Strong Tower

Movies can be very misleading.... Sometimes I see the preview and I know NOTHING about the movie. Other times I see the preview and I think the story will be one thing and I watch the movie and it turns out to be something TOTALLY different and disturbing!! WHA?!?!
So.... word to the wise- be VERY CAREFUL with movies you watch... I'm just gonna leave it at that...

Well I leave for El Salvador in 2- count 'em TWO- days!!! We had our last El Salvador Sunday school today and Dave Bauchspiess talked about some last minute stuff. He also had us write down 5 specific goals we have for this trip. He wanted us to write down things that maybe we missed out on during our other missions trips and regret not doing or anything really. Dave said that if we expect God to do things, then they will happen! I know other years that I've gone I did expect God to do miracles in front of us but then there was that twinge of doubt and I know now that even a little doubt can get in the way of God doing amazing things!! This year my 5 Goals are:
1. Be used by God to heal the sick
2. Have a good attitude when it gets hot! :]
3. Share my testimony
4. Step up and help with anything/ take initiative
5. Put the team before me:
    -Safety
    -Opportunities

I'm full of Great Expectations (not the movie!) :]

Tomorrow we are getting together with our whole team at my church in Sioux Falls @ 3 and then we leave on Tuesday at 5 am!! Wowza! That's gonna be fun stuff! :]
Please be praying for my team that the Holy Spirit will be working through us giving us words to speak and moving through us. Also that we have perfect health and safety the whole time and that we will have fun through everything as we glorify God!
We come home July 21st! Talk to you then!

(Strong Tower by Kutless)

Keep'n It Real

My life is strangely stressful these days...
Do I have a job? No.
Am I working on a new project or volunteering every spare minute to something? No.
Maybe I just find things to keep me busy and think about every little thing I have to do and that makes me stressed... I don't know...
At the beginning of the summer I was gonna get a job but... that didn't happen and then I was off to the Black Hills for 3 weeks of camp! Those weeks really were The Greatest Week[s] of the Summer! :] I'm so glad I got to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of the youth in South Dakota! And I got to meet some pretty amazing people :]
I came home and now have 4 days before I leave for my missions trip to El Salvador for 10 days! This will be my 3rd year going except this time I'm going as a leader! I'm a little nervous but I know that nervous feeling will help me be the best example and leader I can be. I'm super excited to see what God is going to do during this trip and how He will extend those experiences past the trip!
Though I don't have my days packed full with stuff to do I do have a list of things I need to get done:
*Clean my room
*Work on my online class
*Shop for El Salvador stuff
*Read a book (for fun)
*Do devotions
*Read a leadership book (for school)
*Catch up on some shows (yes this is a necessity because after I watch them I can delete them off DVR and make room for more shows! haha)
*Go on facebook, blog, check email, twitter (Ya gotta stay connected! :])
*Journal
*EAT! (3 square meals a day!) :]
So much to do, so little time, and no desire to do most of it!
And if you aren't watching it already everyone should join me in watching the Harry Potter weekend movie marathon! It started tonight and goes through Sunday I believe. Right now I'm watching The Sorcerer's Stone! Thank you DVR! :]
Well the last thing on my list is to go to bed... So goodnight Bloggers! Sleep tight and be sure to listen to God's voice....

(Keep'n It Real by Shaggy)

Down In Flames

It was a pretty good day.... Nothin too special except it was my last piano lesson!!! I still have like two more guitar lessons but at least I don't have to worry about Thursdays! Its been fun Pam May! :]
Tonight I went to Tracy Paino's house to have supper with him, his wife, and some other NCU students. The food was really good (cheesecake!) but it was also just a funny time with all of them! I had no idea Tracy and Debby were SOO funny! :] If you ever have a chance to hang out with them for any reason- take it! It'll make your day!
We started telling stories and they started off about fire and then they went all over the place. I was crying because I was laughing so hard. Oh... good times....
Well tomorrow I am using one of my 7 skips in Algebra that I have left and sleeping in and then we don't have BSM. Then I'm going to Concordia College to see some of my family and this ceremony thing for my Grandma setting up a scholarship there. This weekend will hopefully be pretty fun and chill but I also have to do some homework...
God, please help me get a lot accomplished and help me to keep my ears pealed to what you are telling me. I love you! :]

(Down In Flames by Relient K)

