Saturday, July 31, 2010

Insanely Awesome Storms...

Wow. We drove home in a huge ran storm. It was bad. We could barely see. When we got home it stopped raining but it continued to thunder and lightning for a long time. I took my camera outside and took some pictures. I actually got one picture of a flash of lightning but it isn't that good.

But I thought the difference between the sky in front of our house and the sky directly behind our house was soooo incredible. Dark on one side and light on the other.
Now, thinking about that storm it reminded me of the disciples when they were in the ship with Jesus.

Matthew 8:23-27 "Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!"He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I can't imagine being with the Lord when He rebuked the winds and waves. To me, the weather seems so powerful (i love weather..btw..its thrilling). I can't even comprehend someone just telling it to get lost. The more I try to wrap my mind around it, I can't.

It also made me think about this verse.

Psalms 19:1-31 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

*slaps hands onto mouth*

I have a confession to make! Yes I do!

I have a certain thing in my character that is not very pleasant. I am too outspoken and dogmatic about things. I can be really frank. Really, if someone says something I disagree with, my first reaction is, "Pffft that's stupid!" It's pride. Yep.

I know that if you have known me any portion of time you have seen this in me. I am trying to do better. But I figured I owe you all an apology. Please forgive me.

Prayers are appreciated!

To the Family of Infidels

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
And of His final Prophet, Muhammad (Peace be upon Him):

The true religion of Islam WILL ARISE in your area; you cannot stop Allah's will.

We have been watching your family; we have seen you go to church and seen you pray to your false god. We know that you are infidels, and we will deal with you as our holy Quran declares:

In Sura 9 verse 5, it says TO SLAY the idolaters where ever you find them; take them captive and slay them.

Also in Sura verse 29 it says to FIGHT those who have been given the scriptures and believe not in Allah or the Last Day or follow not the religion of truth.

If you and your entire family do not leave your false religion and follow Islam, you will be killed. Your sons will be slaughtered and your daughters will become Muslim wives, bearing sons who will fight for Allah in this region.

Your ONLY other option is to flee TONIGHT. Leave your home and everything behind.

Allahu Akbar!

Many many Christians in Muslim countries are getting letters like this. This is very thought provoking. What would YOU do if a letter like this came in your mail tomorrow? Would you leave? Stay? Or Convert?

Sleep on it!

Woo-hoo!

Hey y'all. We have a shout box now! Look down...

Also, welcome Miztermuzik as an author to the blog!!!! WOOO!!! *applause*

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Yes seriously....

Okay! I'm learning to knit. I just thought I would tell everyone. I know it sounds nerdy, but it is really fun. lol

Philippians 2:14-16 "14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Poem - Afraid?

Read this and really think about it!

By: E.H Hamilton

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour's face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace,
The glory gleam from wounds of grace,
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart;
Brief darkness - Light - O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? Of that?

Saturday, July 17, 2010

True Freind!




Isn't that so sweet? My sister made this for me when I was at Camp Barnabas! I love her so much! *squeezes Becca* Thank you Becca!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Massive, unrecognizable blob of time....

My mind can't form the days of Camp in my head. It all just seems so far away. Unreal.

But sometime in the middle of the week we did some really awesome activities. High ropes, theater, cafe, photo booth, swimming, a camping trip (hard core camping for-real), food fight (the whole camp had a food fight with soggy apple jacks. Yes, it was disgusting. It had sat in water for a looong time and it felt like...like....I'll let your imagination run. Needless to say, I won't ever eat another Apple Jack.Uh-uh!), canoes, rifles...and on it goes.

It really amazed me how the camp made EVERY activity available for EVERY camper. NO MATTER what their disability was. If they were in wheelchairs they would make a way for them to do the rock climbing wall. It was so incredible. One of the gals in our cabin had a bad limp and a withered hand and she made it to the top of the rock climbing wall! I don't rock climb. It scares me to death.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Blue Roses

I heard a really awesome illustration of the handicapped. "There are plenty of red, pink and yellow roses. But rarely do you find a blue one. And when you do you have to stop and marvel at its beauty and uniqueness."

