Life On Purpose

she said it best.

2011-01-02T20:56:00.000-05:00

2010 was a quite a year.
I've been wondering how to put it all into words.
I just read a blogpost from Maddie Helman that sums it up perfectly.

2010,
you and I had a wonderful, maddening relationship. From the very start I knew you would be a tough one to hang on to. Through the year you made me cry, laugh, smile, rejoice, miserable and persevere. You were the year that taught me the most about myself, about others and about the God that I serve. You made me see, through more bad times than good, that God is the one that will never let me down, even when you find it easy to leave me hanging on for dear life by my bloody hands. You, 2010, showed me that I can get through whatever stumbling block in front of me. There were many times, 2010, that I wanted to give up on you all together. Never has a year been so cruel to me. But I knew that I couldn’t let go of you because you weren’t done teaching me things. This past year with you, in the 17th year of my life, was one that I will be reliving for the rest of my life. Many years have gone by and I haven’t had such a close bond to them as I have with you, 2010. I thank you for helping me overcome so many things and see that the people I lost and the people I gained were a gift from God to help me make it through this past year. You have helped me see the potential that my future holds, if I rely completely on my God and leave my plans out of it. I am glad to see our relationship come to an end, 2010, but know that I am so much stronger for having known you. Please tell 2011 to make this next year not so much of a rollercoaster; you made me feel carsick a lot 2010. I need a smoother ride this next year. Thanks for all you gave and took away from me this year, I can’t wait to meet my new friend 2011.

swak,

Madeline Kay (Eden Christine)

You Are More: Tenth Avenue North

2010-12-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

There's a girl in the corner

With tear stains on her eyes

From the places she's wandered

And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?

I'm not who I once was.

And I'm crippled by the fear

That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,

What's been done for you

Yeah don't you know who you are

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it

That she's been given new life

But she can't shake the feeling

That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers

And she's rehearsed all the lines

And so she'll try to do better

But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,

But what's been done for you.

This is not about where you've been,

But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,

But what He felt to forgive you,

And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You've been remade.

You've been remade

You've been remade.

You've been remade.

You've been remade.

Renewal '10 Tweets

2010-11-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I got the chance to lead at GSM's middle school retreat, Renewal. It was an absolutely incredible experience!! So many lives changed! During that time I made a note of stuff that i thought was 'tweet worthy' and decided to save it for until i got home...

Friday:
Bus 2!! The Hannah Montana songs have already begun!

Hahaha i love that most of the bus knows this song, 'Hide your kids, hide your wife...'

No promises, if I've got gas, I've got gas. ---- Megan Stevens. (This also sparked Ninja Farts)

Finally made it!!!

Camp Geneva has the nicest cabins I've ever been in.

Session one begins NOW!! Seth Bible is in the house!!!

JUMP!

Epic night games... Underground church. Will you find your pastor?

'I'm morally against showering.' 'Not this weekend.'

Nearly 1am and getting ready to head to bed, excited for what tomorrow holds!!

Saturday:

Abi laughs and talks a lot in her sleep... we may have been making fun of her a little bit...

Session 2!!! LIFT!!!!

Whats up rain, we aren't scared??

Dodgeball champs, yaaaaa orange team!!!

DC: 'How'd you hurt your pinky?' Me: 'Playing the Korea game.' DC: 'You should probably stay in America from now on...'

PickerUp ThrowEm Shield time!!!

Session 3!!! FRESH START: leave it all on the cross.

Amazing session, so many lives changed!!!!

Emmi Meyer has nicknamed the Celebration Center 'The Nursing Home' lots of injuries!

We dont need a camp fire to have smores... we just bring in 3 microwaves!!

'What did you do to your ankle?' Emmi: 'Oh, I stepped on a spider..............................'

Sunday:

Took me about 5 years to get out of bed this morning..... and about 5 more to wake up our girls!

ORANGE TEAMS WINS!!!!!

On the bus on the way home... I like watching people figure out how to sleep on buses. It's quite humorous!

20 minutes away from home!!! Get ready @gccwired, here come 200 middle schoolers!!!

Legacy

2010-10-06T17:07:00.000-04:00

The first GSM of the school year DC pulled all the seniors together and talked to us about this word legacy. He said that we have a big impact on how this year goes and then he asked this question, what legacy do you want to leave with this ministry and these students when you graduate at the end of this year? I've been thinking a lot about legacy lately. How many people I come into contact with in a day and the impact that I could have on them. As I begin to lead a small group of sixth grade girls this idea weighs heavy on my heart. I'm far from perfect, but I want to be a good example of Christ to these students. I cannot do this on my own though. Because on my own... I am nothing. I need God to be in every step I take and word I say this year to make the biggest impact possible. I also need people around me that are lifting me up, encouraging me, and challenging me to become a better person. I can't be the best leader I can be if I am only reaching out and helping others, without being fed spiritually myself. Which is something that challenges me a lot. I hardly ever just sit and listen. There's a story in the bible about Martha and Mary. Long story short, Mary was the one sitting at Jesus' feet soaking up every word he said while Martha was in the kitchen preparing a meal. And at one point she comes out and tells Jesus to tell Mary to come help her because she is by herself doing all the work. And Jesus says to her, ""Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." Mary was doing the most important thing at that point. She was listening to her father's words. I want to be the kind of leader that sees a need and and jumps in to fill it, but also the kind of the leader that doesn't become too busy with seemingly important tasks that I miss things that God is trying to tell me.

College

2010-10-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

Like any senior, I've been thinking about college. A lot. What I want to study, applying for scholarships, getting ready to make big life altering decisions. And as all of this weighs heavily on my mind, I keep wondering where all the time is going. Days keep going faster and faster and faster. So, the other day as I was reading mt bible and doing some journaling I was reminded to just sit a breathe for a while. Not worry about my plans for the day, the week, the month. Just sit and enjoy the moments that I have to be with my family, to hang with my brother and sister. Because soon enough those moments will become fewer and farther between. Because of the kind of person I am, I tend you get in the mind set of one thing, like tunnel vision and I forget everyone else and everything else that is going on around me. But it so incredibly important for me to sslllllooooowwwww down. I don't want to miss things, or opportunities because I'm too focused on later instead of here and now. There is absolutely no point to me being anxious about what tomorrow will bring.

Matthew 6:30-33 If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

I love when this passage says 'What i'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.' This is so convicting for me, and as I am continually faced with decisions this year, I pray that God will help me to turn it over to him and to realize that I am not gaining anything by worrying.

10,000+

2010-10-04T21:45:00.000-04:00

Friday night was the mishawaka-penn football game. It was basically the biggest game of the year. Tons and tons of people were there, parking was a nightmare, people were walking for 15 minutes just to get to the stadium, then standing in line for another 20 just to get in. Someone told me that there were 10,000+ people there. WOW. It is crazy to me that that many people were willing to go through that much just for a football game. The 1st thought that came to my mind when I heard this statistic was this... What does this game have that so many people are drawn to it? The 2nd was... What could a church do that would make their service and encountering Jesus so electrifying that people would park 1/4 mile away, walk in the cold, and stand the whole service because they just want to be a part of it and see what God is up to??

