A Story

Many years ago, in a small town in a dirty barn, lay a manger.  In this manger lay a baby.  This baby wasn't ordinary.  He was to be called King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace.  He was going to grow up healing the sick, calming raging storms, making the lame walk, and providing hope for all nations.  Yet after all this, people were going to hate him, beat him, whip him, place a crown of thorns on his head, and nail him on a cross.  They would gamble for his clothes, then leave him hanging there to die.  Beaten, brusied, and neglected, the Kings of Kings died on the cross.  They placed him in a borrowed tomb.  Three days later, he rose from the dead in the miracle of all miracles. 

The innocent baby laying in a manger and the bloodied man hanging on a cross saved your life.    Now give back it to Him.

Tempus Fugit

Another birthday come and gone, another year past.  Another holiday season arriving, and with it, summer  becomes nothing but a whispered memory.  School is in full swing, the soccer season is over.  Soon a new year will be celebrated. It's a new beginning, a goodbye to the way things were.  It's a time for reflection, of learning, of growth. 

This past year has probably been the best I've had in my sixteen years.  As you would expect, there was some sadness and lots of tears.  But this year, I learned a lot about myself.  And a lot about others.  I learned that I can do anything God calls me to do, even if it's hard or uncomfortable.  I now know who I can trust, and who can break my heart.  I learned a little bit of what makes the world go 'round. I learned to always forgive, laugh as often as possible, and smile at the smallest of blessings.  But I know it's ok to cry over heartbreak and sorrow.

There were times that I thought I knew everything.  It was those times that God would knock me down.  Those falls would hurt - there were places I thought I could never get back up - but I learned from them.    I learned more about myself, for the good and bad.  I became a better person after it.   And God knew to put people who are wiser than me in my life to help and guide me.  Those people would pick me up, give me a shoulder to cry on, and pray for me.

No one said life would be easy. If it was, everyone would do it.

Author of Salvation

Salvation is His word
Crafted with the most
Sovereign pen,
Perfect ink and
Beautiful script

Our hearts are His canvas
Chronicled in time,
Forever lasting,
Revealing a hope
That only One could compose

Written in His blood,
His sacrifice,
Flowing letters of grace
Create the glorious story
Of redemption

16 Candles

In 24 days, I will be able to get my license.  It would be wonderful to get a car for my 16th birthday; however, God is telling me differently.  I don't need one.  He placed on my heart that I should do something to give back, to help others who need it more than I do.  Sure, it would be nice to get a car.  I'm not going to pretend that I don't struggle with worldly possesions.  But why should I get a car when some children don't even have a bed?  It's not fair to them.  Luke 12: 48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." 

God has given me so many gifts, so I will follow His Word and help those who aren't as fortunate as me.  This year, I'm asking everyone to give me a few dollars for my birthday, which I will give to Sweet Sleep, an organization that provides mosquito netting and matresses to families in Africa.  I promise you I will not spend a dollar of it on myself; it will all be donated for the glory of God.  I'm giving back, trying to change the world one birthday at a time. 

Carpe Diem

Life is crazy.  Everyone can agree with me on that.  Sometimes, it feels like I don't even have time to breathe.  Especially now that school started, I am more stressed, very busy, and less apt to care about others.  I am so focused on getting homework done or making it to practice on time, I have lost sight of the things that are truly important.  On my door, I have written Phillipians 4:13 on a piece of construction paper.  I walk through that door hundreds of times a day and don't even take a second glance at the verse.  There is so much encouragement in "I can do all things through Christ who stengethens me", yet I ignore it.  High school is hard, and it's not always easy to live a Christ-centered life.  But if I were just to take a few seconds out of my day to look at that verse, it would make it a little easier.  Facing the day wouldn't be such a burden.

It seems the majority of us are losing something that should be essential in every day life: compassion.  No longer are we so concerned with others, unless it's juicy gossip or the latest "story".  When you ask someone how they are, do you care what the answer is?  Or is it a question you ask on the way to your next destination?  Do you hear the reply, or is it just a fleeting moment in your busy day?  It should not be burdensome to listen to someone who needs help, or say a little prayer for someone is going through tough times.  Yet it sure seems like it's a lot of trouble to do this! Why are we so keen to fill our day with meaningless activities?  Do they make us happy? Not usually! Do they honor God? Absoutely not!  Do they express our love to others? Probably not! We are caught up an ongoing cycle of just going through the motions.  We are just exisiting, not really living.  The question I have for you today is will you be the one to break the cycle?
       
