Living in His love

Wow!

2011-10-21T12:01:00.001-07:00

This video's a little lengthy but TOTALLY worth the time!

What Does My Life Say?

2011-10-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is the moment, it's on the line.

Which way you gonna fall?

In the middle, between wrong and right,

but you know after all.

It's your life- whatcha gonna do?

The World is watching you.

Every day the choices you make,

say what you are and who your heart beats for,

it's an open door,

it's your life.

Are you who you always said you would be?

with a sinking feeling in your chest.

always waiting on someone else to fix you,

Tell me when did you forget?

It's your life watcha gonna do?
The World is watching you.

Every day the choices you make,

say what you are and who your heart beats for,

it's an open door,

it's your life.

To live the way that you believe,

this is your opportunity.

To let your life be one that lights the way,

It's your life watcha gonna do?

The World is watching you.

Every day the choices you make,

say what you are and who your heart beats for,

it's an open door,

It's your life watcha gonna do?

The World is watching you.

Every day the choices you make,

say what you are, and who your hearts beats for.

It's an open door.

Like A Thief In The Night

2011-10-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NIV) For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
I don't know about you, but for me thinking about the return of Christ can be both an amazing and intimidating thought. I am SO ready to be at home with him, but what will He think when he comes to bring me home? The day of Christ is coming, whether we're ready or not. The Bible tells us to be ready and alert because the day will come like a thief in the night. No man, no woman, not even the SON knows the day of his return....and yet we are told to be ready. For some reason this whole concept has been on my mind a lot lately and I've developed a new standard to live by- would what I am doing right now be what I would want Jesus Christ to find me doing when he returns? If it isn't, then I shouldn't be doing it. Pure and simple thought that's a little easier to grasp than it is to apply. What I do know is this- His return is coming, He promised that, and I want to be ready.
Matthew 24:43-44 (NIV) "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

New Favorite Song

2011-09-29T18:58:00.001-07:00

A Lesson From Alexander the Great

2011-09-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my family and I's latest task has been, as I like to call it, "church-shopping." Although this has been a long process and has definitely been teaching me patience, I also look at it as a blessing because each week I get to gather with groups of believers, see how different but alike each church really is, and hear many different pastors fantastically bring the word of God to their congregation. This morning in particular I heard a message that I won't likely forget anytime soon, but there was one thing in particular from it that I wanted to share. During the message the pastor told a story that went like this:

Alexander the Great was one of the best emperors in the known ancient world. He was a great warrior and conqueror. In fact, Alexander ended up conquering every known land in that time. In one particular battle for conquest, a 16 year old soldier was put on the front lines. As Alexander's army marched toward the enemy the boy turned and fled as fast as he could in retreat and terror. After the battle was won, he was found weeping behind a tree. The boy was brought forth to Alexander the Great, being charged with treason. Alexander looked upon the boy and a wave of compassion swept over him. "What is your name boy?" he asked. "Al...Alexander, sir," the boy stuttered ashamedly. "What did you say?!" Alexander shouted, straightening his countenance as he did so. "Alexander is my name." "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!" Alexander the great was in a rage. "Alexander, sir!" The boy shouted back. Looking on the boy in ager, Alexander said to him, "Either change your name, or change your conduct."
The pastor then went on to say that this lesson can also be applied to numerous Christians today. Christians who claim to have Christ, but lack any spiritual transformation or sanctification, who altogether lack a reverent fear of almighty God. The same can be said to them.

"What is your name?"

"Ch....Christian, sir."

"What did you say?!"

"I said I'm a Christian, sir!"

"Either change your name, or change your conduct."

To: My Sister

2011-09-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

This week I watched my big sister, Cassie, pack up and move down to Georgia to start a brand new chapter in her life. I, being the dedicated and loving sister that I am, didn't make time to write her a goodbye card before she left. So instead, I'm dedicating this blog post to her.....since she's long gone by now!

Cassie- I am SO excited for you! I know that you will use your time in Georgia to do that to which you were called and those around you will be so blessed to be in your presence! Just like I've been blessed to have you as a sister these past 16 and a half years of my life. I know that you mess up, just as I do, and can be a pain in the butt, as I'm sure I can be, but I look up to and admire you SO much. You have honestly been the biggest role model to me that anyone has ever been, and I can honestly say that I'm proud to be your little sister. It's gonna be really weird not having you around town to harass me and waste some more of my time....who's going to sing to me while I'm at work?! I guess I'll have to ask Brooke to start doing that....haha. But while it's going to be weird....I know that you're going to have a really good experience down there starting all over in a brand new chapter in your life! We'll all be missing you here in Indiana, but just know that we're always rooting you on! Love you lots!

For all of you reading this that are NOT my sister.....keep her in your prayers! She's working with a ministry down in Atlanta that works with women sexually exploited....you can read more about it here: http://nightlightinternational.com/about/unitedstates/atlanta/

Good luck Cass! (:

Run For Your Life

2011-09-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

I was shown this video by my sister several days ago and liked it so much that I decided to share it with you all! It was a big inspiration to me....enjoy!

Mi Hermana

2011-03-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Most of you that know me, know that I have an abundancy of brothers and sisters- all amazing in their own way. Well one of these sisters, Brooke, has a very natural gift at writing. She has written several pieces of poetry this year that have blown me away because they are so unbelievably good! Although I would NEVER admit that to her.....(: Anyways, this week she yet again amazed me with her talent and I thought I would share it with the blog world. So here it is, y'all! :

If you think you can do anything on your own: you can’t.
If you try to be a “good enough” person: you'll fail.
If you try to climb your way up to heaven with good deeds: you'll fall.
If you try as hard as you can to follow every rule, law, and order: you’ll mess up.
If you try to look like a wise, smart, knowledgeable person: you’ll make a fool out of yourself.
If you think you’re perfect: you're not.

Life: you fail, you fall, you mess up, you make a fool out of yourself, your wrong, and sometimes you just can’t.

You’ll hit rock bottom. You’ll be surrounded by darkness. You’ll think life is over. But it isn’t.
There is a light. There is a savior. There is truth. There is someone who longs for your love, someone who wants to defend you, protect you, teach you, give you life.

His name is God, His name is Lord,
His name is Most high, redeemer, holy, shield, unfailing love, rock, vindicator, savior.
His name is Jesus.

