JAKE HOUSER

"We've all come to the time in our lives when we consider all the possibilities. We're having the time of our lives & the decisions are up to you & me. For love, we've been through hate. We've been put down, discriminated, both together, it's our fate. And now, we're awaiting our ANTICIPATED ANALYSIS." - Jake Houser

[jakebradleyhouser]

IT'S FINALLY SUMMER!!! 🌊☀️🌴 This means that I'm back on social media (my "personal" journal) to share about my freshman year at EU. 😜 1st & foremost, I'd like to thank Him for all He did in my life these past 2 whirlwinds of semesters... 🙌🏻 I truly believe God brought & kept me in Springfield, Missouri to be a part of @JamesRiver Church. ⛪️ I can honestly say that my biggest accomplishments within my 1st year of college were advancements in my relationship with Jesus Christ! 🙏🏻 This LOVING church & its lovely people helped me grow in ways that can't even be explained. ❤️ Claiming my faith more than ever included becoming both a member AND volunteer at my church. 🎉🎊 The amount of time spent volunteering definitely trumped my time spent studying, but for those of you who know me, that's a given. 😅 Being a 3-sport athlete who also participated in a student-led hip-hop dance group (2:10) kept me outta church WAAAYYY more than I anticipated, though. 👎🏻 #REALIFE definitely wasn't my 1st priority, even when I wanted it to be. 😁 As I look forward to future semesters, I now know WHO must be focussed on: GOD. ✝ It took me an entire year, but I eventually figured out that I shouldn't be (literally) running for scholarship money & dancing my cares away; however, I realized that I should be running toward the altar & dancing before my Lord with a group of life-changing students. 👫 Actively pursuing ministry opportunities that'll equip me for my life calling/future career of leading the youth of this nation is what I intend to do when I return next semester. 🔙 Dropping 100% of my selfish desires won't be easy, but at least I know that once I make God my 1st priority, ALL my other priorities will fall into place. 1️⃣ I've got a lot to figure out before the leaves change color, but now that I've checked my freshman year off my list, it's time to R-E-L-A-X for once. ✅ For all 5 of you still skimming, stay tuned for an extensive recap of my year... 🆘 FINALLY, I'll close by thanking my new home, JRC, & its healthy youth group for reigniting my "spiritual fire," & also, for showing me how exciting & FUN serving God is. 🔥 Change is coming!!! 😝 #TheBestIsYetToCome (at Realife Student Ministries)

[jakebradleyhouser]

600(+) pictures, 9 locations, 2 days, & 1 amazing girl... 😊👌🏻 'Twas my privilege to do my 1st ever senior photoshoot with my very best friend I've made here at EU! 📸 The entire process was SUPER fun & undeniably natural, & our friendship is literally evident in each picture... 🙌🏻 Our personalities mesh together like the words "JUSTIN" & "BIEBER." 💜 As her college career winds down, I'm def beginning to wonder what I'm going to do without my fave "older sister" next year! 🤔 I thank God for what's coming, though!!! 🙏🏻 Here's to seeing my all-time FAVORITE male artist (JB) next Tuesday, racing in 4 more track meets over the next month, & taking countless trips to Starbucks, all with Em before she turns her tassel at graduation... 🎓 Yes, I teared up while typing that last sentence. 😭 Yes, I'll miss her MUCH more than words can say! 💬 And yes, I love her way too much to let our 1-OF-A-KIND & close friendship fade after our time here together is over. 🎉🎊 #SeniorSunday (at Evangel)

[jakebradleyhouser]

