Hi everyone. So the title really fits this blog but not in the stereotypical way. Basically from last night to today God has completely flipped my life around. Today has been great. But to fully appreciate it you need to hear about last night.
So last night I was kind of down. I had spent the day in classes and at home alone later and I was acting really depressed. It didn't seem like I had any friends. I was just kind of out of it. I was even debating about going to church (and if you know me, that's a big deal). I cried and then spent the whole night thinking about all the people in my life who have let me down. And I was dead sure that today was going to be the same thing.
This morning I woke up and dragged myself to church. I didn't want to, but for some reason I did. Honestly most of the time when I was there I was just thinking about the youth group I used to belong to and how I seriously miss each of those kids but I have been banned and they don't really want me around anymore. But at some point during the sermon it kind of got through to me. (ONLY Rodney [and God still worked a huge miracle with this one] could make a sermon on circumcision mean anything spiritual to ANYONE). Basically it was all about me stopping being so stubborn and to open my heart up to God. So I decided to do it.
After church I decided that sitting around being sad about no longer being apart of Nikao I was going to step up. Even if I wasn't going to Snow College maybe they would let me join the college group. So I went and talked with the leader. She welcomed me in and told me about all these things they were doing lately and she invited me over to the Thompson's for lunch (Which they do every sunday for the college kids. The Thompsons are wonderful). So I went. I hung out with some great friends and had lunch. Then all the girls went to go watch "The Last Song" (not worth it if you are a Nicholas Sparks fan) and then I stuck around with Stormy, Meris, Sarah, and her mom and we played hand and foot for awhile. Ned even joined in. It was just a great time.
When I got home I went over to Lacie's house and got to play with the kids (and the puppies) for a little bit. I went home and did some homework. Then I got a phonecall from my cousin (second actually, but we are friends anyway) Desi and she asked if I wanted to go see a Colbie Cailat concert on Wednesday. So guess what I'm doing :D. Anyway... know that you have my life story there is a good chance you are pretty confused at my point. After all my title was pretty interesting, but I bet you are wondering... "So Torri, What exactly did this whole life mess teach you?"
Well here is your answer:
1. God taught me to hang in there
No matter what you are goign through or what you are feeling like at a certain time... it is simply not true if it is not from God. Last night I thought I had no friends and that no one actually wanted me around. I learned today that I do have great friends and while I do still have to invest some time with some people to form close friendships... I have people who care about me. I was being fed lies straight from Satan. Which leads me to my next point.
2. God taught me that Satan attacks the strongest right before God works the strongest
I have learned this so many times. Satan doesn't bother attacking people who are sitting still. But when God is goign to work big time... Satan is on the attack. You can't let him get to you.
3. God taught me to trust Him
This one is pretty basic. Trust God. He provides. Things better than you could have thought. For example:
a) I have a free ticket to go see Colbie Cailat on Wednesday.
b) I am going to a retreat in Wyoming on Friday with the college group.
c) A great friend actually made the effort to say that we better hang out before I move at her apartment. I don't think she knows it but she completely made my day.
God is good. No matter what. No matter what, God's love NEVER FAILS.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Be Still
Honestly... right now my life is in shambles. God gives and he takes away... but then He just gives again. Right now everything is in transition. It's like I am not allowed to move forward but I am not allowed to stay back with the old gang. I don't have a place to belong. Right now I can do nothing. I am powerless to get what I need. There is nothing I can do.
Earlier today I was throwing a fit about this. I don't like not being in control. I was lashing out at God asking, "Why arn't you providing!?!" Then in the middle of my three-year-old temper tantrum God smacked me in the face with two truths.
The first: Does any of this sound fammiliar? This same time of year three years ago I was yelling these same things. I had moved completely across the country. I had no friends, nothing to belong to or be a part of. I was throwing a fit and God completly provided. Three years later my life in Sanpete had become the best part of life I had known. Full of family, friends, and everything was always taken care of. I was blessed with deep relationships which I can only pray do not go away with time. God is good. His timing may not make sense but it is always perfect. Once this truth sank in another one just slammed me to the ground.