You can do anything through him.
You don’t have to be a “good enough” person for him
You don’t have to earn your way to heaven to him
You don’t have to be perfect.
Because he is.

Will you step out of darkness into his light?
Will you let him save you from the pit of destruction?
Will you accept life through him?

Next time you think you just can’t, your right, YOU cant, but HE can.

Will you surrender?

The Blink of An Eye

2011-03-11T15:04:00.001-08:00

Today as I woke up and got on the computer to check my email the first thing I saw was a headline saying Japan had been hit by a major earthquake AND tsunami. Instantly my morning grogginess was gone and I flipped on Fox news to see live coverage on the devastation. Boy, oh boy...... Immediately my heart was broken for these people. Their houses are gone, their loved ones are dead, and they have to start all over. I'm guessing that when the people of Japan woke up yesterday morning they were NOT expecting all that to happen. I'm guessing they were expecting to have a normal, average day at work, come home to their nice, quiet homes and fall asleep to the usual Japan smells and noises......I think this is the thing that shook me so much while watching the coverage of Japan this morning. Everything that I have acquired in this life, all my worldy possesions....can all be gone in the blink of an eye. One word from God and they're all dust in the wind. So why do I cling so tight and hard to things that won't even matter if something devasting like this happened to me? Why do I continue to grasp onto things that really truly do NOT matter in the big picture? God sure taught me a lesson this morning....its time to start investing in things that DO matter. Things that WILL last.

My 15th year

2011-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Today is officially my 365th day being a 15 year old....in other words, I turn 16 tomorrow! Wahoo! In honor of this past year I've decided to make a list of the MANY things I've learned this year...

-Being forced out of my comfort zone can be a VERY good thing.

-Mother was right...my sisters actually CAN be my best friends.

-I really enjoy watching the news.

-There's some pretty intense parties on the beach in Florida during spring break....don't worry, I didn't join :)

- When I'm weakest, He is strongest.

-I STINK at coming up with cabin cheers for camp beautiful.

-Keeping a pure heart is so much harder than I imagined it would be....

-Friends will let you down...God won't.

-I am tremendously blessed and need to learn how to be a blessing to others as well.

-I want to live in Denver at some point in my life.

-God wasn't kidding...He has revealed Himself to us in nature.

-Not all relationships are beneficial.

-Hard work, and I mean really hard work, feels so good!

-My parents are right WAY more than I would like to admit.

-Not everything with God's name in it is God ordained.

-Sometimes, caring for people can be reallllly aggravating.

-Although it sometimes doesn't feel like it, I have the best family in the world.

-Although chemistry is SUPER hard....I strangely love it.

-Chocolate is so chocolatey (:

-I have been blessed with amazing, supportive friends who I'm praying God will keep in my life!

-Sometimes God asks us to let go of the things we love to make his glory shine even brighter.

-In order to be the woman God created me to be I need to continue surrendering myself to His will.

......Being 15 has taught me ALOT!! And as my 16th year comes right around the corner, I have to say I'm pretty darn excited to see what God has to teach me this year!!

A Pet Peeve of Mine...

2011-02-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Jordan Hallam. I come from a family of nine and live in Osceola. I'm a sophomore in high school and I love to ski. Oh yeah....and I'm a Christian.
HOLD UP!!
AND I'm a Christian?! Can this even be placed in the same category as everything else?! One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when people diminish Christ in their lives. They'll push him aside and act like he's just another thing to manage on their plate. He's not just another thing on the plate....He's the whole plate!! Chrisitianity isn't just an extra curricular activity or another thing for our list of 'to do's' and quite honestly, it bothers me when people act as if that's what it is. I believe that when we truly let Christ into our lives, he'll invade every part of it and won't let us belittle him to just another aspect of our life. He isn't just another thing.....He's the only thing.

Eye-Opener

2011-02-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. -2 Timothy 2:16

Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. -1 Timothy 6:20

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. -Matthew 12:36

After reading these verses I've come to realize I talk WAY too much.....
So Lord, may my words be few.

Just a Thought...

2011-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Pain and suffering- the world is filled with it. And no matter how hard we try to avoid it- everyone of us is destined to experience it in one way or another during our lifetime. The question is, how will we respond to it? People say that trials either pull a person closer to God or further and further away from Him. My question is, what view of God and His word did the person puller further away have to begin with? All the time I hear of people getting angry with God and shaking their fists at Him when tragedy or trials occur. Honestly, this has always perplexed me a little. I mean, it'd be a little more understandable for people to become angry if God had promised us a life of sunshine and roses and then poured rain down on us, but that's not the case. In fact, he warns us again and again that we will experience rough times...."Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. " - 1 Peter 4:12....."In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, for I have overcome the world." -John 16:33.....This world is a fallen and broken place and he can't promise us roses and daisies. What He can (and did over and over again) promise us is to be there with us and hold our hands through it all....."When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." -Isaiah 43:2-3.....He promises to comfort and nurture us through it all...but not to shield us from it all together.
This is why, to me, its never made sense to get angry at God for what he already warned us and provided comfort for. Wouldn't you rather hold the hand of the ultimate comforter in your time of need than shake your fist at Him? Just a thought....

Goals for the New Year

2011-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

Normally, I find new year resolutions to be cheesy, a waste of time, and a bunch of empty promises. "I'm going to lose fifty pounds this year!" "I'm going to stop biting my nails!" "I'm going to quit smoking!"......I'm not trying to bash people's motivation to do this or say that they shouldn't try to accomplish these things, I just know that half the time these resolutions neverrrr actually get accomplished so to me, new year's resolutions just seem like a bunch of hoooey. But, surprisingly enough, I've decided to make a couple of my own this year, but trust me- these WILL be accomplished (God willing). If you know me, you know I'm not the kind of person to start something without finishing it, actually that kind of drives me crazy and it will literally loom over my brain until I actually finish the project. SO, I had to think long and hard about whether or not I wanted to make my own new year's resolution because I knew that if I did make them......they would actually be getting done. After some thought, I've decided to go through with them.....yay Jordan (:
So now you're probably wondering what exactly my goals are for good ole 2011 (or you could honestly not care at all, in which case I'll be telling you anyways.... :D ) My first goal is to have semi- learned how to play the guitar by the end of this year. I realize that I'm not going to be a pro guitar player by next January but I seriously have wanted to learn to play for a longggg long time now and always really admire those who can play it. So although I have no clue how I'm going to go about this....somehow I will learn.....any tips would be appreciated (:
My next goal is also one that I have wanted to accomplish for a LONG long time.....by the end of this year I want to have read the entire Bible front to back in book order. I have read most all of the books but in chopped up bits and not in order. My goal is to have it all read in chronological order by December 31 of next year.
So thats it! Those are my big goals for the year 2011!! I'll keep you posted on how they're coming along, keep me in your prayers!! (:

