Sweet Little Avery Grace

This little girl is our friends, E.T. and Becky's daughter. She was born with a rare form of dwarfism that didn't allow her to survive more than a few days. I wanted to share their story of hope and faith and pray it impacts you as it has me. E.T. is Josh's friend from high school, where they were on a wrestling team together. We have kept up over the years and were thrilled to hear that they were expecting. A few months after they found out about their baby, the doctors discovered that she would be born with a rare disease, a form of dwarfism. Throughout the pregnancy, they were both so strong and Becky often posted on her facebook page that they were lifting up little Avery in prayer for healing. It seemed they were ready and prepared to handle whatever surgeries that Avery would face and the difficulties of raising a special needs child. There strength and optimism spoke volumes into my own life as they were facing such an uphill battle yet they were able to live in such joy.

Avery Grace Coley was born on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. It became evident that they had a more serious form of dwarfism than the doctors first thought. As time passed, it became clear that Avery wouldn't spend very many days on this earth. On Saturday, February 12 she left this world of pain and suffering and went to dance with her Lord. It is in times like these that it is so hard to understand God's plan, but Eric and Becky have been able to continue to live in joy. As Becky said in a note about Avery's life, she impacted so many in such a short amount of time. God's plans are not ours, his plans are higher than our plans, his thoughts higher than are thoughts. Even though Eric and Becky are living in the love of their Savior, I know they are struggling to make peace with the loss of their little girl. This morning in church, we sang "You're Amazing God," and as I was singing, I began to cry. I began to cry for Eric and Becky and the tremendous grief they must be feeling. This is my prayer for the Coleys and anybody else who encounters tremendous tragedy in this life. Although we suffer tragedy, we can triumph because our God is Amazing and cares about us enough to provide peace through our times of suffering.

You're Amazing God, Your'e Amazing God
You can bear the weight of every heavy heart
You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain
You can turn our tears into songs of praise
You're Amazing God

Easy No More

I have decided I cannot stand the phrase, "It's just easier." The sad thing is all of us (including myself) sometimes choose the easiest route instead of the most effective one. When stuck between doing something hard that could be way more effective and bring God glory in the process or taking the easy way out, we bail! We bail and then wonder why our lives, ministries, and home lives are ineffective.

I admit I have lead out of this philosophy. In fact I did recently. I was staring this exact dilemma in the face when an employee said, "it will just be easier if we do this," and I caved. I could've said, "No, I asked for this to happen and even though it's gonna be harder, I know that it will affect and touch way more lives." I caved and bailed on an awesome idea! I have done this in coaching as well. There were times where it was just easier to let the runner who needed to be disciplined, get away with murder, because we needed his score to count.

Lets be honest, sometimes hearing, "it will be easier" because then we won't have to do this, this, and this is a relief because I know whoever I'm working with is happy and satisfied not having to go the extra mile and sometimes that's just easier to manage. But what if this, this, and this, would have been incredible? I just missed out on some amazing blessings because instead of leading, I just went along with it and said "whatever is going to be easier on you." I hate that mentality and never want to lead or think like that again!

I think God has called us to more than just the "easy thing," especially in ministry! So many churches and pastors just want to get by and take the "easy" route instead of the "harder" one, and look at how many are ineffective because of it. May God forgive me for taking the "easy" route. I don't want to ever say "if it's easier then do it," again! If the easiest route is the best solution, then that's fine. But may we get to a point where when faced to choose between the easy and the hard, even though the hard route may take more time, more energy, bigger resources, or even having to PLAN AHEAD, may we not just toss it aside for something that may work but is ineffective in the touching and reaching lives because we just wanted it to be "easy".

So I'm through with the saying, "It's just easier," and maybe by taking this mentality, I will be a better man. Even it makes life a little harder, I will be a better leader, leading a more effective and satisfied team because we will be able to look back and know we conquered what some never could because they took the "easy way".

4 Weeks In

So as most of you know, Ashley and I have begun our new journey at Grace Family Church in Tampa FL! It has been an incredible time of renewing, awaking, and much needed fresh fire for our souls! So I wanted to take a few moments today to reflect on our first sermon series, "The Earthshaking Life" and to write about how God has been showing Himself to us since our move to Florida, four weeks in.

4 weeks in...

...How awesome it is to have an amazing pastor and people who believe in you and want the best for you. Pastor Craig is not just a pastor HE is MY pastor. I love listening and learning from Craig. He is genuine and truly cares about his staff, his vision for the church and my family. It is an honor to serve under him along with all the other pastors at GFC. They all are truly making me a better pastor and a better man.

4 weeks in...

... We had over 50 students give their hearts and lives to Christ over the past 4 weeks and THAT my friends is the most awesome thing EVER! I love seeing lives be transformed! May my heart for seeing peoples lives being renewed ALWAYS be at the forefront of my ministry, ALWAYS! If the ministry I lead is a holy huddle and not a life saving crew then there is a problem! Our leaders and students know that our services are for the sick AND the healthy. They can bring people in their lives who are in need of the great physician and also know that they are going to get a check up each week as well!

4 weeks in...

