Basketball Pictures...

Basketball....

We have been gone for my bro's basketball tourament Friday and Saturday. During it, I took pixs on my new camera (Canon Powershot SX 120 IS). Bethany and I also took pictures of each other. Here's some! :)

Judgement House

Eariler in the month of November, my family participated in Judgement House. For those who don't know what Judgement House is, it's okay!! It's hard to explain (right, Joanna?) and confusing, but neat. It is a powerful drama and you go to different rooms for all the scenes. Characters might be the same in different rooms, but all are played by different people-make sense?. Every year the drama is diferent and this year's was about a man, AJ, who stalks a girl on the internet. He ends up killing the girl he stalked (who isn't a Christian) and her brother (who is a Christian). Because of the choices he made, he is put to death (which was my scene). You get to tour their final destinations, hell and heaven. I played a girl named Trish in the excution scene (I was double-slotted).
Many people got saved but we know it's not about numbers. Inbetween scenes (groups normally came thru every five or so minutes), we would pray, lounge about, and snack.
Once I went to heaven between a cuz I wanted to get my camera and take a picture with my group (we were done, but because heaven's one of the last stops, they weren't done). Anyhow, I got it from a backroom and imerged back in heaven. I tripped on some cloud while Jesus and angel(s) were watching. "Sorry," I said. "Just a clumsy saint here." Right when I said that, I slipped on the gold floor!! Okay...so that might not sound funny but it was! :)
It was a great time and I will proally do it again next year.

One day we will see clearly

God is crying softly right now. Tears are slipping down his face. Before I started going, a girl along with her sisters came with her sister's frined to youth group passed away. I don't know her and don't know how she looks. I don't know why God took her. We can't always understand why God lets something happen and we aren't always meant to. God loves us so much though. God didn't take Lauren, but allowed her to go. Someday we will understand. One day we will see clearly. One day we can ask God questions we have wondered our whole life. But now we must trust.
Stop judging. Love your enemies. Let Jesus use you. Effect people through you. Learn. Love. Laugh. Enjoy life. We don't know when God will welcome us home. Live life to the fullest. Don't live with regrets. One of the lyrics in a song by Krystal Meyers says, "I'll trust you though I don't understand."

God is the healer

Here are the lyrics for a GREAT song called, "Healer". Go and listen to it!!

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in you
I trust in you
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need I believe
You're my portionI believe
You're more than enough for me
Jesus, you're all I need
Nothing is impossible for you
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for you You hold my world in your hands

Lay Down Everything at Jesus' Feet

I gave my heart to Jesus when I was three years old. I don't really remember it, but I was in the kitchen, standing on a chair. I think that most of us here are already Christian, those who have believed and reached out to accept God's gift of grace and love. But have we given all to God? Our dreams? Desires? Passion? Weaknesses? Our life? Everything? Too many Christians have just given God their heart and nothing else. And I'll admit, this is something that I am not good at. It is truly surrendering. Lay down everything at the cross of Jesus. Die to yourself and let us pick up our cross and follow Him. God has a desire to use you. I just finished reading Mere Christianity and C.S. Louis says something like, "You can't truly live until you have died." When you give yourself to God, He will transform you.

World's Shortest Post...

Okay, so if I changed the name of Stand Alone, what would you want it as? Here's ideas: Unashamed. Stand Alone. Just One (our previous name). What do you like (post) or do you have suggestions?

Love, Love, Love

How many Bible translations do you have? Before you start reading this post or when you are completed, go and read all the Bible translations you have of 1 Corinthians 13. Yes, I will do it, too! :) Last night at youth group we talked about verse five-love isn't rude, it isn't self seeking, not angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.

First, love isn't a feeling-it's a verb, or an action. We do not have to have feelings to love others. Love is the the mark of a mature follower of Jesus! God tells us to love others as yourself but that doesn't mean thinking less or yourself. Love has good manners-isn't rude. Love looks out for others first. It put their needs and desires before yours. Love is not ever truly angered. Remember, these are beauitful people and God loves them and they are made in His image.

Love has a memory that stinks! It doesn't hold other people's wrongs against them but let's go and forgives.

Youth group times...

Matching shirts!
Justin, me, and Keegan

Um...How does love work again?

You would probably agree with me that your family are the people you love the most. Then why do we sometimes treat them the worst? Something that I have realized lately deals with parents and children. Befoe I say it, though, I think that sometimes we forget that our parents have feelings and are real people, too. Have you ever sassed your parents one minute and then talk sweetly to them two hours later? Or obey them one time and then disobey them the next? I've realized that you need to say good-bye to all that bad junk forever! Not just when we're on good terms with them or they let us do something. Don't sometimes obey your parents or say "Oh, I just sass them a little." Stop sassing them or bad talking them. Let's stop disobeying and making excuses. You don't have to agree with your parents but respect them! Put their needs and desires above yours. Let's say GOOD-BYE to the old forever! And what's cool is when you do obey your parents and respect them, they will also respect you. I will admit that I struggle with the whole parent thing. But will YOU join me in loving your parents, obeying them, and respecting them?