"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty."
- 2 Corinthians 6:18
I went to Crossroads this past weekend. Most amazing experience of my life!!!! I wish I could say everything that happened and all the amazing things that made the weekend a surprise! If I did though, it wouldn't be a surprise for anyone else...so I'll keep quiet. BELIEVE me!!! That's not easy for me to do at all... <3 It's not that it's some big top secret what goes on at Crossroads or anything like that. Trust me, if you knew all the things that went down and you went on a weekend like this it wouldn't be the same then because you would know what's happening. Ugh I hope that makes sense... LOL <3 Just know that it was amazing and I would recommend Faith Walk, Crossroads, Discipleship Walk, and anything else like this to anyone who wants to grow closer to God then they ever have before!!!!!
I payed for the trip myself, and then had many bad days that turned into two horrible weeks back to back to back. =( Thursday rolled around and I decided I didn't want to go anymore. Friday rolled around and I still didn't want to go. Friday afternoon I gave in and decided to pack up and get away for the weekend. Truly, that's all I wanted. I wanted to get far away from everything. THAT feeling didn't last though. <3 God had plans...
Long story short, I encountered God and felt SO close to Him for the first time in months! He LOVES me!!!! L-O-V-E-S me! He knows what's going on and He CARES!!! And he cares about you and He loves you and everyone else on this earth!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
If I could say in two words what God taught me this weekend is that God's love is unconditional and that after He's forgiven you, and you have to forgive yourself. Love and Forgiveness. I experienced the best type of love ever...love from God!!!! I've always known He loved me, but He loves me SO much!!!!!!! And I never thought about it before! It didn't fully click until this weekend. I've never been weeping at how much He loves me, but this weekend I did!!!! He loves you SO much! He loves your friends and family SO much!
I've been holding on to SO much lately. I gave it all to Him. I mean ALL of the stuff I've been holding onto is gone. G-O-N-E!!!!! He's taken it and thrown it away somewhere. All I need is Him!!! I know that He's forgiven me and that I've forgiven myself. I know that I love Him SO much and that He loves me even more! It's crazy amazing!!!!
This weekend was incredible. I don't have a word to describe how I feel STILL!!!! It was THE MOST amazing experiance of my life. I can not wait to volunteer for it next year!!!!!!!!!
Your Not Guilty Anymore - Aaron Keyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE8gxOxMuhg&playnext=1&list=PL8DB2842C6DB34EBB&index=47
God's Chisel - The Skit Guys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfUzodLRvk
Give Us Clean Hands - Live Performance - Kutless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9dDrK2a3Os
It's a little piece of of how thankful I am for my amazing Savior
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Flush an ice cube, do a dance, and 30 minutes later BOOM!!!!!
So last night at Jericho Junction we painted with markers and ice cubes. When the kids were done with their ice cubes we would flush them down the toilet and do a snow dance. (The snow dance involved moving your arms up and down and then your arms side to side and saying "snow comes down, the snow will stick") I'm not kidding about 30 minutes after all the kids flushed their ice cubes it started to snow!!!! =D
I went sledding for the second time of my life. I went once when I was little but I got scared b/c I fell off. Today we walked up the park in my neighborhood and people everywhere were sledding. =) So, I grabbed a sled and joined in. It was sooo much fun!!!! And it was COLD!!!! LOL =) I fell off many times, but that was seriously the best part. At one point I came very close to hitting a pole...but I didn't =) hahaha!
Now I'm about to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and watch the snow fall. I can't believe it's still coming down!!!! So excited!!!!
A little piece of how excited I get about the first "white fluffy stuff falling from the sky" of the year
I went sledding for the second time of my life. I went once when I was little but I got scared b/c I fell off. Today we walked up the park in my neighborhood and people everywhere were sledding. =) So, I grabbed a sled and joined in. It was sooo much fun!!!! And it was COLD!!!! LOL =) I fell off many times, but that was seriously the best part. At one point I came very close to hitting a pole...but I didn't =) hahaha!
