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!

Boston Missions Trip

Recently I went on a missions trip to Boston, Massachusettes. A missions trip is when you go somewhere to tell people about Christ or just show them His love, for those of you who didn't know. The first three days in Boston I was participating in training for a human video, childrens ministries, evangelism, sharing my testimony, garbonics (a.k.a. stomp), and more. Those three days felt like forever, but once the training was over, and we were on the streets ministering for the other 7 days, time flew by. As we ministered, people heard about God for the first time, some got questions about God answered, others ignored us, and some decided to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
God also changed my life when I was there. I knew I was going to have to step out of my comfort zone, and talk to people I didn't know, dance, act, and play music (garbonics). Those were not things I loved to do, so I asked God to help me. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone I found so much joy in all the things I ended up doing and made many, amazing, Christian friends.
If you are expecting something from God, and you act on what it is you want, God can do amazing things. I, and many others, was expecting God to change lives in Boston, and stretch my life. He did!

My Favorite Verse

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  (Psalm 31:30)

John 14:1-3

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  (John 14:1-3)

Easter Stick Drama