God's Amazing Power

power - to be able, ability to act or produce an effect, possession of control, authority or influence over others

The Power of God: God creates and controls everything. He is not only powerful, but all-powerful. There is not one created being more powerful than God. God wants the best for our lives and has the power to accomplish it. Isn't great to know that we serve a God who has the power to do anything? And that no situation is out of His control?

Mark 10:27 - And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Isaiah 40:28-29 - Hast thou not known? hast though not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.

Psalm 33:8-9 - Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Best Friends

I've come to the conclusion that best friends are one of the greatest things on earth. They act all kinds of crazy with you (you would not BELIEVE some of the looks we've gotten), they stay up until 4 in the morning with you when you're both supposed to be getting up a little before 6, we both laugh like crazy when our (okay, her's and my mom's) phones die at the same time at 10 something at night. But the thing that makes it the best? Knowing that she has a relationship with the awesome God that I serve, will pray for me if I ask her to, and we can talk about ANYTHING. I mean, how many friends do you come accross that your conversation can range from the many flavors in Dr Pepper to talking about what God has done for us that week, or what we've been learning about God? I'm blessed to have some amazing friends!

Pictures from the WILDS, Summer '09 (b/c I forgot, be warned that there's lots of them.)

4 weeks in.....

So I'm 4 weeks into my senior year........and absolutely loving it!! When I was little I never even thought I'd get to the 7th grade, much less be a senior. Now I'm wondering where all the time in between went........amazing how our thinking changes, isn't it? Although I was perfectly happy this year to change gears in math from geometry and algebra to business and refresher math. ;) And right now, I've already figured out one thing that I positively will NOT miss about school......my teachers dog barking his head off! (which he's doing at this exact moment in time lol). Other than that......I haven't really made up ,y mind on what I won't miss. Partially b/c when I go to college, I'll be going right back to doing english, math, and several other things........including some classes I really don't want to take! Like speech class......eww......lol You'd think that with as big a mouth as I have I'd have no problem making speeches, right? But no! I HATE making speeches. So that should be a wonderful class........listen to me....already annoyed about classes in college and I'm not even done with this year yet! Not that there's a whole lot to occupy me lol, I've got all easy classes this year! So there is a glimpse into my life of late, and my thinking.......you just really wanted to know these things right? ;)

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9 KJV

(one of my favorite verses!)

Philippians 1

A friends church (well, okay, it's a third mine! lol) Has been doing a teen bible study on wednesday nights. We worked our way through 2 Timothy and are now working on Philippians. :) And I was encouraged by someone to share this with other people......so here goes!

Philippians 1:29 "For unto you it is given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." (and here comes what I was thinking) It's not enough to just believe in Christ. In James 2:19 it talk about even the devils believe in Christ! Yes, we ARE called to believe in Christ, but we're also called to so much MORE! How much do you love someone if you're not willing to suffer, even a little bit, for them? The same rule applies here! Love is not JUST a feeling, but an action as well. And our actions b/c of our love for Christ might lead us to suffering. But as Paul put it in vs. 21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (see, I snuck in 2 verses from our chapter! lol) I was thinking (yes, it's dangerous, I might make my brain explode) that while I get something different from each of the verses I discuss (with myself or the group) they all lead back to how we live. So here comes rounds 2 and 3!

Philippians 1:27-28 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God." What I got out of these is quite simple, live like and for Christ , no matter who's watching or what they might do. It brought to my mind Hebrews 13:5-6. Read it and you'll see why it did. :)

Philippians 1:14 "And many of the brethren of the Lord, waxing confident in my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." For me this verse was one of encouragement. Living our lives as Christ would have us to, especially when suffering, in pain, or faced with hard choices, can give others the strength, desire, and courage to live their lives for Christ and speak out for him as well. Aside from the obvious reason of it pleases God, it was giving me a reason to live my life well for others to see and be encouraged by. I hope anyway....... :)

Once again, I'm back

Okay, I'm REALLY, REALLY SORRY that I haven't posted lately. Part of it is due to my home computer being way too slow right now and the other part is totally laziness by me. ;) I got home Saturday from the Wilds, and I had an absolutely AMAZING week! God showed me so much that I need to do to grow in Him, but also showed me that He'll be there for every step of the way. I had the most amazing counselor in the world named Jana Matthews, who got sick on the last day but it doesn't matter b/c we love her anyway! She encouraged me so much this past week, if in no other things than to push me to do things I never thought I could or would do. So I finished last, and? I tried and did my best, and that's all that God asks. One of the things that I'm really working on now is letting God have control of my life. Now, I don't really like having someone else plan out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life, but when that someone else is God why should I object? He has things planned out more wonderfully than I can imagine! The other main thing I'm working on right now is doing my devo EVERY DAY before I get started doing everything else. I managed it today, and I plan on doing it tomorrow. One day at a time, and I'll get this! So that's an overview of some things that's been going on in the past week, more might come later with some pictures.....we'll see. ;)

16th Birthday!

My 16th birthday was most definitely NOT the most planned out birthday ever, but ya know what? I enjoyed it anyway! I'm pretty sure it's impossible not to have fun at a table with Ms Barbara, Mrs Julie, Mr Duane, and SaraBeth and Ginny of course! My morning was spent helping my mom shelve books, but a good chunk of the afternoon was spent at the PAWS picnic (with the people mentioned above). I think that's as close to a birthday party as I've actually gotten.......this is going to be completely random, but I just remembered something. I forgot to get my mom to get the stuff for my birthday cake last night........oops. I'll get my cake later. :D And my brain is fried (being 16 definitely hasn't made me any wiser), so I'm off to go shelve books once more. Although I doubt it will help the condition of my brain..........