Now I'm about to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and watch the snow fall. I can't believe it's still coming down!!!! So excited!!!!
A little piece of how excited I get about the first "white fluffy stuff falling from the sky" of the year
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Please note: if you have ever had a bad day the go watch a singing cucumber. It makes a difference.
This is the post for the people who have had a horrible day. Sometimes it's even worse than that and we have seven days back to back that we have to call a horrible week. It's sad, and stressful, but it really does get better. =) If your at the point where you are bawling your eyes out and truly have no idea why, then it's time to do something major. Call up a friend and follow these simple instructions...
Go to http://www.youtube.com/
Type on the top "Silly Songs with Larry: Yodeling Veterinarian"
After that one is over watch "Silly Songs with Larry: Where is my Hairbrush?"
Then watch "Silly Songs with Larry: School House Polka"
Then type in "Madame Blueberry part One." Know however it isn't in English. I think it's Italian or something....? See how long you can last and then laugh at the talking tomato you can't understand.
Then "Silly Songs with Larry: I Love My Lips"
You should feel at least a little better after that. =D I know I did!!!!! lol
WARNING: Do NOT do this without one of your friends. It won't be nearly as funny!
A little piece of how excited I get about talking vegetables...hahaha jk!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/
Type on the top "Silly Songs with Larry: Yodeling Veterinarian"
After that one is over watch "Silly Songs with Larry: Where is my Hairbrush?"
Then watch "Silly Songs with Larry: School House Polka"
Then type in "Madame Blueberry part One." Know however it isn't in English. I think it's Italian or something....? See how long you can last and then laugh at the talking tomato you can't understand.
Then "Silly Songs with Larry: I Love My Lips"
You should feel at least a little better after that. =D I know I did!!!!! lol
WARNING: Do NOT do this without one of your friends. It won't be nearly as funny!
A little piece of how excited I get about talking vegetables...hahaha jk!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
He holds everything...
"If He can hold an ocean back with one little shore then what's this worry and doubting for? I believe...He holds everything." -Point of Grace1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,tI will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. Psalm 23
Friday, December 31, 2010
"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there..."
Extreme.Winter. Conference. 2010.
Oh my goodness. It was one of the best trips I've been on. No lie! It was SO much fun! From the bus ride to the concerts and speakers each day, it was awesome! Tenth Avenue North was good, but it wasn't exactly what I expected. They are still hands down my favorite though!!!! Skillet, Newsboys, and MercyMe were all really fun to watch, and I loved Unhindered! It was such an amazing experience. The speakers were awesome too! My favorite was Tony Nolan though. He was so passionate for what he's talking about and it really came across in what he was saying. He's VERY energetic and I couldn't help but pay attention to everything he said. My friend, Tate, and I split the cost of Tony Nolan's book and are going to share it. It's really good! I'm on Chapter 3 and I love it! Something one of the chapters was talking about was being a good neighbor. Most of us have all heard the story of the good Samaritan. (Luke 10: 27-35) I went back and read it while I was reading this particular chapter and the whole time I had the stupid commercial in my head "Like a good neighbor, state farm is there!" Do you know which ones I'm talking about? Like a piano falls from the sky on this dude's car and his friend says "Man, that stinks!" but the dude laughs and says "No worries! Watch this...'Like a good neighbor State Farm is there!' then a lady in a business suit pops up and begins to talk about how State Farm can fix it and you save on insurance. Then the friend is like "Cool! Let me try it! 'Like a good neighbor state farm is there...with a jacuzzi!' It's a retarded commercial, but that's what was going through my head.
They say that State Farm is "...like a good neighbor..." What is a good neighbor? Is it someone who saves you money on car insurance? Someone you can run down the street to borrow 2 eggs from? I think that a good neighbor is someone that places your needs above his or her own. Like the Samaritan. He could've passed the dude by like the two before him did, but he didn't. He went way out of the way to make sure he could help in every way that he could.
