Our Generation Seeking Him

Here We Go Again- Standing @ My Locker

noreply@blogger.com (Abbie) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Hey Everyone!

So, it has been a really long time since I last posted anything on here. And as most of you can probably believe, it's because life as a teenager is CRAZY! I just want to take some time to share a little bit about my life with you. And I would love to hear about your experience with your first day back to school!

I was working at a Christian camp this summer and loved the environment that I was in all the time with other Christians surrounding me. Then, the end of the summer came and it was time for school to start again. I was nervous going back in as I am sure a lot of you guys were too. I didn't know what it would be like because I was away from all my friends for the majority of the summer.

A couple weeks before school started I found myself not really knowing where I stood with God, and was concerned that I would be starting school on the wrong note. So all I could do was trust in God to get me through and talk to some people from church for help. So, the first day of school came and I began to just see God in curtain situations at school. I could tell that He was leading me away from the things other people were doing and getting me to shine a light for Him.

I have to stand strong and look to God through absolutely everything. Sometimes it takes stepping back and analyzing your behavior to see whether or not you are doing the right thing.

So, I hope that everyone is having a good time back at school and adjusting well!

There is just one other thing that I want to mention to you all. I had a benefit concert over the summer to benefit a local soup kitchen, and that was a point in my life where it just hit me that God was working through me to help other people and get His word to others! That night we raised over $1,000 and many cans and food items! All I could do was stand in amazement and thank God for everything that He did!

My challenge to you is, to not only just slide through high school or middle school, but to step up, stand out and make a difference for other people. By doing this, you could be showing someone else what it is like to be living in the Light of God!

Thanks!
Abbie :)

When friendship hurts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:39:00 +0000

Have you ever been in a friendship that hurt so much it made you want to give up? You’ve tried to be nice, but it seems like your friend is always bringing you down. You’ve done everything you can, but nothing you do seems to change anything or anyone for the better. Sometimes you feel so used up and wrung out that it hurts to smile. You wonder if you should keep putting yourself out there to be a friend. That’s totally understandable. Life is hard, and people will disappoint you! But don’t let this stop you in your tracks.

This is when you ask God to be your partner. When the situation is way too big to handle yourself, and you can’t see a way out, it’s definitely a two-man (okay, a God-and-woman) job. It’s human nature to try to handle it yourself, but some situations are impossible without supernatural help. God will intervene in human business as far as someone invites him to, so start asking.

So when you feel like you’re dangling over the relationship cliff and you’ve made yourself hoarse from screaming in frustration, the story isn’t over yet. Tell God where you hurt. He knows the hurt that this person caused you. Ask him what to do about this painful relationship. He will help you make progress or move on.

I got this off the Revolve tour website :D

Treat other how you would want to be treated

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:43:00 +0000

Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: But he that shall endure until the end, the same shall be saved.
I think Jesus is very clear in this verse. We as believers are going to be hated by the world for what we believe. Ive been going through a hard time recently because theres a certain girl that I want to like me because I have to see her and stuff but she doesnt like me cause of my beliefs. NOW I've read this verse tons of times before but it never hit me like iot did last night when I was doing my devotions. In the begining of the verse it says: And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake. Example: I think that girl doesnt like me because I choose to live my life according to the Bible. But... the rest of the verse says: but he that shall endure till the end, the same shall be saved. Just because people dont like us doesnt mean we need to be sad or upset about it. We just need to pray for them and treatthem like we would want to be treated. I remember someone I really look up to giving me advice on this situation before and before she told me what I should do she said im sorry you know

"people are jerks"

and I couldnt agree more but we need to be careful about what we say and what we do or e could turn into that jerk that people dont really like.
~Krystl ♥ ~

Ninevahs strong holds are weak.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:46:00 +0000

Nahum 3:14-15 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickklin. There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

