Christmas with my second family!!

I just had a wonderful night celebrating the birth of Jesus with some of the people I love most! I think Christmas is the most special when there is as little stress as possible and it is just fun and carefree. I love Scott and Erica and their kids! They are such a huge blessing to me and are hilarious! Scott and Erica are so funny and loving to each other and are just living out Gods promises!! The kids are so great, and I am so glad Reed is all healed up. He is healthy and strong again! Thanks for your prayers! 

They gave me such an awesome gift all Christ centered!! I am so blessed! We also got to end the night with a game night! I love playing games with people, especially the people I love! 

The holidays

As Christmas is rapidly approaching, there are many shoppers out and about buying gifts for others. Some are stressing about finding the perfect gift, others are worried about money, some fear seeing their family, and then there are some content in Christ. I want all Christians to not become anxious around the holidays, but instead relaxed and throwing our burdens onto Jesus!! After He is what this holiday is truly about. 

A friend asked me this week "well if atheists celebrate Christmas in America, I wonder what atheists celebrate in other countries." I didn't really have a response. I know people always say Christmas is about giving, but it is not actually. Christmas was the day of God revealing His promise to us. He showed His faithfulness and a journey of new to us. God gave us something more than we can ever give back to Him. So Christmas is about giving. Giving blessings. It is not about presents and Santa and pictures and snow. I believe Christmas is about promises. If you have dedicated yourself to Jesus, He already dedicated Himself to you many years ago. So what gift can you give Him? Not stress or anxiety, but love!! Cry out to God, go to church, go to a homeless shelter, give people things they NEED. 

Don't let people stress you out, but if you are going to be stressed out, be stressed about the fact that we aren't doing enough for God!!! Gifts will break, they will fade in color, we will grow out of them, and we will forget about them. It may make someone happy temporarily, but the gift that will last is your love and you loving them with Gods love. In the end they will not remember the gifts, but your acts of service and dedication. Giving them a bible AND offering to do a bible study with them. It may seem cheesy but honestly gifts don't matter, it may make you "cool" for a day, but when you love them day after day and bring them to salvation, is when you are worthy of the king almighty. And going back to earlier that is what we are trying to do, give back to someone that we can never fully "break even" with. 

Happy late thanksgiving!!

I realized that I never said Happy Thanksgiving!! God has given us so very much to be thankful for and even though there are many ups and downs and trials that we go through, God allows these things to happen because He knows we can endure through them!! I am so thankful for where I live and go to school, I live in a good and safe area and am provided for. I am thankful for every person in my life, those that have hurt me and those that have just been there all the years. Why? Because they are all part of my story. They won't be forgotten, but I will thank God for them because they have some how impacted me or changed me even if it is in the past. 

I know family time can be stressful and buying presents for people can be a hassle, but that is not the point of it all. The point is simplicity. With all that is going on in our lives, we need to take the time to thank God for all that He has done!! I am so very thankful for the storms God has brought me out of and all He has kept me safe from! God is good! 

Here are some pictures from my trip to Nebraska! 

Sinking deep

I was listening to Sinking deep by hillsong today during class. And I just started thinking about numerous things that we are sinking deeper and deeper until we find the love of Jesus and realize the depth of our sin. It is a mighty price we should have to pay and it really weighs down on our shoulders, but the king of all kings loved us so much that He said it didn't/doesn't matter our past as long as we commit ourselves to Him now and live a life for Him. He told us that He will not bring our past against as, but will love us in the now. And slowly that love will just wash over us and cleanse us and make us new. It's over! Lord you have cleaned me. I just think about how sometimes when I am on the farm like driving the gator I get covered in dirt head to toe. Well I have to shower and it takes time to get all cleaned up and sometimes a couple of days to get it all out of my hair. This is kind of like that. It doesn't happen instantly because we have to learn that our sin is bad and that we don't want to sin. And sometimes we might fall again before we are completely clean. Each sin has to be cleaned from our bodies. Don't forget we do fall, but it gets easier. We are not perfect but we have a perfect king. He is righteous and powerful. And He is washing us as we pray, study the word, worship Him and serve Him. He is on our side and working for us and we are working for Him. He is cleaning us and making us new. 

