MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas!!! I hope you all have had a great Christmas today as you have celebrated the true miracle of Christmas. The true miracle of Christmas is Jesus coming, living, and dying. It's not about gifts, Santa, or deliciously good food. If you think about it, it's about love and redemption. Love so deep God came down and died on a cross. Even though the Christmas day is drawing to an end, always remember God's love! Have a great new year, too. I will be praying for you. Any specific things to pray about?

Bell-Ringing!

Yesterday we rang bells for the Salvation Army. Considering the week, it was a good day to ring bells (probably the best in the week). It went pretty well. Afterwards, we went and ate at Pizza Hut. Yes, we do get jokes about bell ringing. :p Happy early Christmas! What are you doing for Christmas? Do you have any fun and special traditions? Merry, merry Christmas friends!

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wow, isn't that so crazy how this year is almost over? Man, I am excited to say '10. Are you excited about Christmas and the New Year? Do you have any New Year's resolutions yet? Our lesson at youth group this week was about the true miracle of Christmas. The true miracle of Christmas is that God came down (not just another baby) to die on the cross. Can you believe how much He humbled Himself? He humbled Himself so much to come down AS A BABY and be born in a stable. He humbled Himself so much He died on the cross for our sins. He could have zapped the people mocking Him dead right then-but He didn't. And then He chose from the dead! He defeated death and sin by raising from the death. And when He resurrected, He proved who He said He was. Isn't He amazing?!

Go and be Jesus to the world!

We complain that we can’t see God. We want to see him, we want to touch him, to hear his laughter. We want his arms of love to surround us when we cry, to hold us tight and whisper in our ear, “It’s gonna be okay.” We dream of the day when we will be with him, forever. But we want him here, to be with us now.

Is he? Perhaps he is here, with us now, but we aren’t seeing him. Then again, perhaps we aren’t looking. Maybe we are looking for him in the wrong place. Instead of searching for him in the pews, we should walk the streets of the ‘hood. Go, feed the homeless. Hold the baby of a fourteen-year-old girl. Gaze at children’s faces, children who deal drugs. Children who are in gangs. Fathers who beat their children. Girls who should be laughing and playing but are locked in the slavery of prostitution. Go to the hypocritical Christians who only toss money at the homeless. They think they help. But they don’t give the homeless what they need the most: love.

Do you love these precious people? They are just like you, people that Jesus came to die for. And when you look in the faces of these dirty, starving homeless as you scoop of bowls of soup, you are looking in the face of Jesus.

Do you even see these people? Before you can touch them, love them, help them, you must first find them. Jesus is crying gently as He turns to us "Sunday Christians" and asks, “Do you see me now? Can you hear me? I am crying; are you listening? You want to see me but you ignore me when I am right before you! These people…They are rejected, lonely, and broken. But I died for them, too! Go to them. Go to them and love them. Put them above yourself. Don’t just give them a couple wadded up dollars, give them love. And tell them this: That I loved them so much I died for them.” Go and be Jesus to the world!

Here in...Ohio

Hey friends!
Well, after about seventeen hours of driving, we finally made it to our destination. We're up here in Ohio visiting a college for my brother. Even though I still have years more in highschooler, I really like the college. Tonight we are going to a play put on by the college. It is in war times, about three brothers who go off to war. Their wives move in with the mother-in-law. Hopefully should be good! I like the college; the town, however, is kind of weird. It's a quaint little town, but kind of weird. I am tired but doing okay.
What are you up to?
Talk to ya later!

Toto...We're not in Kansas anymore

Tomorrow my family will be taking off to Ohio, a 16 hour drive, and Iowa. We are going to visit a college or my brother, who is a senior. Time flies! Anyways, we'll also go to Iowa, where some of my Mom's family lives. It will be...interesting...being in a car with three siblings and two parents for 16+ hours. Pray for the trip! Hopefully it'll be good and fun. pray for my grandparents as well and some of mom's family because they aren't Christians. Can I pray for anything for you?

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?

Tough Love

I am going to write more about this but here's a review of it! Last week in Reality Check, we talked about Tough Love. Tough love is confronting someone when they are messing up because you care about them. It's not about what you can get out of the deal or to make them feel bad. You are telling me their misktake (gently!) because you really do love them. If you have friends who are making poor choices, please do talk to them about it. Just 1. don't condemn them! 2. tell them gently 3. be honest 4. do it because you want their best!!

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus...

The night before we left for Italy, we have a commissioning ceremony. After the session, the Italy team gathered around a cross with a light on it outside. If you looked around, you could seen hundreds of glowing lights and many crosses. One of the members of our team, Tony, couldn't come with us to Italy (because of passport problems) and he talked a little that night. He talked and then suggested we sing the song, "I have decided to follow Jesus." So there on that beautiful night, voices raised, not to each other, not to other teams, but to Jesus. "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back..."
The Christians in Italy so serious about what they believed and I encourage you all to be the same. I encourage you all to follow Jesus, no matter how popular to unpopular it is, no matter how easy or hard it is, how joyful or painful it is. I got to see the coliseum in Rome where thousands of Christians were slaughtered like animals and it screamed yet you could only hear it if you were silent for one, "It is worth it!"
I think, even though we might already be Christians and live in Christian homes, we have to decide for ourselves if we want to follow God. Not because our parents do, our youth pastor, our friends do, but because we want to. I recently had that choice to make, did I really want to follow Jesus? I didn't want to make it hastily. Without God though, I would only live for myself and have no greater purpose. And I needed Jesus' love and assurance. I wanted Him! I didn't just need God; I really wanted Him. I encourage you to make this choice. I think that the best thing in the world is having Jesus love you and want a relationship with you!

