Videos and Such

Merry Christmas! I hope you had a fabulous Christmas. I know I did. Part of what I did for this Christmas break was work with a friend on a film project. This semester she started a webisode series, and I've been helping her out with it. The special we did for Christmas had definitely been my favorite so far. So I figured I'd put up a link, and if you're interested, you can check it out! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34QfpQPdPew&feature=youtu.be

Also, you can look up and like the project on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/LeWHAT-O/234543860040724

Warning: If you don't like music with a beat or dancing, do not watch this! 

Behind Christmas

Here is something that confuses me. Some people don't like to celebrate Christmas, because it's derived from a heathen holiday. Yes, originally the 25th of December was a holiday to celebrate the "sun god" and the solstice. However, in an attempt to turn people to God, Constantine changed it to a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. (This was around 336 A.D.) 

Another thing people object to is Christmas trees, because they are a tradition originally started to  in Germany. This is also slightly incorrect. While in Germany there was a tradition of using trees to pay homage to Thor, they were oak trees. In one town, there was even a large oak known as "The Oak of Thor". It was said that nobody could cut it down. So in order to prove that God was more powerful than a mystical god, the missionary cut it down. He then told the people that an evergreen tree would be their new standard. This was because it stand straight and tall to point toward heaven. Eventually, people would hang an evergreen tree from the rafters of their house as a reminder of the one true God. 

I do realize that Christmas has gotten greatly commercialized. But it still is an amazing time to reflect on the amazing gift that God gave to us by sending His perfect Son as a child to this world. This is the true meaning behind Christmas. If you celebrate Christmas with the intention of glorifying God, I believe you are doing so, rather than celebrating ancient traditions of fertility or idol-worship. I don't mean to step on any toes, but that is what I believe about Christmas. 

Christmas Time Is Here!

I like Christmas. It is easily one of my favorite times of the year. This is for several reasons. The most obvious one being it's a celebration of God, in His unfathomable love, sending His Son to the earth to be mankind's savior. Seriously, how amazing is that? And yet it's something we tend to forget the importance of. We shove it to the back of our minds, saying, "Oh, yeah, Jesus became a man. Jesus died. Yup." When it really should make our jaw drop in wonder. There's a song that puts this into better words than I can. 

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Another reason I love Christmas is it seems like everyone relaxes and just enjoys themselves. You get to spend more time with friends and family, baking desserts every single day isn't considered strange, fantastic scents, heart-warming stories, and even more simple pleasures become the norm. So yes, I love Christmas. 

What are some of your favorite things about Christmas?

 Downhere - How Many Kings Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Psalm of Thanksgiving

Each year, our church does a Thanksgiving dinner. During the dinner this year, the pastor decided to have us write Thanksgiving Psalms. I thought it was a really neat idea. Here's mine. 

Oh Father, a psalm of thanks can barely scratch the surface of everything You have done for me. With every breath I draw, I'm reminded to thank You. I thank You for my nieces and nephews who keep me smiling. I thank You for friends and siblings who encourage my dreaming. I thank You for parents who keep me grounded. I thank you for love to keep me happy and sorrow to keep me turning to You. Thank You for imagination to keep me curious. Thank You for boundaries to keep me safe. Father, even though I'm a despicable sinner, may I always keep my voice lifted to You in thanksgiving. 

May I encourage you to write your own psalm of thanksgiving? It doesn't have to be anything long or spectacular. Just let it come from your heart. You might be amazed at being reminded how much you have to be thankful for. 

Thoughts On The Fall

In Sunday School yesterday, I was struck by many new thoughts about the Fall. (As in the fall of man, not fall the season. Just to clarify.) Here we go:

First, it wasn't like the fruit automatically flipped a switch in their brain and they knew good and evil. It was the conscious choice to "make" their own definition of good and evil. By choosing to eat the fruit, they took what God had said was bad, and declared it to be good. Now, God is the only one powerful enough to decide what is good and what is evil. So by deciding that they "knew better", the first man and woman attempted to set themselves up as gods. (This was actually something D.A. Carson said on a video we watched, not my thought! Also, this conclusion was drawn from Genesis 2:16-17 and Genesis 3.)

Secondly, making a compromise is choosing to invent good and evil. So if you're talking to someone who is slandering God, and you point out where they're wrong but then decide to compromise and complain just a bit about Him, you chose your own good. It is equivalent to thinking "This person liking me is good, and God's glorification in this instant isn't so good." 

