update! update! update!

hi sweet friends!
i've finally getting settled in, and we're starting to have a normal schedule. things are AMAZING here, and i know this is EXACTLY where God wants me. I'm so excited to see what God does with my heart over the next 6 months. We already have had some incredible times of intercession, worship, bonding, and yes- even class is so interesting! i'm learning so much. We still haven't found out where we are going on outreach, but no worries i will let everyone know asap! my new friends are so great, and it's such a great feeling to be surrounded by jesus lovers all day/night long. what encouragement i receive! i miss you all, and can't wait to hug your necks are thanksgiving. Keep praying for the ways God will be moving through us! love you all :)


here is a bit of a normal day schedule around the base, i know some of you have asked-
7:00 breakfast
7:30-8:30 quiet time
8:30-9:30 we do intercession some days during this little break, others we have map test -i will soon know EVERY country!, or just compassion meditation, and we are reading through the new testament, so we do that on the other days
9:30-12:30 lecture
12:30-lunch
free time until 2:30
from 2:30-5:30 here is what it looks like- MTF, we do productive creativity (work duties-kitchen, house keeping, hospitality, yard work, clean up) and then on wed we split into two groups, one does evangelism and one does FRONT PORCH (which is outreach to the local kids, they come to our front porch for games, fun, snacks, songs, and just to be loved on). then on thursday we have compassion something but i forget the name which we wont start until next week!
5:30 dinner
then our night time stuff differs. small groups, RESET, free time, academic night,etc.
lights out at 10!

that's our schedule,very busy to say the least, but God is HERE!

be strong and very courageous.

i've been so anxious. so many thoughts. so much change. so many mixed emotions. life is changing, God is working, and I'm barely hanging on. i feel lonely, but yet so connected to my sweet savior, i wonder what is about to take place in my life. who will i be when i get home in six months? what changes will have taken place here in knoxville? my head is full to its capacity. deep breath, i'm still here. i'm ready yet so afraid.

i'm reading Joshua right now, coincidence? i think not. So Joshua is somewhat like me, He's been called by God to take on this giant mission. to lead God's people into the promised land, to take the place of Moses, to gain the respect of these people, and to lead. But the part that gets me, is this: Joshua has NO clue of what is to come, he's never done something so crazy or out of his comfort zone. this is ALL so new. BUT catch this- HE KNOWS GOD IS THERE. what a beautiful picture that is for me when i get overwhelmed. "Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't be discouraged. God, your God is with you every step you take." (Joshua 1:9 MSG)

And that right there is why i have the strength to go. the strength to leave all that i know, all that i'm comfortable with. Because my God is HERE, every step of the way.

"i like it, i love it, i want some more of it"

i like it, i love it, i want some more of it.... the country song? tell me you know it. well i was thinking today- what if that was the same mentality i had towards Jesus. what if i "almost lost my job" cause i couldn't get my nose out of my bible, or get my job done because i was too busy telling people about how much i love him? what if i craved him so much, that i couldn't even function properly in the real world? just what if? silly to relate my relationship with Jesus to a country song, but it really does open my eyes to see that's exactly what it SHOULD be like for people that love Jesus with their entire being. I wanna be that crazy. I wanna want more of him. I wanna be radical.

I wish i were leaving tomorrow...

Tonight, and the past couple of days have been so odd for me. You see, I never thought i would be ready to leave this place, these people, the ones i love most. But God has been doing some incredible things in preparing my heart for this. When i say that i am ready to go, i hope i don't bring offense to anyone, its just that I have finally reached the point where I've given up my life as i know it. Does that mean I won't miss home? or miss my family? my best friends? normality? of course i will miss it all. But at the same time, I know this is exactly why I was created in the first place- to love Jesus Christ with my entire heart, mind, strength, and soul, to give it ALL up for him, for it does all belong to him in the first place right? I'm so over this place of distractions. Americans are daily living a life full of distractions of all kinds. I just so tired of it, so ready to see the world from a new perspective. To see the world from the eyes of those who have nothing, but yet continue to have a smile on their face. And more so than seeing life through their eyes, I want them to experience the Hope and love of Jesus Christ. That's my desire. That's life. That's where I want to be. I'm ready to say my goodbyes, for I know that the Hello's that are to come, will bring so much joy to my life through the miraculous leading of my sweet, sweet Savior.

To God be the Glory!

25 days and counting!

it's really hard to believe that i will actually be moving out of knoxville for the first time ever in my life, in just 25 days! I am getting so anxious, but I must admit this is a bitter sweet feeling. All my best friends are back in school, and I sit and think about how differently i had my life planned out to be just last year. I would never have believed you if you had told me that i would no longer be attending UT, nor would i be pausing my plans of finishing nursing school. it's so bazaar! I remember being at student life camp last summer, and God just breaking my heart completely in two. Shouting in the clearest voice i've ever heard Him speak to me in, saying that He has put a burning passion inside of me for the poor, needy, orphaned children around the world. He opened my eyes that night to see that my plan for my life didn't quite line up with His. But once again, I could never have actually expected this- not even starting my sophomore of college? yeah right. I had big plans for myself, real big ones. I was gonna go to college at UT, become a nurse practitioner, marry an incredible- goodlooking man, have four kids, live in a beautiful white house with a wrap around porch. I'm tellin you what- I had a goooood life planned for myself, and nothing was gonna stop it. Boy was i wrong, God stopped it. Over the past two years, He revealed to me that HIS plan- the good, perfect, and pleasing plan, was the one I was going to seek after. No more living "The American Dream". He has something even bigger and even better ready for me. So that's why I am here. Not because everyone thinks its the best route to take (believe me, i've heard a fair share of opinions along the way), and not because it's what "normal" people do, not because it's the good life, and definitely not because it's going to be easy. I'm here because I heard God speak two years ago, preparing me for what was to come. I heard God speak, telling me my life wasn't going to be what I nor everyone else thought it would be. I'm here because I heard the call to missions, I saw the opened doors, and I jumped. So here I go, 25 days until i begin the greatest adventure i've ever taken. And I could NOT be more excited. I'm ready, ready for the world! let the games begin!

To God be the glory for the great things He has done-

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God!" : 1 cor. 10:31

support!

and one more thing i must add: I am still in need of financial support for YWAM. if any of you feel led to help out, give me a shout! I am fully confident that God will provide the way for this chapter of my life, seeing how He has made it very clear this is where He wants me to go! thank you all :)

the beginning of an incredible journey, welcome aboard!

hey guys! i decided that i would start a blog to share the incredible things God is doing in my life. I've never done this before so here goes nothing! As most of you know, I only have about 29 days left in knoxville, before i move to Charlotte, NC for YWAM :) (youth with a mission) I am so anxious to see what all God has in store for the next 6 months of my life! I first off want each of you to know, how grateful i am for your prayers and love over the years. I figure this blog will help ya'll keep up with me, and help me keep my thoughts sorted! So let's see where it takes us, this journey is so exciting! To God be the glory for the great things He has done!

-Ashton