Love-Notes from Reality Check

My youth group just started a series about love from the love chapter in the Bible. So one of the things I am going do do weekly on my blog, is to post notes from the lessons and change them some. So, I hope you guys enjoy this series because it's already started off great for me!
First, read 1 Corinthians 13.
-Only speak loving about people and don't gossip! Don't gossip but also don't let people gossip to you (gossip is speaking mean of other's or spreading something that's not true. Sometimes it's hard to know if something is gossip or not!). The people you want to talk mean about or punch in the face, they are made in God's image and God loves them just as much as He loves you!
Why Love is So Important:
1. More than noise (resounding gong or claning cymbal-not very pleasant!)
-You have to do everything in love or else it doesn't matter! Love is what makes a picture whole, complete. If you don't have love, your actions are worthless.
2. Don't be immature
You can always grow up and mature more. And don't justify your actions. Love with no excuses! Don't judge someone by their talents and weaknesses. If your pastor isn't a good speaker, it doesn't really matter. What matters more is what he's saying!
3. We see poorly (vs. 12)
We don't understand everything that happens were on earth and we never will. We might not "get it" when someone is hates us or ingnores us but God's going to make every wrong right. We don't have to do it here on earth. Instead, we just need to love other's. God's going to make it straight, no one slips past him.
A final couple things for you! Check out Galatians 5:6 and the last verse in 1 Corthians 13-love is the most important!

Changes to Stand Alone?

Hello friends,
Hope everything is going well with you! Are you doing anything big this coming week? Is there anything you girls think I should change about this blog, add, take away, things I should post about, a question corner, update more often, etc? Go ahead and throw it out there! That'd be amazing to know. I am going to try to do some changes to it (though I'm not sure now) and if you have any ideas, just comment or email me!
Thanks for reading my blog.

NO EXCUSES!

In the book of Galatians, it talks about about not adding or taking away from the gospel. To borrow my youth pastor's words, don't make excuses. Don't read a verse about respecting your parents and then say, "But you don't know my parents." Don't read about praying for those who hate you and say, "But so and so doesn't count." When the Bible says 'obey', than obey! IT WAS GIVEN TO US AND HAS ALL AND JUST WHAT GOD WANTS US TO KNOW!! It's dirrectly from God and that's what he wants us to know. Don't add or take away from it! Also, remember the Bible isn't about rules and not what to do. Sometimes we make Christianity all about "789 things not to do". Follow Jesus because we LOVE him!

Friends are so precious!

Me and my amazing cousin, Will.
Danae and me

I love Laura so much! She's amazing, too.

Liz is funny, real, incredible, and everything else!

I am so thankful for my friends! They are amazing people who help me more than they know. I love them all so much! Thanks you for being my friend, girls!!

Don't take your friends for granted. At the same time, keep God as your

number 1 friend and I promise you that He is the best friend ever! I love you, Jesus!

A Moment In Yesterday

My amazing team!! This is in front of a castle we did some ministry at.
A great picture of nuns

My friend, Mara, and me

Rollar coaster rides!!

My friend Emily and me.

The Mamba, a huge rollar coaster ride we went on. It was scary but great!!

Yesterday I spent the day at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. It was the first time I've been there and my second amusement park! I was very pumped about going. It was my first time there, also, to go on "real" rollar coasters such as the Thunderwolf, a wooden and very bumpy coaster, the Prowler, an extrememly fast one, and a couple other's. I am glad that God gave us a good time--and safety!! :)

Back from an awesome experience!

Hey friends! I am back from Italy, which was an amazing experience! We worked in the town of Milano, which is in northern Italy. My team was 16 wonderful, amazing people who I love. We did street evangelism and drama. We did the drama called Everything, a great drama about a girl who decides to play the world's game and then wants Jesus again. Check out the drama (not our copy) on

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5.

I loved going out and talking with the people! It was so amazing to see God working and believe He was real. He's not made up fairy tale! People are so hungry for God and please continue to pray for them.

We also had the chance to visit Vatican City and go to the Coliseum as well as do ministry at the Central Station, a castle, and the douma, a wonderful cathedral. All glory and honor belongs to God and God alone!

Praise and Prayer

Philippians 1:9-And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge nd depth of insight.
I want to encourage you all to really pray, talk to God. Praying doesn't mean that you must use "thee" and "thou" or any special languauge. It's a conversation with the Creator, like you'd have with a friend. It's also not just asking God for stuff. In fact, one book puts it something like, Stop asking what God can do for us but instead ask what can we do for You? It's confessing, just chatting, thanking, being silly (if you want), praising, and asking for things. It's cool to ask God for things but remember that the God who can give you want you want also needs praise. Psalms talks a ton about praise! Right now you can just post praises and prayer requests that you have. Then we can all pray for each other. We might not know each other but in the body of Christ, we are all one. Our differences don't matter anymore because we aren't united by those. God longs to have a relationship of love with you!
Pslams 108:3-4- I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

I am shocked!