Third, God didn't step in during the temptation. He didn't make an appearance and say, "Excuse me, but this snake is leading you astray." Even in a crucial moment like this, He allowed humans free will. Along those lines, can you imagine how painful it must have been for Him to allow them that choice, and watch them choose to partake of the one thing He had forbidden them, thereby ruining the paradise He had placed them in? The teacher did say one thing that hit me in the gut. "Think about it this way: If you knew your very best friend was going to betray you, would you still be friends?" Ouch. But God didn't immediately kill Adam and Eve for their impudence. He banished them, yes, and they had to live with their consequences. But He also promised to send a Redeemer, His very own Son, to save them. 

Puts the Fall in a whole new light, doesn't it? A simple summary of all that is that man attempted to de-God God. God was (and is) merciful. And yet we still struggle to glorify Him. Aren't we pitiful? 

And on a slightl unrelated subject, someone quoted this to me, and I really liked it. 

"When you can't see the hand of God, you just have to trust the heart of God." 

Heartsong

There is something I have recently noticed in the Bible. There are many verses that talk about having a song in your heart. Here are a few of my favorites:

Isaiah 12:2b "For the Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Job 35:10 "But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?'"

Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, song a praise to our God."

Sometimes I fall away from God and into sin. Then the song in my heart is dimmed. But God is merciful, and when I ask, He will remind me what my song is. The glory of the Lord is my song. His love is my song. His grace and mercy are my song. Only through Him can I sing. When I feel lost in the darkness, I still have a song!

Everyone has a song in their heart. Some good, some not so good. What is your song?

Fall

Fall is here! I was thrilled to get to wear long sleeves today! Some of my friends in the North think I'm crazy,  but I happen to absolutely love cold weather. Think about it. It comes with fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate, and (my favorite) hoodies!

For some reason, people seem more sociable during cold weather. "Hey, you want to come over for hot chocolate and cookies?" Um... YES. And it is so much more fun to have friends over when there's a crackling fire going, and the house smells like cinnamon! Don't ask why, but cinnamon is a fall smell for me. 

So, yes, I rambled. Sorry about that. But it's a simple thing to be happy about! Fall is here! 

Attitude

At church this morning, a friend shared a story that really struck me. She has two friends who are on a mission trip in North Africa with a missionary family of five. This week, the group was targeted by a group of people who tied them up (even the children), roughed them up, and stole $23,000 worth of equipment. However, they also took the Gospel of John, so the missionaries are praying that they will read it. One of the men there temporarily called his wife, wondering if he should go home early. She said "No! They beat up my husband. They need God." And, since they stole his cell phone, she has been texting Scriptures to it. They are all praying that the men will have their hearts softened towards the gospel. 

As I was listening to this story, one thought crossed my mind: "Wow". These people weren't concerned about themselves or their kids. They were worried for the men who had beat them up and stolen their equipment. In fact, they were praying for them. I know that in the same situation, I would probably not be similarly minded. But I should be. Just something to think about. 

A "Good" Church

Today, our pastor was talking about the fact that church needed to be a place where people could have a small glimpse of what heaven looks like. How? By everyone looking out for each other. Caring about, praying for, loving, sharing with, and generally accepting each other. Thinking about what he had said, God blessed me with this poem. 

I had a taste today,

Just a small taste of heaven

In unexpected ways.

They surprised me today, 

The Christians at that church,

For they mean what they say.

Because when I walked in, 

Not expecting to be seen,

They met me with a grin.

They spoke to me, cared for me, 

They asked about my life,

And their love they let me see. 

I found home today, 

I found home at that church,

And I'm here to stay!

My Identity...

Right before we took Communion in church today, my pastor did something unusual. He reminded us that in Christ, we have a new identity. Then he asked everyone to just throw out words or phrases that describes our identity in Jesus Christ. These are the ones that stood out to me:

In my Savior, Jesus Christ, I am:

Loved

Redeemed

Equipped as a Teacher

Forgiven

Clothed in Righteousness

A Bearer of Good News

A Child of God

Who are you?

Service With A Smile

Since I no longer have school to do, I've taken to working in the kitchen here at ALERT. Yesterday, one of my fellow staff kids, Amanda Dudley, and I decided to take over doing dinner so that the normal kitchen staff could have the entire afternoon off. We showed up, put the dinner in the oven, chopped up a salad, and then just had to wait for dinner time. So we decided we should do some deep-cleaning. As we worked, we joked around, got each other wet, and generally had fun. 

Thinking about it, I realized that even though cleaning isn't my favorite thing in the world, when I go about it with the right attitude I can have fun. Things you dislike are much easier when you concentrate on who you're helping or what's getting done rather than wishing you were doing something else. Just one of my random thoughts. 

Mission Trips, Movies, and More

I'd like to start out by apologizing for the long break I've taken in updating this blog! I've been bouncing from one thing to another this summer, and as such haven't really had the time or desire to write. Now where to begin....

