So I know this is a little late, but I finally have time to sit down and post about how amazing Arizona was.
For the third year in a row I was blessed by people who love God enough to help me in a journey to go to San Carlos, Arizona.
Every year I go to Arizona God teaches me something new. He knows where I am in life at the point in which I go, and He shows me what I need to see.
Before I even begin to talk about Arizona 2009, I want to post the chorus to "Satisfied" by Meredith Andrews, because it is absolutely how I felt when I was in Arizona.
Complete in your presence
Secure in your love
You made me who I am
Because of who you are
Wanting for nothing
Lost in your eyes
Contented just to be by your side
I’m satisfied, mesmerized
That’s how it is when I’m with you
Okay so a lot of you are probably asking, "how does that relate to your trip to Arizona?"
Well...because the entire time I was in Arizona God's presence was completely prevalent. Even though I knew we were in a place where the Devil is extremely prevalent and darkness is felt, I was secure in knowing my Father loves me, and I was mesmerized by God's complete beauty.
If you have never been to Arizona, you should make it a goal to go at least once. The land in Arizona is nothing like it is anywhere else, so it seems. The vast beauty of God's creation runs for miles and miles. As you drive down the road and along the sides of the mountains, all you can see is more mountain. More beauty! It's a comforting feeling, to stand on the edge of a mountain in Arizona and be so aware of the fact that God carved each and every canal, and every mountain with HIS hands!!
So what exactly did we do this time around? What did God teach me on this trip? Well...We arrived in Arizona Saturday, March 7th. Sunday we had service with Central Christian Church and then Diana (one of the staff of Arizona Reservation Ministries) took us on a prayer journey around the reservation. Last year she did this for us at the end of the week, and it tore me up. I wasn't able to stop crying last year because it made me so angry to see how the Apache nation is apart of the United States, yet it seems so hopeless. America isn't doing much for them, and that breaks my heart. I was really glad that Diana took us on the Journey before our work week actually began, because there were three people on the trip this time that had never been, and I think this prayer journey was something that could really help them get focused on what they were there for.
From the prayer Journey I still learned new things. One of the things that really touched my heart is that God is surely working on the reservation. Gangs are diminishing because people are actually starting to see hope. Even though the bloods and crips are still prevalent on the rez, there aren't as many of them as there was last year. Slowly but surely people on the rez are seeing the hope God has given them, and they want things to change.
Monday we went out and started our project. We started building a house for a family of 12. We didn't get to meet the family, but it was a blessing to start on a house for them. Monday we finished the entire foundation of the house, basically. The floor was finished, when we started from nothing. That afternoon we went on the bus and worked with the kids and played with them. That is always one of my favorite parts. I love kids and I love seeing them smile and feel loved. Later on Monday evening I was writing in my journal and I started to think about what we did that day. We started a house, and got the foundation set. God started to show me that that is how our lives are. If we had of gotten anything out of place on the floor that day, the foundation wouldn't have been standing as firmly as it was, but we would have been able to fix it. It's the same with our walk with God. We are to build our lives on the foundation of Christ. We are not perfect though, and sometimes things in our lives get out of place. We mess up. We walk about from God, and the foundation of our lives isn't God anymore and we start to crumble. That happens to me a lot, actually, where I think I have my life on the foundation of Christ, but I am far from it and I crumble. But then, we have the grace of God. So when our lives start to crumble all around us, God is there to help us pick up the pieces and put them back on His foundation. That's awesome, right?
Tuesday was our free day. We were able to go to the Salt River Canyon. I absolutely LOVE the salt river canyon. It's so beautiful. The river runs through the mountains and I am just reminded of how huge God is. The salt river canyon doesn't even come CLOSE to how huge God is. It doesn't come CLOSE to God's love for us! I love standing at the bottom of the canyon, and looking up, and realizing that I am standing in the middle of something God created. No man could make something that beautiful. I feel so small, yet so loved. It's like that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you realize someone loves you enough to do something awesome for you.
After we left the canyon we went back to the dorm, and a few of us walked down town Globe. That was a really awesome time. We then got some walls for the house, and then went on the bus to play with the kids again. It's fun to see kids that you recognize, as well as see new kids who are learning about God. It's fun to see how some of them are learning about God's love, and helping the others grow to grasp that concept.
