Springtime at our house! For my friends faraway....

Hey Schmidts! Here is a glimpse of NC this early spring....we wish you were here with us!

The video will probably make you dizzy......it's a bit cheesy and unprofessional, but it's just a practice.

The song is "Your Love Broke Through" by Keith Green.....enjoy!

Yesterday - The Beatles

I love this song by the Beatles, but It seems so sad...I was watching it the other day and almost felt like crying. I wondered why it was so sad to me, and I realized why- Paul Mcartney, the Beatles, they had no hope! I can't help but think how the words in these song contrast so with the life that comes from Jesus. As I thought about this, the lyrics to a switchfoot song I had been listening to came to mind:

yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
yesterday is a promise that you've broken
don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
this is your life and today is all you've got now
yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Earlier I wrote about a Living Hope...a covenant made with us by Jesus as he shed his blood on the cross....if people don't know Jesus, they don't know hope! All the beatles could put their hope in was "hopefully there will be another yesterday", because the present and the future seems so dark and clouded.

As I listened to that song by switchfoot, the line "don't close your eyes", I immediately thought of Charlie, a character from Lost. He has tatooed on his arm the words, "living is easy with your eyes closed". How hopeless that is! I later found out that phrase is from another Beatles song, Strawberry Fields Forever.

People say the Beatles were the greatest band ever...that their legacy will never die. Indeed, they were amazing! their music was something incredible....yet, they lacked the one thing, the most important thing, that would secure them eternity and true joy: the salvation and hope that is found in Christ alone.

If only the Beatles knew.........this is just a bunch of babbling, but perhaps it should be a reminder to pray.....I know I need to pray more.

A note from John Newton....

Though afflicted, tempest tossed,
Comfortless awhile thou art,
do not think thou can be lost;
Thou art graven on my heart;

All they wastes I will repair;
Thou shalt be rebuilt anew;
And in thee it shall appear
What the God of love can do.

-John Newton

those words are from the song, "Pensive Doubting, Fearful heart" by John Newton......this is only the last verse, all the rest are cool too.

Red Mountain Church band made a pretty rad version of it.....it's one of my favorite songs right now.....you can listen to it here:

http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/alb/TGPclips/track02.mp3

A Living Hope

Ahh....today was lovely! This morning my mom and I had breakfast with our friend from Singapore, Angie. It was encouraging to chat with her and be reminded of the need for prayer. We then made our way to church, where we sang some cool songs and learned from mr. Dickman and 1 peter about why we should honor the government authority over us.......and be challenged with questians. But that's for another blog post.....I've discussed government quite enough for one day, i believe.....

So yesterday was the wedding of my friend Natalie to someone I don't know named Sean, but who seems like a really ecouraging person. They make a wonderful couple....the wedding was filled with beautiful flowers, dresses, smiles and music, and truth.

During the three-hour drive home, my mom and I listened to an awesome speaker, Ken Rudolph. He had some cool reminders about hope.......he said there are two types of hope: hope as the world defines it, and hope as God defines it. He said the world speaks of hope as, "oh, I hope the Redskins win the superbowl...."or "hopefully I'll get that job...". The world defines hope as:

"A favorable expectation of the future".

It's something we want to happen, and we wish it will happen, but nothing is for certain.
Hope, as God defines the word, is:

"A favorable expectation of the future that will happen."

awesome! Not only is it something great, it's for certain. Ken Rudolph talked about how God took care of our sinful past by dying for us on the cross, He's taken care of our present by giving us the Holy Spirit, and He's taken care of our future by giving us the certain hope of spending eternity in heaven, surrounded by the glory of God.

I thought that was pretty cool..................

As far as health is concerned, I think I did pretty well today. I started the morning with a nutritious McDonalds bacon, egg and cheese McGriddle (the kind with syrup and pancakes as the biscuit) and a greasy hashbrown, had a very healthy lunch of a Burger King hamburger, some nutricious chocolate chip cookies as an afternoon snack, and topped it all off with a body-nourishing dinner of greasy, pepperoni pizza....................................................ok, so maybe I didn't do so good. Maybe tomorrow.........



"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

Of Strawberries and Satin

Yesterday I started off very proud of myself, having a rather healthy breakfast of sliced strawberries and banana's......then, as I didn't feel quite filled I ate 1 toaster waffle with my coffee. Here are the strawberries I snacked on this morning:

Then yesterday I had a good lunch of ham and lettuce on a delicious role with creamy poppyseed dressing....yum........I didn't finish off the day with very strong, though....unless you would consider m&m's a healthy choice.....

Also, yesterday, something very exciting happened................I bought a new watch! Ok, maybe it's not that exciting, but to me it was a big deal...so just pretend to be happy. It's a new stop watch, and the best brother in the world Sam and I tested it out yesterday, timing ourselves as we ran around the blog. I felt like I was gonna die the whole time, until the end when I stopped feeling things, and then I got the rediculous idea to sprint as fast as I could back to the house....yeah, bad idea. My legs reminded me this morning.

So I'm excited about my new watch, and about the wedding this saturday which my good friend Elayna and I will be filming, and too which I will be wearing my sister's (who in case you didn't know is the best sister in the world) satin dress.....and that's pretty cool.

Spring is on the move!

and His purpose is...?