The second: SHUT UP! I mean honestly, Torri, just be quiet. How loud can you get. How is all that yelling going to help. Throwing a temper tantrum is not going to help. I know that you are hurting. I know that it is killing you that you arn't in control. I know that right now you think you are completely alone in the world. But just be quiet. I even opened up my Bible and read 1 Timothy 2:11, "A woman should learn in silence with full submission" (I have no desire to get into the women and speaking/leadership debate. God just used this verse to smack me into reality) That reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Be still and know" which reminded me of the verse Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth." Which lead me to Zephaniah 3:17. "Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy."
My favorite part of Zephaniah 3:17 is "He wil quiet you with His love." I was sitting there SCREAMING at God and he was just quieting me with His love. He is doing the talking for me. He is delighingting over me with shouts of joy. I don't need to talk. I just wanted to end this post with the lyrics to Steven Curtis Chapman's song:
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is Holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
and know that He will never change
Be still
Be still and know that He is GOd
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is our Father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of his unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each one of us to come
Be still, Be Still
Be still, Be speechless
Earlier today I was throwing a fit about this. I don't like not being in control. I was lashing out at God asking, "Why arn't you providing!?!" Then in the middle of my three-year-old temper tantrum God smacked me in the face with two truths.
The first: Does any of this sound fammiliar? This same time of year three years ago I was yelling these same things. I had moved completely across the country. I had no friends, nothing to belong to or be a part of. I was throwing a fit and God completly provided. Three years later my life in Sanpete had become the best part of life I had known. Full of family, friends, and everything was always taken care of. I was blessed with deep relationships which I can only pray do not go away with time. God is good. His timing may not make sense but it is always perfect. Once this truth sank in another one just slammed me to the ground.
The second: SHUT UP! I mean honestly, Torri, just be quiet. How loud can you get. How is all that yelling going to help. Throwing a temper tantrum is not going to help. I know that you are hurting. I know that it is killing you that you arn't in control. I know that right now you think you are completely alone in the world. But just be quiet. I even opened up my Bible and read 1 Timothy 2:11, "A woman should learn in silence with full submission" (I have no desire to get into the women and speaking/leadership debate. God just used this verse to smack me into reality) That reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Be still and know" which reminded me of the verse Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth." Which lead me to Zephaniah 3:17. "Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy."
My favorite part of Zephaniah 3:17 is "He wil quiet you with His love." I was sitting there SCREAMING at God and he was just quieting me with His love. He is doing the talking for me. He is delighingting over me with shouts of joy. I don't need to talk. I just wanted to end this post with the lyrics to Steven Curtis Chapman's song:
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is Holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
and know that He will never change
Be still
Be still and know that He is GOd
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is our Father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of his unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each one of us to come
Be still, Be Still
Be still, Be speechless
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A Prayer for School
Hi everyone. For the majority of people reading this you are starting school tomorrow or sometime fairly soon after that. Whether it is jr. high, high school, or college.... things arn't going to be easy.
I have seen God do some amazing things this summer. He has healed people in so many ways, physical and emotional, and has bascially rocked some people's hearts. But this is what I have noticed:
Summer is the time for spiritual highs. There are thousands of Bible Camps, Missions Trips, and Youth Retreats. You can choose exactly who you hang out with and are around. You can chose what you listen to and do. This summer I have surrounded myself with the body of Christ. I simply didn't hang out much with non-christians friends (not because I don't love them but things just didn't work out) and I practically lived with my youth group for a month. I didn't have anyone saying that I was wrong or that something else was true. Even on the missions trip where we did face rejection and persecution... there was always the christian body to fall back on.
As the school year is coming in.... highs are dying down. You are back to the normal swing of things, all the old friends, all the teachers saying things that may or may not coincide with your beliefs, all the old habits; it all comes back. We get stressed out, we get into things we shouldn't (like gossip or cliques or swearing or simply being ashamed of God) and we fall back. I have seen this time and time again. At the begining of the year we say, "Ok God. I've got this one. It was a great summer but these guys don't know you and.... I don't want to seem different. I'll come to you if I have a problem but for now I think I've got this one." By the middle of the year we have stressed ourselves out beyond belief, worked ourselves into bad relationships, and have a breakdown and turn back to God.
