Do you ever feel like life is so busy that you wish there were a few more hours in the day just for sleep or some peace and quiet? Believe me, I know how you feel. Being a wife, mother, teacher, and working with my husband, Jared, in the student ministries department at our church does not leave much down time for me or my family. However, as busy as we all are, I am so honored and privileged to be serving our Lord and Savior with the love of my life and my two beautiful little girls – Emma Grace (4) and Ellahna Mercy (2).

As I said earlier, life can get very hectic with all of the many activities we find ourselves embarking upon. Jared is currently the part-time youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Belleview, Florida. He also works full-time for the County Administrator of Marion County in Ocala, Florida. I am currently the 3rd grade teacher at Belleview Christian Academy. Along with my teaching responsibilities, I fulfill my role as helpmeet by assisting Jared on Wednesday nights in our youth group. We began ministering at Grace in the fall of 2009 starting with about 8 students. God has definitely blessed our ministry beyond measure. We now have between 25-30 students ranging from 6th - 12th grade who come to learn about God while building relationships with young fellow Christians. Our youth group is unique in that several of our youth do not have parents that come to church. So, on Wednesday nights, Jared and I find ourselves running a church van to pick them up for our youth service. The name of our youth group is Grace Alive, and our motto is “Students Made Alive by God’s Grace.” Our inspiration for this name and the focus of our youth group comes from Ephesians 2:1-5, which says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” These verses really speak to how the youth of today live: “according to the course of this world.” However, we try to teach them that it is Christ who we should strive to live for, because He is what it is all about. God has shown His sufficiency time and time again by enabling us to provide support and guidance to these teenagers in an impactful, life changing way. We have certainly had our share of highs and lows, but God has been faithful through it all.

2 Timothy 1:7 & 9 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind…Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” These verses are a humbling reminder that, even though life may be crazy busy and filled with unexpected situations and times of insanity, God is in control. If He gave us a holy calling even before the world began, then He will be faithful to see us through. Remember, God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.