Busyness, Ramblings, and a Prayer Request

I shouldn't lie to you.  That isn't nice.  As much as I actually have been busy and it has been interfering with my blogging brain flow, I've really just been to lazy and way to addicted to wasting time.

For instance.

Business: schoolwork, homework, stupidity Physics, marching band, church functions, and babysitting.

Laziness: playing on phone (Did I ever tell you I got a smart phone at the end of last school year?  Oh, I didn't?  Well, I did.  And it is such a time and energy waster of mine.  I need to get rid of it.), reading FanFiction (Don't judge me!  It's rather good and obviously addicting.), sleeping, doing absolutely nothing, eating (but also dieting), watching Disney movies, skipping quiet time, tumblr, and overall vegitating.

I am well aware that laziness > business up there.  Sigh, I'm not good at prioritizing and time management.

Annnnnd this post is rather terrible.  I made this blog to post how God is working in my life (NOT THAT HE ISN'T RIGHT NOW!!) and other encouraging and faith-building posts... and I'm here complaining about my laziness and making it seem like a personal blog, when it should be all about Christ.

Summary of this post so far:  I'm lazy and haven't blogged in a while and I apologize.

But there is a purpose to this post (kind of).  I would like for all of you to - if not consistently then at least right now - to lift up my best friend Sherry in prayer.  She is going through such a hard time right now and after everything, I've gone and made it worse for her.  I can't go into detail now, but she really needs prayer and I know I can't do it all myself.  (Of course not, I'm human!)

Please please PLEASE pray for Sherry!

Hoping to write more for you soon,
<3 Warrior

Seeing God in Everything

You hear me say this so much on this blog.  I guess it's because I think it's important that everyone realizes that God is everywhere, and you can see Him there if you just look.  Here's an excerpt from my devotional a couple days ago:

"It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good." (1 Sam. 3:18)

See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou doth see!  It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, "He will compass us about with songs of deliverance."  To see Him, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us.  They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us.  Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts. -- H. W. Smith

"Give me a new idea," I said,
While musing on a sleepless bed;

"A new idea that'll bring to earth
A balm for souls of priceless worth;

That'll give men thoughts of things above,
And ride men of the sins they've fought."

A new thought came, just how, I'll tell:
'Twas when on bended knee I fell,
And sought from Him who knows full well
The way our sorrow to expel.
SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small
And give Him praise whate'er befall,
In life or death, in pain or woe,
See God, and overcome thy foe.

I saw Him in the morning light,
He made the day shine clear and bright;
I saw Him in the noontide hour,
And gained from Him refreshing shower.
At eventide, when worn and sad,
He gave me help, and made me glad.
At midnight, when on tossing bed
My weary soul to sleep He led.

I saw Him when great losses came,
And found He loved me just the same.
When heavy loads I had to bear,
I found He lightened every care.
By sickness, sorrow, sore distress,
He calmed my mind and gave me rest.
He's filled my heart with gladsome praise
Since I gave Him the upward gaze.

'Twas new to me, yet old to some,
This thought that to me has become
A revelation of the way
We all should live throughout the day;
For as each day unfolds its light,
We'll walk by faith and not by sight.
Life will indeed, a blessing bring,
If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING.

-- A. E. Finn

(from Streams in the Desert, September 19, 2008)

That was probably one of my top ten favorite devos ever, and I hope you enojoyed it and/or got something out of it.

Pay attention and see God in everything this week!  Look for Him and He will appear right in front of you or in places you never expected!

<3 Warrior

Happy Anniversary, This Is My Rifle!

Yep, that's right.  One year ago on this very day, I wrote my first blog post ever.  It's been an exciting year since then.  Let's recap:

I got over losing my faith and have found many ways to strengthen it since then.

I have made several new friends that are supporting me daily in my faith and are praying for me constantly.

I had the best school year EVER.

I lost a good friend for my faith but have gained a stronger friendship with my Lord in return.

I was in a musical that made me realize that in all things, I must find and do the Will of God.

I have had several epiphanies about who God is and what it means to follow Him.

I have officially given up dating and have begun "dating Jesus."

I have read SO MANY good books that have made me think about what it means to be labeled "Christian."

I spent a week fasting from the computer and it was probably in my top 10 best weeks ever.

My family sent my brother off to college and are welcoming a baby boy into our lives come January.

I have blogged to the glory of God!

Here's to a great year!  Thank you Jesus!

<3 Warrior

P.S.  Happy 30th birthday, Jon!

Verses and Quotes Needed for Band Camp

Imagine:  You're standing in a field with no grass and no vegetation.  For yards around you, all you can see is dust and dirt.  It is 106 degrees and there is no shade.  Your only hydration is the humidity in the air and the water breaks every 30 minutes.  You stand in that field, moving only feet at a time every now and then, for 4 hours.  Some insane blond lady keeps yelling at you to do the movements "one more time" (which really means "do it again and again until it's right").  You've done this before but you still think you won't survive another minute if you don't sit down or go do sectionals inside RIGHT NOW.