I found this passage so amazing! Verses like these you wouldnt really think are that great. You see my Bible has little subtitles before a certain passage of verses. I named this post the subtitle "Ninevahs strong holds are weak" This passage really spoke to me. What I got out of this passage was even the meanest people even though they appear to be so strong they are weak. They are so strong on the outside yet so weak on the inside they seem like they want nothing to do with Jesus but inside thats what theyre yearning for they want something to help them out of this world out of this heart ache and the only thing that can help them is Jesus. Never assume that someone doesnt want Jesus or doesnt want help. I know never is a hundred percent work but in this case it is so vital that I use a hundred percent word. Maybe if you share the gospel with them they might just open up to you and get saved or maybe they will be a working progress but do you want to go up to heaven and stand before God and say "well God this peron just seemed like they didnt want you so I didnt try to help them" No nobody wants to say that to God. Honestly if we do that while were here on earth there is gonna be A LOT of red faces when we get to heaven. If you dont do something yourself how do you expect other people to do it? If you dont do it who will?

I honestly can't sign my name on the bottom of this these words are completely from God I just happen to be the messenger.

The cross

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:18:00 +0000

Ok so I drew this picture a long time ago. I drew this when my dream was to be an artist but then I realized Im not that great at art but thats besides the point. Now you see I have this thing I call my paper box and all it is, is a whole bunch of random papers (cards, church bulletins, poems, etc). In all of those things I found this drawing and I was thinking why would I draw blood coming out of a cross? I know Christ died on the cross for me and he shed blood but why would I draw blood coming out of a cross and not out of Jesus? I drew that when I was little and everybody knows that little kids have amazing imaginations. When you think about it the cross should be a symbol and everytime we see it we think about what Jesus did how he sacrificed himself for us and how much he loves us. ♥ So I realized that I being a little kid actually knew enough of the bible to realize that the cross should be a symbol and it should humble us. Just take a minute at the picture and dont think of how i messed up on this or that just look at it and think of what happened on that cross.

~Krystl <3~

Bear eachothers burdens

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:19:00 +0000

So this week some people that are very close to me lost someone they love. I'm writing this post because even though who they lost someone I didn't really know I'm sad because they're sad. Ive been asking myself why am I sad if something didn't happen to me? I remembered today a verse in Galatians 6:2 Which says Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ. We as Christians need to bear eachothers burdens and no it doesn't mean cry when your friends crying or be upset at the same thing it means When someones hurting, hurt with them. Pray for them and help them through their burdens. I think we as Christians don't do that enough when someones hurting we do feel bad for them and we tell them that we will pray for them but do we just say that? Or do we actually do it? If someone comes to us and tells us how much of a hard time they are having do we stop and pray with them? Or do we say well we will pray for you and not meaning to, do we forget to pray? Saying we will pray are words that get taken very lightly we need to say what we mean and mean what we say. So when someones hurting bear their burden pray for them and don't say you'll pray for them stop whatever your doing and pray with them. You might just make their day ;)

~Krystl <3

Why do we hate the ONE who loves us most?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Ive been thinking and talking to my friend a lot lately and shes been mad at God a lot. The one thing that I think of every time she says shes mad at God is how could we be mad at God the only one that truly loves us? He loves you so much that he went to the cross for you and he was beaten and made fun of and he was spit on. He did it all because he though hey (Insert your name) is going to go through trials someday and I'm gonna do this so they know that I love them and that I will always be there for them. Why do we push away the one who loves us why do we blame him? The worst thing is God just takes it he doesn't go oh well that Krystl Gardner shes mad at me and I didn't do anything so now I'm gonna try to hurt her. No he doesn't do that he helps you when your mad you cant see it but when everyone around you can see how he is trying to get you through it. Whether its through a person or through a certain event or something he just trys to help you.Instead of saying wow God is good no we blame him instead? Why do we do that? Its so hard for me to sit and see how mad my friend is at God I cant imagine how God feels. Lord this is my prayer to you please help not only my friend but everyone else in the world that is mad and/or bitter with you Lord its such a hard life to live without you Lord just help them to realize how great you are and how much you love us.

