Summer Staff...When in Doubt, Peace and Pout!

HELLOOO World!!
I am home!

Actually I got home Sunday but I just couldn't bring myself to the computer to write this post.

How am I suppose to put into words the most amazing 3 weeks of my life?

I can't.

I can't even describe it in my own head because I am still trying to process it all.

Oh how the Lord is GOOD!

I have been simply blown away by him.

Lets start from the beginning.

We all have seasons of harvest and seasons of drought, and to be real honest I was pretty dry going into camp.

I knew that I would have a great time but I just didn't want to leave my home and my loved ones for 3 weeks.

I couldn't bring myself to spend time with the Lord and I was just running on empty.

Little did I know what I had in store [no pun intended].

Jesus met me where I was, sweetly broke my heart and loved on me in such intimate ways!

Whether is was from the community of strong believers that I lived and worked with

 (24 girls, 24 boys, 3 coordinators, interns, or assign team),

the  beautiful landscape and view of God's creation,

the "get real" talks with the girls,

or just basking in the light of the Lord,

God just wrapped me in his arms.

He did this especially through the sweet girls I worked with in the store.

I have never felt so challenged, encouraged, or loved in my entire life.

We asked each other hard questions and what our hearts really looked like.

We were silly but serious,

Honest but respectful,

we laughed and cried.

We [mainly I] messed up [a lot] but we poured out father's grace over one another.

I really saw how important community was.

There is a difference in living in a growing Christian community and living with someone who only believes.

We need to be challenged and help accountable by our christian friends but we also need to be loved by them and accepted through God's lens of Grace!

Another awesome thing about my time at The Gap was the

Gettin' Juicy 2K11!!

This was the special time I had with all my summer staff sisters.

We had "girl talk" once a week but it also happened constantly throughout the 21 days.

We all jumped in from the very first email**

 **yeah ladies you all know which one that was ;)**

and GOT REAL,

or as Jess says it BROUGHT IT!

We opened up and shared the real struggles in our lives and what our heart really looks like.

I often find myself covering up little spots of my heart that I don't want people to know about because I am embarrassed or ashamed of them.

But by me seeking out my sisters in Christ I was able to heal and grow from those things.

A third thing that I loved at camp was my quiet times.

I woke up every morning and just sat with Jesus.

There is something about starting your day off with the peace maker that just gives you a peaceful day!

I was able to read his word and write it on my heart in order to live it better throughout the day.

The hard thing is taking that home with me.

I am a busy person at home and find it hard to spend time with Jesus everyday but I need and WANT to!!!!!!

I love seeing the cool things he points out to me in scripture.

He has a funny way of showing me exactly what I needed to hear.

[and that is on a coincidence].

During my time at Windy Gap I learned a lot of things about...

• surrendering
• making Jesus #1
• my need for the cross
• my need for community
• putting away pride
• trust
• JESUS' ABOUNDING LOVE FOR ME!!

This is only to name a few because I could go on for hours.

I read this really cool quote in Jesus Calling one morning while there and it is the perfect moto and life quote for my right now!

"Do not miss the JOY OF MY PRESENCE by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders"

Sweet Lord,

Help me to stop trying to carry the world on my shoulders.

Oh how I fail miserably.

Allow me to be filled with your joy and let it completely overflow.

Help me to surrender my doubts, worries and pride in order to be filled with your peace!

You are good My Father! So good to me.

Help me to find my contentment in the one thing that is ALWAYS good and ALWAYS steady.

I praise you for my sweet time at Windy Gap,for my 300 teenage friend's lives that decided to give their lives to you, and the amazing family of summer staff that you blessed me with!

Most importantly, I cannot thank you enough for the cross by which I am made whole and pure.

Thank you my sweet Lord.

Help me to call to your all the day long.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

My

Yes I am alive :)

I know I went MIA for a few but never fear I'm back!

These past few weeks have been crazy, confusing, and distracting.

I just kinda lost sight of a few this to be honest.

However, the Lord never leaves us we just have to wallow in the pig pen for a little while in order to see what we really need.

I lost sight of my priorities and got wraped up in

my plans,

my goals,

my tests,

my papers,

my meeting,

mymymymymymymymy.

my

MY

MY

my

Get the picture?!

The Lord always calls me back though.

This morning he splashed some cold water on me and woke me up.

He pulled me out of the pig pen.

Save your best striving for seeking My Face.

I am constantly comunicating with you.

To find Me and hear My voice,

you must seek Me above all else.

Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an Idol

[school, extracurriculars, significant others]

When you are determined to get your own way,

you blot Me out of your conscioursness.