A friend of mine posted this to facebook a few days back, "God isn't running away from us and neither is His love. God is like a love struck teenager who wants the last text at night to be from you and the first text in the morning to be from you. God has never run away from us. He is always there, so why do we continue to shove Him out of our lives? Why don't we welcome His love with open arms? We would rather go offline and never talk to him. He is the only thing left when the world has turned it's back on you. Why do we feel that the world is our only way out? Why do we feel the world has all the ansers? Why do we believe the world when they tell you to turn your back on God because He is a "nerd"? It's like God is the only one asking you to prom but you keep telling yourself to hond on because the world is going to ask you any minute. But the crazy thing is that God is the Captain of the Football Team nad the world is the 40 year old guy on the internet who really wants to meet you. Why do we continue to eat the cow manure when we have prime rib right in front of us!?! God has been waiting and waitng and waiting. He keeps throwing pebbles at your window, when are you going to open that window because He is ready to catch you. All we have to do is open the flippin window." All we have to do is open up to God.
So this is my prayer:
Dear Holy Holy Holy GOD,
I thank you so much for what you have been doing in my life this summer. I have seen you work SO mightily in so many people's lives. I have seen you heal broken hearts and make people whole again. I see people falling in love with you left and right and I pray with all my heart that that continues. School is coming up soon, Father, and we both know what a stronghold Satan has there. Kids are taught things against you, have to deal with social issues, and overly just forget about you. I pray that you would not allow us to self destruct. I pray that our hearts would stay close to yours. I pray that no matter what life throws at us we will be able to band togetehr and say that GOD IS IN CONTROL. God I pray that you would bring life wherever you are. I pray that you would help us all to realize our mission and that being cool or accepted is not a part of us. I pray that we would follow you and be a light in our communities. I pray that nothing would break us and that YOU WOULD BE IN CONTROL. I pray that you would make yourself prominant and slap us everytiem we try to push you into the background. I love you God and pray that you would not let me falter.
In the name of Jesus, God who became flesh to allow me to speak freely to You,
Amen
I have seen God do some amazing things this summer. He has healed people in so many ways, physical and emotional, and has bascially rocked some people's hearts. But this is what I have noticed:
Summer is the time for spiritual highs. There are thousands of Bible Camps, Missions Trips, and Youth Retreats. You can choose exactly who you hang out with and are around. You can chose what you listen to and do. This summer I have surrounded myself with the body of Christ. I simply didn't hang out much with non-christians friends (not because I don't love them but things just didn't work out) and I practically lived with my youth group for a month. I didn't have anyone saying that I was wrong or that something else was true. Even on the missions trip where we did face rejection and persecution... there was always the christian body to fall back on.
As the school year is coming in.... highs are dying down. You are back to the normal swing of things, all the old friends, all the teachers saying things that may or may not coincide with your beliefs, all the old habits; it all comes back. We get stressed out, we get into things we shouldn't (like gossip or cliques or swearing or simply being ashamed of God) and we fall back. I have seen this time and time again. At the begining of the year we say, "Ok God. I've got this one. It was a great summer but these guys don't know you and.... I don't want to seem different. I'll come to you if I have a problem but for now I think I've got this one." By the middle of the year we have stressed ourselves out beyond belief, worked ourselves into bad relationships, and have a breakdown and turn back to God.
A friend of mine posted this to facebook a few days back, "God isn't running away from us and neither is His love. God is like a love struck teenager who wants the last text at night to be from you and the first text in the morning to be from you. God has never run away from us. He is always there, so why do we continue to shove Him out of our lives? Why don't we welcome His love with open arms? We would rather go offline and never talk to him. He is the only thing left when the world has turned it's back on you. Why do we feel that the world is our only way out? Why do we feel the world has all the ansers? Why do we believe the world when they tell you to turn your back on God because He is a "nerd"? It's like God is the only one asking you to prom but you keep telling yourself to hond on because the world is going to ask you any minute. But the crazy thing is that God is the Captain of the Football Team nad the world is the 40 year old guy on the internet who really wants to meet you. Why do we continue to eat the cow manure when we have prime rib right in front of us!?! God has been waiting and waitng and waiting. He keeps throwing pebbles at your window, when are you going to open that window because He is ready to catch you. All we have to do is open the flippin window." All we have to do is open up to God.