For King and Country concert!!!

I had the most amazing time last night praising Jesus at the For King and Country concert!! God was definitely present and just healing. I got to take Drew and Reed some of my favorite little boys who love the Lord sooooo much!! They were just pouring their hearts out to God and worshipping Him. It was an amazing time. Their name comes from an old english chant and they thought what better to be known by than For our King and country. They were amazing guys. The fame definitely hasn't gotten to them and they have all had their fair share of trials. If you missed them they will be back at winter jam in January! They took some time to share about men and women not settling for being second best and about their wives. 

Drew and Reed also got to meet my youth pastor and he gave them some free basketballs:). 

We started the evening going to orange leaf together:). 

For King and country!!

Just a reminder For King and Country will be leading worship tomorrow morning at Valley church at 8:15, 9:30, and 11! Hope to see you there! It will be an awesome service!! 

The concert is also at 7 pm tomorrow night!! 

My week:)

I have had a crazy and wonderful week redefining my relationship with God and my own life. It has been crazy with basketball season starting, but God has blessed me nightly. This school year I have begun to struggle more than ever in my past to find time for God. I would always do in the mornings when I woke up in the past, but now I have more to do at night like work, volunteering, homework, and other commitments. I have been unable to find myself opening my bible in the mornings or at night. I just don't have the same accountability with people that I used to. That is why I have been able to not open my bible except on Sunday's and sometimes not even then. But it all comes to a painful and scary end at some point. And that came for me last week when I was just beyond upset and stressed. I am never that way. I knew I needed a "break". But unfortunately I have school. 

So I took the week off from most of my communication and other worries and I met with God. I began doing my bible studies again, and I just learned soooo much! I studied a lot in 1st corinthians 3. It just resonated so much with me, with living worldy and not pleasing to God. These were some of the verses that stood out to me the most. 

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV). 

We do need to be ministering to others and loving them, but God is the one and only that can make them actually grow and love Him more. We can teach and love but it all falls on God. He appoints us to a task and we need to be faithful. But I believe the most important thing is to have your own foundation. We can't accomplish any fruitful tasks without a strong foundation of Christ the solid rock. I needed to regain that and find that in myself. I wasn't treating people with constant love and kindness, but sarcasm, negativity and failing to meet what I should in their lives. I was skipping church some weeks and not going to other important commitments that I should be in my life. 

I had quite and upsetting incident with a close friend this week and it isn't someone that I usually get upset with but there has just been a build up of her gossiping, rudeness,swearing, and just not following through with commitments and just betrayal and I just decided I needed a break from that. I want to love her, but I need to be solid on my own first and primarily love God and do His will before I can put myself around that kind of environment again. 

I have found myself with so much more joy and forgiveness now and I just an praising the Lord God Almighty!! There are still certain people that I do need to give space to because they need it or I do. But that doesn't mean I don't love them and am not praying for them. God is more and you are more. God has control of my life and I am not in control. Lord God you are my all in all and I truly do surrender!!  

Creighton business symposium 2014

On Friday I had the pleasure of attending the largest student ran business conference in the country! It was a very fancy and wonderful day and I learned a lot. The century link center is also amazing!! But in the car ride I had some time to think. I am not where I desire or should be at wjth my relationship with God. I hardly ever spend time wjth Him besides when I am singing, I am friends with a lot of great christians, but they don't substitute for God, I have become very negative and sarcastic. All in all I am going back to the person I used to be before I was made new in Christ. Now this is due to several things and areas of sin, but I need to fix it. I need to go humbly before God and break down and give my heart back to Him. I can't keep blaming other people or holding onto people that I should be letting go of. I can't keep trying to hold on to the past or bring the past back. The past is done and history does not repeat itself. God has forgiven, but I need to ultimately find myself again. This is why I will be taking a break from blogging for a week or two. 

Here are some pictures from my awesome day!! 

Too busy???

I So many Americans nowadays constantly say how busy they are. How are you? Well I am busy, is the common response today. Everyone is either super busy or lazy. But for some Americans feel proud to be busy. They like others to know how much they are doing and want others to feel bad for them. Some peoples busyness turns to a huge source of pride, they want to share their burdens with others, when all their busyness comes from their choices and time management. 