Is it possible that my trip is already upon me? In a few days I will leave. It used to be like 40 days away and now, well, it's nearly here! I just want to encourage you for a minute. Please trust and rely on God and Him only and with all of your heart. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" says Proverbs 3:5. It's so easy to lean on other's-and yourself- because they are here with us in body! In Pslams 9:10, as well ast many other places, God gives us reasons to trust Him. He won't let us down. Trusting God is really hard isn't it but know that you aren't the only one that wants to and is trying to! A ton of the time we're like, "I'm all alone" and sometimes, it will just be you standing up for the truth--and it will happen. Please trust God's word and hold it as truth more than anything else. We can learn God's likes and dislikes (yes, even God has those!), what he loves and hates, what he wants of us, etc. I've written it before but maybe God doesn't just say, "Don't do this _____"-you fill in the blank-because he wants us to seek Him.
Just because I am going to Italy doesen't mean I can serve God more. Serve Him right here. Sometimes we have to do that before we can go oversees. Look for ways to serve because it's not going to be easy and it's not on our radar. Sometimes you won't feel like it-do it anyway. Love, or serving, isn't just feelings, it's actions, right? Pursue the Lord. He loves us more than we could ever possibly know! Maybe it's one of those things that we can't wrap our head around. God is love and let's love each other. Can I post something that my sis posted on her Facebook page? You love Jesus as much as the person that you like the least.
Follow God regardless of anything else!

Dancing with the angels

Recently my Grandmother died, a week go today. It's been tough and if you still want to pray for us, that would be great. She is in heaven right now though so we have a reason to celebrate. Below is a poem I made a few days after she died.

Even though we ache and grieve in our earthly bodies, there is a light of hope leading our next step.
Even as the shadows melt in around us, the goodness of God blows our minds.
Even though sometimes all we see is hurt, confusion, and anger love fills this place.
Even as we are sad, we have a joy knowing that our grandmother is in heaven dancing, now more than ever before.
As we wonder, a peace overflows in our heart. It is a peace that passes any understanding.
Even as we cannot see the light of day or the next step we are about to take, even though we question why, faith urges us on.
With Christ with us, there is victory.
Even as we are pressed on every side, we are not crushed, even as we are perplexed we are not driven in despair, we are persecuted but not abandoned, and we are struck down on every side but we are not destroyed.
Even as we walk in the valley of the shadow of called death, God is with us.
And we shall not fear. For He is with us.

Just a few thoughts...

Wouldn't that be amazing to be the wisest person on earth? Once our pastor said, "I pray for wisdom the most because I know that's what I lack the most." Solomon was the wisest person that's ever lived. But did he do everything right and dandy? No, he still made blew it, even though he knew what the right thing to do was. Sometimes we're like, "God, just tell me what's right to do!" but even if God did give us a ring on the telephone and say, "Do this, Anna", I might not do it. We have the right choice in front of us but we still have to choose what to do. Just because we know what right thing to do would be doesn't mean we do it, you know? So, pray for wisdom and help to do the right thing!

It's pretty exciting...I got a camera and it came today! My cousin, or aunt, ordered it and we picked it up at their house today. It was expected to come tomorrow yet came early. So exciting! Isn't it strange how we try to get the nice stuff, camera's, computers, clothes (ohhh!! All c's) but that doesn't fill us? You know what spot I'm talking about? We always think, "If only I had a cell phone, I'd be happy." Or whatever that blank is that we asume would complete us. But we always want more because only God can fill that spot. Nothing else ever can!!

Church isn't a soical event and other wise words

Yep, the title pretty much says it all! I don't even need to post! But in all seriously, sometimes all of us probably have "church problems". Maybe with friendships, the people, the message-what is it for you? Can I just tell you a quick few things? First, making friends at church shouldn't be our top goal. Yes, we need to to be with other believers but please remember that before anything, it's all about God. The church is created for God. So, it's first about GOD! Second, church isn't about fitting in, wearing the right clothes (it matters more what you wear on days besides Sunday), or singing the best (you aren't singing for the person next to you and it's about the heart!!). Once again, it's about God. It's all about Jesus and loving Him, then being with other Christians, sharing our struggles, and living our faith. It's about re-fueling, being encouraged, for the rest of the week.
You might struggle with church. But please make the most of it! It's between you and God and it really can be a great time when it's about God--not other's. Enjoy fellowship with other believes because we need that, as well. REMEMBER: Fellowship is really important!
Kind of like life...It's not about other's or ourself. Let's live it for God...all for Him.

Star Sprinked Night

On Thursday night and part of Friday (it started to rain), my family has been camping on top of the "big hill". The big hill is a place with a blowing breeze where you can view acres of beautiful Kansas land. We have rolling Gyp Hills dotted with green trees and wild prairie grass. Cows roam the land and in the distance, you can see the red blinking lights of wind towers. It's really quite pretty. Our family camps out there but we don't have a tent air mattresses. We just sleep under the stars on a gymnastics mat, one roll out bed, and blankets. I went to sleep on Thursday night without many stars in the sky. The moon was up, along with the milky clouds. I woke up about two hours later and it was stunning-breath-taking. Stars sprinkled the sky as if God Himself dumped a buckle of twinkling lights on the velvet curtain called sky. I even saw some shooting stars, something our family loves. I spent the rest of the night listening to my mp3 and eating. Oh, and waking my Mom up and telling her not to snore so loud. :-) It's nice to get out and enjoy what God created for our enjoyment!

