So what... I'm not your average girl

Evangelism

2006-10-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

great sermon today!! I'll give yall bits and pieces of my notes!

think about this...
97% of the world.. has heard of Coca Cola
but 1.87 billion people... have NO access to the gospel...

sad right?

83% of church members, believe the church's main purpose is to provide for THEIR needs...
only 11% believe the church's purpose is to win others to Christ!

Evangelism should be the top priority of EVERY Christian! God has called everyone of us to serve him through witnessing!
And I believe that Christians do have a desire to share Christ, but they let FEAR get in the way.

more statistics
3 people die every second
180 every minute
10,800 every hour
259,000 every day
94 million ever year...

2/3 of our 6 billion people have never heard the gospel. if true, 63 million die each year, w/out EVER hearing the gospel... and imagine how many of them did hear it, but didnt accept it. but of course, they ALL heard of coke.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16 from THE MESASGE)

GREAT passage.. and so true.. God put us here, to spread his love to others, and show everyone who he is, so that they might know him also. Do you think you're so great, that you are the only one who deserves to hear the truth? so you dont go out and tell others? that's what its like.. and i was thinking about that.. I'm no better or any more deserving of saving, than everyone else who has never heard... so why keep them from being saved all because i'm too afraid!?

Evangelism... its not for the "select" its one of the commands you accept when you accept the love of Jesus Christ and declare him your savior.

Mitchell!

2006-10-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

what have i been up to? let me tell you.. God works in AMAZING ways no kidding!

i know.. oh no, a guy. lol but you have to read this all ok!

so, in my past... I was guy crazy, and so far, I've always been in the wrong relationships. either i would go out with a guy who was a jerk, and into all the things i shouldnt have even KNOWN about.. or they just were not the guy GOD had led me to! I led MYSELF to them thinkin, oh hes not so bad.

Well, in my last relationship, he wasnt horrible at all! but he wasnt who God wanted me with. So ever since then, I have been so focused on waiting, taking EVERYTHING slow, (i used to NEVER go slow!) and truly being LED by God into the right place he wants me to be...

Then I find Mitchell... it happened right before school started.
background info: i saw him on one of my good friends myspace's so i sent him a message, that night we talked for 3 hours on the phone and it all began!
i noticed he was a really huge Christian, (worship leader, truly devoted, had a real relationship with Christ that just SHINES through his life!) he is just awesome! So... immediately, i was drawn to him, but i knew i had to stop and back off, because 1, he wasnt looking for a relationship, and 2 we had JUST met! and i knew it wasnt right for me to like him too much too soon.

so we continued to be friends, and we met @ the movies, then a month later, we met again at a theatre improvisation thing. we continued talking and being friends over the phone.. but i was starting to like him more and more..

i didn't want to, because even with how much i liked him, i was afraid it was only MY wants, and that I would end up liking him but it wouldnt be God's will. Also, I seriously doubted he would ever like me back. So, I just prayed, HARD! I wanted to know GOD'S WILL not mine! and it was killing me! cause i just DIDNT know what he wanted! i hadnt gotten any signs! and i was just completely blank! So i decided i would just have to put my trust in God and his timing.

Well, last weekend, Mitchell had invited me to a concert at this awesome Christian rock club i had been wanting to go to, so me and a couple friends went. of course, i'm praying all week that God will show me somethin! i needed to know if this would be a JUST friends thing, or maybe somethin more.. but then again, i doubted that because i still didnt think he could like me..

well.. we get there... we're hangin out... and he decides to tell me.. he thinks he likes me.. (one of the ways I knew God would show me if this WAS somethin else)
I cannot tell you how right everything felt! we talked, (yes we held hands too, and w/e) but everything was RIGHT! i seriuosly felt like God was telling me (through the loud rock music) that this was right, that its ok for me to like him.. its in his plan for me.

So ever since then, we have been talking alot, and still getting to know eachother, we're not "together" yet just because we want to make sure we take it slow! but i've never met someone so into God, and so.. careful with relationships. we dont want to rush a thing, (i've never experienced this)

and.. its just awesome. I KNOW God has somethin in plan for us.

and seriously, I've never felt like God was so centered in a relationship before, this is his work I'm sure!

