Page Turner

That should be my new nickname, I've decided. I never thought the day would come when I would really, really enjoy reading, but the day has arrived. Since I graduated and started working, the consistent schedule frees up my nights-something I haven't had free really since middle school. Crazy. Since I was in 7th grade, I played sports year round, with practices after school which carried on through high school (there was a season when I was athletic- hard to believe, I know). Then in college, organizations and studying took over my nights...and days.


It's been nice to breathe a little and to learn to be home when I'm home. With a little more down time, I've learned to love reading and have learned so much in the past few months from it. I thought I'd share some of the books have read/I'm reading and been in encouraged so much in.

 

Crazy Love- I read this one this summer with some of my students and taught a study on it. I loved it. Francis Chan has such a sweet way of describing the joy he has in knowing Jesus and the whole time I was reading it, my desire to be like that grew and grew. I want my life to be described and known for having a crazy, passionate love for the Savior that redeemed it. If you haven't read it yet, go get it!

Corrie Ten Boom is definitely on the top of the list of my heros. This woman knew God and loved Him. In The Hiding Place, she tells the story of her journey through concentration camps during the Holocaust. She knew the depths of healing that forgiveness brings and walked it out in her own life. This book is the story of her traveling the world after she was released from the camp. I have been so challenged in the way she interacts with people. She didn't have the mentality that I have to love and serve people first before I tell them about Jesus, but I can do it all at the same time. It's as if she approaches every conversation like it could be her last chance to tell someone about the Gospel. I want to be like that, full of faith and living a life out of such thankfulness for what Jesus has done in me that I can't help but tell everyone I meet about Him. 

I know, I know- I'm 10 years behind everyone else. My friend almost had a heart attack when she found out I hadn't read this book yet. I'm not really into fiction and usually prefer to read biographies over anything else. But she let me borrow it- which automatically puts pressure on you to read it because you don't want to keep someone's book forever :) So I picked it up a few days after she gave it to me and read over 8 chapters in the first sitting (this was huge for me...I am an insanely slow reader). It was such a beautiful picture of the redemption and grace of Jesus. I think my eyes were consistently teary as I turned each page. But a beautiful story! It was really sweet reading this too as some friends have recently started a chapter of Jesus Said Love here in B/CS. This group ministers to the overlooked and forgotten and focuses on truckers and strippers. I've been blessed to be on the prayer team and pray for the girls the team ministers to- Redeeming Love paints such a detailed picture of the thought process and trap so many women fall into and has grown my tenderness towards these women so much. Go read it if you haven't yet!

There are several others I've been reading through, like Fragments that Remain and Whispers of His Power by Amy Carmichael, Brothers, We are Not Professionals by John Piper, and Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry by Lisa Bevere, that I'm looking forward to finishing because I have learned and been challenged so much already by the few chapters I've read in each one so far. I'm really thankful for the ways God uses other believers to encourage and teach us through writing- my knowing Jesus has become sweeter because of it.

And a few exciting things coming up in the next week...Friday night I'll be doing a breakout at a retreat for a Christian girls organization, Tuesday night is All Women's Breakaway (they are doing a panel this year and I'm on it!) and next weekend is Masterpiece Conference- I am the project coordinator and helping out with a breakout on mentoring with my friend, Steph and her mentor, Lucretia. I am so excited to be a part of each of these and praying for a lot of rest throughout the week, wisdom as I prepare/teach, and lots of fun! Will you pray with me?

He takes us in His arms

First off, if you've never read anything by Amy Carmichael go buy one of her books and start reading. This woman loved God and loved to tell others about Him. A friend of mine gave me a devotional book that has different excerpts of notes or letters she wrote to friends and relatives. I read this one earlier today and just thought I'd share...

Mark 9:36

"And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them..."

The little boy might have been shy, standing alone among thirteen grown-up men, perhaps strangers. Most children would be. But there is nothing too small for the love of our Lord Jesus to understand and to remember. Before He spoke words that would naturally cause the men to look at the little boy, thus making him feel observed and uncomfortable, He took him in His arms.

