That's in Your Face

Lately I have been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This book has me thinking and really has me looking at myself and my walk with God. Why does God love us? Why should He? Do I really love Him? One thing Chan talks about is like when you love someone, or they love you. Do they love you for you or because your good looking, or the gifts you give, or your money, or your popularity or whatever? Do I love God for Him or because of His protection, his blessings, or the times He rescues me?? These are in your face questions. Why do your quiet time? Do you feel quilty or do you just enjoy spending time with your Daddy and learning more about Him?

I don't really know how to end this blog... It's just some food for thought. I know it already has me praying that I will get closer to God and just keep running the race.

Little by Little

This morning before our service at PLBC I watched some of Celebration Church's service. The title of his message was Little by Little. I only got to watch a little of it but it spoke to me. We all have heard about a million times that God has HUGE plans for our lives. He does, one of my fav verses is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you..." We live in a time when everything is given to us now, most people have very little patience. When we talk to God about the plans that He has for us we don't want to wait. We want God to show us the big picture of our life and how things are going to play out. But what Stovall was talking about was how things happen little by little. It's baby steps, which can be so hard to take sometimes. This applies to maybe God answering prayers as well. Lately I have been praying like crazy for a certain situation and haven't seen anything working. James 5 it talks about being patient. Sometimes you have to pray and then pray again and then pray again until something happens. Its a growing period.

God is Awesome!!

"God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in trouble"
Psalm 46:1
"He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds"
Psalm 147:3


In my sunday school class yesterday Mrs. Karen taught from the book called "Captivating" by John Eldridge. The title of the chapter was Wounded or something like that. She read through aome different verses about how God is there to rescue you and to fix you when your broken. Also that what happens in your life shapes who you are. One of the verses was Jeremiah 29:11 which is one of my fav verses because it lets me know I do have a purpose and that God is on my side you know. So anywho, another verse was Pslam 147:3. Lately i have been dealing with a lot and i kinda just kept what was going on to myself and didn't tell God. which of course is dumb. On Thursday night I did finally just give it all to God and he binded my wounds. So I thought that was really awesome.
When I was in middle school, we still did the VBS thing and Bro. Mike Lewis was our leader person. I think that like everyday we had to learn a verse or something and for Psalm 46:1 we made it into a song and I have never forgotten it. So Sunday morning I was singing the little song thing in my head too.
I said all that to say this: Last night I was catching up on some quiet times that I do and the title was "When We Stumble". And the closet thing ever was the main verse was Psalm 46:1. Pretty cool right?? The passage in the book talked about sometimes we face hard times (yeah I was) and that God is always there protecting us and the next line was Psalm 147:3. (equally cool). So anywho, it was really cool how all those things kinda went together and it was just another reminder of camps in the past and "little taps on the shoulder" God gives us to let me know He is listening

Youth Camp

Today we took the journey back home from camp. This camp was totally amazing. God really showed up and did more than what I could have have ever imagine. Before every service, Kaley and I would go and pray for the service. Just saying, when you take the time to prepare your heart for a message it is amazing what God will do. Just like last year, certain things we prayed about showed up in the songs and the message. I had chills just thinking about how God takes the time to listen when I pray. There are so many people in the world and we can all be praying at one time and God hears us indivdually. Mind Blowing!! God did some awesome things this week. Personally He spoke to me about how He made us all unique. Aaron taught on Saturday I believe and something that really stuck out was that God didnt make a cookie cutter. God did not make a cookie cutter!!! We all have different talents and strengths, we are all unique. This hit me so hard because I could only think about my group of friends and how they can sing or draw or play an instrument. I kept thinking about how I don't have any of those things and just thinking how could God use me. After I realized how dumb I had been about the whole situation I just prayed and told God that I would do whatever He wanted, that I wouldn't give up, and that I just wanted to give Him all of me. Monday night I talked to Kevin about a really good friend of mine and the struggles she has. She comes to me and tells me all these different things and I can only give answers like, "pray about it" and "God loves you". I want to do more than that. You can only say that for so long you know? Tuesday morning Shawn taught about getting out of the boat, out of your comfort zone. And on tuesday I knew that my next step is to reach out and help her and be there for her. Fear started to creep in thinking about what lies ahead. I know this is what I am supposed to do. I am really excited about what God has for me, how my friend is going to grow, and how I am going to grow!

Speechless

You know how sometimes you are just left speechless? Well in the past two weeks or so, I have been left speechless. Last night I had begun my quiet time and was having a hard time focusing on what was going on so I stopped and spent some time talking to God, just telling Him was on my heart and just prayed that He would help me focus. So I read the little quiet time thing and got something really big out of it. I was laying in bed thinking about what I had prayed about and just what the devo thing said. It said that your priorities need to be God first, God second, and God third until its just you and him. God removes people from our lives so its just you and him. I really feel like that has happened in my life. God answered one thing I had prayed about and it wasn't what I wanted but thats how God did. He answered prayer about things I was confused about as well. I laid in bed last night and it all just clicked! I went and told my brother about it and then came back to bed. I started to pray, but i didn't even know what to say, I could only think how awesome God is, and just how He works in mysterious ways! Its just so awesome!!!

