What is your life? Take 2

Hmm... It's been a while. I'm not sure why I have this blog anymore. And I wonder if anyone will even think to read this. If so, I hope you take something from it.

Life, it's beautiful. It's also tragic and it's short. The things that you always put out in the future will remain in the future and then, before you know it, they're forever out of reach. Be careful about putting things off. You may never get another chance.

As most of you may already know, my family lost my grandma from my dad's side. It has become something that will probably bother me for the rest of my life.Why? Because one Friday I had made plans in my mind to go see her on Monday of the next week and before Saturday had dawned, she was gone. Since then a lot of things have become more urgent to me. I no longer want to miss an opportunity to say an "I love you." Or give a needed hug. I don't want to miss an opportunity to listen and learn, to give and care. I have been so selfish and self centered that I forgot what was important. Remember what is truly important. Please.

Another thing has been happening to me which may be linked to my grandma's passing.(or not. I have really no idea where it came from, truthfully) I have been peeling off a mask which I have been crafting for many years, like a paper mache mask that I have been making, adding layer to layer upon layer in an attempt to be who the situation and group of people I was around required. I had become something I hated. In fact, I have no idea what I was. I was afraid to like or dislike something too much lest it be unfitting. I suppose you could say I have been very lukewarm. I am starting to see that I have been a very cruel and haughty person. Disgusting, really. All I want is to be honest and caring. Like me or leave me, love me or hate me. I don't care anymore. I will be me. :)

I think all these things are coming together combined with the fact that I am feeling strange about becoming 24 years old. I feel as though I have accomplished little to nothing in the grand scheme of things. I have been so afraid of doing the "wrong thing" that I have been frozen in my tracks. I have let too many possibilities slip through my fingers and I am tired of losing them. I want now to grab a hold of as many opportunities that will build up to the end goal that I want to see myself headed towards. But that's the thing, all this time I have been so afraid to have any affections that I don't REALLY know what I want. Is it bad to not have something particular that you want to do, maybe not, but I feel like my years of apathy have left me a little hollowed out.

I am starting to get to the age where people in my age group are starting to blaze a trail in their lives. A place where they are starting to figure it out and starting to find what some would call success. But all this time when they've been building a foundation I have been trying not to do something "wrong." And have no foundation and no plan. I guess you could say that I am a late bloomer and I hope that's the case.

I guess what I am trying to get across is that you should be who you were made to be. Don't try to be someone that you are not. God gave you a UNIQUE personality because he likes individuals, not robots. I am reverting back to the Brandon that I once knew and it has been so refreshing. I feel like I am coming back to life. Don't be afraid to try doors, if they're not budging, move on. You might find that which you enjoy and what God has made you for. That's what I think I'm going to do.

All this and I cannot forget that God ultimately knows what he has for me. I am thankful that he is merciful and forgiving. I cannot continue on without his constant guidance and I cannot go on in my strength and wisdom or that of another man, it must be God alone.

I'm not saying that it will always be easy and I'm not saying that it will always be fun: every road has it's bumps. But it will be more fulfilling, of that I am sure.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

I want to look back at my life and say the beginning was a little shaky, sure, but I finished strong!

For the love of Christ constraineth us...

God taught me the meaning of that today. I'll be honest: I hate to see where our christian youth is going. We are sliding downhill very rapidly. It is almost nauseating to see how pitiful christianity is now. As I spent time grumbling and growling about how stupid this situation is and why are these people doing this when they know better and this and that thing God spoke this word to me, "The love of Christ constraineth us." It doesn't matter what they do. All I know is that the only person I want to serve is Jesus Christ. Why? because I love him. My love to him is why, by his grace, I want to make him smile. 

Some extra Juarez Stuff

Here are some more photos that I put on facebook. Even if you do not have an account you can go look at these. I captioned them in sort of a slideshow type manner. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2039052864345.127476.1484993779&l=002fb78e05
Do have patience with facebook as their photo galleries can have issues sometimes.

Mexico

I have been looking back and reflecting on my trip and I keep remembering little details here and there. Overall the trip was VERY good. There were a few problems along the way but God really blessed.