So this is my prayer:
Dear Holy Holy Holy GOD,
I thank you so much for what you have been doing in my life this summer. I have seen you work SO mightily in so many people's lives. I have seen you heal broken hearts and make people whole again. I see people falling in love with you left and right and I pray with all my heart that that continues. School is coming up soon, Father, and we both know what a stronghold Satan has there. Kids are taught things against you, have to deal with social issues, and overly just forget about you. I pray that you would not allow us to self destruct. I pray that our hearts would stay close to yours. I pray that no matter what life throws at us we will be able to band togetehr and say that GOD IS IN CONTROL. God I pray that you would bring life wherever you are. I pray that you would help us all to realize our mission and that being cool or accepted is not a part of us. I pray that we would follow you and be a light in our communities. I pray that nothing would break us and that YOU WOULD BE IN CONTROL. I pray that you would make yourself prominant and slap us everytiem we try to push you into the background. I love you God and pray that you would not let me falter.
In the name of Jesus, God who became flesh to allow me to speak freely to You,
Amen
Friday, August 20, 2010
What God Taught me from a Laptop, a game of Scatagories and "The Mummy Returns"
Today God taught me about family and how truly blessed I am to have people who love and care about me. I have realized that there are three types of family (Biological family, Church family, and friend family) and they are all so amazing and I have been blessed to have an amazing family in all three catagories. :)
The Laptop:
Earlier today (when I finally dragged myself out of my downstairs dungeon and up into the sunlight) I found my two brothers just watching tv. So I plopped down next to them. After a little bit Zac and I went in another room to watch our favorite tv show (Bones) in a quieter place. As we were just sitting there, me messing with his fro ... just the usual stuff; I realized just how blessed I am to have a special relationship with each member of my biological family. I honestly don't know of another family that has this. I can have deep converstations with each member of my family and we each have special things that we like to do together. There is no favorite, we all just love each other. I mean yeah we have disagreements but I never really realized how blessed I am to have good relationships with my family until today.
Scatagories:
So tonight at church was the ladies game night. For once I wasn't actually the youngest one there (Meris came :) ). Anyway we started playing scatagories (after eating large amounts of apetizers. I swear that is what makes a ladies game night ten times better than any youth game night... The FOOD. Ladies can cook :D) and that game really tells you a lot about people's minds. But I was amazed at how little discrimination there was. No matter what you answered or what you said or anything.... everyone was together. This is when I realized what church family is. No one judges you. And there was no age gap. The 60 somethings and the teenagers were treated the same. No one looks down or up or anything.... It's just awesome. I know that no matter what I can come there and find a loving home.
The Mummy RETURNS!:
Lol. No there is not some big life lesson in this movie (Unless you find one.... then tell me). After game night I went over to my best friends' house to just hang out. This is where I encountered friend family. It's all about the nights that turn into mornings with the friends that turn into family. I realized that friends become family when you know that you can just wander in the front door. When you can hold a conversation with your friend's parents just as much as you can your friend. When you can start cleaning the house and no one cares, your just family and no one is going to stop you from cleaning. :) (I know that sounds weird but I have REALLY weird urges to clean like always...mostly dirty things but still) So I just sat on the couch and we all talked (the mom, 17 year old twins and the 11 (or 12) year old boy). When the rest of the family went to bed the twins and I stayed up to watch a movie. And I realized that family is when you can curl up on someone else's couch, not caring that you are taking up your best friend's sitting spot because you know he would just push you out of the way if he cared. I have always heard about friends being this close and tonight was just really the night when I realized... I found it.
So in conclusion... I PRAISE GOD. GOd has blessed me so much. I have an amazing biological family that is with me no matter what. I have a church family who love and accepts me and better friends than anyone could ask for. God thank you so much for working through your people and allowing them to be the arms of Christ to me. I pray that you would help me to be like that to them as well.