"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."
I'm not sure who said that, but it is so true.  We get so caught up in this and that, we don't realize how precious and beautiful life is.  When I am old, I want to have wonderful memories of people I love and care about, not how much homework I had or how busy I was. I want to be able to look back and say "Man, that was fun." I want to be the one to dance in the rain, siezing every moment like it will be my last.  You only have a short time on this earth, so do what you can do honor God and have fun!  

Lily of the Valley

^{“Lily, come on now, I want to show you something,” my grandma said to me.}

           

 ^{“Coming Mawmaw,” I replied, slipping my small hand into her wrinkled one.  We walked to the car, where I noticed storm clouds gathering on the horizon.}

           

^{“Where are we going?” I asked as she buckled me into my booster seat.}

           

^{“You’ll see,” is all she said, then kissed my forehead.  We were in the car for what seemed like hours, my grandma driving down the curvy West Virginia roads with ease.}

           

^{Finally, she turned down a road leading into a valley.  We passed a dilapidated farm house, a dried up creek, and other houses, most in obvious disrepair.  Not far down the road, we turned into a driveway with a small barn-shaped mailbox long since fallen.  She stopped the car just as the first drops of rain fell onto the windshield.  In front of us was an old stone rancher with a double garage.  In the front yard, and old tree stump sat next to a huge Weeping Willow.  We walked up the steps to the front door, hand in hand.}

            

^{“Mawmaw Hannah,” I whispered, “where are we?”}

           

^{“Lily,” she said, picking me up, “this is my old house.  I want to show you where I grew up.”}

           

^{So we strolled through her old house, her telling me stories of her childhood.  I could almost see where she found the dead hamster in the living room, or her family saying grace around the table.}

           

^{We made our way to the back porch; three rusted metal rocking chairs sat on one end, and on the other, a wooden swing swayed gently in the summer breeze.  Sitting me on the banister, my grandma continued to relive moments of long ago, the rain pitter-pattering against the roof.  A warm breeze swept through, tickling my skin and casting the smell of summer over the yard.  Lightning flashed quickly, briefly shading the valley in purple hues.  Thunder echoed off the hills, scaring me.  My mawmaw pulled me close to her chest.}

           

^{“You know what my grandpa used to tell me what thunder is?” she murmured into my ear.   I looked up and met her dark brown eyes, glistening with tears.   I shook my head.  “He told me thunder is just ‘taters falling out of a wheelbarrow.  So there is nothin’ to be scared of.  We used to sit out for hours, watching the rain fall.  My favorite place to be was in his arms during thunderstorms.”  She hugged me tighter, and I snuggled into her welcoming embrace.  Thunder rumbled faintly as the lightning bugs began to dance against the silhouette of the trees.  Frogs croaked loudly, and crickets hummed melodically.  That was when I realized my favorite place to be was in her arms.}

^{I wrote this for English class.  We had to tell about our favorite place from someone else's point of view.  It's different from most of the things I write, but I hope you like it.}  

In Memory of September 11, 2001

Black smoke covered the sun
The impossibly blue sky
Was an echo
Of their last goodbye

A nation watched in horror
As our souls were torn apart
There was nothing we could do
As the planes shattered our heart

Chaos erupted in the city
As the first tower fell
What could we do
To stop this living Hell?

Our tears were not enough
To quench the raging inferno
Still today, the embers
Of our pain still glow

They thought they could crush us
With that brutal plane crash
But like the Pheonix,
Our nation rose from the ash

God's Hands

Sorry this is the first blog I've done in a long while - I've been crazy busy. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that God has been working in my life lately. All through the month of August, the youth group has been teaching the Sunday night children's ministry. Each week, we have a different lesson we are to go over with the kids. A couple weeks ago, we had the lesson that Jesus is the good Shepard and will lay down his life for his sheep. The night we did this lesson, the kids were wild. I felt like I was telling them to listen more often than actually teaching. But later that night, I was informed that some of the kids had asked about how to become a Christian. It amazed me that God used me, just a normal teenager with an extaordinary God, to minister to these sweet kids.