     I heard about this trip from a newsletter in my E-mail that I get from Chick Publications. It was perfect timing that I got it too. God had been, and still is, doing something in my life that changed the way I have been thinking. A few situations and having already had a burden for Mexico, I got this E-mail. It was definitely God's timing. I talked with many of my peers in church to try to get them in on it and Matt decided to join in. We got our tickets and our motel reservations (which we ended up not needing but I'll go on about that later) and got ready.

     Matt and I left the Saturday before the whole thing started. We figured that we'd check out the church and See the city a bit. We flew out of the Boise airport without a problem. Our flight was on time and we had everything, it was exciting. We then arrived in Denver where the first problem arrived. We knew that we'd have to be quick to get to our flight since we only had about 1/2 an hour to get to our gate. It was pretty good timing that we got there but we came to find out that our flight was cancelled to El Paso. They got us another plane and an extra 45 minutes. Matt and I decided to explore the Denver Airport (which was pretty neat) and then we had to get back to our gate. Beltway after beltway we finally got back to the other side of the airport with just enough time to get a Starbucks. Sipping on our frappuccinos we found out that we had a plane but no crew to fly it meaning more waiting. We finally got a crew and then boarded the heavily cramped airplane. As it taxied we were informed that, somehow, the plane had been over fueled and we'd have to wait on the tarmac for about 45 minutes as they burned off fuel. A tired sigh of relief overcame all those aboard the plane as the pilot(ess{which I thought was strange}) informed us that we would be taking off. It was a smooth and uneventful flight... thankfully.

     In El Paso we disembarked from the plane to find an eerily empty airport. We then commenced to find our motel information. "Our motel should be pretty close to the airport." Matt had been telling me. "Let's call them and ask if they have a shuttle" he then said. So I called our motel and found out that they were kind of lost as to why we would ask such an absurd question. I called my dad and asked for him to find the information on his computer because everything we were finding in the airport said that we were nowhere near our motel. It turns out that I had made reservations for a motel about 15 minutes away. We ended up taking a taxi to our motel and getting some supper before going to bed wearied and a little frustrated. I had been talking to Matt and I was mad that I had made such a stupid mistake but he reminded me that there's a reason for everything. There was a soul driving that taxi by the name of Angel who was able to receive a tract and CD. Pray for him, perhaps salvation is near for him.

     Sunday arrived and we had contacted Hector Jimenez, the man who basically was the one whom God used to have the vision for this outreach. He is a very humble man. He does a lot with BPS El Paso mostly driving buses and doing whatever is needed. He came and picked us up and took us to the BPS facility where we unloaded our stuff and discovered our home for the next week. It was a nice facility with a couple dorms, many rooms similar to motel rooms, a nice kitchen, lots of storage rooms, and a game room assembly area. In another building not far away there was a bus garage where they kept two or three 1960's greyhound buses that were very nice for this sort of thing. One of them was the bus that took us many times into Mexico and back. They also had a print shop affixed to the building where they mostly collate and bind covers to John and Romans and New Testaments.

                                                          Hector Jimenez driving our bus
     We had just enough time to get a bunk and see a little of the place before it was time to roll out to church. After church we went back to the facility and met some of the men. Then, after lunch some ping-pong and Foosball it was time to get ready to go to night church. This was our first trip to Mexico of the trip. We were going to go to church at Iglesia Bautista Agua Viva where a man from our group spoke after we sang many familiar songs but in Spanish. I loved singing those songs in Spanish and listening to the people sing.

                                                              (Living Water Baptist Church)  
                                                                    Pastor Joe Compana
     Monday morning rolled around and after an impressive breakfast, which is something that they served every day, the men geared up. It was an odd day for me because I didn't really know anybody. I felt a little apprehensive because I wasn't sure just how unusual these 40 or so men were going to be. That day I had the opportunity to meet the director or Bearing Precious Seed, Al Braley and a Pastor From New Mexico. We got to talk a lot and pray together. God really used that first day to help me and get me into the frame of mind that I needed and to meet everybody.