Ahhh, such is the life of a band kid at my school.  For two and a half weeks, this shall be the bane of my existence.  And so, to prepare, I have compiled a extensive amount of quotes and Bible verses to remind me that while I'm out there dying "one more time," Jesus is with me (:

Quotes:

Paul wrote, "Don't just do the minimum that will get you by.  Do your best.  Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance.  Keep in mind always that the Ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.  The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible.  Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work." 

For God's sake - DO YOUR BEST!

We almost never get to know ahead of time the full significance of what we do or don't do in our work.  We are simply told, "Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your might!"

- The Me I Want to Be, Ortberg

"If we were given all we wanted on this world, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next."

- Elisabeth Elliot

Verses:

Oh God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

- Psalm 63:1

First, pay attention to Me, and then relax.  Now you can take it easy - you're in good hands.

- Proverbs 1:33

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You'll get His help and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.  Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.  People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.  Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping your options open.

- James 1:5-8

Do you think I am trying to make people accept me?  No, God is the One I am trying to please.  Am I trying to please people?  If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

- Galatians 1:10

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.

- Philippians 4:6

So I strive to always to keep my conscience clear before man and God.

- Acts 24:16

My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.  Your anger can never make things right in God's sight.

- James 1:19-20

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

- Philippians 2:14-15

I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.

- Philippians 4:13



~ ~ ~

These verses and words of wisdom will definitely (hopefully) be on my mind a lot in these coming weeks, and if you have any to add, don't hesitate to tell me!  I'll need all the help I can get!

Have a great last month of summer and stay cool & hydrated!

<3 Warrior

An Overdue Apology

Greetings from a hot and lazy summertime!  No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, but my writing has...  Sorry for the recent dearth in blog posts, but I can't seem to find anything to write about!  That's where you can help.

This summer has been off-and-on business and laziness with lots of fun mixed in and I hope that you are having a great summer and are seeing God in everything you do.  I hope to be writing more with this blog's one year anniversary coming up in one month!  Band camp starts in two weeks, so there will be lots of crying out to Jesus from this Warrior!  Pray for lots of rain and no humidity!

Please also pray for Katie, all the kids starting sports in a few weeks (it's going to be very hot), and for my family as we send my brother Scott to college and welcome in a baby boy in January (my half-brother's baby, not mine :D)!

<3 Warrior

"What if your blessings come through raindrops?"

Amazing song by Laura Story entitled "Blessings."  It's about how God works for good through the hard times, a story I am very familiar with.  Enjoy!

There are some really nice pictures in the video, but in case you need or want them, here are the lyrics:

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not - This is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

<3 Warrior

My Book List

I am a book-lover.  I love books.  I love reading them, writing in them, sharing them, talking about them...  Books affect me more than anything else, especially books about Christianity and living a better life for Christ.  Seeing as you're reading my blog, I figure you like reading too.  Here's my book list.  It includes books I've read, books that have been recommended to me, and books I want to read but haven't gotten that far down into my ever-growing stack yet.  I recommend them all to you. (:

What I've Read:

The Bible - No brainer.  I've read almost all of it (of the NIV version.  I hope to read it all the way through in multiple versions.), and love every word of it.

Lies Young Women Believe (and the Truth that sets them free), DeMoss/Gresh - I think this is the first "Christian" book I ever read.  I read it for a small group for high school girls that met Thursday mornings before school last year.  Absolutely amazing book.  Great for any girl 12-20's.  There is an adult version available by the same authors.  It outlines the 25 biggest lies that Christian girls believe about God, satan (gramatical middle finger!) (that was a SCL joke), boys, themselves, etc. and how to combat those lies.

Connect the Dots, Hurt - Another book I read for Thursday morning Bible study last year.  I read this in the middle of my "wilderness" and it really brought into perspective all that had happened to me during that time when I thought that God was so far away.  It's about finding God's will in your life and how He works.

Case for Faith, Strobel - Also a Thursday AM book.  It answers a lot of tough questions that I hadn't had the courage to ask.  Written by a used-to-be atheist who became a Christian after being unable to disprove His existence.

Crazy Love, Chan - Thursday AM book from this year.  Asks questions that make you think about your relationship with Christ.  Is your love for Him sincere?  Are you obsessed?  Definitely a faith-strengthening book.

The Door Within Trilogy, Batson - Fictional books set in modern and medieval times.  They're biblical in nature and are really well-written.  More for youth than adults, but still enjoyable, I'm sure.  Centers around themes like believing, witnessing, and following.  My copies have just as much highlighting in them as any of my other books.  (Trilogy includes: The Door Within, The Rise of the Wyrm Lord, and The Final Storm)

God is in the Small Stuff (and it all counts), Bickel/Jantz - This was one of morning devotionals.  It's short and sweet.  Each chapter is about three pages long and they cover a wide variety of topics.  You can read chapter two in my post "Believing in Something."

Instant Messages from God For Girls/Boys - Another devotional.  Also very short and covers a variety of topics.  Great day-starter :).  Written for for pre-teens and teens.

Do Hard Things, Harris - I totally recommend this one to any teenager.  It challenges you to take a stand for Christ and do hard things for Him in your life RIGHT NOW.  It challenges the "Myth of Adolescence," which says that teenagers are just supposed to be "good" and aren't expected to do anything all that great.