The last week of July, I went on a mission trip with my church. We went to a camp in backwoods Kentucky to volunteer for a week. Half of our group were counselors for the week of camp for disabled people. The other half went into the nearby town and did day-camps for the local kids. I was one of the counselors, which meant that I had two campers I escorted around. Both were mildly mentally handicapped, which meant talking to them was like talking to a child. It was hard to find a balance of dealing with them in a way they understand without being condescending. Emotionally, the week was very draining. I had to set aside my wants and desires and focus solely on these two ladies. That meant that instead of walking at a normal pace, we walked at about 0.5 miles per hour; we went to the bathroom every fifteen minutes; and I answered the same list of questions again... and again... and again. Now don't get me wrong, I am very glad I went! However, it was a stretching time of learning to focus on others above myself and depending on God for strength and patience. Both of which are really good lessons that I've learned before, but managed to have to relearn quite often. Thursday was my hardest day. I had hit my breaking point emotionally and physically. I was running a low-grade fever, had a cold, was tired of taking care of my campers, and then one of them started acting out. The only way I kept from walking out on my two ladies was God's strength and patience. However, the next day, God showed me a verse that seemed to be written for me. Psalm 94:19 (ESV) "When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul." That gave me a new wind to finish out the week. 

The week after we got home was just a time of relaxation. I worked on getting over my cold, enjoying family time, and catching up with friends I hadn't seen all summer. So really, I have no excuse for not writing then. 

Last week, I got busy again. I have a friend who is extremely interested in becoming a film director/producer. She has already produced a feature film, and is currently working on the editing phase of two short films. I have had the honor of working with her on all three. Last week we were filming the third film. I was the Production Assistant (fancy term for the person who keeps up with keys, phones, scripts, brains, etc.), as well as an actor. The character I was acting out was a college kid's fun (some would call it annoying!) younger sister. Seeing as that is the role I play in every-day life, I had absolutely no trouble! We had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and laughed a lot. Please be praying for my friend as she continues editing it and putting it together! 

All that to say: I have had an extremely busy and fulfilling summer! God has been amazing with the opportunities He has afforded me. I've learned a lot about myself, other people, and God. It hasn't always been easy, but it has always been worthwhile. And it's official, if you actually sat and read through that entire post, you deserve a medal of some kind! I'm sorry it wasn't my usual short update!

Little Ones

Nursery duty isn't one of my favorite jobs in the world. Nevertheless, once a month my Dad and I volunteer as nursery workers at our church. I have to say I had quite the revelation this morning. It was a busy day in the nursery: five little kids, which is a large group for our church. Four of them could walk, three of them had to have the toys others had, one was so tired he kept crying, and one just wanted to be read to. I finally ended up rocking the tired one to sleep. As I was holding him, I could only watch helplessly as toys got stolen, smaller kids got pushed by bigger ones, and general mayhem happened. But as I was watching, I realized that working in the nursery is more than just a job, it's a ministry. 

These kids most likely won't remember Dad and I taking care of them in the nursery, but they will grow up subconsciously knowing that they were loved. Each child I get to love on in the nursery will eventually grow up. As they grow, I get the chance to lead them, mentor them, and help them. The relationships I start in the nursery may someday lead to being able to teach one of those kids the gospel. This realization stunned me. What I am doing with these babies and toddlers is important! 

I would encourage you, if you have the opportunity, to get involved with kids. Even if you're uncomfortable with babies, there's older kids you can work with. Always keep in mind that every single child is loved by God. You have the chance to impact the next generation. How can you do so positively? 

STEP Advanced Pictures

Here are the pictures I said I would put up of STEP Advanced! I hope you enjoy them. 

My amazingly talented (or silly?) friends improvising a way to tape the edges of the ceiling so we could paint. This was at a house in LA that we went to in order to help with finishing clean-up from Hurricane Isaac last summer. 

I finally made it to the top of the left side of our 40 foot climbing tower! I've been trying to do that for three years now! =)

My amazing team: Mikki, Hope, me, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Megan. This is after a ten+ mile hike and building a shelter. So yes, we are messy. ;)

A gorgeous sunrise. This wasn't during Advanced, but it was the day after, so it counts, right?

Ocean Waves and Sandcastles

Today I got to enjoy a absolutely gorgeous time on the beach with my cousins. It's kind of interesting, because there's a fairly big age difference. There's Elijah (19), me (17), Mikayla (11), Irene (8), and Chloe (6). Chloe, and I wave-jumped for a while. In other words, as the waves rolled in to shore, we would jump over them. When she deemed the waves too small, she would tug me in deeper. If the waves got bigger, she would run screaming for shore. Her giggles are really contagious. 

