.
Mission New Orleans was great. I have to say it was very different than last year(but not in a bad way). I learned a lot throughout the week, most of which didn't have anything to do with New Orleans. But God spoke to me through it, nonetheless.
Some of the things that God brought to my attention were relating to how I take things too seriously and put others people and things higher than God. I've spoke with a lot of people who thought about this same thing during New Orleans too.
But anyways, this is something I've struggled with my whole life(being a sinner and all), but jealousy and worthlessness became more of an issue about two years ago, and it's never ceased to get me down every now and then. I've always known that it's a problem. I've always known that my lifestyle needs to change and my priorities straightened out. I've tried to give the situation to God many many times but something always holds me back. I know that I rely on my friends too much, because I know that if I don't always get encouragement from the right people at the right time than I'm going to be a little disappointed. I'm going to be honest with you, I'm a selfish person when it comes to that. I don't like to admit it, but I know I am, and I know that needs to change. God needs to be my first priority. Not only that, but I want to have joy in putting Him first!
That's mainly what God spoke to me a lot about in New Orleans, and I'm sure darn glad I was there to hear it.
God didn't stop speaking to me when New Orleans was over. For the past few days I've been thinking about my lifestyle. Are my actions and decisions in line with what God wants? Well, I don't know, but it seems like some of the decisions I've made about my future don't feel right.
God may be telling me to change my "plans", or even change my desires. To be honest, I haven't made much plans about my future, but there are plenty of things that I really want and hope to see happen, which maybe I shouldn't even be thinking about or putting much effort into.
I'm still talking to God about this though..
Maybe I'll update on this later.
InOtherNews:
I lost my prom escort.
But it's alright. Kelsey's my date now.
I just gotta teach her how to dance the Thriller.
:-P
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pray for me.
Pray for my relationship with God, my decisions, my relationships with other people, and school.
School isn't going well right now.
My mom's threatening to put me in a traditional school if I don't get more A's.
*shrug*
Mar 31, 2008
Mar 13, 2008
Prayer Request
.
The Glenview Family mission trip is headin' to New Orleans this Saturday morning! Last year's trip was focused on demolishing damaged houses, while this trip is focused on rebuilding new houses.
I'm very excited about the trip, and I will be sure to blog about it after my return next Friday.
:-D
With that said, please pray for the trip! Pray for a safe and smooth travel, pray that we will all have a servant's heart, and pray that we will also have very many opportunities to share the gospel to the people in New Orleans, whether that be on the construction site or on the streets(etc..). Most of all, pray that the people in New Orleans will have convicted hearts and will be open to listen to anything we have to say about salvation though Christ. After all, leading someone to Christ is far better than building a house. :-)
Also, pray for me personally.
With the trip getting closer, there are more things coming up that are really stressing me out(and honestly, some of these things really do make me angry sometimes).
But.. I know that Satan's just trying to pull me out of that excitement and motivation to serve... which isn't good. I'm going to need all the extra strength from God I can get!
Bah!..
Stupid Satan...
Anyways, please keep all of this in your prayers; even if you're not going!
I know it's a lot to pray for, but hey!... one small prayer could move a mountain.
The Glenview Family mission trip is headin' to New Orleans this Saturday morning! Last year's trip was focused on demolishing damaged houses, while this trip is focused on rebuilding new houses.
I'm very excited about the trip, and I will be sure to blog about it after my return next Friday.
:-D
With that said, please pray for the trip! Pray for a safe and smooth travel, pray that we will all have a servant's heart, and pray that we will also have very many opportunities to share the gospel to the people in New Orleans, whether that be on the construction site or on the streets(etc..). Most of all, pray that the people in New Orleans will have convicted hearts and will be open to listen to anything we have to say about salvation though Christ. After all, leading someone to Christ is far better than building a house. :-)
Also, pray for me personally.
With the trip getting closer, there are more things coming up that are really stressing me out(and honestly, some of these things really do make me angry sometimes).
But.. I know that Satan's just trying to pull me out of that excitement and motivation to serve... which isn't good. I'm going to need all the extra strength from God I can get!
Bah!..
Stupid Satan...
Anyways, please keep all of this in your prayers; even if you're not going!
