We're Going to Convention...We Thought We Should Mention...;)

Okay, just in case you don't know. The Title is part of a song Mr. Counts made up about convention. Lol. It's totally epic.

So, tomorrow we embark on a journey to Bowling Green to sing, play basketball, act, play checkers, play piano pieces, ping-pong, PACE bowl, Bible bowl, spell, do shot put, run and await the results of our essays and art entries. It's a fun, stressful and rewarding week. Often, in this time it is easy to forget about focusing on the Lord and delighting in His law. Its much easier to dwell on Sugar Grove and Faith Trinity stalkers, cute boys, how we look, being social and perfect in every performance. But I  have been thinking about this for a while. All of these things that are everything to us right now, will vanish. We are vapors. "This too shall pass". These is a quote and I love it. I'm going to try and quote it, but I won't be able to perfectly. It says something like, "Everything done will one day pass, only whats done for Christ will last."

How true that is! Everything we are driving for will vanish. So that brings up a good question we can use to evaluate our hearts. What are we striving for? And is it eternal? If it's not, what can we do to refocus?

These are not questions we ask ourselves one time. We need to ask those everyday. Daily I need to say, "Ash, what are you striving for today? Is it eternal? What are you going to zoom in on? When the world burns, will it too? What are you going to do to focus yourself?" (And yes, I talk to myself in third person all the time.)

I'm going to be surrounded by my friends and people I love all week this week. It's going to be easy to have the attitude, "Oh, I don't need to have quiet time. I can catch up this weekend." This is a time when I need to examine my motives and ask those questions. When I decide not to sit with thus-and-so when they look lonely, or help her prepare for her skit, or help him warm up, or be a shoulder to cry on, or distract people during the loooong rallies, I need to ask myself those questions.

"ONLY whats done for Christ will last."

What am I doing for Christ?

I think something that will help me stay focused on my Daddy this week is finding a few verses to meditate on. The Lord, ever so graciously, has been bringing some great scriptures to me recently. And I am going to write them down and dwell on them -really mull them over this week. Here they are.

1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"

Acts 8:4 "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." AHH! I LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH!!! Right after people were being persecuted for being Christians, they go out and spread the Word of God!

1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."


Psalm 3: 3-5 " But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me."

I need to do this more often. Just pick some verses and dwell on them for a few days.

Prayer is appreciated. First, pray that we all stay well. So far, I'm concerned because we have a sick sponsor, and four students sick and we haven't even gone yet. Last year, we had boys getting sick one by one with a stomach virus. It was no fun at all and a few events were affected by it. So pray for health. Then pray that God would anoint the lips of the speakers and that they would minister to the whole convention, but specifically to our school. We could use a revival. And lastly pray that God would give me opportunities to be a servant and a godly influence. Well, take that back, He's always giving them. Pray that I SEE THEM and ACT ON THEM. That's better.

Until next time! Prolly Friday. Ciao. I love you all.

Boast in the Lord!