I just got done reading a biography called She Said Yes about Cassie Bernall, a girl who was shot in her school in 1999. Her life might have been spared if she said that she didn't believe in God, but (from the sounds of it) no one really knows since the other thirteen that died with her weren't all Christians. Whatever the case, she was a martyr because "she said yes". This one sentence at the end of the book really popped out to me: "...it is better to die for what you believe, than to live a lie." Like Cassie, we shouldn't be afraid to die for what we believe in. We should stand up for Christ rather than lie and live because of it. It would most likely be hard if that ever happened to us, but Christ died for us and took all our sins upon Himself so how could we not die for Him?

Mirables Happen

"I've seen dreams that move the mountains/ Hope that doesn't ever end/ Even when the sky is falling/ I've seen miracles just happen/ Silent prayers get answered/ Broken hearts become brand new/ That's what faith can do" -Kutless
I have been thinking about the chorus of this song all day because I experienced a miracle.
I'm planning on going on a mission trip to Africa with my Dad and some others this spring. To leave the country you have to have a passport. My passport was no problem to get, but my Dad's on the other hand is having many complications due to him being born in Canada and has been processing for a couple months. Well, we found out today that the passport might not make it here in time for the missions trip (a month and a half away). I have wanted to go on a mission trip to Africa for more than a year now, so I was not/ am not going to let anything stop me (unless God tells me not to go in a very clear way) because I feel this is where God wants me to minister this year and most likely again in the future. So I instantly went to my prayer journal to start begging God to perform a miracle as He has done since time began. Then I logged into Facebook and my e-mail and started asking people to pray also. Within fifteen minutes the passport place called and said they had enough information, and they decided that the information that they had wanted would just be skipped and then speed up the processing of Dad's passport. Miracles do happen... and in fifteen minutes! I'm not joking, and neither is God!
 I have seen miracles just happen. Silent prayers do get answered. Faith can do amazing things. And I'm hoping that broken hearts do become brand new in Africa. I'm at loss for words about God's amazingness!

Amazing Straw

This is a very unique straw which can be found at Wal-Mart!

"Climb up to the table kids!"

In December Olivia, her brother, and my family went to the Seattle Science Center. This is an ENORMOUS table we sat at. Your mom probably tells you to "climb up to the table" (once in wile), but in this case she would really mean "climb up to the table".

New Years Resolution

Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." I think this is a great scripture verse to use as a new years resolution. It seems simple, but when you seek God with everything you have, and give Him all of yourself, He can do amazing things! Just giving God a simple thing that you have been keeping back can change things. A couple weeks ago I was so overwhelmed because I hadn't received an answer to my prayer, but I started thinking about it and realized that I wasn't trusting God to answer that prayer in His perfect timing. I gave my trust back to God and, literally, within two days I got an answer.
My point is, give God your all this year and let Him change you and strengthen your relationship with Him.

Growing In Your Relationship

My youth pastor recently shared a couple Bible verses with me about growing in relationship with God, so I thought I would share them with you:

You, God, are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Psalms 63:1-8 (NIV)

Just Go!

A couple weekends ago my Aunt Joyce came to speak at our church. She is becoming a missionary, and she wanted to tell us all about it. Aunt Joyce started telling us the story about the Bible character Nehemiah and how he was ready to go and rebuild the wall in the land where his fore-fathers had lived. The Babylonians had come and made a mess of things in Jerusalem. Nehemiah litterally had a sad face because he was hurting for the people and the destruction of the city. Aunt Joyce told us that when God calls us to go somewhere or do something we just need to go, like Nehemiah. We shouldn't question God or procrastonate. Just go! Just like when you are skydiving. Someone give you instruction and the safety tips. Then you get in the plane, and when it is time to jump, you jump. You don't stand around and say, "Are you sure this is safe? Do I jump now?" You just do it! Do what God is wanting from you. He isn't just going to tell you, "Go to a spread the gospel. Good luck! Don't die. Make sure you make the right choices and go on the right path." No, God has everything planned out. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He sends us in His power, not on our own.
Yesterday night I was reading the SUSIE Magazine and found something that I thought went along with this. "...Dreams... take a lot of sacrifice, and the journey isn't always smooth." Dreams aren't the only thing that take a lot of sacrifice though. Doing what God has called you to takes sacrifices sometimes. You may have to give up your time, maybe leave your friends and family, and (in some circumstances) possibly loose your life. But God has a plan behind all that, and wouldn't you rather go with His plan than turn down the amazing calling you have? God will reward your obedience (I was reminded of that in the SUSIE Magazine). "Take that leap of faith," as my youth leader talked about on Wednesday. Just Go!