     After lunch (The ladies made Mexican food most of the week and it was all very good) we went back out to pass out many more John/Romans. Most of the time we would be placed at a busy intersection and when the cars would stop we would walk along the line handing them to people through their windows until the light turned green, or I should say until we were able to get out of the road and the possibility getting hit then we'd do it again when the light went back to red. This was pretty much what we did all week. Sometimes we were at lights, sometimes at stop signs and sometimes at yield signs but we were able to give many out to drivers. Sometimes some of the Spanish speakers would get on a bus like the ones driving all over town and preach for about 5 minutes while going one way and then he'd do the same coming back.

One of the intersections I worked

                                                  One of hundreds of buses that were all over town
     Every night at 7 we'd meet up in a different area where they set up for speaking. They had special music, puppet shows and, of course, preaching. There were many people over the whole week that got saved. The meetings had a lot of people from Mexican churches and then several people who had received invitations with their John/Romans.

The meeting Monday night

The singers on Monday night

                                                                  Tuesday night singers
     I met several Mexican people over there whom I came to love as much as my closest friends. I could hardly communicate with several of them but God gave a special unity over this whole thing. I met a man named Lalo I think I first got to work with him on Tuesday and we were together most of the rest of the week. It was nice that he had spent much of his time in the U.S. so he spoke English quite well. Lalo had such a brightness to him. He had a passion for the people of Juarez. Here was a man with tattoos all up his arms and neck singing practically the whole time we we're out there and then pleading with people to read their John/Romans and come to the meeting. I also met a pastor from farther south of Juarez who was sent out by one of the churches we visited for lunches. Pastor Julian was very nice. He had a very pleasant family. I could tell the way he jumped into things with all his might that he was a hard worker. He spoke a little English and I spoke a little Spanish and we were able to communicate a little but it was a blessing. We became very good friends and he invited me to come and visit his church. I would love to have that opportunity. I even got to play soccer with him and his younger teenage son and several other Mexicans. That was a blast as well. Some others that I had a much harder time communicating with but there was just a unity and a brotherhood. It was an amazing thing to me because overall there was about seventeen churches represented and there was such a unity and the men and women had such a heart to work. Where I could only imagine how this could have worked in a lot of places in the U.S., God blessed over there. I was blessed to see brothers from another place whom I have never met before and possibly will never meet again this side of heaven. It was nice to get out of our little box and see that we are not alone. We also had several people that we had given the John/Romans to that thanked us for caring for their city, mostly christians.

Lalo and me

Me with Pastor Julian, his son Joel, his wife Angelica, his daughter Carla and his son Gerson

in the church that sent him out

I worked with Manuel many days, he didn't speak English but we had a good time

     It was truly heart breaking to get on that plane and come home. I left with several memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life, things that will bring smiles to my soul now and again. I left with a heavier burden for the Mexican people and a deeper love for souls. I didn't want to leave but I just have to take everything in God's time. Maybe one day he will take me back over there and maybe not. Whatever he has for me I can say that, like this trip, I am sure that I will see great and mighty things which I know not.

Some things I've learned about clay

Sometimes the dried hard clay needs broken up and a little water added to it so that it will be usable again. Sometimes it needs to be kneaded because it has sat idle too long and needs to regain it's consistency. Some smashing may occur. Some forcing will occur. There will be a LOT of shaping. But most of all, the clay cannot be formed of itself, it needs the hands of a skilled potter.

I'm alive... I think... also quite a bit of reading (sorry)

Life has been great as of late. Nay, God has been great. A few things have happened in the past weeks where God has been breaking me down. In preaching for one and in other situations also. We are finishing up the book of Job in our church services just about to the end where God shows himself to Job and his greatness and infinite wisdom. Job confesses his vileness and God's supremacy and sheds his pride. It has been something that I have needed. God reminded me that I am vile and that I am just a sinner saved by grace. The breaking process can be painful but it is a great feeling to have a friend so close to console you, comfort you and sing you songs of deliverance.