One of the sources of our busyness comes from people pleasing. We worry about doing things to impress others, we don't actually want to do them or want to please God. We desire others to like others and so we say yes to things when they ask us to do things. So much of our busyness comes down to meeting people's expectations. You want to be known as the nicest person. So you tell others that you will do a service project but you are really doing it to prove to others how nice you are. We use all of our time and energy trying to prove to others that we are a certain way. That way is pride for us. So in reality our busyness comes from us doing activities that God isn't actually calling us to. We are doing it for our own selfish reasons and this makes us more and more busy. People pleasing causes busyness. 

Another cause of busyness is hospitality. Christians are called to hospitality. But the kind of hospitality many are showing today is stress and I need your encouragement. You are here to encourage me, not for me to host you. Instead of worrying about serving them you are more worried about the food, your kids behavior, how the house looks and not as much about the guest. People are getting worked up and crazy busy in all the wrong ways instead of just hosting people and loving them. Christian hospitality has much more to do with love and care than it does to do with good food. 

Just make sure your busyness is taking over your life and it is the right kind of busyness. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ

Last night I had a great time volunteering at the great pumpkin party for special needs night! It was such a great experience getting to love on kids and adults with special needs and be with my other youth group members as well! I was just so blessed thinking about how this was all my family!! 

With so much ugliness and darkness in the world it can be easy to doubt others and not see the good in them. But in our churches with a good foundation and true love there is so much beauty in others. I think it is so easy to see that when you are serving God with others. You can see their true heart and how God has changed them. 

Take some time and love on your brothers and sisters in Christ. It will change your heart and life entirely. It will bless you and change your life as well. Getting to love on others is amazing!! 

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14:10-12 NIV). 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17 NIV). 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV). 

Manipulation

Last night at student leadership group for church we discusses having a healthy heart and that they can't do that for us. Well the more I thought about it last night, I realized how much more I used to struggle with being manipulative and that ultimately stems from a selfish heart and negavity. A lot of what it takes to be manipulative is not allowing others to be happy unless you are, or making sure the focus is on you. If you don't get what you want then you are mad and manipulate the situation so others either feel bad or get mad too. There is no benefit to this. It causes everyone involved to be upset. Manipulation is a dirty game in my opinion. In the end you are trying to win it and cause others to lose. And it is a game that never stops unless you put an end to it. It is not a character trait, it is a dirty habit and can and needs to end. 

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV). 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV). 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV). 

Just know that being manipulative gets you no where in the end, except anger, self destruction, unpure heart, and upsetting others. It doesn't make others feel good when you manipulate them to

get your way, it feels gross and annoying. It is no a healthy habit to have. There is a block in your heart telling you that you need to get your way and it doesn't matter the costs or how unhappy you feel at the time. Treating others like that will not help you be happy in the end, but you will still feel like you need to do this or that to be happy and get what you want. 

I believe manipulation is not a single sin but comes from a combination of lying, deceit, anger, and selfishness. It really hurts others and yourself, because eventually you can't manipulate the situation so that they aren't mad or annoyed with you, but they will know and be hurt. It does nobody any good. I had to really get my heart in check before I realized this and just do a lot of reflecting on how I was treating people. I just know that is not how God wants me to treat people. 

Great pumpkin party!!

I want to invite everyone to go to valley church for the great pumpkin party this Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8! It will be a great time with the love of Jesus! No scary costumes. There will be inflatables, a petting zoo, candy and tons of games!! Be there! 

Apple orchard trip 2:)!

I have had a very exciting and exhausting weekend! While I got to do a ton of fun stuff, I think it is an important reminder that as humans we need sleep. You can't just keep going and going all the time and never stop to think or rest. In order to function properly we need sleep!! As part of my fun weekend I got to go to the apple orchard again with my sister and her roomate! It was a great time!! 