Instead of single-mindedly perusuing some goal,

talk with Me about it.

Seek me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place.

[Jesus Calling]

He has my whole life in his hands.

I just need to trust him.

Because I know that I cannot do this on my own...

Thats why I have melt downs, and get stressed.

I am thankful for a God

who will help me get through college,

who helps me get through papers,

who helps me to schedule my life.

I just need to trust him.

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

I love my sisters a whole bunch :)

I love my new roomie a whole bunch!!!

(Hayley we need a new pic with just us)

And MY BEST FRIEND and BOY FRIEND is COMING TOMORROW

refuge and strength

Oh Saturdays.

I forgot how special they are.

Seriously the best day of the week.

I love just relaxing and getting to do fun little things all day.

I have been watching cake shows 24/7 lately... bad idea.

I have been craving one so badly so finally tonight we went to YOLO and got cupcakes :)

how yummy does that look?!

So I just read Jesus Calling and of course the Lord just touched my heart.

I am still amazed that the passages I read fit so well with my current situation.

The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand.

Ask My Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts,

for the mid controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace.

[JesusCalling]

I really like this because I feel like this is one of the biggest struggles in my life.

I have, still, and will still struggle with this.

I always try to grasp or fill that whole of my heart with things other than the Lord.

Whether its a boy or friend or some other person or thing I always try to grab for things that are not the Lord for help.

Not that I have not done this myself, but it always breaks my heart when I see friends that are so lost because all they have in their life is a boyfriend and he lets her down.

Attention all girls:

If you only rely on a man to make you happy you will always be disappointed.

He won't text you back when you want him to.

He won't say the right things.

He won't always be there for you.

He is unreliable.

He will never fill that place in your heart that the Lord was made for.

Not saying that you can't have a boyfriend or that he won't make you happy.

But if you don't love and trust the Lord more than him, you will always be let down.

Psalm 46: 1-2

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Ps 32 days HSH

One day

Follow me one step at a time.

That is all I require of you.

In fact, that is the only way to move through this world.

You see huge mountains looming, and you starting wondering how are you going to get through it.

Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now.

Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence.

Trust Me to open up a way before you.

[jesuscalling]

Every morning,

Jesus draws me back to him.

He is constantly pursuing [favorite word] me in my everyday walk.

I woke up this morning thinking about things I have no control over.

He stopped me in my negativity and filled me with peace and joy for my day.


With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
Psalm 18:29

With the Lord on my side, I can do anything.
I only need to think about one day at a time.
With my incompetent brain I can not handle more than that.
He gives me enough Joy for my day and its not enough for anything more than one day.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

With Love From My Father,
Diane Elizabeth






P.S. 6months but this picture was taken a yr and a half ago

It is finished

School has been keeping me so busy.

If I ever have free time from reading Martin Luther, Chemistry, or Anatomy,

 I use that time to rot my brain with TV, mindless talking, exercise videos, or random excursions off campus.

Lately I feel like all of Samford has been in the "pre-spring bug".

This includes excessive exercise and random people wearing shorts outside when it only 50 degrees!

INSANE PEOPLE.

Most people go MIA around 6 because they are dancing, stepping, and singing the night away!

I have had great quality time with the sweet girls on my hall who are not doing it.

JKH and I have been in this Jillian Michael's crazy.

We are trying to workout and get healthy for spring.

I better have no more trouble zones after this!

In 8 weeks I will look like this!

NOT!

I have been waddling my way around campus for the past 3 days.

I think I forgot what it feels like not to be sore every time I try to sit down.

It hurts but the goal will be worth it... hopefully.

Jesus Calling kinda reminds me of the feeling I am going through with my workout craze.

I get frustrated that I have to do this at all.

Why can't my life be easy.

I wish I never had this problem.

I could be that girl who eats anything I want and not show it at all.

Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life.

Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties.

As I told you, in the world you will have great trouble.

Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven.

Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the perfect one.

[JesusCalling]

I really do catch myself getting frustrated and upset with things in this world.

Why is that?

Because I am seeking my satisfaction in them.

Yes there will be problems but we should use those to cling to the Lord.

We must find our peace through the Lord.

John 16:33

 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.

It is finished.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Jealous for me

It is my last day in Johnson City.

It is my last day in the beautiful mountains.

Last day in Tennessee.

Last day in the Eastern Time Zone.

Last day with my family.

Last day of peace and quiet :)

I am so ready to go back to school.

To get Back into the swing of college life.

But I am very nervous about what this semester brings.

