I read one of those silly myspace surveys this morning, and one of the questions was something like "Have you ever kissed someone who's name begins with an M or an R?" The person's reply was "Not sure".
That saddens me. It makes me so glad that I can say I've only kissed one guy so far in my 17 years. It shows how special I think they are. (I'm talking about the kisses, not the guy, although the guy is pretty special too. Lol)
I think it's a sad thing when someone can't remember the names of all the people they've kissed, even at 17 or 18 years old.
That's all.
Oh, Hershey.
Monday, April 13, 2009
And I thought I take sin too lightly sometimes...
I guess it was just kind of shocking to me. Not what those people were doing, but how other people treated it. I'm disappointed in them, honestly. I had thought that they stood for something more than that, but I guess not.
I didn't believe Val when he said I would see a different side of people, but I guess maybe he was right. Not that I've never seen that stuff, but it made me remember why I've worked so hard to watch where I go and who I hang out with. Last night just showed me that maybe I care about sin more than I thought I did, which is a good thing. I just don't understand how someone can stand up for someone else and protect them when they make the same mistakes over and over again. It's like they're just protecting the sin...saying "Yeah, what they're doing is wrong, but it's okay. They can't help it." And really, THAT'S wrong.
I don't know...it was interesting. I hate that I sound like some sheltered little goodie-goodie, but I suppose in reality that's what I am. I think I'm thankful for that, and I can only pray that I won't ever put myself in a position to defend someone else's sin, or my own for that matter.
Later.
-------------------------------
I just thought I would come back and clear this up a little, because I realize it's very confusing if you don't already know what I'm talking about. Tonight at youth group David's message struck my heart because of what I'm talking about in this very entry. He was talking about Romans chapters 1 and 12, and how the sins of the Romans are the very same sins of today, if not even MORE applicable. Romans 1:32 says "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Ouch. The second I read that verse tonight I knew I was in for a lesson from God.
Sunday night I went to the beach with some of my friends, but also with some people I don't normally hang out with. I wasn't really sure about it at first because I'm usually very careful about who I hang around, but I thought "Ehh, why not? It couldn't hurt to try hanging with some new people..." At first I was having fun and stuff, but then some of them broke out the alcohol and started smoking. After awhile, they were drunk and making out with each other and stuff, and I was completely blown away. However, not because of their actions necessarily--I've seen that stuff before. I was disappointed in the attitude that my friends had about it. They basically laughed it off, saying there was nothing you can do about it...it was whatever to them. I disagreed completely, especially when at least one was a relative of my friends. I felt like they should have cared more about what those people were doing to themselves rather than how they were going to hide it from their parents. It just kind of shocked me that the friends of mine that I thought I looked up to would have such a nonchalant view of something the bible teaches is so dangerous. Wow, that's a mouthful--sorry. At the time, I thought well, since I don't really know them, I can't really do anything about it. And maybe that's true to a degree, but looking back I feel like there were times where I could have taken a stronger stand against it.
Hopefully that makes things a little clearer without putting everyones business out there. While it certainly is not my job to be a tattletale and call people out on here, I certainly am not going to protect them by hiding what they were doing. Perhaps if they're that concerned they shouldn't have been doing it at all. And don't give me peer pressure as an excuse. It's a lame one, since there were others of us who didn't have anything to do with it. Don't beg me not to be mad at you. Yeah, I'm disappointed. Granted, I didn't expect much else, but I'm still disappointed.
And you all...I thought you stood for more than that?
God, please give me the courage to stand up for what's right when I need to. Help me put aside that fear of confrontation not only for you, but for the people who are sinning. Help me lose the fear of confronting MYSELF when I sin.
I love you God, and I'm sorry that I'm a lame witness for you so often.
I guess it was just kind of shocking to me. Not what those people were doing, but how other people treated it. I'm disappointed in them, honestly. I had thought that they stood for something more than that, but I guess not.
I didn't believe Val when he said I would see a different side of people, but I guess maybe he was right. Not that I've never seen that stuff, but it made me remember why I've worked so hard to watch where I go and who I hang out with. Last night just showed me that maybe I care about sin more than I thought I did, which is a good thing. I just don't understand how someone can stand up for someone else and protect them when they make the same mistakes over and over again. It's like they're just protecting the sin...saying "Yeah, what they're doing is wrong, but it's okay. They can't help it." And really, THAT'S wrong.
I don't know...it was interesting. I hate that I sound like some sheltered little goodie-goodie, but I suppose in reality that's what I am. I think I'm thankful for that, and I can only pray that I won't ever put myself in a position to defend someone else's sin, or my own for that matter.
Later.
