Snow retreats near wheres your heart?

What are you doing to prepare your heart for the the 2010 Sr?
Where is your heart? Are you preparing your thoughts, and heart to focus on the messages that Sean will be teaching on? Don't wait till its the night before Sr to try to prepare your heart for great but convicting messages. What I'm doing to prepare my heart for SR is listen to last years messages, also the message J.Sarr has been doing on Wednesday nights at one28. Also I finished reading, The love of God by John MacArthur Jr. Also I'm not listen to secular music, and only Christian, and reading books that will bring him glory. I just started a purpose driven life. So far its been very convicting, We need to focus on what God desires for our life and not what we desire alone. We should desire the same thing as God. I now have a less then a year in half of high school left and I'm starting to pray what God desires for my life as well as talking with my parents.

Don't come into Snow retreat with the only focus of snow and hanging with friends. Yes that's part of it, but if that your only focus you'll miss so much of what Snow retreat is. Time to see where your heart is with God. Its also time for those who haven't accepted Christ as their savior, to repent and accept the gift of salvation.

Last year my focus wasn't entirely focused on God and it was a lot harder to focus on what God was trying to teach me.

As snow retreat draws closer pray for an open heart to what Sean's teaching, and pray that those who don't know Christ will accept him as their savior. Small group leaders that they will be able to see where the teens in their cabin are? They care so much about your soul, and it breaks their hearts when they see you in sin. They may seem mean, they want you to see your sin. Think of how much Gods heart is breaking when he See's you his child in sin. Last keep Sean in your prayers as he prepares the messages that God has laid on his heart to teach us.

Bad beginning, but the what does the future hold.

I just finished watching an eight minute clip on a little girl named Kelsey. She died when she was only two because of the abuse of her step-dad and mom. I take for granted that I'm alive today, that I don't live in abusive home anymore. I was just that that age of Kelsey when she died from getting kicked in the stomach from her step-dad. That could of been me, dead at the age of two. For some reason God choice for me to be put up for adoption, I still don't understand why I was abused, or anyone abused at that age, so small, helpless. What did I do or any child do to get hit, kicked by someone that's way bigger? Where is the joy of leaving marks, broken bones, or the memories that haunt the child for the rest of their life. I still have dreams and flashbacks and I was only two. I'm almost 17 and I'm still effected from it.

So many people dont relize that child abuse is out, or if they do they ignore the fact. It was Kelseys time, but so many people go if Gods wants something he'll do it. God uses us to follow through with his plan.

New year resolutions

There are only a few things I want to really take a year to work, don't take me wrong there are a ton of stuff in my life that I need to work on but for me I can only handle a few things at a time, before starting to feel over whelmed.

1. Letting go of worldly possessions and cling to the unseen things.

2. Taking time when I'm most busy and stop and praise God. When I'm at work or doing school work I'm thinking in the moment of what needs to be done and I'm rushing around not thinking of the things that God has blessed me with. A job that I get to work with the animal I admire the most, or that I live in America where I can do school, or parents that love God more then each other or my brothers and I.

3. Be thankful for what I have, and not taking what I do have granted. I know that I take my things, my home, and my family for granted, and those are things that I didn't have when I first came to my family. God blessed me for those things, he didn't have to choose me, He could of picked a different kid that needed parents that would love them, a home that they knew was their home. I came from a home, that my mom didn't love me, and I never knew a home because we moved to different homes or I was left with a friend. Because of that I should be THANKFUL for what I have and my family.

4. Prayer, I don't pray as much as I should and when I do, I just pray because I need to. That has been something I've been working on since the death of my close friend. God was there for me the whole time, when I prayed I knew God was listening, I had never felt that way. I always felt stupid for taking simple little problems to him, and then thought hey I did when the problem went away. I didn't do anything to make those things go away God did.

5. Be open with those who care what happens. I like being a closed in person a loner. I was hurt in the past so I'm not always the first to tell you exactly what I'm feeling or what I'm thinking. I need to be more open in small group or at least with my small group leaders.

So those five things are what I want to spend the next year working on, and this time stick to it, and not give up like the past. So those who read this could hold me accountable, that would be great. Thanks

What I think of my salvation

What I think of my salvation is first I think what God has done prior to me coming a child of God.
He picked me out of all the kids in the world from abused home with a mother that didn't know how to stop drinking before she got drunk. God toke me out that situation and put me into a family that loves the Lord. So he gave me the chance to know what it felt to have the love of parents and a family. Then if he gave me salvation. I didn't deserve it, I no way to earn it or pay for it. Without it I would burn it hell for eternity, never being free of Satin's grasp. Christ gave up his life for me, that I would be able to live. I can't even imagine my life with out Christ or my family. Where would I be? Who would I be? I think my salvation is only by the gracious love of Christ that he was willing to save me.

