Trusted with Much

This verse has been popping up in my mind lately, 

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." [Luke 16:10] 

God has been rewarding my faithfulness in the little things ever since I made the move over 9 months ago [what?] to Texas. In that very short period of time my faithfulness in the little has showered blessings upon my life. Understand though, that my Texas life has not always been gluten/dairy free cupcakes with extra sprinkles just because I am faithful. God will send you something new and exciting but there is a lesson to be learned within that blessing. God has given me lessons in the areas of confidence, self-esteem, patience, prayer, worship, communication, responsibility, grace, and even my personal finances. He's broken me down in order to make me a vulnerable and a willing vessel.

One giant area that I had been praying for but didn't honestly expect God to bless me in was the area of dating. For those in my life you may have heard the story and/or are currently seeing the story that is F&B. Our story is one that has been written by God from the very beginning. Even me being forward and giving Fabian my phone number... that had to have been a nudge from God right? Each moment of our relationship has been and will continue to be Christ centered. We're learning to navigate this road together as a couple rather than individuals. Very soon we will be navigating this journey into marriage!

I am stopped often by God, it's almost like He is pressing the pause button on my life. It's a real life selah moment, for God to show me the bits and pieces of each blessing and for me to see all those pieces as one giant picture. A giant picture that I prayed and believed God for! There is so much rejoicing in my life, in our lives right now that I want the world to know, "God's blessings are on the other side of commitment."
Commit to His plans for your life and not your own.
Commit to being faithful in the little without knowing what the 'much' will be.
Commit to serving Him with excellence wherever He places you.
Commit to an attitude that is willing and able.
Commit to a relentless pursuit of Him.

[engagement photos captured by: Lisa Fotu Photography]

| Life Lately: [phone photos] |

A little over four months in Texas and I cannot believe everything that God has sent my way. So many prayers have been answered and little by little God is shaping my character and molding me into the person He wants me to be. I have amazing new friends, a place in ministry, a full time job downtown where I don't have to work weekends or wear a business suit [yes, I prayed for that], I am also about to move into my first place! God even sent an incredible man my way too. [didn't see that one coming at all but it sure is a nice surprise.]
Ever since I made the leap of faith to move to Fort Worth, God has been showing me that having Him guide my steps is totally the way to go. What He has brought my way has blown my mind. As much as I enjoy planning and organizing, I could've never planned my life out this well.
God sure has outdone himself.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

To Be Determined- By God

It took roughly 18 hours to start this new journey. [Nothing against Arkansas, but driving through that state was serious torture!] I am five days into it and am already feeling inpatient. Patience will always be something I struggle with, let's just be real about that!. I have been seeking and praying for some serious purpose while doing my best to remain patient in the journey. I know my purpose is in Fort Worth, doors have already started opening for me here! With constant reminders and encouragement from my best friends back home in Michigan to chill out and enjoy the excitement of this adventure, I have been doing just that. Exploring the area. Connecting with family and friends that I met last year. Figuring out the freeways and becoming serious best friends with my gps. Attending services at Gateway and Tree of Life and making new connections. Planting myself at some of my favorite coffee shops and job searching. Running along the river. And most of all getting used to the heat! 

In moments of loneliness I realize I am the only one who can fix the feeling of being alone. God will connect me with the right people but I have to be willing to put myself in the middle of people for that to happen. Being the new person is never something I have been great at. The work God has done in these past 9 months with my confidence and overall boldness allowed me to walk myself into Gateway's North Fort Worth campus last night and attend their young adult service. I jumped right in and started to connect myself with the amazing young adults there! When asked what brought me to Texas I just shortened my answer to, "God called me down here!" I was encouraged by each person I met and had an amazing night of worship on top of making new friends. I even met someone who was from Michigan, and yes he held up his hand to show me where he was from! Classic Michigander! I am finding comfort in each moment I am able to connect with someone and share a little piece of my story with them. It's making Texas seem a bit more like home. 