One Life to Love

Today was amazing! God is just so awesome! :]
Lately I've really been understanding our floor theme "Being faithful in the little things." I don't know why I've never really thought about it before but it really makes sense now.
Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with the very little can also be trusted with much..."
Tonight at youth group was so powerful and I know its not a place that I should be going to get filled up but I should be ministering to the youth but I got filled up along with them tonight!
We were worshipping up front and Jordan (the youth pastor) had leaders come and pray for some youth who came up. It was only my second time being there so I didn't feel like I should go up to pray for them so I just stayed where I was standing. After a little bit I felt like God was telling me to pray for the girl next to me. I've never seen her before or know who she is but I just felt really strongly that I was supposed to pray for her. I kept ignoring it but my heart started feeling heavy and my stomach hurt. I told God, "After this song I will" but the song would change and I wouldn't. I remembered the verse Luke 16:10 and decided that I needed to be faithful with this small task of praying for someone. So I asked her if I could pray for her, she said yes and I prayed a simple prayer asking God to reveal His love to her and to surround her with friends who will encourage her in her walk with God and to give her confidence and courage to stand for Him. After I was done she just said "Thank you" and we kept on worshipping. When worship was done I introduced myself and we went to go sit down our separate ways. She had told me she had been going to this youth group for a while but out of the corner of my eye I saw her sitting in the row behind me all by herself. My heart just broke for her. I don't know what her life is like at home or school but I just felt burdened for her. After youth I told her goodbye and that I hoped she'd have a good week at school and I'll see her next week hopefully. I don't know if she needed encouragement or if she needs a friend but God really worked in me by just being obedient and praying for someone.
So I challenge you to be faithful in the little. It might change someones life in a BIG way or it may just change your own life!
Later on in the service Jordan had an alter call. First we closed our eyes and he had us raise our hands if we needed to ask God into our life. One person raised their hand and Jordan asked that person to be brave and come to the front. He encouraged the person by saying that we wouldn't stare or point but instead we would rejoice for that person accepting God into their life. Still no one came... Then a high school boy in the youth group just blurted out "Come on, don't be afraid!" He stood up and looked at the youth group and encouraged the person to go to the front saying that this is a big deal and that he would go up with that person so they won't have to be alone. Then a small high school girl stood up and walked to the front joined by the boy. I started crying... This kid was just brave and stood up and encouraged his fellow believer. Would you be willing to do that? To me that is a huge leap and I don't think I could have done that. I will always remember that kid and what he did. He has challenged me to be a better support system for those around me and to be passionate about God!
Who knows maybe God will tell me to do something like that some time and I will need to listen...

(One Life to Love by 33 Miles)

When Will My Life Begin

These past few days have been stressful and busy but the more I get done, the less I feel stressed and God is seriously helping me control my stress and helping me to focus on the stuff I need to get done. THANKS GOD! :]
Today I studied for Sys. Theo., took a nap (!) and studied some more and now I'm finally going to bed to dream about the 5th through the 10th statements of faith.... After tomorrow I'll have one less thing to worry about but then I have to work on my SAY presentation which I have to perform in a week and then I'll have to worry about my BSM extra credit and get that in on time and then I'll have to worry about all of my finals- BSM final paper, theater production, SAY final, and Sys. Theo. final.... Let's just say I'm looking forward to the beginning of the part of my life where I'm not cramming for tests or studying really hard and can just hang out with friends, get a job, go to camp, and El Salvador!
When will THAT life begin?!?
Some good news... I figured out that I wouldn't have to go to Algebra or BSM any more this year because I have plenty of skips left!! I mean I am still gonna go to class but I wouldn't have to! :] haha
I guess God is just continuing to show me to persevere to the end because even though I may go through hard times with other people, or stressful times because of school, those things make me stronger and makes me have hope for the future! With God I can get through ANYTHING!!
As the end of the year comes and as the summer begins I just need to always be listening to God...

(When Will My Life Begin by Mandy Moore- Tangled)

Hold My Heart

Church this morning! :] I love riding the bus with my friends, going to Crossroads, getting breakfast, and having a great service of worship and preaching.
I've been stressed and when I'm stressed I have to make lists. All of the things fit on about 2 big sticky notes. Stuff I got done today- devotions, organize my shelves, clean my area by my closet (putting away clothes), practiced guitar, put pictures on facebook, dishes, vacuuming, filled out some note cards to study for Sys. Theo. (I got tired and needed to go to bed), met with my Theater group, and now I'm pooped out and that's not even half of the things on my list!! I still have to work on my SAY project, other stuff for that class, BSM extra credit and the final paper, 4 certifications in Algebra, and I think some other stuff.... oofta! :] But I don't have classes after lunch tomorrow so I'm hoping to get stuff done then and I don't have guitar lessons Tuesday so I can do some stuff then!
I'm just totally wiped and don't even know what else to say... except that I really want a tattoo. haha :]
Okay.... I need to go to bed.
God, please help me even in these stressful and busy times to be quiet and listen to what you are calling me to do and what next step I need to take. Amen and goodnight! :]

(Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North)

Take Me

More training today!! Super fun to get together with all the DLs and learn something from those who have been where we will be next year! :]
After training all day (9:30 to 3) I went to Oakdale, Minnesota with Casey to work on our youth observation project. We had to interview some high school girls for Sociology of American Youth. That went pretty well and I feel a little better about that. We got done at about 6 but didn't get food so we went to Taco Bell to get some grub and then got back to school at like 7. We had been planning since Wednesday to watch the movie Tangled in our room so we watched that tonight and a lot of girls came in our room. It was fun! Thank you everyone for not talking during the movie! You are welcome back into our room for another movie some time. :]
Now I'm tired, stressed cuz I have a BUTT LOAD of stuff to do before finals, and just want to sleep in! Is that too much to ask for?!? But I know the stress is my own fault for putting everything off til the last minute now I think I need to take a break from facebook for a while so I can finish EVERYTHING!! I know it sounds extreme but thats the only way I'll get it all done in time I'm pretty sure.... GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH!! He has already helped me a bunch with my stress! Usually when I'm stressed I get super moody but I've been pretty chill and God has given me patience. Patience... that's a word I haven't comprehended in a while.... Wow thanks God!
I know for next year I will need a lot of patience, perseverance, and energy! I hope God helps me to manage my time between school, my floor, my friends, and my God time. I love all of these things so much and I'm just scared I'll get warn out and not be able to be there for everyone and help myself out too. But I find hope and strength in God so it'll all be okay. I'm already praying for my floor next year and that God will open their hearts and that our floor will be united and we will be REALLY close to our brother/sister floors because that is something I missed out on this year.
God is still teaching me sooo many things and I just love Him so much! I'm still listening for God to tell me the next step...

(Take Me by Hawk Nelson)