Terror Maze.

So I was talking to a good friend earlier tonight about the annual event that was held at the youth group at my church. Terror maze. They pretty much took over the whole church and transformed it to a scary, halloweenish maze with a bunch of activities for the kids to play around in. It's our church's version of celebrating halloween - what better way to present the Gospel at the end of the maze. She told me that 1700 kids came and went through the maze, but the number that put a big grin on my face was 600. 600 kids took Christ into their lives for the 1st time or made recommitments to God in those 2 nights (Wednesday and Friday).

The time I spent while I was back home for fall break was mostly at my church. I was there 5 out of the 10 days I was at home. I helped build the terror maze and I wouldn't trade the time I spent at home for anything else. My hard work setting up and doing MAN work (haha) was worth the effort and was for something amazing. Even though I was a little sad that I wasn't there for the maze itself, I was there in spirit and I gave my time to the Lord for His glory.

...I think I also wrote my name on one of the foam boards.

Praise God for what He's doing at my church and I'm so blessed to be a part of it.

These kids never cease to amaze me.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. [Luke 15:7]

Bring the Rain - MercyMe.

I've been feeling very discouraged today. I feel like my day is getting worse and worse by the minute. But I listened to this song last night that a friend sent me. It's about experiencing trials and hardships, yet still being able to praise God for everything. Nothing can ever make me stop praising the Lord for what he has done in my life. Through Jesus Christ, I so much better even though the day is getting worse as we speak. Through trials I've gone so much closer to God throughout these past 5 or so months. If I hadn't experienced those things, I wouldn't be as strong in my faith as I am now.



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MercyMe - Bring the Rain

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks.

So I'm not the biggest fan of country music, but I enjoy it every once in a while (especially Taylor Swift haha). So in my devotional, the author was talking about praying about things that are according to the will of God. He referenced one of the lines in this song "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers." Something that is very hard to do because sometimes the things we want aren't according to God's will. Very hard for me because I've had to come across this many times in the past couple of months. It was a very convicting devotional and song too. I don't have a link to the song on YouTube but here's an imeem link if you want to listen to it: http://www.imeem.com/people/rxoqI/music/qPtaWIWb/garth-brooks-unanswered-prayers/
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Garth Brooks - Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night at a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

O Praise Him (All This For A King) - David Crowder*Band.

David Crowder*Band - O Praise Him (All This For A King)

Turn your ear to heaven and hear the noise inside
The sound of angels' awe
The sound of angel's songs
And all this for a King
We could join and sing
All to Christ the King

How constant, how divine
This song of ours will rise
Oh, how constant, how divine
This love of ours will rise, will rise

O praise Him
O praise Him
He is holy
He is holy, yeah

Turn your gaze to heaven and raise a joyous noise
The sound of salvation comes
The sound of rescued ones
And all this for a King
Angels join to sing
All for Christ our King

Oh la la la la la la
Oh la la la la la la
Oh la la la la la la la la la

How infinite and sweet
This love, so rescuing
Oh, how infinitely sweet
This great love that has redeemed
As one, we sing

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
He is holy
He is holy, yeah

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I love this song!

Prayer. (10.23.09)

Father, I feel like with every word that I say, I'm digging myself into a deeper and deeper hole. Grant me the willingness to control that. Keep hold of my tongue and make whatever I say glorify You. I don't want others to feel this way because of the words I'm saying. Why can't I be the "quiet kid" again? I struggle time and time again, and at times I feel broken. But You are always there to pick up the pieces and clean up the mess on what is called "my life." Thank You for doing that. I'm learning more and more about what it means to be "caught up in Your grace." Thank You so much. I love You.

"Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Oh lead me...lead me to the cross."

Amen.

Sweet Tweets. (10.19.09)

"I don't follow my 'instinct' because my 'in' stinks" - Tedashii via Lecrae

"When God says 'don't' - trust Him because what he's really saying is 'don't hurt yourself.'" - James MacDonald

"sometimes I feel like I know nothing about how to really follow Jesus. So humbling. Grace is so overwhelming." - Mike Kelsey

"2 often we pray, forget what we prayed 4, then fail 2 give God credit because we forgot what we asked 4 in the 1st place." - Mark Batterson

"never put a period where God puts a comma." - Mark Batterson

"You haven't really trusted God until you've attempted something that you cannot do in your own strength." - Rick Warren

Definitely made me look inward

Follow them:
http://twitter.com/Tedashii
http://twitter.com/Lecrae
http://twitter.com/JamesSMacDonald
http://twitter.com/mikekelsey
http://twitter.com/MarkBatterson
http://twitter.com/RickWarren

Why I Am The Way I Am.