Faith over Fear

Last Thursday God spoke very clearly through an act of obedience from a powerhouse worshipper leader and one of my close friends.
"Fear. Fear is being broken."
That word was for me and I took it and ran with it. I was full of fear, which is hilariously ironic because I just tattooed 'faith over fear' on my body two weeks before that moment. Stop fooling yourself B and read your arm! I was fearful of finding a new job. No doors have been opening for me and the struggle was real during what I kept calling the 'job stretch.' I was fearful of leaving my family. I had plans to move out across town as soon as that job came. Moving and leaving the comfort of home was a fear. I was fearful of leaving friendships that had been built up on such real and vulnerable connections. All of this fear was clouding my vision and the true vision that God gave me last August that I eventually shared on this blog last year in December.
Somewhere between fear and emotions I lost track of the real call that God had for me. Doors weren't opening for me in Michigan because I am not supposed to be in Michigan right now. I went back to the beginning before the fear and emotions crept in and re-visited what God had first said to me. I love the grace of God and how sensitive He is to allowing us to see clearly that call He has for us. He allowed me to cloud my vision for only a short time and work it all out while watching and guarding me from a distance. Then right when I was willing to hear, God busted through those clouds and softened my heart. My softened heart allowed me to hear some clear words from some amazing people in my life.
Now more than ever I know the direction for my life and that direction will require a 16 hour road trip to Fort Worth, Texas. There are doors down there that God is ready to open for me but He can't open them if I am not obedient and go!
With all that being said, I am ready to get out of my own way and to fully obey. My bags are currently being packed. Get ready Fort Worth, B is invading the city... FRIDAY!

FAITH OVER FEAR! 

Bee's Moving Y'all

It is with great excitement that I tell all y'all, I AM MOVING!!! I am taking myself out of Grand Rapids, Michigan and over 1,000 miles down south to Fort Worth, Texas. This decision has been about 9 months in the making and I never imagined myself making such a bold move. I started to feel in my heart such a love for Texas when I first went there on Spring Break this past spring. Something about Fort Worth felt like home. It also helps that I have an amazing Aunt and several cousins that live there. Another place that felt like home was Tree of Life. My cousin Gabriel is the Pastor at this incredible church. Everything about TOL felt so inviting and each new person I met and got to know felt like a long lost best friend. I loved the services and the classes and left Texas knowing I was supposed to be at Tree of Life.

After another visit to Fort Worth this past summer I came back knowing that I was to follow what I was feeling in my heart from God. After sharing everything with my parents we began praying about it. [I'm a Christian... I think you have figured that out by now.] I kept everything I was feeling within the family and a couple close friends as I patiently waited for confirmation. 2 weeks after I shared this with my parents, my Uncle unexpectedly passed away. God just shook my world and flipped it upside down. One thing that my Uncle always encouraged me to do was to follow God's will. Every family member that I shared my heart with during the celebration of my Uncle's life encouraged me to do just that, follow God's will. After grieving the loss of my Uncle I continued to pray and go after the desire to move. I had come up with a plan but you know how that saying goes, "make a plan and God will laugh at it." That is basically what happened. God said, "Bee, I can handle it. Let go of the control of your life." As soon as I let go of the planning, everything just fell into place. I was released from obligations keeping me in Michigan and had decided that my business was going to close in June. I keep saying it but it's so true, never in a million years would I see my life taking this path. It's exciting and scary at the same time. I know it is all God and I am looking forward to what He has planned for me. I am sure it will include some cute cowgirl boots and lots of bbq.

#MooreSiblingVacay

After some serious patience and planning, my brother and I were able to take a sibling vacation down to Fort Worth, Texas. We were greeted with open arms and some serious heat! I didn't think it was possible to have two vacations in one year that would completely change my life but, it happened. There is just something about Texas that I love. Maybe it's the BBQ or all the amazing tacos? Maybe it's the presence of family and realness within each person that I was able to meet? Maybe it's the fact that some of my favorite and closest cousins all live there? I think it's all the above. I am so glad that I got to share this experience with my brother. And the fact that we never once got on each others nerves is a miracle! Once again, I failed to take photos that captured each moment of the trip but we were too busy living them out to even capture them. Enjoy the photos that my brother and I took. 

