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A sprint or a marathon?
I have been part of a bible study this summer and we have been studying through the book of Psalms. (which in all reality has nothing to do with my post-just some background info) But anyways, we meet on Wednesdays and this past week we were talking about what God has been teaching us. As a lot of you know, some of us recently returned from a SMITE trip to the Bahamas. A dear friend of mine who went made a comment about how it was so easy down there to be on fire for God, but coming home has been hard. And I must say I am right with her. But my youth pastor’s wife gave an illustration that put things into perspective and helped so much. She was talking about how so often we go on trips and experience these amazing highs-we’re so on fire for God we don’t see how we could ever go back to the way we were. But then a few weeks later the excitement has worn off and we’re back to our normal lives, no different then we were before. But the Christian life isn’t a bunch of sprints-the trips we take, though they are high spots, are not the highest. The Christian life is a marathon-a very long marathon. And if we run it one step at a time and take each experience and use it to change our daily life we will see growth. As much as we would like it, we can’t live in the highs. Eventually we have to come back down. All the training we’ve done since January wasn’t just to prepare us for our trip-it was to train us for life. To help us grow in our daily walks-not just be on fire for two maybe three weeks. I don’t really think this was a new concept to me-but rather one I had forgotten about. I came home expecting to be different-but I realized being different doesn’t have anything to do with a missions trip or a week at camp or a school chapel..being different has to do with your daily life. Being different means I do my devotions every day. Being different means I love everyone. Being different is a daily struggle-not a one time experience. The experiences are great-often times they are springboards. They give us momentum-but what happens when it wears off. What happens two months down the road when that one person you don’t like just pushed your buttons, or when that teacher gave a ton of homework? Not a million experiences will help that unless you make a decision to live everyday different. I know this is one thing I am going to really work on and I hope you all will too. How awesome would life be if everyone got serious about their daily walk with God. I think it would be radical and get people’s attention..but then again..that’s just what I think.
I’m out..
Amanda
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Ya Bahamas!
Ya Bahamas!
I’m heading off-as of Saturday Morning(July 17) at 3:10 a.m. I will be on my way to the Bahamas for two weeks. Now I know, you all feel sorry for me..(ok, maybe not), but I’m not going to be just sitting on the beach catching the sun-although it’s gonna be hot. I’ll be on my long-awaited missions trip with my SMITE team. If you read my blog at all you can see how often what we studied has come up in my blogs..but that’s a different blog for a different day. Our schedule is busy-VBS, basketball tny, and youth conference. It’s gonig to be tired, but so much fun! And so hot and no A/C..but you know, I don’t think Christ had A/C so I think we’ll be ok. I’d appreciate your prayers and will miss you all. I will get back into blogging in August. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Just a note to my Smite team-you guys rock.
I’m out..
Amanda
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Something I noticed..
People aren’t very aware..and I am definately included in this. But as I’ve grown up and am now almost done with high school I have come to realize over and over how true it is. For the most part people are very wrapped up in themselves and not very focused on others. I have been studying Christ’s life with my SMITE group and let me tell you-He was a very other focused man. He could sense people’s needs and was available to meet every one. One of my favorite miracles of Jesus is when He heals the women with the bleeding disorder. She crawled into the crowd just to touch the hem of His cloak. And even though Christ was on the way to heal someone else-He stopped. He knew this lady needed what only He could offer. I am then jolted back to reality. How many times have I stopped to meet a need? How often am I aware of how my actions and words are affecting others? Do I ever think about those around me? Sadly, I think most of the time the answer is no. Someone told me one time, Amanda, you live in a bubble-you focus right ahead-and never look around to see the needs beside you. It wasn’t easy to hear, but man did they peg me good. I look at my friend’s-we have so much, but sometimes it’s frustrating..how much of an impact do we have on other’s? Sometimes I hear people talk about them..but it’s about how they feel intimidated or unequal next to them. I think sometimes it would be so simple to meet a need-God doesn’t often make us search high and low to find someone-he usually places them right in our path. The key is being attentive and watching-I bet that if we would all open our eyes we would find that there are needs all around us. there are people who would be so estatic to get a phone call or an e-mail. I learned from one of my camp counselors-sometimes the most encouraging things are the things that are the easist to do. Christ met needs-but He was always open, always available-He stopped on dusty roads to heal lepers, He turned in the middle of crowds to listen to the cry of a blind or a cripple-He wasn’t focused on himself or on where He was going..He was focused on others. I’m going to be a senior..well, you could say I am one..and I know I have a lot of learning to do in this area. I’m very goal driven and a lot of the time that means the people around me come closer to the bottom of my list. I am going to work on it-and I challenge you. Find one person each day you can be an encouragement to. You don’t have to go out of your way-God often places the opportunites right on our path. We just have to seize them. Follow Christ’s example and focus on others. Not the end, not the goal, not the event-but the people.