When I wasn't wave-jumping with her, Mikayla and I were attempting to figure out how to make a castle moat hold water. She got creative and started using kelp to line the moat, but even that only minimally slowed the water loss. But we had fun with it anyways. During our toils, we even found a small sand crab! 

Finally, we decided the moat was a lost cause. So we did cartwheels, back walkovers, and round-offs in the shallow water. (Clarification: I did cartwheels, while Mikayla, my superstar gymnast, did the walkovers and round-offs.) Then, I'm not sure how it started, but somehow we ended up in a mud war. We alternated between throwing wet sand at each other and splashing each other with the ocean water. It was a blast! 

So I got to enjoy being a carefree kid for a while longer. I know that as I'm moving on in life, I'm going to have to start making decisions on my own and being responsible. With that in mind, I've lived this summer acting as much like a kid as possible. So sometimes it's good to loosen up and act like a kid! 

Adventures in Advanced

This past month, I've been attending a program called STEP Advanced. STEP stands for Skills Training in Emergency Preparedness. I attended the basic program two years ago, and this year I went through the Advanced program. 

It was a very good time of drawing closer to God through quiet times, group devotions, and classes. STEP focuses more on physical skills, while Advanced focuses more on spiritual disciplines and leadership skills. While I was at Advanced, I got to make many new friends, and deepen older friendships. Later, I'll put up pictures, so you can have a small flavor of what happened. 

I think the two most important things I learned during this month were: (1) lean on God for strength, not my friends; and (2) when you're feeling down in the dumps, encouraging other people helps. Another thing I (re)learned is that leadership isn't as easy as it seems. One of our topics during group meetings was leadership qualities. It was really neat to hear about them, and then watch the leaders actually live them out. My hope is to go back to do leadership next year, and be able to give back some. 

May you have a blessed day!

A New Experience

I have a friend who is interested in making movies. She wrote and produced one movie three years ago. It was a completely amateur film, but it turned out quite well. Anyhow, she decided this spring that she wanted to enter a 21-and-under film competition. That meant that no "major contributors"  could be over twenty-one. She asked if I would mind helping, and I jumped at the opportunity. 

So for the last three days, we've been working with a group of young people to make a sixteen-minute film. The last time she did a movie, I was only in one scene, and I didn't help at all beyond that. This time, I got to be her production assistant, as well as play a supporting role in the video. It was a lot of fun to be more involved in it. Learning the "roll call" before a shoot started, how various shots happened, etc. was a very informative time. I definitely gained a new appreciation for movie producers! Suffice it to say, when you watch a movie, just take a moment to realize that every one of those scenes easily took several hours to film. 

Adopted Into a Forever Family

My church is reading through the book "Follow Me" by David Platt, and the pastor's sermons  recently have been on supporting Scriptures. This week the focus was our adoption by God as His children. Here are my very scattered notes/thoughts from his sermon this week. The sermon was on several passages.

~ God adopted us because of His love for us, not because He had work for us to do.

~ Why does God adopt us? So that He can have a family to live with Him forever and ever. He is out to create a forever family.

~ What role does Jesus play in our adoption? He is our means of adoption.

~ We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption by God.

~ Truth about God should cause affection for Him to well up in us. 

~ God was delighted to adopt us!

~ The impact of our adoption fuels a lifetime of service, devotion, and love for God our Father.

~ Adoption isn't a marginal purpose of God - it is the central catalyst of His plan for us. 

~ Jesus addressed God as Abba, Father. If He is the firstborn of our eternal family, shouldn't I follow His example?

A Turtle's Tale

Today I met a pretty cute turtle named Troy. A friend of mine found him wandering around and decided to adopt him. Kind of. Where he's living, my friend can't have pets. So my oldest three nieces and nephews decided that they wanted to adopt Troy. Which was great! Except that we were at the dining hall, and home was a mile away... and we rode our bikes in. Obviously, none of the three of them could carry him, and their mom was already juggling two bags and had an occupied baby seat on the back of her bike. Logically, that left me to carry him home. Thankfully, there was a box available, and I'm fairly adept at riding a bike one-handed. Troy did make it home safely, although there were a couple of scares where I almost wiped out while trying to avoid over-enthusiastic kids. 

Troy is a small box turtle. He's probably five inches long from snout to tail. But you can tell he's already lived quite the life. His shell has all sorts of cuts and dings in it, and is missing a section of the edge. One of his back claws is missing, leaving just a stub. He uses his tail to help compensate for his missing leg. Despite all that, he's still curious. Yes, he was scared at first when we picked him up and put him in a box. However, after a little while of not being messed with, he was quick to poke his head out. For the rest of the ride, he kept his head out, even when the rest of his limbs were tucked safely into his shell. I thought that was pretty interesting. It made me think of myself. When I get hurt, I tend to pull into a shell. But I need to let it go sooner, and be willing to peek my head out and enjoy the ride. That's what I learned from Troy. 