"Don't worry bout a thing..."

Everyone worrys. Worry about their apperance, if they passed a class, family and friends. I have a big problem with worrying. Last week I put in some job applications and pretty much figured hey just for kicks i probably wont get it anyways. That was a dumb thought because a day later I got a call for an interview. I got really excited about it. The day of my interview I got dressed up and just went over some things in my head like remember to smile, be polite, and just dont screw up. Well I got there did the interview and the lady doing the interview said she had to go talk to the guy who actually did the hiring and that we would probably call me back in. At this point I have high hopes, I was imagining what my reaction would be when they told me I got it and everything. So in a few minutes the lady comes out and says, "Congrats you got the job!" jk she didn't say that. She came out and said that they would have to check their "availablitiy". wahtever that means... So I said thank you have a great day and walked out. My brother was out there and I was like well I don't know if i got it. We got home and then I started thinking and WORRYING about the whole thing like I shouldn't have gone I shoudn't have a job I have other things to do... I don't know how this is going to fit. Then I had the thoughts well I could have a job I'd have my own money it'll be great. So I was really wishy washy and then I read my devo that said don't worry what tomorrow holds.... you know the verse. So whenever I thought about it I was like don't worry about it God is in control. I tried to keep with that attitude. Then I read Oswald and it was about the same thing. Worrying is a sin. It comes "from planning without God." That hit me hard! God wrote the book of my life, why can't I trust that He will save the day and that it will all work out how it needs to!! I think its one of those easier said then done. I have been trying to keep this in my head when the littlest bit of worry comes into my head!!

Summer Bummer

OK so I have been super bored the last couple days. Sunday was fun though, I went to the movies and hung out with friends the entire day. Then yesterday we basically just hung around the house and played rock band and watched movies and then today was a reapeat. Tonight we have a meeting thing at church about a black light song we are going to do in front of the church. Then after that we are going to go pray for the up coming youth camp in august. So at least I get out of the house.

Taking care of business

My mom had surgery yesterday. They always say the second day is the hardest. Today, like most days, we were on the go. I wasn't about to let her drive so I drove all over the place, to school, starbucks, my friends house, and to the library. It was fun. I played guitar hero and rock band with one of my friends from school. In between songs we talked about stuff like next school year and summer plans. It was fun. I miss like all my friends from school. I have really enjoyed my new quiet time book. Its short, one verse, one quote, and little thought about it. I am of course reading Oswald too. The Friday we got home from camp I prayed that God would change my life this summer and I can feel him working already. I have been listening to more worship music, I have actually been having quiet time, and He makes me want more from His Word. I am looking forward to youth camp. God really changed my life then and He keeps little by little doing more and more. Its awesome.

New Devo

Like I said yesterday i got a new devo book. Its called 5 minutes with God or something a long those lines. I started last night and it talked about how we should always be able to make time to talk with God. After i finished reading that i thought about the different excuses that I make up of why i didn't spend time with God that day. It was either i had a busy day or i watched tv all day or i was on the computer the whole day. Then today I was reading it and it talked about trust in the Lord with all your heart which of course came from Proverbs 3. Sometimes I think we forget that verse. I know for me i can sometimes only see the negatives in a situation and not see how God is working in the situation at all. But those verses, something that they used to tell the gophers at church, is just to trust God to know what He is doing.

Busy Day

Today was totally busy. Some things I knew I would have to do were to clean my room, do some laundry, turn in money for my oklahoma trip and go to the orthodontist. But the unexcepted happened and my day got some more things added to the list of things to do. Justin had to go to UNF to get some book for his economics class which took like 5 years to accomplish. Their campus is big to say the least. You have to get a parking pass to be able to park which is ok but if you only are going to be there for maybe 20 minutes why should you pay 3 bucks you know? So anyways, we took a while trying to find a parking spot that wouldn't get us a ticket. So to shorten that down we got the book and then we're off to the town center to Life Way. I have been wanting a new devo book so i went looking for a new one. Don't get me wrong I love Oswald but i wanted something to add to it. I found a book for like 5 bucks so i have high hopes for it. About this time it was lunch time where we went to McDonald's and how to pay an "eat in tax". Justin and I didn't see the point in an eat in tax but whatever... The later part of the day was spent going to get my retainer checked out, returning something, starbucks, getting a shot, and a walmart run. Its about 6:30 and i think we are going to go do the prayer thing for kd.

Today

Today was father's day as most everybody knows. As I have gotten older my relationship with my dad has changed. When I was younger I always wanted to hang out with my dad and everything. Then I went through that stage where you think that your dad is the biggest loser! Sorry daddy!! But these past few weeks I have really realized what a good dad he is and how much he cares for my family. So this father's day I feel especially thankful for the dad God has blessed me with.