Also, this Sunday morning I'm doing the chat time thing in front of the church, and I am very nervous. I'm still not sure what I'm going to talk about, but I know from experience that God will give me te words He wants me to say. I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to minister to the children of our church. Though I am nervous, I am truly blessed to be able to minister and show others - especially the kids - Christ's love. For I know I was put here to be God's hands, so I pray I will do just that in order to glorify Him.

Always and Forever

C.S Lewis said, "God has infinite attention to spare for each of us.  You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being ever created."  Honestly, I had never looked at it that way.  In the times you feel completely alone or unwanted are the moments that God is closest.  No matter what is going on in your life, God will always be there to listen, even when it seems no one else is.  To me, it's extremely comforting to know someone loves you, in the good times and the bad.  So take your sorrows, your pain, your worries, your joys, and your love and lay them at the feet of God because He will be there to help you.  Always.   

"I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not."

Many people crave the same thing: to be seen as normal.  In order to achieve this, you need to figure out the definition of normal.  One technical definition is confoming to a type, standard, or regular pattern.  Today, teenagers view "normal" several different ways: having many of the greatest possesions money can buy, having a very physical relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or hanging around the coolest people and going to all the right parties.  We all know who the "cool" crowd is, and there are a lot who want to be assosiated with the them, the "normal" people.  But why?  Why do we call them normal?  In reality, no one is normal; we all have our unique idiosyncrasies that set us apart from everyone else.  That's the way God intended it to be, so why do we all try so hard to fit in?

In society, everything seems black and white.  People can take one look at you and label you.  The thing is, God created us in His image so we are so much more complex than one word.  Judging someone before you even know them creates insecurities and unhappiness.  You may miss out on befriending a wonderful person simply because of the way they look or the "group" you think they fit into.  Sure, we do tend to hang around people that are like us, but that doesn't mean we should label. In one given group, each person may possess one thing in common. After that, each person may be slightly different than the next.  If you look at all their differences rather than their similarities, the group is so diverse that it is impossible to label.   

Each person is so incredibly unique, so be yourself and hold true to your values and ethics despite what the "normal" people say.  Don't give up on yourself just yet.  Keep pushing forward and never live a lie.  And never understimate the talents and characterisitics God gave you because being YOU is worth so much more than you think. 

I'm Running to Your Arms

Well, it's over. MFuge 2011 has come to an end, and I am very depressed. Yes, I am excited to get home, but I will miss being surrounded by hundreds of people like me. Amazing isn't even a word I can use to adequately describe seeing hundreds of hands raised, praising our wonderful creator! There was a specific song we sang that had the lyrics "I'm running to your arms"; this was my personal favorite because I know that whatever is happening I'm my life, good or bad, I can run to the Lord's merciful and loving arms. I have cried more times this week than I have in a while.

Yesterday at site my close friend Lexi and I gave the Bible lesson. We gathered the kids around and told them the story of David and Goliath. As we went further into the story, the kids started asking questions about God. Though we only planned to tell David and Goliath, we also told them about Jonah and the whale and Adam and Eve. They continued to to ask questions, so we told them about how to become a Christian and what it means to be a Christian. One little boy in particular asked if believing Jesus came to save us was the only way to get to Heaven. It touched my heart to hear him say that because I knew he had been listening and paying attention. We were the first group to go to that site, so it was the first time some of those kids had heard anything about Jesus. I just pray that weay have planted a seed in these kids hearts.

God has humbled me and spoken to me very much this week. God has given me this opportunity and experience for a reason. When I get home, I will not stop serving and helping. He put me on this earth to praise, worship, and tell others about His love, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Be the change you want to see in the world!

