Humbled by the grace of God

Where to begin...High school is exactly what people tell you it will be, more schoolwork that is harder, wayyy more drama, and o yes the boys. But what people sometimes fail to tell us is that through all these stressful things, it is a time where God grows us the most. I am closer to him it feels like more by the second...there is so much to discover about him...and i am so young still in him. Only seven years of my life that were lived for me and seven (almost eight:) that Jesus took over my life...only seven...so much life left, but I need to use the oppertunity I have now to make a difference for Christ. not any later. Now. I am so blessed. I am thankful for the stress and tears I have gone through. even though it seems impossible to ever get through some things, i did, with the help of christ in my life. i have amazingly learned so much about my husband. no, i dont know who he is or where he is in this world right now, but i do know that i can not just wait for him, but patiently wait. this year i have encountered quite the young man...he has truly raised my standereds for my true love. my list for my husband now has over 30 requirments:) some are really crazy though, such as he has to have good ankles:) to he must genuine in his love to me...i have relized that even though my husband is out there and i need to wait for him, i do not need to wait for Jesus..i am his and he is mine-right now, and when my wedding day comes(a longg time from now:) i am sure i am going to tell the enire world, so why am i not telling the world about the man who loves me no matter what, whos love is always kind. never boastful. never self-seeking. never keeps any record of wrong. is always patient, love is always kind. It does not envy, love is never proud. it is not easily angered Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This is describing the love Jesus has for me- I need to be doing everything I can to share this love with the world. just one person. then one more. than another. one more. just one more. only one. one is easy. until we relize...it is more than one who is shown this love. O how i can not wait to meet this man in heaven one day. And how i cant wait to see what plans he had in my life if i will allow him to use me. as fo rmy husband...my job is to someday push him towards jesus..and he will do the same for me, and we will be perservering partners in the effort to tell others about jesus. i have learned to listen. it really helps. i have learned many people in this world know more then me. i ahve learned that a smile can say a million words at one time. i have learned that the truth is always best-no matter what. i have learned that the less i use the word i the better my life becomes, becasue others are now the focus. i hve learned that common sense, good ol' common sense is irreplacable with any kind of IQ number. common sense can truly make a difference. i will leave with a quote..."All that is nesssacary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke i pray that we will not allow our good people in our generation do nothing, but to do something. you do someting.

I had to write this paper for my school and it includes a lot of my views on life!! Enjoy!

"Servant"

The Wise One in my life has always been my TRUE, Rock and Shield. God. He has changed my life in every aspect. He is where I go in every situation that comes my way. It is amazing what God can do with every little thing.

One person in my life that has helped me in every area of my life to grow closer to God is Kristin Barber. She is an amazing example of a Christ-like role model. She dedicated all her life to helping young teenage girls to become closer to the Lord. She was my discipleship teacher when I was a pre-teen. Even though those were the only times that were scheduled she has helped me just by being herself. Kristin always made the best out of every situation. She always had the best way of solving anything. Kristin was one of the hardest working people that I know. She had so much perseverance. Kristin is always working for no one but the Lord. I hope that some day I can be the person she was to me for someone else.

Hard work. People can have various definitions for “Hard Work”. To me hard work is doing your BEST at whatever you are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are taking trash out or are the President of the United States; you need to be doing it fully for the glory of God, no one else. It says in Romans 15:17 “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.” That is the best way to put it. I also think of the 12 disciples when I think of hard work. They did everything whole-heartedly for Jesus. I hope I can model that kind of hard work in whatever I am doing.

I didn’t think it was entirely possible for me to state what I have learned in one thought; but after prayer and a lot of thinking, here is what my Heavenly Father has shown me. Jesus Christ has taught me so many wonderful things in my life that no human could ever tell someone in an entire lifetime. It is amazing. One thing I have learned through life and the Lord is that you can’t get time back. Every little thing in life you should cherish and treasure as much as you can. That is a gift. Every little thing. Another thing that I have learned and is really important to me is that I am FREE. Free in Christ.” Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” No one or anything can harness my Salvation with Jesus. Nothing. Ever.