... God places us exactly where we need to be. Everyday He continues to confirm in my heart a spirit of settling. Not the type of settling where you stop doing great things for God and settle to just be. But the type of settling He told Jeremiah when he said, "Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce. Take a wife and have sons and daughters... seek the welfare of the city where I HAVE SENT YOU... pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Never before have I felt such a call to stay and settle. I walk out and feel God is saying, "this is a place I designed for you and Ashley, plant yourself here, I'm through moving you, seek the welfare of the students and high schools. With the people you come in contact, build relationships, teach them and lead them to me". I was talking to my Sis-in-law Rachel the other day, and I compared this feeling to the feeling I had when I met Ashley. I told her how after Ashley and I had been dating for about ten months, I realized that was the longest I had ever dated anyone and I wasn't tired of her! Basically, every girl I had dated before her, after 6 months or so, I got tired of, but God had placed this desire for me to pursue ASHLEY! EVEN WHEN IT GOT HARD!! This is the same feeling and desire I can tell God is placing in my heart for Tampa and GFC and I can't wait to see what He does with this!

4 weeks in...

... I could go on and on, but one OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS has been that Ashley LOVES our church! In fact last week after an amazing worship service that Pastor Allen and the worship team at GFC poured their hearts into, she said after the first service, "I think I'm just going to stay for the second service instead of going home so I can hear the worship again!" I LOVE THIS! It floored me! When your wife is excited about where God has you, then watch out, GREAT things will happen!

Four weeks in, God is doing some amazing things and we are so thankful and humbled to be apart of this amazing journey! Everyday I say, "Who am I" and everyday He say's, "You are my child"!

Thank you God for saving me and making me your child. I am truly blessed to be able to live this journey out with YOU!

Jersey Sunday

Last Sunday was "Jersey Sunday" at church. Everybody was asked to wear their favorite jersey. Our pastor has been sharing his vision for 2011 with the church, and this Sunday he was talking about how being a Christian is like being a part of the team. We all have to do our part.

Since neither Josh nor I had a jersey, we ventured out to Dick's Sporting Goods on Saturday and found a great sale. We each got a Tampa Bay Bucs jersey and a Tampa Bay Devil Rays jersey, all 75% off. So what if those players aren't on the team anymore. Don't worry! We are still big PEYTON fans and will cheer for the Colts, and my heart will always belong to the Atlanta Braves, but we are embracing our new city!

New School- Stetson University

While Josh is starting a new job, I am starting a new school. I was so blessed to be able to transfer to Stetson University and not have to forfeit a lot of credits nor have to sit out a semester. Stetson is gorgeous to say the least. While I am getting used to a new school and a new routine and trying to fit myself into the Stetson way of life, it is nice to be surrounded by such beauty.

The buildings that make up Stetson used to operate as a hotel in the early 20th century. There are a lot of original pieces still in Stetson's main building. I've included a link to the virtual tour. Check it out and enjoy the beauty.

Stetson Virtual Tour



My friend, Natalie, and I in one of the fountains in the courtyard.

New Job- Grace Family Church

Josh accepted a position as the high school pastor at Grace Family Church in Tampa, FL. He is in charge of the high school service, named IO, which meets on Wednesday nights at 7:00. Currently, there are about 300 high schoolers (WOW)! Needless to say, we do not know all of their names yet. After the service on Wednesdays, the students meet in small groups around the church for about 30 minutes. Our desire is to see the small groups move into homes at some point. After small groups, the students can go hang out in the Youth Center, which is fully equipped with arcade games, skee ball, basketball, ping pong, and of course, snacks!

In addition to the Wednesday night service, Josh will also be planning mission trips and weekend events. This summer, we will be going to camp at an outdoor camp with both the children's and middle school ministries. Should be interesting having kids ranging from 1st to 12th grade there! There will not be a youth mission trip this year, but Josh is already brainstorming for next summer.

Josh's other responsibilities include being apart of the Family Ministry Team and the Creative Arts Team. He is also a Teaching Pastor and will be teaching a few times throughout the year in the main service. His first teaching time is the last weekend in February!

Check out the church online! www.gracefamilychurch.org

New Year = New Job, New School, New Home

Once again this new year brings with it many new beginnings. And just like in 2009, we are in a new place with a new job. While I am not the best at adjusting to change, like my husband, I have come to appreciate the opportunities that come with new beginnings. They provide a time for refreshing your life and evaluating what tweaks you want to make in this new environment. It makes it a little easier to make those small changes in your life you have been longing to make... I will cook more this year, I will exercise more, I will be a better friend, I will enjoy life more, I will let God write my story, and on and on. New beginnings make it easier to address your flaws, to fix what is broken and to develop new healthier routines. So instead of dwelling on the past and recounting all the 5 places we have lived before here, I choose to embrace the present and look forward to 2011, the year where new beginnings provide wonderful new opportunities.

I challenge each of you to do the same. You don't need to move or start a new job to renew your life, just a new year. May 2011 be the best year yet!

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23



Our New Address: 3804 Carrollwood Place Circle #203, Tampa, FL 33624