So anyways.. i wanted to put this in here.. everyone have an amazin weekend!!
loads of love!
in his name
Amanda

homecoming

2006-10-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

so homecoming was pretty great! the parade was alright, I actually had fun tryin to tumble.. i can't do much off the gymnastics floor.. wait.. i cant do much on it either! lol!! but thats alright! tumbling isnt my best thing! then the game was AWESOME! wow i had SOOOO much fun! it was me, leah, and lauren... then me and leah decided to go walk around.. i got a bottle of water for TWO DOLLARS!! come on now! water should be free! but anyways.. while we were waiting we talked to payne... oh my gosh i love that boy like no other!!! hes HILARIOUS! i was laughing so hard my abs were hurting! man, I'm just gonna hang out with him all the time and get my workout! maybe i'll have a full six pack! ha! so we walked around everywhere else... talked to people.. then we won the game! i actually got into it! 40-27!! yeah!!!

then.. THE DANCE! lol it was fun! I didnt have as much fun cause i got tired, and when i'm tired i guess i get a little moody and stupid things bother me.. but ya know, i kept a smile on and had fun despite the stupid things! and then this morning i woke up and felt AMAZING!

But yeah! GREAT weekend!!

I hope everyone else had an amazing weekend!! i love yall like peanut butter and jelly! lol! dont ask...

wow well i'm bout to go to church! yay!
God Bless!
Amanda

BEAUTIFUL DAY!

2006-09-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

man today is GORGEOUS! i love it.. amazing weather.. this has to be my favorite time of year.. the weather is literally PERFECT!! all thats missing.. are those days when i used to just hang out with friends outside... If i still lived in the country, that would be just fabulous! lol! but yeah.. i miss that.. and also.. man idk, I still have alot of friends.. but what is so hard, is when you prioritize your life around God, and you lose some of those old common interests with different people.... you dont have as close relationships with them... the people i used to hang out with like that.. we dont really hang out anymore.. we dont get along AS WELL if you know what i mean? Like, not that we're mean to eachother.. but idk, just like, since we DONT have all those common things anymore, theres not as much to talk about, and eventually, as you stop talking, its kinda weird to really talk to them about stuff...

ugh! i know this probably sounds insane.. but its whats happening to me.. and then.. my friends who I AM close to..... i never see.. and so we're not all that close anymore either... this is killing me! I wish it was just EASY for me to make friends! i have alot of friends... but not alot of FRIENDS

so yeah.. idk, I think I'm just getting a lil emotional moment.. lol cause other than this, i've been AMAZING! lol

alright, well i hope everyone is amazing! love you all!
God Bless!
Amanda

SATAN WILL NOT WIN!!

2006-09-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

man.. time is moving by REALLY fast, and slow at the same time...

Last night, I just really kind of broke down. It didnt make sense.. but then I realized what it was..

I have had this one sin, that has had its hold on me for EVER! and I mean... over and over I have gotten "rid of it" I thought it was gone! Satan wasnt going to have this hold on me and I was going to serve God and let him have control! but each time... I'd get caught in the sin again...

After a while, I didnt even cry after i had committed the sin.. I didn't feel like asking for forgiveness... because I figured, God was tired of it, I was tired of it, I thought this wasn't a part of my life anymore... and now it's back.. And it got to the point where i KNEW it was a big deal, but it didnt feel like it. And i would sit there, and be like, God i just did this again! Why can't I cry? Why do I feel like this isnt a huge deal! I know this was wrong, God make it go away...

This Sunday, I decided, DONE no more! Satan can't have this battle!
1) This is hurting God everytime I do it
2) This is hurting those around me, because as long as I am IN my sin, I can't love God. I have to give up this sin to fully love him, so that I can be a true witness, and allow him to use me the way he wants, so that those around me can see him in my life
3) It was hurting me... so much. I have been hurting for a long time!

But guess what.. I did it again..

WHY!? It does NOT make sense!? I pray, and cry, and beg God to take control, and give me strength to overcome this... why can't i? The first few days, sure I'm fine! But.. after that.. it comes back...