What is Christmas

To the world Christmas is Santa Clause but it's not even close to what christmas is, Christmas has nothing to do with the north pole or a sleigh and raindeer and a fat jolly old man that wears a red suit. What the true meaning of christmas is Jesus Christ birth
Luke 2:1-21
In those days a degree went out from Caesar Augusts that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazerath, to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time for her to give birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepards out in the flock by night. And an angel of the Lord shone around them and the were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not for behold I bring you good news and of great joy that all the people. For unto you a child is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host prasing God and saying
" Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased!
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepards said to one another. Lets go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that has made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepards had told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepards returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them. And at the end of the eight days when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
That is the true story of christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Losing someone to life and another to death

Three months ago my mother had to tell me, what she said was the hardest news to tell someone was the death of my close friend Greg Woodman, "Woody". When I think back of all the memories with him and his family it always brings a smile to my face. I spent numbers of hours at his house, his daughter Kirsten became a sister and my best friend. I went on trips with them had sleepovers and numerous hours of Woody trying to convince my that school was important and not a waste of my time. In 6th grade I was at their house everyday, and almost every other weekend. Woody became a second dad to me. I remember on the way to Spokane, Woody told me he got some news that changed his life and told me to guess what it was, I guessed Diabetes, and I was right, about 9 months later he told me to guess again and I said moving and I was right. I was so mad that I guessed it right that as soon as he stopped the car I was out of the car. I forgot the small detail at that time that when I was upset that Woody would follow me and soon I found I had to face him whether I wanted to or not. Not may people know, but Woody had a major impact on me accepting Christ as my savior. I regret when him and his family transferred to Colorado, I started losing touch with them. I never got to thank him that his daily car rides back and force to and the number times I was at their house. Woody always repeated Romans 8:28 "And we know that all those who love God all things work together all things come together for good , for those who are called according to his purpose."
The verse that I found annoying three years ago, I now find peace and understanding.
All things work together for Gods purpose. It amazing to think that I am, part of Gods HUGE plan of life. I find peace that I am able to grow and I'm not perfect and I will get scared at times and put my own trust in myself or someone else. Every time that happens God has reminded me that I need to put my trust in God not anything. Man will fail you but God never fails.

Then this month I lost my cousin to DEATH. My cousin Mike did not believe in Christ and I have had a hard time with that because, I loved my cousin and I will never see him again but most important He denied God and now is facing eternal damnation in hell.

ITS IMPORTANT THAT US CHRISTIANS SHINE THE LIGHT OF GOD THROUGH OUR ACTIONS!!! I wish I would of not let the fear of man stop me from sharing what God had done in my life. I don't want to miss a chance to tell people what God has done for me and what he can do in their life's.
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU STICK OUT, WE ARE TO LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE CHRIST AND DON'T LET MAN KEEP YOU FROM SHINING CHRIST LIGHT OF ETERNAL LIFE!!!!!

Romans8:15- For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!

As christians we are not to draw back in fear. Their is no greater pain then Jesus dealt with was when His father God turned his back. SO share the message of christ love!!!

Anne Heartline

I have a lot of great memories of Mrs. Heartline. She most likely was my favorite sunday school teacher. I remember I was in fourth grade and riped my dress and I was so upset that I was crying really hard not the fact I riped my dress but that I would have to give my ticket( the ticket was for the goodies box that Mrs. Heartline set up) after the other Sunday school teacher told me that. Mrs. Heartline took my ticket and toke up up to where my mom was to fix the dress and go back to class. When we got back to class Mrs. Heartline gave me the ticket and a hug. Two weeks later when I walked into the classroom for Sunday school class Jim Martin, told us that Mr and Mrs. Peters were going to be our Sunday school teachers because Mrs. Heartline had found out that her cancer had returned. A boy behind me, ( I don't remember his name) said I know what that is its were people die, and I hit him, and so did a few other people.



A few months ago my brother Josh saw Mrs. Heartline so we walked over and started talking to her. Mrs.Heartline was asking Josh how he was and then asked me for my name. When she asked me I told her and she gave me a huge hug and told me that she had been praying for me everyday during her devotions, when she told me that I wanted to just start crying because up till then I hadn't really thought about her or even go up to talk to her when I saw her at church.

Mrs. Heartline showed her love for God by sharing his word and praising God during everything that was going on. She praised God through even to last moment when she was in God presence.