I don't really know how a church could do this... but it's something that I am passionate about finding an answer to.

Riley.

2010-10-04T17:44:00.000-04:00

I just officially met Riley Vandervoorde over the summer at Camp Adventure.. but ask anyone, I stalked him before that. (and still do...) He is seriously one of the coolest kids I know. And as a freshman at Penn he has already made more of an impact that I probably made over all 4 years. He's also hilarious.

I have lunch with Riley every other day with a bunch of other gsm friends. So today, we were talking and Riley told us a story...

"When I went to Little School, errrr Elementary school, I used to think that when the teacher was taking attendance before class started and she would call everyones name and the girls would raise their hands and say "Present!" I thought they said that because they thought that they were a present to the class. And i found out that I was wrong... last year." Ohhh Riley, you're so cool. Haha we all got a good laugh out of that. Riley also wants to be a pastor, which is AMAZING!! If you don't know him... you probably should, just sayin. Riley, you're awesome buddy. Glad to call you a friend!!!!

The End... Sort Of

2010-10-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

Since this school year has started I've had tons of people ask me how it feels to finally be a senior. I always say the same thing "You know, excited, can't wait to be done!" But inside I'm screaming, It can't be over, I just started high school!!!!! I was a little 14-year-old freshman like 2 days ago. Wondering around Penn High School figuring out the fastest way to get to Biology from lunch. I'm not ready to leave yet; slow down, give me a few minutes to catch my breath. I never share this information with anyone however because I like to appear composed and cool, like a mature senior in high school.
But straight up, 2 things scare me about the fact that I graduate in 8 months.
1. I can't figure out how in the world the time started going so fast!! When every physics and geometry class seemed to drag on for hours, but then suddenly the year was over. Then, suddenly summer was over and classes were starting again....
2. I'M ABOUT TO BE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL. Like over, like I won't be coming back. I will walk out on the last day and never return as a student. Even as I write those words it doesn't seem real. But I have tons of college applications and a huge senior exit project packet to prove that fact.

If i get a chance, you know with all my busy senior things, I will write a post on highlights from every year of high school, but for now... I found a picture from all four years that I think you'd enjoy... warning... they're a little bit scary.

Freshman Year... mehhh braces.

Sophmore Year... still had braces, but LOVE this girl.

Junior Year... j-love!

Senior Year... so far.

Majesty.

2010-09-14T17:03:00.000-04:00

1 Chronicles 16:27 --- Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.

Isaiah 24:14 --- They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty

Moments in life that bring me joy...

2010-09-07T19:26:00.000-04:00

Spending time with my family
Times of worship
Sunny days
Reading the bible
Watching my brother talk about Jesus with complete strangers
Getting to be apart of Brax Vandervort's life.
Seeing my sister grow older.
Leading groups of students at camp, gsm, and journey classes.
The opportunities in life that God gives me to shine for Him.

Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it.

Here's a fun story.

2010-08-13T17:40:00.000-04:00

Last summer was my first experience at CA. (camp adventure) I was picked to be a counselor without ever having been to camp before. I was SUPER excited but really nervous. At the big sunday night meeting the day before the campers got there on monday, I found out that none of the 6 girls in my group went to Granger and all their ages were spread out; I had 2 6th graders, 2 7th graders, and 2 8th graders. I was freaking. out. None of the older girls are going to listen to me, they're all going to hate camp, and go home and tell their parents that I was the worst counselor ever. wahh. Ha, ha, ha. I was so wrong.
After meeting my campers and their parents at check-in, still a little un-easy, we headed out to home in the woods. Once I finally got all of their names down, it was all uphill. Even though they didn't know eachother, suddenly they were all best friends. The age difference didn't matter. God comepletely came through, and live's were changed in huge ways.
So, now to the point of this fun story.
One of the girls I had was going to be a freshman in high school when I had her as a camper. (i was only 2 years older than her) Her name is Jordyn. Throughout the course of the week I got close with every single one of my campers, and I love them to death even to this day.
Jordyn and I hit it off really well at camp, and after she left and I started to cry, that we'd be friends even after camp. And now Jordyn is one of my best friends. She came and visited me a month after camp, last december, and just a few weeks ago as well. I love her so much, and i'm so blessed that I had the chance to meet such an amazing girl.

I've been a little busy....

2010-08-13T17:13:00.000-04:00

This summer:

Vacation.

Birthdays.

TREE:

Chicago.

Camp Adventure.

Jordyn.

Weddings.

and breathe.....

What is camp...?

2010-07-14T09:22:00.000-04:00

Camp is amazing.

Camp is life-changing.

Camp is a week of high energy excitement.

Camp is a chance I have to help 6 middle school girls stay on the path towards Christ.

Camp is a place where Jesus shows up.

I have been given the opportunity to serve as a counselor at Camp Adventure for the past two years. And those two weeks that I have been at camp have been some of the greatest weeks of my life. I have built relationships with the other counselors I have been with, and I have grown so much closer to God. Camp has taught me a lot about myself.... mainly, that I have limitations. That I can't do everything on my own. And God can't take over fully until I admit that I fall short in some areas and let him take the wheel. I would be dumb to say that everything that has happened in the lives of the campers that I have had is because of me and my leadership. God has allowed me to lead in this kind of setting, but there is no way that I have what it takes to do it on my own. And I don't have to. Whenever I reach the point where I am at the end of my rope, and I don't feel like I have any more to give, thats exactly when God comes in and fills in the gaps that I leave. I'm continually amazed at how much God changes lives at camp. And I'm so excited for all the middle schoolers, and counselors that will continue to fill the camp for years to come.

Pray for Cassie

2010-07-02T10:56:00.000-04:00

Cassie has been in Mexico for the entire month of June and was supposed to come back this weekend and head to camp on sunday. But due to hurricaine Alex hitting Monterrey pretty hard she is stuck there longer then expected. Please pray for not only for Cassie's safety, but for the safety of all the people in Monterrey. Especially the ones who's homes are simply a dirt floor and a tarp. And also Back2Back. Flooding has created many large problems. As of now, we don't know when Cassie will be able to fly back, so please keep that situation in your prayers.

Chicago Tweets

2010-07-01T20:59:00.000-04:00

I chose not to tweet anything about our trip while we were there because I wanted to stay focused on the task at hand. But I made a mental note of some things that were for sure 'tweet worthy.'

Tuesday:

On the road, Chicago, here we come!!!
Just passed Navy Pier, we're getting close!
Just got off the bus, time to feed the homeless.
Met some really incredible people today, theire stories amaze me and their faith encourages me.
Picture of Hampton on Dairy Queen cup??

Wednesday:

Happy 50th Birthday, Dad!!
Partnering with Blitz Build today to help build a house!
Song on bracelets is the same as one of the songs in one of our devos, awesome!!!
'When I close my eyes.... all i see... is bricks.'
Long day of good, hard work.
'I could stick it in my armpit for 5 seconds and it would still be just as good.'

Jeff Myers came up to the table at the food court with a blizzard and a soft pretzel. He ate all of his icecream before the preztel, and we asked him why... thats what he said.

Just lost power in the hotel!

