Wow today was amazing. I watched a David Jeremiah and he was talking about the miracle that Jesus did for the disciples during the storm and how it relates to our life.

There are storms in our lives. Many of them can cause fear and others cause pain. I havn't gone through many storms, but if i ever do i pray that i will be there on my knees crying out to the Lord first. Praising His holy name. Why does God allow hardships in our lives? Here is a thought. Have you ever thanked God for "sleeping" through part of the storm making you go through it like He did with the disciples. I know I havn't that's for sure. But we should. I mean if we had a trouble in our life and prayed that it would be all peachy perfect and it was like that ALWAYS what is the point of our faith. First of all, we don't prove anything about our faith to anyone around us and secondly we ourselves never would progress in our faith. Sure sometimes this does happen and we PRAISE GOD. When these times happen how do you feel? Like God just did somthing great for you. You feel that God loves you. You know why? Because He doesn't always do it for you. You feel that God just said that He loves you so much. If He always got rid of the hardships/struggles, you would never get the pleasure of going to God and saying, "God I did it, I proved Satan wrong, I withstood and stayed faithful; I stood firm in the faith for your name and you came and rescued me." 1 Peter 5:8-11 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to deour." If this lion or any of his servants attack, boy, there will be a storm for you. I mean even if a physical lion attacked you...

....by golly I would be scared. But then Peter continues to say, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith." Even though you might be discouraged, you MUST resist him. Later on Peter says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, will HIMSELF restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever AMEN." God allows hardships in our lives. It is up to us to go through them focusing on God "standing firm in the faith" for we know that God has a plan. 

One way we can find courage to resist the storms of our lives is that God always has a safe landing/ plan that WILL be fulfilled no matter what. If He says it will happen, IT WILL HAPPEN. I never noticed this, but it is really cool. In the story about the disciples out on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus calms the storm. Well, in Mark 4:35, Christ says, "That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."" Then this whole storm occurs and He does an amazing miracle. Is that the end. NO! RIGHT after in Mark 5:1 it says, "They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes." They still GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE. So God always has another side. His plan will be fulfilled! Of course many martyrs for Christ have died in the storm. Well they still have a place and that is with God THEIR savior.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Yesterday was so fun. We stayed the night at the Slades fo New Year. Shot some fire-works. Then in the morning we went to watch Narnia. It was really cool except Peter needs to learn how to hold a sword.... Lucy looked a lot better compared to the old one..... They did a really good job though. Today was nice. So far we just got up (after sleeping in really late... and sat around relaxing. Man, only one more week of break.... Then guess what,......EXAMS!!!...... Oh well.  Guess i better enjoy these last few days.

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well break was great. We just watched King Kong in the theaters. It was better than i thought. It was fun. We were going there to watch narnia but everyone got caught in traffic so we missed it. We will go again on New Years though. I am looking forward  to it. Zach spent the nights (2) and we played counter strike. SO FUN! Yep i have been having a lot of fun. Well that is about it. Hillebrands are coming over tonight. Lata.

Well today was cool. I went with my gorgius sister,mandie, (i have three ) shekanah, daniel s., rees, jerry, audry, and luke to play counter strike. that was sooo fun. after that we all wen to youth group. it was all night worship. that was awesome. there were a lot of songs that i hadn't even heard. it was cool to have micah leading it again. he is really gifted. well that was pretty much it............unless you want me to describe every detail of the metro ride.  Well tomarrow is christmas eve and we are going to some friends house with some friends. it will be fun. then it is CHRISTMAS!!!!! YES!!!! i am sooo glad. well after that we make a many houred journey to katyas family's house. please pray for her. she is REALLY nervous. today mom said that she would send katya a red sweater. katya didn't want it though because it looked nice. i understand that she doesn't really want to show her poor family the nice things God has blessed her with. also the theft is a fear. pray that she would be ok. she will have to experience drinking parties on new years. she is still so young. just pray, she will need it. well that is the update for the next few days. i might add some details when they actually happen.......

Lata.

Here are some pics......

Here is my little cousin who i have seen only once!!!!

She is sooo cute!!!

i hope i get to see her again before she is bigger. Last time i saw her she could barely stand!!! now she lives in Texas. i think that she will be very stylish like her mother when she grows up.