Wednesday-Friday we finished a lot of the house. We got up the walls, and the siding, and the trusts for the roof. It was so awesome to see something go up before our eyes, and see the work we had accomplished. It was exciting to see that God was using us!
This doesn't come close to everything we felt and saw. There's so much more. God is an amazing God who is working on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. He's shining his light and penetrating the darkness that Satan is fighting to keep there. It was hard to leave. For the first time I cried when it was time to leave. The people who work with ARM are such sweet people. Their hearts are so pure and their love for God is so evident. They are our family. We have built relationships with them, and to see them only once a year is really hard sometimes...but we get updates from them throughout the year, and we continue to pray for them because they are fighting a battle every day. When they wake up each morning they have no idea what's going to happen that day...but they trust God.
Please pray for ARM. Pray for Dale and Diana (the head of ARM) to continue to fight against Satan's battle. Pray for their health as they battle with so many different issues. Pray for their family, Justin, Jenna, Jonathan, and Jackie, as well as their grand children.
Pray for Zane and Danielle Martens as they are serving God with the Bus ministry and construction, as they have decided to follow God and leave their home in Indiana to be a part of the ministry in Arizona.
Pray for Bill and Jean as they can no longer help with the ministry because of their health failing, but they are always a part of the ministry.
Pray for Charlie and Debby as God moves them from one part of Arizona to another to help with ARM and sign on full time with ARM. Please pray for Debby especially as God shows her the right time to quit her job and become a part of ARM...and for her and Charlie as they are apart from each other during the week while Charlie is in Globe cooking for work groups.
This is a ministry that is very close to my heart, and I am constantly thinking of them =)
April 01, 2009
February 16, 2009
Maybe this is Cliche'
This morning I was listening to my iPod while I waited for the bus, and this superchick song played. It's called "We Live" and it talks about how we never know when our life is coming to an end. The main theme of it is, what should we do if we never know when our time is up? Basically....Live, Love, Forgive, and never let anything get in the way. Living life to the fullest.
How many times I forget this. I forget that my life could be over in a heartbeat. I forget that I need to live my life like I do not have another day. If I aspire to leave this huge legacy for people, why am I not living my life in love? Lately I have had a hard time with this. I haven't WANTED to love people the way they deserve...and I definitely haven't forgiven like I need to. Thus I've let things get in my way. I've been angry with people. I've been hurt by people and I have refused to forgive them.
Why? Because I'm selfish. Because I've been living life simply for Brittany. That is all. I haven't cared about anyone else. I've wanted to make sure that I get what I want, when I want it, and if that doesn't happen I simply get pissed off. I get frustrated. I get angry....and upset.
If someone hurts me, well, screw them. If someone refuses to hear my side on something, screw them. That's been my whole attitude. And honestly it's probably going to take a lot to get me out of this attitude...but I'm going to do my best to be the person I have been made to be. God has called me to be so much more than I'm living up to. I'm not living up to my fullest potential. I'm simply getting by. That's not right. There's a lot of people in my life right now I need to forgive, and let my anger go. To realize life isn't as long as I think it is. I want to live life to the fullest...and it may take a lot for me to do that, but I don't really think it's an option here.
I've attached the song...read the lyrics...it's pretty awesome.
"We Live"~SuperChick
There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost her son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
(so she could say she loved him one last time)
And hold him tight
But with life we never know when we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
There's a man who waits for the tests to
See if the cancer had spread yet
And now he asks so why did I wait to live 'til it was time to die
If I could have the time back, how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well, this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day
Is a gift somehow, someway
And get our heads up out of this darkness
And spark this new mindset and start on with life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders and wake up
(to live the life)
We're supposed to take up
(moving forward)
With all our heads up
Cuz life is worth living
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
How many times I forget this. I forget that my life could be over in a heartbeat. I forget that I need to live my life like I do not have another day. If I aspire to leave this huge legacy for people, why am I not living my life in love? Lately I have had a hard time with this. I haven't WANTED to love people the way they deserve...and I definitely haven't forgiven like I need to. Thus I've let things get in my way. I've been angry with people. I've been hurt by people and I have refused to forgive them.