Thursday:

Little India today, visiting a Hindu Temple. Not sure what to expect.
Our middle school students amaze me. They asked questions that even made the priest a little nervous.
Just experienced a Satsong; an Indian worship serivce that praises and glorifies the One True God!!
I love that our group got to end the Satsong by singing 'Our God.' So powerful!
Scavenger hunt on Devon Street!
Just ate an Indian dessert that tasted like french toast drenched in honey.
Time for dinner and an Indian buffet!
Red chicken?? Oh yeah.
Singing Disney Channel show theme songs on the bus on the ride home; awesome.

Friday:

Back to the house we started on Wednesday!
The HUGE pile of bricks we started on Wednesday is dramatically smaller, yay team!!
Just pulled a big tree out of the ground with our bare hands. Yeah buddy!
Our team works together so well, we are incredibly blessed!!
WHIRLY BALL!!!!!!!
Everyone's comparing battle scares from whirly ball. :)
Late night euchre games, it's fun just to watch!

Saturday:

Heading downtown to prayer for the buildings and the people in them.
Such a powerful way to end our week.
It's hard to fathom the amount of people that are touched by the prayers prayed by our team today.
My heart breaks for all the homeless that are here.
Watching the end of US-Ghana game!! Come on US!!!!
Saddened by US loss :(
Giordanos for dinner, woohoo!!!
Sears (errr Willis) Tower Skydeck!!
103 floors up, wow what a view!!

Sunday:

Up early, heading to Willow Creek for church!!
Just sayin, we have the sweetest team shirts EVER.
Dani just sneezed and nailed her head on the counter at the cafe... may be the funniest thing i've seen in a while... or i might just be real tired.
Love the worship here, Jesus is definitely doing amazing things in and through this church!!
Today is Willow's baptism service and the last bit they played Amazing Grace and invited anyone who wanted to come to be baptizied. I cry everytime Granger or anywhere else down this. So cool!!
Lunch at Willow's food court!
Last team debrief.
On the bus heading back home!

I feel so incredibly blessed to have been a part of this mission trip. The students floored me every single day with how mature they were and how they handled the situations that they were put in. God did absolutely incredibly things through this team!! And we pray that our work would not end here but that God would use our prayers to go farther than we could ever imagine!

'Greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done here!!'

'Hey Chicago, what do you say?? We're gonna show God's love today! We are the light to reach this place, so come on everybody let's show His grace!!!!'

follow our team on Chicago!!

2010-06-22T07:14:00.002-04:00

after months and months of preparation the Chicago mission trip team leaves tomorrow morning.
we would love it if you would follow us on the team blog and leave us a note. if you leave a comment on a post, that night during debrief the team will read through the comments and we love hearing encouraging notes from family and friends :)

please keep us in your prayers, we are so excited to see everything that god has prepared for us!!!

gsmchicago.blogspot.com

'hey Chicago whatdaya say? we're gonna show gods love today!! we are the light, to reach this place, so come everybody let's show his grace!'

Chicagooooo!!

2010-06-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

In 2 weeks,
6 days,
and 17 hours
I will be on a bus
with a group of 23 students and leaders on the way to go be Jesus in Chicago!!!!
We have been preparing for this trip since February.
We have played crazy games, worked, and prayed as a team.
God has placed each of us on this trip for a reason, and we are ready.

Please join us in prayer that we can make the biggest impact possible for the Kingdom of God.

"Go into all the world..."

2010-05-29T09:52:00.000-04:00

Last summer was given the privilege of spending two entire weeks
serving next to Cassie Hallam. At camp in June we were both
counselors, and in July we both went to Mexico. I got to experience
first hand her servant heart. After being in Mexico for a week Cassie
really felt like God was calling her to more. So she applied to be an
intern at Back to Back in Monterrey, Mexico for the whole month of June
this year. So, in a little under a week Cassie will be on a plane
headed down to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Cassie is one of my best friends. We are in a small group
together and are more alike than most people I know. She challenges me
in ways that not a lot of other people do. She's an absolutely
incredible woman of God. I'm so proud of her that she is following the path
that God has put her on to go somewhere that is pretty dangerous to be
in right now. I'm asking you all to pray with me for the month
that Cassie will be down in Mexico. For her safety, and that God would
wrap his arms around her and that she would feel his love and
protection around her all the time.

WE LOVE YOU CASSIE, AND WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL THE TIME!!!

Reasons Why I love My Brother

2010-05-05T16:04:00.000-04:00

-Well let's get the obvious out of the way first... he's a STUD.

-He can rock a pair of aviators like nobody's business.

-I scream for him as loud as possible at every sporting event he's in and he doesn't get embarrassed. (Not that it would stop me if it did embarrass him...)

-He watches Gilmore Girls with me.

-He worships God like crazy with everything in him.

-He plays Wii with me even though i'm really bad and he kicks my butt every single time.

-He talks to me even when he's around his friends.

-And probably the biggest reason I love my brother is because of this conversation he had with a girl at his school.
          Girl: Hey, why are you reading your bible?
          Christian: Why are you reading 'Twilight?'
          Girl: Cause it's a really good book, and I like it a lot!!!
          Christian: That's exactly what I read my bible.
          Girl: Oh...
Christian takes his Bible to school everyday, reads it when he has free time, and has even memorized some verses. He inspires me.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH CHRISTIAN!!!

(Reasons why I love my sister... coming soon. for real.)

Goings On

2010-05-04T19:25:00.000-04:00

So what's been happening...??
Let me show you.

I like to take pictures of flowers... especially in Chicago.

I've had several (meaning a million) Passion Fruit Iced Tea Lemonades. I have fallen in love.

I worshiped Jesus along side 11,000 people at a Hillsong United concert.

Beccah Sarah Rendall went to prom and she let me do her hair! It looked amazing!!! Love her!

Oh yeah... her dress was pretty sweet too! :)

And I spent an evening with some of my best friends jumping around, getting wet from waves, and laying in a tent on the beach at 9:00pm... oh how i love those nights.

life. is. good.

I'm Not in Florida.

2010-04-08T21:45:00.000-04:00

It's cold, and wet, and a little snowy. Ughhhh so frustrating!! So I'm here, and with about 1,000 blogs floating around in my head, ready to write about everything, or nothing, either way here we go.

What's been goin' down? Not a whole lot.
Can't believe we're so close to the end of the school year. I'm startig to get that anxious, heart racing, "everything counts so give it all you got," kind of feeling. Heather, Mr. Stevens, and I are heading down to Taylor University for a visit tomorrow!! We're reeeealllllyyyy excited about it!!!! And so the infamous college search begins...

This past Friday I was in the Windy City with some friends for the day. We walked Navy Pier, went to a great Italian restaurant, walked more, and rode the Ferris Wheel at night, which was absolutely amazing.
(Pictures to follow...)

I celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Palm Sunday and Easter services at Granger were incredibly amazing; if you weren't able to be there, go online to gccwired.com and watch them. They'll change your life, serisouly.

Though Spring Break has been a nice change of pace... I'm kind of ready to be back to a normal schedule. Because once we go back to school, the closer we get to summer. And that makes me happy!! :)
Plus, I have missed my GSM friends like CRAZYY!!!!

This is all for now... and to make up for the lack of pictures in this post... my entire next post will be all pictures. Get excited!! :)

Thanks for stoppin' by.

