unique.

Our neighbors garden is so pretty. But when I went over there the other day, I found a patch of white flowers, with one pink one in the middle. It was different, and it made it look so unique and beautiful. It reminded me of the verse found in Romans 12. It says that we shouldn't be of the world, but to show the world what is the good will of GOD. We should be just like this pretty little pink flower. Set apart, different from the rest, unique because of our faith. We need to stand out! Sure, she might get lonely sometimes being the only pink flower, but she's always going to have GOD by her side.

Rom 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

By the way, I named her Ayanna.
Sorry Als, you can't have that name now. =P

take my life and let it be.

Take my life and let it be,
Consecrated, Lord to Thee
Take my hands and let them move,
At the impulse of Thy love
At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be,
Swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always only, for my King
Always, only, for my King

Take my love, my God I pour,
At Thy feet it's treasure store
Take myself and I will be,
Ever only all for Thee
Ev-er, on-ly, all for Thee


by francis havergal & mozart.

be my guide.

last night when we were worshipping, i realized that i was not trusting GOD enough. i was trying to let myself be in control of my life. worrying about what to do, what if's, and just about everything else. too often, i put HIM aside for things that i want. my sights are not upon HIM and HIM alone. sometimes i try to run my own life, the way i think it should be done. i don't let GOD rule over me. HIS plan, i take it for granted sometimes. but i want HIM to be my guide.


"Be my guide, GOD of Abraham
Lead me by Your hand
You are strong and wise
I want to trust in You
And in all I do bring You honor and praise"

friends.

i totally want to steal aly's post cause its exactly what i was thinking today at the sczebels. how blessed am i to have a friend like aly?? i mean, she came out and jumped in the puddles with me!! she got wet with me. i feel kinda bad that i made her get wet, but i think that secretly, she loved it. she gave up her nice cozy pants to bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. its those friends that you know will stick with you through thick and thin, when you've lost your voice and when you just won't stop talking, and even the hair days when you wish you were them and the hair days when you wish you didn't know them. thanks for being one of those friends.

the work that GOD has done through my friends and their families has been so great. the impact that you guys have had on my life in the last 11 months at crossway is so big. i am so incredibly blessed to have a friends like you. my friends at crossway and the people there have just amazed me in how much they love the LORD. to see how GOD is working through the lives of each and everyone of you to reach out to other kids like me who were heading off in the wrong direction is awesome.

this last year, i lost some friends. some good friends. i've known them for almost 7 years. and i miss the fun times we had together, but you know, i wasn't going to be with them forever. and HE gives and takes away. GOD this year has blessed me so much with so many friends that bring me closer to HIM. so many friends that encourage me and build me up. so many friends from florida, texas, minnesota haah and even here rainy old vancouver, i've made great, even some life long friends. and each and every one of these new friends has a great love for JESUS. a passion to grow in HIM. and they bring that with them when we meet. they show me just how much GOD has blessed them, and with that i see just how much GOD has showered HIS blessings on me.

i thank GOD for my friends. and for you als. even though you put the worst picture in the world of me onto the internet where google can find it and track me down along with the aliens. =P

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." -- Anonymous

thanks for walking in on me als. hahaaa. i (heart) you.

the beauty of autumn.

The other day as i walked outside, i was surprised to find the beginnings of autumn all around me. the cool, crisp, and refreshing breeze. the newly changed red and yellow leaves beginning to fall. and the neighborhood kids in their jeans and t-shirts instead of shorts and tanks.

the beauty of this world is amazing. the views, the sounds, the fragrances, the sights, the colors. everything i see, so fresh and alive. my mind cannot grasp how wonderful and precise it all is. the oh so high mountains in the distance, the pitter patter of rain softly lullabying me to sleep, the swiftly flowing rivers carrying baby fish away to sea, the bright redness on the juicy apples on the tree. i stand in awe of how each leaf, so delicate and different is each one, flutter to the ground as fall enters out world. i gaze above at the stars the gather as the moon pushes out and the sun begins to fade away as another night comes along. i stop in my tracks to listen to the hundreds of crickets leaping around the flowerbeds and yellow petals swaying in the breeze. however, there is still more.

not that we can see. but to look forward to in heaven. oh how much more glorious it will be when we gather together before the KING! the angels will sing songs of praise and thanksgiving, HIS children will dance to the sound of HIS loving voice, and GOD's love will be returned and HIS deserving praise will be heard all around.

although the earth is filled with many amazing treasures, gorgeous voices of nature, and unexplainable wonders of the land, nothing is greater than the sights and sounds we will see in heaven. i thank GOD for HIS beautiful creation. but, no matter how refreshing the breeze, no matter how beautiful the fragrance of fresh flowers, no matter how intriguing the design of each and every leaf, plant, and animal, nothing is more beautiful than the LORD our GOD and HIS miraculous works, not even autumn.

[Pslam 29:2] Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.