Last night, I cried like I havent in a long time, and it felt great, I let everything out to God. I cried and cried, I kept telling him over and over, "I'm Sorry Please Forgive me" Cause at that moment, the seriousness of my sin hit me once more! All at once, I was fine one second, the next, bawling. I knew why too.

There were other reasons behind it too though. That was one big reason, but with that, I have struggled with my relationship with Christ. And its so hard, because I felt like I was doing all I could to keep my relationship strong with him, I'm not sure what exactly was wrong with what I was doing, but I know I have to back up, and make sure everything is straight!

Today, I want to say that I am making a committment...
to be happy and joyous, Outgoing and Friendly, the way my savior would be towards others
to strive and desire to truly know him more!
to learn to Love, before I judge
to once in for all, see satan's hold on me, and lose it! NO MORE! Satan won't win!

if satan has a hold on you, somewhere in your life... get rid of it... break it.. YOU CAN! I know you can..
if he doesnt.. keep looking and waiting and watching! you never know when he's going to strike, at any random moment, so fast you wont realize it until it begins to hurt! so be strong! And stay within the protection of God, but also watch out!

Please pray... it would be so appreciated... I dont want to give into this sin again. I KNOW I can give it up right now, and it never come back. Please pray for my strength...

If you read this, and thought, "that's me" or "I'm going through the same thing.." and you need prayer.. or advice.. or to talk.. whatever.. please message me, or leave a comment. Whatever!

God Bless!
in his name
Amanda

When The Gray Clouds Parted, Skies of Blue Came

2006-08-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Heres a paper i wrote for english, tell me what you think.

When The Gray Clouds Parted, Skies of Blue Came

The clouds were a deep gray, the flash of lighting shattered, the rain began to pour, and as the sky began to darken, it seemed like my life did too. “You’re horrible! No one likes you! They don’t even care about how you are feeling!” I could hear these thoughts repeating themselves over and over, as the thunder grew louder. “What is wrong with me?” I wondered, only continuing to put myself down more and more. All my life, I had grown up in a great church. They were like family to me! And I was always the girl who was nice, sweet, shy, and who everyone loved! Now, if they knew what had been happening in my life, what would they think?

I had gotten through elementary school almost like a breeze! With a few storms here and there, but the sunshine kept me going! My first year in middle school, seventh grade, hadn’t been all that bad either! But it seems this one year, my eighth grade year, had become the hurricane season of my life. The season where my parents didn’t know anything, and they sure enough couldn’t imagine what I was going through! It was that time, where I wanted to have complete control of what happened.

What I wanted most was to have that one guy who made me feel special, different, and loved. The first relationship I was in, tore me apart because it wasn’t a relationship, it was series of breaking up so he could try to date my friends. It always ended up being my fault for the break-up too. I was never good enough. As soon as we broke it off for the last time, it seemed like all one thing out of me. I became vulnerable, and it seems like every guy knew it too. Eventually, when none of those relationships worked out either, I became confused! Why wasn’t there a guy who could love me? Someone who wouldn’t pressure me to have sex, and then make me feel like dirt when I didn’t give in.

It was then the hurricane hit hard. I was being blown every which way, and couldn’t tell which way was up, and which was down. I was on my way to the International Youth Conference of 2005 with my youth group. I had been before; it was the time I had felt God’s presence. I thought he was supposed to always be present. Where had he been this last year? I got hurt, and was still hurting! Why didn’t God care? Nevertheless, I was excited! This event was always so much fun! I loved to sing and worship, and there would be lots of it! And this year, we were going to go white water rafting! I knew it would be a great experience!

Towards the end of our week there, I felt like the hurricane slowed down, it wasn’t gone yet. But then something changed. The air felt different, somewhat chilling, even though it was the middle of July. We made it to the evening rally, and started with songs of worship, then we listened to our speaker, Francis Chan. I remember hearing his voice, but it didn’t sound the same, there was something else behind the words he spoke. The more I listened to what he said, the more I began to hear the meaning behind it.

