Random Updates

Well, I'm sitting here realizing that out of the few posts I've done this year, most of them have had a very serious note to them. So I decided to do something a little more lighthearted to end May. Here's a brief summary of my life lately to keep you updated.

  Life

I've been busy, but who isn't this time of year? A few weeks back I took the SAT. My family just completed making a twenty-five minute film of our highest production quality so far, but it took a tremendous amount of time. I haven't been reading much, but I've been writing a little bit more lately. The event I went to with intentions of evangelizing was quite an experience. It made me more aware of how lost so many people are without Christ. These next couple weeks promise to be filled with lots of school and attendance of multiple graduation events for friends. I'm eagerly looking forward to the beginning of July bringing my first camp of the summer. This is one I'll be counseling at for my third year in a row.

Music

I've been listening to more music these last few months than I usually do, and I've been enjoying multiple Christian artists. The newest songs I've been introduced to is Josh Wilson's "Dream Small" and Riley Clemmon's "Better for It."

 Jokes

One of the things I've been doing lately when I'm feeling down is looking up Christian jokes.
Q1: What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
Q2: Who was the first tennis player in the Bible?
(answers at the end of the post)

Blog

I've been enjoying writing my "Defending the Faith" series, as it is a topic close to my heart and I'm grateful to have an audience to share it with. As for posts I'm planning, I suppose you'll just have to wait and see!

Pictures

I haven't been taking too many pictures lately, but I thought the image of the flower I used for the title picture came out pretty well.

What sorts of things have you been up to lately? Any good songs or jokes you've heard?

A1: Ruthless.
A2: Joseph, because he served in Pharoah's court.

God's Plans

Yesterday morning, I felt God clearly place a verse on my mind that I hadn't thought of in awhile—one that I should have been clinging to, especially considering all the trials currently surrounding my family, friends, and community.

Isaiah 55:8 in the ESV reads "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."

What an amazing verse to keep in mind in the midst of struggles. When our lives don't go according to our plans, keep this verse in mind. First of all, for Christians, "our" life isn't "ours" at all. It belongs to God. That's what it means to surrender completely to Him. To hand God the reigns and say "Okay, Lord, where do You want to go? What do You want to do?"

Secondly, there's also a problem with the other "our" in that sentence. We shouldn't be making our own plans! That's not our job; it's for God to do. I can tell you from plenty of experience that "our" plans mean NOTHING to God. He wildly shakes them up all the time.

"It's a funny thing, how much time we spend planning our lives. We so convince ourselves of what we want to do, that sometimes we don't see what we're meant to do."
-Susan Gregg Gilmore

Humans make plans and think that anything other than those plans are failure. This isn't true! Rather, whatever God leads you to do is what you should do, whether it follows your plans or not. Oftentimes, this trust is incredibly difficult to give. In fact, I myself love to plan. It helps me stay focused and have goals. I'm not saying that all planning is wrong—it just has to be aligned with God's plans for you, and if He decides to change them, then submit. Everything is harder if you don't submit to Him and His plans.

Even if it doesn't seem like it, God's plans are always far superior to our own. He knows the future; He knows what is best for us; He loves us. The God who made the universe, who made you, who made everything knows the number of hairs on your head—He can take care of you. (Luke 12:7) When our plans seem like the best way to go, remember Isaiah 55:8. God's thoughts aren't the same as ours, and we don't know His plans for us or others. No matter your circumstance, I promise you that God is with you. He'll never leave you and He does indeed have a plan for you, even when it doesn't seem clear or like the best route. Trust Him in all things, and let His plans guide you.

~

Update on my friend who was in the accident last Wednesday: Her surgery on Thursday went about as well as the doctors had hoped. Though she still has no feeling in her lower extremities, she does have feeling one inch lower than she did the previous day. She starts therapy soon and will be transferred to a hospital that specializes in spinal chord injuries. Keep praying for a miracle; it already is one that she is alive and has no apparent brain injuries! Thank you for your faithful prayers!

My Life: An Update

Happy New Year! It has been awhile since I last posted. Sorry about that! However, as I'm sure you all understand, life gets very busy for me around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and then my birthday. :-) So I'll give you a brief update.

Before I do, I suppose that I should let you know that this is my 100th post over the course of about three years! This will be my fourth year of blogging! I am so pleased that I have been able to keep this running for this long with every intention of keeping on. Thank you for staying with me so faithfully! And now for the update.

We had a relaxing Thanksgiving. I helped my mom make the meal and as a family we read praises that we had collected over the year. We celebrated our Thanksgiving on the day before the actual Thanksgiving. The next day we went into our local town and delivered meals to seniors before heading up to my grandparents house where we enjoyed another Thanksgiving meal!

Two weeks after we came home, we traveled to visit my other grandma, aunt, uncles, and cousins. While there, we finished up our school semester.

Next thing I knew, we were at the Christmas Eve service and it was Christmas the next day! I was so blessed by all the love shown to my family by friends in our fellowship. Two days later my grandparents came and we celebrated Christmas and my fifteenth birthday together.

On my actual birthday, my family and I went to see the new Star Wars movie. I had been counting down to this for a long time. Though I personally feel that numbers 1,2,4,5, and 6 (chronologically) were better, I really enjoyed it. The day was special and once more, I was so blessed by the love shown to me by family and friends.

We didn't do much on either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day except spending good time together.  However, we watched the first Lord of the Rings movie on New Year's Eve and the second on New Year's Day. Yesterday we finished the final one of this series that quickly climbed to among my top favorites. I love that non-stop action found in movies such as this, the Hobbit, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones. Which of these movie series are your favorite?

This next weekend I will be going to Hume Lake. I would really appreciate your prayers for me as well as all the other youth, and the counselors. 

And that brings you up-to-date on my recent life. Hopefully you can understand why I have been so absent online recently. ;-) However, I hope to do some more posts soon. Also, I have a question for you:

Because I didn't get any entries last time for my writing challenge, I'm not sure if you are still interested, or were just too busy like I was. Please let me know if you would be interested in entering my previous one, or if I should even do another. Also, check out my new wintery blog look and let me know your thoughts! Thank you and have a blessed New Year!

An Update . . .

I just wanted to do a quick post to let all my readers in on an update about Dream's leg. Sorry I didn't earlier. It is healing up well and she is at the point where we could start to ride again. (Yeah!!!) She is really feeling her oats. We have been working her more to get her ready for us to ride again. We took her for a walk (I know that sounds crazy but. . . ) on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and that was great except that it was a windy day and she spooked a bit. So I hope that fills you all in!!! By the way, if you are a horse owner, could you let me know in a comment so I know who to ask for tips? I hope to post new pictures soon! God bless you all! Thanks for all you prayers and concern!