Crazy times

Well dear friends, I wish I could say that March has been peaceful but the truth is, it has been so crazy.

The last week alone I have faced many challenges and changes. As you know I have been in a bind financially, added to that was my 'family core' (a group of us guys and girls that are very close and have lived through the internship together) were recently split up due to some changes in our leadership. This means that I get a new family core. I know that this might not make sense and I apologize. These guys that I am very close to, I will not see as often and our relationship will change drastically. I have new guys for a 'brother' core and new 'sisters' added to my life. I am embracing these new people and this new season. I see the good in this.

I am currently back at home on emergency leave. My parents had to make an emergency trip 5 1/2 hours away to take care of my grandpa who was found 1 1/2 hours from his home disoriented. This left them without some one to take care of Ashley, my disabled sister, so since I am the only one that can physically lift her and care for her, I was flown home last Friday. My parents are now in the process of preparing to move my grandpa and his wife closer to her family. So I am at home until April 6th. If you have ever taken care of some one's needs long-term you understand how much work it is physically and emotionally. I will be honest I don't want to be here, I have a lot of things waiting for me back at the Honor Academy, but I am embracing this opportunity to love and serve my family.

I have been learning so much this month, it seems like just when I am stretched to the max God stretches me even more. I am learning how to trust God, that is SO hard for me. I am also discovering some deep issues and working through them. My event-Atlanta Acquire the Fire-is almost sold out and is coming up 2 weeks from Friday! God is blessing me and my team for our faithfulness and it is only by Him that things are happening in Atlanta.

Thank you all for your prayers and support through this time. I love each and every one of you so much.

~standing on His Promises~
CaseyMay

Needing your help

***I created a blog just about my internship, it is www.caseyshalife.blogspot.com ***

I need your help. I am in need of $470 for my HA tuition by Sunday. Please keep me in your prayers, as I pray and seek and ask. If I do not have the money in time I will be asked to leave the Honor Academy.

If you know anyone that would like to donate they can go to www.honoracademy.com/donate.php ID #2508190

Thank you so much! I love you!

~standing on His Promises~
Casey May

My life is falling apart but for once that is ok

Oh, so many lessons in life that have to be learned the hard way. This week has been a really hard week, I can't go into much detail because it would take a long time to explain and clearly communicate.

Here at the HA we have what are called Family Cores, this is a core of girls and a core of guys (brother core+sister core= family core). My family core is falling apart, because some people made some really poor choices and broke some major rules. As a result one of our brothers has to leave the HA (rightfully so). But unfortunately I have a part in this, because I did not inform the leadership soon enough because I was so worried about everyone else and how deep their involvement was.

Through all this brokenness I am learning new lessons and relearning old ones.

God is in control no matter what. It will all be ok, no matter who goes or who stays it is all ok.

I have also decided to seek counseling while here at the HA, my first session will be next Friday. I mad ethis decision because there are so many elements in my past that are affecting me now and I can't deal with them or work through them without serious help.

This is a season of refinement and discipline and ultimatley growth. With growth comes pain. There is pain in this offering, it is a sacrifice. But I give it with joy.

~standing on His Promises~
CaseyMay

March 02, 2009. Last night around 7:00 I made a commitment to live the rest of my life, for and with Jesus. The ring, engraved in Hebrew says "I am my Beloved's and He is mine". Let me give you some background about why this touches my soul in such a deep way.I have worn a purity ring for almost five years, a symbol of my commitment to my future husband to stay pure. I had my eyes set on that very hope, someday getting married, my fight for purity rewarded.

Upon arriving at the Honor Academy (August 2008) the Lord revealed told me to take off my ring, I asked why and didn't find out until a few weeks later. I had been living in the pursuit of a husband not the Lord, and my view of love was so messed up. So I began to pursue the Lord's heart and experienced what real love really was. I began to love the people around me so deeply. I poured so much love out, it was only the love of the Lord that changed me, and changes others. People don't need my love, they need the love of God. And my life is lived first and foremost for Him alone. Love is not eays, and love does hurt, by learning how to love, you also learn how to live with the hurt that comes with love. There has been hurt the last few months, a lot of it, but I wouldn't go back and change a thing because loving those people was so worth it.

So last night, a put a ring back on my ring finger, pledging my love and commitment to Lord. My life is lived for Him alone, and my love and devotion is His. We are united as one, and I couldn't be happier.

~standing on His Promises~
CaseyMay

What is it....

What is it about the sunshine that makes me so happy? The warmth, the brillance, the power....yes all of those answers are correct. I love the sun and The Son! :)

Even in the face of a very busy schedule and life, I can still find peace in the Lord.