Lady in Waiting, Kendall/Jones - I absolutely LOVE this book!!  Great for single young women (like me) and adults.  Uses the book of Ruth to show how to live your life for Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom.  I love it so much, I might even do a blog post on it.  Just wait and see!

The Atonement Child, Rivers -  (the recommendation:) I would actually recommend any of her books because I love her so much! I have read Redeeming Love by her, and she has a three book series about a girl named Haddassah in Ancient Rome (A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and Sure as the Dawn).  Her books are perfect for the recovering romance novel addict (been there, done that!) because her format is novely in all of these but the plots are more Scriptural, if you will... I would highly recommend her! She is my favorite!  (My opinion:)  I love Francine Rivers!  Atonement Child was absolutely amazing and Redeeming Love was just as good.  I also read The Scarlet Thread by her, which is stunning.  A Lineage of Grace and the trilogy mentioned above were harder for me to get into because they're historical fiction, and that's just not my cup of tea.  But I recommend any and all of her books to you!  (Well, to you girls.  They're a bit romancy :D)

The Me I Want to Be, Ortberg - Just finished this one and it is so good!  It's great for anyone wishing to be in the flow of the Spirit (and who doesn't want that?).  Wonderfully written and has a great message.  I definitely recommend it.  It is kind of wordy, but it's interesting and humorous.  There is a teen version available, but I read the "adult" version.  I recon they're about the same.

Confessions of a Non-Barbie, Wilson - This was a really nice quick read for me.  Being the speed read I am with summer-induced boredom, I finished it in less than 24 hours.  The whole thesis of the book is Kinda telling teenage girls everything she wished she had been told when she was their age.  The topics include dating, not dating, being "slam-dumped," beauty, guys in general, and overall teen-aged-Christian-girl advice.  It's a very good book and it's well-written to boot.  Keeps things funny and entertaining on top of the seriousness.

You Were Made to Make a Difference, Lucado/Lucado-Bishop - Very very very good!  The first couple chapters I felt were kind of repetitive, but once you get past that, it is a very well-written book.  Max and his daughter Jenny worked together on this project to write the teen version of his book Outlive Your Life, and the result is amazing.  It encourages teens to make a difference in their world and simple ways how.  It's very inspiring and made me think about what I can do to make a difference.  After all, it was what I was made to do!

The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis - Again, you can't go wrong with C.S. Lewis.  Plus, it's a short book and from what I can tell from reading the back, it's good.  My friend who's reading it now says it's great.  It's about a bus going from Hell to Heaven and the decisions you must make when you're on it.  My youth pastor really liked it (check the comments and see!) so it must be good (he's a book junkie, too).  I really liked it because it makes you think a little deeper into who and what you want to be when your time comes.

Jesus Calling, Young - 365 very short (literally a paragraph long) devotionals, one for every day of the year with scripture.  Focuses solely on Christ.  It's a great way to learn more about Him and grow closer to Him as a result.  This is my daily wake-up-brush-teeth-read-devo book!  I love it and am using colorful tabs to mark my favorites... so it's edges are extremely colorful!  I recommend it wholeheartedly if you're looking for something short, simple, but good.  Really helps you look at how Jesus feels about you and what He expects from His followers.

Recommended to me (and now to you!):
(Discaimer:  I have not read any of these, but I hear that they are great from someone who is a solid Christian and avid reader.  If they're not any good, don't blame me.  :D  All of the comments are from the one who recommended them to me.  If there isn't a comment, then she didn't give me one.)

When God Writes Your Love Story, Ludy - Isn't the cheesy "don't date" book, and it gives you an interesting look into your heart and the hearts of men.  It's written by a couple that let God write their love story and are living their happily ever after (:.

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis - With C.S. Lewis, I hear you can't go wrong!

Books in my ever-growing pile to read:

All the ones you see in the last section.  Most of the following books I found when I was browsing the "Teen Interest" section of Family Christian Bookstore.  I can't really tell you a lot about them except that I want to read them... sorry!  Once I read them, I'll move them up to my "What I've Read" section with a blurb about it in more detail.

Start Here, Harris - The "sequel" to Do Hard Things.  It outlines HOW to do hard things and practical ways to start.

What Are You Waiting For?, Gresh - I've read Lies Young Women Believe co-authored by Dannah, so I have no doubt it's amazing.  It's about relationships and how to define them, etc.

The 10 Best Decisions a Single Can Make, Farrel - Do you see the trend of dating/singleness/relationships books I've got going on here?

Graffiti, Davis - I honestly don't remember what it's about, but I know I liked the summary that I read in the back of Lies Young Women Believe and that I want to read it.

The Bride Wore White, Gresh - Also by Dannah, who's amazing.  This book is like What Are You Waiting For? but I'm guessing it's more for adults.  Focuses on purity and how important it is.  It outlines the seven steps to sexual purity.  There was a advertisement for it in the back of Lies Young Women Believe, and I've been looking forward to it since then (:.


Did I miss any good books?  What are some of your favorite Christian books? 

Happy reading!

<3 Warrior

I Really Like This

Another great passage that I found during my devo on the front porch:

More Than Conquerors (Romans 8: 28-39)

 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...  31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  36 As it is written:  "For your sake we face death all day long;  we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
 
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

LOOOOVE ITTTT!