The reason for the title is the fact that I could not find my birth certificate. Still have not and may never. I had to order a new one. But for what reason, you ask, do you need your birth certificate? For my passport. I am trying to get things rolling for my passport so that I can have it before the middle of May. I am planning on going with Bearing Precious Seed ministries to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and I need a passport to go to Mexico. I found out about this trip from a newsletter from Chick Publications. I am very excited. Juarez Mexico is a mess, over 2 million people in one of the most dangerous places on earth. At least 8 people a day are reported killed. Drugs run rampant as well as gangs. But the real heart of the problem is sin. They are without God and without hope and through this campaign I hope that things will change. We, should God allow me to make it, will be passing out half a million Spanish John and Romans. After each of the five days we'll be there, there will be a message preached in a public place to the people of Juarez. It's going to be work, it's going to be different and, perhaps, in some cases, uncomfortable but it would be worth it to see even one soul saved. Pray for these people who are going, the hosting church, Valley Baptist in el Paso, TX and the people of Juarez. Please pray for me too because I can see that it is going to be a fight to get there, against the flesh and other circumstances.


I am pretty sure that I have needed something like this for a long time. I have seen my heart get hard toward missions and souls. I once had no greater desire than to be a missionary. That was my goal. But I allowed myself to get cold and let the world get a hold of me. I dabbled with this and that and there were periods of fervency and then frigidness making for an overall of lukewarm but my biggest problem was that I lost my vision. And without a vision the people perish. Lately God has been working on me and reminding me that there is an eternity where people will spend in one of two places and the majority will not be in heaven but in the darkness of hell. I have a certain friend who claims to be an atheist and it has been one of the millstones that has been breaking me down. I see the sadness that he lives with and his hoplessness. These things bother me and bring me to tears. But then I think about a whole world filled with people who have a lack of hope that there are people everywhere who need Christ. And others who have never heard about God or Jesus, ones who live in bondage trying desperately to please the spirits and gods of their culture, the gods and spirits who do not care for them but hate them, the ones that use and abuse people. I would that God would give me a courage and hope to reach more and more souls, to see liberty brought to the captives before his short return. Pray for me as I am but flesh and most likely will become distracted with this or that once again.


I guess I will fall on the grace of God. I will see what he does. I am excited because lately it seems I have started a new route in life, we'll see where God takes me. I have been falling in love with my saviour again, and with good reason. He's so lovely. He's so kind. He's a friend who loves with a holy love. His mercies are new every morning. He gives me peace and strength. He sings songs to my heart to lift me up. He is my all. I love him. I owe him all, for that is the only reasonable thing I can give.


Scripture to ponder:
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
...
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

What is your life?

What is the point of life? Are we aimlessly stumbling around to obtain a good job, a spouse, a nice home and a handful of kids? To have our little niche in the world where you go to church and have your happy little family? Where you go out day after day to your workplace to maintain your cozy little nook in the world? Or is there perhaps a higher calling? One where you are sent out to live a life of basics and sacrifice so that others can hear the gospel. A life where your little nook is constantly challenged. About whether or not you can live well, let alone comfortably. Where health is sometimes out of grasp. A life that is lived on your knees. This life is not lived for ourselves but first God and then others. It is a life lived this way so that the cause of Christ rings loudly and clearly. When others see this life lived they are taken back at the way God uses you and the grace he shows you. This life is that of a christian- he who gives all he has with all his might to obtain something that cannot be lost. This is the life that I want to live. Whether I have just a hammock in the jungle, an apartment in the city or a box on the street, I would that my all is given to Christ.

Determination or purpose.

I am heavy with several friends and comrades falling to the rush decision to get into a relationship or get married and last night I finally had enough when I recieved some bad news. Some of you might read this or I should say two of you(and you know who you are[and I'm praying for you btw]) and possibly think that it's directed at you, well it's not. I just want to show other kids my age and younger that you can do it the right way and that whenever/if ever I get married that I did it the right way. So here's my determination.


