Happy bday? :)

I'm 18 now, time flies. God really got me through 17. Tough times and awesome memories = strangely the best year of my life. I love the way God works. Since I'm 18, it's be appropriate to name just 18 things I am thankful for

1. My family, my big sister.
2. My church
3. Best friends, relationships
4. Arbys roast beef sandwhiches
5. morning run
6. waking up to a protein shake made by steve winsor
7. desires
8. Prayer
9. good conversations
10. beach days
11. naps
12. good books
13. suprises
14. fire house subs after a long day
15. my bed
16. ice cold shower after a good workout
17. Piano song nights with my dad
18. Influences in my life

May your light shine

Its almost Christmas, which means something big in my family. Christmas lights. My dad and I are super competitive with lights, we strive to have the best in our neighborhood every year! (and we do btw) :)
I went for the usual neighborhood run tonight. When I was making my way to the end and turning on the corner to come back to my street, I stopped. Our lights looked beautiful! They shined so bright I could see them on the other side of the neighborhood. I think we should be more like that...
What if we were filled with SO much love, joy, and peace that people asked why we were like that?
What if we had such a "light" about us that people wanted it for themselves?

"In the same way, let your LIGHT shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

I want to be like my house during Christmas time. Shining over the dark and light less houses of the neighborhood. I want my family, friends and church to shine like that. I know God wants that for us too :)

Apart from you, I am nothing

I've been reading..books that I can't even put down. I love being hungry for the word and for stories of God's power. This is what I've gotten out of it the past few weeks...
We were created for a purpose much greater than ourselves, the kind of purpose that can only be accomplished in the power of his spirit.
God puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things...And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

My heart is screaming for this adventure I keep reading about in the bible and in books. Where people are risking their lives everyday just to praise a God that I praise too, I just have the opportunity a lot easier. In a church where I can go whenever I want, get involved in any youth group or volunteer opportunity at any time. Meanwhile, people in other countries are gathering in secret in the worst conditions to learn about Jesus.
I just wanna go. We were all created to be more than who we are right now. I want to see a world that I don't live in everyday. I want to learn new things, eat new foods (even though i am the pickiest eater of all time) I want to do what I feel called to do, to give my life away.
Volleyball will end.
School will end.
Jobs will end.
Cars, TV's, computers, schedules... it will all end...

but souls last forever, the word of God is forever.

Nothing is guranteed.

I read this today..
" notice the way God does things, they fall into line. Don't fight the ways of God. Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way, you will eventually realize that nothing in this life is guranteed."

Wowzers. The only thing guranteed is that my life has been decided and saved by an AWESOME savior. Thank the Lord for that!! <3

I don't know how to say bye in Creole....

                                           Angela Sue Winsor...

My bestie :) She is leaving the country tomorrow for 8 months. For months she has been raising money for this mission trip but I never actually thought about what it would be like for her to leave... and its finally tomorrow! We had our last chilis trip today, and our last family game night for awhile. The selfish side of me is upset she will be missing so much of what will be happening in my senior year and in our families lives..its natural. But the other side of me knows she was built for this trip, and i am so excited for her. She loves creole and spanish..probably knows more of it than english. I won't even be able to say by in English. Me crying and a big hug will do just fine.
YOU WILL BE MISSED!!

" There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:18-19

Blessed.

"Those we have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord." - James 5

...Feeling super blessed today, and its not because tomorrow is Friday. Although that is a blessing in itself.
First week of school = almost complete.
Every year is always different, and I'm so excited to see what God will do this year. I feel so lucky that God has placed the most amazing people in my life. My volleyball team is probably the most entertaining group of girls you could meet, they crack me up.
Sometimes when things seem really good after a rough couple months, I hear the lies of Satan telling me to not enjoy the good times, because the bad will be coming soon. I know I need to enjoy what God puts in front of me whether its good or bad. But today, its a good day.... praise the Lord! :)

" I form the light and the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things." - Isaiah 45:7

& Here we go...

Last Sunday, my youth pastor spoke in church about the missions trip to Mexico our church went on. He talked a lot about how on these trips we see so much more then ourselves, and these trips are needed. Mission trips fuel me, they fuel everyone. But my pastor really talked about how we don't need "Mexico" to do that. Or any other place. Especially for my life right now, my mission field is right HERE.

I go to a very large public high school. I am constantly surrounded by people who don't know Jesus and who need to see Gods grace and hope everyday. In a huge environment of temptation and evil, God needs me here. I cannot wait to travel on my next trip and see new things, but for now my year long mission trip is right here, everyday. Starting tomorrow! Pray for me...haha

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Life and Death.

I've never really seen or experienced a death in the family. My grandpa died when I was like 7 but I wasn't super close with him and didn't fully understand. But tonight one of my best friends, Alex Lynn, lost her dad to a heart attack. I've never had to hold a friend like that and know that for once there was nothing I could do or say to take her sadness away. I could get her food, tell her its going to be okay, give her bible verses..but nothing could take away her pain.
It made me think about the shortness of this life on earth, and how joyful I am that I get to live forever with Jesus, so does Alex. I'm SO thankful that the majority of my friends will be my "friends forever"..and i mean forever in Heaven. So cool.

" After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."  - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

This is my crazy friend Alex, one of the strongest girls I know! :) The friend who will stay up late and each cookie frosting with me! <3

Mexico 2011!

My church and I just got back from a week trip to Ensenada, Mexico. Every year we come back on this high for Jesus. 3 homes were built for 3 different families in 4 days. We visited an orphanage where you could just see Gods love everywhere. We held carnivals for the kids in the community. It was a trip that you just serve and serve until you feel you don't have much more to give. It definitely made me want to be more of a servant no matter what country I am in. We get back to America and all of the reality and stress comes knocking on our doors.
I love Mexico and the people there, there so blessed with an overload of love. They might not have all the materials we have, but they have so much more inside of them that they rely on. I love seeing that there is SO much more to life then just my own.  "We love him, because he loved us first." - 1 John 4:19

A womans heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her ♥

Amazing grace.

It amazes me how God can transform a life. A few years ago I would have never guessed I'd be at a huge public high school, actually going to play volleyball in college, and have the friends i have. God works in crazy awesome ways. Because of my plans crashing and his plans blooming, I have made new friends and some of them I will be with forever in heaven. I have seen right in front of me God closing doors in my life to send me where he needs me, and I have watched the people I have shared my life with everyday for years grow up.
One of my FAVORITE verses that got me through this first half of the year...
"For I know the plans I have for you; declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11