A Little Miracle

Isn't it amazing the things that can catch us by surprise? I had one of those moments today. 

My sister had a baby on Wednesday. Obviously, I was super happy. I love being an aunt, and the more kiddos, the more love I get to share. Today I was visiting my sister and her family. As I was holding my niece, a thought struck me. Babies are a miracle. We don't think about that much, because they're so common. Almost anywhere you go you can see someone with a baby. However, if you really think about it, babies are special. The way they develop before birth, the way they are a complete (albeit small) human, and such. God truly outdid Himself in His creation of babies. 

Sermon Notes

Just a few of the things that stuck out to me during the sermon on Sunday. They will be rather disjointed, I'm sorry! The sermon was on Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him and become fishers of men.

~ To follow someone, you have to be facing the same direction as them. 

~ Allegiance to Jesus affects every aspect of your life!

~ Jesus call is actually: "I am going to fish for men. Come join me!"

~ Human beings looked at God in the flesh and said, "Nah, not interested," or even worse, "Evil! Kill Him!" But He went through with His plan and died for sins he hadn't committed. He died for MY sins. Then he was raised to sit beside God in heaven. I think that this proves He is totally trustworthy. 

That last point... wow. It really made me stop and think. How often do I take for granted what Jesus did? He didn't have to go through all that torture. But He did. Because He loves me. Wow. 

A New Endeavor

Recently, my entire family was having dinner together. So my oldest brother, sister, and their families were there too. When we have a dinner together, there's something we like to do. Mom has a box of random questions, and we pass it around the table. Each person takes the top question, reads the card, then answers the question. It's a fun way to get to know each other a bit better. This time, my oldest niece got the question "What accomplishment are you most proud of?" Her reply shocked me! She said, "I haven't accomplished what I want to yet. I want to write the whole Bible out." Okay, this girl is EIGHT years old! Talk about making me feel like my goals are petty! Then her dad explained that he and his two older kids were going to start writing out the Bible. I asked if I could join them, and was told yes. 

We started on Monday. Each week we're writing out five chapters. So that's not too hard. At this rate, it'll probably take about five years to finish. But in this first week, I've realized just how much of a blessing this is going to be. Writing a passage out makes me really think about what's going on. I've made several observations I wouldn't have if I were just reading through it. I am looking forward to what God does with this!

I would challenge you to do something similar. Even if you don't want to commit to writing out the entire Bible, do some of it. Write out a book at a time. My church has done Psalms, James, and 1 and 2 Peter together. You'll be amazed by how differently you see the Scriptures! 

Time

It's really strange how fast time seems to pass. I feel like I should still be a little kid, playing make-believe with sticks as swords. But then something happens to remind me that I'm not that little kid anymore. One of my more recent reality checks was having a meeting to plan my graduation. A friend and I are doing our graduations together, and our moms wanted to talk about it. It's exciting to be finishing with school, but at the same time it's also intimidating. Once I'm done with school, there won't be a set thing for me to do. I have to take a step into the world of being an adult, and start making my own decisions. Yes, my parents will still help guide me, and I can always rely on God to show me His will; but it's still a slightly scary thought! 

After realizing this, one of the main things I thought of was spending time wisely. You only get one life, and each minute is ticking by inexorably. Are you letting time slip by, wasted? Or are you doing something productive? I've started evaluating, and there's a lot of things I could be doing better. My challenge now is to do them, and not waste my life once I'm done with school. 

Secret Church

Last night I got the opportunity to be a part of something powerful. David Platt did what he calls "Secret Church". It's six solid hours of teaching straight from God's Word, and praying for unsaved people groups. Last night the focus was Heaven, Hell, and the End of the World. We were praying specifically for the Hui (pronounced "way") people of China. Here are just a few of the things he said that stood out to me. 

How much do you have to hate somebody to sit next to them every day at work or school, knowing that they're facing eternal judgement, and not saying anything to them?

Don't leave it up to "somebody else" to share the Gospel!

Heaven is not foreign, but home. 

Here is a quote he used to emphasize this. "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can not satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." ~C.S. Lewis

There were so many more good points he made, but I'll stop here. Let the first two points be a challenge, and the third an expectant promise. 

White Knights

I read a really good book last night. It was The White Knights by W.E. Cule. It was about three boys who decided to start a modern Order of White Knights. They each chose someone around them to be the person for whom they would go out of their way to be helpful for. As they did so, they also found other people they could help. Some were one-time helps, and others were every day. Through this they made many new friends, and touched the lives of many people around them. 