Bye for now.

Amazing Song...

2010-04-08T10:25:00.000-04:00

Picture This....

2010-03-24T17:05:00.000-04:00

This Car with the windows rolled down...

+ This Family pulling up to a stop light...

Rockin' out to this christian rap artist...

With the bass booming.

= Awesome.

Authentic Worship

2010-03-24T17:00:00.000-04:00

But the time is coming-it has, in fact, come - when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of ttruth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.

John 4:23

So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. God rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped. You, Worship God.

Joshua 24:14

My life is pretty darn good...

2010-03-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article7054630.ece

These people are my heroes.

"Survivors told The Times that entire families were killed, some to the chants of Allahu Akbar — God is Greatest."

That's how I want to be remembered... I want to leave this earth singing praises to God.

God, help me not to take for granted the life you've given me.

Somebody's always watching....

2010-02-15T12:24:00.002-05:00

(My group of girls at the middle school Renewal retreat)

DC has said at leader's meetings time and time again, "You're never 'off." Meaning, that you're never not a leader. Someone is always watching every move you make. Leadership is not something that you "turn on" when you come to middle school GSM or to a Wednesday middle school journey class or to Camp Adventure. And then "turn off" once you go home. There will undoubtedly always be someone watching you when you're at the mall with your friends, or at school. So, if this is true, than what do people see? Do you act differently when you're not in the "church atmosphere?" Would you be embarrassed if a 6th grader heard you talking to a friend from school, or saw a text you sent? Being in leadership is probably the hardest yet most rewarding thing to do. Take time to think about what the people that are watching you see when they look at your life outside of church...

1 Peter 4:10

10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Peace

2010-02-10T17:50:00.000-05:00

"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." --- Francis Chan: Crazy Love

Support System

2010-02-08T17:04:00.000-05:00

It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there's no one to help, tough!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

When life happens, and the weight of the world is on your shoulders, it's important to have people you can count on. People just to talk to, who might not even have all the answers but are there to listen. And though sometimes we go through rough patches, I love these girls and know that they would do anything for me. Who do you have in your life that doesn't care what you've been through or where you are but just wants to make the hard situations in your life easier?

Joy

2010-02-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

There have been a few moments in my life that stick out...

The moment we turned on to that amazing dirt road before arriving at Camp Adventure.

The moment we landed in Mexico.

The moment that Jordyn arived in my driveway.

The moment right before I start to dance.

The moment I saw the "Welcome to the Sunshine State" sign.

The moment I was baptized.

I got to thinking about all of these moments, and a million others, and I realized that during them all I had the same feeling. Honest, pure, authentic, indescribable joy. There's a verse in the bible that says, "Every good and perfect thing comes from God." In all of those moments, God was there. God loves to see his children happy. And if he is happy whenever any of us are happy, he must have a lotta joy goin on! And even in the moments where I am down in a valley, and crying out to God, I know he's there to. In every moment, the amazing, or the not so great. He's never going to leave; more faithful than a brother. You can't shake him off, no matter how hard you try. He cares about you, he cares about me.

God, show me how to love like you love.

It... Is... Coming...

2010-02-04T18:17:00.001-05:00

SUMMER MISSIONS TRIPS.

Some may fly across the US to get there...

Some may be the only Jesus this little boy knows...

Some may spend a day in the kiddie (pee) pool and never want to leave their kid...

Some may fall in love with these smiles...

Some may spend a day in the dirt coloring a picture...

Some may get a tattoo just because they're kid wants one...

Some may realize that the friend they've been looking for was right there the whole time...

Everyone will serve next to people they may have never met but are best friends with by the end of the week...

Everyone will see Jesus work in ways they never thought possible.

Summer Missions Trips... GET READY.

They're coming.

2010-01-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken at IHOP after the Food Drop, I love this girl!!!!

Be The Change

2010-01-21T17:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my life changed. And every moment since then, I have been trying as hard as I can to figure out a way to share everything that happened in a clear, concise way. It has been the only thing I have talked about since 3:00pm yesterday. So, this is my attempt to explain the awesomeness that was Challenge Day.

About a month ago I was sitting in the ITC at Penn during study hall with Devin, Paige, and Craig. Devin came in a with a sheet of paper and started writing our names on it, and we really didn't know what for... He said that he was on this committee and he needed to get a list of people who would be willing to participate in an event called Challenge Day. (Insert confused faces by Paige and myself.) We had no idea what he was signing us up for, but when it was mentioned that we would miss an ENTIRE day of school, pshh we're we all for it!! We eventually found out that it was a big event that has happened all over the country to get high school kids to break out of their comfort zones, dig deep and share their feelings, and challenge us to get to know people before we judge them for just the image we see on the outside. I, for one, was extremely skeptical of Challenge Day at this point. I figured it would be just like the million of other things that the school tried to implement to discourage bullying and violence. So, at this point the only reason I was going was to skip out on a day of school. I completely forgot about it for a while until I got a sheet of paper last week that said I would be going on Wednesday, January 20th.

That morning came and I wasn't feeling too great about going. I rode into school with Nicole and just told her how I thought it was going to be a boring, cheesy, complete waste of my time. (I pre-judged, yeah, bad idea.) The only upside at this point was that I was going with a few of my best friends, Heather, Nicole, and Austin. We walked across the street to River Valley with 100 other kids, who were in the exactly the same boat we were, not too sure about what was going to go down... We walked into the atrium got name tags, and slowly began to make our way into the gym. Heather and I started to hear the beat of a rap song as we neared to doors. And sure enough, when we reached the doorway, music was blaring, and dozens of teachers, administrators, deans, principals, and parents were lined up along the entry way dancing and high-fiving us as we passed. (little wierd, not gonna lie...) We eventually found a seat in a big circle and watched as all the adult leaders shuffled into the middle of all of us and started dancing. K, I'm not joking here at all. I saw the, oh so serious, attendance dean break it down to Single Ladies. I watched my sweet, tiny, Chem teacher from last year booty shake. None of us were really sure whether to laugh hysterically, or turn our faces away, scarred for life. We went with it, and in the matter of a few minutes the rest of us found ourselves in the middle of the circle having a dance party right along with all of our teachers. One of the best parts was realizing how much the beginning of Challenge Day felt JUST LIKE CAAAAAMP!!!!! All the adult leaders acted just like us counselors act at camp, and we even danced to camp songs like Apache, Jump Around, The Train Song, it was crazy!! I could have sworn that any moment Jeffery Myers was going to grab the mic and start talking about ground bats!

We started to get a little more comfortable as we played a couple cheesy get to know you games. One of which was one where we had to link arms with someone back to back and dance with them. Yep, butt to butt. Awesome. As cheesy as the games feel like they should have been, they weren't at all. Everyone loved them!! After an incredibly loud game of volleyball on your butt, and a bathroom break we settled into hear the stories of the two leaders of Challenge Day, Chris and Berenice. This was the first time I cried during the day. They talked about growing up in a different country, losing parents to divorce, or losing a grandparent to a drunk driver. Everyone had their eyes glued on them the whole time, and after they finished they split us up into "family groups." The people in my group were totally random. I didn't know any of them. Berenice challenged us to really open up and share our real, true feelings with the group. The sentence she told us to start with was, "If you really knew me, you'd know..." Usually I would never tell a group of 5 other complete strangers something that no one else knows about me... something that has brought me to where I am today. But, somehow, and I do truly believe it was God-thing, I had no problem sharing my life with these individuals. Chris and Berenice made this atmosphere that was so comforting, and the walls in all of us just came crashing down. There was no fear of what other people might think. After more tears, and lots of hugs, we broke for a lunch break.