The Choice of God

The Maker of the World had a choice that lay before Him
It wasn’t an easy choice
It was a choice rather or not to create man with full knowing that man would not chose Him
And God decided to make man. But not just to create man, make them in His image
That was another choice and God said yes
Then God had a choice to create women and once again, chose to
But they sinned. God could have killed man
right then and there
Instead, God chose to love man in spite of his imperfections
The LORD had a choice to give us what we need, and
not just that, but also what we want sometimes
God could have decided to strike man down time after time
But he chose to give us one more chance.
And one more chance…
And another chance…
Jesus could have chose not to come because we didn’t deserve it. But He stunned us with His grace
and chose us even though sometimes we
still don‘t chose Him
God had a choice to love us because love must have a choice. Love is a choice, not feelings
The Maker of the World had a choice
And He chose us

Let's not take grace for granted or use God! We so don't deserve what God's giving us. God isn't meant to be taken for granted. Give God the glory He deserves.

Walk In The Talk

If you guys didn't know, I have another blog with Wordpress. I haven't done as much with it as this one but it's kina cool. Check it out! Below is the blog address:
www.walkinthetalk.wordpress.com
Go ahead and post if you can and tell me what you think! God bless.

Swimming pools, hot days, camp, and summer treats

I just got done creating a fruit pizza! On the yummy treat (that we actually haven't had yet!), which I mostly made by myself, is strawberries, rasberries, and blueberries. It was very simple to make and hopefully will taste really good. I wrote on the pizza, "(made a heart) U DAD" on it. I made the heart with raseberries with blueberries in them and U Dad with blueberries. Summer goes by so fast!!

Funny Guy

We went and we saw Christian comedian Taylor Mason last Friday. And what do I say?

It was funny!

He had puppets and was a intelegist-pretty much he talked for the puppets in different voices but didn't move his mouth, not to mention did well at it. Taylor had a lot of different puppets and we enjoyed them, as well as his amazing piano skills. He was a good Christian comedian because sometimes because Christian funny people aren't very nice. But way to go, Taylor! My sister pointed out that it's weird how we pay people to make us laugh. If you'd like to see some of his stuff, you can go to http://www.tangle.com/ and type in Taylor Mason in the search box. Comment what you think about him!

If you love me, you will obey what I command

Everyday, everywhere, we have rules. In our house, we're told not to run. In the library, we have to check out the books. We are expected not to yell during the sermon at church. The list keeps going. We get them in church, public-parents are big. Once my youth pastor told me that if he didn't have his parents, he probably would have done a lot of bad things. I think the same about me-if my parents let me do whatever, I'd probably make a lot of bad choices that I might later regret. God gives us our parents to protect us and our parents give us rules because they love us (yes!! Seriously). They want what's best for us, they want us to be great. A good son is the pride of his Dad.
Have you ever thought how God doesn't give us rules? He doesn't say "do this" "don't do that". God wants you to obey Him because you love Him, not because you don't have a choice. (John 14:15). If we love God, we will totally, seriously do what He tells us. It's a reaction to our love for Him. Because Jesus the Messiah came and we no longer need rules or have to sacrifice animals. It's because we no longer live under law (Leveitcus and Deuteronomy-that's two of them-is God's law to the Isralites). We are living under grace. Because of grace, we don't have to follow rules anymore. It's about a relationship with the Creator! God wants to be your friend.
It's not by rules (or doing good things!) how we're saved. It's grace. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." We're all saved by grace thru faith. It's not by good works we're saved so we don't have to compare ourselves to other Christians. Please, please let's not live under rules but under grace! Follow God because you love Him, do what He wants because you love Him, not to "get right with Him!"

I amhomschooled

So, right now I am speaking with my friend Emily on the phone. She said that she is still fascinated with phones and emails. "Even though I was born in the phone and email era and is still fascinated with it's neatness. Even though phones were here when I was born." She said.
I laugh. "Unless you were born when Thomas Edison was. Wait, did he make the phone?"
"Yeah, I think so. No, wait."
"Did he invent the phone?" Then my mind had an amazing thought. "No!" I said. "Thomas Edison invented the telep-that's the same thing!" Later, I excitedly exclaimed that he invented the light bulb (I think he also invented the rocking chair). Thanks to Emily's Mom, we confirming it, we discovered that Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone--not Thomas Edison! What can I say? We're home schooled!

You're Sending Out A Message

We are sending out messages with our lives. In everything we do, we tell people what we believe, what we like and don't like, who we are, if we follow God, and on. We are sending it out in the clothes we wear, the words we speak, the music we listen to, the movies we watch. We send out a message in what we do and that tells others and ourselves who we are and what we believe. You can see this when you see people listen to music, do whatever their boy friend wants-that's what they believe. We aren't even conscious of it yet we are always doing it. Don't you want people to receive the "right message?" Next, the next question to ask is what message am I sending out? In my words, thoughts, the sites I look up on the internet, my language, how I spend my time-is that sending out the message that I love people and love God? Is it saying that I love God fully or some of the time.
You are sending a message out to everybody.
Even people you don't know. You are sending a message to your friends, neighbors, family, teachers, youth pastor, co-workers, and boss.There are going to be some people that you only see once in your life-what will they see? Are they going to say, "I want what she has!" Or are they going to not want to be in a church because of what we do? What message are they seeing?Everyone is seeing it.That's right. They can tell who you follow by what you do here. God says don't be like the world even though you're in the world. Have our messages be different than the one's the world is sending out! Have our's be one's of love, acceptance, grace, and forgiveness. Think twice before you do what you've always done.
Have our's be the message that Jesus Christ gave to this world dying of hope and desperate for love.