But then the thoughts began to attack again, “You will never be good enough! They can’t stand you! You’ve made so many mistakes, God doesn’t even want you back!” They never stopped! I wanted them to go away! “STOP!” I felt myself scream on the inside. “NO MORE! These are all lies!” I could hear God’s voice growing louder than the voice of Satan, “You’re my child, no matter what, I’ll always love you, and I’ll always take you back.” All of a sudden, I felt like I was pulled in. Everyone around me slowly disappeared. It didn’t matter anymore who saw me, or what they thought. Something was making my heart want to release all the burden and sorrows I carried. It was then, I heard Francis say he was going to pray, and he wanted anyone who felt God touching his or her heart to stand. I don’t know how, or why I did it, but before I could stop myself I was already standing. In a stadium filled with thousands of teenagers, I was alone, with just God and myself. I slowly cried, the tears tickled my cheeks, I felt my face redden, and my nose grew cold. I was missing something in my life.

Standing there I felt the gentle touch of the hands from my friends, being laid upon me. I then cried without ceasing, I finally realized they understood, I wasn’t alone anymore, someone cared, and they had cared all along. Most importantly, God’s loving arms picked me up, I felt his compassion like a bear hug. The chilled night was filled with warmth. The dark skies slowly parted, as if God was unveiling the curtains. I could see light beams shining down, and I heard the angels rejoicing. God had just then been revealed into my life, though his presence had always been there.

The love I longed for from a relationship was found in this mighty father, pouring out his wonder. During my hurricane, he was always there with his hand reached out, waiting to pull me up when I fell, I just never took a hold of it. God blew away the clouds and I saw blue skies, with white fluffy clouds filled with endless enjoyment. The sunshine brought color into my face, and the birds sang a new song. In that moment, I knew there was only one who could bring me the love I needed, who could satisfy my desires, and fill my life. My hurricane was gone, and only God knows what seasons lie ahead

Christians have rules?

2006-08-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard these before:
-Being a Christian is boring
-There are too many rules
-How am I supposed to live up those expectations?

Many people feel like being a Christian is all about following these “rules”. So what are these “rules”, what’s the big deal about them?

Well we seem to think God gives us these so called rules to destroy our fun, or because he is a strict God. But we seem to forget why he wants us obeying his commandments and not falling into sin. It’s because he loves us. And we’re like, “Well duh! He created us!” But that’s not it! He wants us to stay away from these things so that we don’t hurt ourselves! The one thing he hates to see, is for us to hurt our own self, all because we didn’t listen to what he told us to stay away from.

It’s like when you tell your friend to stay away from something you know will hurt them, but then they do it anyways! If you’re like me, it hurts you, because you know it hurt them! You cry for them because you didn’t want to see them get hurt. Now you’re upset that your friend didn’t trust your advice and got hurt, but you still allow them to regain our trust and continue to love them, right? That is what God does for us. He gives us the commandments, tells us what is a sin, so that we won’t get hurt. Every time we cry, his heart hurts for us! He doesn’t want us to mess up, or to go through the pain we go through! It brings pain to his heart!

I know many of us fail to see how some things we know to be sins hurt us. But trust me, I know exactly how it hurts us! Ask me, anything, how does… sex before marriage hurt us? No matter how many people say it is fun, and say they enjoy it… they have something missing in their life, they don’t understand it, but they know something isn’t right, it hurts them. They’re missing a life of following Christ, but they think more sex, or more things God disapproves of will fill their life… but it never does. No matter what you’re told!

My other point of this, many people believe these “rules” tie us down! It’s hard to understand how following a certain way of life, and remembering what your not supposed to do gives us freedom? But guess what! The freedom is IN CHRIST! The more I learn to trust in him more, the more free I become! I’ve become more confident in myself, I am more willing to go out and make friends! It’s still hard, but God gave me the strength. In the past year, I have experienced more in Christ than I had ever experienced in the other 14 years of my life! I have so much joy, and excitement about life! I am 200% happier than I used to be! What I’m saying is, living with boundaries is what gives us freedom.

Check it out, I had a devotional, it talked about when a group of kids went to a huge open field to play, the mainly stayed in the middle, but when they took kids to a wide open fenced in area… they went to the edges to explore! And spread out all over the place and ended up experiencing more with the boundaries, than they would have without boundaries!

See? With God showing us the right way, we’re able to explore, and experience wonders no one would experience without Christ!!

