Reflex.

When the doctor is checking your reflex he is not concerned with how hard you can kick if you try. He wants to know how your body responds on it's own. 

If you were anything like me when you were little you can probably remember a time when you tried kick at the exact moment that the hammer touched your knee without the doctor noticing. It didn't work out. He noticed every time. Or maybe you were the kid tensed up at the fact that a man in white coat was about to hit you (even if that hammer was rubber and harmless). 

Reflex [n. ree-fleks]: any automatic, unthinking, or habitual behavior or response. 

God isn't concerned about how hard we can kick if we try. He doesn't care how much we can do when we strive in our own strength. 

"Cease striving and KNOW that I am God. I WILL be exalted among the nations. I WILL be exalted in the Earth." Psalm 46:10 

He just wants us to know Him. When we stop tensing up and stressing out and just look into His eyes and know Him we are no longer scared about the tests and trials. The little rubber hammer hitting our knee is no longer intimidating. Talking to a stranger about the gospel is no longer scary. It's not about how good we can be, but how GREAT He who lives in us already is. 

"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20

The God of the universe lives in and through our little human hands, feet, and mouths.This demands a response, but not one we can muster up the motivation and strength for. 

"We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

We all know that God is love, but until recently I hadn't realized that the only reason I CAN love is because He loved me first. If we truly grasp the fact that Christ loves us and we let Christ live through us being compelled by that love EVERYTHING chances. 

"For Christ's love COMPELS us, because we are convinced that one died for all, therefore all died." 2 Corinthians 5:14

It simply looks like welcoming Jesus into every situation and encounter that we face. "WWJD?" doesn't even have to be a question because it's not about anything we can do LIKE Jesus anyway. The fact is that Jesus Christ lives in us and through us. When we finally relax and rest in knowing Him we become empty vessels letting Him react and respond through our reflex of loving, praying, and preaching. 

As Christians we will no longer go on "outreach" but invite Him to REACH OUT through us everyday. Wal-Mart runs become mission trips because our perspective is that His Kingdom would REALLY come on earth as it is in heaven. 

"We are often more convinced of our unworthiness than we are of His worth. Our inability takes on greater focus than His ability." Bill Johnson  

Now, this is a journey for me that I am still in the middle of. It's not comfortable to ask a woman on the plane if you can pray for her. It's not normal to walk up to a overweight teenage girl you've never met and tell her that she is beautiful. It's not easy to start up conversations in the check out isle. It's hard to pray for a man in a wheel chair to be healed when there are doubts spiraling through the back of your head... BUT IT'S WORTH IT. 

Lord, I pray that LOVE becomes our REFLEX. That it will be an automatic, unthinking, or habitual behavior and response to knowing that there are dead hearts that You want to make alive. There are hopeless children that need You to be their Hope. There are addicts that only You can set free. Your Kingdom come. You will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. In Your name, amen. 

"If God is for us, who can be against us" Romans 8:31

I cannot wait to hear the stories of what we can do as we invite Jesus to live in and through our everyday lives. 

I promise I'll post a Brazil update soon! Also, I am serving at the Honor Academy and Global Expeditions for another year which I'll also tell you all about next time. God is faithful! I'm expectant and excited for what He has planned and how you can be apart of it! :)

For His Glory,

Kayla Marie

"FEAR NOT, for I am with you. Be not desmayed for I am your God. I will STRENGTHEN you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Summer 2012: Brazil

Hey Friends, just a window into my life over the past few months here at the Honor Academy and about what this SUMMER is going to look like! God is SO faithful! (Thanks for the video help Sabrina!)

Why? It’s majestic landscape boasts beautiful rainforests and breathtaking  mountain ranges. You wouldn’t imagine that the streets are filled with homeless children in rags, poverty, drugs, violence, sickness, and empty religious traditions. We will be in the city of Rio in favellas (slums) where we will be serving and doing dramas with a church and missionaries that have already been preparing for us all year long. (Pictures taken by Kelly Denison on the set-up trip in December 2011)

We will also serve in a nursery school where children come and are given the opportunity to learn basic hygiene, are fed three meals a day, and learn about Jesus while being loved unconditionally, maybe for the first time ever. They live everyday in fear of drug lords, split families, and crime is all around them. It is so valuable that they have a safe place to come and find hope in Jesus. I can’t wait to be apart of this mission! We will be impacting the future of Brazil through these kids.

We will be playing with THESE kids!!! Real faces in need of HOPE.

Details? I leave on July 21st and return to the States on August 4th. The total cost for the trip is $2,953 which includes: airfare, accommodations, and training. I have been working very hard to raise the finances, but I know that I cannot accomplish this task alone. Would you be willing to “go with me” by giving financially and pray for the whole team while we are there? If you would like to help sponsor me, you can give online www.globalexpeditions.com (Click DONATE and ID#2558262). My 50% ticketing deadline is on June 14th. All donations are tax-deductible. :)

Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration. Your prayer and support are greatly appreciated! I am truly thankful for the friends and family the Lord has blessed me with, and look forward to the great privilege of spending part of my summer in Brazil sharing God’s awesome love with the broken and hurting people there. Thank you for helping to send me, I couldn’t do it without you!

For His Glory,

Kayla Marie :) 

"Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to ALL creation." Mark 16:15

Thank you to those who have already given in the past few days! You have no idea how much it means to me and what it will mean for the kids in Brazil. #ForHisGlory! Here's an update on finances visually: 

BE BLESSED TODAY!!!

