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)