God loves us, he wants to give us LIFE, not rules.

2006-08-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

I've got a huge prayer request yall... please... please pray! It's from Cadee! she's like a sister to me... and when we talked about pain and hurt we would have to go through this year as student leaders in the youth group, we weren't expecting this...

"Ok well let me see! about an hour ago my mom told me that she got the results back today from the doctor. And it turns out that she has cancer on her colon that came from somewhere else. We dont know where though. We dont know what stage it is in or anything!! so just please put us in your prayers!! the power of prayer can be very strong!! thank you!
Cowgirl for Christ
Cadee"

please pray that her mom will fight this! pray that God will lay his hands on her, and give their family, and Cadee the strength to carry on, and endure. I know God will use this for his plan, but pray that part of his plan is to heal Cadee's mom, so that she can share her story.

God Bless
With lots of love
Amanda

2006-08-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

I LIKE TO JUMP!

new song!

2006-08-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

alright.. i decided to post the song i wrote... I LOVE it.. and the reason being, see i was pretty impressed at first, but then i was like, the reason i was impressed i could write such a song, was because "I" didn't. It was written by me, WITH the power of God! And that is what makes this song mean so much to me, and I feel like theres alot of power behind the words! I wish everyone could hear it! I mean, the power in the song is enough.. but the melody God put on my heart (along with the guitar) just brings it into life!

hope you all enjoy! (i'm going to try and record my songs someday... lol!)

Lord you gave me my life, so I could choose what to do
It's so hard to give, it back to you
But I know the truth, it's coming in, oh so clear
For my life to be useful, its your word I must hear...
Its your word I must hear

CHORUS
Lord I need you in my life, I need your control
I give it all up to fall down, before your throne
Your will is the only, right way for me
Listen to my surrender, Lord hear my plea...
Take this life from me

Lord I've given my life, for you to choose what to do
It was so hard to realize, but I knew I had to
Your love makes it brighter, it's filling up my life
Now lets change the world, with me by your side...
With me by your side

whoop!

2006-08-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

hey! alright.. sorry i havent updated.. like.. at all! sorry i've got a myspace, xanga, and Battlecry that i use! all these things are soo confusing!!!
but yeah.. when i DONT update.. which... sorry.. but wont be often... you can check me @

www.myspace.com/bigdreams1990
www.xanga.com/bigdreams1990
http://www.battlecry.com/battleplan.php?username=proverbs1513

lol! anyways.. wow Summer was AMAZING!! i loved it! lots happened! just great stuff! lol! and i can't wait to see what God has in store for me this next year!! whoop!

alright.. well leave me comments, and I promise i will TRY to come back and check them!! you dont have to comment.. lol well love you all!!
Stay strong in Christ!!
God Bless!
Amanda

CELEBRATE FREEDOM!

2006-07-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

ahh!!!!!!!!! so Celebrate Freedom was AMAZING!!! Have you ever stopped to think how much God REALLY BLESSES YOU!? wow, his blessings are so amazing! and they were just FLOWING yesterday!!
1)I had VIP passes!
2)I won a T-shirt!
3)I got to speak on the radio!
4)I got to meet Jeremy Camp! and get his autograph!!
5)When he performed i was a foot from the stage, in the very center, and right underneath him!!! (literally!)
6)My youth pastor knows this guy, James Greggory (sp?) and he plays bass for Michael W. Smith, and earlier, he had played bass for JEREMY CAMP!!!!!!!!
7)then the lead singer from The Afters came down to the VIP section, and I got my picture with him!!!

whoop!! Seriously, Jeremy Camp has become a huge inspiration for me! In many ways! His passion to live for God is so wonderful! His songs are beautiful! His love for God, his wife, and people is amazing! And although I dont KNOW him, when you see him speak, and meet him in person, he is so respectful, and grateful to his fans! And i know he's an example to me, of the kind of guy I'd want!!

LITERALLY.. RIGHT UNDER HIM!

and yes... he is GORGEOUS!

Lead singer from The Afters!!!!! wow i'm short! lol

Honduras!

2006-06-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

I've got pictures from Honduras!! yay!
Check it out!