Perhaps this day is going to hold some especially trying things. There are sure to be things that we would not wish to have to face. Before they happen- if we are little enough to let Him do it- our Lord Jesus will do for us just what He did for that child long ago. we need never stand alone among our troubles. We need never be lonely at all. We need never be afraid.

I love that. He doesn't throw us into things unprepared without first letting us know He's there. Nothing is too small for Him to remember. That blows me away. Psalm 38:9 says even our sighing is not hidden from Him. What a comfort to have a Savior who knows the reasons behind our sighs- every one of them. 

Tired Feet, Full Heart

I know the title is lame...real lame. But when I think back on last week those are the words that describe it best. Really, my feet have never been that tired. Why? Well, I walked around Hermann Memorial Hospital...all of it. With this friend

Shauna Maness

If you haven't ever checked out her website go now: www.shaunamaness.com

She is an amazing (some would even say, "world-renowned") photographer. This woman captures some amazing things with her camera and it was so fun to tag along for a week as her friend/assistant. She asked me a little over a month ago if I could help her out for a few days in December. Little did I know when I said yes that I'd be walking into an O.R. and standing 10 feet from a surgery...gross. She was hired by Hermann Memorial to capture everyday life of their employees from the cleaning crew to surgeons. It was an intense 4 days of walking, meeting people, going in and out of hospital wards and seeing people hurting and others getting well. I've been asking God to grow my heart more in being more tender towards others and in prayer- this week for sure challenged me in a way that couldn't have happened otherwise.

Here are a few pictures of the week...

 Tuesday night we got to go to the Houston Rockets game and sit court-side, 2nd row thanks to the CEO of the hospital, Craig.

 And Hakeem Olajuwon was there that night

 The view of Houston from the helipad

 Before we headed into the o.r.- trying to make Shauna laugh

ready to go

It was so great to get out of College Station for a few days and just do something different (and stay at Hotel Zaza- it's as swanky as it sounds. Every time I say it I feel like I need to sit up straighter and put my nose in the air). It was fun to meet so many new people and kind of funny how challenging it is to explain my job to people that don't live in BCS...I don't get to do that very often. God was gracious in giving us so many opportunities to talk about Jesus and the gospel.

It was so life-giving to hang out with Shauna for 4 days. I've known her for about a year and half now and have gotten to spend more time with her recently. She's one of those people that you love the first time you meet and is more and more fun every time you hang out with her. So needless to say I was excited to spend some time with her. On the way to Houston, we both shared our stories with each other. I love hearing other people's stories and Shauna's is one that tells of the mercies and kindness of Jesus. Throughout the week we laughed a whole lot- this girl can make me laugh so hard and thankfully Shauna enjoys dry humor, which is about all I got :) I saw her go in and out of hospital rooms and love people so well. She was a beautiful picture of the compassion and kindness of Jesus. Our conversations were so encouraging and I walked away knowing more about Jesus and wanting to be more like Him. Thank you, friend. I had so much fun. And sorry for dropping your bags...twice.


And now it's time for Christmas! Really thankful to have grown up in a home that was centered around Jesus and the gospel and always made Christmas about Jesus. Still trying to get used to having Christmas in Beaumont and not New Braunfels. But one thing is for sure, my momma knows how to make our house look like Christmas. I'm sure I'll have some pictures up next week. She has always done an amazing job of making everything feel so special. I'm sitting in the kitchen watching my mom and aunt help my little cousins make Christmas cookies and my cousin (8 year old) just said, "I am so lucky to be here." So sweet. I'm thankful for a mom that has taught me what hospitality looks like. And she knows her kids...I walked into my room to Elle and InStyle sitting on my bed. Thankful for family and time to rest. And I have lots of good books to read thanks to this friend. I'm about to know a whole lot about Amy Carmichael :)

Merry, merry Christmas! Peace to you friends!

Daily Bread

My life is completely different than I thought it’d be a year ago. It’s even more different than I thought it’d be than 3 years ago. A lot of change has happened, some heartache, growth, tenderness, yearning for Jesus in ways I didn’t know I needed to, worship and prayer. There were a lot of different things I wanted, good things- but not the best. When ideas, career dreams, relationships, and locations changed it was hard. Really hard, but God sustains His children. Through every season, I cannot even explain the amount of peace He brought and continues to bring.