God I thank you

God I thank you, oh Lord I thank You. You have carried me through the storm and brought me away from darkness. Lord I can't even make it through one day without needing you and turning to You. I am in such desperate need of a savior and I just thank you for where you have brought me. But Lord it is not about me. It is about You and Your people. It is just all about you, and the things I have made everyday all about me are frivolous things Lord that you can do in 30 seconds. Lord when I make it a dramatic ordeal and have fear, I am not trusting your power and glory. No matter how stressed and powerless I may feel Lord, you have the power. You have the power God. You have saved me from death and brought me into life. I have nothing to fear God, because I have given you my life and you have given of yourself to me! There are troubles that come to us, but nothing that we can't use for your glory! Every troubling situation we must look at it and say Lord help me, don't let me stress or fear. But let me turn my sorrows into praise! Lord God I love you with all my heart!! 

New term!

Today marks the start of a new term at Waukee high school. Everyday I just can't believe how fast high school is going. Before I know it, it will be Christmas and then I will only have 3 more semesters. The school calendar recently came out for next year and usually I am just like okay when do we get out, but then I realized...this is my last ever school calendar, this is the school calendar for my senior year. Life moves fast. Sometimes we never stop moving, an object in motion wants to stay in motion. We have to take a moment and just relax and breathe. To say a prayer to God and just not forget why we are here! There is so much more to do for God, not for ourselves. God put us here, we didn't create ourselves. So we do not follow our hearts way but Gods hearts way. 

Don't get so caught up in the world and being busy, to worship the Lord, who is ultimately why we are here!

1st corinthians 2

I recently got back into my morning bible study. I have started going through 1st Corinthians. If you haven't read 1 corinthians lately you need to get back into it and dig deep! 

I love this verse because the human eloquence part is in one of my favorite songs! And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. (1 Corinthians 2:1 NIV). 

We don't have to have it all together or have the perfect outfit or be the smartest person out there. What we do have to know and believe in our hearts when we share with others is, that Christ died for us!! And that truly our faith did not come from these persuasive ways of others or deceptiveness but just from Christ. We don't have to do all the work, we can be scared, but we shall let Gods power prevail!! 

Today your thoughts should be focused on Christs spirit and not our own. If it weren't for His spirit, we wouldn't know Him. We wouldn't know our Father. Read this today!! 

My favorite christian songs right now

1. Fix my eyes-for King and country

(By the way, if you haven't bought tickets yet for the concert on November 16th at valley church go to life1071 and buy them now!!!)

2. This is amazing grace- Phil Wickham

3. This is now-Casting Crowns

4. Wake-hillsong young and free 

5. The wonderful cross- Chris Tomlin

6. You are my king- Newsboys

7. You carried me-building 429

8. Start a fire- Unspoken

9. Cornerstone- Hillsong

10. Fearfully and wonderfully made- Matt Redman

Happy birthday Reed!!🎉

One of my favorite little boys turns 7 today!! Happy golden birthday Reed Joseph! He is such an amazing boy with such an awesome heart for God!! I love singing with him and praying with him before he goes to bed! I am praying for an awesome next year for Reed!! I love you sweetheart:). 

Homecoming 2014!

Homecoming was fun this year just getting to go with a group of girls and hang out:). I love getting dressed up and my mom did my hair! There are always dissappointing things at homecoming, but it just gives glory to God with the way we live. We have to do our part in the world to show others the light of Christ and not give into the temptations of the world. There is so much sin and darkness in this world but there is also so much beauty in Christ!! To God be the glory! 

It was a little cold:). ❄️

Apple orchard and pumpkin patch!!

As I have expressed many times before I LOVE fall!! It is my favorite time:). Even though it can be a kind of kiddish thing I love going to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch. I had the best day last Saturday! I got to start it going the Dolls to watch the kids and have donuts with them:). Then I went to the apple orchard with 7 other girls! Even though some of them got a little cranky and were complaining about the heat, I still had fun!! It just reminded me that especially in big groups everybody won't always be happy. Be happy! Be positive! It is still easy to have fun if you are loving Jesus in your heart and not letting others negativity get you down! Here are some pictures from the afternoon:). 

We got very lost in the pumpkin patch:(. It was scary! I am good with directions and I felt the most lost ever. 

And finally I ended the day hanging out with my youth leader at church and Rachel another girl that goes to Valley! We made cookies and delivered them to neighbors as well as praying for them! I had such a wonderful day!! 

