This week at my school, we have has a leadership camp and it has been awesome! But today was the last day, and one of our speakers, Kevin Brownfield, spoke on prayer. Let me tell you, I have never heard a sermon so good. But there was something different about his sermon. See, it convicted the fire out of me, but it also inspired me-it gave me a passion and a desire to make a change. He spoke on having a dynamic prayer life. Now, I can honestly say my prayer life is anything but dynamic-in fact, it is more stagnant. So we he said he was going to be speaking on prayer I was already convicted. But I think the thing that stuck out to me the most was one statement he made. He said, “I believe nation-wide revival can start right here in Faith Christian School.” Now, I was thinking maybe we could revive our school, and maybe even our town..but I never thought about nation-wide. However, prayer is a powerful weapon and I truely believe that if each and every one of us will desire a dynamic prayer life-we could start a revival. Yeah, it’s gonna cost us something, it’s gonna take time, effort, sacrifice-but wouldn’t it be worth it? And even if we don’t start a nation-wide revival, I am definately changing my prayer life..no more stagnant pond..it’s gonna be a rushing waterfall.:) I am so on fire and ready to tackle Satan head on. I have God on my side, and the best friends anyone could ask for. And I hope and pray that you will tackle this whole issue too. Look at our own prayer life-is it what it could and should be?

Just a thought..more to come later..

Amanda

Over my Christmas break, God has really challenged me with this whole idea of contentment. And it has not always been easy. I think the biggest area it shows up in is the whole relationship arena. It seems like all my friends are hooking up, and quite frankly being single and hanging out with people who aren’t just isn’t as much fun. Yet, finding a relationship seems to have eluded me. Someday I will, I know it. I know God has someone out there. But it’s hard right now. I sometimes wish God would drop him on my doorstep tomorrow so I wouldn’t have to agonize over this.:) But that isn’t going to happen, so I am just going to have to learn to be content with where I am now. I read a quote in a book the other day. It happened to be on this subject, but the author said something like being content is not about not wanting a boyfriend, but about being ok with the fact that you don’t have one. I never thought about contentment like that. I always thought if I wanted it then I must not be content-and to a certain extent that is true. But God wired us as relational beings. Its only natural that I want that. In fact, it might be more unnatural if I didn’t want it. (but that’s besides the point). It’s a whole timing thing. Anyways, I decided I was just going to be ok with the fact that I didn’t have a boyfriend. I don’t need one, and while yes-I do want one (I will admit it), I don’t need one. I was going to be content with where I was. That didn’t mean my desire changed, but slowly God has been changing my desire. He has shown me that He has a plan and if I will trust Him-things will all work out. If I will be content with where I am, He will provide far better then I ever could on my own. So who knows what will happen-I’m leaving things in God’s hands.

Just a thought..

Amanda

It’s a new year..the time when everyone makes out their list of resolutions..things they hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. Yet many times, at least in my life, by mid-January my list has found it’s way under my pile of stuff and I have forgotten about it. So this year, via something I heard from a friend I have decided I am not going to make any resolutions. Instead, I am going to make a covenant with God.

Psalm 89:34 says, “My covenant I will not break,

Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

God is talking to David here, and He promises David that He will not break the covenant He set with him. In God’s eyes, a covenant is a promise-something that is not meant to broken. David made a covenant with God to set no wicked thing before His eye. God made a covenant with Noah to never flood the earth again. And the scripture is full of more examples. So this year-2005, I am not going to write out a list of resolutions..I am going to make a covenant with God. And I am only going to make two. Perhaps you may think less of me because I only have two, but perhaps by my only having two they will not be so quickly forgotten.

1. I am going to establish a daily habit of spending time in His word and in prayer. This has been lacking in my life lately and I am going to work very hard at making this something I desire, not something I do. I am going to find my daily sustenance in His words and my joy in Him.

2. I am going to work on having an overflowing of love for others. Christ modeled love for others in everything He did and that’s how I want others to view me, but more importantly, that’s how I want God to view me.

So, there ya go. My two covenants with God. Right now-day one of 2005 I commit them to God with those of you who actually read this blog as my witness. My prayer is that come this time next year, I won’t look back and wonder where I went wrong, but see growth and change in my life. And I pray that as you make out your list of resolutions you commit to following them.

Just a thought..

Amanda