Thursday, April 28, 2005
Busy Busy Busy!
Okay, so things have been really hustle and bustle lately. Last week, I was up to all hours of the night preparing for a mock trial in my english class. There is SO much to say about that, but really it's just boring stuff for anyone who wasnt involved. Right now, I have a cold on top of allergies that turns into a fever whenever I get a headache [according to my doctor] so Im not in the best of shape but Im getting there.
Wednesday I sort of made a turn around in my life - the way Ive been living it for the past two weeks - and decided I am going to crack down and refocus what Im doing. I know for a fact that most of the reason for my "stand still" (as I call it) is because of that trial. Our next project in english is to read a 'college bound book of our choice'. We were given a list of books and I chose to read the bible. My first thought was that it will be an amazing witnessing oppurtunity but now Im realizing that whatever time I would normally spend on an english project (hours upon hours) will now be spent on reading the bible. The challenge now lies in actually doing it. I have to read the entire new testament by May 25th, and on top of that make 10 story boards and write a reflection essay on the reading I do. I am excited, but in order to have time for everything, I'll have to read 20 chapters a day for 20 days and spend the last few days I have doing the essay and story board.
Also on Wednesday, Dad came home. He has been doing pretty good, surprisingly. Nurses come over about three times a week, but its all good because he is a lot happier it seems. I cant do anything but thank God for the situation; the church has been so overwhelmingly helpful through all this and I can only thank God for that!
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Ma' Birthday a.k.a. my day of birth
May 1989, all U.S. McDonalds restaurants begin serving the country-style McChicken sandwich.
May 10, 1946 Red Sox win 15th straight beat Yanks 5-4, DiMaggio hits Grand
May 10, 1969 Apollo 10 transmit 1st color pictures of Earth from space
May 10, 1992 Bible Lands Museum opens in Jerusalem Israel
May 10, 1997 Chicago Cubs turn baseballs 68th triple play (vs San Francisco Giants)
May 10, 1996 "Twister" premieres
I was born May 10,1989.
So as you can see, I am destined for something big!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
My Glorious
The world's shaking with the love of God
Great and glorious, let the whole earth sing
And all you ever do is change the old for new
People we believe that
God is bigger than the air I breathe
The world we'll leave
God will save the day and all will say
My glorious!
Clouds are breaking, heaven's come to earth
Hearts awakening let the church bells ring
And all you ever do is change the old for new
People we believe that
I love this song and it really what I feel right now. When I close my eyes, I can see Jesus coming out through the clouds and revealing Himself to the earth in His second coming. I think its something Ive been daydreaming about so much lately that its an image embedded in my head. When I look into the sky now I can sort of imagine His face emerging in the pillows of fluff and feel his hand reaching down for me. It is one of the most comforting feelings Ive ever felt, but it only comes when I focus on Jesus Christ.
Today after school, my Dad called the house and was crying; he missed us and wanted us to visit. He told me he was sick of this situation, sick of being stuck in the hospital, sick of the way he lives basically. Crystal had to go to work so she couldnt visit him but I called up my mom and she drove me over. When we got there he was waiting for us. I pushed him around in his wheelchair a bit around the ReHab Center - we even went down the hall to visit these three black dogs that were allowed in the building for patients to visit with- then we went back to his room for a bit. Around 7:00 I pushed him back to the room in the front of the 1st floor, surrounded by windows, and then me and my mom left. He was watching us as we went to the car; it was really sad. Anyone who reads this, I beg you guys to pray for him to be comforted and to feel an unbelievable amount of Christs love spread over him.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Finding Purpose in Problems
Well, I looked back at the previous post I made today and realized it made almost no sense. So I am writing now to try and clear up some potential confusion that may exist there and also to add some stuff.
This weekend, Alyssa and Kami slept over - Saturday night. We went to youth group, Church, and then FrootLoops. Things were going fine up until about the middle of the church service when Pastor Jeff mentioned Mormans. Kami follows the morman faith and I dont even remember what Pastor Jeff said, but I know it wasnt exactly... (how do I say..) encouraging to followers of Joseph Smith. I noticed her mood go significantly down after church. I dont know whether that was because of the comment made in church, the conversation I had with her afterward, the fact that we were real tired, or something entirely different. But I am really thankful about how she handled the situation. I know she sometimes has a problem withholding her anger in events like that and she did really well. She told me she prayed about it, that whoever was "in the wrong", whether it be Pastor Jeff or her, that the Lord would convict them. So that was good. We drove her home after Froot Loops.