-------------------------------
I just thought I would come back and clear this up a little, because I realize it's very confusing if you don't already know what I'm talking about. Tonight at youth group David's message struck my heart because of what I'm talking about in this very entry. He was talking about Romans chapters 1 and 12, and how the sins of the Romans are the very same sins of today, if not even MORE applicable. Romans 1:32 says "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Ouch. The second I read that verse tonight I knew I was in for a lesson from God.
Sunday night I went to the beach with some of my friends, but also with some people I don't normally hang out with. I wasn't really sure about it at first because I'm usually very careful about who I hang around, but I thought "Ehh, why not? It couldn't hurt to try hanging with some new people..." At first I was having fun and stuff, but then some of them broke out the alcohol and started smoking. After awhile, they were drunk and making out with each other and stuff, and I was completely blown away. However, not because of their actions necessarily--I've seen that stuff before. I was disappointed in the attitude that my friends had about it. They basically laughed it off, saying there was nothing you can do about it...it was whatever to them. I disagreed completely, especially when at least one was a relative of my friends. I felt like they should have cared more about what those people were doing to themselves rather than how they were going to hide it from their parents. It just kind of shocked me that the friends of mine that I thought I looked up to would have such a nonchalant view of something the bible teaches is so dangerous. Wow, that's a mouthful--sorry. At the time, I thought well, since I don't really know them, I can't really do anything about it. And maybe that's true to a degree, but looking back I feel like there were times where I could have taken a stronger stand against it.
Hopefully that makes things a little clearer without putting everyones business out there. While it certainly is not my job to be a tattletale and call people out on here, I certainly am not going to protect them by hiding what they were doing. Perhaps if they're that concerned they shouldn't have been doing it at all. And don't give me peer pressure as an excuse. It's a lame one, since there were others of us who didn't have anything to do with it. Don't beg me not to be mad at you. Yeah, I'm disappointed. Granted, I didn't expect much else, but I'm still disappointed.
And you all...I thought you stood for more than that?
God, please give me the courage to stand up for what's right when I need to. Help me put aside that fear of confrontation not only for you, but for the people who are sinning. Help me lose the fear of confronting MYSELF when I sin.
I love you God, and I'm sorry that I'm a lame witness for you so often.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
It's funny how you think you understand a concept of something, and then God does something that shows you maybe you don't have a clue. It's neat, too, when you can see what it is God might be doing behind the scenes in your life and in your heart .
Today, the youth who are going on the missions trip to Guatemala had our second yard sale to raise money for the trip. This past week has been absolutely hectic trying to get ready. After our first yard sale, we had a lot of stuff left over, but not enough to have another sale with just that--we needed more stuff. So, in an attempt to gather enough donations, Rachel called through the entire church directory asking for donations of their old junk, and word spread fast. There were plenty of people calling Rachel back asking us to pick their stuff up, and even more were bypassing us completely and taking their stuff straight to Ms. Mary's house where we had the sale. This was all within the past week and a half or so, though. Before then, it looked as though we wouldn't have enough stuff, and that the second sale would be a flop. I spent tons of time praying about this, asking that God would bless our efforts, and that he would provide us with the stuff to sell and the people to buy, and I knew God was going to give us far more than the $900 from last time. Because of this, I was not concerned very much with the looks of things leading into the sale. I trusted that God would follow through, and simply continued to do my best to get things ready.
I am no amature at holding yard sales. My mom has been doing them my entire life, so I've picked up quite a few things from her. However, our sale today was hands down one of the most interesting ones I have ever experienced. From the time we started setting up, we were swamped with people! By about 9:00 AM, we had witnessed a screaming (apparently dissatisfied) customer and a woman peeing behind a truck in Ms. Mary's yard, but we had made $550! Later in the afternoon, we were all witnesses of a hit and run, but no one was hurt. Two people left our sale and backed into a parked pickup across the street, then took off. The owner of the truck didn't even know! We called the sherriff's office for him and reported it, because although we didn't get a plate number, we had a description of the vehicle and the people. Whether or not they eventually get caught doesn't matter. As long as the guy's insurance covers the damage.
In all, our final amount was $1443.04!! Praise God! That is so exciting! I told my friend that while I am completely amazed by what God has done for us, I'm not shocked at all because like I said before, I KNEW without a doubt that God would bless us far beyond what we raised the last time.
Ahh, it's great. I love I have God to live for.
