RUN Sista' RUN!

Running is a huge part of my life right now. I am training for the half marathon here in Nashville in April. I also coach track. One of the REAL GIRLS team members runs track. Running is a huge part of my life! I love running. I never thought I would say that. It truly is one of the only skills from high school that I use every day. One thing I love about running is it gives me time to spend just thinking. Breathing hard and hearing my footsteps, I just have time to myself. I love the "runners high"- that feeling of wow, I cannot believe I just did that! If you have ever experienced this, you know what I am talking about.
Running is such a great example of our Christian walk. Hebrews 12:1 says:

"...let us run with persevance the race marked out for us!"

When you are given a certain distance to run, you just run. You don't quit. You run until you are done. This is our walk with Christ. We just RUN! Just keep going, don't quit! Run hard. Run fast. Just run. Yes, you will get tired. You will take water breaks, and you will need others to cheer you on. But what a great feeling when you cross the finish line!

As Dory on Finding Nemo says......"just keep swimming."

Run, REAL GIRLS, RUN!

We love you and pray for all of you as you run this race! Stay REAL!

Where to begin?

That is the question for this blog. After this amazing weekend in Gatlinburg at Winterfest, we really don't know where to begin. We won't bore you with every detail but we do want to share some of our highlights over the weekend so you can see how God was at work in Gatlinburg this weekend. Some of the cool REAL GIRLS moments included:
- a girl named Sarah from Germany who wanted to know how to go back home and share Christianity with her friends there.
- meeting Taylor and Tiffany and seeing what is in store for them (you go girl!)
- finally getting to meet Jenna after months of emailing! can't wait till May!
- getting to see our home youth groups......we love Tusculum, Otter Creek and Rural Hill!
- a sweet girl named Kelsey coming by our booth and teaching us that you don't have to see with your eyes to really SEE!
- watching our huge support team work so hard.....thanks parents!
- hugging a mother who lost her daughter just 10 weeks ago and being amazed at the strength God has given her.
- meeting Zach Hunter and hearing about what God is doing through his ministry Loose Change to Loosen Chains.
- Drew and Dave have a cool ministry YEE. And they make cool videos!
Wow, what a weekend we had! For those of you who joined us there it was great to see you. If you were unable to join us, we missed you and look forward to seeing you soon. God is doing amazing things through RG and we can't wait to see what HE has in store next. Thanks for being a part of this ministry with us!
And don't forget to L1 and L2. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself." Do these and the rest falls into place.
Thanks Dudley, Johnny, Chad, Jeff, Carla, and the rest of the Winterfest Team for this weekend!
Stay REAL!

Taking it for Granted

Yesterday, REAL GIRLS was blessed with the opportunity to go to a public middle school in Mt. Juliet, TN. We went there to share a lesson with them, and actually they shared a lesson with us! A group of AWESOME 8th grade girls asked us to come. They worked so hard getting this together: meetings with their teachers, posters made, announcements, and more. We were very impressed and excited about going there. This was our first event at a public school. Usually, we go to churches and private schools for bible classes and chapels. Now, don't get me wrong we love going to those places, but yesterday we learned something very valuable....
The plan was for us to do the talk before school. As they unloaded the buses, the students had the opportunity to go to the gym/hall to hang out with their friends and study OR they could go in an audotorium and hear REAL GIRLS. Ok, so you might be thinking..."what is the big deal?" Here is the big deal: these girls CHOSE to come! The ones that got everything together (which here is my shout out to Shelby Brown and gang) were expecting around 50 girls, and the final number was estimated to be around 300. Yep, that is right 300!!
This is not for me to brag on REAL GIRLS, because I will tell you this is GLORY to what a mighty GOD we serve. This is to brag on these girls who chose to spend their morning soaking up a tiny piece of God's plan for their life. Also it is a reminder for those of us who go to school where we have chapel and don't really want to go. Or for those of us who get bored of all the times our parents MAKE us go to church. Or get tired of hearing announcements about the FCA group or new bible study group. This is to make you wake up and try and be thankful for all the opportunities you have to hear GOD LOVES YOU!
I am so guilty of this myself. So many times, I think about a boring speaker, a too lengthy class at church, bible classes at school that seemed stupid, and so much more. But yesterday, the girls at MJMS taught me something. I want us to CHOOSE to follow Christ. We want everyone to know that we all are CHOOSING to follow Him. We don't want others to think we are Christians because we were born in a great family, went to a Christian school, or go to church every week. We want others to see Christ in us and know that we are everyday choosing that life. The girls yesterday sure are doing a great job of this!
So as you start to get tired of all the "churchy" things you do- STOP. Pray that God gives you a fresh look. Be one of the girls at MJMS that came out yesterday with a smile on their face. Be a REAL GIRL because you WANT to, not because you have to. It is tough being REAL, and especially at schools and in a world that is so fake. But we are proud of you and all the other REAL GIRLS out there that are trying and choosing to do right. We are here, but more importantly God is. Rely on Him.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;