The Combe Family

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:38:00 +0000

David Combe and his family came to my church about 3 weeks ago and this family was very special to me. They were special to me because they had 3 teenage girls and the best thing about these girls is that they didn't care what other people thought of them. They were just themselves and they liked it that way. They sang for my mom and they were really nice to everyone. In this world missionaries aren't always appreciated. People think oh there goes religious people. What I'm trying to say is we should really appreciate missionaries. These girls went from living in Texas to living in Mexico. So we should really pray for them. Since they're Americans they cant go anywhere the only place they can go is to church. But they don't let that get them down they are still praising God for everything. So why cant we be like that were allowed to do so much more than them. Yet we don't care? My challenge is to praise God through everything the bad and the good.
Krystl <3

"Oh how he loves us!"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Last night I was able to lead a 6 year old boy to Jesus. He raised his hand at roller skating because he wanted to learn more about Jesus. My normal job for roller skating is to take the people that raise their hands to a person from my church in a certain room and he will talk to them but for some reason last night he got caught up in talking to people so I sat down and talked to him. I told him about how Jesus died on the cross for him and that if he believed that and he asked Jesus to come into his heart that when he died he could live in heaven. I asked him if he wanted to do that and he said yes. Then I asked him if he wanted to pray with me and he said no. I asked him if he wanted to pray by himself and he said no. Then I said are you scared? He then said yes. I said you know what its okay you don't have to be scared it says in the Bible that Jesus wants to talk to us he wants to talk to the little kids and the big people to and then I said again do you want to pray with me and he said yes. He prayed and asked Jesus to save him. Then I asked him if he understood what he did I said Gabe do you know that now when you die you get to go to heaven? He said yes. I said are you excited and he said yes. The reason I tell you this story is because I got to see just a little bit of Christ's love last night and why the angels rejoice when people turn to him. When somebody gets saved and you know that you were a part of it is an amazing feeling. So why are most of us afraid to go soul winning? To tell somebody about Jesus? Are we afraid that they're going to judge us? If that's the case may I ask you why does it matter? Jesus died on the cross and he didn't care what people think he did so much for us and he loves us so much. Why don't we share his love with other people? He blesses us and we realize we could never live without him well why do we let other people? We need to tell people about the love Jesus has for you and for them and for all of us. So that everyone can experience His amazing love for us.

Krystl <3

Praising God

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Ok so lets talk about singing and praising God through music. I love to sing I have since I was little singing is just something I'm very passionate about. I love to sing in church and do special music with my friends and even with adults in my church. Its just one way that I can praise God and that makes me want to do it even more. But when it comes to singing by myself I say no way. Isn't it weird that somebody that loves singing as much as I do hates to get up in front of people and sing by myself? Is that the way it should be? I had to ask myself that question last night because I went to church and I was in choir and I was the only person that was singing my part. The reason I was one of the only ones was because my youth leaders wife is sick and Sunday I'm supposed too sing a song for special music I am supposed to sing it with my youth leaders wife. So if she is still sick by Sunday I will have to sing my choir part by myself and the special song by myself. Now that to me is scary because I'm afraid that I'm going to mess up and everyones going to hear it. But that's where I asked myself that question why does it matter what I think or what they think? Shouldn't it be about what God thinks? God doesn't care what we sound like he just wants us to sing praises to him. Now I'm not saying you should go sing in church and not practice or anything we try our best to sound good. The real thing is we shouldn't be afraid of what people think the Lord just wants us to praise him so if your scared to sing or to talk in front of people don't be because God will be there every step of the way and when your done he's so proud of which is the best thing to think wow the God who made this earth is proud of me!