It got me to thinking. What's to stop us from being "White Knights" for those around us? Why can't I go out of my way to help someone? How many people could I bless if I did so? These thoughts were floating around in my head enough that I emailed two friends of mine and proposed doing so. A crazy scheme, maybe, but one that has no way to go wrong! Will you also be a White Knight?

Encouragement

Something God gave me Sunday. Hope you enjoy it! 

Lift your chin! Hold your head high! You can look everyone in the eyes. You have no shame, no dishonor, no fault. You are strong. You are special. But think constantly of the important one. The One who took your shame. The One who makes you strong. The One who created your individuality. HE is why you can hold your head high and look every man in the eye. Because of that, you are His witness. A witness must stand firm and hold fast. Don't give people an image of a wimpy God by looking defeated. He is strong! He has defeated death! If that's not power, nothing is! Live appropriately as a child of someone that powerful. Do not fear! You are a child of God! 

Changes

Well, this week started out with my Dad leaving for Mexico. A friend of his has terminal cancer, and is going to Mexico to pursue treatment. Dad decided to accompany him, and at the same time get treatment for his prostrate cancer. This led to very mixed feelings for me. I'm very glad he's getting treatment, but at the same time, it made me unhappy. His stay is fairly open-ended at this point, and I think that's what caught me off guard. I'm used to knowing he'll be home at a certain time. It's definitely been a good time of trusting God. 

This week ends out with a change, as well. But this one is all good! I finally made up my mind to start Driver's Ed. Soon I'll be driving!! Which is, to some people, a scary thought. However, for me it's exciting. My goal is to have my permit by the time Dad gets back from Mexico. It's definitely possible, because my brother went through his driver's ed. in four days. He didn't have school to do at the same time, though. So I'll be happy to get it done in a couple of weeks. ;) 

Needless to say, both are things I would appreciate prayer for! Have a fabulous day!

Summit Trip

I was on a trip to Chicago for an extended weekend. Our church took a group of ten highschoolers and four adults to Awana Summit, which is the national competition for Awana games and quizzing. It was a very fun time! We spent a LOT of time together between the sixteen hour trip, being there four days, and then the trip back. Jokes were cracked, stories were shared, and snowballs were thrown. While in Chicago, it snowed almost ten inches. Then our group got the unique experience of having a snowball fight while swimming in a pool. It was super exciting, because in games we got eighth place overall. We also made it to the silver round of Bible quizzing! Here are some pictures. I may post some more later, when I get them from the rest of the group. 

Our group touring Awana headquarters. 

There was also a volleyball tournament. We got crazy socks for it. :)

One of the guys' shoes busted out during a race! The missionary, Taylor Lassiter, let him borrow his shoes. 

On Sunday, our pastor spoke from Galatians 3. The message was about the Mosaic Law, versus the New Covenant with Christ. Here were some of the striking key thoughts from that message.

~ The promise to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ. The Law was just a tool to help us realize that we needed the promise. 

~ In the promise, God says "I will, I will, I will." The Law says "You shall, you shall, you shall not." So the promise is God's works, and the law is man's works.

~ God's promises cannot be revoked.

~ When we accept Christ as our Savior, we automatically become recipients of the promise. 

~ To be under the Law is to be under sin, to be under the promise is to be in faith. 

Randomness!

I found this while looking through an old notebook of mine. A friend and I wrote this about four years ago. 

Keeping your eyes on the ground isn't an option. Lift your head with pride! Even if you lost, you played a good game. You gave it your all, and you were able to force the victors to fight for first. Because of this, you can face your friends with no shame in your gaze. Have the courage to fain big and stick around! Make them wonder why you're still smiling! Even if you feel that it's unfair, give it your best and don't give up. Facing giants will stretch you, and make you a better person. Letting them win is being a coward! Being a coward isn't something you want on your record. Don't sit around and say "Oh, I'm not going to win, so I might as well not try." Fight! Fight to the end! But fight with honor. No low blows. Fight according to the rules. You're not here to make a hero, but to give your all for your friends. In other words, it's not about you! It's about those around you, and all those people cheering you on. More than that, it's about God. How you play, win, and lose shows everyone what kind of God you serve. Run in such a way that you win the race! 

Learning to Lead

This week has been an eye-opener for me. At our church, I'm part of the youth group. The thing I've always enjoyed about this youth group is that it's drama-free. There's never been any "coupling", we have always had a strong desire to learn more about God and His word, and everyone has meshed like a large group of siblings. However, over the last few months I've been realizing that when I first joined the youth group, there was a core group. They were quick to draw newcomers in, challenge us in growing spiritually, and get things together where everyone could go have fun. Interestingly, they didn't quite realize that they were the peer leaders of the youth group. Yes we have adult leaders, which is makes for an amazing experience as adults thirty years older than us give several hours a week to invest in us. However, it's also necessary to have some of us kids as peer leaders, setting the tone for how things work in the group. In the last two years we have lost that core group, and I'm seeing the effects of it as some important dynamics are changing. 