It's difficult to believe it's already been 1 week since Easter!!! 😱 I thank God for blessing me with yet another amazing volunteer experience with my James River Church family. 💒 2 crazy weeks of rehearsals, 3-5 nights per week, for 4 life-changing services DEFINITELY paid off! 🙌🏻 God did countless INCREDIBLE things, but a couple numbers we could count included 259 SALVATIONS, 165 BAPTISMS, & 19,400 HEARTS & LIVES touched during our action-packed services. 😭👏🏻 I don't play the trumpet, but I'll gladly admit that I def enjoyed faking it until I was almost making it! 🎺 I also enjoyed worshipping in a talented choir of many great young people, dancing backstage to all things Hillsong, & even doing all the little things, such as helping with confetti or being a stage hand. 🎤👯🎶 Even THE simplest tasks make THE biggest impact in the house of God! ✅ I'm way beyond blessed to attend a very healthy church that never ceases to say, "#WelcomeHome." ❤️ I'm living a #LoveAllServeAll life, & I can't wait to continue that forever!!! 😝 I thank my FAITHFUL & RISEN Jesus for extending to me HIS energy, patience, & strength, all throughout spring semester, as I've dived RIGHT into SOOO MANY of the glorious things my church has to offer its people. 🙏🏻 Here's to whatever comes next!!! 🎉🎊 #HappyEaster #JRCLife #EasterIsForEveryone (at James River Church)

[jakebradleyhouser]

Last weekend, my parents & sister took a little #SPRINGfieldBREAK to visit me. 🎉🎊 And now, it's my turn to visit them (& my brother, finally)!!! 🙌🏻 I fly out tomorrow morning, & I can't wait to "leave our mark" on something again, just LEGALLY this trip. 😂 THANKS to my parents for taking time off to visit me, & ALSO, for UNEXPECTEDLY buying me tickets to fly home!!! ✈️ My parents' selfless & unconditional love is something I feel from afar, BUT I must say that I'm beyond ready to experience it in person again while I spend #SB2K16 in good ole' #MichAGAIN... 🏘✋🏻❤️ (at Jefferson Avenue Footbridge)

[jakebradleyhouser]

#VisionSunday2016 HONESTLY changed my life. 😭 I've faithfully attended @JamesRiver ever since I moved to Missouri, & I've NEVER had any 2nd thoughts. ⛪️ It may be a megachurch with countless people, but I've never felt SO at home. 🏡 I believe in what they do SO incredibly much that I wanted to be a part of their team as SOON as I got the chance. 🙌🏻 And over the past couple of BOTH draining & refilling weeks of this busy but BEAUTIFUL life, I was blessed with the most exciting & rewarding experience of my freshman year in college. 👯 I spent over 26 HOURS practicing & ministering through my favorite hobbies & worship outlets, which included dancing in the rain just like @JustinBieber at the AMAs, singing & crying my eyes out to @Hillsong's "With Everything" with a choir of talented BELIEVERS, & sprinting up & down flights of steps to hand out popcorn to congregants. 💦🎤🍿 Some may not consider these events to be "life-changing," but I believe that even THE smallest encounters with Him can make THE biggest impacts on someone's life. ❤️ It's not about what I did at all, though. 🙅🏻 It's about WHO I did it for. 🙏🏻 But what I did is just a little glimpse of an incredibly successful 25-YEAR church movement that's witnessed 44,565 salvations, 10,018 baptisms, & all of the other things #JRC celebrated both last Sunday & tonight at their Vision Prayer Meeting, which were both INSANE. 👀 #WelcomeHome 🎉 #VISION16 🎊 #YouBelongHere (at James River Church)

[jakebradleyhouser]

10 YEARS AGO, it truly was the "Start of Something New" when my fam & I turned on the TV to watch what instantly became the ICONIC musical of this generation for the 1st of countless times. 🎤 As I obsessed over the catchy songs, flashy choreo, & timeless themes, I realized that Disney knew how to "Get'cha Head in the Game." 🏀 The members of the EPIC cast were/still are exactly "What I've Been Looking For." 👀 They taught me how to accept the person I am & the talents I possess, & to NOT "Stick to the Status Quo." 🙅🏻 I'll never forget watching Ms. Gabriella Montez sing "When There Was Me & You" for the 1st time & deciding that I was going to form the ALL-TIME BIGGEST celebrity crush on Vanessa (Anne) Hudgens, who I mailed my 3rd grade school picture to, who I made a scrapbook of, & who I saw live in concert with my grandparents. 😍 The movie definitely did "Bop to the Top" of my list, taking into consideration that I bought & still do buy just about every single item of merchandise that exists. 🎉🎊 My love for this legendary franchise that's honestly changed my entire life will never be something that I'm "Breaking Free" from. 🌙 I know every line, lyric, dance, & more, but the 1 thing I'll remember most is the fact that, when it comes to the "young adults" & kids at heart who know & love this childhood staple, "We're All in this Together," forever & always. 💃🏻 My favorite movie series has been the same since I was only 9, & because "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," Baby V, I'm POSITIVE that'll NEVER change. ❤️ And now that I've used EVERY song title, other than Troy & Gabby's "Reprise," here's to SO many more happy years of gladly singing along to, dancing along with, watching, remembering, & celebrating a production that I know as the movie that helped make me who I am over the WILDCAT-crazed 2nd half of my life. 🎭#HighSchoolMusical / #HSM10 / #HappyAnniversary