The other night in youth group we played word association with people. Brolin would say someone's name and you would have to say the first word that popped into your head. When my name came up people said stuff like, "God" "Faith" and "Mother of the Youth Group". And I was seriously set back. How on earth can people be saying stuff like this about me. Are they on drugs or something? I am nothing, I am dirt, I am lower than dirt, but yet God is still allowing himself to shine through me to these people. It's like God is whispering in my ear, "If you keep seeking me, I promise I won't let you mess this up". I have made so many mistakes but God loves me so much and I am so blessed.
Challenge: It's not just me who God loves. God loves you more than you could ever imagine. No matter what is goign on in your life, God loves you and will bless you if you seek Him. God promises that he knows the plans that He has for you. Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future (Jerimaiah 29:11) I dare you to name atleast 10 things you are truly thankful for today and to just spend a few minutes praising God for them. Then just go out and enjoy them. Right now I am thankful for electricity, a computor, a bed to sleep in, family that loves me, and yummy nachos to eat :).
"Would you DARE, would you DARE to believe that you still have a reason to sing? Because the pain that you've been feeling doesn't compare to the joy that's coming. So hold on and wait for the light. Press on and just fight the good fight. Because the pain that you've been feeling, It's just the dark before the morning"
The Laptop:
Earlier today (when I finally dragged myself out of my downstairs dungeon and up into the sunlight) I found my two brothers just watching tv. So I plopped down next to them. After a little bit Zac and I went in another room to watch our favorite tv show (Bones) in a quieter place. As we were just sitting there, me messing with his fro ... just the usual stuff; I realized just how blessed I am to have a special relationship with each member of my biological family. I honestly don't know of another family that has this. I can have deep converstations with each member of my family and we each have special things that we like to do together. There is no favorite, we all just love each other. I mean yeah we have disagreements but I never really realized how blessed I am to have good relationships with my family until today.
Scatagories:
So tonight at church was the ladies game night. For once I wasn't actually the youngest one there (Meris came :) ). Anyway we started playing scatagories (after eating large amounts of apetizers. I swear that is what makes a ladies game night ten times better than any youth game night... The FOOD. Ladies can cook :D) and that game really tells you a lot about people's minds. But I was amazed at how little discrimination there was. No matter what you answered or what you said or anything.... everyone was together. This is when I realized what church family is. No one judges you. And there was no age gap. The 60 somethings and the teenagers were treated the same. No one looks down or up or anything.... It's just awesome. I know that no matter what I can come there and find a loving home.
The Mummy RETURNS!:
Lol. No there is not some big life lesson in this movie (Unless you find one.... then tell me). After game night I went over to my best friends' house to just hang out. This is where I encountered friend family. It's all about the nights that turn into mornings with the friends that turn into family. I realized that friends become family when you know that you can just wander in the front door. When you can hold a conversation with your friend's parents just as much as you can your friend. When you can start cleaning the house and no one cares, your just family and no one is going to stop you from cleaning. :) (I know that sounds weird but I have REALLY weird urges to clean like always...mostly dirty things but still) So I just sat on the couch and we all talked (the mom, 17 year old twins and the 11 (or 12) year old boy). When the rest of the family went to bed the twins and I stayed up to watch a movie. And I realized that family is when you can curl up on someone else's couch, not caring that you are taking up your best friend's sitting spot because you know he would just push you out of the way if he cared. I have always heard about friends being this close and tonight was just really the night when I realized... I found it.
So in conclusion... I PRAISE GOD. GOd has blessed me so much. I have an amazing biological family that is with me no matter what. I have a church family who love and accepts me and better friends than anyone could ask for. God thank you so much for working through your people and allowing them to be the arms of Christ to me. I pray that you would help me to be like that to them as well.
The other night in youth group we played word association with people. Brolin would say someone's name and you would have to say the first word that popped into your head. When my name came up people said stuff like, "God" "Faith" and "Mother of the Youth Group". And I was seriously set back. How on earth can people be saying stuff like this about me. Are they on drugs or something? I am nothing, I am dirt, I am lower than dirt, but yet God is still allowing himself to shine through me to these people. It's like God is whispering in my ear, "If you keep seeking me, I promise I won't let you mess this up". I have made so many mistakes but God loves me so much and I am so blessed.
