But as for me..

Reading Psalm 73 this morning. I heard a podcast on my way down to Daytona, and it talked about how people who are "feelers" really relate to the Psalms. That being said, I am a feeler:)
I love what this verse says, though.
Psalm 73:25
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire
besides you.

My flesh and heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. "

Ah, and then verse 28
"But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds."

God has honestly placed me in a position where I am forced to allow him to be my strength, and portion; my all. It's funny to think how often I think I can accomplish deeds on my own, and through my own flesh. But in reality, it's all him. Good to remember. Great to meditate on.

Leaving for Orlando to visit grandparents:) as much as i love their love, it's still nothing compared to His. Crazy to think, huh? Hard to grasp.

his love:)..and that's saying a lot.

Mis Padres

Sitting in the Best Western with Mom, Bay, and Kirk. I never realized how the spaciousness in our little Makai hotel room was lacking until now..but we'll just say it gives the room a little personality, no? It will be really odd not sleeping in between Molls and Elle, and losing my phone in between the small crack where our two beds are pushed together during the night. Did I mention the television is on? Feels like ages since I've watched tv. I honestly haven't missed it. It's a nice habit to eat your Cheerios in the morning with the Bible to read instead of Good Morning America. I'd say the day is started off better:)
The past week I was unable to have quiet times every morning, so got in the word in the afternoon. It's quite a little challenge to think of Him throughout the day without having that initial meeting. I'm really enjoying figuring out what works for me and God. Reminds you that it really is a relationship.

That time again, pieces of joy, here I come:)

1)Family coming to visit in Daytona, and my trying to pick Bayley up when I saw her, but failing. I should hit up the gym..
2)giving a girl a sweet Lizard henna tat, and my manager saying, " You did great! We're not gonna be sending you back to Georgia." Comforting.
3)Running at 7 am and jumping over a giant sand castle. Success!
4)Cracker Barrel:)
5)Mom's reaction to seeing my humble abode for the summer..
6)Girl talk by the pool after work
7)text messages from Jenna Gridley
8)writing post cards:)
9)seeing Elle's sunburn, ahaha.
10)wearing a two-piece, bearing my one piece tan line (..foreshadowing joy)
11)encouraging texts:)
12)sharing what God's teaching here with my fam
13)Bayley sending Dad a text message dissing his hotel choice, ahaha..
14)awkwardly introducing my family to SBP friends
15)seeing my Nana and Pawpa Sunday :) Yet another foreshadowing piece o' joy, haha.

well, I suppose that's all. We're off in search of ice cream. Wish us luck.
his love:)

week 3 :D

Going on week three here at the Makai. The surface relationships are beginning to fade, and real ones are breaking through; something I am super thankful for:) I started out working part-time, but was asked to go full time, so today was my first day working from 9-3, not too shabby. Last night we traveled to sweet Orlando for a Vision conference where 3 different regions working with campus outreach united to share and encourage each other to become laborers of and for Christ. The power of prayer is becoming more and more evident with each day, each training, and each struggle. You'd think I would have learned this by now, but I'm learning a good bit about myself I never knew existed. Good and bad. Either way, God's working.

Memory Verse for this week: 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

Quick pieces of joy entry:)

1) car rides where the trunk is accidently left open
2) 7 eleven slurpies every minute of my life
3) visits from friends:)
4) walking out to the beach to watch the shuttle not blast off at 7 am
5) making friendship bracelets and playing 'things'
6) swing dancing
7) our rubber ducky floor matt
8) my poor honda's little engine shaking everytime we try and drive anywhere
9) praying with friends
10) unlimited orange juice, thank you Makai Lodge
11) genuine people:)
12) sweet, sweet spirits
13) laundry matts
14) big hearts

off to the relationship seminar!
his love

love me some Jesus and henna tatoos..

Made it safely to Day-tay, Florida :) Finally settling in that this hotel is actually my home now.
The past week has been super overwhelming with the job searches, meeting people, training, etc, but ya'll, this project has completely surpassed all expectations. Never have I been in an environment filled with so much love for Jesus and so much love for each other. It's so encouraging, all the time.
We're learning more than I ever imagined we would, and each talk/ lesson has so much depth. I'm going to have to invest in atleast 2 more journals to be sure I get every thing jotted down:) The verse our entire mission is based off is..