When life decides to go another way...

Sometimes...life seems to decide
to go another way than what I
want. I can't explain why but I
find some thrill in how God lets
it happen to make my faith and
me stronger. We might not be able
to explain, understand, or like
terrible things that happen...
when our Grandpa dies,
our best friends wounds us
and leaves a scar we'll never
forget or when nothing in a day
seems to happen our way.
When life seems to decide that
it wants to take another turn than
what we truly want. We want
everything to be right, all to be
perfect, and well. But we all know
that's just not the way that it goes.
Let's just remind ourselves to
look at the big picture. Not
what we can see now but what
will matter in heaven, not here.
And that makes life just a little
easier.

Sometimes you'll have to stand alone

Just one...Let's be honest that if it hasn't happened already, your friends, aren't always going to stand with you to do what's right. They might still be Christians but they also might not be different with you, push against the flow, be unique. The sad part is, most people never find who God created them to be because they are never willing to step out of the boat and play around with their options. They are not willing to be different. It's seriously not easy and it really makes you question if you want to follow God or not but let's be different. Starting now. Don't think about the past. Stand now. Sometimes it really will be just one but always remember that you have God will you! Sometimes you will have friends who will stand with you but let's always be willing to STAND ALONE FOR JESUS! BUT YOU WON'T STAND ALL BY YOURSELF BECAUSE HE'S THERE WITH YOU!! HE WAS ON THE CROSS FOR YOU!!
Dear Jesus...
Why can't I stand alone?
Why does it matter what other's think?
Why don't I believe the only thing that really matters is what you believe of me?
Why can't I give it all for you, Father God?
Why can't I decide if I really want to follow you?
Why can't I want to stay pure?
Why don't I believe that you're real?
Why, since I say I'm a Christian, why can't I act like one?
Why can't I believe that you are God's son and that I'm really saved?
Why can't I seem to have much faith in you?
Your daughter now and forever, Anna

Don't be afraid to tell what you really have in your life, struggles, doubts, things that seem embarrassing. I don't do very well at that but am getting better, sorta. People will respect you when you are honest and tell your struggles and doubts!!

Daddy-Daugther Love

I love to write and want to be really good! Here's the beginning and all I have. What are some of the things that you believe God has gifted you with? What do you think spiritual gift wise?

Bryan loved his child with everything that he was even though he never had gotten a chance to meet his daughter. She was a beautiful three years old, golden curls, and sparkling blue eyes like the ocean. The fact was, he had only ever seen pictures and talked to his daughter yet never gotten to meet her in real life.
And that’s was the only thing that kept him going sometimes.
Sometimes, thinking about his daughter was the thing that pushed him to go forward, to be a leader to his shoulders, to show love, respect, to do what needed to be done in the war. Taking a deep breath late at night in his tent, he pulled out the photo of his daughter and wife and looked at it carefully as he did every night. Then, licking his dry lips, he pulled out the letter his wife had written when she was struggling to raise their daughter without a father. His heart ached for them and he wished that he could be there with them more then anything…
When Gabby, the special name that only be called her for Gabriel, told him that they were going to have a child, he had been so shocked that he’d fallen to his knees and the first thing he did was thank God. The coming months past and together Bryan and Gabby had experienced some of their baby’s first. First kick, first stretch…if anything made you believe that there was a God who loved, it was a newborn child. Within weeks before the baby's due date, Bryan was deployed to Iraq, the call being both sudden and unwanted. It had been hard but they knew that they would see each other again. It had been three years ago…

So short...

This is a picture that I colored on Sunday! Don't you totally think I should go into artistic studies in college?! :)
Life is so short...so sweet...yet gone in a blink.

Enjoy life because it won't last long. Enjoy

the sweet moments that seem silly. Do silly

things. Live to the fullest, laugh until the tears

come, and love with all that you are.

Failing is staying down...

We babysit a cute, chubby little girl named Miranda. Randa turned one in February. Sometimes you'll get lower down, open up your hands, and call for Randa. Randa will be delighted and open up her hands to you and come tottling toward you. "She's walking pretty good, but she'll still fall." In our walk with God, don't be afraid or bang yourself up when you fall and you will fall-we're all going to. To quote a line in a the Love Comes Softy movies, "It's okay to stumble. He's there to catch you when you fall." When we do fall, get back up; don't stay down. My sister, Rebekah, did a speech last forensics year about failure. She spoke about how failure is not falling but staying down. If you decide to give up after you fell down the first or second time, then that's when you fail. But when you get back up, though it hurts and you honestly don't want to, that's when you can suceed. It's the times when we fall that we end up growing and like everything, even times when it seems like we've failed can be used for good. When I didn't break at the first tournament in forensics I went to and both my sisters did and also placed, I was like or Satan was trying to whisper to me, "You failed. You're a failure, Anna." But when I got back up, I had to try harder but also did better. When we fall, it can only teach us to try harder if we want to suceed. Satan will try to tell you that you are a failure! We shouldn't believe him! And don't let your age, no matter how old you are, stop you from doing big things or things that seem impossible (Philipians 4:13). Have you ever heard of Brett and Alec Harris? They have a blog (http://www.therebelution.com/) as well as have written a book (Do Hard Things) and do confrences or something. I haven't read the book but a friend and her sis are and my friend loves it! Another book is "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Got to Get Out of the Boat." Someone once said, "The only real failure is the failure to try."