Today, the youth who are going on the missions trip to Guatemala had our second yard sale to raise money for the trip. This past week has been absolutely hectic trying to get ready. After our first yard sale, we had a lot of stuff left over, but not enough to have another sale with just that--we needed more stuff. So, in an attempt to gather enough donations, Rachel called through the entire church directory asking for donations of their old junk, and word spread fast. There were plenty of people calling Rachel back asking us to pick their stuff up, and even more were bypassing us completely and taking their stuff straight to Ms. Mary's house where we had the sale. This was all within the past week and a half or so, though. Before then, it looked as though we wouldn't have enough stuff, and that the second sale would be a flop. I spent tons of time praying about this, asking that God would bless our efforts, and that he would provide us with the stuff to sell and the people to buy, and I knew God was going to give us far more than the $900 from last time. Because of this, I was not concerned very much with the looks of things leading into the sale. I trusted that God would follow through, and simply continued to do my best to get things ready.
I am no amature at holding yard sales. My mom has been doing them my entire life, so I've picked up quite a few things from her. However, our sale today was hands down one of the most interesting ones I have ever experienced. From the time we started setting up, we were swamped with people! By about 9:00 AM, we had witnessed a screaming (apparently dissatisfied) customer and a woman peeing behind a truck in Ms. Mary's yard, but we had made $550! Later in the afternoon, we were all witnesses of a hit and run, but no one was hurt. Two people left our sale and backed into a parked pickup across the street, then took off. The owner of the truck didn't even know! We called the sherriff's office for him and reported it, because although we didn't get a plate number, we had a description of the vehicle and the people. Whether or not they eventually get caught doesn't matter. As long as the guy's insurance covers the damage.
In all, our final amount was $1443.04!! Praise God! That is so exciting! I told my friend that while I am completely amazed by what God has done for us, I'm not shocked at all because like I said before, I KNEW without a doubt that God would bless us far beyond what we raised the last time.
Ahh, it's great. I love I have God to live for.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The heart breaking makes a sound
I never knew could be
So beautiful and loud
Fury filled and we collide
So courageous until now
Fumbling and scared
So afraid You'll find me out
Alone here with my doubt
Here it comes, a beautiful collision
Is happening now.
There seems no end to
where You begin and there I am now
You and I collide
Something circling inside,
Spaciously you flyInfinite and wide,
Like the moon and sky
Collide
Here it comes, a beautiful collision
Is happening now.
There seems no end to where you begin and there I am now
You and I, collide
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now
Feel it coming on, Feel it coming on now, Here it comes now
[David Crowder Band]
I never knew could be
So beautiful and loud
Fury filled and we collide
So courageous until now
Fumbling and scared
So afraid You'll find me out
Alone here with my doubt
Here it comes, a beautiful collision
Is happening now.
There seems no end to
where You begin and there I am now
You and I collide
Something circling inside,
Spaciously you flyInfinite and wide,
Like the moon and sky
Collide
Here it comes, a beautiful collision
Is happening now.
There seems no end to where you begin and there I am now
You and I, collide
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now
Feel it coming on, Feel it coming on now, Here it comes now
[David Crowder Band]
Sunday, February 22, 2009
This past Friday night the youth met at the church for a prayer service. It was the first time we had ever done anything like that, and I'll tell you what--It was GREAT. I was really excited to go, because I wanted to see what it would be like. I expected for it to be group prayer, but instead we all separated around the sanctuary and prayed by ourselves. David had PowerPoint slides that would change every now and then, structuring our prayer time and telling us what to pray for and how long. It was very interesting, because for one, I cannot say that I have prayed for an hour straight before. Two, having that set amount of time to pray for a certain thing really challenged me. Normally when I pray, I find myself saying the same things over and over again, and therefore just ending quickly. But this time, I was challenged to draw it out, and find new, creative ways to tell God what he means to me. It was definitely an awesome experience for me, and I can't wait to do it again. Although, by saying that I do not wish to imply that that's the only time I'm going to pray that way. I learned that I need to (and want to) work at my personal prayer life, and that I can do all of that in my bedroom--it doesn't have to be in a sanctuary with other people to focus on intense prayer...
Today, David preached for all three services at church, and I think it was a really good sermon. He was talking about the importance of a good foundation, and how in life, that means basing everything on Jesus. He also talked about the difference between good, spiritual people, and GODLY people. I somehow managed to leave my bible at home, so I couldn't take notes, but I managed to remember a few things. There was one thing he said towards the end of his sermon, though, that had my name written all over it, but now I can't remember what that was for the life of me!
Well, I haven't had much sleep since Friday night, so I'm out for the night.
Until later,
Courtney
Today, David preached for all three services at church, and I think it was a really good sermon. He was talking about the importance of a good foundation, and how in life, that means basing everything on Jesus. He also talked about the difference between good, spiritual people, and GODLY people. I somehow managed to leave my bible at home, so I couldn't take notes, but I managed to remember a few things. There was one thing he said towards the end of his sermon, though, that had my name written all over it, but now I can't remember what that was for the life of me!
Well, I haven't had much sleep since Friday night, so I'm out for the night.
Until later,
Courtney
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