Why? Because I'm selfish. Because I've been living life simply for Brittany. That is all. I haven't cared about anyone else. I've wanted to make sure that I get what I want, when I want it, and if that doesn't happen I simply get pissed off. I get frustrated. I get angry....and upset.
If someone hurts me, well, screw them. If someone refuses to hear my side on something, screw them. That's been my whole attitude. And honestly it's probably going to take a lot to get me out of this attitude...but I'm going to do my best to be the person I have been made to be. God has called me to be so much more than I'm living up to. I'm not living up to my fullest potential. I'm simply getting by. That's not right. There's a lot of people in my life right now I need to forgive, and let my anger go. To realize life isn't as long as I think it is. I want to live life to the fullest...and it may take a lot for me to do that, but I don't really think it's an option here.
I've attached the song...read the lyrics...it's pretty awesome.
"We Live"~SuperChick
There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost her son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
(so she could say she loved him one last time)
And hold him tight
But with life we never know when we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
There's a man who waits for the tests to
See if the cancer had spread yet
And now he asks so why did I wait to live 'til it was time to die
If I could have the time back, how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well, this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day
Is a gift somehow, someway
And get our heads up out of this darkness
And spark this new mindset and start on with life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders and wake up
(to live the life)
We're supposed to take up
(moving forward)
With all our heads up
Cuz life is worth living
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
January 31, 2009
A relaxing weekend...for both of us =)
So this weekend I decided to bring my nephew to Greenville with me. I always hang out with him, and I always have him spend the night with me on the weekends...but we never get to hang out just us...where there are no other kids around...and no other Grandparents/parents around....so this weekend it has just been me and him...minus the few moments with my friends. We have had an excellent weekend together. Last night we went to Deadwood with a few of my friends...he got the chance to ride the train there, and then we left and went to the ECU Hockey Game. He had a blast there also...we slept very well last night, with no babies waking us up this morning.
This morning we watched movies together, ate breakfast together, and then we both got cleaned up and went to "The Jumping Monkey"...He REALLY enjoyed himself there. I can't say I loved the commotion of the place, but if it made him happy...that's what matters. For lunch he decided he wanted to go to Burger King (gross, but okay)--so we had lunch together at Burger King, and then we went to the park to play. I am a little kid at heart so I really enjoyed playing with him at the park. It got cold really fast, so we left...and then he helped me cook dinner. One of the things he said that I absolutely loved was" I'm a good helper, I'm a great cooker"--it was too cute! I could see the excitement in his face that he loved being able to help me in the kitchen. I really love spending time with Ethan. Right now he's sitting here with his head on my shoulder playing with my hair, and we're watching TV together. The time I spend with Ethan is absolutely precious to me. My brother and his wife are coming to get Ethan tomorrow, and I won't see him for two weeks or more which makes me really sad--but I will survive...haha.
When Ethan was first born I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with him because I was gone a lot...and my first year of college I wasn't around Him much either...so I am trying to make up for being absent as much as I can.
Anyway...here are some pictures of our weekend together!
Before the Hockey Game! Sporting his Aunt Britt's school :)
Ethan's EXCITED face on the train at Deadwood =)
In the caboose of the train at Deadwood =)
Ethan and one of his "Girlfriends", my friend Martha, at the Hockey Game
At Burger King
Ethan and I at the park =)
That's definitely not all the pictures, but it's what I'm putting here =)
This morning we watched movies together, ate breakfast together, and then we both got cleaned up and went to "The Jumping Monkey"...He REALLY enjoyed himself there. I can't say I loved the commotion of the place, but if it made him happy...that's what matters. For lunch he decided he wanted to go to Burger King (gross, but okay)--so we had lunch together at Burger King, and then we went to the park to play. I am a little kid at heart so I really enjoyed playing with him at the park. It got cold really fast, so we left...and then he helped me cook dinner. One of the things he said that I absolutely loved was" I'm a good helper, I'm a great cooker"--it was too cute! I could see the excitement in his face that he loved being able to help me in the kitchen. I really love spending time with Ethan. Right now he's sitting here with his head on my shoulder playing with my hair, and we're watching TV together. The time I spend with Ethan is absolutely precious to me. My brother and his wife are coming to get Ethan tomorrow, and I won't see him for two weeks or more which makes me really sad--but I will survive...haha.