I didn't comprehend this really until now, but Jesus was asked in Luke by the man "who exacly is my neighbor?" and Jesus (through a parable) basically said everyone.
Leviticus 19:18 says "...love your neighbor as yourself..." It didn't hit me until on this trip but if I treated my neighbors (the people surrounding me) the same way I loved Melissa Jennings then wouldn't I have a much better chance of making an impact on someone's life for Christ? If one of our goals as Christians is to bring glory to God and to spread the love of Christ couldn't we do it much better if we truly loved the people around us?
Now, that's far easier said than done. I am definitely not saying it's something easy to do. But shouldn't we at least try? I am extremely guilty of "judging books by their cover" if someone looks like they are stuck-up, mean, and a non christian person I definitely try to avoid them and do something else. People are broken and it makes me so sad to think that they are avoiding the church and don't want anything to do with it because the experiance they've had with Christians and churches have probably been bad. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling, but I can't figure out how to edit it and make it sound right. lol =)
I had so much fun on this trip! =) I love Gatlinburg! It's so pretty!!! <3 I only slipped and fell on the ice once. Hahaha it didn't hurt too bad. I do have a bruise on my leg though... lol
We have a New Year's Eve lock in tonight at church!!! I'm so excited about it!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my goodness. It was one of the best trips I've been on. No lie! It was SO much fun! From the bus ride to the concerts and speakers each day, it was awesome! Tenth Avenue North was good, but it wasn't exactly what I expected. They are still hands down my favorite though!!!! Skillet, Newsboys, and MercyMe were all really fun to watch, and I loved Unhindered! It was such an amazing experience. The speakers were awesome too! My favorite was Tony Nolan though. He was so passionate for what he's talking about and it really came across in what he was saying. He's VERY energetic and I couldn't help but pay attention to everything he said. My friend, Tate, and I split the cost of Tony Nolan's book and are going to share it. It's really good! I'm on Chapter 3 and I love it! Something one of the chapters was talking about was being a good neighbor. Most of us have all heard the story of the good Samaritan. (Luke 10: 27-35) I went back and read it while I was reading this particular chapter and the whole time I had the stupid commercial in my head "Like a good neighbor, state farm is there!" Do you know which ones I'm talking about? Like a piano falls from the sky on this dude's car and his friend says "Man, that stinks!" but the dude laughs and says "No worries! Watch this...'Like a good neighbor State Farm is there!' then a lady in a business suit pops up and begins to talk about how State Farm can fix it and you save on insurance. Then the friend is like "Cool! Let me try it! 'Like a good neighbor state farm is there...with a jacuzzi!' It's a retarded commercial, but that's what was going through my head.
They say that State Farm is "...like a good neighbor..." What is a good neighbor? Is it someone who saves you money on car insurance? Someone you can run down the street to borrow 2 eggs from? I think that a good neighbor is someone that places your needs above his or her own. Like the Samaritan. He could've passed the dude by like the two before him did, but he didn't. He went way out of the way to make sure he could help in every way that he could.
I didn't comprehend this really until now, but Jesus was asked in Luke by the man "who exacly is my neighbor?" and Jesus (through a parable) basically said everyone.
Leviticus 19:18 says "...love your neighbor as yourself..." It didn't hit me until on this trip but if I treated my neighbors (the people surrounding me) the same way I loved Melissa Jennings then wouldn't I have a much better chance of making an impact on someone's life for Christ? If one of our goals as Christians is to bring glory to God and to spread the love of Christ couldn't we do it much better if we truly loved the people around us?