make known among the nations what He has done!"

Psalm 105:1

Thanks again to all the REAL GIRLS yesterday, you greatly touched our lives!

Stay REAL!

Greatest Day of their lives!

Great Decision!

A short message to new Christians…we are so thankful that you made the decision to claim Christ as your Savior this weekend! What an amazing, life-altering choice! Let’s just be REAL for a minute…Life as a Christian is not going to be easy…but please remember that it is by far the best decision that you could ever make for your life and your future!! When times are great--Pray a prayer of thanksgiving! When times are hard--Pray a prayer of strength and understanding. Pray at all times. NOTHING is too big for our God! Nothing. Keep the faith. Stay REAL. Share your faith! And remember that no matter what your talents are, you have something to offer God. I mean who would think playing with fashion dolls would work for 2 silly girls!?!

Ya gotta love 'em!

Hugs to Jamie

Jamie was a young man who came up to our booth and told us that in the future he was going to be a missionary in a foreign field! We had the privilege to pray over him and his future…and in return he prayed over this ministry and encouraged us greatly! Never underestimate praying over someone and allowing others to pray over you! It impacted us greatly! I want to encourage all REAL GIRLS to begin praying WITH and FOR each other. When someone asks for you to pray for them…I want to challenge you to pray WITH them right there on the spot! If they email you a prayer request…email them back a prayer! Just give it a try and let us know what happens!!

Behind the scenes… A huge THANKS!!

To: Dudley, Johnny, Jeff, Registration Booth Workers (Carla and Chad), Sound Booth Workers, Lighting Crew, Camera Crew, etc. We would like to especially thank EVERYONE (you know who you are) for all of the hard work that it takes to make Winterfest a success! Thank you for your commitment to God, others and especially teenagers! May we lift these servants up to God in prayer!!

Shout Outs

Lubbock Ladies…
We wanted to personally thank the Lubbock Ladies for bringing us pizza and cookies when we weren’t able to leave our booth on Saturday! Ya’ll are REAL GIRLS!! Thank you for your sweet spirit! Please email us so that we know your names!! Thanks again!!

T&T
Terrance and Trent were our official REAL GUYS of the weekend! They asked for a “shout-out” on our blog…so SHOUT-OUT Terrance and Trent!! J Thanks for being so much fun! And Terrance…it was so encouraging to hear you singing your heart out to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you guys for all of the fun memories!

We love Southwesterner's!!!
REAL GIRLS: at Winterfest Texas 2009

Hoops of Hope

We had the privilege of meeting and hanging out with Austin Gutwein and his father this weekend (Winterfest Texas) and all I can say is…they are REAL GUYS!!! Austin is absolutely amazing! He has inspired us in so many ways! I am amazed at hoe God is using him!! If you haven’t heard about the ministry that he started, please visit his website: www.hoopsofhope.org! To Austin: May God bless all that you are doing…and we can’t wait to have REAL GIRLS: Hoops of Hope!!!

L1 and L2

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Practice makes perfect! Practice this commandment! Put it into action! How do you put these verses into practice in your life? Feel free to comment!