I know it's a lot to pray for, but hey!... one small prayer could move a mountain.
Mar 9, 2008
Pray
.
Take some time today to pray for somebody you don't normally pray for.
An old friend, an acquaintance, a distant family member, a coworker, a teacher, an enemy, ect. Just pray for them. Because honestly, the people you're closest to aren't the only ones struggling around you. They all need to be lifted up in prayer regardless of your friendship status with them.
If you feel led to, you can even tell them you prayed for them. It brightens their day tremendously, as well as your own.
For those of you were in middle or high school church this Sunday, remember to pray for your purple ribbon requests too.
God Bless!
Katie
Take some time today to pray for somebody you don't normally pray for.
An old friend, an acquaintance, a distant family member, a coworker, a teacher, an enemy, ect. Just pray for them. Because honestly, the people you're closest to aren't the only ones struggling around you. They all need to be lifted up in prayer regardless of your friendship status with them.
If you feel led to, you can even tell them you prayed for them. It brightens their day tremendously, as well as your own.
For those of you were in middle or high school church this Sunday, remember to pray for your purple ribbon requests too.
God Bless!
Katie
Read it! Apply it!
.
I don't care how stressful or busy your day is.
Just read these verses, pray about them, than apply them.
Stress comes from the lack of faith in God.
Somebody reminded me that today, and I have to say... it was very encouraging. :-)
James 5:13-20 (The Message)
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master.
Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven - healed inside and out.
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't - not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
I don't care how stressful or busy your day is.
Just read these verses, pray about them, than apply them.
Stress comes from the lack of faith in God.
Somebody reminded me that today, and I have to say... it was very encouraging. :-)
James 5:13-20 (The Message)
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master.
Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven - healed inside and out.
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't - not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Mar 5, 2008
At last...
.
I have a prom dress.
Not only a prom dress.
The prom dress.
:-D
But... my mom has to alter it, which could be a little hard...
Hopefully it works out well.
I have a prom dress.
Not only a prom dress.
The prom dress.
:-D
But... my mom has to alter it, which could be a little hard...
Hopefully it works out well.
Mar 2, 2008
"Broke away the chains..."
.
James 3: 3-12
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The girl's ministry at Glenview had its kick-off event last night. It was mostly fellowship and games, but Haven and Sommer did talk to us a little bit about what's written in James about the tongue(written above).
I was originally going to post this blog to talk more about it, but honestly the verses say it all. There really isn't much more I can say.
Once you've said something to hurt someone, you can never take those words back. You can apologize all you want, but those words will always be planted inside that person's head. Sadly enough, most people always remember the negative comments that people say, and rarely take notice of the positive things, which means we really have to be careful with what we say, even if it's behind their back.
One of the girls made a comment last night about that, using one of her friends as an example. Her friend was one of those people who was tremendously brought down by what people had been saying to her at school. People were calling her names, and saying fowl things behind her back. She had gotten to the point where she tried to take her life one night.
Isn't that crazy? All of that, just because of what people said. Do you understand what God's saying?? That small tongue of yours can set someone's life on fire. You might as well be wishing death on them!
Anyways, after talking about that for awhile, Sommer asked us all to write down our insecurities on notecards. Insecurities about sharing their faith, asking for help in time of need, or whatever it is what keeps you from growing closer to God or someone else. Just write it all. After that, she told us to lay down all our cards in a pile. We didn't read them.. they were all kept to ourselves. Instead she asked all of us to come back to the pile and take a few, and rip them to shreds, because that's how God sees those insecurities. They mean nothing. They should not be there at all. That wall that lies between God and I(or other people and I) has to be broken down, brick by brick.
Upon leaving the event, I was talking to Tammy and Holly in the car about what I wrote on my cards(or vice versa). I just wanted to be real open and honest with them, and let them know what my insecurities are, and why those insecurities are there. Right now, I'm going to be open and honest to you. I've learned a lot about building walls in the past couple weeks, and frankly, building walls sucks! It totally makes me depressed, and I shouldn't have kept those walls up for the past few years!
So anyways...
1. I don't like to talk about my "issues" with other people because I'm always afraid that I will just be another burden to them. I'll be annoying… they honestly won't want to help me, so what's the point? That may sound silly to some people(which, it really is), but Hey! I still struggle with it! My goal right now is to not let those doubts take over again, because honestly guys, it does no good. It's just a bunch of trash that Satan put there.