Now, that's far easier said than done. I am definitely not saying it's something easy to do. But shouldn't we at least try? I am extremely guilty of "judging books by their cover" if someone looks like they are stuck-up, mean, and a non christian person I definitely try to avoid them and do something else. People are broken and it makes me so sad to think that they are avoiding the church and don't want anything to do with it because the experiance they've had with Christians and churches have probably been bad. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling, but I can't figure out how to edit it and make it sound right. lol =)
I had so much fun on this trip! =) I love Gatlinburg! It's so pretty!!! <3 I only slipped and fell on the ice once. Hahaha it didn't hurt too bad. I do have a bruise on my leg though... lol
We have a New Year's Eve lock in tonight at church!!! I'm so excited about it!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
In 4, 3, 2, 1...
Four days until I go to Gatlinburg!!! We always do our (Mom, Dad, Brother, Me) gifts a few days before Christmas. I am so excited!!!! I got a bunch of new CDs that I can listen to on the way to G.burg and to Crossroads (I still don't really have a clue as to were it's at. It's not too far though. lol) I got a ton of new books too! I am in LOVE with the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn. Seriously, it is hands down my FAVORITE!!!!!!! Robin Jones Gunn wrote a few book series kind of as a continuation of minor characters from the Christy Miller books. Does that make sense? lol Like, Christy Miller is the main character and her best friends are Katie and Sierra. There is a series called Sierra Jensen series, and then there's the Katie Weldon series. I've read the Christy and the Sierra books (12 books per series) at least twice. Anyway, I borrowed the first Katie Weldon book from my library (LOVED IT) not too long ago and got my own copy of the first and second one tonight!!!! SO excited about reading those!!!! I also got "So over my head" which is the newest in the three book series "A Charmed Life." A few days ago I got the fourth book in the series "Gallagher Girls" and I was COMPLETELY surprised to get "The Message: New Testament" tonight also!!!! I've really wanted a copy of the Message for a while but they are really expensive. This is just the New Testament, but I'm looking forward to reading it. Sooooo much to do! =D
Oh, and get this: One CD my mom got me had a single by Tenth Ave. North I haven't heard of yet!!! I totally flipped out! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas Eve Eve! =) TWO DAYS TO CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Although it has been said many times many ways, Merry Christmas to you...
Today is December 22nd. That means that in 3 days, it will be Christmas. I feel like 2010 flew by! Seriously, I can remember the New Year's Eve party we had with our youth group and it was nearly a year ago! Now we're planning on going to this year's. =)
I am so excited about Christmas!!! It's one of my favorite times of the year! Usually we have 7 trees to put up in our house, but this year we only did two. Our Disney tree and our big tree. They both look awesome!!! The hearth room is decked out in Disney stuff, and it looks super cute!
I wish I had my mom's creative gene. She can make up crafts last minute with a bag of rocks, some rope, sharpies, foam stickers, and paint. You think I'm kidding, but I've seen her do it! lol =) She's absolutely amazing...
I am SO excited for next Monday!!!! Youth group is going to Gatlinburg! (Gatlinberg? haha) Winter Conference!!! Three Words: Tenth. Avenue. North. AH!!!!!!!!! I am SO stinkin excited!!!!!! They are my absolute favorite!!!!!!!!! Skillet, Newsboys, MercyMe, FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI, Jeremy Camp, Newsong, and The Museum will also be there. SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!!!!!
I am so excited about Christmas!!! It's one of my favorite times of the year! Usually we have 7 trees to put up in our house, but this year we only did two. Our Disney tree and our big tree. They both look awesome!!! The hearth room is decked out in Disney stuff, and it looks super cute!
I wish I had my mom's creative gene. She can make up crafts last minute with a bag of rocks, some rope, sharpies, foam stickers, and paint. You think I'm kidding, but I've seen her do it! lol =) She's absolutely amazing...
I am SO excited for next Monday!!!! Youth group is going to Gatlinburg! (Gatlinberg? haha) Winter Conference!!! Three Words: Tenth. Avenue. North. AH!!!!!!!!! I am SO stinkin excited!!!!!! They are my absolute favorite!!!!!!!!! Skillet, Newsboys, MercyMe, FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI, Jeremy Camp, Newsong, and The Museum will also be there. SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!!!!!
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