{Falling Plates}

A short film about life, death and love of a savior. 

#FallingPlates 

{The Christmas Scale}

Remembering the best news in the world today. 

Merry Christmas! 

Love, 

Shannon 

{Jesus: Our Reality}

"Change is your friend that draws you closer to Jesus." This was the banner that hung in the training room at the briefing weekend that I went to before heading to Australia. When I first saw it I laughed and I can remember making little jokes about it with my teammates. But what I didn't realize is that this small sentence, containing nine words, couldn't be anymore true.

This semester has been all about preparing for a change. On May 4th I will be graduating from JMU. Over the past three years I have seemed to have forgotten that college has an end. There will be a day very soon where I won't be a "student." JMU, Harrison Hall, the Quad, West View St., and the Blue Ridge Mountains have been my reality for almost four years now.

Change is such a challenge for human beings, especially this one typing on the keyboard, because it means we experience a shift in our reality. Our routines change and our social sphere is altered. We are indeed creatures of habit, and when our habits change it breeds worry, anxiety, and doubt. I have been wrestling with all three of those feelings over the past few months. I have been frustrated with anticipation, and it has been driving me crazy, but also driving me closer to the One who is writing my story, and the One who is aware of the wrestling match taking place in my heart.

So what is the root of worry, anxiety, and doubt? I have been learning that the root is always the same. Satan always feeds the same lie, it's been his campaign through the ages. I love the way author Ann Voskamp puts the Serpent's lie, he hisses into our ears, "God isn't good. It's the cornerstone of his movement. That God withholds good from His children, that God does not genuinely, fully, love us." I have been visited by this lie many times this semester, sometimes it seems easy to believe because life gets hard and emotions fill me with discontentment.

But, more important than the lie, is the truth. The truth that I am asking God to root deep inside of my heart, the truth that sets me free from all uncertainty. The truth that removes the chains that Satan finds pleasure in draping all over us. The truth that washes us clean from all of the dirt that stains us as we walk down the road of life.

The truth that overcomes all the enemy's lies is that even when our realities seems to change, Jesus is the reality that will never change. He is our reality, and no matter how many times Satan tries to distract us by telling us that the gospel is unrealistic, the gospel will always stand-it never loses its "realness". Our choice is whether to believe the gospel as it applies to every aspect of our lives. Sometimes I am better at making this choice than others. But, the freedom & peace from anxiety, doubt, perfection, and everything else that we face on this earth is already there, we must humbly kneel down to receive it.

Jesus is our reality in the face of tragedy. 

Jesus is our reality in our heart break and sadness. 

Jesus is our reality in our frustrations at school and at work. 

Jesus is our reality when we are too hard on ourselves, trying to earn our salvation (which is impossible).

Jesus is our reality when it is hard to enjoy grace & we find ourselves fighting for our joy. 

Jesus is our reality when the enemy tells us God isn't good. 

Jesus is our reality in our family troubles. 

Jesus is our reality in the face of health issues. 

Farther along the way we will see the good fruit of our hard seasons, for they are not pointless (although the enemy would like to tell us they are). For God is always doing a good work in us.

I am holding on so tightly to the truth, because Jesus is my reality. He really walked on this earth, He really walked on water, His words really do bring freedom, He is real, He is our remedy, and He is worthy of my faith and your faith. His promises are true and they pull us through the darkness. When we embrace Him as reality, we are capable of anything.

Keep fighting the good fight friend, you are braver than you think.

{An American in Australia}

It is hard to believe that at this time last year I was in Melbourne, Australia. I am so grateful to have spent 6 weeks on the other side of the world reaching college students for Christ. Now, a year later, it has been so therapeutic to remember all that God did there in my heart. To remember everything that I saw, and to remember the wonderful people that I crossed paths with. I was challenged there, I laughed so hard I wanted to cry there, I developed genuine relationships there, and I grew closer to the Lord there.  

Around me when I look, His handiwork I see; 

This world is like a picture book to teach His love to me.

Jane E. Lesson

Our adventure began with the sunrise in Fiji. 

Flying over the mountains of Fiji. 

Exploring Auckland, New Zealand. 

July means Fall/Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. 

These nuggets taught us what childlike faith is, and also provided the entertainment.

Blessed to meet this fun-loving Kiwi, I miss you Jess! 

Sunset in New Zealand. 

Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive-it's such an interesting world.

Lucy Mead Montgomery 

We celebrated the 4th of July in New Zealand! Sparklers & fireworks included. 

Our team at the V20 Conference in New Zealand with the Hershey's & Katherine Ross. 

Melbourne: Home of the world's strongest coffee! 

This view greeted us every morning. 

And of course, Tim Tam Slams were one of our favorite past times. 

Flinders' Street Station. 

There are no architecture rules in Melbourne. 

A blend of the old & the new. 

The winning team of the Melbourne Amazing Race scavenger hunt! 

Our winning prize. Bananas are a hot commodity in Melbourne. 

Our visits to the Queen Victoria Market were frequent. 

Yes, that is a cow in a tree. I told you, no rules. 

Casey and I on our Melbourne Uni adventure. 

This is a dorm building, or should I say castle. Harry Potter?? Yes. 

The streets of Melbourne Uni. The trees make my heart box happy. 

It wouldn't be a visit to Australia without seeing wildlife. 

Rowan thought it was a good idea to eat the seeds/dirt. 

Casey, Erin, and I enjoying the sunset. 

Hello Melbourne. 

Beach houses on Brighton Beach. 

My team :)

I loved forming close relationships with these women. 

Mr. Koala. 

Kangaroo littles. 

Girl's date to Brunetti's bakery and coffee shop. 

Doughnuts on the tram, don't mind if we do! 

They know how to do dessert in Oz.

Savor little glimpses of God's goodness and His majesty, thankful for the gift of them: winding pathways through the woods, a bright green canopy overhead, and dappled sunshine falling all around. 

Our journey on the Great Ocean Road. 

The Twelve Apostles rock formation on the coast. 

I'm convinced mermaids live here.

Thankful for the friendships I have with these women. 

A JMU ladies cupcake date in the city at Melbourne Central Station.

Jesus is making Himself known in Melbourne, the shadow of the Cross at Melbourne Central.

Erin & I at St. Kilda. Grateful for this one. 

Arthur, came to Christ during our trip. 

The cafe we walked to every Friday. We ate many breakfasts there and didn't mind that there was free wifi. 

The Uni where we did our ministry, love those students. 

Blessed beyond belief to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. I loved feeling like a Sea World employee for a day. 

50 cent ice cream cones from McDonald's a.k.a Macca's, standard. 

Last stop, Sydney.
Until next time Australia.

May your life become one of glad and unending praise to the Lord as you journey through this world, and in the world that is to come!
Theresa of Avila

Where is the place where you have experienced the most adventure?