2. I'm insecure about my looks(as most girls probably are). This is where the damaged tongue really comes in to my life. I'm going to be honest with you; people haven't always been kind to me about that. In 6th grade, a girl from my church made a joke about my hair color. Sure, I'm not mad at her now, and I don't hate my hair color now, but until I was 13 I hated everything about it. Also, I've been told told by a guy that I was the ugliest thing he had ever seen. I was told that I was fat by several people. I was even told by someone that certain parts of my body should be bigger or smaller, because I wasn't "hot" enough. I can certainly blame myself for talking to people like that in the first place, but what those people said still effects what I think of myself now.
3. I'm insecure about my personality. I don't really talk about this very much, but it might be what upsets me the most. This is all mainly because of family issues that have been going on for the past three or four years. There were a few instances where someone outside of the family said something to me, but overall I was being let down by what my family said to me(parents and siblings). I've never considered myself to be smart, I've never considered myself pleasant to be around, and I've never seen myself as being helpful to anyone. This is because I'm been told I'm stupid, I've been told I'm annoying, I've been told I'm no help at all, I've been told I'm not "cool" enough, I've been told I'm untrustworthy, and I'm been told I was the worst kid, blatant and honest.
Those are my insecurities.
Obviously, there's a lot more, but I guess you could say those are the more general ones.
But anyways, even though these are my insecurities, I can still rest in the fact that Jesus Christ loves me for who I am. He has made me His own, and I am His child. I cannot hang my head.
Just like I said in my d-now post, the Lord has set me free from my burdens and I WILL be free forever, because I will NOT let these things get me down anymore!
I'm got it set in my mind! GOD'S NOT LETTIN' ME GOOO!
Ok, well that's it. Just being open and honest, for once.
Sorry for going off on so many tangents. :-P
But, hopefully you've got a better idea of who I am, and if not.. than I sure hope you've got a better idea of who God is, because He's the one that made me who I am now. He's the one that kept me from self abuse, suicide, running away, or whatever else I could have done to "feel better".
God's forever faithful.
He's my Strong Deliverer, once again.
:-D
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leeland - Yes You Have
Every tree and every stone
Every rushing wind that moans
They sing Your praise
My God, they sing Your praise
Every star and open sky
Tell of Your glory divine
They shout Your praise
They shout Your praise, yeah
Chorus:
You've stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You've stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You've wiped away the stains
And broke away the chains
Yes, You have!!
With Your love You set me free
Three nails gave me liberty
So I'll sing Your praise
My God, I'll sing Your praise
Oh, with Your love You forgave my sin
Forgot my past And brought me back again
So I'll sing Your praise
I'll sing Your praise, yeah
Chorus:
If I ascend into the sky
Or hide behind the night
I can not run Your love is chasing me
If I fall into the sea
Your hand will rescue me
No one will take Your place
Because
This is all for You
Yes, this is all for You
You're the King of the world
You're the King of the world
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ah, His hand will rescue me.
Let's bask in His Glory, shall we?
Comments open.
;)
James 3: 3-12
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The girl's ministry at Glenview had its kick-off event last night. It was mostly fellowship and games, but Haven and Sommer did talk to us a little bit about what's written in James about the tongue(written above).
I was originally going to post this blog to talk more about it, but honestly the verses say it all. There really isn't much more I can say.
Once you've said something to hurt someone, you can never take those words back. You can apologize all you want, but those words will always be planted inside that person's head. Sadly enough, most people always remember the negative comments that people say, and rarely take notice of the positive things, which means we really have to be careful with what we say, even if it's behind their back.
One of the girls made a comment last night about that, using one of her friends as an example. Her friend was one of those people who was tremendously brought down by what people had been saying to her at school. People were calling her names, and saying fowl things behind her back. She had gotten to the point where she tried to take her life one night.
Isn't that crazy? All of that, just because of what people said. Do you understand what God's saying?? That small tongue of yours can set someone's life on fire. You might as well be wishing death on them!