I am determined that should God have me get married that I will do all things in the process correctly. I will not be secretive and go behind people's back, especially my parents. I will not be a back stabber. I will not disrespect my parents', my close (and godly) friends', or my pastor's advice. I will not shun other friends in favor of spending all my time with whoever she is. I will make God the center of our relationship and only move at his impulse remembering that this vile flesh in which I live cannot be trusted. I will not get too attached before I know that she is or is not the one. I will let the Bible be the deciding factor im my marriage to her. I will marry for God's glory and his alone.

That's my dad!

I have a different perspective on things since my dad makes pottery. I guess you could say that he's an artist. I get to see all the different things that he comes up with. Sometimes he comes up with a unique piece that is very useful, or maybe just different. He has some of the most beautiful glazes on some of his work. Not only do I get to see the end product, but I even get to see the process in which he forms each piece. It truly is amazing what one can do with a pile of mud.

Speaking of which, I was taking a walk today and was taken away by what my eyes beheld. I got to see the sun making its course toward the end of the horizon, all the while casting its golden rays so liberally as to say, Good night Dillon! Here's a little beauty to remember me by until I come back in the morning. And to see the glorious planet on which I have opportunity to abide in under such light, I was in awe. And the thought occurred to me... My Dad made this. My heavenly Father made this little ball of mud with all its splendor, and he has given me the eyes to gaze upon it. What a beautiful creation, and to think I not only know the creator, but he's adopted me. I am his child. Come what may he's coming for me one day. He'll take me up to my home where not hurt nor harm can reach. No sin, no sickness, no sorrow nor pain. I'll see Jesus who so lovingly gave himself for me. I will live in heaven for all eternity. I look around me and see this earth that while it may be beautiful, it's still fallen. But that this fallen earth can be filled with such magnificence, how beautiful Heaven must be! Oh that it were today. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.


Scripture to ponder:

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

An amazing summer. Part 1

I would apologize for not posting for so long and tell you all just how sorry I was for my lack of blogging except for the fact that I am not really sorry. Sorry for not being sorry.
This Summer has been great. It has been full of challenges, fun, excitement, change and commitment. But even better than having a great Summer full of blessings is the great God of the Summer of blessings. His mercy to me is far beyond my comprehension, why he should pity me is far from my feeble understanding.

First I will start with the Big Sky Bible Conference. I know that most people have had their little afterglow parties. That everybody has told of all the blessings they got. And I know that it's been a couple months since it was over too. But I haven't had mine.

This year was tremendous just as it is every year. I was praying for something specific and God answered. It's actually kind of funny. I was hoping for the first 4 days or so that God would just move like I have had before and that he would almost overwhelmingly like I am sure some of you could relate to. But it seemed like nothing. Like it was unusually quiet. God was speaking but it wasn't like I had hoped for or expected. (Funny thing: you can't expect God to sit in your little box and perform little tricks for you based on what YOU think.) What I had come to realize was that God has spoken to me on many different occasions before. This time it was more or less his confirmation on a lot of things that I have been iffy on. Let's just say that I am a modern day Gideon and that was one of my last tests, hopefully(you know how we as humans are). God wasn't showing me some new thing, he wasn't changing my direction to a better way for him, but rather he was saying, GET WITH THE PROGRAM, BUCKO! Let me confess something to you. I have lived a rather empty and selfish life up to this point. There has not been a whole lot done for God in the past several years that I have been saved. Before moving to Dillon my witnessing had all but died, my prayer life had been worse than poor, my Bible reading a joke. It still needs a lot of help, but by God's grace he draws me nearer everyday. I know what God wants and knew what God wanted besides all that I mentioned before and I had always been afraid of my calling. But on Friday night I hit the altar, I gave up. I was tired of fighting. All my fighting probably caused me more grief than if I had just surrendered in the first place. All that being said, I have had some more battles with this thing. I know what I am fighting now and a little better how to do so. Since then I have started doing a little in what I believe my calling is and to my surprise GOD BLESSED! WOW! To think that he would let me down just goes to show what sort of nature I have.

Besides all those blessings, it was great to have all the people from all over come and to have sweet fellowship with other believers! One day it will be a GRAND reunion. Here are some pictures from that.



Canoeing at Clark Canyon

 




Cliff Jumping at Clark Canyon

 


The Drink Table Ladies

                                       



Hike around Agnes lake





I also got to spend some time withe these...