They were like blue roses. All special and precious, rare and unique. But beautiful. So beautiful. It made me realize that we need to treasure them. Because like all of us, they are made in the Lord's image, and He doesn't make mistakes!

Isn't it such a relief to know that God standards are not the worlds? That God made us and wants us exactly how we are! That was our theme at Camp Barnabas. Wanted: 1 Corinthians 12:18 "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." God looks upon the campers at Camp Barnabas and says, "It is good." They bring glory to Him. I am just so encouraged by this.

An exercise that our cabin did was this. One day the staff in our cabin covered every mirror with black trash bags. Not because they thought we were vain, but because they wanted us and the campers to realize that God doesn't look at our faces. Our bodies don't hold value to Him. But out hearts and attitudes do. As far as the outside, we are just the way He wants us to be. It was such a good reminder. Even though I rarely wear a ton of make-up and do little in front of the mirror I was reminded how many times I look in the mirror every day. Just to check my hair or something.

And why do I do that? Why do I stop in front of mirrors and check my face and hair and clothes? For the Lord? NO! I am doing it for myself and for the approval of man.

I want to be a servant of my Father. 100% sold out. I came across this verse the other day while reading over some old letters I wrote but never sent to people (handy, huh? The Lord uses everything!). Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Not that I now think looking in mirrors is evil. But I was reminded how even the smallest of things can divide my heart for Christ. (Okay...I'm kinda getting off topic, LIKE ALWAYS!!! I'll try to end this soon!)

So back to my original point, that now really isn't even my point because I left that trail of thought a long time ago. We are made in the image of Jesus. He loves us. Not for our brawn, bodies, weight, height, converse, or blue jeans. He loves us despite our acne and jelly rolls. Praise Him! So next time you see someone that we wonder why God made them that way...think, "Wow, a blue rose." And marvel at their beauty and uniqueness. God made 'em that way for His glory.



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Day Numbah TWAH!

We all had to go through a series of training. It was kinda scary. We had to learn about what to do if a camper ever had a seizure, about the three person rule, abuse, yadda yadda.

Then the campers arrived.It was sooo cool. I wish I had it on tape for all you all to watch. We screamed our heads off when the campers came. We wanted to be as 'electric' as possible to get the campers excited about camp and not be sad to leave their parents. So we give each camper a really warm welcome by showing our excitement and screaming. Lol. I know it seems really really cheesy but the campers loved it. Everything about this camp revolves around them and the love the welcome. Completely go crazy over it!



When Jen got there. I fell in love with her right off the bat. She had the sweetest giggle and was so giddy when she got there. I discovered walking to our cabin that we both like to sing. So we would get along well. We actually sang a lot through the week randomly. Rascal Flatts and Miley Cyrus. Oh, yeah. Lol.

I discovered pretty quickly that she was insanely boy crazy. HAH! That was verrrry entertaining. She was constantly dragging me around so she could talk to every guy in the camp. :D Hehe!

The first night we had a indian themed dance party.Yeah, I know. It was really random. Every night there was a really weird party. Lol.

Day One of Camp Barnabas...

I struggle to put my week into words. How do you describe a week like that? Wonderful? Hard? Incredible? Fun? Challenging? Stretching?

The week showed me many things. The Lord made hard situations for me. I think He did it because He knew the things in my heart that were wrong and needed to be revealed. :D

The week started off great. I arrived. I met the other girls I would work with. They were fabulous! Godly, young ladies that wanted to serve. I thank god for them and their support.

