"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
Twenty-two years later, this still rings so true! I am so in awe of God's love for me and all He has planned for me in this life. I am thankful that He has let me live twenty-two wonderful years so far and cannot wait to see what the years ahead hold for me. But this is bigger than just me. Although He feels such strong love like this for me, He feels the same for YOU! YOU are special to him. He knew YOU before He formed you in the womb. He has such amazing plans for YOU, that you have no clue and cannot even think that big! I am reminded of this awesome truth on my birthday today, and I hope you remember it too.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
-Amanda
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September 11, 2001
It's been nine years. Crazy, right? I remember this day. I was your typical 8th grader: rebellious, selfish, trying to fit in. All I was thinking about that day was my 13th birthday being two days away and what I was going to do, what kind of party I wanted, etc. I remember sitting in my English class and all of a sudden the teacher turned on the tv. Weird... we never watch tv. I watched as the planes flew into the towers and there was nothing but smoke in the air. We watched it all day, in every class. We ditched whatever was planned that day and only talked about what was happening, Now, just for a moment I had my eyes off me and my life and was focused others and their pain. How often do we do this as adults? We're so busy checking off the to-do list that we pass right by those who need us. How are we showing the love of Christ by acting that way? Answer is, we're not! And don't you find it sad that the only time we ever hear anything about 9/11 is on the anniversary? Do people still pray for the victims, rescue workers, and soldiers? I know I don't enough! So let today be a reminder to do so, to keep our eyes off self for just a minute, and to thank God for bringing us through!
-Amanda
-Amanda
Friday, September 10, 2010
Last night, at Refuge...
Last night I went to Refuge for the first time. During our worship/prayer time I just began to write:
Thursday, September 9, 2010
God, I'm concerned. And frankly, it makes me angry to see people claiming You and living like hell. Open their eyes! In Philippians 1:20 it says, "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." Why is that not our cry as it was Paul's? We all miss the mark, I understand that, but You did not come to Earth and suffer and die so that we could freely sin and expect You to be okay with it! God, I cry out to You! Open their eyes! Open mine! Your word says in Romans 12:2, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." So why don't we as Christians do that? What message are we sending the lost? They are already in a mess! Why the heck would they want ours? TURN AWAY from wickedness and run as fast as you can into the arms of God! If "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs" (Matthew 5:10) then why are we expecting God to bless our mess? He won't do it! "I know all things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16). You may be fooling everyone else, but you're not fooling God. Take off the mask and show everyone the real you! "But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). No one is perfect, which is why we need God. Let Him lovingly correct you! Be the fireball for Christ that the world needs. Show them something different. Break the stereotypes that either we are all hypocrites or we are all stuffy and boring. Be the light; be the difference; be what this world needs! But "you must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after any other gods and worship them." (Deuteronomy 28:14)
There you have it. I'm not here to condemn, because I am just as guilty sometimes. But that is what God put on my heart last night. It was like a heavy burden I couldn't shake until I wrote it out. I am praying for all of you! Until next time....
-Amanda
Thursday, September 9, 2010
God, I'm concerned. And frankly, it makes me angry to see people claiming You and living like hell. Open their eyes! In Philippians 1:20 it says, "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." Why is that not our cry as it was Paul's? We all miss the mark, I understand that, but You did not come to Earth and suffer and die so that we could freely sin and expect You to be okay with it! God, I cry out to You! Open their eyes! Open mine! Your word says in Romans 12:2, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." So why don't we as Christians do that? What message are we sending the lost? They are already in a mess! Why the heck would they want ours? TURN AWAY from wickedness and run as fast as you can into the arms of God! If "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs" (Matthew 5:10) then why are we expecting God to bless our mess? He won't do it! "I know all things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16). You may be fooling everyone else, but you're not fooling God. Take off the mask and show everyone the real you! "But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). No one is perfect, which is why we need God. Let Him lovingly correct you! Be the fireball for Christ that the world needs. Show them something different. Break the stereotypes that either we are all hypocrites or we are all stuffy and boring. Be the light; be the difference; be what this world needs! But "you must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after any other gods and worship them." (Deuteronomy 28:14)
There you have it. I'm not here to condemn, because I am just as guilty sometimes. But that is what God put on my heart last night. It was like a heavy burden I couldn't shake until I wrote it out. I am praying for all of you! Until next time....
-Amanda
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