2010

2010-12-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

As 2010 comes to an end I'm taking some time to look over the year and focus on all God has blessed me with throughout it and all that I have learned.......This year has literally shaped me and stretched me in ways I never imagined it could.....I have had so many new experiences, learned so many different things about myself, have grown so much in my walk with Christ, and have made so many memories that will not be forgotten soon......here are some of my highlights from the year......

I got to be a part of a ridiculously AMAZING cast for the play "Joseph of Arimathea"......this experience literally brought me closer to Christ than anything else ever has....

I had THE best spring break this year in Siesta Key, Florida with my best friend Brittany and her very very cool family (:

I got my first job this March at Culvers!! Still work there and am really loving it!!

I got the chance to lead MANY wild, crazy, tiny girls at a dance camp that my good friend puts together every year.....her organizational skills are wayyy beyond me and I loved putting it together with her and watching the joy those little girls have all week.

For the first time, I got to be a counselor at Camp Adventure!!! I had been waiting for that moment to come for a long, long time and let me tell ya- it was amazing!!

I went on my first (and second) mission trips this summer!! Both were with the GSM team- one to Chicago and one to Nashville. LOTS of hard work, but also LOTS of new friends, memories, and a way bigger grasp of what it means to have a servant's heart.

I got to go on a two week long road trip out to the west with my friend Allison! On this trip I realized on a wayyy bigger level just how much God reveals His beauty to us in nature....

I finished off my summer with a relaxing family vacation to Virginia and got to spend some much needed time with my loving family!

I continue to lead an amazing small group of middle school girls.....

And continue to be part of (in my opinion) the best high school small group out there (:

While I'm sad to see this year go, I have to say I'm pretty excited to see all that God has in store for me in 2011!!

Adios 2010! (:

Tis the Season

2010-12-19T10:59:00.000-08:00

I'm just going to come right out and say it....I'm one of those crazed Christmas lovers. I LOVE every single Christmas movie, am obsessed with the Christmas music, and love decking out the house in seasonal decorations. It's getting so bad that my sister has started referring to me as "the creeper elf of the house" because I constantly have Christmas music playing. But this year I've been pondering Christmas and all it has come to be more than ever.... The devil has done SUCH a good job of taking the world away from the true meaning of Christmas.....look around and you see crazed shoppers and creepy santa claus's everywhere.....America has even started to stray from SAYING Merry Christmas because it might offend others.....go to any grocery store or restaraunt and you hear "Happy Holidays!" but no Merry Christmas. This, to me, is a tragedy. Christmas is meant to be a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer- to rejoice in the promise of salvation that came with his birth; but the world has turned it into the celebration of a big ole man dressed in red and all he can bring us Christmas morning. So this Christmas I'm trying to look at Christmas with different eyes- not that all the jazz that comes along with Christmas is bad- I'm just trying to realize in a WAY bigger light this season that it's really all about Him. And I'm hoping that this shifting of my mindset will transfer not only into the holiday season, but into my everyday life. So that HE can become greater, and I can become less.

I'm Back!!....for now

2010-12-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I know its been a longgg time since I last blogged, I've been crazy busy this semester!!! But, no worries- I'm back into bloggerton town....for now! More to come later once I get all my thoughts straightened out (: I know you're all just SO excited!! (all 2 of you that is ha ha. )

CAMP ADVENTURE 2010!!

2010-08-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

Every summer for the past four years I have gone to Camp Adventure as a camper...

Those four weeks of my life have changed me and furthered my walk with Christ so unbelievably much! Each year I had a new amazing counselor that I thought the world of. I always dreamed of being a counselor myself someday and this summer I got to do just that! It was definitely one of the most amazing weeks of my life. On Sunday night before all the campers came Mark Beeson told all us counselors to embrace the gift of our personal limitations. He said that these very limitations will drive us to call out to God during the week. I didn't realize at the time how very true those words are. The week of camp was very challenging for me. I was pushed beyond my own strength over and over again and just like Mark had said, those were the times I had to lean on God the most. I realized just how very weak I am and how powerful Christ is.
Throughout the week I was blessed to have five very lovely girls call me their counselor. By the end of the week 1 had recommitted her heart to the Lord and 4 had given their lives to Christ for the first time! I am so so proud of these girls and fully realize how blessed I was to spend my week with them. God without a doubt grew me and stretched me during that week of camp...more than I ever thought He would. I think it's safe to say that it was pretty much the best week...EVER!! (:

"...For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10

Craziness!

2010-08-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

I don't know about any of you but I cannot believe how absolutely fast this summer flew by! It literally seems like last week that I finished that last biology exam of my freshman year, and now the summer is already almost gone! Ah!! A couple words to describe my summer are hectic, wonderful, very stretching, and crazy-amazing! The first week of my summer I helped two of my good friends teach a dance class for young girls, two weeks later I was heading off to Camp Adventure to be a counselor for the first time! The day after camp my family headed up to Michigan to visit with family, two days later I left for my first ever mission trip to Chi-town with GSM! The day after Chicago I went out west to Colorado with my friend Allison and her amazing family for about two weeks. After getting home from that I had about two weeks to breathe and then packed up again to go on my next mission trip of the summer to Nashville, Tennessee, and now today I'm packing....yet again for our family vacation to Virginia to finish off the summer...yeah, it's been a pretty busy summer!! (: But I have loved every minute of it! More to come on all my adventures of the summer later but for now, I better finish packing!!

Hello again!

2010-05-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

HELLO BLOG WORLD!
(:
it's been quite a while since I've posted and I really don't have a point or purpose to this post but I just thought I would fill you all in on the goings on of my lifee!

First off- I got a job!!! woooo jordan! I now work at Culvers and have just the cutest uniform ever.... nottt (: But it's a fun job and I love it!