God can use it for good!

Faith means to trust God. You have to have faith to do anything. You have to have faith when you sit down, when you get into your car, when you eat...faith is everywhere. We have to have faith do everything if you think about it. Do you have faith in God? Do you trust Him?
Faith is also something that I struggle with. God proves himself trustworthy time and time again but how often do we forget and so quickly, as well? God's perfect and, even when we're untrustworthy, God is trustful. We can always trust and depend on Him. And He wants Him to.
My sister was in a wreck yesterday with a friend and I have to trust that the Father would allow my beautiful sister that I love to be hurt. She's okay but it's tough. No car now, finals start tomorrow...But she could have gotten killed. Life is so short and even if she did, I have to trust God. Rely on his plan, not mine. Believe that he's thinking about my good. I don't know God is real but I have to trust it. Trust is everywhere.
What do you trust?
Into the Deep is an amazing, but oh, so sad book! A man losese his entire family, four beautiful kids and a wife, in a flood but he trusts God minute by minute. He questions why (it's okay though to question but keep your eyes on Jesus...that makes the difference between good and bad doubt, when we keep our eyes on Jesus). He, Robert Rogers, is now married again and has started a ministry. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20.
This is something that I got in a forward: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

BE A WORLD CHANGER

This is a sheet from my journal or diary...whatever it is. :) Do you like to journal? Have you ever noticed that God doesn't really use the popular, well to do off, people but the ordinary people who love God and follow Him? And He uses them to make a huge difference and change the world. Esther (who once was Hadassah), Gideon, David, Mary...And God can use you! Let Him!

77 Days

It is only 77 days until my missions trip. Please pray for my trip, as well as two of my other sisters that are going-or are on-mission trip. Rebekah is in Egypt right now! That's so cool...So, for her and then Bethany might go to Peru (she's sighed but might switch trips to Africa) and will be a week longer then I will be in Italy. Then my sis, another one, is going on an internship. If you'd like, pray for her as well!
Do any of you have anything to pray about? Anything been happening that you want to talk to God about? Just post if you want or you can email.
How have you all been??
~The Spirit of the Soverign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort those who mourn.~ Isaiah 61:1-2

What would life be without?

To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ~2 Timothy 1:2~
What would life be without some of the memories that make it fun? I came in from dropping letters off in our mail box yesterday and my younger sister, Mary was coming into the family room. I acted like I was, or was going to, clamp her ears with my shoes and Mary acted like she was going to punch me or something. But she stepped on my sock, making me trip back unto baskets-crates, actually. :)
What would life be without miracles that make us rejoice? Yesterday I found a check that I had lost for my mission trip, thanks to God. It was the largest check and I was so excited and thankful to have found it!
What would life be without the hardships that make us cry? Those are the times that we draw close to God, when we question why, when we learn that we must enjoy the good times of life that make us relish and long for the sweet times.
Finally, what would life be without embarrassing moments that keep us honest with ourselves? When my youth group went to the concert last month, you could go two places to eat: Sonic or Freddy's Frozen Custard. I chose Freddy's and when my custard was ready, I went to get it. There was this pretty, popular girl there and thinking that all the straw was off, I tried to suck my vanilla custard...only to discover that they hadn't taken off the end of the straw wrapper. The girl laughed and I made a joke. Let's learn to soak up life and enjoy every moment of life. Jesus wants us to have life to the fullest. And when we want to have fun, we need to have rules, boundaries. So don't think that boundaries or rules are stupid. They're there so that we can have fun, be safe, and enjoy life! God bless you!

Dorothy said it right!!

Dorothy said it right when she said that there's no place like home. Even if you want to get away or enjoy being away, there's no place quite like home. What makes home home for you? I have been away from home since Sunday at a forensics tournament that was actually Regionals. I got to the semi-final round with my open (Tilly) but didn't go on to finals. Anyways, I was excited to go to semis! Laura, my youth pastor's wife, helped me out. Thanks, Laura!! I was telling her today that I wanted to do three things: 1. have fun. 2. do the best I can 3. effect and change my judges. Hopefully that is what I did! Made them think and inspire them to get out and do something against abortion! I got home today and actually got to go to my youth group part of the time. Thank you, God, for helping me get that far! I love you!

God isn't a God for a box!

With my trip to Italy, something that I've been struggling with is the big green bucks. Maybe I should say more that God will provide the big green bucks. Trusting God for the money is one of the things that I've been struggling with about my trip. Not the biggest though and the biggest struggle I don't know if I'd label a "struggle". But God is big enough! Today I received a check in the mail from a couple that goes to our Church. It was a lot of money and so encouraging! God's big enough. He's big enough for anything. Yet, there are things that God CANNOT DO. One is, God cannot lie. Cannot. Don't try to size Him down to a toy God; He's more then we can ever dream! Don't put God in a box!

The drama: a success!

Last Wednesday we did our drama for our youth group and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Thank you all of those who prayed. It was good and very, very, very fun! My sister, Bethany, who did the drama with me and I switched characters the day of the drama. I was this annoying, trying-to-help, trying-to-serve friend to my sick "friend". The script was something with our series, called I-Life. So far we've talked about forgiveness, acceptance, serve, and encouraging. For encouraging on Wednesday we talked about when our friends drift from God mostly.

