I have been loving the summer weather! It's so nice to be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt and not worry about being cold! And, I'm almost done with school. This week I have officially finished math, so now I have only a few days of science and history left for next week. Then I'm done! YAY!
On Wednesday I went to an outreach with the youth group (Circle C). It was really awesome! I was really encouraged to share my faith, and I hope others were too. Plus it was a lot of fun. =)
Tonight we're having a party. A bunch of friends are coming over to hang out from about 7 PM to midnight. We'll probably watch a movie, have a bonfire, play music and sing, eat, and all that great stuff. I can't wait!
Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly."
<3
Friday, May 21, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Purpose in your heart
So... I have less than two weeks or school left! I'm SO glad! The only subjects I have left are math, science, and history. I spent 2 hours on history today and now my neck really hurts from the position I was in. :-/ But, my jaw is felling a lot better. I've been on a no-chewing diet for the past few days, and I think it's helping. Eating soup and applesauce does get a little old though! :P
I got a new piano book with the music for 19 songs by Chopin. I'm excited to get working on them! I also got the piano music for "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, which I LOVE. It's not very hard, so I should have it learned before long.
And to leave you with a little bit of what God's teaching me -
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8)
Daniel made a commitment ahead of time to do what was right, no matter what, and he took a huge step of faith to do that. I want to have that kind of faith! :)
I got a new piano book with the music for 19 songs by Chopin. I'm excited to get working on them! I also got the piano music for "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, which I LOVE. It's not very hard, so I should have it learned before long.
And to leave you with a little bit of what God's teaching me -
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8)
Daniel made a commitment ahead of time to do what was right, no matter what, and he took a huge step of faith to do that. I want to have that kind of faith! :)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's been a while...
Well, I haven't felt like writing on my blog for a while so I just... didn't. But, now I feel like it, so I will. =)
Life has been interesting for me lately. I've been busier than usual. I started going to another youth group at a really awesome camp nearby which has been really good for me. It's been fun meeting everyone from their group and getting to know them all. Wayne, the director of the camp/youth group leader always has really phenomenal teaching. What I also love about it is that he splits us up into groups each week and has us find passages in the Bible about whatever topic we're talking about, and then find a real-life application for it. That is SO important, because you can hear truth all of your life, but you need to look at it for yourself and apply it to life to really make it come alive in your life.
God's been teaching me so much lately. He's been teaching me a lot about trusting Him... through everything. For one thing, my TMJ has been really giving me a hard time lately. My jaw, neck, and shoulders are in constant pain and it's just really, really hard to deal with. But a verse that keeps coming to mind is Deuteronomy 8:2 -
"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."
God has been showing me just how faithful He is. In spite of TMJ, stress, school, insecurity, and everything else in life, He is my one true friend and confidant. It's so awesome to have a friend to turn to, and He is the most faithful friend I could ever have. <3
Life has been interesting for me lately. I've been busier than usual. I started going to another youth group at a really awesome camp nearby which has been really good for me. It's been fun meeting everyone from their group and getting to know them all. Wayne, the director of the camp/youth group leader always has really phenomenal teaching. What I also love about it is that he splits us up into groups each week and has us find passages in the Bible about whatever topic we're talking about, and then find a real-life application for it. That is SO important, because you can hear truth all of your life, but you need to look at it for yourself and apply it to life to really make it come alive in your life.
God's been teaching me so much lately. He's been teaching me a lot about trusting Him... through everything. For one thing, my TMJ has been really giving me a hard time lately. My jaw, neck, and shoulders are in constant pain and it's just really, really hard to deal with. But a verse that keeps coming to mind is Deuteronomy 8:2 -
"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."
God has been showing me just how faithful He is. In spite of TMJ, stress, school, insecurity, and everything else in life, He is my one true friend and confidant. It's so awesome to have a friend to turn to, and He is the most faithful friend I could ever have. <3
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Dreams Must Die
This is a section of the book "Before You Meet Prince Charming" by Sarah Mally, which is a great book for any young lady to read by the way, and I thought it was just really good an very applicable to me.
The princess was silent for a few moments and then began to speak slowly. "Years ago I decided that I had a purpose in life much bigger than marriage and that I would gladly stay single if my heavenly Father asked this of me. Time after time, I have prayed for His will to be done and purposed to be content. And just when I thought I had finally understood contentment, Sir Valiant came to visit, and... and... and that made everything harder. I just don't understand why I can't learn to trust and am so easily distracted. And why -" she concluded with a sigh, "why does this have to be so difficult?"
"Struggles are a necessary part of life," her mother said. "They strengthen us and prepare us for the new trials that lie ahead. When one struggle is overcome, another one is often around the next bend."
"I suppose. But Mother, I feel like I'm failing each struggle, not overcoming them."