Secondly- I am now officially a Junior Volunteer at the hospital! I volunteer in the critical care unit and am uber excited about this!!!!

Thirdddd- ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT OF SCHOOL!! HALLELUJAH I CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! This school year has been alot of work and has stretched me a lot.... I'm now ready for summer (: Which leads me to my next point....

Fourth- This summer I'm going on two mission trips with my youth group! One trip will be to Chicago and one trip I'm not quite sure where I will be going yet, we were planning to go to Mexico as a team but because of all the dangers down there my church thought it would be best if we stayed in the states so more on where we'll be going later but as for now I am so pumped for what God has in store for me this summer!!

Well, I think that's all that's new with me lately, I know you were all dyingg to know all this (: (:

LOVED this!

2010-03-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true
enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you ar...e honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between
you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway."

--Mother Teresa

A Homeschool Family

2010-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

remind you of my family? hahaha

Superbowl commercials

2010-02-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

So this year at the GSM superbowl party during half time GSM put on a "film festival." Each small group got to make their own commercial for whatever they wanted. After watching them all we picked which one was our favorite and bam- there was a winner (: They were all soooo funny! Our group chose to do a commercial for V8 (:
Here it is:

GSM Film Fest - Should have had a V8 from Jeffrey Myers on Vimeo.

Here's the winning one (: :

GSM Film Fest - Better Breathing from Jeffrey Myers on Vimeo.

He's Not Changing

2010-02-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Something I have come to realize lately is that GOD is GOD, period. Nothing I do or say will ever change him. I cannot form my own little cute God that does exactly what I'd like it to do when I'd like it to. God has everything set in stone and I can either come under Him and do great things for the kingdom or stay in my own little world where everything goes my way and suffer the consequence of living a life apart from God. I am made in the image of God, God is not made in the image of Jordan.

"Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

Unimaginable Love

2010-01-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

"When I am told that God became man, I can follow the idea, but I just do not understand what it means. For what man, if left to his natural promptings, if he were God, would humble himself to lie in the feedbox of a donkey or to hang upon a cross? God laid upon Christ the iniquities of us all. This is that ineffable and infinite mercy of God which the slender capacity of man's heart cannot comprehend and much less utter- that unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God's love toward us. And truly the magnitude of God's mercy engenders in us not only a hardness to believe but also incredulity itself. For I hear not only that the omnipotent God, the creator and maker of all things, is good and merciful, but also that the Supreme Majesty was so concerned for me, a lost sinner, a son of wrath and of everlasting death, that he spared not his own Son but delivered him to the most ignominious death, that, hanging between two thieves, he might be made a curse and sin for me, a cursed sinner, that I might be made just, blessed, a son and heir of God. Who can sufficiently declare this exceeding great goodness of God?"
-Martin Luther -Here I Stand

Haiti

2010-01-22T20:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight I found myself roaming my house with nothing to do so I flipped on the tv and started watching news coverage over the earthquake in Haiti. Woah, did it blow me away! Sure,I've been praying for these people casually but it didn't seem that real to me until I flipped this on and saw the pictures and heard the stories. It seems so surreal to me that I'm here living in my nice, cozy house while at the same time these people are on the streets, fearing an aftershock, trying to protect their families, and hoping to survive it all. My heart is breaking for these people. Join me in meaninfully praying for them.

Pants On The Ground

2010-01-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

Definitely my favorite contestant on American Idol so far (: hahaha.

"Do Not Be Afraid..."

2010-01-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

Fear. We all have it to some extent whether it be fear that we will fail the midterm or fear that the sun will fall out of orbit at any moment and all of mankind will be wiped out (ok, so that's a little extreme, but you get what I'm saying.) Me, I'm what you would call a big ole worry wart. I worry about anything and everything. What, you say, is there for a 14 year old girl to worry about? Well, for me the list goes on and on. I dwell too much on 'what could happen' (and not in an optimistic perspective.) Lately this gnawing fear has been growing, so I've decided I need to do something about it. Out of Jesus' full ministry here on earth the one statement that he made more than any other was "do not be afraid."

"So don't be afraid, you are worth much more than many sparrows." -Matthew 10:31

"Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." -Matthew 9:2

"I tell you not to worry about everyday life- whether you will have enough food and drink, or clothes to wear." -Matthew 6:25

"Don't be afraid. Just believe, and your daughter will be well." -Luke 8:50

"Don't be afraid," he said, "Take courage. I am here!"- Matthew 14:27

"Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul." - Matthew 10:28

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:32

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." -John 14:1

"The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." -John 14:27

"Why are you frightened," he asks,"Why are your hearts filled with doubt?" -Luke 24:38

"And you will hear of wars and threats of wars but don't panic." -Matthew 24:6

But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said, "and don't be afraid." -Matthew 17:7

Jesus doesn't want me to live in a state of fear. I don't want to live in a state of fear. Fear does nothing but suck my joy and fullness in Christ. It is,yet again, the devil trying to pull me from the straight and narrow path. So I am now day by day learning to put all my trust in Him, to stop worrying about what will happen tomorrow, and to live in the joy of Christ. Please pray that I will continue to do so.