The one thing out of everything that I feel is really important to me is my Savior, Jesus Christ. I do not know what I would do without him. He is my all, my everything, my life, and my faith. There are some times when Satin has tried and succeeded in persuading me into doing something different then what I believe with all my heart. Crazy isn’t it. I really need to be focused on God and no one else no matter how good and satisfying it might sound. Sometimes it is really hard, but with the Lord’s help, I can do anything! (Philippians 3:16)

In life I truly want to feel totally like I know that I am doing faithfully what God wants me to do. That can be so hard when Satin wants exactly the opposite. I really want to make a difference that will change the World forever. I don’t know unerringly what that is right now, but I feel that God knows everything about my future. In Jeremiah 29:11 God puts it this way “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to PROSPER and PROTECT you, plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE.” I can’t wait to find out what God has in store for me. I need to keep my ears listening and my eyes seeing what he needs me to do to make that happen.

I want to be remembered as a servant. Not just any servant, but a free servant. A servant who does what she does just because she has unconditional love for her Master. I want to be the ULTIMATE servant for Jesus Christ. He loved me with His everything, so I want to love him with my life and heart and soul. I want to be known for what I did because I knew Jesus. I want to be remembered as the one who laid everything down for my Savior. I want to be remembered as a Servant.

My Girl

Well, hope this works! Never actually blogged before! Yes, I know welcome to this century...just took a while to figure out which screen was a computer and not a T.V. :) Honestly, finding it difficult to find the words here. Would rather keep it light, simple, maybe even funny, the problem is the topic...My Girl!!! Can't even begin to think of her w/o becoming overwhelmed w emotion. Shocking, I know, but she is, after all, the best parts of my heart. Yes, a little biased here, but c'mon, I was her best bud for years. Being there as she grew up, we had tons of fun, snuggles (still hear the little feet at the condo), long walks (through the creek!), lots of reading, and lots of laughter with this perfect (and I do mean perfect!) beautiful, funny, brilliant little girl. Now, I have the privilege of simply being part of her life as she continues to grow and mature into this beautiful, funny, brilliant...(hard to acknowledge here)...woman. I'm supposed to be the parent, the teacher, a person to help guide, but I am continually learning from her. She has had an incredible and profound impact on me as a person. Me, my life, my interaction with others, certainly my relationship with Christ and within the Church, is all better and more meaningful because of her. Heck, this is me keeping this light! I could really get sappy talking about my Perfect Angel, Darlin', Beauty, Pumkin, Babe ,Sunshine, Kenzie Luce. Or should I say, Kenzie Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce! Darlin' you know how much I Love you and how incredibly proud I am of you. You have already made the world a better place and I know Christ has perfect plans for your perfect soul. As you move forward into that vast, scary, sometimes lost land of "High School", know I'm always here cheering, supporting and loving you. You will experience some of the best, and most challenging times, in your life. (please note the closed eyes, chanting, and fingers in ears my ears as we immediately think of college and life beyond...please one step at a time on me!) Yes, you will have amazing achevements, and plenty of mistakes. Know I'm always here to clap, and always here to help carry. Remember, you are not your resume. You are not measured by grades or scores. Not by trophies, awards, amazing speechs, popularity, blocks, spikes, elections, boy or girlfriends. Not by colleges, not by teachers, service projects, and not even by, (gulp) parents. You, my dear, in the end, are measured by the perfect creator of all heaven, earth, time and space. You are measured by Christ and his knowledge of your beautiful blessed heart. (check out 1 Samuel 16:7) He already knows you are meant to sometimes fall, and also that your life is truly ordained to impact other hearts, in amazing ways, for the better. (he also knew I would be one of those hearts.) Pulling inspiration and some quotes from the book Facing Your Giants, think of the challenges and opprotunities of your High School years in this same way David did..."As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him." 1 Samuel 17:48. There will be Goliath's (more than we want), but they can all fall. Including the Goliath of falling itself. Let go of mistakes and disappointments, move forward to the next victory. Know that you will face these giants, but you do not need to face them alone. I love the line from the book that remindes us to "Rush them with a God Saturated soul." Also, "Focus on giants - you stumble. Focus on God - your giants tumble." Hey Chick - Major in God. Let your high-school be fun, exictement, acheivement, a little forgiveness, and did I mention fun? Always believe in yourself and who you are. He does, and we do...and always will. I love you. Dad