Krystl <3

Art Carpio and his family

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:15:00 +0000

A few moths ago a missionary came to my church and his name was Art Carpio. He wasn't able to bring his family with him so I wasn't able to meet them but I did get to meet him. He preached during Sunday school and the way he was standing I realized he was missing one of his ears. I was kinda wondering through out Sunday school what had happened. Then at the end of Sunday school he said "you probably have noticed that I'm missing an ear and I'll share with you what happened." Then he went on to tell this story: My family and I were driving in a car going to a friends house because I had to do business with them and out there cars aren't very good and they don't stay well. So when I got there i put bricks under my tires and left my family in the car while I went and talked to my friend. When I came out I saw my car rolling. I jumped in front of the car and tried to stop it but since I am only a man I went under the car and the licence plate sliced my ear. Then I saw my car hanging half way over a cliff with my wife and children in it. My wife managed to get the kids out and get her self out and they were safe. Oh what a happy moment it was but I still had to go to the hospital. Everyday for a month the doctors had to clean the pure bone of my face with a cloth. It was so hard to go through but I knew I had to hold on to God. I prayed and he helped me get through it luckily the doctors were able to sow up my face and now I am able to be here to preach to you guys. Please pray that I will be able to keep preaching to people.
Now this man came to my church a couple months ago and I remember that story as it was yesterday. It was so, so hard to sit there and listen to that to think this man could go through that and still praise God for everything he does and will continue to do. Sometimes we are so ungrateful and I know I say this a lot but its so true. I don't know how people can sit there and not understand how great our God is! So please pray for this man and his family. His name is Art Carpio his wife's name is Mely his two daughters names are Faith and Giadys and his sons name is Danrey so mplease pray for them and pray that God will use them around the world as he has used them to make a difference in my life.

Krystl <3

Devotions- "To Find A Smile"

noreply@blogger.com (Abbie) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:05:00 +0000

"To Find A Smile"

Sometimes we take what we have for granted. We don't think twice about going to bed in a warm bed, sitting down to eat a hot meal, or simply going to brush our teeth.

This past week I took a trip to the local Soup Kitchen with some other girls. It was a heart breakinng experience, but one that I will never forget. We got everything set up for the people to come in and eat. The moment they began to come it, I had tears in my eyes. I just felt so bad that I have so much and they have almost nothing.

Out of all of the people there, there is one face, that I will always remember. It was the face of a little girl that couldn't have been any older than about 5 or 6. Her and her two sisters were there with their parents. My heart broke to pieces the minute I saw her.

Once everyone had eaten we passed around desserts and this little girl looked up at me when I was passing them around. Her eyes grew big and bright and she had the biggest smile ever on her face when she got hers. Then, later that night she came up with her plate to throw it away and didn't know where she was going and I asked her if she needed some help. Just reaching out a hand to help her with little things could put a smile on this one little girl's face. I would not have changed that night for the world.

It was a whole new perspective that I had not seen before. That night made me realize that the little things that we do count in someone else's eyes. They may not mean much to us, but to someone like that little girl, it could mean the world to her. After that, my heart was changed and made me want to give even more, and be a stronger servant of God.

God can use us in any way that He wants to. He used me that night to reach out to that child and let her know that there are people that care about her and that want to help.

How is God going to use you to work in other people's lives?
My challenge to you today, is to pray that God will use you in any way that He can to get to others. Also, pray that God will give you the strength and courage to follow through with the opportunities that He gives you.

