And these students... They're gonna change the world.

WOW! What an amazing night at Choudrant High School. So what happened was we had a 6 on 6 dogdeball tournament, a guest speaker, free food, worship, and door prizes. All free. But more than anything that night many lives were transformed. My fellow students were broken by a God who saves. That's exactly what He did tonight!!! Not only that but many of the students were called to a higher level of Christianity, that is to live life selflessly, and always worshiping the savior in EVERYTHING!

As for me. God stirred my heart in a way only He and I can understand. But honestly God showed me His power. Students He had laid on my heart months earlier gave their lives to Him TONIGHT! He is working. And He is answering prayers!!

Please pray for my fellow students. May they stay strong when life hits them hard.

With love, Tessa(:

And our freshman maid is...

WHOA!! So I was recently on homecoming court at school. I'm sure most of yall know. What a crazy and overwhelming adventure! From start to finish. NEVER would I guess that I would be on homecoming court. But I was. And I'm grateful.

My prayer is that I was not put on a pedestal but that God was through this whole thing. I pray that my name just brought God glory. That was my prayer. So I just thought I would share some picture.(:

I'm thankful for my classmates. I love them soo much! Thank you for everyone who came.(:

Here they are:







With love, Tessa

And this... is REAL.

Tonight I wanted to write something inspiring. But you see. I don't know how to just sit down and write something and it automatically is great and honorable. I can type what is real though. But real isn't pretty. Real is hard. Real is:
A mother loosing her baby.
A soldier going off and never returning home.
A student getting bullied at school.
An abused wife.
An abused... Child.
A motherless baby.
A widow.
A shattered family.
A broken heart.
A house fire.
A drug attic.
Real is a homeless man.
A single TEENAGE mother.
A laid off worker.
A poor family.
A WORLD totally neglecting the fact that there IS A GOD.

REAL things bring us to our knees. REAL things keep us broken. REAL things keep our attention. They keep us awake. And alert. Real is also:
A happy marriage.
A steady church home.
A LOVED child.
A pure teenager.
A promise.
A friendship.
A GOD.

REAL is good too. REAL is love. REAL is loving one another. It takes you by the strings of your heart. And it shakes you. You see. God. He is real. I can promise you that. The REAL things that I listed first. They can't be fixed by a fake thing. Only a REAL thing can comfort or protect or fix or mend real things. And God is REAL!!

Maybe this is completely random. Maybe this blog doesnt make sense. But if you happen to be something that I listed in the first list. God can TREMENDOUSLY improve your situation. He is here. His love is mighty. And His LOVE IS REAL. That is the absolute truth.

If you feel hopeless right now. And you feel like you can't bare an ounce of anything else. Come to a God who is real. Not a statue. But a PERSONAL SAVIOR. Come and embrace His undending love. Need help? Well that's what I'm here for. I love you. I really do. Talk to me. Okay. Bye.

With love, Tessa.

This whole thing called religion...

God has POUNDED something on my heart lately. This is something that is surrounding our churches and disturbing our spiritual walks... It's this little thing called RELIGION. Yea. It's kind of unexpected to be described like this. But the fact is God does not want us to have religion, He wants us to love and live for HIM!

Religion sets this standard of doing this thing at this time. Or it tells you to act this way and only this way. I find that sometimes when we just focus on religion and its rules we lose sight of what God is trying to tell us at that moment. It completely shuts our mind out. Often religion causes us to place ourselves higher than others. Feeling like we are more Holy. Ha.. For us to think we are more HOLY! God clearly spoke about humility and to place our selves among the 'Tax Collectors' and 'Prostitutes'. So why do we feel like we have the right to think we are more holy? I think this is what turns people off from Christianity the most. Sometimes we are just a bunch of stuck up religious people!! And most of the time we don't see anything wrong with it!!

I myself am trying to overcome this religion. Don't get me wrong. I love Jesus with such a strong and passionate love. But I want to have a relationship with Him. I mean thats what Christianity is. I want to love the people who don't know Jesus. And I don't want to feel like I have a greater right to His Kingdom.

Christians... Join me in trying to prevent religion from creeping up in our hearts. Join me in praying for a solid relationship with the one who ADORES us and wants us just to listen to Him. With open hearts and open minds. I will be praying for our churches may we hold fast to his love and not get caught up in this kind of religion. (:

With love,
Tessa.

My blind eyes are starting to see! (:

Lately God has been convicting my heart about something... So I'm guessing you would like to know what this is. Well the fact is that: THERE ARE LOST PEOPLE RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES E.V.E.R.D.A.Y!! I walk with them in the halls at Choudrant High School. I eat lunch with them. I talk to them on a daily basis. I even have a few in my CLOSE group of friends at school.

Why are my eyes so blind to these things most of the time? Lately I have just been looking at these people that I know dont know Jesus and their eyes... Just show hopelessness. Their eyes show searching. Wanting. Disappointed. Sadness.

How can I be so ignorant to the fact that the person sitting next to me in biology, or world geography, or anywhere might be going to a place called HELL! That just beats me up inside. Right now I'm BROKEN for these people.

I am making a decision not to hoard this gift of salvation. It is MY responsibility to make sure that my classmates know about this gift. Not just that Jesus loves them but that HE LOVES THEM WITH AN UNFAILING AND INCREDIBLE LOVE!! That he died on a cross for THEIR sins! This, is MY JOB!!

I love people & I want them to go to heaven with me...

Please Christians, Join me in this challenge. A challenge to share the gift of salvation.

With love, Tessa

The desert.

Recently it has been one of those 'seasons' to be quite honest. A season of dryness. Hunger of the spiritual kind. And wanting of fulfillment by God. The truth is... Its a hard and long time to go through. A time of not feeling like you are hearing much from God. A time of not having so much enthusiasm for his works! A time of crying and wondering. Even a time of doubting.

During these seasons I almost feel numb. Most of these days I don't want to get out of bed. There's no point in getting out of bed. Anyone who knows me knows this isnt normal for me. I generally am very positive and love getting up because I realize God has a plan for that day. But in these seasons I'm just there.

But! The great news is I am out of that season. All I had to do was pray for strength, and joy, and thirst! God answered that prayer! Thank you Jesus!

" Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6.

AMEN!

With love, Tessa

God's got a hold of me.

My dad doesn't have a job anymore. My mom isn't alive anymore. I've never stayed in one place for to long. I've lost many good friendships.

Something on my heart right now is simply just, Change. Honestly, change scares the mess out of me. I tend to grow attached to people and places. But when those things are ripped out of my life. It hurts. I want to cling to those people and things with all that I am. But when God says it's time to let go I must. Sometimes I just don't want to. This is where I fall short in my relationship with God. Why can't I just understand that God has everything under control and let Him have all of it!? This frustrates me so stinking much! I am constantly reminding myself that God has a plan and HE HAS GOT A HOLD OF ME!

So my prayer is that I will fully trust in God's plan and understand I am in His hands. No matter where He is taking me. No matter who He is removing me from. No matter what kind of hurricane life throws at me. He is here. With me.

**Please join me in prayer as my dad is searching for a job. Pray the He will go where God is guiding. (:**

Love much,
Tessa <3