[jakebradleyhouser]

She gave me the crewneck I'm wearing in this picture, Disney On Ice tickets, & a TON of laughs & smiles at my CHRISTmas party. Last night, we gave back to her because she TRULY deserved it. I hope it was a b-day she'll remember forever. 🎉🎂🎊 #HBD (at Lewis Hall)

[jakebradleyhouser]

I truly have the best mom EVER. ❤️ No 1 can even compare. 💁🏻 If you disagree, please take it up with someone else who waits in the freezing cold every January for 6 hours to get good seats for their son. 🙌🏻 Although we live 637 miles away from each other, I know for a fact we're still the closest mother & son combo in the world. 🌎 Here's to my amazing, beautiful, creative, determined, energetic, fantastic, Godly, happy, interactive, jubilant, kind, loud (in the very best way), magnificent, nice, open, passionate, QUEEN-worthy, respected, sweet, terrific, ultimate, victorious, wonderful, xenial ("hospitable"), youthful, & zealous mom, who totally deserved the BEST day ever, because she's given me & ALL the people who know & LOVE her the best LIFE ever. 🎉🎂🎊 #HBD (at Van Andel Arena)

[jakebradleyhouser]

Break was the necessary bridge between 2 semesters of college. 1 side of the bridge leads me to the past, but praise God that the future is awaiting me on the other side. Shockingly, I'm looking forward to classes starting, living in a solitary room, & getting back in shape for track. At least 50% of my struggles last semester were because of my attitude, so here's to the best break I've ever had that spawned a brand new perspective that'll hopefully heal up some of my self-made problems. God, I give my semester to You. 🙏🏻 #RebelT5i 📷 #LongExposure ❤️ #PureMichigan (at The Blue Bridge)

[jakebradleyhouser]

I've been to dozens of concerts, of ALL kinds, but I must admit that there's something very different & special about Christian music concerts. The screams are for Jesus Christ & not superstars, the music glorifies God & not worldly things, & the fans praise & worship Him & not the 1s performing. My love for pop culture is real, but SO is my Savior. He's ALIVE, & so was Van Andel Arena last Sunday night. I've been blessed to attend this spectacular tour 7 times, & it never ceases to "rock" my world. I'm thrilled I was able to experience this event with the BEST mom EVER while on break. Here's to our fave tradition & fave on the lineup. ❄️ #WinterJam (at Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, Michigan)

[jakebradleyhouser]

2015 was a roller coaster... 🎢 I could sit here for hours & type about how it might've been the best & worst year of my life, but instead of looking at the past, I'll look forward, to a new year, perspective, & set of goals. 🙌🏻 NO MATTER where you are in life, if you keep your eyes on Him, I can promise you that there really are GOOD THINGS COMING... ❤️ #2016 (at Downtown Kansas City, Missouri)

[jakebradleyhouser]

"HE is the reason for the season!" 🙏🏻 I'd suggest hugging family, listening to @MariahCarey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," & believing that the greatest gift is unwrappable, 2015 years old, & 100% FREE for all who ask... 🎁👶🏼❤️ Merry CHRISTmas!!! 🎅🏻🎄✝ #LongExposure #RebelT5i #GRArtMuseum (at Grand Rapids Art Museum)