When Ethan was first born I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with him because I was gone a lot...and my first year of college I wasn't around Him much either...so I am trying to make up for being absent as much as I can.
Anyway...here are some pictures of our weekend together!
Before the Hockey Game! Sporting his Aunt Britt's school :)
Ethan's EXCITED face on the train at Deadwood =)
In the caboose of the train at Deadwood =)
Ethan and one of his "Girlfriends", my friend Martha, at the Hockey Game
At Burger King
Ethan and I at the park =)
That's definitely not all the pictures, but it's what I'm putting here =)
January 03, 2009
A little about me...
I took this survey from my friend Drea ...I am bored and I figured I would do it as well =)
Name: Brittany, or Britt--whichever you may prefer
DOB: Jun 16, 1988
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Location: Somewhere in NC
Height: 5 ft. 1 inch (short :) )
Weight: Haha--I'm not posting that here
Hair: Auburn/Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Nationality: Caucasian
Siblings: 2 brothers--Eric is the oldest (35) and Patrick (29)
Personality: I'm not sure how I would describe my personality--I can seem shy at first, but once you get me to open up it's really hard to get me to stop talking. I like to keep to myself--I am in deep thought a lot of the time, but I can be very extroverted at times depending on who I am with. I like to say I have a goofy personality--but once again that really depends on who I am with.
Occupation: Student
Loves: God--Without Him I would be absolutely nothing. My family. My nieces and nephew most definitely--they stole my heart they day they were born. Learning new things. Taking pictures. Writing. Reading.
Hates: Any kind of food with a weird texture, deliberate stupidity. I dislike the trait of someone who refuses to see life at a different angle, or closed minded people who refuse to accept that sometimes that might be wrong.
Favorite Colors: Blue and purple, and any tones that are "beachy" I guess
Favorite Movies: Batman: The Dark Knight, Mama Mia, P.S. I love you, Deja Vu, A walk to Remember, There's a lot more but those are ones off the top of my head
Favorite Music: Too much to name!! I like a lot of old 90's music, but I like newer stuff as well. I have different tastes in music depending on my mood--I like Contemporary Christian music, and some Christian alternative music
Favorite TV Shows: Big Bang Theory, How I met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy, The Secret Life of an American Teenager....There's more I'm sure I just can't think right now
Favorite Fast Food: Sonic, Taco Bell, Subway--I'm not a HUGE fan of fast food...
Favorite Restaurants: Any kind of Asian restaurant, Hibachi Express, Applebee's, Any place where I can get good pasta
Name: Brittany, or Britt--whichever you may prefer
DOB: Jun 16, 1988
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Location: Somewhere in NC
Height: 5 ft. 1 inch (short :) )
Weight: Haha--I'm not posting that here
Hair: Auburn/Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Nationality: Caucasian
Siblings: 2 brothers--Eric is the oldest (35) and Patrick (29)
Personality: I'm not sure how I would describe my personality--I can seem shy at first, but once you get me to open up it's really hard to get me to stop talking. I like to keep to myself--I am in deep thought a lot of the time, but I can be very extroverted at times depending on who I am with. I like to say I have a goofy personality--but once again that really depends on who I am with.
Occupation: Student
Loves: God--Without Him I would be absolutely nothing. My family. My nieces and nephew most definitely--they stole my heart they day they were born. Learning new things. Taking pictures. Writing. Reading.
Hates: Any kind of food with a weird texture, deliberate stupidity. I dislike the trait of someone who refuses to see life at a different angle, or closed minded people who refuse to accept that sometimes that might be wrong.
Favorite Colors: Blue and purple, and any tones that are "beachy" I guess
Favorite Movies: Batman: The Dark Knight, Mama Mia, P.S. I love you, Deja Vu, A walk to Remember, There's a lot more but those are ones off the top of my head
Favorite Music: Too much to name!! I like a lot of old 90's music, but I like newer stuff as well. I have different tastes in music depending on my mood--I like Contemporary Christian music, and some Christian alternative music
Favorite TV Shows: Big Bang Theory, How I met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy, The Secret Life of an American Teenager....There's more I'm sure I just can't think right now
Favorite Fast Food: Sonic, Taco Bell, Subway--I'm not a HUGE fan of fast food...