High School...Almost:)

This year is one I will remember forever. Even though it seemed as if the year, week, class, 10 minutes would never come, it has and we are almost in high school! Those very words...high school high school, high school, yes I have waited 14 long years to be able to say I am part of the coveted high school. The schoolwork, girlfriends, the movies, driving, boys, late nights, the i can't believe I did that moments, and so much more. At the same time I have learned so much in the last 3 years about life. Not always the "funnest", but I have sure learned a lot. My first real fight with my best friend but learning how to forgive. My first "boyfriend" (for a day) that caused a full 2 hour show of drama but learning that you can live without guys and it worth it to wait. Lots of school work but learning how to think (better and harder than ever before) for myself and how to belive in God to help me get things done. And feeling alone but learning God is always there behind you with the two strongest hands in the world ready to catch you. If I can just through these last 5 finals (and do good):) I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN this summer and next year...stay tuned:) Just pray it will be what God has in His plan.

Pics from Trip to D.C.!!

God is So good :)

Great news! God was with me throughout the entire process...I make the VICTORY volleyball team! I am so thrilled to honnor God through my volleyball this year!!!! Also God totally spoke through me at the state of school adress!! I was amazed at what God does when you lay it down at Him feet instead of worring about it! Last night I had an amazing oppertunity to go and hear the guy who wrote the book Amazing Grace (Eric Metaxes) and he was awesome!!

I am so thankful and can't wait to see what God does through me!

Have a wonderful day!

Non-stop! :)

Hi!! I know I am terrible I haven't written in three months! Well, a lot has been going on!!! I have club volleyball tryouts this weekend! Please be praying that everything works out right and I make the right decision!!! I hope God gives me clarity and shows me exactly what he has planned for me!!! Also I have another small thing...I am speaking at the state of school address on Mon. in front of all the parents of the school and Mr. Taylor is going to be there!! So please be praying that everything works out well and God gives me the exact words to say!

I have to go now!!! Have a wonderful blessed day!

School Is In!!

I started 8th grade last week!! I can not believe I am now the oldest in middle school!! I thought this day would never come!!!!!! Everything went great!! All of my teachers know what they are doing and all seem to want to be there!! I am so excited to get everything started!! The bummer thing though is that I don't have a lot of classes with my best friends!! It is a good thing though I suppose because it is allowing me to meet and interact with other people!! I am in a pre-ap spainsh class. I was very excited about it...but as the week is going by...it is hard! I have never really learned any Spanish (only the very basics) so this is quite a challenge for me!! I am having the hardest time roll my tongue for the r's. :) Anyway it is great to be challenged daily and I will love being able to speak some Spanish!!! Other then this school has been very fun and a lot of work!! Things are going to be much different this year in many ways. But hey that means many fun adventures that will end up being memories that will last forever. I am so glad God has shown me the 23rd psalm!! "The Lord is my Shepard...I shall not want.." What a humbling verse!! Also I have found a new verse I have to share! It is found in I Timothy 6: 11-12 11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. This is my verse for this nine weeks!! Have a great day and remember to pursue the right things!!!

Hey!!! This week was awesome!! I made the JV volleyball team!! I am so excited!! We had practice all week and had a scrimmage today! We won every game!!! Also I found this really cool website that is just like you tube except it is all Christian stuff!! The address is www.godtube.com...check it out!! And to add to all this we were swimming today and we found a bunny in the skimmer!! Isn't that crazy!! There is a picture at the top of this experience!! I will write more about my team later but for now just know that making the team is such a prayer answered!! Thanks to HIM!! Have a great day and check you skimmers!!! Please pray for the new experience of older girls on my team!! Have a great day!