I went home to New Braunfels this weekend for a very short trip. I had a little time Friday afternoon to kill while I waited for some friends to get off of work. I decided to just drive around and see what had changed since the last time I had been there- and New Braunfels is beautiful and fun to drive around anyways. As I drove, I began remembering this was a place where God, in His kindness and steadfast love, starting building a firm foundation of trusting Him and seeking Him. There were definite seasons of pride, legalism, and discontentment throughout high school, but I do look back and see that anytime I pursued Jesus, He was faithful to be there and because of that those were also seasons of growth and knowing Jesus. This built up a trust and peace in my life that can only be explained through the Gospel. I am really thankful to have grown up in that community and the church I did, with the family I have. I had no idea of the things He was preparing in me and how I would be applying those things in years to come. I’m still learning, still growing in His trust and peace throughout seasons I’ve been through in this past year. There have been moments where my hands and time were full with everything I wanted and desired and moments when it seemed my hands were empty of everything I had asked the Lord for- but in all of it…peace. He truly is the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I love that. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. I love that out of the many names He has, these were the ones God chose to speak through Isaiah about Jesus. What more could His children want? These are everything we need to sustain us- might, peace, counsel and a life that rests in knowing our God has no end. No end! Praise the Lord!!

I was at a retreat a few weekends ago leading worship and for one of the sessions they watched a video of a Marian Jordan talk. Marian talked about the life of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and how there were moments she pursued God well and others where she tried to make it happen. Marian compared it to her own life and there was a point in her talk where she said something to the effect of, “If my life turned out the way I wanted it, I would have missed this.” She repeated I would have missed this a few times, and I was struck by that- struck by thankfulness that God, who is rich in mercy, for whatever reason had me in that room with those girls leading them in worship. If my life had panned out the way I wanted it to a few years ago, I would be in New York, working in fashion, married, “successful”…all of those things were good things I wanted; I really do believe my heart was pure in why I was walking towards them, but slowly the Lord showed me He wanted me to go a different route. Some people thought I was/am crazy. It was hard and there were times I felt like I was walking around in the dark while God was standing by the light switch, taking what seemed like a really long time to turn it on and show me I was about to run into a table. Then I look at my life, right now in this moment- He flipped the switch and provided a job with a description that could not be more accurate for the desires He’s placed in me, at the perfect time. Really, it’s crazy when I think about it- my job isn’t even existent in most places and it “happened” to open up right when I graduated. I just sat there agreeing with Marian- I would have missed this. I look forward to more seasons of change- something I never thought I’d say. But there is something in knowing that our God has no end and wants what is best for His children. Looking forward to whatever people, relationships, ministry, jobs, etc are to come.

And so glad to have these friends through it all...

I have so many friendships marked by the love of Jesus and these 2 have been there the longest. I've known Andrea (bottom pic) since 4th grade and Abbey since 9th. We have rejoiced, cried, laughed a whole lot and walked through life together. I'm really thankful for the gift of friendship and community in the body of Christ. Both of these friends have taught me so much about Jesus, working hard, loving people (and their husbands!) well and having fun. Thankful for you both!

I love these lyrics by Jill Phillips. I think it sums up what we sometimes, or often times, feel as His children who are constantly in want.

Daily Bread
There’s a restlessness in the soul of man

Nobody’s tamed it yet

You never fail to keep any promises

But somehow we forget
That you’re always right on time

You feed us all with a silver spoon

And like your foolish kids

We start worrying about what we’re gonna do

When the hunger comes again

But you’re always right on time

With an open hand

You have exactly what I need

Daily bread

Daily bread

You have the wisdom and the patience

We need the grace to see it clear

Too soon and we take it all for granted

Too late is more than we can bear

So you’re always right on time
With an open hand

You have exactly what I need

Daily bread


Countless Gifts of Love

I was looking up quotes and scriptures about thankfulness this morning for something I was writing for work - I know, I know, tough job to write about Jesus, but someone has to do it :) I came across this and was so encouraged, so I thought I'd share...