 


...some of my very best friends.




This was found whilst straitening hymn books
You can tell the kids are paying attention

 It was a great time outside of the preaching too!




Scripture to ponder:

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

More later

Just wanted to put something up since it's been so long. Here's a couple verses that always prick my conscience when I go to judge a lost person.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 Read the context on that one. Really convicting when I look at someone who is lost and want to judge them.


2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
                  What do I need to say here?


Praying for you guys.

Brandon W.

What's this? This curious black box?

What indeed? I almost appears that someone plans on distributing some sort of merchandise from this thing. I'll take better pics tomorrow. I just happened to see this on the way home and snapped a couple photos.

Hee hee just kidding. I was excited to see this thing. I can't believe that we're seeing these again. Soon I will be tallying up my left over fireworks, AGAIN.

We also went through my dad's favorite state park on Monday.

At this sign my dad stopped because he had received a phone call. Well, people like to take photos at signs like this. So while he was on the phone I decided to help this group of people, a man and two ladies, and get pictures of them on their cameras since the guy was taking pictures, I asked him if I could take pictures so that he could get in with his friends. Well... as always, sometimes I feel like a real bad luck charm, I mean really! He unstraps one camera from his wrist, then from the other wrist he unstraps another camera and then he hands me a blackberry phone with a hot pink cover on it, and then, finally liberated, he dashes over there with his friends. They all give me big cheesy grins and I lift up the first camera. MEMORY CARD IS FULL a message reads across the screen, and then as I try to press the button it flashes at me MEMORY CARD IS FULL! Hmm, Uhhh this one says MEMORY CARD IS FULL, I say. Oh, uhh, that's ok, just take one with the other camera. Ok! I think to myself. As I raise the other camera to look at the screen and that one has lots of colorful lines through the screen but something's definitely wrong. Uhhhhhhh, now there's something wrong with the screen on this one. After that they decided to leave and come back with more memory cards or something. My guess is that the lady didn't want my charms to do something to her phone.

It was really nice to have a day with my dad. We spent ALL day together. We haven't done that in a long time. I am grateful for that, and I will remember it probably for the rest of my life. We also saw this! The video will tell you what it is.    \/ \/ \/(click to see)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12482241@N04/4696690923/

This thing stopped traffic for quite a ways back. People were hopping out of their vehicles to photograph it with lenses that were close to 2 feet long. People were running across the road darting trough traffic.

There were also a few other places where people did stupid stuff too. It was fun though.

 

Dillon had it's annual Expo trade show and that always brings people out to town. I went and perused through everything real quickly. I stopped at the Wells Fargo booth where my mom works and said hi. Everybody there wanted me to enter to win a bag so I did just for the fun of it. I only entered at 2 booths and won at one. Pretty good odds there! I won this really cool bag!

Guess what else is happening! The lilacs are popping. Beautiful, and fragrant. Thank God for them.

The BSBC is in two (2) weeks! Or as I like to joke, It will be over in three weeks! It is a joke, so don't take it seriously. there was a work day yesterday and I guess they got a lot done. I would have loved to be there but I had to work. Pray for it, it's almost here!

This blog entry has taken me three days to complete, I hope it's worth it. Also, you like the face lift on my blog?

Scripture to ponder:

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It's been a while

Hey guys. I kept expecting people to get on my case for not updating my blog, but no one did. I guess nobody really cares... Just kidding. Here's some pics from the last couple of months. It's been really fun lately!

This is Brittany after her 1950's hairdo was taken out.

My Great-grandma also had her 100th birthday on May 10th. I also had my 14th second birthday on that day!

This is our take on the famous Lewis and Clark expedition silhouette.

This and the previous photo were taken on a Tuesday. We usually play softball on Tuesdays. This particular Tuesday there was a constant drizzle of rain, in which we played softball, and then we just played in general. We were soaked. Also, I might suggest from experience, that if you are going to try a handspring, you should know how to land one too... just a suggestion.