Abbie

Trials

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:18:00 +0000

So I was at a brunch today at my church and my assistant pastors wife did a devotional for it and the devotional was about the verse Galatians 6:2 (Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.) She was saying how we as Christians should really be caring more about others yes sometimes we do need people to care about us but what happens when the person who helped you out go through that time? Are you just gonna sit back and not care? She shared this great demonstration. This girl went to her mother telling her how she was going through a very hard time when one trial was over another one came, and she felt like giving up. Now we've all been there right? Instead of her mom encouraging her she put out three pots of boiling water and the first one had a carrot in it. The second had an egg in it. The third had coffee beans. She let them boil for 20 minutes put them in bowls and called her daughter in the kitchen and she said what do you see in the three bowls? Her daughter replied a carrot, a boiled egg, and coffee. Then her mother said these are three examples of people who went through hard times (boiling water). Each one responded in a different way The carrot went in strong and came out soft. The egg went in fragile and came out hard and bitter. The coffee beans had a different effect though the coffee beans went in and changed the water. These apply to trials that come our way think about it are you a carrot you go into the situation strong and come out hurt soft and crushed? Or maybe your the egg that went in fragile not knowing what would happen and come out hard and bitter. If were truly honest with ourselves we are in one of those categories but is that what we want to be? Of course not, but theres one more category The coffee beans we can go into a situation and turn it around and make the best of it. SO which of the three do you want to be the carrot? The egg? Or the coffee beans?

~Be a coffee bean Christian!!~

This brings me to tears everytime.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:50:00 +0000

So we just got done with Easter weekend. This weekend is always a lot of fun right? Well it definitely is for me I love it I get to go to church and sing praises about Jesus rising from the dead and them I get to go to my grandmas and have dinner with my family. I get to spend the day with almost everybody I love. This Easter was different I had tons of fun but I realized something so so so important. This Easter we had a sunrise service at my church first ever and we had one of our pastors preach and he preached about Jesus and about how perfectly everything fell into place how when Jesus rose from the dead his clothes were folded in the tomb. He took his time. Would you take your time on an earth that betrayed you and for people that nailed you to the cross? I wouldn't. I'd be like see ya I'm going to heaven. But no, that's not what he did even after we nailed him to the cross and even after we whipped him and put thorns on his head and no we didn't just set the thorns on his head we pushed them down into his brow as hard as we could. Now you might say well Jesus is God he can take that better than we can. You're forgetting something Jesus was human he was a man he was the same as us only perfect and I know that we can't understand that but its true. Now in Sunday school my assistant pastor preached on how Jesus was hurt for us and how much he went through. He had to carry the cross and it wasn't very smooth wood he probably had splinters 6 inches long in his skin. They spit on him as he walked by. The bible said he was beaten so bad he didn't even look human. On top of all that he had nails go through his hands and nails go through his feet and every time he breathed he could feel the nails in his body. Then they mocked him and when he was thirsty they fed him vinegar. Anytime he wanted to he could have stopped this pain but that's just the thing he didn't he could have just said you know what I'm done these people don't deserve it (and we don't)but he didn't do that. He said

my God, my God, Forgive them for they know not what they do.

He loved us so much and that is what is so amazing guys I cant emphasize this enough everything I have said is true and he did it for us he did it for the world he did it for you. It amazes me so much every time I think about it that Jesus would do this for me for a sinner like me. Guys if you don't know Jesus theres no point in life. He's the reason we live and without him we would all die and go to hell but what he did for us allows us to go to heaven if we just ask him for forgiveness and allow him to take control of our lives. He did so much for us how can we ever repay him? The truth is we cant but we can give him our lives and live for him because he died for us that's the best part of the story he rose from the grave 3 days later and he is now living today in heaven waiting for us to accept him. I actually wrote a song about just how amazing he is and I'm working on another one and I'm gonna end this post in one of the lines of the song: He gave his life for you so what are you gonna do? He gave you a choice to make this for you to take.

So I ask you will you accept him? If you are saved I have a question for you are you going to live for him?

Krystl <3

Standing @ My Locker- "Beautiful to the King"

noreply@blogger.com (Abbie) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:41:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

So, I have found that public school is full of judgement. Everywhere that you turn it seems like there is someone to judge you attitude, your grades, your look, your style... I picked up Jenna Lucado's book "Redefining Beautiful" the other day and came across this definition.

Beautiful: What God sees when God sees you.

