My Testimony.

So on Thursday night, I shared my testimony at the Campus For Christ weekly meeting. Boy was I nervous. I don't like public speaking, but when I talk about something that really interests me, it's not so bad. So I typed it up the night before and here it is:

Being a Christian has definitely changed my life in many ways. But I didn't grow up as one. I grew up in the Catholic faith and I hated going to church. I only went because my mom told me to and I didn't want to upset her. Years passed and I didn't know what has going on.

It wasn't until my senior year of high school where things started to hit me. I battled depression and suicide. I hung out with the wrong people - did drugs, got drunk. I even skipped school to do those things. Those things were consuming my life. My sister had sat me down one night and talked to me about the Bible. She told me about God's love and His desire for a relationship with us and Christ's whole purpose on earth. I was then I had accepted Him into my life. I didn't know what that meant at the time, so I just kept on going with my life. So at this time I had started going to a bible-believing church where I started meeting new people, but I was still living a life with drugs and alcohol.

It wasn't until one Sunday that I attended, one of the leaders sat me down and asked me if I knew if I was going to heaven or not. I didn't have an answer. So after he spoke to me about Christ's purpose, it was then I realized I wanted to change things in my life. I wanted to read my Bible more and I even put verses on my wall to help me memorize them. I had quit doing drugs, but still drank alcohol on occasion.

So then college started and I started dating this other girl from my church and I had been attending C4C on a regular basis - getting involved. She was really devoted to God and I had learned so much through her. It was she who taught me about a personal relationship with God. We went through struggles as a couple staying pure and I had some internal struggles that I had to deal with as well. C4C also played a big part in keeping me grounded in the faith by studying the Bible with others regularly and sharing my faith with others as well. I had even started volunteering in the youth ministry at my church and I always find the chance to do so whenever I'm home.

I know I'm far from perfect. But the trials and the people that God placed in my life helped shaped me to be the person I am today. With each coming day, I feel like I'm inching closer to being more and more like Jesus Christ. Being a Christian isn't easy, but if you have your faith in Him, awesome things will happen. This verse has been the foundation of my growth. One of my favorites!

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength [Philippians 4:13]

With Him anything and everything is possible --> Matthew 19:26

Yeah...I know that was two verses.

Never Be Ready - Mat Kearney.

Go out and take a step of faith today.
Remember: God is always with you and His strength will power through things that you've never experienced or things you are afraid to do. Trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 56:4, 11



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Mat Kearney - Never Be Ready

we got our feet on the wire
talking ’bout flying
maybe we’re diving in over our heads
scared of what i’m feeling
staring at the celing
here tonight

come on and lay down these arms
all our best defenses
we’re taking our chances here on the run
if fear is an anchor
then time is a stranger
love isn’t borrowed
we aren’t promised tomorrow

we’ll never be ready
if we keep waiting
for the perfect time to come
hold me steady
we’ll never be ready
oh oh oh oh oh
when we don’t know, though we can’t see
just walk on down this road with me
hold me steady
we’ll never be ready

you’re ok here with me
here in the silence
with all of the violence
crashing around
saying we can’t go
saying we don’t know
this road that is narrow
is the one we should follow

steady my hands this one could turn around
steady my heart it’s beating faster
steady my hands this one could turn around
steady my heart it’s beating faster, beating faster now

hold me steady we’ll never be ready

Steady Now - Brandon Heath.

There's an air everywhere
Of inconsideration and despair
I don't consider you
And you don't consider me
And it's well understood
We don't care

You know we don't have to wait until the end of the night
Just to say that something's wrong and maybe nobody's right
We're all victims in a battle
We never had to fight
It's ok, it's alright
Steady now
We're in this thing together
We're in this together

I regret that I forget
Confessions always seem to stay unsaid
And maybe I worry that you'll forsake me
Use my shame as a weapon
And go on and break me

You know we don't have to wait until the end of the night
Just to say that something's wrong and maybe nobody's right
We're all victims in a battle
We never had to fight
It's ok, it's alright
Steady now
We're in this together

Cause I want to take the time to say
I'm sorry I haven't loved you the way I should
Do you think that you could forgive me
Just try to hear me
I need you with me now

You know we don't have to wait until the end of the night
Just to say that something's wrong and maybe nobody's right
We're all victims in a battle
We never had to fight
It's ok, it's alright
Steady now
We're in this together

Ephesians 4:29.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

So this verse really convicted me the other day. I really need to shut my mouth and think before I speak. I keep hurting others with the words that I say and at times I don't even know it. I think that they are just plain jokes, but they are indeed hurtful. This needs to stop.

Father, please let the words that come out of my mouth glorify You. I don't want to hurt others with what I say. Take hold of my tongue and give me the strength to hold back what doesn't need to be said. Thank You Father for loving me even when I hurt others. I'm sorry that I do this and I ask You that You help me and be my strength. I love You. Amen

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