I absolutely love that last part I put in bold.  NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ, and by extension, God.  We are never alone when we have God by our sides.  He loves us and protects us in every way, and if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?

<3 Warrior

Words from Sherry

My friend Sherry wears a really pretty necklace all the time that has a key and a ring on it.  The other day, I asked what it was for and what it meant and she (in a typical Sherry way) wrote me a note about it.  She explained where she got the key and ring and what they were for, and here's what she said next (and I really really really like it): 

... it reminds me that my heart, my body, my soul, my mind, and my words all belong to God.  It's a reminder that everything here on Earth is temporary, including my body and my future husband.  The love that I share with my husband needs to be an example of God's love for me, but it can't overshadow my relationship with God.  Most importantly, though, is it reminds me that anyone who wants me needs to go through God to get the key to my heart.  I can't give an earthly being something that I don't own, and as I said earlier, my heart belongs to God.

Sherry tends to say really smart and deep stuff when it comes to her heart.  She wrote a post a ways back about what she wants in a boyfriend, and it's a great example of what every Christian girl should want in a boyfriend/husband.  Figuring out what you want and what God wants for you in your future husband is a really good idea.  I've done it, and it really helps me keep my eyes on God's will for my life when I see a cute guy and want him to notice me.  I know that God is going to wait until I have fully matured and my future husband has fully matured before He puts us together (I hope).  (:  I pray that God is shaping me into the Christ-following and loving wife He wants me to be and that He is molding my husband into the same.

<3 Warrior

Believing in Something

Today, I just want to share a couple excerpts from two of my favorite books with you.  They both have something to do with believing, the first and hardest step when it comes to following God.


"Your father said that believing in something doesn't make it real.  But what he don't understand is that there are things - incredible things! - that are real whether we believe in them or not.  The Story is real, all right, but he won't see it until he's willing to believe.

"Believing in something or someone is a very special thing, my boy.  It can be risky 'cause if you believe in something, you stand up for it.  You fight for it sometimes.  If what you believe turns out to be a lie, you could end up humiliated or... worse."

~ The Door Within, Wayne Thomas Batson, (c) 2005

Does God seem distant?  Is He detached from you?  Maybe that's because you're waiting for Him to come to you.  If so, then you've got things backwards.

God has given us His Word, His Son, and His Spirit.  That is more that we all will ever need in order to understand God (and certainly more than we can absorb in a lifetime).  But the next step belongs to each of us.  It's up to us to read God's Word, believe in His Son, and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

You see, God is a perfect gentleman.  He never forces Himself on anyone.  He anxiously desires a deep and meaningful relationship with you, but He won't force the issue.  It must be voluntary on your part.  So, if you want to get to know God better, you must approach Him.  When Jesus taught this principle, He presented the relationship as an invitation:

Look!  Here I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  (Revelation 3:20 NLT)

God makes Himself available, but you must respond to His invitation.  Take Him at His Word.  God to Him.  Open the door of your heart to Him.

You don't have to move to a monastery to know God better.  You don't have to learn ancient Hebrew or memorize the names of the twelve disciples in alphabetical order.  All it takes is your time and attention - reading His Word and talking to Him.  Start with a few minutes each day, and grow from there.  You don't have to call to schedule an appointment.  He has already extended the invitation, and He's waiting for you to respond.

~ God is in the Small Stuff (and it all matters), Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz, (c) 1998

"Believe" is defined by Dictionary.com as, "to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so."

Read that a couple times and let it sink in.

Do you believe?

In what?

Why?

These are fair questions for anyone to ask you.

Can you answer them?

<3 Warrior

10 (or so) Things I Learned from Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress was the production that I was a part of this past weekend.  I've already told you about what I learned coming into the production, but here's whant I got out of it:

1. Don't make assumptions about people until you really, truly get to know them.
2. Forget diamonds, hairspray is a girl's best friend.
3. Apparently I'm funny (hooda thunk...?) and have a very expressive face.
4. I am SO SO SO SO SO blessed to have the family members God gave me and to have a close and loving relationship with each of them.
5. When you are reading a Bible backstage, people pour out their hearts to you.
6. I shouldn't lock my knees when I'm standing onstage (double knee braces, anybody?)
7. Don't let someone put on your makeup after she's used the same brush on 20 other girls and it's been on the floor.  Generally leads to three days of bloodshot eyes.
8. I can take any conversation and add lines from the musical into it.
9. A couple of things are inevitable at the final show:  everyone doing their best, everything ten times funnier, at least one mistake, a big crowd, and LOTS OF CRYING.
10. Not all of the "bad" people have "good" lives.  (see number 5)
11. GOD IS SO AMAZING AND LOVING AND AWESOME AND LOVING AND... AWESOME!!

<3 Warrior

1,000

One thousand is a lot.  If I counted to one thousand I would proably 1, get bored, 2, get lost, or 3, go crazy.  It's a lot.  Wanna know why that number makes me smile?

It's the number of views this blog has had (as of April 26, 2011).

If you're a regular reader, thanks for the contribution!  If you just happened to come across this blog while attempting to look for cool stuff for your rifle, sorry for the misleading title. 

I have been praying for all of my readers, whether it was a mistake they came across my blog or not.  I hope and pray that God has worked and will continue to work through this crazy ol' blog.

Here's a small recap of what the last 1000 viewers of this blog have seen/been:

• I started this blog on August 24, 2010 with a post explaining the title of this blog, which has been viewed more than any of the others (38 times).
• When Friends Lead You Astray is the second most-viewed post at 27 pageviews and has been edited the most because I've had to keep adding on whenever something new happens in my life or I find another good verse.
• People from all over the world have come across my blog.  They've come from the United States, Russia, Canada, Denmark, United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and India.  How cool is that!
• My longest post was This Past Week, but (in my opinion) was by far the most exciting.
• This will be my 34th and definitely not last post.

I am praying for you and I hope that you have enjoyed my blog so far!

If you feel so led, leave a comment letting me know what you think of my blog, how I can improve, or if my blog has impacted you in any way.

God bless you!

<3 Warrior

(wo)Man With(out) A Plan

Yeah, that would be me.

Lately, God has really pressed something upon my heart and I feel the need to share it with you.  I don't know what I'm going to do, or if it's really in His plan for me to do something about it, but I can't help thinking about it constantly, and I know it must be from Him, because all good things are.

There are so many kids at my school who will graduate or leave the school without ever hearing about the amazing love of Christ.  They will never hear about His love for them and the amazing joy and hope that that knowledge brings.  I walk past them in the halls every day and feel despicable and utterly SELFISH for not sharing my faith with them.  My heart goes out to their souls and their futures.  My heart goes out to them when they think no one cares about them or they think that there's nothing for them in this world.  My heart bleeds for them when I think about the fact that they don't have Christ in their hearts and lives and that they don't know that He is beside them, caring for and loving them, every step they take in their life.  God has gifted me with a burning passion for Him and a desire to share that with the people closest to me.

... and yet I can't find the courage to share it with them.  My heart bleeds for them, but as I walk past them in the halls, I avert my eyes to their suffering and disappear into my bubble.  I like my bubble, even though I KNOW I can trust in my God to be with me and protect me every step of the way.  The Will of God will never take me where the Grace of God cannot protect me.  I know this, and yet it's very hard to live it.

While reading through the Psalms last night, I found myself replacing "Israel" with the name of my school.  Psalm 130:7-8 says, "O Israel Monacan, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel Monacan from all their sins."

I know I can trust in Him to do great things through me and be with me every step of the way.  I know that with Him, I can never fail.  He is with me and always will be.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

When I first felt led to minister to the kids at my school after I read the book Do Hard Things, I wrote my youth pastor Jon and his wife Mollie an email saying, "The stories that they shared were generally about teenagers who did something to impact their city, or state, or country, and sometimes world.  But for me, I don't feel a passion for that.  I hear about kids starving in Africa, and my heart doesn't go out to them like some of the kids they wrote about.  Now, don't go thinking I'm a starving-kid-in-Africa-hater.  I'm not.  I just don't feel that calling.  But I do feel the pain of the kids in my school.  So many of them will leave Monacan without ever hearing of the love and hope they can receive from Christ, and there are days when I feel despicable and SELFISH for not sharing my love for Christ with them... but I'm scared of taking the first step.  I don't know if that's what God wants for me, or if anyone will listen, or if anyone will stand up with me, or if I even can.  I know God can use me to do great and magnificent things, but I don't know what that is right now.  I don't want to make the mistake of thinking it's ministering to my fellow students at Monacan (Btw, is it even allowed?  Since God is outlawed in schools and all that garbage?) when it could actually be something else.  Sometimes (actually, a lot of the time) I wish God could just speak to me the way He spoke directly to Moses and David, etc.  I watched the movie Prince of Egypt last night and felt overwhelmed and in awe when you couldn't SEE God, but all of a sudden, His Spirit came down from the heavens and smited (sp?) the firstborns and without physically being there to see, saw the Egyptian soldiers racing towards the Hebrews and sent down a wall of fire to hold them back.  What a God we serve!  He has a plan.  I just don't know what it is yet."

Pray for me as I seek God's will for my life.  Pray that I follow Him in every way that He leads me.

<3 Warrior

Message from a friend

I received this text message from a friend of mine a couple months ago and I locked it so my phone wouldn't delete it.  Since then, it has brought me hope and joy every time I read it.  Not just because of the message, but because of the faith of the one who sent it to me.  I hope you feel the hope and joy that I feel when I read it, because it comes from Christ and it's for everyone who accepts it.

"I'm shaking again, except this time it's good... [Warrior], God loves you.  He loves me too... He cares about us.  He helps us.  And I want everyone to know that.  I want everyone to love Him like He loves us."

Tonight at the Maundy Thursday service, I realized that Christ's sacrifice wasn't just for me or for the people at my church taking communion alongside me.  It was for everyone.  I mean, I already knew that He had died for the sins of the world, but it really hit home as I watched the people at my table turn to each other and say "This is His body/blood, given for you."  He gave Himself for ALL of us.  Every single person with breath and life.  All people of every color, shape, and size.  One man died for the lives of all people.  For all have fallen short of the glory of God... but He offers us eternal life with Him with no pain, suffering, or worries.  All we have to do is accept it.  It's an offer open to everyone.

Are you going to accept it?

<3 Warrior

A Tidbit of Wisdom from Warrior

... or at least, I think it is.  I think this way when I'm feeling philosophical, and this time, I actually wrote it down before I forgot!  I don't know if it's wise or foolish on any terms, but it was God-inspired, so my vote's on the former.

It's one thing to say something and believe it, but it's a whole other thing to say something, believe it, and act on it or do it or show it.  I believe that no mortal man (or woman) could do that on his/her own.  We don't have the strength required to do so.  We need a little help (or a lot of help) from someone who has already walked the path placed before us and has walked it perfectly, without stumbling, or tripping, or falling, or turning back.  The walk isn't always the hardest part.  We've been taught how to walk and we can always learn more.  The hardest part is the following.  We want to walk our own way, but we've been promised that it leads to our destruction.  So now we choose.  We've said the words.  We've believed the Truth.  Now we have to live it out loud so everyone else can see and trust in the Light to hold us steady and high.  Are you in?

As you can see, my thoughts are rather scattered and all over the place.  I started thinking this after reading Galatians 1:10 (Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.) for the hundredth time.  Like I said, it's one thing to say it, and another thing to live it.

How are you living today?

<3 Warrior

This might just be the "Best Blog Ever"

momconformist.com

A couple reasons why it wins my "Best Blog Ever" award:

• Written by a friend of mine (I think I'm allowed to call her my friend... she's my youth pastor's wife and my small group leader.)
• She's funny.  And she can tell great stories about tragedies in the kitchen.
• She has two beautiful children, both under two years old, which are both her life and inspiration.
• She loves Jesus.  Like, a lot.
• She is an inspiration to so many people I know and probably a lot of people I don't know, too.
• Her posts challenge me to dig deeper into my faith.  And remind me of things that I already knew but really need to work on.
• We both have problems with being sarcastic.  Wait.  You shouldn't read her blog because of that.  It was just a side note.  My bad.
• shez an inglesh teecher so her postz dont l00k lyk this bullet.  u dont loose brane sells with every word u read, i promise.  2 legit 2 quit.  4 eva.  lol.  (Okay now I'm just trying to annoy you.)  :o)
• We both like thunderstorms.  Again, has nothing to do with her blog.
• She's an amazing friend.
• Her family is amazing.  Through and through.
• I want to be just like her when I grow up.
• She gets up early on Thursday mornings to come talk to me and four other high school girls about God.
• She is a great friend and ALWAYS knows what to say.
• She doesn't think she's perfect, although the rest of us do.
• She and her husband have helped me through the toughest times of my life.
• She's a great blogger and she always has something great to say.

Wow.  I think I could have just said the last bullet and then been done.

Thanks, Mollie, for always being there for me and for writing posts that inspire me to write posts about you!

And to everyone else:  Check out her blog!  It's awesome!  Follow her!  (but in the Blogger way, not the legitimate creeper way)

<3 Warrior

Beauty: Revisited

Let's face it.  We care about what we look like.  We constantly worry about what brand our clothes are, whether we have bad skin or bad hair, and what people think about our appearance.  We call ourselves ugly and fat.  We complain about the size of our noses, ears, eyes, etc. etc. etc...  It's hard to find someone who is content with their appearance all the time.  I know I'm not.  I've written a post about this before, but I think it's so important for everyone to understand that they are perfectly and wonderfully made by a Creator who is incapable of making something imperfect.

Since I have no words to say that any better, I shall tap on the shoulders of a couple of my favorite authors to give me a hand.  (:

1 Peter 3: 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Matthew 6: 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Proverbs 16: 31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;  it is attained in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 31: 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;  but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Psalm 45: 11 Let the King be enthralled by your beauty;  honor Him, for He is your Lord.

Psalm 139: 13 For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mother's womb.  14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Ezekiel 16: 9 "'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you.10 I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments.11 I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck,12 and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.13 So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.14 And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 "'But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.16 You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places, where you carried on your prostitution. You went to him, and he possessed your beauty.t17 You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.18 And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them.19 Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.  (beauty leads to sin!)

1 Timothy 2: 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

1 Samuel 16: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

(courtesy of YouVersion.com)

GOD THINKS YOU'RE PRETTY!!  THE CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE THINKS YOU ARE PERFECT!!  Whose other opinion do you need?  Galatians 1:10 says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."



I totally recommend putting one or more of the above verses on your mirror so you can be reminded everytime you look in the mirror that you are loved and created by the Creator and Savior of the world.  I have so much stuff on my mirror that it's barely visible.  That way, there's no way I can obsess over my appearance.  Having my mirror covered in verses and other things that mean a lot to me (yes those are Disney princesses), I can be more focused on things other than myself.  It's a great way to remind me that I'm not the reason I'm here.  He is.

A couple of my friends from church have gone "on mission" in their schools and have put post-its on the bathroom mirrors saying "you're beautiful," "you look great," "you're perfect," etc..  They have heard from other students who have been positively impacted by their actions, but have remained completely anonymous.  If you feel so led, try it in your school!  It's a great way to make a difference and spread the word that we are ALL pretty in God's eyes.

You are beautiful!  And don't let anyone ever tell you differently!!