Hey!!! I am so tired...but it was so worth it!! This week I had volleyball camp for my school week from 1-4. I was kind of freaked out about it because they are basically our tryouts. I was really worried in a way because I didn't play last year, so I really wanted to make the team!!! Well the first two days of camp go by...and then the varsity head coach asked me to talk to him with my mom and dad! I thought he was going to tell us that I didn't make the team!! Well, God had a different plan! Coach asked me to finish the week practicing with the JV team!!!! I was so excited!! That made may practice a different time so I wasn't sure if I could keep doing my complete best since camp was now 4 hours long with alot more intensity...but God helped me get through the week strong!!! On Monday and Tuesday I get to try out for the JV team! I am so excited!! And to think I wasn't even sure if I wanted to try out!!! I doubt I will make the top JV team..but I am so thankful that this is what God has planned for me! Please pray that tryouts go well and whatever happens that I will know that is God's plan for me! Also I want to share with you the prayer that I pray every time I play volleyball (before practice or a game) here it is.. Lord be glorified through my volleyball and let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you. Amen I got that prayer from a new book I am reading called the real me by nataile grant that I really recommend for you to read!! I am sooo thankful and also please pray that I make sure my heart stays the same!!!! Have a great day and count your blessings!!!

What a week!! (and please read the whole thing :)

Hi!!! Hope everything is good!! This week has been GREAT! It started out in Mississippi (I had to go there because my great-grandmother died. :( ) Well I knew it was really the last week that I don't have something planned everyday....so I decided to enjoy it! I was out in the sun in my pool everyday! My mom made me start reading one of the books that I have to read for school while I was outside. Little did I know that I would be thanking her so much!!! I absolutely love this book!!! I have always been one to worry about everything and try to take on everybody's weight...and I always have known I shouldn't, but it was just so hard!!!God has shown me this book by Max Lucado. It is called Traveling light. He breaks down the 23rd psalm and shows me that I really don't need to worry about anything!!! God takes on these burdens for me!! I have always known that psalm, but I have never fully read it like I do now!!! God shows us that we are his sheep and he is our Shepard, and he will always be there when I feel the flock has left me. I have lately been feeling pretty lonely, and God has shown me that I am never lonely with Him!!!!! It has been said that sheep are one of the dumbest animals on earth. So when when we are first compared to that I was a little confused...but it's right there in front of me. We are dumb to think we can do everything on our own...we can't we are just sheep. We have to let our shepard use us to our full potential. So whatever God has in store for this year...I am so ready to be used by my Shepard. I pray that I never try to be my own Shepard...because that will leave my lost and more confused! So to sum all this rambling up, this week started off pretty lonely, worried and confused. Wow what God does in a week. I am very secure now this week is over and know that everything is in his hands, I am never alone, and I just need to be his servant so he can use me to glorify Him!!!!!! I am so thankful to be in His hands!! Here is the 23rd psalm...

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, ^[a]
I 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 goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Have a great week and don't forget that He knows what he is doing!! Just make sure you are allowing him to use you!!!!!

P.S. this is my theme verse for this school year :)

God is Good.

Wow! what a week this has been. I have been praying about volleyball...whether I should really invest time and energy in it or if I should just do school next year. Well God has shown me that he wants to use me on the team for more then just volleyball. He wants me to show others how to show glory to him through volleyball. I am so excited for next year. Please pray for camp and tryouts. (they are in August) I am so thankful and blessed to have God in my life. Also I had really been struggling with friends. Well God made is so apparent that he is always my ultimate friend, and I can always count on him. I just also want to thank an influence in my life that has really helped with all this!! She is a teacher that means so much in my life!!!!!! Also last week on Thursday I went to the mall to witness to others (tell them about Jesus) and it was an experience of a lifetime!! I handed out over 200 tracks. there is a picture at the top of this post of a track we used called a smart card. ( tracks are creative cards that tell others about salvation) and talked to over 5 people personally! It was great to make a difference in other people's spiritual life. We had all kinds of responses. Everything from people saying "go away!" to people stopping us again to hear more. I am so excited to start school again!! Please keep praying for next year's girls bible study. I realllllllllllllllllllllllllllly want to make a difference this year in the girls' lives! Have a great day!! Keep on praying!