After lunch, Berenice brought us into a circle and told us we'd be doing an activity called the Power Shuffle. It's where every person in the room gets on one side of a line. And when Berenice read a statement off a card that applied to any person, they were to cross the line onto the other side, and turn around and face the rest of the group. While they went across the line, all the individuals that didn't cross the line put up their hands with the I Love You sign, to show support and love towards the other group. Some of the questions were, "Cross the line if you've grown up in a one parent home," "If you've ever been hurt by someone standing in this room right now," "If you have lost anyone to gang violence," 'If you've ever know someone who has seriously considered or attempted suicide.." This lasted about half and hour. Everyone shuffled back in forth in silence. It was clear how powerful this activity was when you looked upon the faces of people who had crossed the line. Tears, streaming down their faces, complete strangers reaching out to others to let them know that someone cares about them. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever been apart of. I learned new things about people who I have been good friends with, that I didn't even know about them. In crossing the line, I learned that some things that I didn't have affected me, truly have. I saw big, tough, guys fighting back tears. I saw girls from two opposite ends of the social scale embrace each other. I saw people who I had labeled as losers, or stupid, or mean, cross that line. And I realized that I have no right to judge them when I have no idea that they could have watched their best friend die in a gang fight. You just don't know.

After that, we made our way back to our families to go around the circle and share what statement affected us the most. I had two, but one was "Cross the line if you have ever been hurt or talked about by someone in this room." As I scanned the faces of the people who had crossed I realized that some of them could have been over there because of me... and that broke my heart. We hugged our group members for the last time and then they opened up the mic for anyone who felt like the needed to share something with the group. Students got up and said stuff about how they really wanted Challenge Day to live on, to not just be over when we walk out the door. They gave us challenges. Girls got up and said that they needed to apologize to someone in the room for being mean to them. Dozens of friendships were restored my the end of the day. People who hadn't talked in months, throwing back and forth insults about each other, could now embrace the other and be best friends again. One everyone had spoken the gave us the chance to go make any friendship right that we needed to, or just to go up and give someone a hug and appreciate them for who they are. I got to do both. I have never been more grateful for the people that God has put in my life, it changed my perspective on a lot of things.

So maybe that wasn't so concise... or very clear for that matter. But I hope that in some way you understand how phenomenally amazing this day was. The Name of God was not uttered once in the time that we were there, but as we walked out I turned to Nicole and said, "God was all over that, it's crazy that he could use a school function to change to many lives." Not one person walked away from experiencing Challenge Day the same as when the walked in.

True, I agreed to be apart of Challenge Day, because I simply wanted to be out of school for the day. But what I walked away with was worth far more than I could have every hoped or dreamed.

http://www.youtube.com/challengeday

The Motions: Matthew West

2010-01-13T18:00:00.000-05:00

This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way

Thoughts about Thoughts

2010-01-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

Is it odd to think about the thoughts that I have? Probably... oh well. Won't stop me.

Questions I think about...

Am I having thoughts that I would be embarrassed if my parents knew them?
Am I having thoughts that are judgmental?
Am I having thoughts that are hateful?
Am I having thoughts that would lift others up, or tear them down?
Am I having thoughts that would further my relationship with God?
Am I having thoughts that are honoring to God?

If thoughts turn into actions that I should always strive to make my thoughts something pleasing and honoring to God, so that in turn, my life will please and honor God.

Why can't I just get it??

2010-01-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

The Bible doesn't say "Find a church, get comfortable, become best friends with the Minister's wife, and then reach out to the community and show God's love." We are first and foremost called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Because when you come to the final scene of your life, and you are standing before a perfect and blameless God; no one else is there with you. You are all alone. You are accountable for yourself, and you can't lie. There's no, "Oh, well just let me tell you what I was going to do tomorrow!" or "But I had so many good ideas!" If you failed to turn you're thoughts into actions when you still had the chance, you're out of luck.

"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?" James 2:14

Do not think that you have to find your perfect place in life before being able to comfort the needs of others. Serving is about surrendering everything that you have, no matter what it is, so that some one else may feel a touch of God's love in their life. There's always going to be someone who has it worse off than you, no matter how awful you think you have it. There's always going to be excuses.
The Bible has a lot to say about excuses...

"Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, 'Hey that's none of my business,' will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know - Someone who is not impressed with weak excuses." Proverbs 24:11
"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives."
1 John 2:28

And the list goes on...

Eden, stop making excuses!! I'll serve when my small group wants to do something... I'll love others when I'm in Mexico... I'll be nicer to people when my youth leader is watching... But God, I just really don't want to help anyone today! Can't you see, I'm tired. I just want to be alone. God, that person hasn't showered all week, you want me to talk to them? I'll go find them later... God, why do I always have to do the gross work? Why can't I ever do something glamorous where someone will see me? Why is this so hard?

Just stop.

No more.

Get off your butt and get off your excuses.

I never said that following me would be easy, but I said that I would never leave you or forsake you. Your reward in heaven will be far and above greater than you could ever imagine if you will just obey my words. Just start, don't wait. There's people all around you that need me, in your school, on your street, even in your church. Reach out, even a simple act of small kindness can change the course of someones life. The time has come. Because when it comes to the end, and you are standing in front of me, I desperately want to reach out to you with open arms and welcome you into the kingdom.

"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7-9

Thanks for the Memories...

2010-01-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

2009 - another one for the books.
It was a good year, a challenging year, and a growing year. I went to Camp Adventure and Mexico over the summer which turned out to be the best two weeks of my life so far. I have met some amazing people who have challenged me to live my life better. I said goodbye to my great-grandma who lived to be 94. I've had to let go of some friendships and trust that God knows what he's doing. I have stayed up far past my bed time to finish homework. I went to Memphis Tennesee and got inspired to live a life filled with love toward others. I led a group of girls at Renewal, which was both challenging, tiring, but extremely rewarding in the end. I was a single lady, a dreamer, and urban for a night! :) I went ice skating at a Chick Night and then was best friends with Nicole Ditto. I started dating an amazing guy. I realized that you can have a best friend live far away from you. (J-Love in Fort Wayne!!) And lastly, the biggest thing to happen to me was that I publicly declared my huge love and devotion to Jesus Christ. I got baptized alongside my brother and sister and many friends. It was one of the best nights of my life!

God, help me to not stop growing in 2010. Show me how to live for you in everything I say and do.

EXCITEMENT!!