2 Corinthians 5:14-15: "For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again."

God's revealing a lot about myself. The job search in itself lasted about 4 days for me. Major test of patience, heart, and motives. Prayer is a must every minute here. I love it:)

I wish i could write more, but I'm off to my sweet job at the Ocean Club souvenier shop on A1A where I tat beach goers up with henna, print tees, fold em', and chat it up with the locals. Yes:)

ps. if you want to write me, just google to address for the Makai Lodge in Daytona, FL then put " CAMPUS OUTREACH: Kelley Bowers"
I love writing letters, so please do:)

his love. and lots of it.

and we're off..

leaving at 8 am for Daytona Beach:) 

pray pray pray

Life is beautiful

God is good

Friends are warm

and packing is poop

--my day in a nutshell.

his love.

Bitter Sweet

Spending my last few moments here at home before heading back to Milledge. We're leaving Wednesday morning, I think I've mentioned that probably eighty times, and so eighty-one ought to be enough:) 

I cannot believe this will be my last day at home for 2 months. It's really starting to sink in, and though my norm reaction would be to kind of, definitely freak out, I won't this time. No sir-ee, Bob.

I'm just really really very excited. And nervous. But mostly excited:) It's an odd experience not knowing what you're getting yourself into, but it's nice to let Him take it, and run with it for once. 

My dumb cell phone died. That does not fall under the pieces of joy list. 

But we're going to check out the cingu, I mean, AT&T store to see if there's any deals. If not, I'll make do with a phone from 1999. Yes.

The lake was great yesterday. Played in the rain. Jumped in the fishy water. Ate some deeelish barbecue. And hugged some of my favorite people:)

..Those were all joy, if you didn't catch that ;)

Also joy- I walked upstairs last night to find my little sister, Bay, sitting up in her bed with the light on. I asked her what the heck she was doing, ha, and she said she was waiting for me :) So I got to sleep with my sweet baby sister for my last night. Gosh, I'll miss seeing her grow up the next two months. 

Packing Kirk's guitar that I never got a chance to learn to play to take with me for Beach Project. Doubt I'll have time to learn, but what've I got to lose besides a little corner space in our room?

mm hmm.

Well. This might very well be my last post before heading out, but I'll pretend it's not.

.. If it is, I'll try to check in soon. Be praying, please:) I know some awesome stuff is going to happen down there.

I Peter 2:2, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

his love.

Empty Handed

"Your grace has found me just as I am;

empty handed but alive in your hands"

I love visuals like this:) I come to Him with nothing; without him I am dirty and worthless with nothing to hold onto; I have absolutely nothing to offer- an absolute mess.

But with Him, I hold a love I cannot even fathom, a security to place my hope in, a mercy and grace to free me from the captivity of my sins, wisdom to live in His word, compassion for others and their hearts, and a yearning to share his love with others. He is the one thing that is constant; the one thing of which I can be certain:) In all things, He is good. He is always good. But if I don't allow Him to hold me in His hands like the child I am, I can't see this, I don't understand it, I don't want to understand, I become afraid, I am lazy, and I begin to worry; I am not alive without Him, and this I can say from some seeerious experience. 

Headed to the lake today for David's grad party. The weather is a tad gloomy, but with the Gridleys, that is never a reason to get spirits down:) 

Seems like everyone is a little cranky today. Or maybe I'm the cranky one. Can't really tell, but I'll work on it. Besides, only 3 days until I leave for Beach Project. No reason to let the world get me down. 

It's going to be pretty weird not being able to write every few days this summer. Unless I can manage to find  a computer somewhere. I've kinda grown to enjoy all this blogging:) I am pretty pumped to be away from Facebook, though. Sometimes, I just can't handle it. Creeping on people isn't the best use of my time I've decided. Maybe I'll limit it to getting on like twice a week from here on out. hm.. I'll keep you posted on how that one goes over.

enjoy the day:)

his love.