I wish I had time to give you more details, please be in prayer over my finances for my missions trip to Zambia and for my tuition, I am still fighting an uphill battle.

I love you all so much!

~standing on His Promises~
CaseyMay

Superwoman

SO, I have discovered that I, in fact, am not superwoman. Imagine my shock when I discovered this.

I can not save the world, my freinds, my family, anyone, not even myself. I do not have the answers to people's problems, I am not what they need. I can love them and listen to them all that I want, but they will never be truly filled until they seek Jesus. He is the only one that can make things better. Me carrying my burdens along with the burdens of others, it is not healthy and its a sin because I am not trusting God. I had to learn this the hard way.

Last week I was so stressed out that I caused myself to be physically ill-I think I even had the begining of a stomach ulcer. I paid for being overly stressed and independant. I won't do that I again. I am laying my burdens down at the cross, those that I am not meant to carry.

This morning I had the best quiet time I have had in months, I simply read the Word and journaled and then laid on the floor and rested (not slept) in the presence of God. It was amazing. And even now that I have 30 million things to do, I am still at peace because I am trusting God to help me and I am taking things one step at a time. (and prioritizing things helps too).

I hope all is well, remember that you do not save anyone, rather God does. People don't need you, they need Jesus. You are not, and will never be superwoman, so quit trying and

"be still and know that I am God"

~standing on His Promises~

CaseyMay

Please be praying

Please be praying that God would provide what I need for my HA tuition. Below is a copy of the letter I sent out yesterday. Thank you so much for praying with me and for me. I love you all so much!

Dear Friends and Family,

2009. I can’t believe that we have started another year already. Looking back on 2008, I can say that it was a really great year and thanks to all of your love and support, I have been able to embark on this wonderful, stretching and amazing journey that has placed me here at the Honor Academy, in Lindale, Texas. Thank you so much for all the love and support you’ve given me.

I have successfully completed my first five months of this intense internship. It has been a great and trying experience, I have certainly learned a lot about myself and the depths of God. My core/roommates (pictured at left) have taught me so much about loving people and communication.. I really do love what I am doing here at the Honor Academy and I honestly couldn’t see myself anywhere else. The training I receive here in leadership coupled with the perfect environment to gain a strong foundation in the Lord, is the best available. I have eight months left in this year-long internship. I’d like to take a moment to share with you what God is going to be doing over the next few months.

This semester I am pushing myself even harder by taking all the classes available, Missions, World View, Character Development, Apologetics, New Testament Survey, (just to name a few). I am also diligently working to promote and recruit youth groups to attend our Atlanta Acquire the Fire April 17-18. This event is a difficult one, we have a lot of competition in the Atlanta area with other events that occur around ours and it is typically a small ever, (1,300). My goal is to see 2,000 people come to this event, my team and I (pictured a right) are being very faithful and standing on the promise of Ephesians 3:20, “By God’s power working through us He will do immeasurably more than we ever hoped or dreamed”. Please keep us in prayer!

On a very exciting note, I’d love to share with you that I have the opportunity to go to Zambia, Africa on a missions trip June 14-July10. It has been my dream for the past four years to go on a mission’s trip to Africa. As part of my internship, it is a requirement of my graduation to complete a Global Expeditions Missions Trip, this would meet that requirement. On this trip I will be leading a group of teen missionaries and be in the field helping in clinics dealing with orphans. As many of you know, I have such a desire to help these little ones without homes and in an AIDS effected environment. The total cost of the trip is $4,354. I must have half of these funds in by May 4th. I will be working hard on fundraising over the next few months. I would ask that you prayerfully consider supporting me in this adventure.

I need your help. I am currently behind in my tuition and need $685 before the beginning of February to stay at the Honor Academy. I know that money is tight, but I am asking you to please consider becoming a monthly sponsor or even a one-time donor. Your gift is not just going to me, but it is going to the thousands of youth that will attend Acquire the Fire and encounter God this year, to the thousands of teens Global Expeditions sends on missions around the world, and ultimately to the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

All donations are tax deductible. To donate you can go to www.honoracademy.com/donate.php to donate online. Search by my information: Casey Sharp, phone number 208-816-1447, ID # 2508190. If you’d like to set up a monthly donation plan please contact Sharon Chupp at 903-324-7571 or Sharon.chupp@teenmania.com. If you’d like to mail in a check, please make it payable to Teen Mania’s Honor Academy and leave the memo blank. Please include a note with my information on it (see above).

Thank you so much for all the love and support you have given me over the years. I love you all so much. Please free to contact me with any questions at 208-816-1447, casey.sharp@teenmania.com or caseymay88@gmail.com. I pray that God blesses you this year as you continue to live His love and carry His light into the darkness.
~standing on His Promises~
CaseyMay