This Thanksgiving break was wonderful! It gave me a chance to reflect on what God has done in my life, and hear what He has done in friends' lives as well. It was a time of getting together with family and friends (some of whom are pretty much family anyways). There have been many struggles that everyone has gone through, but each and every one of us has made it through. There is something to be said for perseverance. No matter who we are, we all go through these struggles. But God is right there beside us throughout it all. 

It became very evident to me that God is working in our lives. Everyone that I talked to had stories of how God had changed them and how He had become an influence in their life. 

God is everywhere, and I am now very much aware of that! I can't wait to see how He will continue to work in our lives. 

I hope everyone had a good break!

God Bless

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they found a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord." - Psalm 107

Reading this showed just how immense God's love is for us. He doesn't have to love us because he doesn't need us, but he chooses to! As we can see from our lives and also from this passage, we don't deserve it. The people in this passage continued to fall into sin, and every time God lifted them out of it because they asked Him to. Are we not the same? God forgave us our sins when we let Him into our lives. 

God is amazing! His power is more than we could ever imagine, and His love for us is many times more than we could ever give to others. So what are we waiting for? He is so generous, and we are wasting time during our busy lives not trying to glorify God. He will be glorified no matter what, it's not about us. But we can give Him our everything and desire Him every minute of every day. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13

Love.

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.

We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.

So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.

What if we all loved the way God has showed us? What if we all stood beside each other in the good and the bad times? Could we show a generation of hypocrites and wannabe's that God is better than anything? Could we make a difference in the lives of people everyday?

I believe we could. I believe that God moves through those who move toward Him. He tells us that we need to love others. He tells us that we need to be different. I have witnessed this being acted upon. People are always watching. If we can prove that happiness and true love isn't based on possessions, but instead on helping others and giving God everything we have. If you think that you are not big enough to make a difference now, just remember that you don't have to be perfect. In fact, perfection is a turn-off for telling people about Jesus. We are all in need of a savior, and showing people that we don't have it all together just helps prove that they can be as happy as we are. Being different is not about extracting yourself from the culture completely and acting as if you have it all. Instead, it's about living in an imperfect world and showing that God is better. 

Failure is inevitable. It's going to happen. Out here, I have realized that getting outside your comfort zone is the best thing that can happen. It has been a challenge, and I have failed big time, but God has been right beside me throughout it! He is awesome, and He is the reason for everything that I do, and everything that I want to do!

Live a life of true courage by being imperfect, and letting the God who is do great things. And change the world!

Tell me where its hurting
Are you burning?
Running just to catch your breath
And going nowhere
It's getting old when you feel like you got nothing left
Well it ain't over 'til it's over
I told you since the day we met
So let me be the voice through all the noise
Whatever I gotta be
I'll be for you

Whatever you need from me
To see you through
Everyone of us has stumbled
Everybody's humbled
We hit the ground and our lives crumble

Whatever I gotta be
I'll be for you
I'm for you 
If you never knew
If you never knew
I'm for you
You know it's true

I know the feeling
I know it's real when the drama's all in your face
You see a mountain 
I hear a promise - it's never more than we can take
Well it ain't over, 'til it's over
We can learn from our mistakes
So let me be the voice through all the noise

Everyone of us will fall
Have our backs against the wall
And everyone shares a need to be loved

You've always been for me
So I will be for you
That's just what it means to love

This is Toby Mac's song "I'm for you".

Yesterday was a good day. It started out pretty bad when I missed church because I didn't wake up to the snooze, but throughout that, I realized that I needed to get away for a while. I had the new member talent show last night, which was fun and everything, but after that I was feeling out of touch with God and with myself. So I came home and started reading Job. This was amazing because I felt very similar to him at that point when he is desperate to stop suffering. He doesn't want to fight another day, but he still relies on God for all of his strength. I realized that I needed to go somewhere and just think, so I went on a run in the rain. It was one of the best things I have ever done. I thought about life and how I have been acting and how I should be acting. I have not been a light like God has called me to do. I have been depressed lately and been pretty mean to those around here, and I need to do a better job representing Him in my life. I have been very busy, but while in the midst of troubles, God shines out even brighter. So if I want to represent Him, this is the perfect time. 

Life moves fast, and we do our best to catch up with it, but I don't think this is the best idea. We will never be able to actually catch it because it doesn't stop and we have to. So why don't we just step back and enjoy what God has created for us. It was so nice just to run in the rain because I didn't have a care in the world, no worries, just me and God. 

If you are struggling with keeping up with life, stop and let God move through you. We can't move that fast, but He can through us.

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job is one of the best examples we have of faith and perseverance. So while we are struggling with our own battles, we should just think about what he went through and ask ourselves if we can handle our own problems. God says that he will not give us anything too great for us to conquer, so just remember, God made you so that you could conquer that. Keep holding strong, and continue to grow in faith.