"German pastor Martin Rinkart served in the walled town of Eilenburg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War of 1618-1648. Eilenburg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area. The fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine. At the beginning of 1637, the year of the Great Pestilence, there were four ministers in Eilenburg. But one abandoned his post for healthier areas and could not be persuaded to return. Pastor Rinkhart officiated at the funerals of the other two. As the only pastor left, he often conducted services for as many as 40 to 50 persons a day- some 4,480 in all. In May of that year, his own wife died. By the end of the year, the refugees had to be buried in trenches without services. Yet living in a world dominated by death, Pastor Rinkart wrote the following prayer for his children to offer to the Lord:
'Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done, 
In whom this world rejoices.
Who, from our mother's arms,
Hath led us on our way with countless gifts of love,
And still ours today.'"
-Copyright 2000 by the author of Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. Harry Genet


God has given me "countless gifts of love" from the moment of birth. I have so much to be thankful for and am really grateful that He has led me on His way. Happy Thanksgiving!

'Tis So Sweet

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week! I'm so excited to see my family...and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I'm not sure why I enjoy the parade so much, but since I was little that has been one of my favorite things about this time of year. Perks of being the baby of the family- all the older women in the family started cooking while I got to sit and watch the parade...times have changed and now I'm finding myself in the kitchen. Thanks to dvr I can still enjoy it :)

The middle of October through mid-November always ends up being one of the busiest parts of the year for me. With the ministries I’m involved in there are always seasons that end up being way busier than others. This has been that time of year, but it’s been so fun. It was crazy the difference of planning Intimacy without school. I actually was able to sleep the night before versus doing a group project for a marketing class until 5am! It was so peaceful everyday leading up to it. I’ve learned to trust Jesus so much every year as I’ve planned this and have been overwhelmed each time with what God does. Kay did an amazing job- really, it was so good. Like I said in the earlier post, if there was a year that told my personal story this would be it. It was so crazy to hear more of Kay’s story a few weeks before Intimacy and see the similarities in our stories. But the night of Intimacy the things she shared were exactly what I had learned throughout this past year. She talked a lot about being in a constant state of selling what you have, trusting Jesus and holding your hands open to Him trusting that no matter what desires you have He will fill you with Him. He is enough, He is better. It was beautiful and I was so encouraged. As I’ve processed and journaled about it I just keep thinking “that was so fun.” I really just enjoyed it. I sat in the back (first time I’ve ever done that) and just looked around at all the faces in the room. It was beautiful to just take it in and I am really thankful and humbled to get to be a part of this.

 my view

Lizi, Donna, Kelly, me, Robbin and Amy...love love love playing with these girls!

 Talitha

Donna, Kay and me

Worship was so sweet. I think it was one of the most freeing times I’ve led at an “Intimacy.” I think the Lord was really gracious in giving me so much peace all week. I was praying over it the night before and it hit me- there was going to be someone from almost every stage of my life in the room the next night. My mom and sister were there, my roommate that I’ve known since 3^rd grade, a friend that walked with me through middle school and high school, girls from my youth group that I have known since middle school, and friends that I’ve walked through college with up to the women that have poured into me. I was overwhelmed by that- God has been so good to me and I am so thankful for a night to proclaim His faithfulness to so many girls. God used worship, Talitha and Kay to speak truth and the gospel. I really am thankful for the gift Intimacy has been to me and I pray I steward it well as He leads.

Just a few days after Intimacy I headed to downtown Houston, House of Blues with some of my favorite people to see one of my favorite musicians, Brooke Fraser (if you don't have her cd, go get it! so good). I enjoy Steph, Shauna and Sarah so much and was thankful to have time to just hang out and get away for a night. We ate some amazing food at Guadalajara, laughed so much, heard some great music and had great conversation. The concert was so fun, but the company made the night for sure. I found myself just sitting there listening to them as we talked about life and what we’ve been learning- I’ve learned a lot through these friends and looking forward to learning more.  