Have faith, not fear

Today on Pinterest I saw this beautiful picture. As I have expressed in my other blog I love fall.  I love every single thing about it. When I go to work out at night and walk outside afterwards listening to awesome Jesus music and feel the beautiful weather I just want to drop to my knees and praise God. This weather just causes me to feel something amazing. I feel closer to God. I can sense Him in every single way and just sing out to Him! Believe that God is real and that He is powerful. He can do amazing things. That is why every day when I start to have anxiety about AP physics or college or homecoming or anything, I can sigh and just say God Almigjty you are in control!! He is there, I know it and I believe it every day. I want to live out that belief and tell others about the amazing news! I have nothing to be afraid of. Even if all my relationships aren't the exact way I desire them to be, God is sovereign and He is in control. I have no fears or worries because it is all part of His perfect plan! If He has for me to be or not be friends with someone that is up to Him and not me! I am thrilled for a free night tonight to get to relax and spend time in the Word doing my own bible study and digging deeper! My friends, He is there and He knows what He is doing! We shall not doubt! I love where God has me right now!!! It's soooo awesome! Praise you Lord! 

Love at all times

Let's face it, humans all sin and are all going through their own stuff. Everyone is going through something good or bad. And we are also facing tough things. To others it may not seem like a big deal to others but if it is to us, it is to God. God cares about what we are feeling. He is there for us in a mourning and our stress. And even though this issue may seem like the end of the world it is not. 

My point is not that this world sucks and that there are so many problems but that we don't know what others are going through and they don't know what we are going through. Love them. Love yourself. Always maintain a state of love in your heart. Love is so important and love is what we can do to reflect Christ. Be love and show love! That is all I can say!! Do all you can and that you are capable of to love those people in your family and the ones you only see once a month! Care for them and express to them how much they mean to you. I am all about hugs, and to me when I am with others that I really love a lot I just want to hug them lots! That is how I show what they mean to me. Find your way you show love and do it! Every day to everyone you see! If it means smiling then smile all day long! Loving God allows you to love others so put Him first. Spend time being loved by Him so you can more it into others. But LOVE. 

Jesus loves me

Today at underground at Valley church we had a really cool speaker, Greg Speck. He is an awesome guy and just fun to be around! He talked to us about our journey especially as high school students. He asked us 2 questions...does Jesus love you more if you do a 30 day devotional? No. Does Jesus love you less if you don't do a 30 day devotional? No. Well, wait what, ummmm, I'm confused. What's be point then?!?! He loves us the same either way so we can do whatever we want! We can party and drink and not spend time in the word and He still loves us, YAY!!! Nope. But if I spend all my time with God and no time on homework or sports or having fun and just reading the bible He still loves me the same. Grrrr. I'm lost. Nope nope is the answer. We don't do things so God will love us more but we do them so that we can love Him more. God is not the one who needs help loving people or forgiving, it is us. We can always know more about Him. Being a christian is not boring. One day we can talk a walk and praise God for nature, then do some random acts of kindness, then we can read through a couple chapters of John, then we can spend time with our family. Every day I realize how many huge oppurtunities I have as a christian!! It is sooooo exciting!!! God gives us so many wonderful things to do! 

People always say Christianity is a sprint and not a marathon. What does that actually mean? Well if someone has everyone line up on a line and tells them to run 100 yards, I think everyone could do it. Some people might take a couple of minutes others no time at all. But the point is everyone would be able to accomplish it. It is fairly easy. But a marathon is over 26 miles with no stopping. What sane person does that?!?! If everyone starts on the same line I think a lot of people would just fall down from the start because they know they can't finish or they don't want to try and others will try and slowly stagger off giving up. Very few would make it to the finish line, especially if there was no preparation. That is Christianity for you. It scares many people. They think it will be too much work. They don't think they are good enough for the race or able to finish. Well christians are not perfect the only way we complete the marathon is by the grace of God. We get exhausted and want to give up but we persist through. Some will try and decide it's not for them or that God isn't faithful enough and bad things happen. But the battle is within it is not a battle between God and satan. The battle is between what power we choose. Keep running no matter how exhausted you are. The marathon does not stop once you have kids or you get older it is till the day we go see Jesus!! 