The Trashman

2010-01-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

The woman flops down on the bench and drops her trash bag between her feet. With elbows on knees and cheeks in hands, she stares at the sidewalk. Everthing aches. Back. Legs. Neck. Her shoulder is stiff and her hands raw. All because of the sack.
Oh to be rid of the garbage.
Unbroken clouds form a gray ceiling, gray with a thousand sorrows. Soot-stained buildings cast long shadows, darkening passageways and the people in them. Drizzle chills the air and muddies the rivulets of the street gutters. The woman collects her jacket. A passing car drenches the sack and splashes her jeans. She doesn't move. Too tired.
Her memories of life without the trash are fuzzy. As a child maybe? Her back was straighter, her walk quicker... or was it a dream? She doesn't know for sure.
A second car. This one stops and parks. A man steps out. She watches his shoes sink in the slush. From the car he pulls out a trash bag, lumpy with litter. He drapes it over his shoulder and curses the weight.
Neither of them speaks. Who knows if he noticed her. His face seems younger, younger than his stooped back. In moments he is gone. Her gaze returns to the pavement.
She never looks at her trash. Early on she did, but what she saw repulsed her, so she's kept the sack closed ever since.
What else can she do? Give it to someone? All have their own.
Here comes a young mother. With one hand she leads a child; with the other she drags her load, bumpy and heavy.
Here comes an old man, face ravined with wrinkles. His trash sack is so long it hits the back of his legs as he walks. He glances at the woman and tries to smile.
What weight would he be carrying? She wonders as he passes.
"Regrets."
She turns to see who spoke. Beside her on the bench sits a man. Tall, with angular cheeks and bright, kind eyes. Like hers, his jeans are mud stained. Unlike hers, his shoulders are straight. He wears a t-shirt and baseball cap. She looks around for his trash but doesn't see it.
He watches the old man disappear as he explains, " As a young father, he worked many hours and neglected his family. His children don't love him. His sack is full, full of regrets."
She doesn't respond. And when she doesn't he does.
"And yours?"
"Mine?" she asks, looking at him.
"Shame." His voice is gentle, compassionate.
She still doesn't speak, but neither does she turn away.
"Too many hours in the wrong arms. Last year. Last night....shame."
She stiffens, steeling herself against the scorn she has learned to expect. As if she needed more shame. Stop him. But how? She awaits her judgement.
But it never comes. His voice is warm and his question honest. "Will you give me your trash?"
Her head draws back. What can he mean?
"Give it to me. Tomorrow. At the landfill. Will you bring it?" He rubs a moist smudge from her cheek with his thumb and stands. "Friday. The landfill."
Long after he leaves, she sits, replaying the scene, retouching her cheek. His voice lingers; his invitation hovers. She tries to dismiss the words but can't. How could he know what he knew? And how could he know and still be so kind? The memory sits on the couch of her soul, an uninvited guest.
That night's sleep brings her summer dreams. A young gir under blue skies and puffy clouds, playing amid wildflowers, skirt twirling. She dreams of running with hands wide open, brushing the tops of sunflowers. She dreams of happy people filling a meadow with laughter and hope.
But when she wakes, the sky is dark, the clouds billowed, and the streets shadowed. At the foot of her bed lies her sack of trash. Hoisting it over her shoulder, she walks out of the apartment and down the stairs and onto the street, still slushy.
It's Friday.
For a time she stands, thinking. First wondering what he meant, then if he really meant it. She sighs. With hope just barely outweighing hopelessness, she turns toward the dege of town. Others are walking in the same direction. The man beside her smells of alcohol. He's slept many nights in his suit. A teenage girl walks a few feet ahead. The woman of shame hurries to catch up. The girl volunteers an answer before the question can be asked, " Rage, rage at my father, rage at my mother. I'm tired of anger. He said he'd take it." She motions to the sack, "I'm going to give it to him." The woman nods, and the two walk together.
The landfill is tall with trash- papers and broken brooms and old beds and rusty cars. By the time they reach the hill, the line to the top is long. Hundreds walk ahead of them. All wait in silence, stunned by what they hear- a scream, a pain pierced roar that hangs in the air for moments, interrupted only by a groan. Then the scream again. His.
As they draw nearer, they know why. He kneels before each, gesturing toward the sack, offering a request, then a prayer. "May I have it? And may you never feel it again." Then he bows his head and lifts the sack, emptying its contents upon himself. The selfishness of the glutton, the bitterness of the angry, the possessiveness of the insecure. He feels what they felt. It is as if he'd lied or cheated or cursed his Maker.
Upon her turn, the woman pauses, hesitates. His eyes compel her to step forward. He reaches for her trash and takes it from her. "You can't live with this," he explains. "You weren't made to." With head down, he empties her shame upon his shoulders. Then looking towards the heavens with tear-flooded eyes, he screams, "I'm sorry!"
"But you did nothing!" she cries.
Still, he sobs as she has sobbed into her pillow a hundred nights. That's when she realizes that his cry is hers. Her shame is his.
With her thumb she touches his cheek, and for the first step in a long time, she has no trash to carry.
With the others she stands at the base of the hill and watches as he is buried under a mound of misery. For some time he moans. Then nothing, just silence.
The people sit among the wrecked cars and papers and discarded stoves and wonder who this man is and what he has done. Like mourners at a wake, they linger. Some share stories. Others say nothing. All cast occasional glances at the landfill. It feels odd, loitering near the heap. But it feels even stranger to think of leaving.
So they stay. Through the night and into the next day. Darkness comes again. A kinship connects them, a kinship through the trashman. Some doze. By early morning most are asleep.
They almost miss the moment. It is the young girl who sees it. The girl with the rage. She doesn't trust her eyes at first, but when she looks again, she knows.
Her words are soft, intended for no one. "He's standing."
Then aloud for her friend, "He's standing."
And louder for all, "He's standing!"
She turns; all turn. They see him silhouetted against a golden sun.
Standing. Indeed.

--Max Lucado

Feeling Outnumbered?

2010-01-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

"Surrounded, yes. Outnumbered, no. We are always surrounded. We are never safe in this world. But we are always protected. When God sends us on a mission we go not alone. Don't look down at the enemy army. Look up at the heavenly host. This is no time for fear but for courage- it is not a time to flee, but to charge. With the Lord the advantage is always on our side. Faith sees more clearly than sight. Lord, open our eyes, that we may have confidence in your ways."

Ever feel outnumbered in this world, like the devil and his cunning ways have finally gotten a hold of you and there's no way you can remain strong? Ever felt completely and utterly alone in the battle of the Lord? I know I have and I think this is another one of the devil's clever plots to destroy us. We start to feel lonely, we see how big the battle really is, despair sets in, and we give up. When those feelings start to come in we need to 'look up at the heavenly host' and remember that we are never alone. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." -Joshua 1:5.
Sure, the battle looks big and frightening, but we need to remember that we're on the winning side... with a God who will be with us every step of the way.

Christmas Time

2009-12-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas time so much! In my opinion, the best part of Christmas is spending time with family. I love my family so much, and am so grateful that I got to spend time with my family on both sides this year! I had a blast and made so many memories! Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with such an amazing immediate and extended family!

2009-12-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Before getting into relationships...

