Ok, so time to update?  Sure.  It's summer, how awesome is that?  I painted my ceiling and it looks spiting cool.  Kathy Adkins is the lady I've worked with for the last year and a half, and tomorrow or wednesday will be our last day to work together.  I'm amazed when I see where God's taken me from though.  Two years ago I could never see myself where I am at today.  It's all about the grace.

"The more words you speak the less the mean.  So why overdo it?" Ecclesiastes 6:11

PS: This picture is dedicated to Matt.  Just cause I took it and liked it.

Ok, so now that life has slowed time, I might as well write in here again.  Prom was amazing, too many stories to tell.  I may end up posting some pictures.  But it was probably one of the funnest times I've had all year.  School has slowed down, and everything is gong great, I love the month of may. 

Romans 8:28 "We know that God uses all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose"

Ok, so friday I am pumped about prom.  I'm thinking everything is perfect and all that good stuff, when I burn myself at work with the steamer.  I look at my thumb, and from the skin not fitting right, it's going to be a pain during prom.  So I pray, like a whole lot.  And it wont stop burning.  And I'm kinda bumbed about it all.  Well, I end up taking four bandaids to prom with me, and during all the dancing don't even notice my thumb.  But after an hour or so, my heels start hurting, and because I had burned myself, I was able to usethe bandaids I broguht to patch up my heels, and continue to dance the rest of the night. 

That just one of the ways God worked at prom, that I thought was amazing.  I'm pumped.

Praise God! 

I would really like to sword fight.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" Matthew 16:24. Everyone seems to be so concerned with "Being yourself" that we are willing to attack and fight against anything that suggests people shouldn’t be themselves. But what does Jesus Himself say in Matthew 16:24 (look up) Jesus Himself says that if we really want to follow Him, not only do we need to not be focused on "being ourselves" but we need to deny ourselves. And yes, that means sometimes doing things that don’t feel natural, it comes down to a choice, who do you represent, Christ or yourself?

I’m rarely impressed with someone that can hold their moral ground against other people’s passion. So many of us can condemn sex, drugs, cursing, etc, anything that sins against God, but the moment it means disowning our own passions, we seem to have a serious problem with God and His standards. Suddenly we have every excuse in the world, anything to defend our passions. And it’s always different for other people. Movies, fashion, art, acting, video games, and I could go on. I used to be so impressed when I’d see a girl that would stand up and denounce a fashion or a movie that most girls’ loved because it was wrong. But then I found out it’s not her passion, she’s not sacrificing anything, and when it comes to music, suddenly it’s alright to sing about sex. Or guys, we won’t listen to certain kinds of music because it’s an attitude of hate and pride, but we have no problem when certain video games swell us up with that same kind of feeling.

We can all be a rebel, honestly, it’s in style. The question is are we willing to deny ourselves. Not other people and their passions, are we will to deny, even hate our passions because they conflict with God. "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24) Think of your passion, are you willing to deny it for Christ? Or are you still saying you love both.

God has a plan

Haha. I like this picture alot. I found some more, and this is one of them. Devin does senior devotions tomorrow, so be praying for him. Ice cream is my new hobby. And props to Roxy for the music on her xanga, I don't even need to pull up media player, just leave it at her site.

"If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What's more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?"

Esther 4:14

After King Xerxes banished the queen because she disobeyed him, he searched for a new lady. He found Esther, and she became queen. Then a law was passed to kill all the jews on a certain day (she's Jewish, how awesome is that?) Anyway, that is her uncle (her guardian) talking to her about talking to the king about the law.

God's given us all a place, and blessings. So often we look at people in high places, and ask, "why aren't they uses that for God? They could have such an impact!" But what happens when we are given a place of influence? Suddenly it's not appropriate to bring up God in student council, or at work, or wherever it might be that we are blessed with influence. Even when we are with friends, it's so natural to work on building the relationship, instead of giving glory to God every moment. We need to use everything, including our relationships and influence whether professional, personal, or private for God. And if we can't be trusted with the little chances, how could we be trusted with the big chance?

If we don’t say something, God will use someone else. He doesn’t need us, He gives us the privilege to be used by Him. Take it or leave it.

God has a plan.

I need to start getting some new pictures. I saw Constantine, it was a pretty unsettling movie. I'm so thankful to have a God that loves us. In that movie they portray God as "a little kid with an ant farm". People seem to make up the God they want, and then when it doesn't work they blame God for it. I'm so thankful God is nothing like the god portrayed in that movie. Happy Easter by the way. If you see the Easter bunny you can tell him I'm sorry about the rocks, I really thought he was a possum.

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4

Delight there, is a verb. It’s what you do. It takes a conscious action on our part to put our focus on God and our joy from Him. "... and He will give you the desires of your heart" I believe this has two meanings. Not only will God fill the desires you have, but He will give you the actually desire, not what we desire. It’s part of giving your life fully to Christ, and putting your interest fully in Him.

God has a plan