2010-01-01T14:29:00.000-05:00

I GET TO SPEND THE NEXT 3 DAYS WITH HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Crazy Love

2009-12-27T20:23:00.001-05:00

I recently finished what has become, hands down, the best book I have ever read. Crazy Love by Francis Chan. About a year ago, I went to Memphis Tennessee with about 50 other middle schoolers, high schoolers, and leaders for the Live Love Tour. It was an AMAZING weekend!!! Kristian Stanfill lead worship, which was absolutely incredible! (WE ARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD; WE ARE AN ARMY OF LOVE!!) And Francis Chan was the main speaker. Most of what he talked about came straight out of his book, Crazy Love. And a few months ago, I finally picked up the book to go through with my small group. And was just able to finish several days ago. So, I got thinking that I'd like to share with cyber space some things I learned from the book.... Now, I'm a BIG highlighter/note taker when it comes to books. But when I flip through the pages of the book now, it looks like I underlined every single sentence.... It was THAT good. This causes a great dilemma though... because now I have to pick and choose what to share! I guess you'll just have to go read the rest for yourself!

"Men are never duly touched an impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."

"It confuses us when loving God is hard. Shouldn't it be easy to love a God so wonderful? When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving out of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is."

"If my mind is the size of a soda can and God is the size of all the oceans, it would be stupid for me to say He is only the small amount of water I can scoop into my little can. God is so much bigger; so far beyond our time encased, air/food/sleep-dependant lives."

"Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. One the contrary, we tend to live a though our lives would go on forever."

"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives."

"The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time."

"Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule, and next month's vacation."

"Lukewarm People do not live by faith; their lives are structured so that we never have to. They don't have to trust God is something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them-they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live-they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend of God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in god health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God." (This kills me... because I realize how much of this is true...)

"Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

"Many of us believe we have as much of God as we want right now, a reasonable portion of God among all the other things in our lives. Most of out thoughts are centered on the money we want to make, the school we want to attend, the body we aspire to have, the spouse we want to marry, the kind of person we want to become... But the fact is that nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God; it's about eternity, and nothing compares with that."

"God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through."

"Joy is something that we have to choose and then work for."

"Christians are like manure; spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly."

Sooo, yeah, I kind of liked that book. Pick up a copy; it'll change your life.

Thoughts....

2009-12-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Do I go to church because I love Jesus or do I go because I love my church? I've been thinking a lot about this question lately... Am I more in love with the church than I am with the one who created me? It shouldn't matter where I am, as long as I am first and foremost worshipping God with all of my heart. But then why does where a person chooses to be matter so much? I don't understand. People become broken and torn apart by something that should bring us together. I'm not proposing that a choice of church doesn't matter at all, because it does. I want to be at a church where I can serve, and further my relationship with Jesus. But my relationship with Jesus should still be as alive when i'm at home reading my bible as it is when i'm sitting in a church service.
I love Granger Community Church, I have grown so much there, however, if at any point I find myself just going simply because I feel comfortable there and i'm not challenging myself spiritually, it's time to move on.

It's ok to be uncomfortable, because in the end the wierd, awkward times in your life will make you that much stronger.

Questions.

2009-12-21T15:18:00.001-05:00

Where is my lasor focus?
Are my priorities in order; do I spend more time digging into God's word than I do reading my US History book? If you really are what you spend the most time doing, than I am an overly stressed out student just barely staying above water. So how do I make my relationship with Jesus stay just as alive with all of my other school work, without completely burning myself out? Truth be told... I don't know. I don't know how to balence the thing that is my life right now.
How do I "Love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, and soul" when the majority of my day is studying concepts that I might not even use the rest of my life? How do I include God is something like school? If I was God, I wouldn't want to be at school. I'm just sayin.

God, I have so many questions. Where are you when it seems like I can't get answers?

It's been a month...

2009-12-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

A month since I've written a blog post. My sincerest apologies to those who are agitated that I haven't been on top of posting... (cough, dad, cough.)
Soooo what's happened in the past month...?? Lots.
How do you feel about a list? Cause I feel great about one...

--> Said goodbye to a dear friend, I was sad. He moved to Florida, so i'm sure he wasn't saddened by leaving boring northern Indiana.
--> My little (actually my BIG) brother turned 14!!!!! Crazyness!! He'll be a freshman at Penn next year and I can't believe it!
--> Watched my beastly brother at a few basketball games.
-->I WENT TO RENEWAL!!!! (more to come on that later...)
--> Purdue beat IU!
--> Purdue basketball started which is awesome because they're more dependable than the football team...
--> There was fog and I slept in.
--> Thanksgiving!! :)
--> Watched The Proposal... THREE TIMES over break.
--> No snow... :(
--> Went and cut down our Christmas tree!! And again... no snow.
--> Did tons of hw; studyed for lots of tests.

And currently I am mourning that fact that there is still NOT A FLAKE of snow in my yard. Gearing up for a hard week; choir concert week (aka: the week I will die) and a plethora of tests, quizzes, and finals!!
Hard to believe, we're already nearing the end of the first semester... But I am more than ready for Christmas breakkk!!!

I will try harder to share with you relatively pointess stories about my life more often.

Bye, friends!

Camp Manowe

2009-11-05T18:31:00.000-05:00

Last sunday my family went up to Camp Manowe in Michigan to spend some quality time together. Yes, my family wanders around the woods for hours... and likes it. Wierd.
Well, I hijacked the camera and snapped and few (hundred) pics and here's a few of my favs... These are the ones that left my in awe of how amazing God is and how much is cares about even the smallest of details.

I'm sensing a pattern...

2009-11-02T18:52:00.000-05:00

I have begun to slowly realize that a lot of my favorite songs consist of the same words.

Take My Life.

Concidence... ha. No.

Let's just take a look shall we --->

Take my life and let it be
All for you and for your glory
Take my life and let it be
Yours

(Glory to God Forever -- Fee)

Take my life and let it be
Everything
All of me
Here I am
Use me for Your glory
In everything I say and do
Let my life honor you
Here I am
Living for Your glory

(Living for Your Glory -- Tim Hughes)

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee
Here am I
All of me
Take my life
It's all for thee

(Take My Life and Let it Be -- Chris Tomlin)

Take my life
Take my mind
Take my soul
Take my will
Cause I am yours now
I give it all to you

(Take My Life -- Jeremy Camp)

Take my heart
And make it new
And make it true
And make it like you
Take my hands
I lift them high
They're yours not mine to do
So do what you will

(I'm Ready Now -- Desperation Band)

Take my life; the common thread. I try to make a concious effort, everytime I sing one these songs, to be intentional about the words I'm forming with my mouth. It's a prayer, God take my life. It's surrender. I give my life to you, use it however you want to. I'm letting go, it's all you, God. It becomes easy, though, after a while, to not realize what I'm saying. It just beomes simply words in a song, instead of continual prayer. I pray that I will never go on autopilot while i'm singing, that every word that rolls off my tongue will be an intentional, honest cry out to God.

Take my life, and make it all you want it to be.

I never wanted to leave this face...

2009-10-28T17:29:00.000-04:00

I met her in Mexico. I look at her and I see Jesus. She's one of the most special girls i've ever met.

And I didnt understood a word she said.

