That’s how many posts I’ve written!

Ever sit down to write and have so much to say, but no matter how hard you try your thoughts won’t make it to the paper? yeah..that’s me right now. I seriously have a million thoughts going through my head..they have been taking away from my precious sleep time..but for some reason they won’t come out. They won’t form into something I can write about so for now I will leave you all. I will be back later when my thoughts are ready to be written about.

I’m out..

Amanda

I’ve been in the mood to write lately..perhaps partly because my mind has been restless..I can’t sleep. My mind is too full of thoughts and those thoughts usually yield themselves to a blog entry. So on to the point of this blog.

Perhaps it is because I’ve been thinking about college or perhaps it’s because my brother transfered schools..but God has been challenging my a lot on my point of view. Someone once told me, “What you think is reality becomes your reality”. And while I didn’t agree with them at the time, I think I do now. If I think that I am not wanted among a certain group of people, that becomes my reality and I avoid any and all contact with them. And I could come up with countless more examples like that. But Christ had a “Big-picture” view of life. While so often, my view is a “here and now” view-looking at life in regards to me. The more I broaden the scope of my view and my life, the more I realize how silly things are. I realized that so often I view life as being about me. What are they going that hurts me? Why am I not invited? But instead of making a difference, I complain. But see, life isn’t about me. Life is about other people-it’s about loving people. If you wanted to boil down life to one thing it would always be people. So why do we ration our love and acceptance? hy are certain people ok and certain people just not cool? Why does what someone does dictate how someone is liked? Why do we think that we are number one? Christ hung out with the lowest of the low. He ate with the sinners. He loved them-He loved the women caught in adultery. He loved the sick man. He loved the beggar. He loved the soldiers who beat Him. He loved you. He loved me. So what excuse do we have? Where in Christ’s life do we find him worrying about Himself? Read the gospels-you won’t find it cuz it’s not there. Christ didn’t care about Christ-He cared about the people He came to save. That’s our example-what are we going to do about it?

Just a thought..

Amanda

13 hours. No AC. 50 some odd teenagers. Two unreliable buses and several break downs later we made it. Our destination-Brevard, North Carolina for a week of summer camp in the sweltering heat. Every summer my church takes a a bunch of teens down to the Wilds Christian camp in Brevard for a week of well..camp. And it never fails that the trips down and back are where some of the most exciting memories are made. But there was one year that will always stick out in my mind. We were all loaded up ready to head down south for the week. We had a trailer attached to the back for the million bags us girls thought were necessary for one week..I mean, who knew how many pairs of shoes you might need. Finally, we were off..for a short while..then the trouble started. The trailer hitch broke-on the way down alone we stopped three different times trying to get it fixed. Our precious luggage hanging on by a thread. While the leaders tried to hide this fact from us..it was inevitable that we would find out our bus/trailer was having troubles. While we did arrive safely, it took longer then the estimated 13 hour trip and needless to say, we were exhausted. Not the best way to start out an even more exhausting week. Come Saturday morning, we loaded up and started to travel home. We were all sunburnt, exhausted, and ready to be home. So we started driving..they had gotten the trailer fixed and figured it would be smooth sailing. But an hour from home-so close that you could almost feel it-our bus broke down. I mean, it wouldn’t go anywhere. We were stranded in a parking lot in the middle of a big city one hour from home. Add in the fact that it was nearing 11 o’clock, it was bad. Always looking on the bright side, someone found a smashed water bottle and we ended up playing soccer with it for an hour or so until we were able to procure a ride home. To this day we still talk about that trip. And while I have traveled to that camp many many times..this one trip will always remain etched in my mind.

