I Moved!

Yep that's right you read the title correctly! I have moved to Wordpress. Check out the new site at www.vanessafarnell.wordpress.com.

Also wanted to send out a big thank you to all of my readers! I love writing and sharing my life with you all! I hope you continue to read because there is so much more to come!

Living life with my eyes open! -Vanessa

Isaiah 42.5-9 msg.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it, I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.

To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from prison. I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor my praise to graven images.

Behold the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.

i-heart.org

United Hillsong has a new site from their i-heart Campaign. Right now it's titled "In the Meantime" because they're in the process of making a film. It's pretty sweet, check it out! I literally love this campaign!

Caught the Eye

Bella

This is Bella Ray Dasuki, my good friend Lauren's first child!

The photo was taken about 2 hours after she was born.

The Conditions Have Changed!

Today when clicking on MSN News there is a link to the front cover of Newsweek which reads; "The End of Christian America." It is an article on how America is moving into a "post-Christian" phase. Throughout the article America is said to be losing it's influence as a Christian nation and goes onto explain the affect and shaping it will have on America's political system and culture as a whole.

If you read the article, it may have been a discouragement but my first thoughts after reading it was; "for such a time as this!" There is HOPE! That right now is a time of great opportunity for the Church and for me to live out what "Christianity" really is! It is a relationship with an authentic Jesus! I cling to the truth that I serve an everlasting God! He has not given up on you, me, or America. May we hold fast to the fact that we serve an unchanging God, with an unchanging Message....even if "the conditions have changed."

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Parched from the Diagonal Walk

Headed up to downtown Ann Arbor the other night to hang out with some friends from the "D". We walked around the city, laughed a lot, of course saw random people that Francy knew, ate some pizza, and walked across the famous "diagonal walk way". This was hilarious because Andrea kept telling us how thirsty she was...so I told her that when we got to the restaurant she totally had to demand water because she had walked all the way across the "diagonal". Seriously it was like a 5-7 minute walk...but Andrea and I laughed about it all night and this post is honor of her! I love having friends that are just flat out fun!

My Purpose

I was cleaning and going through old stuff the other day and I came across a journal that a college roommate had made for me. She had designed it around the Bible verse Colossians 2:2 "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding; in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."

This verse blows my mind. It defines my purpose, it brings encouragement, and it gives hope in the midst of the world I live in right now. With economic difficulty richness is far from many minds, but to think that complete understanding in Christ is my riches complete. That everything else in this world passes away and is temporary except for my relationship with Christ. What great perspective, what great hope that I have to give!

Also upon reflecting I think it is an awesome reminder of purpose. There are so many things in this world to get wrapped up in. So many things that I believe are "my purpose" but then God ever so gently has reminded me that my purpose is HIM! That as I grow in Jesus and reflect who He is others may have a complete understanding of this great friendship with my Savior.

As Paul wrote these words of encouragement to the church of Ephesus, may we also be encouraged, because the Word is alive and active in our lives today! Read it again, reflect on it, and live out the great purpose of life.

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding; in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

God Knows Our Reality

Now that we know what we have Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God, let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it ALL- all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:14-16 (msg.)

As I have walked through the last couple weeks I have been reminded at how fast life changes. Several of my friends lives have been drastically changed in a moment; a job layoff, a child be diagnosed with a disease, a marriage ending in divorce, and loss of loved ones. Though some of these situations surprising and life altering, I know that there is hope in the midst of it all. That Jesus knows our reality, that he sympathizes with our life situations, and that He is closer than we realize.

Life will continually move fast and our plans will never work out the way we thought, but I hold true to the promises of God; I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2. May you also hold onto His truths, believe them, and be comforted in the truth that God knows and walks with us in our reality.

Running to Win

My friend Helen turned 90 this past December. I love talking to her because she is women that has loved the Lord, her husband, her family, and the church her entire life. Helen is an example to me of a life well lived. She has incredible stories and words of wisdom to share with me every time we are together. Today she came to visit because she had some extra gas in her mini-van. I thought that was so awesome! She told me that as I head towards an uncertain future I need to live simple!

I praise God that He has allowed me to know and spend time with a person like Helen. There is much to learn from Helen; she has experienced tragedy yet is full of joy, she has experienced great need yet proclaims the Lord's faithfulness, she has experienced loneliness yet reminds me that I am never alone, she has experienced physical pain yet she still gets up every morning and lives life.

As I reflected on my time with Helen I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 9:24 "run in such a way as to get the prize..." I believe that Helen has lived her life this way, she's after a crown that is gold eternally, she's running to win!

The Grass is Greener?

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." OR "The grass is greenest when you water it."

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; Psalm 37:1-5

Dominican Republic 09'

I am really excited to be leading a trip of young adults to the Dominican Republic in July 09'. Our ministry focus will be children's evangelism, food distribution, showing the Jesus Film, and work. We will be working with awesome missionaries; Matt & Carrie Love. You can check out their blog and more information on the ministry here. The cost of the trip is $700 + airfare. You do not have to attend BCC to go on this trip, but there will be some mandatory team training times starting in June. If you are at all interested in going on this trip please contact me at vfarnell@bccag.org.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

Incredible Love

I am overwhelmed by God's love for me! That He unconditionally loves me, that He pours out His undeserving grace on me, and He is unwaveringly faithful!

Because of His great love for us....

You see because I have experienced His great love and it has overtaken me, that is why I am "convinced one died for all." I greatly desire that others know and experience His great love! It is a love that makes us alive.

...immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin dead lives and made us alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:4

My Savior's Humility

If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. -John 13:14

Often I try to imagine the atmosphere, when Jesus made this statement to the disciples. I would have to believe it was one of those moments where silence was embraced! It had to be an incredibly humbling moment. I know for me hundreds of years later as I read these words they ring out the true humility of my Savior and the attitude and heart that I should have.

His Love Makes It Worth It All

There is no love

Sweeter than the love you pour on me

There is no song

Sweeter than the song you sing to me

There is no place, that I would rather be

Then here at your feet, laying down everything

All to you I surrender, everything, every part of me

All to you I surrender, all of my dreams, all of me

If worships like perfume, I'll pour mine out on you

For there is none as deserving of my love, like you

So take my hand and draw me into you

I want to be swept away, lost in love for you

-Kim Walker www.kimwalkermusic.com