Favorite Restaurants: Any kind of Asian restaurant, Hibachi Express, Applebee's, Any place where I can get good pasta
December 26, 2008
Happy Birthday Jesus....I'm so Glad it's Christmas....the REAL gift is YOU
I don't know if any of you remember this song...
happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.
happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!
I remember hearing this on the radio all the time...I haven't heard it this year but I always think of it when Christmas comes around. It's a short song sung usually by a little kid...but it has such great meaning...Yesterday we celebrated a pretty awesome Holiday. Over the last 30 days we've all decorated our houses...put up our tree's and frantically shopped for gifts for the people who are important to us...but why? What is the significance of putting all these decorations up, only to take them all back down a month later...What is the significance of wrapping all these gifts...spending all this time looking for that perfect gift...only for it to be "over" in fifteen minutes. If it weren't for Christ we wouldn't have this Holiday at all.
I will admit my family did not go without this year...all you have to do is look at my pictures to see that we had plenty. The kids especially got a lot...and I believe everyone in our family got the ONE thing they wanted for Christmas at least...but how many times did we pause in the midst of opening gifts, and telling the kids "Santa" brought this stuff, to really think about what this Holiday is about? When I went to bed Wednesday evening all I could think of was the importance of Christmas day...and I woke up to the thought of what the Holiday was about...Jesus Christ...God in the form of man...but throughout the busy day I didn't stop once to think of this again.
My point isn't to condemn gifts on Christmas...or to have fun with the family and kids...I love my gifts...and I LOVED spending the day with my family--it was very precious to me. My family is very important to me, and spending time with them yesterday meant the world to me...but none of this would have been possible without Christ. I wouldn't be here. My family wouldn't be here. Life would have no purpose...but because of the great love of God coming to earth in the form of man...we have a reason to celebrate! We have perfect reason to enjoy Christmas...to love each other...to give gifts...as long as we remember the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ =)
happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.
happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!
I remember hearing this on the radio all the time...I haven't heard it this year but I always think of it when Christmas comes around. It's a short song sung usually by a little kid...but it has such great meaning...Yesterday we celebrated a pretty awesome Holiday. Over the last 30 days we've all decorated our houses...put up our tree's and frantically shopped for gifts for the people who are important to us...but why? What is the significance of putting all these decorations up, only to take them all back down a month later...What is the significance of wrapping all these gifts...spending all this time looking for that perfect gift...only for it to be "over" in fifteen minutes. If it weren't for Christ we wouldn't have this Holiday at all.
I will admit my family did not go without this year...all you have to do is look at my pictures to see that we had plenty. The kids especially got a lot...and I believe everyone in our family got the ONE thing they wanted for Christmas at least...but how many times did we pause in the midst of opening gifts, and telling the kids "Santa" brought this stuff, to really think about what this Holiday is about? When I went to bed Wednesday evening all I could think of was the importance of Christmas day...and I woke up to the thought of what the Holiday was about...Jesus Christ...God in the form of man...but throughout the busy day I didn't stop once to think of this again.
My point isn't to condemn gifts on Christmas...or to have fun with the family and kids...I love my gifts...and I LOVED spending the day with my family--it was very precious to me. My family is very important to me, and spending time with them yesterday meant the world to me...but none of this would have been possible without Christ. I wouldn't be here. My family wouldn't be here. Life would have no purpose...but because of the great love of God coming to earth in the form of man...we have a reason to celebrate! We have perfect reason to enjoy Christmas...to love each other...to give gifts...as long as we remember the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ =)
December 05, 2008
Do What Moves You
I just finished watching Jamie from To Write Love On Her Arms give an interview on CNN live at CNN.com His interview was short, simple, but moving. One of the things that he said that really captured my interest was "Do what moves you, do what you feel strongly about"--Jamie had this huge job at Hurley for years where he was making six figures, and he gave that job up in order to be the light at the end of a dark tunnel. To help people who are suicidal and who inflict harm on themselves. He gave all that up because he wanted to love people.
I am more than passionate about this cause and this movement. I wish I could show people how strongly I feel about this movement...and all I can do right now really is support them and pray that this movement will continue to take off. This makes the second appearance that Jamie has made on any national TV website or channel...This movement is getting bigger and it is going places.
