A Day of Thanks

I thank God for...

His love and grace, His presence in my life, the Bible, family, sunsets, my ears, clothes, water, revival, friends, clouds, beds, food, vehicles, my pastor, TeenPact, my eyes, shoes, trees, pianos, my voice, pens, vacuums, my fingers, rain, books, evangelists, pillows, hair, birds, internet, fifteen layer chocolate cake, paper, cameras, my legs, cell-phones, warm blankets, ear-buds, answered prayer, and much more...

Hope

"LIVES OF GREAT MEN ALL REMIND US WE CAN MAKE OUR LIVES SUBLIME, AND, DEPARTING, LEAVE BEHIND US FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME; FOOTPRINTS, THAT PERHAPS ANOTHER, SAILING O'ER LIFE'S SOLEMN MAIN, A FORLORN AND SHIPWRECKED BROTHER, SEEING, SHALL TAKE HEART AGAIN. LET US, THEN, BE UP AND DOING, WITH A HEART FOR ANY FATE; STILL ACHIEVING, STILL PURSUING, LEARN TO LABOR AND TO WAIT." -LONGFELLOW

I have read this many times before, but I never really got what it was saying. Then I read it today and something struck me.

As humans, we tend to fail. Not only this, but we tend to look at other's failures. Sometimes we lose hope. As a girl trying to lead a life with Christ, it is discouraging to see those men and women fail who were passionate for God at one time. This is what we hear and see. Many times people look at the failures and not the achievers. We think, "This is too difficult." or "No one could ever do this." But it's not hopeless. Look at Paul the apostle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."(1 Timothy 4:7)

Paul gives me hope. He left footprints on the sands of time and showed me that I can achieve. Not only do I have hope because of the lives of other great men, but, like Paul, my ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ. Jesus overcame the world and He gave us the power to overcome the world as well. Now we can live a life full of hope and, just maybe, pass it on to "a forlorn and shipwrecked brother" that is discouraged by the world.

Let us cling to the hope of Christ and leave footprints in the sands of time...

Day 1~A Favorite Song

Because I can't just choose ONE favorite song, I will post one that I have always loved, "My Saviour, My God" by Aaron Shust.

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives...

30 day challenge

I read on someone's blog where they took the 30 day challenge. I thought it would be fun so for the next thirty days I will be answering these questions:

Day 1: A favorite song.

Day 2: A favorite movie.

Day 3: A favorite book.

Day 4: A favorite television program.

Day 5: A favorite quote.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possible live without.

Day 8: A favorite word or two.

Day 9: A photo you took.

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago. *might have trouble with this one* *hehe*

Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).

Day 13: A guilty pleasure.

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.

Day 15: A person you admire.

Day 16: A song that makes you cry.

Day 17: An art piece.

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.

Day 19: A talent of yours.

Day 20: A hobby of yours.

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.

Day 22: A website.

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.

Day 25: A recipe.

Day 26: A childhood memory.

Day 27: A physical feature you love.

Day 28: A scar you have and it's story.

Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days.

Day 30: A motto or philosophy.

Here it goes...

Consume Me.

A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out...

Change.

It has been nearly two months since my last post. Horrible, I know. A lot has happened that I would like to write about, but I highly doubt that it will all be written.

The first major thing that happened since I last blogged was TeenPact's National Convention. Best week ever. The theme this year was change, and I think all five hundred people there was changed somehow.

Each morning we had "bonjour" where we all had devotion time. We had worship in the morning and at night. There were two or three speakers a day that came and spoke about change in people's lives. And it all made me question myself. Was I really doing that? Why wasn't I doing this? God broke me that week, and now he's putting be back together.

I pray that it isn't just one of those things (a bible study, VBS, etc.) where you thought your life was changed, but after a while, it starts to fade and you go back to your old self. I have a feeling, though, that this week isn't going to wear off anytime soon.

This wasn't the only reason the week was amazing. The elections, small group time(Go Raging Caucasians!), ultimate frisbee tournament, meeting people from around the country(I met four people from Alaska.), and seeing old friends. The result was one awesome week! Here are some pictures:

Robin Hood: Good...or Bad?

Last Friday, I went and saw the new Robin Hood movie in theaters. I enjoyed the movie because it was an action/adventure movie with some romance thrown in.

I've grown up hearing of Robin Hood. I watched the old Disney movie. I'm a big fan.

In this movie, he is a smart and brave archer in the king's army. He is honest. He told the truth even when he knew it would mean death. He is loyal. He risked his own life to save one of his friends. He tried in every way possible to help the people around him. This is all well and good.

But the question arises, did he go too far?

Through all of the tales of Robin Hood, one thing has stayed consistent: Steal from the rich to give to the poor. The king is raising taxes above what anyone can pay. So Robin Hood steps in to take back what is theirs because they have nothing left. He is going against the authority in the country. He believed in a small government and not a dictatorship(which is what the king was establishing). I too believe in a small government, but I don't believe that we should go against our authorities to get what we want. 1 Peter 2:13, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."

During the movie, the king says something like (I can't remember the exact quote), "God gave me this authority and you are trying to limit it. I will not allow this."Romans 13:1-2,"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

Now, I am not condoning what King John did. Not at all. But he did get that authority from God so the people were supposed to respect him. I believe that there are times where we are not to listen to the authority, but God. When a king tells us to do the opposite of what God commanded than yes, we can go against the king. "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, 'Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!' But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men...'"-Acts 5:27-29. But King John was not telling the people to do anything against God. So Robin Hood had no right to go against the king. King John was the one who mis-used his authority to get more money. It was King John who had made the mistake. Robin Hood may have been trying to help, but he stole("You shall not steal.") and there is no way around it. In 2 Kings 17:39 it says, "But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." Robin Hood did not obey God, and instead, took the matter into his own hands. It may have been a noble choice, but maybe not the right one...