Challenge: It's not just me who God loves. God loves you more than you could ever imagine. No matter what is goign on in your life, God loves you and will bless you if you seek Him. God promises that he knows the plans that He has for you. Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future (Jerimaiah 29:11) I dare you to name atleast 10 things you are truly thankful for today and to just spend a few minutes praising God for them. Then just go out and enjoy them. Right now I am thankful for electricity, a computor, a bed to sleep in, family that loves me, and yummy nachos to eat :).
"Would you DARE, would you DARE to believe that you still have a reason to sing? Because the pain that you've been feeling doesn't compare to the joy that's coming. So hold on and wait for the light. Press on and just fight the good fight. Because the pain that you've been feeling, It's just the dark before the morning"
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What God Taught Me Through A Job Application, A Debit Card, and A Coke Machine
An epic day requires an epic post... or atleast that is what I have concluded. Today started off by all of us heading up north to deal with school stuff. We first arrived at Springville Jr. High which it turns out my brothers will NOT be attending. Then we drove over to Mapleton Jr. High. They sent us over to Nebo School District in Spanish Fork to check with the district if the boys could go to school there since we don't technically have proof of residency because we don't technically live in a house as of now. (Oh the joys of red tape) So after about four hours of driving ALL around Utah county... the boys found out that they would be attending Mapleton Jr. High but they would have to wait to register until the day before or the first day of school. And now we were off.... to my errands to run.
Lately I have been in desprate need of a job. As a college student and all, a job is pretty much nessesary to pay for everything that I need. I have been applying pretty much everywhere (ok so not really everywhere, I am still looking for somthing I would enjoy) I sent my resume to a bunch of places and got a call this morning to come and fill out a job application for Mountainland Head Start (a pre-school program for underpriveledged kids). This was the first real job application I had ever really filled out. I am very excited to return it tomorrow and pray that possibly a job would come out of it because honestly... this job would be ideal.
Then again... I suppose whatever job God has in store for me is the idea job for me, so I'm just praying that He allows me to find it soon. Anyway... After a stop at my first potential job site I went over to UVU (Utah Valley Univeristy... the college I attend) to pick up my student ID card. I left UVU with my first ever Debit Card that doubles as my campus ID card, Bus Pass, Library card, ect. (well I guess that is more than double but...) I think that it is totally worth it though.
( I would like to take a moment now and apologize for the lack of pictures. For some reason blogger has some insane oppisition to inserting my pictures into this blog)
Ok, now on to the God part which is why I am assuming most of you are reading this (if any of you are reading this. I very well could be writing this to the voices inside my head...interesting...)
ANYWAY... When I got home from up north I realized I had about a half hour until my LAST night of youth group ever was to occur. Every wednesday night for seven years I have been attending youth group and now it was the last one I could ever go to. So Zac and I got ready to go and headed over to pick up Daniel and Shauna (a weekly tradition... Ok... so a little more than weekly. I love them. They are like family) and we head over to youth group. Tonight... Brolin teaches the lesson that I need to hear ( for my last night of course).
We open up with the word; "Gospel". Honestly I have kind of been opposed to this word for years. Not so much beacuse of what it means but beacuse it always sounds like a really "Christianese" word to say. And as is the case with most christianese words, never really had a clear definition in my head. But after tonight I have come to a clear definition. The Gospel is God's love story.
This might sound kind of dumb but after I realized that the Gospel has been around before Jesus died (I mean the Bible says that Jesus himself PREACHED the Gospel) and that the Gospel is to be preached to both christians and non-christians alike; God just made it click in my head. The Gospel is God' great love story for us. A love sotry that centers around Jesus but that is continually poured out for us over time. God's love is so amazing that essentially the Gospel, the Good News, is basically just a telling of God's great love for us.