If any of you guys really know me, you would know that I beat myself up a lot when I mess up. Because of that I strive so hard to become more like Christ. I hate feeling that way. But I can never attain that perfect awesomeness (yes, that is in fact a word) that is Jesus. I am human and I mess up. The cool thing about His grace - whenever you do slip up (hopefully you try your best not to) God is forgiving. You wanna know why? He loves you. Each and every one of us the same. No matter what you've done, good or bad. Whenever you fall down, just get back up on that horse that is your life and strive to become better.


He (God) loves you yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahhhhh
(I was listening to The Beatles today and "She Loves You" has been stuck in my head)

Leadership and Me.

So I may never be the leader that people want or expect me to be. I know I will be one in God's eyes in His own time. Philippians 1:6. I have to trust in the Lord and do everything for Him fully from the heart. That's something I've been keeping hold of for the past 3 months. I've found that trusting in God is very beneficial and He alone is satisfying.

Verses to meditate on: Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 4:13

Being a successful leader shouldn't based on what you do or what you've done. I see it to be based on how you do it (where are your motives?). And I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

But,
It's not up to you to tell me that I'm not a leader.
I'm not going to be a leader to try and prove you wrong.
That itself is wrong.
God chose me to lead and I will fulfill His commands, not yours.
He's the judge of me, not you. I could care less what you think of me.
He's in control of my life, not you.
If there is a chance that you do read this (I highly doubt that), I hope you're happy where you're at.
Just know that you've hurt me.
But I forgive you.
I love you.
Not so sure that you feel the same way.
Remember what you told me before: there is no fear in love. [1 John 4:18]
I'm no longer scared and running.
I'm striving to be more like Christ and the person God made me to be.
If you can't see that, then oh well.
I'm not perfect.
I will never be.
I'm gonna slip.
I'm gonna mess up.
He is my strength, when I fail. [Psalm 73:26]
I'll always be here whenever you're ready.
It's hard to believe that it could happen.
Where's your faith?
He is my rock, and I will not be moved.
I'm not scared.
I'm hopeful.

A New Toy.

I have recently discovered a new toy to use while doing my blogging. During my time of doing absolutely nothing during my fall break, I finally found the RefTagger tool. Whenever you place your mouse over a Bible verse on my blog (hopefully it works for the old posts) you will be able to see the verse instead of having to flip through your Bible or typing in Biblegateway.com or something. I'm way to excited for this.

Here's an example of a couple of favorite verses:

Philippians 4:13
Romans 8:28
Proverbs 3:5-6
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 2:9

I LOVE IT!!!!

EDIT: It does work for the old posts!!!!! SO AWESOME!!!

Follow You - Leeland.

I haven't been blogging lately, but I will start again once I crank out these two midterms on Wednesday. Yesterday, I got back from a retreat (Summit) with the Christian group I joined on campus (Campus For Christ, if you must know it is the Canadian branch of Campus Crusade For Christ). Anyways, I was really convicted over the weekend to not be scared to talk to others about the gospel. God was really working in my heart to talk to my closest friends back home. With that, all the things that are happening the South Pacific, my hearts are really going out to them and I can't wait to visit my relatives next summer. But I'm posting this song that is close to my heart because it talks about the poor and the needy that need help around the world. The victims of the typhoon, earthquake, and the tsunami aren't the only people in the world being affected with not only poverty, but the message of Jesus Christ. I'm hoping to go on the missions trip to the Dominican Republic set up by the youth group at my church next summer. God wants to use me and I will let him have His way.




-----
Leeland featuring Brandon Heath - Follow You

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs You have supplied.
When I was dead You gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the World.

Use my hands, use my feet
To make Your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until Your work is done
'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross Your blood was she'd
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the World.

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself... to You.

And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself... to You.

And I'll follow You into the homes that are broken
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the World.
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This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [1 John 3:16]

Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God. - William Carey