I'm just me...

Welcome to my continuing Journey with Jesus!!
 

When God calls, we have a choice: to obey or disobey!

I choose to obey. I choose this because I know the significance of disobedience and the heartache it can be paired with. I choose obedience because I have learned that THIS is where true FREEDOM is found.

In January of 2013, I will embark on a journey to 11 countries across the world. I will minister with a squad of like-minded believers in the countries of: China, Philippines, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Albania, Romania, India, Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania.

I invite you to join me on my journey and see Jesus work in a RADICAL way as I abandon the things of this world that so easily weigh us down!!

Until the Whole World Hears,
Dana

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Once a mess, saved by grace and a daughter of a King!
I owe Him far more than I could ever give back.

On a journey with Jesus...seeking Him with
no reservations, no regrets and pure faith!!

"Therefore we also have as our ambition,
whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."
II Corinthians 5:9

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My Personal Testimony

In June of 1991 I accepted Christ into my heart when I was at church youth camp – all out of fear of dying the next day on the canoe trip. After that week of camp, I came home and was baptized because I knew it was what I was “supposed to do”.  The life I knew as a child and teenager was all about “rules” in this religion called Christianity.

Four years after graduating from Bible College I moved to Phoenix to assist in a small church plant.  I lasted six months.  It was my last straw with legalism! Being told I was not to return to the church I moved to this valley to help became the slippery slope to my life ultimately falling apart somewhere between 2007-2009.  In following suite of how I was raised – I put the mask on and made everyone think life was great – but on the inside I was a mess! Hurt, mad, bitter, lonely, angry and just about every other emotion you could imagine.

In the fall of 2007 I began to not care about the mask I had worn and I didn’t care what people thought anymore.  I was going to do what I wanted – and that I did! Drinking to impress the right crowd, manipulating friends to get what I wanted and doing the opposite of what people expected from me was the god of my life.

However, God loves His children so much so that He will do whatever He needs to do to get their attention (remember the story of the one lil’ sheep that Jesus went after – that was me – He ran after me with a relentless love and passion).  He took the one thing that was truly my world – my best friend.  Some people would say she chose to walk away or I pushed her away.  Either way you flip the coin, both sides scream out God’s Sovereignty and plan!  The pain from this loss – the emptiness I felt – lead me to the ultimate despair of giving up on life and God all together.  I believed Satan’s lie – that God didn’t love me anymore because I didn’t have "my" world – my best friend Clarissa!

I escaped to the church that was my comfort – where no one would know me or the hurt I carried because they were a large church and relationships were not their forte.

During this time I counseled with a dear friend and her husband. He encouraged me to attend a smaller church that was full of love and solid doctrinally speaking.  Aric knew what I needed – and I really didn’t like it frankly!  It took me two months to conceit in my heat and visit the church. I attended cautiously but something was different.  I didn’t sense the “checklist” I was used to from what I knew. I found genuine people that loved Jesus and wanted to see others come to that love of Him too.

My past was about religion – something you did but the present became about a relationship – someone that I love!

Looking back over the past two decades of my life and seeing how God has changed my heart from the inside out – it’s still changing today – blows my mind.  Each day is a journey to become a woman that loves Jesus above anything else in this life; to focus on a relationship with Him and not a check list to complete.

I'm on a journey with Jesus – seeking Him with no reservations, no regrets and pure faith!!

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Random Facts

I love Jesus!
I love people!
I love life and making memories!!
Friends and Family are priceless to me!!
Adventure is my middle name:o)
I love dirt, but I still love make-up and heels;)
Belly laughs are the best.
Love sports (playing and watching)
LOVE LOVE LOVE Music…God blessed me with some vocals and I really enjoy using them. I can poke around on an acoustic guitar but it’s been a while since I last held one.




(No email provided) Delete | Block Posted by Trish on 6/14/2012 11:18:10 PM

Love it girl! I love when you say: "remember the story of the one lil’ sheep that Jesus went after – that was me – He ran after me with a relentless love and passion." When I think back to the circumstances of my salvation.... I know that was totally me too!! I mean who wakes up with a cut in the shape of a "J" on their finger out of no where (I did not remember cutting it) and has a best friedn bold enough to say look Patricia this is the deal. God isnt giving up on you.. and all you answers and all that emptiness can only be fulfilled by Jesus. That's crazy! God hunted me down after two years of longing and emptiness after my dad passed away! Hunted me down, came in like a prince, and swooped me off my feet! and yeah the years that came after were harder than the ones before.... but he kept me close and keep me in those arms of love through it all... even when I decided to give up on church because of hurt... he let me go... but still held me close... there wasn't a day that a didn't think of him... Oh, did I say I love it!! lol. sorry for the long comment :]