Check our Blogger Idol here

You may be thinking..the harmless factor, what is the world is that? One of my former teachers, Matt Harmless, was up for a visit today. He moved down to South Carolina in June of this year. It was a bittersweet occasion..on the one hand, it was great to see him and his wife, but on the other, I knew it would be over all too quickly. See, Mr. Harmless was my hero in a sense of the word..I used to love to sit and listen to him tell story after story from his highschool days. He had such a passion about what he was saying. But more then that, He had a real desire to meet his students where they were. He didn’t expect us to be super-Godly, 100% perfect angels. He knew we were sinners and were prone to mess up now and then. He realized we just needed someone to come alongside and say, “hey, you can do..it’s just gonna take one step at a time.” I remember countless times I would sit on his barstool and pour out my latest troubles. I came to really admire and respect him-as a father, a husband, and a teacher. And then he moved..and I realized that as I look back over my highschool years-that single day when the moving truck pulled out will forever remain etched in my mind. I remember the conversation, the tears, the questions. I remember thinking how could it be. But I remembered that God had a plan and He still has a plan-even though there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t walk by his room for nostalgia sake. I’m sure the teacher the occupies it now wonders why I do it.. So Mr. Harmless..thank you! I hope our paths continue to cross and I embark on a new chapter. You and your family will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

Just a thought..

Amanda

Check out this blog..

Biscotti Brain

Today is my 18th birthday. I have officially entered adulthood-the stage I shall remain in till I die. Having a birthday so close to Christmas proves great in December and a bit sad in June-which I think would be the ideal month for a birthday. I have learned though that I can make twice as long of a Christmas list-that is until this year. 2004 has proven to have a lot of new beginnings in it. My dad lost his job and found a new one. My mom went to school, got a job, quit, and got another job. My brother started at Harrison. And I started my final year of highschool. Quite the happenings around here. Due to numerous factors, we just aren’t able to have the big Christmas I know my parents want to provide for us. But it has given me lots of things to think about. One thing is just how life is about relationships, not things. It’s the people around you that make life great-not the stuff in your closet. As I think of going away to college, the thought of leaving my friends is so sad to me..I can leave my room, my things..but leaving my friends is a whole harder thing. Another I have learned is how we are all in the same boat. Just when I think I am the only one struggling with something, God brings a friend along to comfort and encourage me. Kelly, Angela, and Chelsie-you guys are the best! Thanks for being there through all this..and for sharing with me.. I think though one of the biggest things I have realized is how amazing my God is. He gave up heaven. A place I can’t even imagine..to come to earth and be poor..he didn’t have a home or any earthly belongings..but he was motivated by love. Love for me. That is a thought I can’t get my mind around. I can be sad because we don’t have a Christmas tree or because I will have fewer presents to unwrap..but I have something to open, and I have a roof over my head and an overabundance as it is. Take some time this season to think about Christ and what He gave up. Can you sacrifice something little for Him?

Just a thought..

Amanda

I have decided I love bookstores and coffee shops! They are some of my favorite places. Probably because I love to read and I love to drink coffee. They are also great date spots..not that I ever have any dates or have any control over where I go..but if I ever do, I will put my two-sense in! LOL 🙂 all that to say..I love bookstores and coffee shops and am at a loss for what else to say..

Just a thought..

Amanda

Ever feel like you try so hard and then in one moment all the effort is reduced to a pile of nothing? Ever wondered why you are doing what you are doing? That’s kinda how I’ve felt lately. I have really been working on my spiritual life. Something happened a few weeks ago that showed some things I needed to address. I realized I was not heading the direction I wanted to be. With God’s help I have worked at slowly going about solving them. But then, in one moment-I feel like it was pointless. I know it wasn’t..but it seems like my faults are broadcasted on a big screen while my victories are ignored. God knows me better though. He knows I would rather work for man’s praise then God’s. And I think that is why this keeps coming into my life. And I honestly think, until I learn the lesson, I am going to keep struggling with this. So I am going to work on it. And while my friends may only be able to point out the things I’m doing wrong, my God in heaven sees my triumphs. I should be working for future reward not earthly reward.

Just a thought..

Amanda