So, Bethany you did good!! I had a lotta fun and hope that you did, too. Thanks for doing the fun drama with me, sis!

A snazzy, sharp, silly skit...Just had to go for the same letter!

So me and my sister Bethany are going to do a drama for our youth group tomorrow, which will be sweet! My youth pastor's wife, Laura, came to the door and dropped off the papers. The play isn't serious, really, but I've only done serious things at youth group. It has a person who's sick and another whose trying to cheer her up. I asked my youth pastor, Justin, if this was something we could just kinda make up when we had the idea. We can, but we have to do important lines and right. I've done drama at youth group before and am SUPER excited about doing it again! We are doing an amazing (serioulsly, it's like the best ever!!) series and this will go along with it. Pray for us!

Mission trip...

So there's been a change of plans. My trip is now switched over to Italy so I'll, God willing, work in towns around Rome. On my free day I we go to Rome and have the option and do two different things, one of which is going to the Coliseum and shopping in shops around it. The ministy that we'll maybe do is street drama and one-on-one evangelism. But perhaps we'll do relief work (did you hear about the earthquake in Italy and then the aftershock?) and coffee ministry. In the morning we'll advertise for the drama, in the afternoon sometime we'll do it, then go out to the people, love on them, get to know them, and share our testimony. It'll be a GREAT experience! Please pray for me and the trip and everything, wisdom, money, spiritual growth, preparation, and on. Thanks, everyone! :)

Easter!!

Isn't it funny how we make Christmas a bigger holiday then Easter? Easter is a huge holiday and yet so often we don't celebrate it as much as Christmas. Easter isn't at all about about the Easter egg hunts, Easter bunny, chocolate candy, or even the empty tomb. It's totally 100% about Jesus and God (and remember, Jesus was totally God and also 100% man). It's about how Jesus was right and that He really is the only God. What he said really was real, Who He was, really was genuine. It's about His power, His truth in who He said He was. It's about His love for us. He loved us so much He went to the cross and rose from the grave for us. It's about how we don't live with and serve a God in the grave but we serve a living God!! We have a God who has more power then anything, even death. Always remember that we serve a living God!!!
Read the Easter story today, maybe from a different gospel or from another translation. (You can find it Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20. Perhaps you can choose a verse that stands out to you and memorize it.
We have chosen holidays to celebrate things, Jesus' birth, Easter...but we can thank God anytime for what He did.

The Rock and Worship Roadshow

On Good Friday my youth group went to The Rock and Worship Roadshow where they had five bands come in, Hawk Nelson, MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Tenth Avenue North, and they were going to have Addison Road but when the main singer who was pregnant went into labor...they didn't come. Instead we had The Afters, who began the singing. Before, we went to All Stars Sports Center and ate at Freddy's Frozen Custard or Sonic before going to where the concert was, waiting, talking, taking pictures, tossing balls, or playing... The concert was sold out! There were 11, 000 people there! Lights would swept over people, music blaring, hands in the air, hands clapping, sometimes we'd jump up and down. And while there wasn't a long message, there were some great things said!! It's a bummer I can't remember more of what they said. When I listen to the song or are going to and think about it, then I can sorta remember. The main singers of the bands/artists would most of the time speak and say great things. So you could kind of "get to know them" in a way, hear their story and stuff. Jeremy Camp told us how he had lost his wife to cancer eight years but he told us that after he had sang one of his songs with part of the chorus: And I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see. Each one of artists and on were different, probably believed different things, looked different, there were different types of music...But they were all there for God and wanted to bring glory and honor to Him. God was there smiling with tears in His eyes! God is with us!! We teenagers are in an amazing spot and need to change our generation to Jesus!

Love God and Love Others!

Last Wednesday our youth group started a new series and talked about forgiving but we also spoke about loving God and people, which was so GOOOOOOD!! Some of the things that my youth pastor said were they (speaking of people) are not going to know that we're Christians by our tee-shirts or bumper stickers but by our love. Think about it. You might see someone wearing a Christian tee or have this cross necklace but when they're yelling at their Mom or whatever else, you are seriously going to doubt that they love God, which kind of leads into something else that we spoke about (though it actually was before that :). You cannot say that your relationship with God is going good and not love other people, here. Our relationships effect our relationship with God. Here'sverses that we looked up and please do look them up, too! They are really good!

-> Matthew 5:23-24-reconile, move on. Don't bring the sin up anymore. -> John 13:34-35-love will speak to the world that we are children of the King. -> Matthew 22:36-39-The first and second commands. The first and greatest, love God with everything. The second is loving others like ourselves. The NLT says, "A second is equally important". The greatest command is to love God but the next, to love others as ourself, is of the same importance. Crazy, hun? -> Ephesians 4:1-2 tells to lead a life worthy of God's calling in verse one. Verse two tells us things we should do but they're not rules. They are commands and if I love Christ, then I'll follow them.

This week at our youth group, just yesterday, we spoke about acceptance, continuing in the second week of our series. With acceptance there is no normal. There's really no thing as normal. God doesn't make the stories in the Bible perfect but He leaves them in for us. We live much of our life to be accepted. But we need to remember that even when others don't accept us we're totally accepted by God. And if you haven't accepted God's free gift, then please think about it seriously. Place your faith in Him, in the things He said, and accept His free offer. And as a Christian, we need to follow God, you and me. Because Jesus accepted us, we need to go out and accept others. Accept!!