2009-12-21T10:52:00.001-08:00

Who can agree with me when I say that friendships can be hard? We put ourselves fully out there for the one's we love, fully knowing that we could get rejected, dissapointed, and hurt. C.S. Lewis got it right when he said this, "To love at all is to be vulnerabe. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it careful round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell." So what do we do? Do we keep our hearts hidden from those we love or do we give them away with the possibility of getting crushed and hurt? How do we give our thoughts, time, and love to a person we know will someday fail us? We must first give ourselves fully to the one who will not fail us. We must find ourselves and our worth in God and God alone before we get in any kind of relationship because if we don't we will look for our self worth in relationships with fallen people and when those people hurt us we will start to think that we aren't worth much if even our friends hurt us and that we aren't worth being treated well. Our self worth and self value will take a plunge. But when we find ourselves in our Creator, knowing that we are made in His image and our loved by Him we are free to love others, knowing full well that we will get hurt, but trusting in the one who we find ourselves in.
"For anyone to enjoy relationship, they must repent of their need to control and their insistence that people fill them. Fallen people demand that others "come through" for them. Redeemed people are being met in the depths of their soul by Christ and are free to offer to others, free to desire, and willing to be dissapointed. Fallen people have been wounded by others and withdraw in order to protect themselves from further harm. Redeemed people know that they have something of value to offer; that they are made for relationship. Therefore, being safe and secure in their relationship with their Lord, they can risk being vulnerable with others and offer their true selves." -Stasi Eldridge (Captivating)

The Christmas Tree

2009-12-17T17:25:00.001-08:00

Found this poem that my grandma wrote, thought it was really good! My grandma was a poet and she didn't even know it (:

The Christmas Tree

Once there was a Christmas tree,

the biggest that you've seen

It's trunk so straight

it's branches full and color deepest green

The star on top was so bright,

the darkness seemed like day

and on it's sturdy limbs of green,

the falling snow did lay

Beneath it's boughs,

a manger sat--simple yet divine

For in it lay the son of God

a gift to all mankind

Though he was an infant yet,

you could plainly see

All the wonders of his love

in the Christmas tree

Like its trunk strong and tall,

the infant Christ would grow

And like it's sturdy limbs of pine,

that held the heavy snow

He'd have the strength within his arms,

to hold us all so near

That not one voice in this world,

could not reach his ear

And like the star with all its light,

his love would always be

A guiding force for us to follow,

throughout eternity

The Christmas Tree is full of splendor,

be it trimmed or bare

If in the heart of the beholder,

there is love to share

Teach us Jesus how to be,

as strong and patient as the tree

So all our gifts this year will be,

good deeds that we can give to thee

Clinging

2009-12-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever found yourself clinging to the things of this world? Have you found yourself desiring so much to be of the world that you loose sight of God? I know I sure have. It's at those times that I need to remind myself that I don't belong here. I am a stranger in this world. I was made to live eternally with my Father and this world is nothing compared to that....but it's really hard to remember that. It's hard to be in the world, but not of the world. At times, I find myself desperately collecting more and more on this Earth; I cling to it like an infant clings to its mother. But at the end of the day, all that this world brings leaves me unfufilled and searching for more. "If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was not made for here." -C.S. Lewis.
Clinging is a bad habit of mine and a lot of others; we need to stamp out this habit and realize that we were made for so much more than this world. Nothing here will ever fufill us, only Christ can do that.
"Wherever you are and wherever you turn, you will not find happiness until you turn to God."
-Thomas a Kempis

A Walk Down Memory Lane

2009-12-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas my sister, Cassie, made me a memory jar. It was a jar filled with a lot of weirddd things we used to do when we were little and I could open one a day for a month. This year when I pulled it out from our Christmas stuff I had to chuckle at some of the weirddd memories (:

here's a few of them:
(keep in mind that these are from cassie to me so when it says me it means cassie and when it says you it means me.)

-Remember when I started crying in the middle of the street because I thought I had a tumor.

-Remember when Brooke had a crush on our cousins.

-Remember when we would wake up every saturday night at midnight to watch Hannah Montana.

-Remember when I would act like I was possessed and was going to cut your veins at bed time and scare you.

-Remember when all of Brooke and her friends thought they were evil squirrels.

-Remember when you decided to pee downstairs because you were too lazy to go upstairs.

-Remember when we made our Barbies act out Sept. 11th. (oh geez we were disturbing little children!)

-Remember when Brooke would always hide behind the couch to eat cookies and then come out with crumbs all over her face and deny eating any.

-Remember when I made my bunk bed a "tanning bed" and colored you guys with brown
marker.

-Remember when Brooke had a crush on practically every boy in the world.

-Remember when we hated Brooke because she was the "perfect child."

-Remeber when we would trade making our beds the "library."

-Remember when we gave our Barbies family portraits.

-Remember when we played "Oprah" at night when we couldn't fall asleep.

-Remember when I formed a spy club with the neighbors and asked for spy gear for my birthday.

A Strange Story

2009-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought that the birth of Christ was a strange story? Have you ever found it strange that God used Joseph, an simple carpenter, and Mary, a young ordinary girl to bring the Messiah into the world? Have you ever found it strange that the Savior of the world was born in a tiny town called Bethlehem? Do you find it strange that there was no room for the ruler of the world in any inns in town, or that he was placed in a manger filled with straw to sleep? Have you ever found it strange that the angels chose three lowly shepherds to first share this good news with? I know I have, but our ways our not God's ways and this strange story happens to be the beginning of the world's redemption story.