But throughout the weekend, I guess Crystal had been talking with Alyssa about her faith in Christ and the change in her life. Alyssa has just expressed how she has grown so happy realizing she needs Christ in her heart and that she needs to dedicate her time to serving Christ, similar to what our youth group is doing over the summer. It was more encouraging than I can explain to see her coming to the Lord and it lifted my spirits. But again, satan couldnt stand to see us joyful so he tried to bring us down. Alyssa's step dad bought this $55 colon a few months ago, left it sitting out by the entrence to their house, and recently started looking for it. Its not there; he thinks one of Alyssa's friends stole it or she gave it to one of her friends. He told her he wouldnt feed them or spend a penny on that household until he got his colon back. Well, she didnt have it so there wasnt much she could do. That all kind of happened Saturday. Sunday, after church and FrootLoops, she called her stepdad just to say she loved him - she was in such an incredible mood - like i said. He basically said he didnt care, and he wanted his colon. She felt so rotten, started tearing up on the spot. Next thing we did is we went to her house, packed up a huge suitcase of her stuff and she moved in with us; because he basically told her to leave. He told her he wouldnt be happy if she stayed, so that was her cue out. Anyway, she is living with us now.
I talked to Dad later in the day and he is not doing all that great. He has a real bad cough and it could be phemonia. He allowed me and Crystal to stay home tomorrow though, thank God. I have to catch up on my purpose driven life study that I only started a few days ago but still managed to get a day behind in. Also Crystal is going job hunting, along with Alyssa, and I am going to get some applications.
Well, Saturday was Brians last night at Roots. It was really sad, and it really began to sink in when I was writing my goodbye. I realized I barely got to know him in the few years I had him as a leader. And I started to think about the influence he had on my walk with Christ and realized it is a pretty significant impact. So Im going to miss having him around: his desire to be a servant, his sense of humor, his endless creativity, his understanding, his knownledge. Its always going to be a gap in Roots for the original members, but Steve is great and I know we are so blessed to have him, and possibly River, on our team.
I have been thinking a lot about my spiritual gifts lately. Like, what are they? I dont even know what different spiritual gifts there are so I was having a hard time trying to figure out what mine is. Im going to join a "Wider" study at my church, along with Crystal and Alyssa, which I think will really help me figure things out a bit more. Also the "Purpose Driven Life" study should help me gain a grasp on things. Julia mentioned what one of her spirtual gifts may be, and it kinda rung a bell in my head. I know Ive always known that I have an odd grasp at consciously knowing right from wrong. When I looked into Wicca, I knew it was wrong and that very inkling is what kept me from it. The very concept that if being not of God was being of satan was enough for me to turn to Christ. It was always this constant knowing of right from wrong, and Ive tried to help others I know get that same understanding and conciousness of right and wrong but it doesnt seem to exist as strongly for them. So maybe that has something to do with my spiritual gift, but I honestly have no idea if thats even possible. Hah, I just cant wait to find out what it is so I'll have a purpose driven life.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Second Sister
So now theyre saying something is wrong with our Dads intestines. Its because he wasnt eating for about 3 weeks and then all the sudden they put him on full meals so they got messed up. They were saying the only option is surgery, which they said before would kill him to try again. I havent heard anything about that situation in a few days.
We still havent gotten Roots Message Board back up! Hah. Umm, so here is the most exciting news. Alyssa U moved in with me and Crystal! She came to church and youth group and girls study and just keeps talking about how happy she feels and how she feels like she can fly because shes feeling Gods presence. Its so awesome and SO encouraging to see her turning to Christ. I just hope Crystal and I can be the examples to her we need to be while shes with us.
Kami slept over also. It was fun. We didnt talk all too much last night - even though we were up until 4:30 am! but its all good. Today she came to church with us and girls study. I couldnt tell what she thought. I think she was mad but I honestly dont know. For all I know, she really enjoyed herself. :-) Im just glad we got to hang out for awhile.
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