This movement isn't just about suicide or preventing self harming actions...it's about what we are all called to do. To love. I say this all the time. God is love. The greatest commanded is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength...and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. LOVE. O my Goodness if we could all just love the way God loves. Of course we are human and we fail greatly...but to at least strive to this love.
This movement is very near and dear to my heart for many reasons that few people really know--and it moves me to tears sometimes to see my friends who have taken the leap to understand why this movement is so important to me...and to join in this cause in helping fight against addictions and depression and all that To Write Love On Her Arms stands for...These friends have followed the step to love...I want to challenge people to really take to time to possibly just go to www.twloha.com and really see what this movement and cause is all about. Just read the story, and take a few minutes to understand that it's not just an "emo" thing or a shirt that I wear or whatever else...it's so much greater.
I want to do what moves me...I want to do what I love...which is why I know when I finish college I'll be doing so much more than I'm striving for with my degree...because God has called me to greater things...to love his people in a way that others might not understand....
I am done now...I just really want to challenge everyone to really do what they're called to do...and to love the way they are called to love.
I am more than passionate about this cause and this movement. I wish I could show people how strongly I feel about this movement...and all I can do right now really is support them and pray that this movement will continue to take off. This makes the second appearance that Jamie has made on any national TV website or channel...This movement is getting bigger and it is going places.
This movement isn't just about suicide or preventing self harming actions...it's about what we are all called to do. To love. I say this all the time. God is love. The greatest commanded is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength...and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. LOVE. O my Goodness if we could all just love the way God loves. Of course we are human and we fail greatly...but to at least strive to this love.
This movement is very near and dear to my heart for many reasons that few people really know--and it moves me to tears sometimes to see my friends who have taken the leap to understand why this movement is so important to me...and to join in this cause in helping fight against addictions and depression and all that To Write Love On Her Arms stands for...These friends have followed the step to love...I want to challenge people to really take to time to possibly just go to www.twloha.com and really see what this movement and cause is all about. Just read the story, and take a few minutes to understand that it's not just an "emo" thing or a shirt that I wear or whatever else...it's so much greater.
I want to do what moves me...I want to do what I love...which is why I know when I finish college I'll be doing so much more than I'm striving for with my degree...because God has called me to greater things...to love his people in a way that others might not understand....
I am done now...I just really want to challenge everyone to really do what they're called to do...and to love the way they are called to love.
November 26, 2008
Starting Thanksgiving Off early with a little Thanks
Thanksgiving is tomorrow...I can not believe it has been another year. I really feel like this year just flashed before my eyes. It brought forth a lot of blessings. I don't think it should take a Holiday for us all to realize what we are thankful for, but in the feel of the Holiday I want to make a list of the things I am thankful for...and I encourage others to do the same
1. The never-ending Grace that my Heavenly Father has given me
2. Two parents who take care of me when I do not deserve half of what they give me sometimes
3. My brothers and their wives...for putting up with me even though I am unbearable at times
4. My nieces and nephew...need I say more?
5. The few great friends I have that I feel like are more than just my friends...but they are family
6. My Grandparents...who raised me to know God...and who love me with a great amount of love.
7. An education, and the opportunity to further my education that I take advantage of most of the time
This list could go on and on...there's so much I have been blessed with in my life...and without God none of it would be possible. I know Thanksgiving is traditionally a North American Holiday or an American Holiday...but it's more than that...To me it's about taking time and realizing what I've been given in my lifetime as a child of God...not just a Citizen.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
1. The never-ending Grace that my Heavenly Father has given me
2. Two parents who take care of me when I do not deserve half of what they give me sometimes
3. My brothers and their wives...for putting up with me even though I am unbearable at times
4. My nieces and nephew...need I say more?
5. The few great friends I have that I feel like are more than just my friends...but they are family
6. My Grandparents...who raised me to know God...and who love me with a great amount of love.
7. An education, and the opportunity to further my education that I take advantage of most of the time
This list could go on and on...there's so much I have been blessed with in my life...and without God none of it would be possible. I know Thanksgiving is traditionally a North American Holiday or an American Holiday...but it's more than that...To me it's about taking time and realizing what I've been given in my lifetime as a child of God...not just a Citizen.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
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