Our Greatest Fear

2009-11-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
You're playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our prescence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

Renewal

2009-11-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the absolutely amazing privilege of being a leader at Renewal-GSM's middle school retreat. I had such an incredible time and the most amazing girls in my group. They were so fun and full of Jesus, it was great to get to see them grow spiritually over the weekend. While the weekend drained me so much physically, I really feel so renewed and restored spiritually. During the weekend we had 3 sessions/ chapel/ church times or whatever you want to call it. Each session truly spoke to me and moved me.
In the first session DC talked about how as a Christian we don't have to live by a huge set of rules; God's love is always permanent and can't be altered. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us less and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more. Looking back on the session I can see how the devil was trying to grab hold of me because all I could think was, "Ok, so if there's nothing I can do to make God love me less and my place in heaven is locked, why do I continue to try to do the right thing? Why don't I quit? Wouldn't that be so much easier?" But then as we stood up to worship I glanced up and saw a wooden cross placed on the wall and I pictured my Savior, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords laying up there for me and I was struck anew with the wonder of the gift he gave me when he hung up there. My thoughts immediately changed to,"Wow, that's why I try. He is the reason I try," and as I sang "All Because of Jesus" I had my eyes fixed upon that cross hanging on the wall and thanked him over and over again for the ultimate sacrifice he made for me and I prayed that my actions would reflect this love that I have received through it.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -Ephesians 2:8-10
In the second session DC talked about checking ourselves in the mirror. During the session we had time to prayerfully evaluate ourselves and ask God what parts of our life were on track and on purpose for him, and what parts were not. This time was really an eye-opener for me; it made me realize that although I was on track in some areas, I needed a lot of work in others. While writing the list was a little hard for me because I have a major pride problem, I am very grateful that I did. I have been pulling it out every night since to review the day and see how I tried to work on those not-so-great areas and pray that God will give me the strength to keep improving them.
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." -Romans 12:2
The third session was called A Whole New you. During the session DC made an illustration of Jesus washing us white as snow by taking a t-shirt full of different types of sin that people had written on it and said that before we had Christ, this is how we looked. Then he placed the t-shirt in Clorox and after a few minutes pulled it out-white as snow. This illustration was really encouraging for me to see because a lot of times I find myself focusing on how sinful and 'dirty' I am and I think that when I do this it's the devil's way of taking away from Jesus' sacrifice. The illustration again reminded me of the magnitude of Christ's gift. Because of him I can now start fresh, wearing a shirt as white as the one dumped in Clorox.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." -2 Corinthians 5:17
Basically, the weekend was sheer awesomeness! I think what I got out of it most was that I need to focus more on Christ, his sacrifice, and how he alone can heal me instead of me, my sin, and how I need to try harder.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:2

Gotta love JibJab!

2009-11-19T09:38:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

haha yes, this is what I do in my spare time (:

Abraham-Genesis 22

2009-11-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

I just finished doing a character study of Abraham for school and boy did I learn a lot about faith. Abraham had great faith in God. he trusted him when it didn't make sense; he really let God have control of his life and God blessed him tremendously for it. My favorite story about Abraham is found in Genesis 22. In this chapter Abraham had finally received the son that God had promised him. It was his first and only son and I imagine Abraham love him very much. In this passage God tells Abraham to take his son to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. Now, my thoughts when first reading through this story were along the lines of, "Why would God promise Abraham this son and then order him to essentially kill him? That makes no sense God!" But after reading further through this story I realized why God was asking Abraham to do this. God was testing Abraham's love for him. He was asking Abraham to put the very thing that he loved and adored on the altar and give it up for him. You see, God doesn't want to be put second in our lives. He demands, and is so worthy of, being number one in our lives. God asked Abraham to place his son on the altar to show him that God is worth so much more to him than anything else, even his son, and Abraham had such a great love and faith in God that he willingly was ready to do this for God. What has taken over the number one place God should have in your life? Are you ready to place it on the altar for him?

Christmas!

2009-11-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love the Christmas season! I think I get a little bit too much into the whole Christmas spirit though.... (: hahaha

CAMP ADVENTURE!

2009-11-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

Every summer for the past 4 summer's I have had the privilege to go to (in my opinion) the greatest place on the face of planet earth. Seriously, it's that great. Every year I meet terrific people, I make amazing friends, I grow so much closer to God, and I have an incredibly great time! If it weren't for Camp Adventure I don't know where I would be in my walk with Christ right now, I have grown so much spiritually there. This summer me and my two best friends went to Camp together. We were in a group that we nicknamed the Welts (: It's a long story how this nickname came to be, but basically it was the result of absolute camp hyperness (which there tends to be a lot of at camp)! This group was the funnest, craziest, loudest group I have ever been in (: I love every single person in it, and while some of the people in this group live far away most of us have still maintained the bond that we established at camp. This bond is something only Camp Adventure can do to a group. To all you Welts reading this, I love you guys like crazy!

My Review Of Disney's "A Christmas Carol"

2009-11-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

So last night me and a couple of friends went to see Disney's A Christmas Carol. Let me just say that it was totally nottt what I expected it to be. I expected it to be a cheerful, happy, get me in the mood for Christmas kind of movie and it was but it was also a terrifying, grip your seat, nerve-wracking movie (: Weird mixture, huh? It was a greattt movie with a really good moral lesson but if you have high blood pressure or are prone to heart attacks, I advise you nott to go see this movie (:

Trick or Treat!

2009-11-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

This Halloween me, Olivia, Brittany, and Emily went trick-or-treating as hobos. Yes, some people may think we're a little too old to go trick-or-treating butttt we have great fun and hey, it's free candy! Who would pass that opportunity up?! Anywaysss, we went trick-or-treating, we were hobos, and we had fun (:

My neighboor, Craig

2009-10-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

This is Craig. He is my next door neighboor and I have never met a kinder man. He has gone through a lot of pain this past year after the death of his wife, but he is still so kind and always has a smile for me. Just recently Craig went to stay with his daughter in Japan for several months. While he was there he came down with an illness and was put in the hospital for 3 weeks. The doctor's gave him 72 hours to live, but after a lottt of prayer from his friends and family he is gradually getting better and coming back home! I am convinced that his healing is due to the power of prayer and I am so grateful that we have a God who listens to our prayers! And I can't wait to see Craig return home!

That's My King!

2009-10-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

LOVE this video!

Youth Ministarz!

2009-10-11T09:08:00.001-07:00

This is a video me, Brittany Jacquay, Olivia Usenick, and Cecelia Forberg made for our youth ministers (: Haha yes, we have a lot of time on our hands.

By Your Side

2009-10-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

Ok let me start off by saying that I love this song! It is such a perfect represenation of who God really is. He is always by our side. The first words in this song are "Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?" As I was listening to this song the other day these words hit me in a way they never had before. The world we live in is always searching for some sort of love, they want to feel affirmed and needed. They look for this in people, material things, and other ways that will never match up to the real love we can find in Christ. Nothing compares to his love. Like my church says repeatedly "He loves us because he loves us because he loves us." We don't have to earn his love, it's always been there and always will be. I can't imagine how much it hurts his heart to see us seeking after things that will never fufill us. I must admit that I am guilty of this too. I find myself looking for love in ways that won't ever measure up to the love I find in Christ. He alone makes me complete. This week I challenge you to stop looking for love in earthly things and instead look to the one who sacrificed his life for you, the one who created you and loves you more than you can ever imagine. He will always be by your side.