I hope that I can stay as close to the Lord as I am now if not even closer.

I hope I can stay calm and keep my head level.

I was reading Jesus Calling this morning and I loved it!

Who am I kidding I love it every morning!

Its incredible that this little book was written in 2004 by some lady I don't know,

and that I can read exactly what I need to be reading that day.

It is always exactly what I need to hear.

I have had trouble in the past by putting things before God.

This is called having Idols [duhh].

But I feel like people don't realize this because it is not a statue or something we worship.

Its money or

cars or

shopping or

our sorority or

our grades or

our jobs or

our boyfriends or

our sports teams or

our friends.

I have probably had a time where all of these things meant more to me at the time than spending time with God.

I want you to be all Mine.

I am weaning you from other dependencies.

Your security rests in me alone--not other people,

not in circumstances.

Depending only on Me may feel like walking on a tightrope,

but there is a safety neat underneath: my everlasting arms.

[Jesus Calling]

This summer I worked in Colorado for a month not knowing anyone...

Because he wanted me to be all his!

This summer I am working in North Carolina for a month not knowing anyone...

Because he wants me to be all his!

I go to school in Alabama alone Because he wants me to be all his!

He is jealous for me!

The creator of the universe, the king of kings is jealous for me!

Cling to the Lord in your loneliness!

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Me

I sat down to do my devotional this morning in the mind set of I want to get this done so I can go about my day.

I can only imagine what the Lord thought as he watched me sit down and begin to read the short passage from Jesus Calling.

 He probably laughed thinking, "Oh YOU just think you can be done with me quickly."

"Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you.

Do not be ashamed of your emptiness.

Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.

 It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together.

YOUR attempts to look good can fool most people.

But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being."

[JesusCalling]

He got me at not being ashamed of my emptiness, its easy to touch up your outward appearance, MY attempts to look good can fool MOST people.

Oh, dang.

I like how its uses the words "your, you" 8 times in this short paragraph, because that is EXACTLY what I am thinking about...

ME...

I catch myself going into time with the Lord thinking about myself,

what should I change

how this can center MY life,

how I need to get this done,

what am I getting out of this,

what do people think of ME when I do this.

A "Famous" quote from my favorite movie The Princess Diaries is Mia saying...

 "And then I realized how many stupid times a day I used the word "I". In fact, probably all I ever do is think about myself. And how lame is that when there's, like, 7 billion other people out there on the planet and when.."

YOU GO MIA! My point exactly.

Except when I have an Almighty, All Powerful, Loving Creator who has my best interest in mind,

 Why do I try to make things about ME?

I heard on XM Radio "The Message" the other day a quote that says something along the lines of

 "Think of why you worship and remember that God knows why you really do it."

"But I see straight through you into the depths of your being"

He knows our biggest struggles, our biggest pleasures. He knows what we really want and what we really need. He knows the real reason why I spend time with him.

I don't know about you but this sorta scares me because that means he knows the dark things in the pit of my stomach and still loves me the same.

"For I am convinced that

neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39

incredible...

With Love From my Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Store up for yourself Treasure in Heaven

"Every time you affirm your trust in me, you put a coin into MY treasury. Thus you build up equity in preparation for days of trouble." [JesusCalling]

This morning I woke up to a fresh blanket of SNOW on the ground.
 I do not think I have ever seen a view out my window as pretty as the one I have now.
The hills of the golf course, the frozen pond, the trees.
SO PRETTY!
I was getting ready to head to work and when I was completely ready,
walking out the door.
 My dad called to say that the roads were too bad!
So Yes I woke up and was ready for the day at 8 o'clock this morning! WOO HOO!
But the blessing in this was that I got time to do my quiet time in the morning.
Oh its incredible how the Lord knows the days that I may need a little more peace and time with him.
And how he knows that I need to set my mind straight in the morning.

 Psalm 56
 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?"

Matthew 6:20-21
 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."


The more intentional I become with trusting the Lord, the more I will cling to that in times of trouble.

Everyone is returning back to school this week.
 Everyone but ME!
Its not that I am fearful in the scared, terrifying way but I am just nervous about going back to school,starting new classes, and being away from loved ones.
And the fact that I will be in JC for a whole 2 more weeks all alone haha!

I am ready to go back and to start pursuing relationships with high school girls.
I am ready to build relationships with my college friends.
I am ready to go back and listen to David Platt.
I am ready for Hayden to come see Samford for formal :)
I feel like I just pressed pause in my life and came home. I am ready to press play and get started again!!!


With Love From My Father,
Diane Elizabeth