After youth group the four of us (Me, Zac, Daniel, and Shauna) went to McDonalds to get drinks. I was basically going to relive as many old memories as possible tonight. So we went on another one of our epic backroad adventures. (Earlier in the year Daniel and I had adventured to see how many backroads there were in Sanpete and travel pretty much all of them and we found a backroad that lead from Ephriam to Mount Pleasant) We made a quick rest stop at Maverick (which turned into a candy stop.... why does candy have to be so cheap and delicious?) and were off. This is where the coke Q(i just killed a VERY large spider that was on my floor.... I love summer when all the spiders are out... Now I will totally be able to sleep).
Sorry... where was I. Oh yes. This is where the coke machine comes in. (Sorry about the length. I promise I will be wrapping things up shortly). While we were driving and having very... interesting (just ask the girl who was working at McDonalds that night ;) ) converstations we found a random coke machine on the side of the road. So what did we do... use our best secret agent moves to park the car, sneak up to it, take a wacky picture in front of it, and then run away as fast as we could. Then we drove Daniel and Shauna home. I said goodnight to my two best friends (who I sadly won't get to see much anymore) and came home to start this blog.
So what did God teach me through all of this?
1. I am a grown up now.
I can deny it all I want but it's time to grow up now. I am getting a real job, a real debit card, a real college education, a real car, and learning that I can't be a kid forever
2. Last times are the best
You know that saying, "You don't know what you have until it's gone"? Well it is so true. It's not until you realize that you are losing something that you realize it's true value. I realized the value of my youth group family and what they see in me, Broliln and his amazing lessons that always reached me, The other leaders and their dedication to seeing me grow, My baby brother (I'm not losing him... I just love him), Late night car rides, back roads, my two best friends, a shoulder to lean on, Sanpete County, and so much more. But I enjoyed them all to the fullest tonight and I am so thankful for that.
3. God's Love is the Center
I was goign to say that God's love is the glue... But then I realized that God's love is so much more than that. God is the nucelous, the core of my being. Nothing else moves unless directed by the nucleous inless the cell (ME) is seriously sick. Right now my life is looking pretty scary. In just 6 days I start school, 23 days I turn 18, and in about 9 days I move for the 7th time in my life. But it's God's love that has always caried me through no matter what. And it has always blessed me far beyond what I could imagine. Before I moved to Utah I thought I would never make good friends. But I have made better friends than I could have ever asked for (you know who you are) and my family in Christ is so wide and well bonded that it stretches from coast to coast. Without God's love I would be nothing. Without God's love we would all be nothign. But God knows the best for me and wants to bring it to life. I love God.
I love God so much. End of Story.
(If you want to see pictures to narrate this story please go to my facebook. The last four photos in my "Random Summer Photos" Album narrate this story well :D )
Lately I have been in desprate need of a job. As a college student and all, a job is pretty much nessesary to pay for everything that I need. I have been applying pretty much everywhere (ok so not really everywhere, I am still looking for somthing I would enjoy) I sent my resume to a bunch of places and got a call this morning to come and fill out a job application for Mountainland Head Start (a pre-school program for underpriveledged kids). This was the first real job application I had ever really filled out. I am very excited to return it tomorrow and pray that possibly a job would come out of it because honestly... this job would be ideal.
Then again... I suppose whatever job God has in store for me is the idea job for me, so I'm just praying that He allows me to find it soon. Anyway... After a stop at my first potential job site I went over to UVU (Utah Valley Univeristy... the college I attend) to pick up my student ID card. I left UVU with my first ever Debit Card that doubles as my campus ID card, Bus Pass, Library card, ect. (well I guess that is more than double but...) I think that it is totally worth it though.
( I would like to take a moment now and apologize for the lack of pictures. For some reason blogger has some insane oppisition to inserting my pictures into this blog)
Ok, now on to the God part which is why I am assuming most of you are reading this (if any of you are reading this. I very well could be writing this to the voices inside my head...interesting...)
ANYWAY... When I got home from up north I realized I had about a half hour until my LAST night of youth group ever was to occur. Every wednesday night for seven years I have been attending youth group and now it was the last one I could ever go to. So Zac and I got ready to go and headed over to pick up Daniel and Shauna (a weekly tradition... Ok... so a little more than weekly. I love them. They are like family) and we head over to youth group. Tonight... Brolin teaches the lesson that I need to hear ( for my last night of course).