^ Lil' cousin Fayth was in love with Nate. Those two created quite the bond during the week we were there. ^

^ My brother stood in on sound for Sunday service at Tree of Life. It was cool to see that side of his education being used as a ministry to bless my cousins and the church. Seeing my cousins all serving at Tree of Life in a place of ministry lifts my spirit and makes me so proud to call them family. Nothing is sweeter than going after God's plan and purpose for your life with one-hun-doe percent! If you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area go and check this place out! ^

^ My brother spent a couple days out on the golf course connecting on a real heart level with our cousins. Keep in mind that it was about 99 degrees during each round of 18 that they played. ^

^ Klyde Warren Park in Downtown Dallas. This park was so beautiful. ^ 

^ Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas was gorgeously lit up by the sunset. ^

^ These girls are simply the best second cousins a first cousin could ask for. We picked up right where we left off when I left in April. They remembered how I would lift them up and let them do backflips off of me. They remembered that they had to say 'please' if they needed anything from me. And most importantly... they remembered my name! ^

^ No BBQ this time around, just lots of tacos! ^ 

^ An evening spent in Sundance Square with family while sipping coffee and having great conversation is a perfect evening. The little cousins could not contain their excitement for the water in the jetted fountain. ^

^ Yes, we shot guns. And by we, I mean... yes, I shot a gun! And I loved it! Before we left Michigan I had told my dad that I wanted to shoot skeet while I was down in Texas. Well, the amazing cousins made it happen. It was an empowering experience. I successfully hit 4 skeet on my first time out! ^

^ When my dad asked what kind of gun I was shooting, my response was, "It's brown." I later learned that it was a 12 gauge shotgun. ^

^ Our last evening was spent in The Loft surrounded by family and new friends inviting in the presence of God. We attended their monthly 'As One' gathering and learned the power of positive communication within relationships. We were able to say goodbye to new friends and make plans to come back soon. ^

^ We had an amazing time. It's always sad to leave a place that you love. This trip was necessary for growth, progress, refreshing, and renewing. I loved being able to connect again so quickly with my family. Our cups were always running over with espresso and the conversation was non-stop. It was necessary for growth within our love for one another and within ourselves. Counting down the days until we can return again. ^ 

[for more photos from our trip check out #mooresiblingvacay on instagram!] 

Texas Vacay

Go to Texas to visit my cousins has been crossed of my 2014 to-do list. This vacation was amazing. Words can't describe how God used my mom and I to not only connect with family but to share our gifts of ministry with others. I was able to spend a lot of time with my family and make some new friends along the way. It was not your ordinary vacation. I was up early and went to bed late. I spent a lot of time talking and building a stronger relationship with my cousins and my Tia. They got to see what God is doing in my life and encouraged me to keep following after Him.

I was finally able to attend a service at Tree of Life. God's presence was so evident in that place. I didn't want the service to end. I was greeted by everyone with love and felt right at home. 

I got my butt kicked at OutFIT [an outdoor bootcamp class] that I went to with my 2 cousins. [At one point I had wood chips in my hair and dried mud all over my hands. Tough workouts!]

I spent time in downtown Fort Worth and explored the Arts Fest with my mom. 

I went to the Stockyards to see the Longhorns and eat some bbq. 

We had a spa afternoon with the girl cousins and got manis & pedis. 

I squeezed out every last minute of this vacation up until I had to leave. 

I got home and was so inspired by their lives. I love how God is using each and every one for His glory.  They all are great examples for me.
When I got home I realized that I barely took any pictures. I was so busy creating real memories that I didn't capture any with my camera. Oh well, guess I will just have to go back and visit again soon. 

Enjoy the pictures that I did take. 

Until next time...