I don't know about you, but this statement is nothing but the truth to me! But, it isn't always the first thing that comes to mind when someone starts picking out your flaws. Sometimes it can be hard to put up with all the judgement, but just think of that one definition, and you can remember that even if a worldly person does not think that you are beautiful, the king of kings does!

So next time somebody tries to but down the way you look or act, just think of that and it will make you feel so much more confident about yourself. I know it does for me!!!

Abbie :)

Prayer: A Simple Daily Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:56:00 +0000

A SIMPLE DAILY REMINDER

Okay so lets talk about prayer. I know this seems like huge subject to people something the pastor says do so you can be close to God. When we think about prayer we immediately think oh that's what we do so we can ask God stuff. Is that really what prayers all about though? Yes, prayer is something where we can ask God stuff but its also just a conversation between you and God nobody else just simply you and God. Just like if you were texting your friend that conversation is between you and your friend. Prayer is as simple as that its just something you should do everyday to talk to God and yes you can ask God to heal a person during prayer but God invented prayer so we can talk to him. Don't you want to talk to God everyday? Sometimes we say well I get busy but doesn't God always try to do stuff for us? Shouldn't we make an effort to talk to him everyday? Prayer is very vital in a Christians life prayer reminds us that its not all about us today it's about Jesus and what we can do to glorify him. So I just wanted to remind you to be praying and talking with Jesus because when you do it makes you happy and it helps you to not be so selfish.

Krystl <3

How REAL Are Your Relationships? - Being Different

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:43:00 +0000

Sometimes its hard being a Christian, while being surrounded by people who look at you differently because you have values. They think you're weird for the sole reason of not wanting to be surrounded by partiers. You get the reputation of being someone who sucks the fun out of everything, when that's actually not the case at all. We just know when having "fun" is acceptable and when its not. On many occasions, people who are friends of mine have tried to change the person that I am. I have just recently gotten accused of being the good little Christian girl who is naive of what really goes on everyday. The thing is, Christians do know what goes on, we just choose not to get involved. One of the most important things to do when you're a Christian teen is to realize whats right and whats wrong. Its so easy to "forget" about glorifying God in everything that you do. Its something all Christian teens should work on everyday. Our actions must show others that we truly mean what we say when we talk about our relationship with God. People will pay attention more, when one does what they say.

~Kayla :)

Relationships with the world.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:18:00 +0000

So tonight my youth pastor was talking about separation and about how we as Christians should separate ourselves from the world. I know from experience that this is something that teens really have problems with. We want to be like the world we want to be normal and fit in. But is that we want I mean if you really think about it is that really what you want? I know when I think about it I would rather be anything but. The Lord says that our righteousness are as filthy rags. If that is what are righteousness looks like do you even want to see what the world looks like? I know I don't. Sometimes we get tempted and sometimes we fall but we have to get back up. Ok so I have a story for you now theres this guys hmmm lets name him Carl. Now Carl is Saved he's just been kinda busy he’s been spending all his time with his new friend Bob. Carl found out that Bob wasn’t saved and Carl said hey maybe I could hang out with him get to know him and then invite him to church. Sounds like a good plan right? Well Bob has this tendency to not shower all the time. Since Carl had been hanging out with him Carl decided that not showering would be the cool thing to do and so he decided he wasn’t going to shower. More and more that he hung out with Bob and his friends he started to act like Bob and his friends. Bob wasn’t necessarily a bad guy he just didn’t know the difference between biblical and unbiblical. Carl started to let his testimony fall apart . So Carl slowly more and more fell out of his Biblical habits and fell into unbiblical habits.
Everybody knew Bob rubbed off on Carl for goodness sakes Carl hadn’t taken a shower in a month. Every time somebody said why don’t you take a shower he said well Bob hasn’t taken one in a year! Soon enough Carl even found himself not going to church. He had forgotten the whole reason he wanted to be friends with Bob. Needless to say Carl was not in a very good spot. Where is this spot you might ask? The world.
Now you might say why are you telling me a story about two guys not showering and your probably saying what are your talking about of course Carls in the world well duh we all live in the world. I'm telling you this story so you can think about it when a Christian tries to influence a bunch of other Non-Christians hes gets sucked in faster then he can blink. One rotten apple ruins the whole barrel, and yes we all live in the world but I'm talking about the world spiritually. The world spiritually is all the wrong things the sins and the unbelievers and all the nasty things they do that we aren’t supposed to do. Now as I was saying earlier before the story as Christians we are to separate ourselves. Because the world and the unbelievers are technically just people that haven't taken showers. How do they take that shower? By getting right with Jesus. Carl hadn’t taken a shower in a month physically and spiritually. When you don’t take a shower people don’t want to be around you and they have to remind you to take a shower. That’s exactly how it is with our walk with Jesus when we haven't taken a shower in a while people need to remind us hey your starting to smell have you taken a shower lately? I know this sounds funny but when you really think about it, it’s the truth. So I ask you again do you want to be normal do you want to be like the world and not take a shower and smell? Or do you want to serve Jesus and be clean?