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A King’s Daughter
A King’s Daughter
That’s what I am! A daughter of the king. I never thought about it until my dad lost his job. All of a sudden the idea of God being my king seemed far out and non-realistic. What kind of king would put his daughter through suffering? Aren’t kings supposed to give them all they need and provide for them? Well, YES! and that is exactly what God does. He provides for me-although it is not always in the way I would like. Sometimes I think God should hand me a silver platter full of riches and fluffy couches and happy endings-no sadness, nothing hard. Just a life that is “perfect”. And then I get jolted back to reality and realize He’s given me much more then a silver platter-He wrote me a love letter that is 66 books long, He sent His son to die for me, and everyday He provides for my every need. He brought people into my life to help out-whether it was providing funds, dropping off groceries, or even just buying me shoes. It was in the little things-like friends praying for me, and people being there to encourage me. And God provided a peace that I have never felt. A calm that seemed to say-it’ll be alright. God has a plan. And He did and He does. It wasn’t my time table, it wasn’t my plan-but God had already orchestrated the whole thing. He knew when, why, how, and for how long before I was born. And everyday He plans everything. The older I get, the more life obstacles I seem to encounter, the more the decsions have life-long consequences and the more I see God’s hand in it all.
I am currently reading a book and I came across this quote today, “The Lord in His infinite wisdom and love places a high value on people’s faith that He does not shield them from those trials and difficulties by which their faith is strengthened.” He wants us to increase in faith. He loves us and He places the things in our lives’ to increase our faith. I think somewhere in Matthew it says, “If ye have faith even as a mustard seed, you shall move mountains.” That doesn’t seem like that much faith to me, but obviously we all lack in it. I’ve grown to rely on God for my needs-if I do my part, He does His. My summer didn’t turn out the way I planned, but I am so glad. I have been able to focus more on my savior. As the end of summer seems to be ever looming, I can’t help but wonder what God has in store. I am about to turn a new page in the story of my life. I wonder what lessons God has for me to learn, what experiences I will gain, and what trials I will encounter. I am confident nothing will come into my life that is not for my good and nothing that I cannot do with God’s strength. So as I continue my summer, my prayer is the God increases my faith in Him and opens my eyes to the wonderful things to be found in His love. I pray that you too will find the joy that comes from only Him.
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God is AWESOME!
God is AWESOME!!
He really is! I always knew that, I grew up singing, “My God is an awesome God..” But lately I have seen how awesome He is. My dad got a job-yay!! That was a huge answer to prayer. But beyond that God has been showing me and teaching me a lot. My prayer since summer started has been that I will fall in love with God. I think it’s easier in this world to fall in love with a guy then it is to fall in love with God-but that has been my prayer..and God is answering it everyday. He has opened my eyes to the simple things in life and in the many ways He shows His love towards me. He sent his very own son to die for me. I am not a parent, but I would not send anyone to die for people who would hate them. I can’t imagine it. I am doing a study on Psalms-which has been my favorite book of the bible forever. I love the way the psalmist pour out their hearts to God. They aren’t telling stories or even offering advice. They are simply crying out to God. And He answers them. When they call out to Him, He hears them. It’s been a good reminder for me-I have been so busy lately. But God wants me to quiet my heart and listen to Him. He wants me to call out to Him. I love my God-I love his Word-I can truly say I have grown closer to Him thus far. And I am praying for you. Everyday.
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God is Faithful
God is Faithful
“I will never leave your nor forsake you. Heb. 13:5” That is one of my favorite verses. And lately I have become so much more aware of how true that is. I always believed it I guess.. I mean, I knew God promised to never leave us. But then my dad lost his job, I lost my summer job, I am a senior, college is around the corner, things started to go weird and I found myself in this place of doubt. Did God really know what He was doing? Maybe it would be better if I took over. Thankfully, this time I didn’t do that. I kept praying. I asked God to increase my faith and trust in Him. And you know what, He answered my prayers with a big YES! He didn’t show me the solution to the problem nor has He yet, but He gave me peace and a trust in Him that is for the time unshakeable. I have seen over and over how He has provided. My church family has been amazing..so many times people have stepped up to help out. And I have found enough odd jobs to keep gas in my car and get some of things I need. Do I know how things will turn out-no way. Am I worried? Nope. God knows. He has a plan. And even if His plan turns out to be different from what I hoped, I am going to trust it. Satan is not going to get a foothold in my life. And I hope he doesn’t in yours either. Trust God. Whether it’s in something small or something big. Sooner or later that trust is going to be tested. Is it strong enough to say that God’s way is best? I hope so. I’m not perfect-I still wonder sometimes. I wonder why God has brought all this about. I wonder how I am ever going to get to college and if I’ll ever get a better car. I wonder a lot, but whenever I wonder, I have made an effort to pray. I still don’t have any answers, but I am best friends with the one who does. And that is the greatest comfort.