Moment of personal privilege: Paige Scott

2009-10-19T20:46:00.001-04:00

Paige and I are glued together by a bond that is not quickly broken. We were cabin buddies; what's up owl cabin!! And although living in small quarters for a week with 14 girls may drive two people apart, it brought us so much closer. We laughed, cried, made up fantastic Camp Beautiful chants together. We are best friends. She's an amazing girl! And a pretty awesome dancer! I love talking with her about life... uhh and boys. ;) She's one of the most encouraging girls that I know. Always lifting people up, and making sure that everything feels included. I love just being around her cause i'm hoping eventually some of her mercy and compassion will rub off on me...

I love you, Paige, you're amazing!!!

Things I learn from Middle School Journey....

2009-10-15T07:16:00.001-04:00

It's not about me.

Don't put your parent/guardian in a head lock. (Or DC will probably fight you...)

Middle schoolers make me happy :) They're so full of energy and joy; it's AWESOME!

Conflicts aren't settled by bad communication

Do what your parents tell you to do, not only because God tells you to, but also because they might ground you from church.

Actions speak louder than words.

Middle schoolers like to smell my bible... it smells like camp :)

They're not afraid to ask questions.

Oh, and if you need a way to let out your anger..... you can either, go beat up a trash can, or paint your parents face on a balloon and pop it.

Don't you wish you would have come to journey??

:)

Moment of personal privilege: Heather Stevens

2009-10-07T18:48:00.000-04:00

Heather Stevens; she's one of the girls in my small group, she chases after God with everything that's in her, and she's one of best friends. I am continually amazed in watching her lead at not only GSM, but at camp, and in Mexico. Heather has an amazing heart, she loves Jesus more than anything. I hold her in the highest respect. I had the privilege of serving alongside her in Mexico last July and I have firsthand felt the impact of her service. Heather is amazing. Period.

Middle School Journey Classes

2009-09-23T21:23:00.000-04:00

"What are you clinging on to that you should just let go of, because God has SO much more to bless you with once you do?"
~The amazing, wonderful, super-smart... Dr. Phil (Whybrew)

John 15

2009-09-18T19:32:00.002-04:00

I've mentioned my small group on here before, and I'd like to take this opportunity, once again, to say how much I love them! They are some of the most encouraging, hilarious, loving girls I have ever met. A few weeks ago we started meeting Thursdays mornings before school for a bible study. (Side-note... This should prove my extreme love and devotion toward my fellow group members, that I wake up at 5:30 once every week.) This past Thursday we read through John 15. As I began to read and take notes over this section of scripture, I realized it was going to take me at least twice as long as it normally would to get through it. I was writing down nearly every single verse and a note of what it meant to me off to the side. I read further and further and realized that it was probably pointless to just copy the entire section in my journal (which is what I was doing.) I couldn't believe how much good stuff was in this chapter. Now, I know that the whole bible is important but this particular part seemed to hit me in a different way than any other I have read. Some was encouraging, some was a wake up call.
Verse 2: "He cuts off any branch that nears no fruit." ---> Wake up call. Is God saying that every time my faith is stagnant, and every day that I don't feel like I'm doing all I need to be doing for him, he cuts me off?? Even if it's not that drastic, it still makes me constantly think about how I can "bear fruit."
Verse 2b "He prunes branches that do bear fruit." ---> This was really good for me to hear. I know that everything God does has a reason and purpose but sometimes it's hard to see. Like when he takes away things that have become comfortable in my life. Some of you might know about how God called my family out of our old church a year and a half ago, which was the worst yet best thing that has ever happened to me. (If you're curious about that, ask me! I love telling that story, because God changed my life through it all) He has also taken friendships away, and other things that at one time were very important to me. And though those were some of the hardest things I've ever had to go through, I can hold my head high and trust God, because I know he sees the bigger picture, even when I do not.
Verse 4:"No branch can bear fruit by itself." I can't do anything on my own. I have needed the support of so many people to bring me to where I am. If you think you can deal with a big thing in yor life all on your own, you can't. I've tried, and then I've failed, and had to come to others to guidance.
Verse 9: "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you." I can't fathom this verse. I can't fathom the amount of love God has for me. But I know it's A LOT. Even after everything I have done, he loves me with a love greater than I will ever know.
Verse 13: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." As I read this I thought of my small group. I thought about how much I love them, and how important they are to me. But then I thought if one of them were in great danger, or dieing... would I lay my life down for them? Give up everything that I have on this earth, so that they may live? When it comes down to it, my answer was... no. Someday, I hope that my love will grow so great, that my answer will be yes.
As hard as it is to believe, those are only a few of the verses I wrote down... No matter how many times I hear of God's love, it still takes me by storm. I am floored. All I can do is drop to me knees and worship my Father, because he is amazing.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

He loves us
Oh, how he loves us
Oh how he loves

Baptism... The Story

2009-09-14T16:42:00.004-04:00

http://www.currystew.org/?p=2335

Camp Adventure is a wonderful place where......

2009-09-10T17:48:00.013-04:00

Camp Beautiful happens.... OW OW OWWWWL!

Injury buddies happen... (Yeahhhh birdie on a perch, and buck-buck!!)

Strangers leave as best friends...

Tator-Tot toes happen...

3-2-1 BLOBBB happens...

Conquered fears happen...

Co-Co's happen...

Skit night happens... (Y-E, Y-E-L, Y-E-L-L, EVERYBODY YELL CAMP ADVENTURE, WOOOO!)

Cabin buddies happens...

Cooking out happens... (Please tell me you aren't trying to burn a potato chip...)

Jesus happens... big time

"Small things done with great love will change the world."

2009-09-06T12:33:00.004-04:00

I work at a place where I am constantly serving others. Asking them how they are, serving them food, making sure they have everything they need. And I love what I do. It's nice to know that I could be the difference between a good, and not so great day, for someone. So yesterday I went into work expecting to serve. And I did that, but God surprised me. An older couple came in and ordered a couple sandwiches and I took their food out to them outside to one of the tables. They sat and talked for nearly 45 minutes, and normally once you were done you just leave and I would go out and get their tray and plates. But the husband came in, handed me the tray and their trash and a 3 dollar tip (50% of their meal), and said, "Have a great day, God bless." It just struck me in a big way for some reason. I didn't put anything special on the sandwich, didn't stick an extra lemon in the iced tea, but he was so nice. Roughly 2 hours later we were about to close and I was bringing in furniture from outside and a friend of mine, Zach, that works a couple shops down was passing by on the way to get the mail. Bringing in chairs and tables is a little annoying but not terribly hard. So, just as he was passing, he stopped and said, "Hey, can I help you bring this stuff in?" He helped me fully knowing he was getting nothing out of it. I'm glad I went to work yesterday. God showed me the impact a small act of kindness can have on a person.

My Friend/Fake little sister, Danielle Allie.

2009-08-31T18:01:00.000-04:00

There's a girl that I like a lot. Named Dani Allie. I think you know her. She's pretty awesome, she makes me food and hangs out with me even when my sister's not there.
We have fun times together. :)

"A thousand times I've failed, still your mercy remains..."

2009-08-25T17:46:00.000-04:00

Thoughts on mess-ups, guilt, shame, and God's grace.

Most times I'd like to think I have stuff in my life under control. I'd like to think I can keep a pretty good, healthy balence with everything. But every once in a while, I slip up... sometimes I fall flat on my face, and others I just trip over myself a bit. But the bible says that either way, a small or big mess up, I automatically fail. Boom; game over.