Seek God!

Have you ever wondered, "God, why don't you just write down what to do and what not to do? That'd be so much easier... Then I'd know what you thought about country music, proms, and school dances, guys, and everything." As I was telling my youth pastor just Thrusday, it's probably kinda good that God doesn't just say "don't go to the school dance" because that makes us seek Him for answers. Do you want answers? Go to God, seek Him totally! If you really seek Him, you will find Him. Your answers might be different then someone elses but maybe that's because we're different, we have different strenghts and weaknesses. God says that He'll give anyone wisdom without finding fault. I need to seek God...Will you join me? But when we seek Him, we need to seek Him first, before anything! Go to God! He's there waiting for you.

I Love You!!!

LOVE LETTER
I saw you yesterday as you were walking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would walk and talk to me.
As the days end, I gave you a sunset
And a cool breeze to rest you.
As you fell asleep I longed to touch you.
I spilled moonlight on your face….
Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk.
My friend, I love you.
I whisper it in the leaves and the trees.
I shout to you in the mountain streams.
I clothe you in sunshine.
My love is deeper then the oceans.
You and I will spend eternity together.
I would love it if you would talk to me.
It is your decision…
And because I love you I will wait.
~Your Heavenly Father~

We hear it all the time but God really does love you! And He shows it...in the sunsets and everything. He wants you SO much! But He's going to wait for us because He loves us and loves that is forced isn't really love. So, I have a lot about God's love but God is also a God of righteous wrath. He is a God of love and at the same time discipline... But it's all because HE LOVES YOU!!! God lets us go through pain and hard times, He disciplines us because He loves us. That's true love.

Forensics...

This past month in February I went to a forensics compeition with my younger sister and Mom. It's my second year in forensics (public speaking through acting, writing speeches, and you can also do debate offers debate, which isn't forensics). More then that, it's a Christian forensics as well as homeschool. The compeition was three days long and each day we'd get up early and perform, eat, wait to perform as debate went, and on. The pieces that I preformed were Tilly by Frank Peretti for open, The Ragman for dramatic, and for humorous I did the piece Amelia Bedelia. Tilly was a piece about a lady who has an abortion and the part I did was almostly all when she's in a dream where she meets her little daughter, Tilly and talks to other(s). The piece that I did for dramatic was called The Ragman. The story really is like about how Jesus took our dirty rags and put them upon Himself. In the end, the Ragman dies but after three days, but comes alive again. Sounds familiar, hun? Isaiah 53 at the beginning of verse four says, Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows... And, finally, I did the piece of Amelia Bedelia who takes things a bit to literally!
I was excited to break into semi-finals with my open, Tilly, and shocked to found out that I broke into finals with my dramatic. I ended up placing 6th in dramatic and open and got 25th place in IE sweepstakes.
Looking at my ballots now, it's interesting how some judges would give you a higher placing and another would give you the lowest. It really reminds you over and over that everyone is different! There's no copy of you and therefore, you can't fail at being you. Get it? I heard that and had never thought of that...I cannot possibly fail at being me! Can I fail God's plan for me? Perhaps but God's always there to lift me up. If you feel like you're a failure in your activites and life, who are you comparing yourself with?
I'll share a memory with you. So, it's the semi-final round, there was this older couple sitting in the room. I perform my piece Tilly and a girl in front of me performed part of Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails." Also, the girl before that performed a dramatic piece. After the semi-final round, the first girl walks up to me when I'm talking to a girl and asks me something or says something to me. Well, skipping ahead, her Mom ends up telling us that the couple in the room weren't Christians and came out and were like, "Is this a Christian thing or something?" Her daughter was actually like, "No, no, you said they said something about "preachin' at us." So, her Mom said that it was cool to see the Holy Spirit play a conviction in their hearts and it was neat that I played a part in that. I had no idea!!! Did those people ever come Christians or think anything about it? We'll probably never really know here but it's important to put our best in whatever we do. God might use us to change someone here, rather we'll know it or not.

Go with God, friend!

Baja, Mexico, Here I Come!

Chance of a Lifetime

This summer I have the wonderful oppertunity to go to Baja, California, which is really in Mexico. It lays in the peninsula by Mexico and California. I am planning to go with a mission group down in Texas for a week in the summer. Over the week, we will be building

house(s) for the neediest families and doing door to door minsitry. Although most of my siblings have gone on mission trips, this will be my first experience...First experiecnce to send out support letters, to raise money for my trip--to be the one going, to go on a trip. It will be an AMAZING growing experience and seeing the world from totally another culture. It will be life-changing, not only for the people to whom we hope to share God's love, but also for me.

The God Who Became A Man

The God Who Became A Man
-anna bell
The Christ who watched us take our first steps now took them
The One who wrote the Torah was also was one who learned it
The Savior who gave the rules of sacrificing the lamb now became the Lamb
The Father who thought of, designed, made the tree was later nailed to it
The Rescuer who beautifully fashioned people
was the same who was not wanted by men
And Christ who will never forsake us felt forsaken by God Himself that dark day
But the God who whispered “I love you” showed that He meant it,
not just by words, by actions.
God did not just say He loved us! He acted upon it!!! Love is not just words. Love is actions.