so good and the watermelon was like eating a piece of watermelon! It was stinkin amazing!!! However, the stupid whipped cream she gave me on top of all that wonderful yumminess fell off onto my backpack! Ack! It was such a mess. I got it all cleaned up and enjoyed the rest of my gelato. FYI their whipped cream is not sweet at all.
Now we are on the train. I've got the widow seat, but I have no window. Hahaha we are suppose to be going under the channel to Belgium.
A side note: they drink coke here. No dr. Pepper but we found the dp!! We were so excited! I am not much if a pop drinker any more but I'm so thankful for the dp!!! :D
Think I'll take a nap now!

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We did it all in a day and a half in Paris!

We got to Paris right before lunch yesterday and were able to take in a few different things...I've been typing my blog out on my phone and will update that once I get to the US!! Can't wait for this time tomorrow night! We are all ready to be home!

 But here are a few pictures from our first day in Paris. 

It started with lunch...Subway is good no matter where you go. We went to one none American place and they didn't accept cards so we left and went to a place that we knew would take our cards! :)

Then we headed off to the Louvre and saw a few familiar faces...

Tammy, Me, and Melody at dinner. we had pizza at a cute little place across from the hotel.

Then...

we headed to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle!

It was amazing!

This is the group that went to the Eiffel Tower. We are in the Metro on our way back to the hotel!

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Today we went everywhere! We made a list and the 10 of us-nine students and one professor (the other two professors did not join us) went through our list and saw the following:

We went back to go to the top of it! Amazing!!

Then we headed over to the Arc

Followed by the place that has beautiful art work by people like Monet

This is a shot from one of his paintings...

                                                 We went back to the Louvre to get lunch, pick
                                                  up a few gifts and get a picture of the two triangles

Then we headed to the Sainte-Chapelle

This will have to be continued...the rest of the pictures won't load and I am off to bed! We are walking out of our hotel at 7:00 a.m. to head to the airport!!! YAY!!!