Anyways, after talking about that for awhile, Sommer asked us all to write down our insecurities on notecards. Insecurities about sharing their faith, asking for help in time of need, or whatever it is what keeps you from growing closer to God or someone else. Just write it all. After that, she told us to lay down all our cards in a pile. We didn't read them.. they were all kept to ourselves. Instead she asked all of us to come back to the pile and take a few, and rip them to shreds, because that's how God sees those insecurities. They mean nothing. They should not be there at all. That wall that lies between God and I(or other people and I) has to be broken down, brick by brick.
Upon leaving the event, I was talking to Tammy and Holly in the car about what I wrote on my cards(or vice versa). I just wanted to be real open and honest with them, and let them know what my insecurities are, and why those insecurities are there. Right now, I'm going to be open and honest to you. I've learned a lot about building walls in the past couple weeks, and frankly, building walls sucks! It totally makes me depressed, and I shouldn't have kept those walls up for the past few years!
So anyways...
1. I don't like to talk about my "issues" with other people because I'm always afraid that I will just be another burden to them. I'll be annoying… they honestly won't want to help me, so what's the point? That may sound silly to some people(which, it really is), but Hey! I still struggle with it! My goal right now is to not let those doubts take over again, because honestly guys, it does no good. It's just a bunch of trash that Satan put there.
2. I'm insecure about my looks(as most girls probably are). This is where the damaged tongue really comes in to my life. I'm going to be honest with you; people haven't always been kind to me about that. In 6th grade, a girl from my church made a joke about my hair color. Sure, I'm not mad at her now, and I don't hate my hair color now, but until I was 13 I hated everything about it. Also, I've been told told by a guy that I was the ugliest thing he had ever seen. I was told that I was fat by several people. I was even told by someone that certain parts of my body should be bigger or smaller, because I wasn't "hot" enough. I can certainly blame myself for talking to people like that in the first place, but what those people said still effects what I think of myself now.
3. I'm insecure about my personality. I don't really talk about this very much, but it might be what upsets me the most. This is all mainly because of family issues that have been going on for the past three or four years. There were a few instances where someone outside of the family said something to me, but overall I was being let down by what my family said to me(parents and siblings). I've never considered myself to be smart, I've never considered myself pleasant to be around, and I've never seen myself as being helpful to anyone. This is because I'm been told I'm stupid, I've been told I'm annoying, I've been told I'm no help at all, I've been told I'm not "cool" enough, I've been told I'm untrustworthy, and I'm been told I was the worst kid, blatant and honest.
Those are my insecurities.
Obviously, there's a lot more, but I guess you could say those are the more general ones.
But anyways, even though these are my insecurities, I can still rest in the fact that Jesus Christ loves me for who I am. He has made me His own, and I am His child. I cannot hang my head.
Just like I said in my d-now post, the Lord has set me free from my burdens and I WILL be free forever, because I will NOT let these things get me down anymore!
I'm got it set in my mind! GOD'S NOT LETTIN' ME GOOO!
Ok, well that's it. Just being open and honest, for once.
Sorry for going off on so many tangents. :-P
But, hopefully you've got a better idea of who I am, and if not.. than I sure hope you've got a better idea of who God is, because He's the one that made me who I am now. He's the one that kept me from self abuse, suicide, running away, or whatever else I could have done to "feel better".
God's forever faithful.
He's my Strong Deliverer, once again.
:-D
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leeland - Yes You Have
Every tree and every stone
Every rushing wind that moans
They sing Your praise
My God, they sing Your praise
Every star and open sky
Tell of Your glory divine
They shout Your praise
They shout Your praise, yeah
Chorus:
You've stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You've stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You've wiped away the stains
And broke away the chains
Yes, You have!!
With Your love You set me free
Three nails gave me liberty
So I'll sing Your praise
My God, I'll sing Your praise
Oh, with Your love You forgave my sin
Forgot my past And brought me back again
So I'll sing Your praise
I'll sing Your praise, yeah
Chorus:
If I ascend into the sky
Or hide behind the night
I can not run Your love is chasing me
If I fall into the sea
Your hand will rescue me
No one will take Your place
Because
This is all for You
Yes, this is all for You
You're the King of the world
You're the King of the world
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ah, His hand will rescue me.
Let's bask in His Glory, shall we?
Comments open.
;)
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