2015

When I look back to where I was exactly a year ago, I could have never imagined in a million years that I would be where I am right now, that I would have seen what this year has shown me, learned what its taught me, met who its let me and gone where its brought me. I remember sitting in the Christmas Carols show at Nebraska Christian College, enrolled to begin in a short month, thinking I had a solid plan for the next few years. All I had to to was complete my schooling and I was set! Tuition wasnt outrageous, I could study music and the bible in a classroom, and even had job placement guaranteed. It wasnt going to be easy, but it was predictable. It was comfortable. My biggest fear in life is to slide right into complacency, not realizing Im there. Complacency and passivity is an invisible trap, you dont realize youre stuck until you are! I dont want to live a boring life. I want to live out an adventure; constantly learning, constantly sharing, always impacting and being impacted, and never settling for less. Maybe a week after this Christmas show, the Lord challenged me to dream bigger, to take more risk, and to step as far out of my comfort zone as I could go. A mere month later, I was on a plane to El Salvador to complete Patmos Reality Discipleship! I didnt realize it then, but this was a call to more than a season away. It was a call to more, to strive to be greater, a life completely surrendered to the will of God, willing to go wherever and do whatever. Not just to be a ‘Christian,’ limited to my human capabilities, but to exceed those by the power given to me! Acts 20:24 says ‘You shall recieve power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Not an easy life, but to walk in faith, by the Spirit, for the rest of this life, believing that Im called to great things for Him and through Him alone! I learned and experienced more than I could ever put to words. I came home 4 months later with a new perspective and new drive to follow the call on this crazy adventure of a life thats called being a disciple of Christ. I didnt see it then, but now I know that it was just the beginning of something wild.

After coming home, I had plans to return as an intern. I worked a job mowing lawns. Though it seems like a simple job, it was one of the more stretching seasons Ive had! The Lord taught me huge lessons, such as how to be productive in my thought life. Literally ‘taking every thought captive,’ and purposing to pray, think positive, memorize verses, and not allow negativity to creep in. Joy is a choice, and it can be found in any situation. I ended up not going to Patmos again, feeling like the Lord had a different plan. I found a new job, working at Stories coffeehouse, which was one of the most wonderful opportunities. The owners, staff, and managers were all amazing. It wasnt just a job, but almost a family! I was so blessed to get to work there and save up for where I felt the Lord was sending me next…which was a short trip of 9000 miles away.

I applied for Hillsong International Leadership college in Sydney Australia. I will be starting classes in a month, but Im already in Sydney. I had always wanted to go to Australia, so now that Im here its almost hard to believe! Every day blows me away, each day full of new adventures, new struggles, crazy blessings, fun stories, Gods providing in ridiculous ways, and the awesome experience of learning what Adulthood is. I get the blessing to be in this beautiful city, alongside amazing people, studying what I love. Its unreal that its actually happening, and to step back and look at the path God has led me on is remarkable.

As I sat in the Christmas Spectacular at Hillsong Church this last Christmas, the Lord reminded me of this all. Im so thankful to have experienced it all, seen it all, and met all these people, but it hasnt all been easy. Ive had some serious struggles, but those have grown me more than anything! Romans 5:3–5 says that we ‘Glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope.’ Hebrews 12:11 talks about how the trials dont seem easy in the moment, but we know that it brings the fruit of righteousness if we allow it. Im thankful for what God did not only in cool ways, but also the things that straight up sucked. I know I wouldnt be who I am today without them, so I consider them all a victory! If you would have told me In 2014 at Nebraska Christian that in a year I would be sitting in another carols program, this time 9000 miles away at Hillsong Church, I might have called you crazy. Having been so blown away by the last year, I’m thrilled for whats to come in 2016. I know the next year is gonna be incomparable to the last. Im believing for great things, because I know that we have a great God. He not only wants to multiply, but He wants to bring exponential growth!

…5 countries, 2 languages, a 19th birthday, a few tattoos, 8 churches, 3 jobs, 17 books, over 12 thousand miles, 4 houses, 2 semesters of Bible classes, hundreds of new friends, a few lost friends, 2 new guitars, and a handful of kittens, but two things matter the most;

In Mark 12, some people asked Jesus what the greatest law was. The heart of His answer was simple: Love God, and Love people! Life is about people, and the highlight of my year has been just that. The stuff I saw was cool, and the things I did were cool, but without people they wouldnt have meant a thing. Family and friends, parents, siblings, coworkers, aquantances, mentors, teachers, and coaches; from hangouts to road trips, to church services and everything in between, Ive been so blessed to have met hundreds of amazing people this year. Some may be aquantances, and some may be deep relationships that will last a lifetime, but regardless of the depth, people have made this year amazing. No man is an Island, and Ive been so overwhelmed with wonderful people and community all around me. Its been beautiful to see how our testimonies all have woven themselves together, and itll be even better to see how they continue to!

Yet even still, above everything, I can never give enough praise to the One Who Is Worthy of it, The Composer of the beautiful symphony that we call time. What a life, and what a God for giving it to me.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed out of the Hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south…For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:1–3, 9