I apologize I didn't post yesterday; I'm a little wiped out. Anyway, yesterday was good, but today was great! Yesterday, only about ten kids showed up to te park, but we played with them all the same. I got to play soccer with a couple of amazing boys. No, we didn't talk much, but it just gave them someone to pass to rather than having to kick off the fence. I am not experienced at all when it comes to kids, but I know enough to see that they were so happy that we were there to play games with them. To them, knowing we'd be back again tomorrow was the highlight of their day. I felt honored that they enjoyed it that much!

We get to out site today, and the number of kids that came was double that of yesterday. First off, they get out the Connect Four game and start playing. It amazed me how easily these kids were amused by just a few toys! I began helping with lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, then hand them out to the kids. There were a bunch of little kids running around asking for more chips and sandwiches, but one little girl in particular stuck out to me. She was a small Hispanic girl who came over with her older sister. The sister said she wanted more chips, so I hand the little one a napkin. She looks up at me with these huge, innocent brown eyes as I give her the chips, and her face just lit up with the biggest smile. My heart just melted to see how happy this young girl could be with just a few potato chips. I wondered why I can't be a happy with what I have. I seem to alway want more and better, but there are people out there that have no idea what it's like to have something thy can call their own. Sometimes, they want is to be loved. As I lay here in bed sleep-deprived and thoughtful, I wonder why can't I be content and thankful for the blessing God has given me. I don't deserve any of them, so I need to use those gifts to reach out to people who aren't fortunate enough to experience God like I have. I hope to walk away this week completely having changed a child's life, simply by playing a few games with them.

The First Impression

Finally, we are here: MissionFuge 2011! I am on the campus of Charleston Southern University, waiting to go eat the first meal at church camp. We've been here for a couple of hours, and already the councilors seem amazing. Tonight we learn what tracks we'll be in for the rest of the week. I'm ready to meet a bunch of new people and experience things I've never imagined. God is going to work in so many ways, and my heart is open to it all.

Church Camp 2011

Tonight at 3:00 am my youth group and I are leaving for Charleston, SC for MissionFuge church camp. I am hoping and praying that I may touch someone's life with God's words and love. I have never been to a camp quite like this, and I have to admit I'm a little nervous. However, I know that God will put me where He wants me to be. I hope it will make me step out of my comfort zone to witness to these people and children. They deserve to have God in their life, and I may be te only person able to give that to them. I also hope that not only will these people's lives be changed, but mine as well. Please pray for us as we set out on one of the biggest journeys of our young lives, and that we may fill someone's life with the amazing love of God!

I'll try to keep you updated throughout the week as God works in my life!

There's a Song for Everything

Every time I think about what life would be like without music, it hurts my heart a little.  My favorite part of music is there's a song for everything.  Some days, I play music with piano or good acoustics.  Other days, I blast some sort of song that I can dance to.  I even just pick up my guitar and strum some random chords.  When you can't find the words to express what you're feeling, there's music.  When you just want to be alone, there's music.  When you want to dance around your room with friends, singing at the top of your lungs, there's music.  There are times where I would not be able to make it through the day without music.  There are just things that you have such a deep longing for it, music speaks the words you wouldn't be able to say.  I'm not even talking about the lyrics, but the simple sound of great instrumental pieces that are so beautilful, breathtaking, and awe-inspiring.  Whatever songs or music inspires you, always keep that close to your heart because the are only a few things this world can never take away from you: God, love, and music!        

"I" Could Change the World

According to the Oxford Dictionary website,  I is the top most used pronoun in the English language; it falls before you, he, or their.  Out of close to a million words, I is in the top ten most frequently used words.  Simply tagging on a "love you" to the end of I could change the world.  Today I challenge you, whoever may be reading this, to sincerely say "I love you" or "I care for you" to three people in the next week.  Then challenge them to do the same.  By this time next week, I expect for more people to know that they are loved.  You may be the only hope someone sees in their life, so make the most of it.

Just Write and Move On

This is my first blog, so bear with me.  I have opinions, and this is where I share them.  If you don't have the same opinion, just commment and tell me.  I am different than you, and you are different from, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  I tell what is on my mind the only way I know how: writing.  I have feelings so please respect them.  I will not post routinely; I'll just write what's on my mind at the time.  I may also post a poem or two.  Enjoy!