 

I'm about to hit the 6 month mark at work. When did that happen? This really has been a season of harvest for me. I feel like I have been receiving and learning so much in my time with Jesus, from my family and community around me. 'Tis So Sweet has been in my head constantly. I look at this past year and see how I really had to trust Jesus at His word and how sweet it is to rest in that. I felt really clearly that He had called me to this area (Bryan/College Station) over my last few years of school but didn't have a clue how that would all work out. I had to let it go completely at one point because I held on too tightly to it. I let go, trusted that I was called to Jesus, not "something" or "ministry" but to Himself. I had to learn to trust that He is better than any idea or picture I had of what my next few years would look like. After learning all of that He slowly began to give it back in a way I could never have imagined. My days are now filled with walking with girls and pursuing the Lord with them, filled with co-workers that love Jesus and want our students to love Him well, filled with friends that are places of rest and renewal, filled with reading/listening to others that are loving and have loved Jesus and others well. What a gift! 

There is a part in the movie Hope Floats that I love. The grandmother always says "My cup runneth over" in moments of overwhelming thankfulness. I feel like that's where I'm at in this season of life. My cup is literally running over with blessing after blessing, even in trials or things I'm working through. I can testify that He works all things out for the good of those who love Him. He is good!

And to add to my cup, I get to hang with this little one every Wednesday. How cute is she?

Intimacy 2010

Intimacy is a college girls worship night I started my sophomore year of college when I was leading worship for Aggie Sisters for Christ. The summer before my sophomore fall semester, I had been praying about putting on a worship night through ASC. Through my semesters leading worship for them, I grew a deep burden for girls to know the truth of who Jesus is and who they are through His salvation. After reading Psalm 139 one morning, I was brought to tears as I sat there thinking about how big God is; how this big God knew my name, how many hairs are on my head, and even knows when I sit and when I rise. He is intimately acquainted with me- Ashley Brusenhan. What?! I had known and believed and walked in this for a long time, but there was something in those verses that stirred my soul in a new way. I was humbled and deeply encouraged. I knew then that this is something I could encourage other believers to walk in and lost ones to walk towards. So I began to pray for vision and wisdom in how to carry this out. And God answered abundantly. Over the past 3 years He has guided every step, from venue to speakers. I could share story after story about His faithfulness, but that would be an insanely long post. He has used this night to speak the truth of salvation, freedom and redemption over His daughters. He has used this as a night to draw girls into deep community with Him and other sisters. He has used this night for girls to confess and start walking back to Him. I am consistently overwhelmed that God has allowed me to be a part of something like this. Thank you, Jesus, I want to steward this great gift well.

This year for me has been a year marked by the faithfulness and loving-kindness of the Lord. A year that I have seen a harvest of things sown. So, it was fitting for the "theme" for this year to be harvest and the faithfulness of the Lord. I am so thankful to have Kay Altic sharing her story. If there I had to choose one of "themes" or years of Intimacy that represents my story, this would be it. My story is one marked by the faithfulness of Jesus over and over (as is every believer's, but you know what I mean :) ).  I was telling a friend that after I spoke with Kay, I felt like I was talking to myself 10 years down the road. It's crazy how alike our stories are. I am so thankful to have her share this year and I pray I learn to love Jesus more deeply as she does over the next few years. I pray many girls are drawn to Jesus next Friday. And I'm looking forward to leading with my friends, Donna Stuart, Lizi Bailey, Kelly Needham, and Robbin Johnson and Amy Marks on percussion. Masterpiece's dance company, Talitha will also be dancing to one of the songs- I absolutely love these girls. Can't wait to worship with them.

And I love, love, love this promo video! Donna Stuart and Daniel Karr did an amazing job creating this...I just sat back and watched it all happen. Thankful for them and their hard work, along with Ally, Shannon and Brie who are the girls in the video.

The ultimate purpose behind Intimacy is Jesus.

I hope that the girls who walk through the doors not knowing Jesus will walk out knowing Him, or that it would be a step leading them to Him.

My prayer is that girls will taste and see that Jesus Christ is good. He is better. 

I pray for salvation, for freedom, for redemption.

I pray that girls will appropriate Christ as Lord of their lives, remembering that He loves them deeply. 

I want girls to believe Jesus hears their hearts and their sighs; He is for them and desires INTIMACY with them. 

So less than 2 weeks until Intimacy 2010. Praying for eyes to be opened to the faithfulness and graciousness of Jesus, worship to be sweet and truth to be abundant. Jesus is better, so we want more of you, Jesus!