So, tonight was pretty much awesome.....hung out with some pretty *rad* ladies......yes, indeed.....awesome! Had a great conversation with two "Rays" of sunshine, Nicki Rae and Taylor Rae.....pretty awesome people! That was our small group out of the Middle School study....

So we talked about honoring parents.......why should we honor our parents? Why should we honor God? What's God's purpose in all of this?

I discovered something pretty amazing as I read one verse....after thinking how some people, including myself, see themselves as not too bad of people....don't have much of an attitude, never killed anybody, never done anything "especially" bad... just about the average Christian...ain't that good enough?

But what's cool, and this is the verse I was talking about, is that God didn't just call us to be average, but to live by a Higher Standard. That doesn't mean He's just laid out a bunch of more "difficult" rules to follow, that's not it at all! Ephesians 5:1-2 says:

"Be immitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us."

so....we are to be "immitators of God".....is it so He can look at our behavior and when we don't act how He would he'll check us off some bad points? I don't think so.....'cause what else did this verse say? "As dearly loved children".....that's so cool to think about! It goes on...."live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us"....so this whole "Authority" and "be immators of God" thing isn't just about following rules to be better people, it's about loving our Father because He first loved us....in fact, he had so much love for us that he "gave Himself up for us".....It's not about Him making us miserable with a bunch of rules to follow, it's about Him loving us while we were still sinners, and about us responding with that same love, and yearning for more. It's about asking God to make us act like Him, think like Him and love like Him. And when we don't? He loves us anyways...pretty cool, huh?

So, how can we better be immators of God, and as dearly loved children live a life of love? Something to think about......

Of Italy, Orphans, and Goals

Someday I would love to go Italy....to tour on a bike through grassy hills, past ancient castles, old stone cottages and fields speckled with sheep, misty blue mountains...places caught in the memory of yesteryear, retaining the charm of simplicity, richness and beaty. Yes, someday I would like to go there.......I would also love to go to Kenya....very different in many ways, not as beautiful perhaps....but in some ways it would be even more beautiful. I'd love to fly there and help in an orphanage, with little boys and girls...somehow showing them God's love, depsite what they've been through....that would be pretty cool.

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I have a link on the side to Michael Johnson in Kenya...you really should read his blog, it's very inspiring. Everytime I read any of his articles it just makes me realize how much we take for granted here in America, we have so much that I can't even imagine living in the conditions experienced by far too many people in the slums of Kenya, and no doubt many other places as well.

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I do want to go to kenya someday, maybe at a time not too far away.....but right now I'm here where I am, and for that I'm thankful. I'm kind of in a training time, I think....learning how to stay close to God everyday, and serve him in the best way I can. So many days I fail at this, and that is why I am glad for this time of learning....for their is much I need to learn.

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I'm also trying to train myself physically, as well. Inspired by my good friend Jessica, whose blog I also have linked (teen2teenfitness), I have challenged myself to become fit and healthier this spring. Yes, I've been pretty lazy this winter in not getting much excersize.....If I want to go to Africa to serve someday, to Italy on a biking tour, or simply living everyday with zeal, I'd like to be fit and strong so I can keep going without feeling weak. I'm going to use this blog to help keep me accountable in my fitness endeavors, as well as posting tips I've gathered here and there that I find helpfull.

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God has called me, and all who are his children, to bring glory and honour to Him in all we do- whether it be serving as a missionary, a fitness instructor, banker, or a web-page designer. I'm excited about the plans God has for me- whatever they may be.

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Here are some cool words from a hymn by E.S. Hall....they're pretty amazing....I love to ponder over them whenever I'm feeling stressed out about life and what I'm gonna do in the future:

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I do not ask to see the way

My feet will have to tread;

But only that my soul may feed

Upon the living Bread.

'Tis better far that I should walk

By faith close to His side;

I may not know the way I go,

But oh, I know my Guide.

His love can never fail,

His love can never fail,

My soul is satisfied to know His love can never fail.

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"I will press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:14

Encouragement from Henry Lyte

Well, here I am again but with nothing to say. So, I thought I'd write what someone else said; it must be good 'cause it stuck with me and I love to read it over and over again!

So it's this one song which has been one of my favorites for quite a while, "Jesus, I My Cross have Taken", written by hymn writer Henry Lyte and with a new tune by Indelible Grace, who top my list of favorite bands. The words are awesome, so I thought I'd write 'em here. I know, it's a lot of verses, so if you don't have much time just ready verse 5, which I've highlighted; it's my favorite! However, if you've got nothing better to do grab a cup of coffe or tea and sit down to be challenged by and enjoy these inspiring words:

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Henry Lyte

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,

With Thy favor, loss is gain

I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

My first entry...and a cup of tea

wow....I've finally started my first blog...I'm excited! Don't be expecting too much, though.....this'll just be a place for random "stuff" that's on my mind.

I'm waiting for some cookies in the oven, as I sit here writing my very first entry...sipping tea and listening to the delightful piano music from "pride and prejudice", (one of the best movies!).

today was wonderfull...the sun was shining, the wind was blowing (I love wind!), and now the back yard is clean....amazing. I'll let you leave from my first blog entry with some pictures I took this morning of God's amazing creation....(and yes, Baby is one of God's wonderful creations, even though she stinks and stole and ate an entire bag of dogfood today :)