Everybody struggles with procrastination. Some not as much as others, but everyone does it. Whether it's for a project that seems a long way off or just homework that's due tomorrow, sometimes we just want to do something else instead of what needs to be done. I have been doing this a lot lately, although it hasn't been so much with doing homework, but more not going to classes. But, from what I have learned in high school and also here, the key to not procrastinating is setting your mind to doing it. If we go into it doubtful, we will fail over and over. But if we set our mind to doing it, we will do it most of the time. 

College has been a time of reevaluation for me. Back in Colorado I was content to just live in comfort and not really take responsibility. Out here, it has been a much different scenario. I didn't have the mindset that it was time to take over my life. To stop letting my parents guide me, and to really take it by the reins and go where I want to go. And, so far, it hasn't been great. I mean, I've had a good time and everything. But I haven't been nearly as responsible as I should be. But failure is not the end. When I fail, I learn from my mistake so that I won't do it a second time. I will make sure that I don't make the same mistake again. 

Tonight at devos, we talked about running the race. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in sucha way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." I have not been running in the direction that I should be. I am not running full speed toward God's prize. But there is always a chance to change direction. I am going to run toward the Lord because He is all that matters. I want to glorify Him with everything I have and everything I am. 

I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave, you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help." You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever. - Psalm 30

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." Ephesians 6:10-20

Actually I will put up a verse that I just read.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." - Romans 13:8-14

You know, some moments in life are great! You have so much fun, and it's awesome! Well, I have had those this week, and this weekend will be great, but many times I don't give it all back to the One who gave it to me. When good things are happening, I start to think I was the cause of it, but that's not right at all. God gave me life, and He keeps me going, so I am going to give the good times to Him. 

Man, I never knew Settlers of Catan was so addicting! It's a great game, especially if you're playing with people who have fun with it! I don't have a specific verse to put up tonight, but if you are struggling with something, whether it be homework or relationships or whatever, give it to God, and you will soar on wings like eagles. Make the best of every situation. And most of all, never give up. Persevere to the end!

This is an email that one of the guys in my pledge class sent all of us. These are not my words, but his. I thought it was extremely true, and I know I haven't thought about it a lot until now, but it's great.

Heaven's Reward
People talk about how we will inherit great and wondrous treasures when we enter into heaven. People turn down earthly gain and possession believing they will be given a much greater gift once past those pearly gates. I think it's really funny how people take Jesus saying that we will inherit greater treasure in heaven as actual treasure! Yes we will be given crowns, to show our co-reign with Christ. But what use will riches be in heaven!? What will the great saints buy with our trillions of trillions of dollars of worth?! Will that reward of treasures last eternity!? I think we've missed it beloved, Jesus told us we would inherit a great reward and I'm sure he smiled when he said that—for a second. I believe He smiled for just a second, because he soon started frowning due to the looks on the disciples faces, due to what happened in their hearts, due to the wayward teachings that future generations would follow. We've missed it beloved. 1) Why do you think we hear of the saints in heaven throwing down their crowns to Jesus so easily? 2) What is the greatest gift you can think of receiving? The saints don't think twice about laying down their crowns because they get it, they finally get it! They figured out what the real reward is! What is it? What's the most wondrous, most valuable gift you can think of? Not the Sunday school answers like grace, or salvation or love, those are great...but we have those beloved. Think of what you don't have…yet--or what you haven't seen yet! What accompanies the laying down of crowns? Who is always present when we here of yet again saints and kings throwing down their inherited gift? It's Jesus!!! He's there; he's right in front of them! He smiles and breaks down as each crown leaves the head of a saint.

 Beloved, the smile on Jesus’ face is far greater than any reward I can even fathom. I don't want anything else, we shouldn't! Jesus told the young prince to give it all up, yet what we've been taught is
that all we have to do is give up a little gain here and get a lot of gain there...no no no no beloved, that's so wrong. I know that breaks the heart of God. Our mindset has become: ok I just get through this lull in my pocket book in this life and God will bring me into a life of wealthy living in heaven...beloved get real. In a pure, simple human way we are using god. We are using, by how we perceive, his promise to us to our own gain. Beloved get over yourself, our reward in heaven is NOT wealth and treasures! The very streets of heaven are gold! What need would we have to be rewarded with pavement!? Beloved wake up and realize our reward is something that's worth beyond belief. Just think about it, try imagining it: Jesus smiling. What you just imagined is not even 0.000000000001% close to what it'll be like! Besides, beloved, we are already surrounded with riches and power and might! We’ve already inherited more riches and power than anyone of this world will ever possess again (Jesus being the first and will be the last), by being redeemed through Christ! We will be kings, soon, for He is coming soon. We will be given power and authority.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Jesus, himself, said it so it's gotta be important!!