Since last fall, but especially in the last week, I've realized that as one of the oldest people in our youth group, I need to step up to be a leader. This isn't easy for me. Several times I've rationalized with "Well, I'll only be here until May, then I'm graduating." But this doesn't excuse me from stepping up to the responsibility of helping guide the younger ones. And in doing that, I may be able to encourage others to step up to the plate as well. I want the next group of kids coming in the youth group to have as good of an experience as I did. So prayers would definitely be appreciated as I'm studying God's word, and figuring out exactly what is needed from me to help create a strong core in our youth group again. 

Patience

These last two days have been a really good lesson in patience for me. We are babysitting one of my nieces for a few days so her parents could go have some time alone. This is not a bad thing. It has been quite fun, actually. But at the same time, it is very different! I have realized just how careful you have to be with a 17-month-old running around. Glass objects can't be left within three feet of the ground. You have to be quiet coming in and out of the door, in case they're asleep. And I think the biggest thing has been school. It is extremely hard to concentrate on school with an adorable little girl walking up to you and saying "Hi!" quite cheerfully while grinning at you. 

But all that aside, it's an adventure. I know every time I walk in the front door, she'll be running to the front room to see who's there. When she sees me she quite happily shares her Cheerios with me, or wants me to hold her. So I guess a big part of patience is seeing the good in the situation. I'm blessed to have my niece around, and right now I need to be very loving for her, so that as she grows she knows I'm someone she can depend on. 

Okay, that rambled on quite a bit longer than I intended. Sorry about that! 

God bless!

A few thoughts my pastor shared a few weeks ago. =)

~ The Gospel isn't man's good news about God, it's God's good news for man!

~ God's decisions are unilateral... He doesn't have to consult me or anyone else about them. 

~ Romans 8:30 "Those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." We have been predestined, called, and justified. We are not yet glorified, but it's in the past tense, because it's as good as done. 

~ I should live my life to an audience of One! 

Little Moments

Too often I rush through something, trying to get it "over with". I think in doing that, I miss a lot of special little moments. Last night, for example, was a typical Tuesday night. My brother and sister-in-law went out, so Mom babysat their kids until bedtime. Then I took them to their house and put them down for bed. However, this time, instead of just rushing through it without a thought, I realized how fun it is. Kristyn, the youngest, is always so happy to see her bed and her blankie that she goes down with a little laugh of relief. Katy, the eldest, always tries to come up with some way she can stay up just a little bit later. Connor, second-born, is pretty hard to herd into bed, but then he always has a hug ready for me. Clayton, third-born, is the slow poke. He takes twice as long as the others to finish getting ready for bed, but then he gives me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. How many times have I missed the significance of that? Each of them, in their own way, is showing me their love. Katy by wanting to spend more time with me, Connor and Clayton by their hugs and kisses, and Kristyn by her smiles.

Is there something you tend to rush through without taking time to enjoy? Maybe you should stop and enjoy the time you have with someone. Take time to "smell the roses". It's worth it!

Family

I think I can truthfully say that spending time with my family is one of the most enjoyable things I can do! Tonight I got to spend a few hours with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and their kids. We talked, sang, had berry cobbler (which was exciting for me, because it's the first solid food I've eaten since having my wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday!), and generally hang out. I got to watch my nieces and nephews playing. At one point, I even got to laugh at their dismay. I'm sorry that that sounds cruel, but if you've ever seen a kid burst into tears over some silly little thing, you'll understand. I guess the enjoyment was heightened by the fact that it was the first time I've really spent with people for three days, which is hard for me, because I'm very much a people person! Being cooped up and not able to eat because of having teeth pulled really makes you appreciate the small things in life. Enjoy what you've got while you have it!! =)

I'm hopeless here,

Not sure where I am

And now my fear 

Releases its dam.

There's only one choice,

One option now:

I run to His voice,

Before Him bow.

With tears streaming

I fall to my knees

Finally knowing,

On Him I must seize.

Hardships lead me,

Without them I'd miss

His calling me,

And making me His. 

Amazing Song!

Lord I lift my friend to You.

I've done all that I know to do.

I lift my friend, to You.

Complicated circumstances

have clouded his view.

Lord I lift my friend up to You.

I fear that I won't have the words

that he needs to hear.

I pray for Your wisdom , oh God.