A Change In Season

2009-10-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

As much as I hate to see summer leave I must say that I love fall. I know that may seem creepy to all you summer fanatics, but I love fall and all that it brings with it. I love the crisp, cool air. I love the layer of frost that covers the ground in the morning. I love Friday night football games. I love going to the pumpkin patch with my family. I love trick-or-treating with friends. I love the anticipation of Christmas. I love watching God's beauty in nature as the trees turn colors. I love, love, love fall and am so grateful that I get to see it again this year.

Friends (:

2009-09-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

As I was reading my Bible I came across the story of David and Jonathan. They had a friendship so powerful the Bible says that "Jonathan loved David as himself." Jonathan's love for David was so powerful that he was willing to go against his Father and possibly get himself killed for the sake of David's safety.

After reading this story I immediately asked myself if I had a "Jonathan" in my life. My mind instantly turned to the two girls that I love as myself and that I know have the same love for me. Those girls are Olivia Michelle Usenick and Brittany Michelle Jacquay.

These girls mean so much to me and they are the greatest friends I could ever ask for. I am so thankful that God put them in my life. In the past two years I have gone through a lot of change and these girls have been a solid rock through it all. They are there for me through thick and thin, they can always find a way to make me laugh, and they help me so much on my walk with Christ. I can always come to them for advice because I know they will tell me the truth even if it isn't exactly what I want to hear at the time. I love them both so much and am so glad they are in my life, I don't know what I would do without them.

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Real love

2009-09-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

As I was reading I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris I came upon a paragraph that really hit me. It said this:

"The world takes us to a silver screen on which flickering images of passion and romance play, and as we watch they say, " This is love." God takes us to the foot of a tree on which a naked and bloodied man hangs and says, "This is love."

Isn't this so true? The world's version of love is sooo different than the love God wants for us and is continously showing us. The world says love is some mysterious force and that it is measured by our emotions and feelings. Christ taught that "love is not for the fulfillment of self, but for the glory of God and the good of others." I think that the perfect example of love was shown in Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. He willingly placed himself on that cross while all of his "feelings and emotions" told him not to. He obviously didn't "feel" like dying a brutal and gruesome death, but his love for us was stronger than any feeling or emotion he had at the time. Like Joshua Harris says, "we need to throw out the misconception that love is some strange force that tosses us around against our will like leaves in the wind. We cannot justify doing what we know is wrong by saying that love grabbed hold of us and made us behave irresponsibly. That's not love. Instead, it's what the Bible calls in Thessalonians 4:5 passionate lust. We express true love in obedience to God and service to others- not reckless or selfish behavior."

I want to learn to love not how the world teaches us to love, but how Christ taught us to love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. Love never fails."

-1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Baptism

2009-09-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend at church I got to witness the baptism of so many believers. It was so cool to see countless people publicly declare their love for the Lord. I am so thankful that I get the privilege to go to a church where I can see the work of the Lord in so many lives.

"...Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." ~ Acts 2:38

Random Thought

2009-09-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

Just a random thought for today that I thought I would share with you all. The past three weeks at GSM my youth minister (DC Curry) has talked about poop. Yes, poop. He has found some way to include poop in all of his messages, both middle school and high school for the past three weeks. Hmm......gotta love DC!

My Family

2009-09-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is a fact that my family is a littttle large. And yes, it is a fact that my family can get pretty crazy at times (: But it is also a fact that I love my family with all my heart and wouldn't trade them for anything. Even though my family is a little large we have a sense of unity that is unexplainable. We are all closely knit together by the love and grace of God. I know that I can talk to them about anything without being judged and that no matter how bratty I get ( and trust me, I can be a real jerk sometimes) their love for me is always rock solid. I have two wonderful parents that are constantly encouraging and uplifting me. They give me a perfect example of what marriage is and portray to me how to truly love and honor my spouse someday. I have an older sister that I consider to be my role model. She shows me how to live a life on track and on purpose for God. She is amazing and I hope to have faith as strong as hers someday. I also have 3 younger sisters who I cherish and think the world of. They are constantly humoring me with their hilarious comments (: I can't wait to see what God has in store for their lives! Then I have two little brothers. They are way different than all of my sisters, but in a good way... I think (: They are crazy, loud, fun, loud, and a little wacko at times. My family means everything to me and while I may sometimes take them for granted or treat them lousy I love them all so much and thank God that he put each and every one of them in my life!

And The Bride Wore White

2009-09-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a book called And The Bride Wore White. It was an amazing book that opened my eyes to what purity really means and how to live a life of purity. I want to seek after God's will for me and this book taught me that what God wants for me is to have a pure heart. It says in the Bible that our bodies are the temple of Christ...."Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. I was bought with a price, the blood of the lamb. I am not my own anymore, I belong to him who shed his blood for me and I want to glorify him with my every thought and every action. God doesn't want us compromising what he has bought with such a severe price for anything. This book taught me that living a lifestyle of purity is worth it, no matter how much the world screams for me to do otherwise. To any ladies reading this, I highly recommend reading this book!

Be Faithful In The small Things....

2009-09-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

Today I found myself asking why I even bother doing tasks that seem unimportant and useless to the kingdom of God. I asked myself why I am stuck doing laundry for my mom and baby-sitting my brothers and sisters when there are hungry orphans all over the world and homeless men and women on our very streets. My tasks seem so insignificant and small compared to what I could be doing. But then this verse came to mind..."Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 6:10) It hit me that God cares about the tasks that seem petty and small to me. God wants me to work at everything with all my heart as if I were doing it for him. I can do even these small tasks for his kingdom if I am doing it for the glory of God and working at it with all my heart. Mother Teresa puts it this way, "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters." God sees and rewards us for even these small, boring taks. If we are faithful to serve him with the small things, he knows that he can then trust us with the big things.

My First Post!

2009-09-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! So I've officially started a blog! This blog will be a place for me to express thoughts and stories from my life. A place for me to reflect on what Christ is doing in my life and share it with others. If you're interested enough, read on!
(: