This is my Life

Well it's been over a week since I've posted. I'm sorry about that. So, I've been a little busy. I had school this week of course and a volleyball game against Lutcher. They killed us in all 3 matches, but we're working hard to improve. We work entirely to hard to lose the way we did on Tuesday. I'm also so excited I got to go to Refuge last night after practice, and I get to go to Closer tonight. I did have a God thing happen this week which made this week, the way I see it, a win for the Kingdom. On Tuesday night I got to witness to a good friend on my volleyball team. I always talk about church and my friends from church and so I'm sure they know I'm a Christian or they would call me "religious." I started out by inviting her to Refuge and she said my mom really wants me to go and be a religious person.Then I began to tell her that we're not religious. I said God is more focussed on you heart than on all the traditions your used to. I told her we have a great band at Refuge and I have friends I wouldn't give up for anything. I also mentioned something about being saved and she had no clue what I was talking about. I said being saved is receiving Jesus into your heart and you are; therefore, saved from hell. I tried to make sure I made it a point to say it's what I believe but that it's what's true. It was hard to get that across. I know I didn't word everything correctly and didn't use the Scripture I should have, but I do that what I did say God will use and I planted seeds in this girl's heart whether I know it or she realizes it. Well, I really ave to go to school now. I'll see y'all soon!

La Vida Loca or... for those of us who don't speak Spanish, The Crazy Life

I have been crazy lately. It's a little stressful going to high school. I'm a freshman and it's a little difficult. I don't have time to do anything between classes, tons of homework, and first on the list being committed to Christ. That's not to mention the never ending volleyball practices. I've been scared, worried, and stressed out all ready. I had a volleyball game and two practices so far this week. Then I had hours of homework, buying school supplies, and church. I need prayer, that is the first thing, but it is getting a little easier as the days progress. Overall, I think it will be a great year. I'm so excited about Uprising, our "lifegroup",so to speak, at school. I can't wait to impact Dutchtown High School for the cause of Christ. I'm fired up and a little scared. I hope to see all me people soon. Oh, and a shout out to my friend who returned from abandoning Refuge for a few weeks, Nick. Please pray for Jason and Kira Guidry. They're starting college classes next week and won't be attending Refuge for several months. I'm so sad, but I'll be praying for y'all. I love all of you and will see you at Closer or at Refuge. I hope y'all are having a great transition back to school.

Tennessee...

I'm in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We have had so much fun. We went white water rafting with a guide named Tom. It was the most fun thing we've done the whole week. We went over level 4 repids! No one fell out which was a huge blessing, but we did go swimming in the water which was about 50 degrees....not really. It was freezing! Well, we also went horseback riding. God showed me somethiung really kool. I had this horse that wouldn't listen. I would turn the reigns and it would barely turn or wouldn't turn at all. It would always follow the horse in front of it. God just reminded that, that is how I act. He showed me that when He asks me to do something or to go in a certain direction, I always want to follow the people in front of me. I make excuses like she or he doesn't have to. God is like I don't care what they are doing. I have a different plan for you. It was really kool to see that I must frustrate God just the way the horse frustrated me. I think so often I get caught up in the "BIG" experiences like camp and stuff. I think back and just wonder why nothing really life changing happened at camp. God has been showing me that it isn't about the big experiences. It's about the liitle revelations like the horse that He gives me when I'm alone or just doing stuff in life. I always think that something is wrong with me if I don't have huge experiences when I'm "supposed" to. I think God is more concerned with the little things that happen than how much you read in His Word and how you worship. He is so much more concerned with our heart than how we accomplish our checklist. I hope that makes sense. I get so caught up in the the stuff sometimes that I miss what God has for me and how much He loves me. I'm tired of trying to do everyhitng perfect because it's impossible. I want to just follow what God wants me to do and do it my very best. That is my prayer. I need stop thinking God is human and thinking He holds grudges like we do and acts like our parentrs and other people. God is God, not human! This is just somehting I've been thinking about.

Well Well...

I seems like it's been forever even though it's only been a little over a week. Since then I have been busy. On Thursday of last week I had volleyball practice which was tough. I was so scared for the next practice. On Friday we had an outreach for Equip at the Baton Rouge Dream Center. On Sunday we served jambalaya at church. On Monday I had volleyball again which was so much easier. I was so thankful. Then on Tuesday we had Equip. On Wednesday Charles talked about witnessing. We laid candles down for someone we need to witness to. It was incredible.That night Makayla spent the night. We had so much fun. Then on Thursday I had a great friend tell me I messed something up. It was hard to hear, but I'm so glad he did it. He was so sensitive to trying to explain and help me deal with the emotions it brought up. It was tough but it was something that needed to be done. On Thursday night we went to play putt putt with Closer, my life group. I lost the game, but it was fun. Yesterday I had Equip. Then today I helped the Healing hands Ministry with the outreach. I loved it. hat was the best part of the week. So many kool people helped such as: Jason, Phill, Charis, Makayla, and many others. I got to label things, take blood sugar, blood pressure, do paper work, and run things and people everywhere. I can't wait to do it again. Well that was so much stuff , but I just thought I needed to update. See ya soon!

Going Public!!!

Last night's service was great. All the things Tweez said about going public were incredible. We read in Acts 9 about Paul and the first thing he did after his life was changed by Jesus. It said he went around preaching, basically going public with his decision. That message was awesome and encouraged me stand for Jesus all the time and make sure people know I belong to Him. It gave me courage to go and talk to a girl on my volleyball team. She came up to me yesterday and basically told me know I don't know anything. I do have trouble with knowing the formation changes in some of the drills, but she should be trying to help me instead of condemning me. So anyway, I went up to her today, after previously messing up and showing the young girls the wrong thing to do. I just told her I don't always know what to do and if she sees me doing something wrong to show me how to do it correctly instead of getting mad. I was very scared because she is a junior and I feel inferior. She said she just gets aggravated because she's been playing for a while and I need to make sure I get it. Today was really encouraging. One of the first things we did was go in a room and turn out all the lights. Then we went around a circle and each turned our lights on one at a time. It showed that we all have to work together to light up the room. Our coach explained that we are all part of the team and we're all important, even if we're a freshman. Another girl told me when her and another girl get back they will be right there with me when we run.(I'm usually close to being last to finish.)The message last night and much prayer gave me the courage to go talk to this girl. I hope it helped the situation. Also the worship was great last night. the song My Future Decided really spoke to me. The words go something like this: I will scream at the top of my lungs,You are my God and I won't be silent. This made me really won't to witness to my volleyball team and at my school. Like Jason said it's MY team and MY school. It gave me a real passion to witness with my words and actions. I think talking to that girl the way I did started it off well. I could've gotten really angry when she was ugly and going around talking about me, but God gave me self control. The other song was also really great. The words went something like this: We will praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. Worship always gets louder during this part of the song. The words taught me a few things. (1)God paid the price with His son Jesus Christ. (2)Jesus' blood washes over ALL my sins.(3) I'm not perfect but I serve the One who is.(4)God uses unperfect people, by the way, He specializes in it. There is no condemnation is Christ.(Romans 8:1-2) Jason said that God didn't fix out life or give us hammy downs. He gave us a new life. All those points weren't literally in the words but that's what God had been showing me. That's all for now.

Summer Time

Well, I have been so busy. We had camp two weeks ago. It was interesting. I'm sure I learned more than what I think I did. When it's time to use it I'm sure it will come in handy. I had some thoughts of something I thought was distracting me and I decided to lay it down at the altar, but I ended up not really leaving it there. I just kept doing the same things. Later I still felt like I was stuck, spiritually speaking. I spoke with someone and I decided I really needed to quit chasing after a certain person. I decided pretty much to never speak to him again. That was stupid. I talked about it with my parents and they told me to just put God first and not shun the other person. It sounds like pretty good advice but I'm scared it might still distract me but no matter what I like this person and I think that's just how it's going to be. I want to do the right thing and make sure I put God first. It's a real challenge. Anyway, besides all that I'm trying to overcome being selfish and other things I struggle with.This week I have to help with volleyball camp and have volleyball practice twice. I also have Equip and my duties at the church. It's a challenge to keep up and get enough sleep. Overall life is great! It can get a little crazy and it doesn't help that I over analyze everything, but it's the way I was made. i also just got back from Texas visiting with my family. I have so many things to get done this week, but in three weeks I get to go to Tennessee for a vacation. I'm sure it will be great, but I'll have to play catch up when I get home. then school will be starting again! I'm going to miss all the fun times I get to have with all my church buddies this summer, but I need to quit chasing summer away. See ya soon!

Submerge to the Rescue

I'm so excited about Submerge, but I definitely have to get my act together. My mom said I can't go if I'm not respectful to her. That's so hard. I'm kind of scared too. The last time I told God that I would do whatever He told me to do, I got really tough. It was right before Amplified. Right after that was really hard, but definitely made the months to follow awesome. I told God I would do whatever He tells me to do yesterday. I prayed all this in faith and told God I could only do that if He gives me the tools I need. I know He will. I have this crazy feeling that after camp it is going to be another hard time for my faith. So I've been praying about this fear I have of what God is going to do. Almost everything I've read today and yesterday had something to do with embracing trials and hard stuff for the kingdom to help strengthen my faith. God is awesome, but I'm still scared about my HUGE God and what He has in store for me. I hope that all makes since. I can't wait until tomorrow!!! See ya!