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all." It is so easy to just read James 2:10 by itself and think, "Wow, God tells me that I'm a failure and there's pretty much no hope for me." Awesome. And for many years of my life I thought just that. Oh, I knew that God loved me and that he has forgiven me many-a-times. But I didn't really truly believe it in the intermost parts of my being. Because of that there has been a constant layering of more and more guilt in me. I didn't know how and I didnt want to let it go. The little or the big things. There have been some recent experiences in my life that have been a HUGE wake-up call to me that I need to be more aware of my thoughts and actions... I can't participate in a church service and sing "Take it all" when I really don't truly mean it. I can say that I give everything to God, but the truth is I'm holding on to my guilt with a tight squeeze. Because, number one, it makes me feel better. I'm not really sure why, but I guess if I feel bad about what I did and just keep clinging on to those awful feelings about stuff I do wrong, then I know it was wrong. If I just let it go, I can't feel bad about it anymore. The second reason why I keep my guilt close to me is that I hate to feel vulnerable, and I hate confrontation. If I were to let it go, I'd have to pull it out and deal with it. If I just keep it inside then it's tucked away, nice and neat so that no one else will ever have to know about it, and it would be just fine. And then I read this...
"Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean slate of my failures to God."
Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared." (Psalm 32:5) This helps me to visualize the light at the end of the tunnel. I know that in the end, letting go of pain and guilt I've carried around for so long, will turn out exponentially better for me. It's just going through the pain of having to deal with all the stuff I have done that scares me more than anything. God's grace is so much more than enough for me, and I'm just starting to realize the depth of that. "If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking..." In Mexico, my super awesome fanatstic small group :), talked a lot about trust in God. About how trust in God is something that comes with experience. The more hard times a person is faced with, the more their trust in God is stretched. I think it's the same with understanding God's unfailing love and grace. If you did everything right, and never messed up, (which is impossible) than you would never know how incredible the grace of God is. The fact that Jesus can hang, nailed to a piece of wood, blood pouring out of him, and say "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" baffles me to no end. There's no way I will ever know how amazing, and how unconditional the love of my heavenly father is. My love is so uncredibly conditional, and my continual prayer is this...

God, forgive me for my mistakes, take my guilt and rid me of it. Help me to let it all go. I want to understand your never ending, unconditional grace and love towards me. "Take my life and let it be, EVERYTHING, all for you! Here I am, use me for your glory! In EVERYTHING I say and do, let my life honor you! Here I am, living for your glory!!"

Breathe in deep.... aaaand GO!

2009-08-20T16:33:00.000-04:00

Let us all take a moment to breathe in a collective deep breath. Mmmm, doesn't that make you feel nice and relaxed? Well, enjoy that small moment, because it's gonna be a crazy ride, and I like lists. :)
Ready?
Ok, good, here we go!

First/Second day of school
--->Overwhelming
--->Chaotic
--->AP Seminar.... Hmmm, it's gonna be a fun year.
--->Great to see friends!
--->Physics=Pretty much death
--->More to come...

Random thoughts swimming around in the recesses of my brain...
--->I CANT WAIT FOR GSM TO STARTTTTT!!!!
--->How am I going to get a 4 page spanish vocab packet done by tomorrow...?
--->My devotion was really good this morning...
--->"What good is to gain the whole world, but lose your soul?"
--->I use a lot of these: ...
--->Hmmm, I wonder what those are called, I can't seem to think of it right now
--->I'm a big fan of Tim Hughes
--->Ooh, I have to go babysit.

Sorry for that very pointless, picture-less post... I'll make for it later :)

Bye, friends

A few verses and quotes from Mexic09

2009-08-16T15:56:00.000-04:00

"Do not despise small beginnings , for God rejoices at the start of the work."
Zachariah 4:10
"Peace has less to do with the absence of uncomfortable and unwanted things in life, but more to do with what God offers us in the midst of trouble. His peace, presence, joy, hope, and faith."
John 16:33
"If we look better to those we share a pew with than to those we share our street with, there is a problem. If we can lead a great children;s Sunday school class, but yell at the kids who cut through our yards... if we can pontificate complicated spiritual truths and be impressive at church, but lack a loving response in our homes, than we have a problem."
Beth Guckenberger
"Shelter, is it only a place or is it a state of being? A state of being at peace, a state of being safe- mentally and physically, a state of trusting in someone you can neither see nor feel. David walked through his life with those assurances. Not a perfect man, but a man who tried to be perfectly connected to God. Therein lies the secret to true shelter. It is directly dependent on our relationship with God."
Kathy Couch
"God is the only eternal shelter and refuge and what He does is not exclusively physical but often times emotional and spiritual."
Kathy Couch
"When everything around us is changing so rapidly and feeling so uncontrollable, isn't it a comfort to have a SHELTER that does not change? A SHELTER that is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Kathy Couch
"Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is a state of minds. Those who experience peace have love in their hearts even when turmoil surrounds them."
Greg Huffer
"God's promises of shelter apply on the most profound level of eternal things. No matter what happens to us in this life, nothing an no one can snatch us out of God's hands."
Greg Huffer
"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
"Let us not become a people that gets comfortable with just hanging out with the 99. Let's get up, and go after THE ONE. God, help us to become a generation that will go and search for THE ONE, just you pursued us."
Beth Guckenberger
"Let them watch me burn."
Mark Beeson

Friends, Friends, Friends

2009-08-15T22:09:00.000-04:00

What would I do without them???

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
--> Proverbs 27:17

2009-08-15T21:37:00.000-04:00

"It's better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there's no one to help, tough!
Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.
By yourself you're unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped."
--> Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Inseperable... "What is a friend, a single soul dwelling in 2 bodies."

2009-08-14T22:18:00.000-04:00

Rebeccah Sarah Rendall is one of the best girls I have ever known. Her love for Christ shines brightly, and her love for others is something that I envy. I look at her and think, I wish I was exactly like her. She's one of the biggest role models in my life. I love to worship with her, and I loved getting to serve beside her this summer at Camp and Mexico. Get to know her, you won't be sorry.
"Every time your name comes up in prayer, I say, "Thank you, God!" I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Mather Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it." --> Philemon 1:4-6

Ready, Set, Goooo!

2009-08-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

So I caved. I am officially entering in to the blog world! First off I'd like to make a confession. I am a blog-stalker. There, I said it. Truthfully, I love reading about people's lives, about their struggles, prayers, and funny things that happen to them. So, I figured, "Hey, why not join 'em?!"
Here I go.... I'm not too sure what one would say on a first blog entry... I want to say something poised, but not too deep so that people would think that I just sit around at home thinking of profound things to say, because that's not me at all. So here is my attempt to put words together that will somehow cause you to keep reading my posts. My name is Eden, and I love Jesus. If I concluded my post there you would pretty much know everything that you could want to about me. Jesus has changed my life, and I live everyday to honor and glorify him. My biggest goal in life is to love God, love the people around me, and live my life in such a way that God will shine through me.
I hope that after reading this you don't feel like I just wasted your precious time! I hope and pray that God would speak through my words and stories to lift up and encourage anyone who reads it.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by :)