And a heart that's sincere.

And Lord I lift my friend up

to You.

Lord I lift my friend to You.

My best friend in the

world, I know he means much

more to You.

I want so much to help him, but

this is something he has to do.

Lord I lift my friend up to You.

There's a way that seems so right to him.

But You know where that leads.

He's becoming a puppet of the world.

Too blind to see the strings.

And Lord I lift my friend up to You.

Lord I lift my friend to You.

I've done all that I know to do.

I lift my friend, to You.

Prayer for a Friend by Casting Crowns

Kids and Me

Isn't it amazing how time spent with kids can teach you so much? Sometimes it's lessons about them, and sometimes about yourself. I spent three hours this evening babysitting nine kids under the age of nine from five different families. I had two helpers. We were doing fairly well, up until a little while after dinner. At that point, one of the boys opened a bag of colored marshmallows he had brought "to share with his friends". No big deal, right? Well, I managed to destroy the bag while trying to open it, so I got a bowl to put the marshmallows in. I turned around to do something, and by the time I looked back, half the marshamallows were gone. I made an executive decision then that each kid could grab a few more, and then we were done. Their "few" turned into huge handfuls, despite my protests.

Fast forward half an hour. The sugar finally hit bottom. We're talking mayhem here. One of the girls helping me was in the living room with a few of the younger ones (2 and 5) playing Whack-a-Mole. The other helper was in one bedroom with the three oldest (9, 8, and 6). I was  bouncing forth between those two groups, and the third one that consisted of the rest of the kids (2, 4, 4, and 5) playing with trains. The two kids in the living room were being mostly quiet, with only occasional disputes about who got what toy. The four playing with trains did fairly well, although I had to intervene on sharing issues several times. Surprisingly, it was the oldest three kids that were the loudest and must rambunctious. Trying to get them to be calm was unspeakably difficult.

Anyhow, on to the lesson learned. I learned several things about myself tonight. First, I realized I only really enjoy babysitting my nieces and nephews. Probably because I know them really well, and I know what their boundaries are and how to enforce them. Also, I learned that I tend to be a complainer. Painful truth. Looking back, I realize that I complained a lot to the two girls helping me, as well as my sister-in-law (who had asked me to do the babysitting). To be bluntly honest, I shouldn't have been complaining. Yes, it may have been a difficult challenge. Yes, I might've gotten a headache from the noise. Yes, it would've been nice if we could've taken them outside to run around. But I was the one who had agreed to do the job. I needed to have gone into the job with an attitude of anticipation rather than dread. Also, when the challenges came, I should've seen them as problems to be creatively solved rather than brick walls to ram my head into. Finally, I should've rolled with it and realized that, because I accepted the job of my own free will, I didn't have any room to complain about the challenges (or hazards).

So I got a painful attitude check tonight. Now my biggest problem will be remembering this lesson next time I sign up for any similar jobs.

Back to Life

The last few weeks have been busy, but not a normal-life busy. They've been full of holiday events, visits to friends, babysitting for my sister, and other fun activities. However, Monday changes all of that. On Monday I go back to the "normal" life. Back to school, work, and boring routine.

Recently I realized just how lazy I am. In school I do the bare minimum to get by, and at work I fail to take the initiative for what needs to be done. I've decided that this year (and this semester especially), I'm going to be throwing myself into everything with 110% of what I have to give. Instead doing something as quickly as possible, using the excuse that it's "boring", I'm going to instead concentrate on being thorough and accurate. Please feel free to challenge me occasionally! I need the accountability.

"Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the  inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:25-26

On the Brink!

On the bring of this New Year, I've decided to do two things. First is look back on last year (saying that feels weird!) and list five things that were outstanding. Second I want to look forward into this upcoming year and list five things I'm really looking forward to. Can I challenge each of you to do the same?

• Last Year:
• Celebrating the first anniversary of getting my name legally changed. We didn't do anything, but it was satisfactory knowing that I'm now legally and officially a Pendergast, and nothing except marriage or death can change that.
• Having three of my really good friends move away (they were sisters), and my best friend stop working here.
• Getting to know some of my other friends better because of the distance from my four really good friends.
• Making some new friends who quickly became more like siblings.
• Taking over Puggles at my Awana. (Puggles is a two hour class for two-year-olds.) It has been extremely challenging and stretching.

This Year:

• Graduating high school!
• Having a new niece born into the family!
• Seeing where God takes me after school, and how He continues to shape my dreams!
• Getting some writing projects done that have been in the works for a long time. (And having wisdom to know which ones to trash!)
• Getting to know my glorious Father better every day, seeing His unfathomable love each time I stumble and He catches me, as well as being allowed to glorify His name by things I say and do!