We open up with the word; "Gospel". Honestly I have kind of been opposed to this word for years. Not so much beacuse of what it means but beacuse it always sounds like a really "Christianese" word to say. And as is the case with most christianese words, never really had a clear definition in my head. But after tonight I have come to a clear definition. The Gospel is God's love story.
This might sound kind of dumb but after I realized that the Gospel has been around before Jesus died (I mean the Bible says that Jesus himself PREACHED the Gospel) and that the Gospel is to be preached to both christians and non-christians alike; God just made it click in my head. The Gospel is God' great love story for us. A love sotry that centers around Jesus but that is continually poured out for us over time. God's love is so amazing that essentially the Gospel, the Good News, is basically just a telling of God's great love for us.
After youth group the four of us (Me, Zac, Daniel, and Shauna) went to McDonalds to get drinks. I was basically going to relive as many old memories as possible tonight. So we went on another one of our epic backroad adventures. (Earlier in the year Daniel and I had adventured to see how many backroads there were in Sanpete and travel pretty much all of them and we found a backroad that lead from Ephriam to Mount Pleasant) We made a quick rest stop at Maverick (which turned into a candy stop.... why does candy have to be so cheap and delicious?) and were off. This is where the coke Q(i just killed a VERY large spider that was on my floor.... I love summer when all the spiders are out... Now I will totally be able to sleep).
Sorry... where was I. Oh yes. This is where the coke machine comes in. (Sorry about the length. I promise I will be wrapping things up shortly). While we were driving and having very... interesting (just ask the girl who was working at McDonalds that night ;) ) converstations we found a random coke machine on the side of the road. So what did we do... use our best secret agent moves to park the car, sneak up to it, take a wacky picture in front of it, and then run away as fast as we could. Then we drove Daniel and Shauna home. I said goodnight to my two best friends (who I sadly won't get to see much anymore) and came home to start this blog.
So what did God teach me through all of this?
1. I am a grown up now.
I can deny it all I want but it's time to grow up now. I am getting a real job, a real debit card, a real college education, a real car, and learning that I can't be a kid forever
2. Last times are the best
You know that saying, "You don't know what you have until it's gone"? Well it is so true. It's not until you realize that you are losing something that you realize it's true value. I realized the value of my youth group family and what they see in me, Broliln and his amazing lessons that always reached me, The other leaders and their dedication to seeing me grow, My baby brother (I'm not losing him... I just love him), Late night car rides, back roads, my two best friends, a shoulder to lean on, Sanpete County, and so much more. But I enjoyed them all to the fullest tonight and I am so thankful for that.
3. God's Love is the Center
I was goign to say that God's love is the glue... But then I realized that God's love is so much more than that. God is the nucelous, the core of my being. Nothing else moves unless directed by the nucleous inless the cell (ME) is seriously sick. Right now my life is looking pretty scary. In just 6 days I start school, 23 days I turn 18, and in about 9 days I move for the 7th time in my life. But it's God's love that has always caried me through no matter what. And it has always blessed me far beyond what I could imagine. Before I moved to Utah I thought I would never make good friends. But I have made better friends than I could have ever asked for (you know who you are) and my family in Christ is so wide and well bonded that it stretches from coast to coast. Without God's love I would be nothing. Without God's love we would all be nothign. But God knows the best for me and wants to bring it to life. I love God.
I love God so much. End of Story.
(If you want to see pictures to narrate this story please go to my facebook. The last four photos in my "Random Summer Photos" Album narrate this story well :D )
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Welcome to the Start of my Life
Hi everyone. Welcome to the start of my blog. In exactly twenty six days I turn eighteen. I am starting my junior year of college in eight days. (That makes me sound like some sort of crazy weird antisocial homeschooled kid who is super smart or something. I promise, I am lucky, not all that intelligent.) I am applying for my first real job, moving to a brand new city, and basically starting off my life. I figure that with leaving basically everyone I know, some of you might like to keep up with me. As of right now I don't really have any super exciting stories but I'll be sure to keep you all updated as they come. Sorry for the short post but I randomally decided to start a blog at two in the morning.... what more can you expect.
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