----- Psalms 51:10-13
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Krystl <3

Here Am I, Send Me - Peru Missions Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000

PERU MISSIONS TRIP

Some of the teens at my church are going on a missions trip to Peru to help the Budds out. They will be going April 2nd and they will be coming home April 12th. Some of the prayers that they are asking for are:

1. For God to use us in a BIG way

2. For the Budds

3. Spiritual growth

4. The Peruvians we will be ministering to

5.Travel details to all come together

6. Safety and health

7. For Financial Provision

The teens that are going are: James Benton, Kent Kilpatrick, Josh Ostrander, Alexis Moore,

McKaylah Philo, Cullen Enders, Caleb Gruet, Gabe Enders, Kierstyn Natter, Tiffani Goldblatt, John Donnan, Alex Sakadolski, Elijah Shumaker, Megan Klueg, Christian Klueg, Sarah Hand, Adam Hand, Linda Hand, and Zeek Klueg.

I don't really know if all of these teens are going, but I pray that they are. I hope that they go over there and people will get saved. Good luck, Teens!!

Shelby ;D

How REAL Are Your Relationships?- Relationships with people and God

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:01:00 +0000

Have you ever had people leave? The people you would never want to lose and they just pack up and leave? Doesn't it suck? I personally have lost people I love not through death but through them just walking away. Ive lost friends people I look up to and even family members. Do you ever wonder why God put you in this situation? You go to that person and tell them how you feel and they say they're sorry but the next time you see them they spat in your face? It hurts doesn't it? You wonder what you did and the harder you try to fix it the more mad they get or the more they ignore you? You start to get mad and bitter against that person because you just don't understand why. You want so bad for them to just come back and say sorry. Well, have you ever asked God why he allowed this to happen? There might be a huge reason and maybe sometimes he just doesn't want you to know. Remember God gave you this life and everything in it and he does everything to our best benefit so don't blame him. Also if you're really mad at this person and they wont talk to you about it pray for them pray that God will help you forgive them. I know when your mad at a person praying for them isn't the first thing that comes to mind but when you pray for them God gives you a new love for them a love that you would never imagine having. Remember Prayer works wonders! Never forget that.

Krystl <3

Standing @ My Locker- "Sleeping In"

noreply@blogger.com (Abbie) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:25:00 +0000

Hey Guys!

Alright, today I want to talk to you guys about "sleeping in". It seems that Sunday night services at my church inspire me to pass things on to you guys :)

Last Sunday we were talking about sluggards. Do you roll over and hit the snooze button every morning? or Lazy around before you start you day? Well, by doing this you could be putting off some very important opportunities.

Do you really want to get caught sleeping in?

Think about school... if you are late to school, you will miss out on some important information from class. The same thing goes for sleeping in as a Christian. If you are too afraid to get up and face your life, then what kind of testimony are you giving to the non-believers around you? By not waking up to a world that is dying to be found, you are losing several opportunities to be a witness.