And these last three photos are from yesterday's Memorial day picnic at Barrett's Station. We played a lot of things, starting with capture the flag. We then moved on to ultimate frisbee, but then after breaking 2 frisbees (yes... we broke two(2) of them!) we decided to play ultimate football(?). Bill called it Flicker ball though.

Thank you to all of the service men and women that have served and continue to serve this great country. Our appreciation will never be properly shown, and we can never give you enough gratification for all that you do, and have done for us. Thank You!

Through all this God has really been good. We have had a blast and he continues to work in my life. He keeps speaking to me in church and he's drawing me nearer and nearer. I am thankful for his mercies and love. I am very thankful for his long suffering. No one could ever be like my God, and for that I am thankful. He has Given me some GREAT friends, a GREAT church and a GREAT family. I feel that he's forming me to go a certain way for him and I just need to yield to him. Please pray for me that I can listen to his guidance and that I will see the path that he has laid before me, and that I will do what he wants.

Haircut, and the first photos on my blog... ever!

Hello all. All three of you. I was happy to get a haircut yesterday. It was the first in while. I think my last one was in February. I have always wanted to try this just to see how different I looked before and after. I have always felt that I looked a lot different with longer and shorter hair almost like if you didn't know me that you wouldn't recognize me. So I finally did it. And have photos. And who doesn't like before and after pictures? There's just something fun about them. Isn't there?

Sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you like that. I should have warned you that they were coming...

It is very liberating to be free from the longer hair! No more worry about combing and brushing and getting it right and all that!

Lately it has been funny seeing God work. I suppose he always is but it's funny when you finally open your eyes and actually see it. He has been a real blessing here, this last week we got one of the wettest and heaviest snows in a long while. We have been needing the moisture so thank God for that.

Church has also been pretty good. Been seeing a lot more visitors. And have been seeing a lot of Youth Challenge kids. It is neat to see them come and get excited to be in church. And It's neat to see them get saved too!

Another neat thing is a website that has been shared with me and I will share it with you. http://www.goodpreachin.com/ I hope you enjoy.

Scripture to ponder:

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Dishes

What is it with the dishes? I truly hate them. They are actually what I should be doing right now. I could have a million things to do and dishes being at the top of my list and I will still procrastinate like no other time. I have met people that either say that they don't mind doing them or so crazy to say that they actually enjoy it and I personally think that they're clinically insane. I wouldn't mind them too bad if I had a dish washing machine, but I don't. What's kind of funny is that I have learned to call it a machine because my parents decided to get smart and call my sister and me dishwashers. So now they're dish washing machines. It scares me to go out to live on my own one day because I fear that I will put off the dishes until there is a giant mound piled to the ceiling. What's also possible is that they will form together and create a living being with all the food particles and stuff and then they'll just walk away. That, or I would have a new roommate.

Life has been pretty great the last few days. It was really windy yesterday. It was probably around 40 mile winds. Not too much damage around though and we can thank God for that. We have been getting moisture off and on the past couple weeks. Another thing to thank God for because we need the moisture.

Boy am I getting excited for the Bible Conference in June! Just a couple months away. I can't believe it! Life is just going by faster and faster as we get older, or so it seems. That has been on my mind as of late. I have been thinking that Christ is coming back soon. If you look at the world around you it seems very apparent, does it not? I really need to get more done for Christ. Get an urgency behind everything I do. One day we will no longer be able to do this and what will we have done? I wonder how many people I will bring to heaven with me.

Well, I better get to the dishes... *sigh*.



Scripture to ponder:
Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

New Blog

Well, here we go. I have just entered the wonderful world of blogging. To all those who may read this, hello. Bear with me as I become a full fledged nerd. We shall see how long this will last too. I do not know how long I will be able to keep up with blogging but I will give it a whirl.
The thought of a blog to me is a little odd. It just seems a little narcissistic to me too,(No offence to anybody who does) so maybe I will try to keep it to a minimum about myself and just try to share life experiences, or whatever. I don't really know what a blog SHOULD be but I think in time it will develop. Whatever the case, keep checking in with me and I will try to be entertaining and keep things interesting.


Scripture to ponder:
Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.