looking back on 2007. and Thanks

Life is so WONDERFUL!!
I have great friends and a lot of people there for me. They make me happy and definitely keep me going.I have the most amazing church family and Pastors. You guys don't know how much you mean to me. You lead me and help me and guide me in many ways. To the schools that help me learn, wow!

2007 has been great. I am ready for change and to "transform" into a new person. I am excited about the worship team and feel it's going to be better than ever!!! I am ready to go back to school and greet the place with love, optimism, and kindness. I have grown so much spiritually and in my relationships with others. It's a great feeling to walk into a place where people know how you are and enjoy being around you. They help you grow and grow along with you.
2008? Well, it's going to be a good year I feel. There is so much that I want to accomplish. First off, I need to work on my grades and set my priorities a little. Sure, my grades are A's and B's, but I feel I can do better. It's one of those things where you have to say, "am I going to do this with my whole heart? Or just let it go half-way?" We all have to make these decisions in many parts of life. And I feel I need to move forward in this and with serving more.

I love being involved and being around people. It's hard not being able to drive. I don't get to help with all the opportunities I get, but I manage. I help when and with as much as I can. In about half a year, this problem will be partially solved. I may not be able to go everywhere, but I will get around more with having a hardship. But anyhow..

Thank you for all you people do!I love you all so much!

*Some random worship that has been in my head*
-I know you gave the world your only son for us to know your name and live within the savior's love. You took my place knowing you'd be crucified. Lord you love..you love a people undeserving!
-Because of who you are, I give you glory. Because of who you are, I give you praise. Because of who you are, Lord I lift my hands and say, "Lord I worship you, because of who you are!"
-I'm not going back. I'm moving ahead. I'm here to declare to you, my past is over. In you, old things are made new. Surrendered my life to Christ. I'm moving forward!

I just felt like God should be put into my thanks..he's the one that brought me to you guys and he deserves all the glory anyways..He's unfailing, faithful, loving, merciful, providing..just plain Amazing! :)

worship and words

Last night,I got to thinking about Thursday when we went without speaking at the Deepening. Breaking our fast with worship, was just unbelievable! You don't really realize how many words we waste until you take the time to be silent. The bible even tells us to use our words for praise in Psalm 33, it says "Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising..."

A while back, I read something that really spoke to me and it made me want to be a good person..Don't we all want to be good and righteous?. If I am going to be that person I strive to be, I have to worship. Not going around wasting my words complaining and gossiping or whining. God created us for worship. We should want to worship all the time. Not just in a corporate setting, like at church. Worship is our praise to God for who He is and what He's done and what He's going to do. Both personal and corporate.

Thursday was probably one of the nights I have ever worshiped God with all f my heart and with a great passion. Realizing that, was a little disappointing to me. I should Worship like that all the time. I was so excited to see so many who usually don't worship, cry out to God and hunger for Him. It doesn't matter if we had a bad day, if we don't like that song, or if the person sitting next to us can't sing...THOSE THINGS DON'T MATTER! Worship isn't about us, It's about God! He gave us life and all he asks of us is that we praise him and follow his rules. Wouldn't you want something you breathed life and poured your heart into to praise you? I think it's the least we could do if not more. We should want to praise God. It shouldn't take a retreat to get you to worship.

Another thing I realized is how I try to do things on my own. I was reading in Psalm 121 and 123 about how we should look to God for help.We should lift our eyes to him because our help comes from him; nothing else. He is the all time, undisputed, undefeated champion of love! The song the House wrote really gets that point. It says:

"I thank you

I thank you

I thank you

For your faithful love

I love you

I love you

I love you

for your faithful love

I praise you

I praise you

I praise you

for your faithful love"

"You've been my father, you've been my friend

You've been there for me,love without end

I don't deserve all the love that you've shown

amazed that you still choose to call me your own

I'm never alone"

God never leaves us alone. He is always and forever will be. He always has been. I long to continue the passion I had from the Deepening, and I still hunger after God even more. God is there when we gather in his name..Don't you want to feel God every time we worship and pray? I loved being in his presence and want to stay there.

Decisions

There are so many choices in life..so many imporatant decisions to make. The most recent one I faced was which highschool I was going to attend. I had to choose between NLR and Parkview.

My mom, Grandparents, and I went and visited the counselors at both schools. I was really impressed with Pakview. NLR was okay, but I guess the only reason I wanted to go there was because most of my friends are going there or already attend. Not that I am "downing" NLR or anything. I still think it's a great school.

Parkview seemed so boring an strict...not to mention, the building reminds me of a prison..so dark and gloomy.But after walking around, talking to the counselor and band director, I LOVED it!!! It had so much to offer. They had tons of opportunities for scholarships, the counselors and teachers seem very knowledgeable on things that would benefit the students, and all of the students I saw there and have talked to that attend Parkview have loved it. Not to mention the great drama department, choir, and awesome band if I may say so myself!

There are so many requirements, though; Partly because it is a magnet school.. I have to have 4 years of math, English, Science, and Social Studies..It's required for the honors thing the LRSD has for it's students. If you're going to devote four years to bettering yourself by being in school, why not just go the extra mile right? I am also required to take 2 or is it 4 years of German or Latin (I chose Latin. Also, It's required for the science side). The science side is different from the arts. My friends are mostly on the arts and they have and easier schedule..but that's okay. I also learned that I should have taked Algebra1 last school year..so in the 10th, I will have to double up on my math and take Algebra2 and Geometry so I can take Calculus when I'm a senior. They say it will "better prepare" me.

I am looking foward to the new experiences and friends I will make in those 4 years at Parkview..I CAN'T WAIT!!

Last Sunday

I know it was almost a week ago, but I can't help bet to think back to last Sunday night's worship. I felt it was amazing!

It really helped me strengthen relationship with God and my friends...To me, that is priceless!Being able to be there when your friends need prayer is like saving their life. You are giving them the support they need to keep going on. I know that I would want my friends to be there with me, so I love it when I get to be there with them.

Friends are the strongholds in our lives..without them, we are nothing. I even wrote a poem about friends(I wil post it later).

"God, thank you so much for my friends! You have truly blessed me with people like Heather Wise, Rachel Holland, Drew Richardson, and Mady Capriotti. I thank you so much Lord Jesus. You are worthy of everything I could give and more. Please forgive me for not worshiping you like I should. Forgive me for relying on music and church to bring me into worshiip when I should worship you with every breathe every where I go!"

That service , as you can tell, really pointed out faults in my life. I am currently working on these things. I thank God every day for the support that he gives me with my friends and family I am TRULY BLESSED! i think we all are, some of just don't realize it yet.