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No Regrets
Kinda a strange title for my post, but then again it does fit. This past weekend I was with one of my dear friends on her houseboat. I had so much fun..although I am a bit sunburned and very sore. I learned how to water ski, went tubing(which by the way, is the funnest thing!), and conquered one of my fears-jumping off high places into water. I am a chicken..you are lucky to get me off a diving board. So when they said we were going to the cliffs I about freaked out. What was I going to do! We got there and they didn’t look that high..until you climb up and are standing on the edge of a rock cliff 30 feet above the water. Yea..talk about scary. But I did it..I jumped in! It wasn’t that bad afterall. And I lived my time on the houseboat with no regrets.
As I was coming home, I was pondering the last few months. I have done some things totally out of my character and very crazy. Yet, I have also had very few regrets. I thought about the times in my life I regret and a lot of the time it was because I didn’t seize an opportunity. I didn’t do something because I was scared. So I am going to work on not letting my fears get in the way. Yeah, people may think I’m weird or that I am a dork. But why should I let that stop me. Phil.3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” I truly want this to be the theme of my life. Not living in the past, in the regrets, but rather following what the previous verse says, “..Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”(Phil. 3:13) I want to live a life with no regrets. I don’t want to come to the end of my high school career and realize that I lost a lot of valuable time with my Lord because I was too focused on the past. I have been given here and now. Today-not yesterday and not tomorrow-but right now. And I want to live out today in view of eternity. Yes, the future is going to be great and I can’t wait for college. But I still have time, and I want to finish up my time in high school with no regrets.
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School’s Out!
Just have to say I’m a SENIOR!!! I’m so excited..but you know what, more then that, I’m excited I still have some time to grow and change and make an impact around here. Yeah, it’ll be great to graduate..but it’s not going to be here for a little while. Until then, I’m just gonna focus on here and now. and by the way, SMITE is gonna rock..just had to say that! Rausch and Wickert-it’s gonna be a blast girls..”I’m not washing my hair, taking a shower, or shaving:)!” LOL..fun times!! Eve-Yeah Goodwill shorts..:) Angela-what can I say girl, your a blast! It’s gonna be so hot, but I bet it’ll be one of those experiences of a lifetime! And at least we’ll have good abs from laughing all the time:) I can’t wait..
I’m out..see ya
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Reflections
Reflections
Wow..hard to believe it, but another school year has come and gone. I’m going to be a senior and that is completely beyond my scope of reasoning..it seems like yesterday I was in 7th grade. My how the time has flown. As I was finishing up my last exams today and heading home, one of my teachers said to me, “well, how’s it feel to be a senior?” My first thought was, wait a second, I’m not a senior. I drove off thinking, my how many things about this year I wish I could have done differently. I wish I hadn’t gotten in so many fights with Emily..I love that girl so much. But sometimes our strong personalities and need to be right got in the way..I’m so thankful she is forgiving. And I wish I hadn’t complained so much..I wish I had learned to enjoy more about life, then always complaining about it. I wish I had taken my walk with God more seriously..He’s shown me lately how important time with Him should be..I wish I had made it more of a priority. But in all of those things, I’m so thankful for the lessons I learned. They weren’t always easy and sometimes I thought they were dumb-but reality is, each time something came up this year, I learned more about my character and saw more ways I need to grow. Sadly, my perfectionism got in the way and made me slow to admit my wrong, but God is working on me in that area. I also look back on the good things-I made some awesome friends, experienced some fun things, and did things I would never have dreamed of doing. I am looking forward to next year, but I am also sad it is my last. I have finally gotten excited about God, my school, and my church-I only wish I had more time to make an impact. I also learned a lot about trusting in God. So many times I felt like the ground was falling out beneath my feet-but then I realized it was just God picking me up and saying,”Ok, it’s my turn to be in control.” So while, I have my regrets, I also have many more times I look back and remember with a smile. As I close this chapter of my life and begin to embark on a new one I can’t wait to see what’s in store. I’m so thankful for my friends, and my family, and most importantly my God. He is the beginning and the end and forever He will reign. Have a great summer everyone!
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SATs
SATs are the best way to ruin someone’s confidence and future plans. One bad day and you are stuck going to a community college studying the art of folding clothes. It’s like-who cares. Colleges should pick a new equaller-one that is actually possible to do well on if you are not a genius. You can be a staight A student..but get a lousy SAT score and be marked forever. Not to mention that once you take them the first time, it kinda ruins your desire to ever take them again. 4 hours of doing the same thing over and over-talk about boring. So to all of you who have not taken them yet-good luck. May you defeat ETS or perish in the attempt. 🙂
*By the way-I’m sure you will get into college no matter what you get on them*