I wasn't sure if I would be working with a autistic kid or what, but I ended up working with a girl with down syndrome, Jen. It was kinda interesting how I ended up with her. All of the counselors in my cabin (eight in all, plus two staff members) sat down on the back porch of our cabin and pulled out the camper applications. The apps had a bunch of info on the girls and what type of help they needed, and what their situations were. Basically, I had to pick a camper. I thought, "Lord how do I pick a camper? How can I possibly choose a child by looking at these apps that have next to no info on them?"

Paige, the staffer in our cabin said, "Believe me. You will be amazed how at the end of the week. you will see how God perfectly matched each camper with the right counselor. So don't stress. Some of you will even feel drawn to a certain camper. That fine if you do. Pick them."

I was feeling kinda drawn to a certain camper, Codi, but someone else got her first. So I picked up Jen's application.

Looking back at that moment. I was really scared. I had no idea what type of camper I was getting. Now, I know that God worked it out perfectly. He gave me Jen because He knew I had some very specific lessons to learn from her.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Cause at CAMP BARNABAS you know its alright...

You guys won't be hearing from me for a while. I'm leaving for CAMP BARNABAS! Tomorrow! I'm so excited. CB is just the best place in the WHOLE WORLD...next to EIG of course. :D

Be praying. CB is a special needs camp. I am going to be a counselor, and basically will have a special needs camper to care for all week. I'm really scared. I can just see my camper not liking me, them having a speech problem and me never understanding what they want...ect. Please pray that God will give me strength. I know I won't be able to do it without Him. Pray that as I step us to the challenge that every fear will melt away. I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and I know I can't be that holding onto my fears.

I envy your prayers. Thanks!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

WOW...

Okay I have to share something with y'all I am sure some of you guys have already heard me talk about.

Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love talked about his grandmother and her amazing love and devotion to Jesus Christ.

One time he took her to a play. During the intermission he leaned over and asked her if she was enjoying herself. She said, "No, I am not." Of course he was shocked. She said, "I don't want to be doing this when the Lord comes back."

Man, if we lived like that.....


....


....


Think about it. If we lived thinking about what Jesus would come back and find us doing, we would live radically different lives. I mean, I don't know about y'all but I don't want Jesus to come back and find me wasting time on the computer, sinning, smarting off to mom, judging someone in my mind, sad, having a bad attitude.

If Jesus came back right now. Would you be ashamed with what you were doing? Would you be found redeeming the time? Rejoicing in Jesus Christ? Witnessing? Studying?

Or doing nothing that has eternal/Kingdom benefit?

Ephesians 5:15-16 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Friday, July 2, 2010

To know you is to want to know you more...

Wooo! I love this song by Casting Crowns. *runs off to find lyrics*

A-ha! Here they are!

*copy*

*paste*

To know you is never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you

To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live with out you.

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more


To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there is no life without you

Chorus:

All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

Chorus:

Compared to you
Compared to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

This is so true. The more I learn about God, the more I realize how incredibly awesome He is...then I just want to get to know Him better. Every time I get the tiniest little bite of knowledge about Christ and His character/love/promises/anything I just want to get to know Him better. He will constantly be a mystery to me.








Steve Tecklenberg, a speaker at EIG was talking about this. Our brain is a tiny little box. And God will never ever fit in it. I am so happy about that. Really. What type of God would God be if we understood Him all the time and He was like us? What type of God would he be if we learned everything about Him? What would be special about our quiet times with Him in the morning? What would he teach us?

A thousand lifetimes. We could live a thousand life times and never understand Him.

We can only comprehend earthly things. I am so glad we don't have an earthly God. I am so glad that we have a God whose mercy we cannot comprehend. I am so glad that His character is so infinite that we cannot wrap our minds around it. I am so glad we have a God whose love we cannot replicate. Praise the Lord today that we will never understand Him.

Sorry...

Man, I know I haven't blogged in forever. Sorry. I completely changed my blog though and just deleted the old one. Hope y'all enjoy it.

*thinks*

I actually don't even know if anyone reads it. Oh well. I like writing and its fun for me anyhow.

Peace, love and tacos!