[jakebradleyhouser]

My first semester of college at Evangel University is over. Answering God's call was a must, but it wasn't easy. Change is inevitable, but I didn't know it'd bring me SO many ups & downs. Now, it's time to recover, relax, & temporarily retire, all while getting ready for a fresh start in 2016, with a brand new perspective & more positive attitude. I've truly begun the biggest & most important chapter of my entire life, & to be honest, I feel like I'm in an entire new book, rather than new chapter. There are new characters, a fresh setting, & of course, major plot twists. Some of the best stories have a challenging start, but I'm hoping, praying, & trusting that God's will for me will be exactly what I'm wanting, & more importantly, needing. So, here's to another exciting semester of running with my team, ministering with 2:10 through dance, studying youth ministry, eating Hurts Donuts, drinking Starbucks, attending James River Church, creating countless checklists, making unforgettable memories, doing my endless laundry, living 639 miles away from home, ending old habits, creating healthy habits, discovering myself, growing in my faith, & worshipping this wonderful God, who blesses me with all these incredible opportunities & more. I've experienced some of my best adventures with some of the family, friends, & faces I love most in Springfield, & it's still the beginning. So, now, as I prepare to continue living out the story He's writing for me, I pause to realize that it'll soon be one that's worth reading, one word, page, & chapter at a time, no matter WHAT the circumstances. 💙 #REFRESH (at Evangel University)

[jakebradleyhouser]

Emily's had quite the week. 😅 "I don't know about you, but [Emily is] feelin' 22!" 2️⃣🎶2️⃣ We successfully threw her 1st surprise b-day party, she competed in THE NAIA NATIONAL XC MEET in North Carolina, & I truly realized how important our fairly young but insanely strong friendship is to me. 🎂🏃🏻❤️ Here's to 1 of the most caring, dedicated, fun, giving, inspiring, loving, & talented friends I've gained here @ Evangel! 😊👏🏻 Thanks for who you are & for ALL that you do. 🎉🙌🏻🎊 #SurpriseEmily (at JC Nichols Memorial Fountain)

[jakebradleyhouser]

"We're going to be friends" was all it took for us to become pals during Launch Week. 😎 Jared Shipley's an above-average "Topekan" who LOVES to "ball hard & see what happens." 🏀⬆️ He's definitely THE best donut-eating, joke-telling, & story-listening dude that Kansas has to offer. 🎉🎊 #HappyBirthday (at Hurts Donut - Springfield MO)

[jakebradleyhouser]

I hope your 18th birthday is full of JESUS, family, friends, pizza, fanny packs, lots of love, plenty of presents, loads of laughter, & all things 21 Pilots!!! 😝 I also hope that yo' candles aren't the only things that're "LIT" today. 🎉🔥🎊 But seriously, I hope it's as fun as this summer day was! 😊🎂🎁 #HG182K15 (at Holland State Park)

[jakebradleyhouser]

Within 365 days, you became the best-selling album of both 2014 & 2015, the best-selling vinyl of 2015, the album that spawned 3 #1 singles, the album that spawned 5 #1 pop radio singles that are known as "Shake It Off," "Blank Space," "Style," "Bad Blood," & "Wildest Dreams," the album that's supported by 1 of the year's HOTTEST tours that's grossed well over $172,000,000 (so far), the album that transformed @TaylorSwift into the biggest pop star on the face of the earth, the album that shows zero signs of slowing down, & the album that I now consider to be 1 of my all-time favorites. 😍💿😭 I cannot thank you enough! 🎂🎉🙌🏻🎊❤️ Here's to MANY MORE years of listening to & obsessing over this iconic pop masterpiece, celebrating the super craft of 1 of my favorite musicians, taking Polaroids that MUST be captioned in the style of every other Swiftie, remembering the release-day trip to Target, dreaming about the time I was lucky enough to cry, dance, & sing my heart out at The 1989 World Tour, & so much more. 1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣9️⃣ #HappyBirthday1989 (at Springfield, Missouri)