<3 Warrior

I'm Mulch

I go to a Bible Study on Thursday mornings before school at 6am (aka, the crack of dawn) with Mollie and my girls.  These past 12-ish weeks, we've been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  In the final chapter, he compares Christians to manure.  When you spread it out, it can help everything flourish and grow, but in one pile, all it can do is stink the place up and go to waste.  It's a great analogy, but extremely gross, too.

Today, I spent four hours hauling mulch for a youth fundraiser (and let me tell you, it doesn't smell any better than manure).  On the way home I realized something.  I'm a bag of mulch.  You see, if the mulch stays in the bag on the driveway, it will never do any good.  But if you spread it out in your yard, not only will it make your yard look good, but the flowers and trees will be healthier, too.

It's the same way with Christians, and more specifically, me.  The biggest thing I got from Crazy Love was that I live in a bubble and enjoy it, too.  I don't like going out of my comfort zone and changing my friends' perception of me.  I would rather them just KNOW that I am 100% devoted to Christ instead of me having to show it all the time.  I think I love the world too much, and I'm comfortable in my bag on the driveway so much that I don't want to be spread out and open to the elements.  I need to trust in Him more and let Him slice upen my bag and spread me out to every person and place that doesn't have the joy and love of Christ with them.

Are you a bag of mulch, content to sit in the driveway with all the other bags of mulch?  Or are you willing to be spread out and open to the elements?  God calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, and we can't really do that from our driveways, can we?  Look for chances this week to spread your mulch!

<3 Warrior

Mother-Daughter Talk

This is just a short little shout out/praise, I guess.

This weekend, I had a really, really tough conversation with my mom with lots of tears and all that emotional stuff.  Even though I still get choked up when I think about why we had to have the conversation, I know that it has brought us closer so that now we understand each other better and understand how much we love and need each other - and I thank God for that.



<My Mommy3



<3 Warrior

HWBD

We all have things we want to be or do.  For some, it might be wanting to be a rapper, or the best mom you can be, or an A+ student, or a great singer/dancer/mime.  We all have dreams.  Mine?  I have a lot.  But one of them happens to include me as the star of a musical.  *Shrugs*  Not a lofty goal for some, but for me, it's kind of a stretch.  The thing is, another one of my dreams is to follow the will of God to the ends of the earth.  My brainwave on this subject is "if He doesn't want me there, then I don't want to be there."  I am constantly searching for and praying about God's will in my life.  I never ever want to do something that He doesn't want me to do or something that doesn't please Him.  The hardest part is hearing Him... but that's a tangent for later posts.

Here's where this story begins:  Last year, while in my away-from-God funk, I auditioned for my school's musical.  Some things got in my way (like band rehearsal and hormones, all those fun things) and I didn't get in.  Instead, I went and supported a friend of mine who did.  It was a great show, but afterwards I realized that with my depression and funk, all of that work would have made my life so much harder and (for lack of a better word) suckier.  This year, on fire for God and well-prepared (I knew the name of the musical and got the DVD from the library.  Score!), I auditioned again.

Back up a couple days.  Again with my two dreams:  star of musical, follow will of God.  Of course, I chose the latter to focus on.  Instead of spending all of my time singing the songs and practicing facial expressions and whatnot, I prayed.  A lot.  Usually my prayers went something like this, "God, I don't want to do this if You don't want me to do this.  I'm serious.  Totes legit.  If You don't want me in the cast and You need me somewhere else, don't let me get in.  Please.  Because if it's not where You want me to be, then I don't want to be there."

As much as I wanted to be in the musical, I knew that I needed to be where God wanted me to be.

So audition day rolled around, and I was ready spiritually and musically.  Of course, I was still incredibly nervous, as I am whenever I have to sing in front of a group of people.  The whole time we were learning the audition piece, I was helping my friend Sherry learn pitches and hit notes.  She had never heard the song and I had, so I figured I was well equipped to help.  I was auditioning for the two leads and one of the minor roles.  If I didn't get one of those, I wanted to do pit orchestra instead since no other flutes had signed up.

I went into the audition nervous and jittery, and I went out the same.  I didn't sing as well as I can in the shower, but afterwards, the piano man told me I had style (:

I didn't get a callback.

When I didn't see my name on the callback sheet, I thanked God for His guidance and asked Him to tell me where He really needed me.  That afternoon, I was helping a friend with his callback song and when he heard me sing he asked me why I didn't get a callback and I told him it was probably because the teacher didn't know me that well.  No, Warrior, it was because God doesn't want you as the lead!  (More on that in a couple paragraphs).

Anyway, callbacks came and went and today the final cast list was posted.  I wasn't expecting to see my name up there, but somehow, it was.  My friend Trey was looking at it when I walked by and he turned and congratulated me.  Incredulous, I went and looked at the sheet.  Low and behold, my name was on it!  The very last name under "ensemble." 

What a God we love and serve!  He knows us and He knows our limits!  He knew I needed a humbling experience to take me off my high-and-mighty cloud, and putting me at the end of the ensemble list is just what He had in mind.  He also knew I didn't need the stress of a lead role and the expectations that come with it.  I guess He figured I would become so involved in the musical and in my own self and leave Him behind.  He knew my pride would get in the way of Him being with me.  Good thing He figured that out, because I would have had no idea. 