Hold on a sec

Don't get me wrong... I realize that every thing I do is just a chapter in my life...I am fully content with what God is doing with me now. Every little thing is happening for a reason that God knows. He is preparing me for what is to come. :)

Normal summer

Things have been pretty crazy. I have been overwhelmed with normal life. It kinda weird having so much free time! It has been nice though because I can do things I normally don't have time for. I completely cleaned out my closet. That never happens!! :) I have really been thinking and I have no idea what God is going to use me for. I look around and so many people around me know exactly what they are going to do with their life and everyday i get more confused. its so... confusing. I do know that God will show me...I just can't wait! I want Him to make a difference now! I do know I have be patent and I am trying so hard. i just can't wait! Well...please pray for two guys in my grade. They are both in the hospital! Also please pray for my cousin who is Kroasha on a mission trip. Have a great day! Talk to you later!

My new puppy...Princeton

My new puppy- PRINCETON!! so cute!

My Creto Paper

I had to write this paper for my school and it includes a lot of my views on life!! Enjoy!

"Servant"

The Wise One in my life has always been my TRUE, Rock and Shield. God. He has changed my life in every aspect. He is where I go in every situation that comes my way. It is amazing what God can do with every little thing.

One person in my life that has helped me in every area of my life to grow closer to God is Kristin Barber. She is an amazing example of a Christ-like role model. She dedicated all her life to helping young teenage girls to become closer to the Lord. She was my discipleship teacher when I was a pre-teen. Even though those were the only times that were scheduled she has helped me just by being herself. Kristin always made the best out of every situation. She always had the best way of solving anything. Kristin was one of the hardest working people that I know. She had so much perseverance. Kristin is always working for no one but the Lord. I hope that some day I can be the person she was to me for someone else.

Hard work. People can have various definitions for “Hard Work”. To me hard work is doing your BEST at whatever you are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are taking trash out or are the President of the United States; you need to be doing it fully for the glory of God, no one else. It says in Romans 15:17 “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.” That is the best way to put it. I also think of the 12 disciples when I think of hard work. They did everything whole-heartedly for Jesus. I hope I can model that kind of hard work in whatever I am doing.

I didn’t think it was entirely possible for me to state what I have learned in one thought; but after prayer and a lot of thinking, here is what my Heavenly Father has shown me. Jesus Christ has taught me so many wonderful things in my life that no human could ever tell someone in an entire lifetime. It is amazing. One thing I have learned through life and the Lord is that you can’t get time back. Every little thing in life you should cherish and treasure as much as you can. That is a gift. Every little thing. Another thing that I have learned and is really important to me is that I am FREE. Free in Christ.” Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” No one or anything can harness my Salvation with Jesus. Nothing. Ever.

The one thing out of everything that I feel is really important to me is my Savior, Jesus Christ. I do not know what I would do without him. He is my all, my everything, my life, and my faith. There are some times when Satin has tried and succeeded in persuading me into doing what I believe with all my heart. Crazy isn’t it. I really need to be focused on God and no one else no matter how good and satisfying it might sound. Sometimes it is really hard, but with the Lord’s help, I can do anything! (Philippians 3:16)

In life I truly want to feel totally like I know that I am doing faithfully what God wants me to do. That can be so hard when Satin wants exactly the opposite. I really want to make a difference that will change the World forever. I don’t know unerringly what that is right now, but I feel that God knows everything about my future. In Jeremiah 29:11 God puts it this way “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to PROSPER and PROTECT you, plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE.” I can’t wait to find out what God has in store for me. I need to keep my ears listening and my eyes seeing what he needs me to do to make that happen.

I want to be remembered as a servant. Not just any servant, but a free servant. A servant who does what she does just because she has unconditional love for her Master. I want to be the ULTIMATE servant for Jesus Christ. He loved me with His everything, so I want to love him with my life and heart and soul. I want to be known for what I did because I knew Jesus. I want to be remembered as the one who laid everything down for my Savior. I want to be remembered as a Servant.

My Journey

Hi!! I am so excited to use this! I just want you to know why I am doing this...I want to write down somewhere everything that happens in my life until God has used me to His full potential. Basically, I want to do this blog for a long time! Any way I don't exactly know what I want to be when I grow up, and I don't know exactly what I will be doing...but I want God to be glorified in whatever I do! Here is good news...now you be included on this journey to figure out what God wants in my life!!!!!!!!