At school it's going to be tough to share your faith. Some days you may feel like just blending in with the crowd and acting like everyone else. But, the reality is that if you do this, then you are going to regret it. You can't take back words that you say while acting like everyone else, and the actions that you make will not be taken back either.

So don't get lazy and try sleeping in on the the job that God has given you. He loved us enough to die on the cross for us, so the least we can do is live a life for Him in return, and put the work that He has for us first!

Don't forget to go to God in prayer through the struggle that you may face at school, and let us know if there is anything that we can pray for!

Abbie :)

Devotions - The Body

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:59:00 +0000

So last night I went to a lockin at my church and I fractured my wrist.I don't really feel like getting into details, haha, but what I want to say is my wrist hasn't even been fractured for 24 hrs and I'm already learning something. Which is ironic cause went over this in Awana on Thursday. What I'm learning is how hard it is to function without one part of your body. Now what we went over in Awana is how each part of the body matters. Does your body function right without a leg? No. Without an arm? Not exactly. Even without a wrist its hard to function. Now you can get along without these things but its very hard. Now in the body of the church, when people that are good at certain things, leave you need to get other people to do it, even if other people aren't as good. Your body gets weaker and weaker and you start to ache and feel pain. The thing we need to do is not only pray for our church but we need to start serving. Start using our talents for the Lord. One day, we Christians, are going to be judged on the good things we have done. Do you want to stand before God and say, "I got nothing. I love you, but I did nothing for you"? So, this is my challenge to you: start serving! Trust me, when you serve not only will you make way better relationships but you will also feel really happy that you are doing something for the Lord. Don't be that person that gets change and puts it in a bag full of holes.

Krystl <3

During "Home School 101"..."NEW School Prayer"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:50:00 +0000

A kid From a school in Arizona wrote this:

NEW School prayer:

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair cam be pink, purple, orange, or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our supply of birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires, and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school is a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen.

Now after you read that it really makes you think.
We as Homeschoolers might have problems we think are very big but nothing like this.
Even if our parents are not saved we are still able to pray in our houses.
I went to legislative day today in Albany and they were they did these skits about things teens go through at public school. One kid got sent to the principals office about wearing a shirt that had a Bible verse on it. Kids wear shirts with Rock bands like AC~DC and Metalica on it but they don't. Now don't get me wrong we all have freedom and they can wear AC~DC shirts if they please but if they can wear the shirts they please shouldn't Christians be able to wear the shirts they please?
Christianity and the Bible are really getting attacked this day and age they wouldn't display a kindergartners picture because it had Jesus praying for the world on it. I know right now your probably saying well what does this have to do with me I'm a homeschooler these things don't affect me. Well it might not affect you but it does affect people you love cause admit we all have somebody we love that goes to public school. So my Challenge to you is to really think about these facts I just typed out and not only to think about them but to really pray for everybody you know that's goes to public school. Pray that they will not be singled out for their faith and if they do get singled out that they will be able to be an amazing witness for the Lord.
Krystl <3

Devotions - Stained Glass Masquerade

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:22:00 +0000

I was listening to stain glass masquerade by Casting Crowns and I thought of something I never really thought of before.
here's part of the chorus
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain

That really hit me I thought about it for a little while and I thought is that what we as Christians are supposed to be? Are we supposed to be plastic people who have no emotions? Are we always supposed to be happy and never show anyone of our weakness'. If we don't show people our weakness' how are they supposed to see Christ through us? People can see Christ through us with out happy faces yes but it is when we are sad and still keeping on when they really see Jesus. So don't be afraid to show your weakness' you don't always have to but sometimes its good to.

Ken Canary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Pray for Ken Canary and his family. Ken is still in ICU at Albany Med with brain aneurisms. There was some progress today but is still in critical condition.