"You are growing. You are learning. These are the very things the struggle is designed to accomplish in your life. Do not forget, dear daughter, that except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit."
"Bear fruit... that's exactly what I want to do," the princess said quietly, as if deep in thought.
"Then your dream must die."
"But my dream is a good dream, not a bad dream. It is the dream God has given me. It is nothing wicked I desire, but only what is natural, wholesome, and beautiful. Why must it die?"
Her mother stepped off the path, knelt down, picked up an acorn, and explained, "Observe this acorn, perfectly designed for what it is intended to do - die. The acorn does not know why; the acorn does not understand what is ahead, but only if it is buried in the cold and dark earth - forgotten and left alone - does it fulfill its purpose and become what it was created to be. Would the acorn ever have imagined that it would become the beautiful oak tree you see before you? Not in it's wildest dreams. When you admire the oak tree, do you mourn the loss of the acorn? Of course not. By losing it's life, the acorn became something so much greater, so much more beautiful, so much more valuable. The death is forgotten. The fruit is remembered. Nevertheless, death was required.
The princess was silent for a few moments and then began to speak slowly. "Years ago I decided that I had a purpose in life much bigger than marriage and that I would gladly stay single if my heavenly Father asked this of me. Time after time, I have prayed for His will to be done and purposed to be content. And just when I thought I had finally understood contentment, Sir Valiant came to visit, and... and... and that made everything harder. I just don't understand why I can't learn to trust and am so easily distracted. And why -" she concluded with a sigh, "why does this have to be so difficult?"
"Struggles are a necessary part of life," her mother said. "They strengthen us and prepare us for the new trials that lie ahead. When one struggle is overcome, another one is often around the next bend."
"I suppose. But Mother, I feel like I'm failing each struggle, not overcoming them."
"You are growing. You are learning. These are the very things the struggle is designed to accomplish in your life. Do not forget, dear daughter, that except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit."
"Bear fruit... that's exactly what I want to do," the princess said quietly, as if deep in thought.
"Then your dream must die."
"But my dream is a good dream, not a bad dream. It is the dream God has given me. It is nothing wicked I desire, but only what is natural, wholesome, and beautiful. Why must it die?"
Her mother stepped off the path, knelt down, picked up an acorn, and explained, "Observe this acorn, perfectly designed for what it is intended to do - die. The acorn does not know why; the acorn does not understand what is ahead, but only if it is buried in the cold and dark earth - forgotten and left alone - does it fulfill its purpose and become what it was created to be. Would the acorn ever have imagined that it would become the beautiful oak tree you see before you? Not in it's wildest dreams. When you admire the oak tree, do you mourn the loss of the acorn? Of course not. By losing it's life, the acorn became something so much greater, so much more beautiful, so much more valuable. The death is forgotten. The fruit is remembered. Nevertheless, death was required.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Ahh... I am SO thankful for this beautiful spring weather! I LOVE the sound of birds singing, and I'm so glad I get to hear it every day now! We will probably get more snow before the summer comes to stay, but it won't be long! :)
So a little update of what's been going on in my life:
-Last weekend I went to a NANC conference at Faith Fellowship Church and it was wonderful! There was a lot of good teaching.
-I have been learning to cook and bake! I thought this would be important to work on , since I hope to get married someday. I baked home-made bread for the first time and it turned out absolutely perfect!! I've also made supper almost every night the past two weeks, and often baked desserts, too.
-I can't wait until school is done for the year!! I'm persevering... but it's getting old!
-I am so, so very thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as always! I'm reading through the Bible this year and it's so exciting! I have been learning about choosing to have joy in life. I can be very melancholy if I don't try to be joyful, so I've been working on it. And you know what? Being happy is so much more fun. ;)
-Today and Saturday are the Youth Seminars!! I went last year and LOVED it a TON, so I'm really excited about this year! There's a ton of good teaching and lots of fun and friends. I can't wait!!!!
That's what's going on with me!
So a little update of what's been going on in my life:
-Last weekend I went to a NANC conference at Faith Fellowship Church and it was wonderful! There was a lot of good teaching.
-I have been learning to cook and bake! I thought this would be important to work on , since I hope to get married someday. I baked home-made bread for the first time and it turned out absolutely perfect!! I've also made supper almost every night the past two weeks, and often baked desserts, too.
-I can't wait until school is done for the year!! I'm persevering... but it's getting old!
-I am so, so very thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as always! I'm reading through the Bible this year and it's so exciting! I have been learning about choosing to have joy in life. I can be very melancholy if I don't try to be joyful, so I've been working on it. And you know what? Being happy is so much more fun. ;)
-Today and Saturday are the Youth Seminars!! I went last year and LOVED it a TON, so I'm really excited about this year! There's a ton of good teaching and lots of fun and friends. I can't wait!!!!
That's what's going on with me!
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