Remember being a christian and a disciple is not about what we did but what we are doing. It is -ing verbs not past tense. I am reading the word daily. I am going to church. I am sharing the good news of the gospel. I am fasting. We are not done and we are no where near complete. Stay on Gods path for you. 

The center

I think so many times I hear people saying "what's the point?" And the truth is sometimes in the activities we choose as humans there isn't a point. But when we put Jesus Christ at the center of all of our activities and problems and work and everything else there is a point. We are doing it for Jesus. 

At the beginning of this blog I was super excited and would consistently post or blog everyday. Well that newness wears off. I get busier everyday with school and work and different volunteer things and church. Last May I actually stopped writing for a good deal of time because I couldn't find a point in it. I felt like nobody was reading and like me writing was causing more stress than good. For me there had to be a point, and there wasn't. I wanted so many people to be reading it. Then talking to a friend I realized that the blog was not necessarily for everyone else but for me and Jesus. It should be a source of strength and encouragement for my relationship with Him. I am not writing for others or to have this huge blog that everyone reads. If people read it  that is great! But my ultimate goal is just write down my thoughts about Jesus and my love for Him and I can see personal growth too. 

Sharing that story is to express that sometimes there may not be a point or you are trying to do something for Jesus and getting to stressed. That is not good. God does not want to pile and pile "things for us to do" on us and cause us a ton of stress. He wants us to be productive and loving servants. If you are doing a service project but getting mad at others or not loving them, you have the wrong heart. Don't just stop doing everything and give up. Examine your heart. At the heart of your job is it you loving Jesus? Working with kids especially can be exhausting and hard and frustrating at times. But sometimes if I am getting overwhelmed all I have to do is just smile and say I love you God, this is what you gave me and have for me. What is at the center of your universe? If it is not Jesus, then you might need to pray and ask God for guidance. Christians again and again I have seen get to overwhelmed. This is not what God desires. Do what He has for you. Don't just try to be busy. And do what you do with ALL your heart!! Working for The Lord not for men. Make Jesus your center. Knowing at the end of the day He is holding you in His arms and you get to talk to Him every night! Jesus is my all in all! 

King and country

This is one of my favorite christian bands right now! They have awesome songs- fix my eyes and the proff of your love. Their new album just came out today and I love it! If you haven't gotten a chance to look at it listen right away!! They are sooooo good!! And the best news is that on November 16th they are coming to valley church to perform!! More details are coming soon but I can't wait for a night of worshipping The Lord! I have just been in love with God lately and love getting in the car and just blasting the music to praise my awesome God and Father! Another great song that has been really heavy on my heart is this is amazing grace! Worshipping God and singing praises to Him is one of my favorite things to do and I love getting to do it with those I love! God our father I love you and praise you! Take the time in the car to not talk on the phone or be angry with other drivers but just sing at the top of your lungs to God!! 

*Iowan drivers are ranked 15th rudest so instead of focusing on that use driving to focus on God!! 

Happy birthday!!

I love birthdays! The fall is a very busy time with birthdays for me and it can be a bit overwhelming but love getting to bless the people I love and care about them!!! I think birthdays are soooo important to get to love and bless the people you love. Show them how much you care about them and what they mean to you!! It's so important to show how special God made them and how God created them for a special purpose! 

Happy birthday Jenessa!! I love you sooooo very much and I am sooooo soooo very thankful for you!! God has made you so amazingly! And you serve so many awesome purposes! Thank you for all you have done for me and the ways you have blessed me! Jenessa you are awesome in every way! I look up to you sooooo much! Love you!! 

Great verse!

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV)

Tomorrow Wednesday the 10th!

I am so excited for tomorrow. I took the day of from work I still have to go in for an hour because of somebody else but I get the rest of the day to myself!! I am so excited to just get to enjoy Gods presence and read His word! I think I might get to go shopping tomorrow from like 3-6 tomorrow maybe too. So call me if you would like to go shopping with me or read the word together! I am excited for a good bible study!! And I get to finish the night tomorrow with youth group at valley from 8:15-9:30! Jesus is going to fill my day tomorrow! Let me know if you would like to get together:). It's such a blessing when God gives me free time!