"Blessed are the PURE in heart, for they shall SEE GOD." Matthew 5:8

Feel free to contact me with questions or prayer requests!

kayla.sprague@teenmania.org

PO BOX 2010 CPO#622

Garden Valley, TX 75117

#HeartCheck

Oh Dear Ones, 

Once again, it's been TOO long since I have updated you. Thank you for being patient with me! First of all: May the fourth be with you. Today I pretended this was me... #HappyStarWarsDay #SeeTheResemblance?

Back to REAL life: Recently I had the opportunity to come home on medical leave and get my wisdom teeth out. Let's just say, I really cherished the weekend before surgery! :P

BEFORE: #StoryTime       AFTER: #DrySocketTime

The wednesday night while in OOOOOohhhhhlathe I had the privilege of speaking with my Daddy at youth group on Psalm 51! #HEARTCHECK Here's the link if you want to hear a #DaddyDaughterTagTeam it UP! I am so blessed by the Jesus that shines through Clint Sprague.

Vertical Student Ministries: Condition Of The Heart 

I talk a lot about what God has been doing in my life on that podcast, but I'm also going to be making another update video next weekend because that's the easiest way for me to communicate all my thoughts. #StayTuned

Other than that... quick updates:

• I'm HEALTHY! Praise God! Must be because of all the vitamins!
• I turn 19 in less than 2 weeks and my Dad will be speaking at chapel here. I'm SO excited about that!
• Missions season on campus is LESS than a month away! I cannot wait to see all the missionaries be sent out around the WORLD! #GEswaggggg

• The East Texas sky is beautiful.
•     
• I'm going to BRAZIL this summer and I'll tell you more about it soon!!!!(FYI: Panama got medically denied) Start praying that God starts softening the hearts of people there and prepares our team as well!
• Jesus has blessed me through Sammmmmy Ruiz. #TrueFriendship
• 

• I'm still in prayer about what next year brings. So, you can continue praying for guidance in that! :) #Learning2Trust
• My new favorite place is the SNOW CONE shop 5 minutes down the street! Went there today with lovely Alexis Muscarella. #BlueCottonCandy4LIFE

ANYWAY, the purpose of this whole thing is to ASK YOU what I can be praying for. I want to be apart of your lives by standing in the gap and partnering with Jesus on your behalf! 

EMAIL ME: kayla.sprague@teenmania.org... or FACEBOOK ME or TEXT ME (email me to get my number) ANY PRAYER REQUESTS! Or you can even sent me a letter like Allie Renee. 

I really love hearing from you all. It makes me feel like I'm not so far away from home. (PO Box 2010 CPO 622 Garden Valley, TX 75771)

"We have this as a SURE and STEADFAST ANCHOR of the soul (mind, will, and emotions), a HOPE that enters into the INNER place behind the curtain." Hebrews 6:19

Our God NEVER runs out of who He is. He is LOVE, FAITHFULNESS, JOY, COMPASSION, PROVIDER, HEALER, LISTENER, REDEEMER, AND FRIEND. Even when chaos is going on around us, He is still CONSTANT. 

Quote of the day: 

"Desiring Jesus is unlike desiring any other, because He is ABLE to answer the FULL craving of the human heart, the END to ALL our wanting!" -Dana Candler

Let's be a people that KNOW who our God is and in turn KNOW who we are in Him. I just want HIM to be glorified with today. And tomorrow. And the next day... one day at a time. :) We deserve hell today, but are saved by GRACE. We deserve death, but have been given LIFE everlasting! HE IS WORTHY!

Goodnight friends!! Be blessed.

Finally... Video update!

Hey Friends! Well, thanks to my awesome friend Sabrina...

Here's a window into my life over the past 5 months. 

I hope that it encourages you.

Let me know if there is anything that I can be praying for you about. 

I love you all!

Here are all the references in case you missed them...

The word of God is POWERFUL! :)

Come to Me, ALL you who are weary and I WILL GIVE YOU REST! Take my yoke upon you and LEARN from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find REST for your soul. FOR my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Psalm 116:6-7

I have told you these things so that IN ME you may have PERFECT PEACE and confidence. In the world you WILL have tribulation and trials and distress, and frustration, but BE OF GOOD CHEER (Take courage, and be CONFIDENT, undaunted) For I HAVE overcome the World. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it FOR YOU!

John 16:33

Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.

Matthew 11:6

Let us HOLD FAST to the confession  of our HOPE without wavering. For He who PROMISED IS FAITHFUL!

Hebrews 10:23

Though youths grow tired and weary; And vigorous young men stumble badly, YET! Those who wait on the Lord, shall gain NEW STRENGTH, they will mount up on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint!

 Isaiah 40:30-31

When my heart is OVERWHELMED lead me to a rock that is higher than I!

Psalm 61:2

Blessed is the man who remains STREADFAST under trial, for when he has STOOD THE TEST he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who LOVE Him. James 1:12

My Flesh and My heart may FAIL but

God is the strength of my heart and my portion FOREVER!

Psalm 73:26
______________________________________

Have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND y'all!

I'll be home for the Kansas City ATF February 10-11!

I would love to see you there! :D

Meet my new roomate! ...after our paint fight. :)

She's SO great! Pray fo her as she transitions into #InternLife.

I just LOVE my core! #DevotedWoman!

A verse the Lord has been laying on my heart is 2 Peter 1:5-8...

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is going to be a season of GOING DEEPER. And I am SO ready!

I'm going to make a longer video update later this week, so STAY TUNED. ;)

Let me know if there is anything specific I can be praying for you about!

Love you all!