Proverbs 16: 9 says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."  I want God to be my feet (metaphorically).  I want Him to lead me in every little thing I do and I want to do every little thing I do for Him.

The evening before the callbacks were posted, I told God again that if He didn't want me in the musical, then I didn't want to be in it.  I prayed more about it and came to the conclusion that I want His will first in my life before anything else.  So I grabbed a red sharpie and wrote "HWBD" on my hand.  His Will Be Done.  My "tattoo" hasn't left my hand since then.  I've needed it there to remind me that it's not all about me.  It's about Him.

What do you need to remind yourself HWBD?  Maybe it's just a matter of hearing how amazing your faith and life become when you give God your everything.  Trust me, I have never felt so alive and free than right now.  Right now, I'm living my life all for Him and I urge you to do the same.  It's not easy, and the devil will be fighting against you through doubts he puts in your head and through other people.  Fill youself with God and His Word and His promises, and you will be able to fight them.  Surround yourself with people who can build you up in your faith and support you in your fight to stand for God.  Because it is SO worth it.

1 John 2:17 says, "And this world will pass away, along with everything it craves.  But if you do the will of God, you will live forever."

<3 Warrior

Language Alert!!

If you've ever hung out with me anywhere where I am surrounded by band kids or school friends (or anyone else who doesn't go to my church), you'll find out very soon that I have a zero-tolerance policy on cussing.  Not only is it extremely unflattering, but it's also unnecessary and unprofessional.  For anyone.  And my buddy Jesus isn't very fond of it either.  Multiple times in the Bible, it says how much God despises crude language.  Since the word "profane" (like in "profanity") means "outside the temple," God wants it nowhere near Him or His people.  Profanity includes cussing, sexual comments and jokes, using His Name in vain, gossiping, etc. 

For example:

James 1: 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 3: 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 5: 12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple "Yes" or "No." Otherwise you will be condemned.

Ephesians 4: 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 5: 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Psalm 19: 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 141: 3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.

Colossians 3: 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Matthew 15: 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.11 What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

2 Timothy 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

(all verses courtesy of YouVersion.com)  For more verses, look up "Bible verses about using profanity" on Google.  Proverbs is FULL of them!

So if you ever hear your friends - Christian or not! - cussing, tell them you don't want to hear that kind of language!  I know I've been persecuted because I hate cussing and tell people to stop using language around me.  It very well might happen to you, too, but be strong in your stand against all things not Christlike.  You will be rewarded in Heaven. Trust me, all the things you go through on Earth will melt away when you stand before the Throne and God thanks you for your work in His Name.  (:

Do you need help to stop cussing or using profanity in general?  It's really hard, trust me.  Start by praying about it and asking for God's help.  Then find an accountability partner who will help you along the way.  I don't "curse," but I do have words that keep me from cussing.  Weird stuff like "frapperdoodles," "good golly goldfish!," and so many other strange things that have no meaning.  I don't know if God thinks these are any more acceptable, but they keep me from conforming to the world (Romans 12:2).

A friend of mine found this video on what the Bible deems "bad language," and I think it really sums up all I'm trying to say.  Heads up: the speaker uses several four-lettered words to make his case.  Not suitable for anyone under the age of 13.

<3 Warrior

This has got to be the coolest thing ever!!

Background info:  my devos consist of praying for God to open my eyes/heart/ears to Him and keep me focused, reading His word, and the meditation on what I read.  I told you a couple posts ago I was reading Jeremiah, and now I am reading Isaiah.

So today I was reading my devo from Isaiah outside because it feels SO good outside (IT'S ALMOST SPRING!  YAHOOTIE!) and for once, I was completely focused and in tune with God.  Hmm maybe I should do my devo outside more so that I don't fall asleep...  Anyway, while I was reading, I couldn't grasp what I was reading so I stopped and prayed for concentration.  I started reading again, and about two lines into it, I got really really excited.  Like sit-up and-squeal-with-excitement excited.

I was reading Isaiah 53.  Now just for some background info, Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah between the years 701 and 681 BC.  That's 700 years BEFORE CHRIST.  Keep that in mind as you read what Isaiah 53 says:

1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

(courtesy of YouVerison.com)

Doesn't that get you really excited??  I know it did for me!  Just reading that, I kept thinking, "HOLY CRAP!  HOLY CRAP!  GOD THIS IS SO AWESOME!  THIS IS SO COOL!  OH MY GOLDFISH!"

It's a prediction of Christ's sacrifice for us 700 years before he is born!  I get excited over his sacrifice for me anyway, but seeing it predicted just makes it so much cooler.  Because God kept His promise.  He always keeps His promises.  Always.  Christ was a perfect sacrifice that took away all of our sins for all eternity.  Through Him, we can see eternal life and be with Him forever.

I just thought it was SO COOL that His sacrifice was predicted and that prediction came true.

When you get the chance, read Isaiah 40 and 49-59.  I read the latter today and it was so amazing (:.  And I just love Isaiah 40 :D

God bless y'all!  I hope you can see Him everywhere (because that's where He is)!

<3 Warrior