Who are you in the church?

We started a really amazing series last week at Valley church that resonated with my heart a lot and I wanted to share! The series is called "All through Christ a life changing encounter" which is just so amazing and true! When we encounter Christ it will and does change our lives! 

He gave us a list of people who don't impact the church or change the church. Here it is! 

1. The counter fit-the person who isn't actually changed they are just faking it and going to church not actually letting God change them. 

2. The dried out sponge- they used to be useful but aren't anymore. They aren't passionately seeking God. They are exhausted and the christian life is not for them anymore. 

3. Garbage collector- I love this one. All they do is smell they pick up on the junk and the trash (the gossip and negativity). They collect it and thrive off of it. And when try get together with others they just become a garbage dump. 

4. Sherman tank- the increase tension and make people uncomfortable. A little scary sometimes even. 

5. The wet blanket- always tell you why it won't work and what's wrong with that idea. Nothing is ever good or done. 

6. Bureaucrat- always worried about the policies and getting everything orangized. Not letting the power of God do it. 

7. Thumb sucker- pouts and is moody. They are never happy or get their way. 

8. Chicken little- they are scared and the sky is falling. God doesn't overcome their fears. Never trying anything new. 

9. Invisible man- never goes to anything or is there and not actually there in heart. 

I think this is such an awesome list! You don't want to be these things but you also don't want to be too much of the opposite of them either. Be present in heart and spirit. Loving others. 

There is a really funny video if you go to YouTube and type in dog protecting bone from himself. He is literally attacking himself. We don't want to do that in the church! They are part of the body and we have to protect and love them! 

Visiting my sisters!

We got to go to davenport last weekend where my older sister clarissa goes to school and my other sister Miranda was playing soccer there! It was great to see them! I got so close to Miranda and Clarissa in the last year and I miss then greatly! 

Clarissas roomate crystal:). 

Perfect?

Jesus was and is perfect to this day. He had no faults or sin. He was born of the perfect father. We are sinful people and will always will be. I have sinned, as much as you and I may try and act like the perfect christians sometimes we have sinned. Some sins are worse than others and we are more appalled at things like adultery and murder but why is there a level of sin? Lying is just as much of a sin as murder. It is all sin to God, so why in our culture have we made some sins acceptable and others punishable by death. Lying is punishable by death by going to hell just as much as murder is. Just like God just as easily forgives liars as He does cheaters. We are not better sinners than others we are all sinners. Gossip is sin. God hates sin. Therefore He hates gossip and He does not like people who gossip. Don't think that God has better things to worry about than your gossip because your gossip or lies may be just as bad sin as your world as murder. They may cause murder. 

In my life I am so sick of trying to be the perfect person that has it all together. This last weekend has been one of the saddest and most humbling of my life. I have felt alone, angry, happy, scared, stressed, abandoned, hurt, forgotten, loved all in one weekend. And honestly I just cried. I lost it. I cannot physically or mentally depend on myself. I am sick of being the person that always has her life together-perfect grades, trying to be involved in every activity at school and church and work, always having my nails painted and my legs shaved and having the best outfits. Never letting anything phase me or upset me. Putting the brave face on even when I am badly hurting or upset. Always trying to set the perfect example. No it's done. I am not perfect and won't ever be. I can't ever be that perfect person. By the grace of God I can be who He has me to be. Don't let that stress overtake you and lose the battle. You aren't in control of your life and if God isn't you still aren't, Satan is. Give God the control, pour your struggles on to Him. He can do it all and we can do it all through Him. Don't get to the point where you come to nothing because you are trying to do everything. Cry out to God today!! Ask and beg for love and forgiveness and I know I know He will put it in your heart and give you His heart. He is the Prince. 

Happy birthday Haley!

Thursday was my best friends birthday! She turned 17! I am honored and blessed that I got to spend time with her and love her on birthday! She is such an amazing friend and is always there for me! I praise God for her life and what she has done for me and her faithfulness through all the years. I pray that God has awesome things in store for her in this next year and truly blesses her and that she develops a passionate relationship with Him!!! 

Oreo balls that I made:). 

Haley and I at the Holliwell bridge in winterset!