[Enter Creative Blog Post Title Here]

        As you can see, my creativity is at a new low. I almost don't even know what to write about in this post, but for some reason I still want to write. I haven't blogged in a while, partly because my time has been consumed in softball and, well mostly softball. This post is about to just be a huge mess of me ranting, so if you aren't interested in what I have to say about my life thus far, then I recommend you stop reading now. I'll just start with softball because it happens to be what my life revolves around. I was playing for Ga Academy Power but for personal reasons, in June I decided to step away. You'd think that I'd have more down time after that.. Ha jokes. Not having a travel ball team meant I needed to work extra hard. I found other travel teams to pick up with, and in between that I've had Landmark softball all summer. My goals for softball have drastically shifted since this time last year. I still pitch, but for now my primary position in travel ball is 1st base. I am now certain that I want to play softball in college, so I am currently trying to find the path that will get me there. On another note, I am very excited for this season with Landmark. Its gonna be a great one. I struggle with putting my softball career in God's hands, probably more than anything else, because I love it so much, but it also causes a lot of stress. So here goes, a new year of softball, I hope its a good one all around, but who knows. Oh wait, God does. Above all I pray that he will use me to further His kingdom no matter what I'm doing.

         Enough about softball. What else am I spending my time on? Well, a few things actually. I still play guitar, and I am hoping to lead worship someday. This summer I've kind of been working on rebuilding a few relationships. My best friend Gaby and I are back to how we used to be. I can't explain how happy that makes me. I've found friends at Church, and I really love them because they seem to help keep me in line. Aside from that, I have been elected president of the Youth Advisory Board for Family Patterns Matter, Inc.. That alone comes with many responsibilities. I've officially let go of all of the brokenness that I was involved in. Not that I have forgotten, just that I've come to terms with myself and God that I have done what I can. Now its all in God's hands. I find so much peace in that. Well, I guess thats all I have to write about for now. If you read it all, and find it pointless, just know it wasn't pointless to me. Writing helps me get my thoughts together. Just by writing this, I feel a lot better.

My Refuge

"Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He makes the nations submit to me." (Psalms 144:1, 2 NLT) It doesn't matter where you are in life, or which battle you're fighting, Gods always right there with you. He has been preparing you to stand firm in him since the day you accepted his gift of Salvation. The Lord is with us in every storm or battle. You may be struck down, but he will never let you be destroyed. He's always fighting in our battles, so we should fight for Him to. Fulfilling the plan he has for you may have some bumps in the road, but in the end it's going to be so rewarding.

Honduras Mission Trip 2013

I just got back from a mission trip with Landmark and Frontline Missions to Honduras. I can't even begin to tell you how blessed I feel to have been given an opportunity like this. People have asked me what my favorite part is, but I didn't have a favorite part. I can't pin point just one moment that I enjoyed the most. God gave me so many amazing experiences and opportunities while I was there. I can tell you the biggest take away I had though. The Tolepan and Honduran people have close to nothing. They are lucky if they have shoes on their feet and more than 1 pair of clothes. These people are really the least of them. “And the King will say, "‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" (Matthew 25:40 NLT) Before I went to Honduras I struggled with the idea of loving on people who are so dirty and unclean. But as soon as I got there, The Lord lifted that burden from me. Christ's love for me put a love in me for the unclean and helpless. Seeing their precious smiles as we embraced them was priceless. It's amazing to me how the Tolepan people have nothing, but are still so grateful and happy. I realized while I was there that we don't need all the extra stuff. Why waste our time with things we don't need, when we could be using that time and money to help people who have nothing? It's what we were called to do anyways. Before the trip, I knew about the poverty and suffering, but it was a distant knowledge. It became real to me as soon as we arrived in La Ceibeta. Being surrounded by starving people while you eat dinner is so disturbing. You hurt for them, and it is hard to eat. Every night we have our left overs to them. They were so grateful for anything they got. My eyes were opened in so many ways. I really feel like God is calling me to mission work. I also got play guitar and teach songs while I was there. I loved gearing the children's voices singing together. I miss it so much already. Going on this trip greatly strengthened my trust in God. So many things could have gone wrong, but because everyone on the team really depended on God, he delivered us from everything that could have gone wrong. Honduras is home to me. I can't wait to go back. I am determined to do everything I can to help the people while I'm not there too. If you would like to donate money, we are trying to get money to buy shoes and tooth brushes for the people. Also, please keep the Tolepan people in your prayers!

From the Dark Shadows to the Light

"So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead." (Isaiah 59:9, 10 NLT) God knows when we are covered in sin and darkness. He sees us suffering. It even says in that verse that we will search for light and freedom but we will have yet to find it. Is that you? Are you searching for something more? Something to take your guilt and shame? Do you feel trapped in darkness and alone in the shadows? God sees you. He knows your pain, and he wants it to end. He is waiting to embrace you with outstretched loving, merciful arms that can reach however far away you may think you are. You can change who you are at the foot of the cross. Run into God's loving arms and find the light. It's worth whatever it takes.

Its the Little Things

I've started to see how the little things work out for the better even when I think its nothing. That might not make sense, but its kind of amazing once you start being able to see how God works through little things in our lives. I've learned to look for the blessing in what seems to be a negative situation. So next time something that looks bad happens to you, wait a while and see if any good comes from it.

Give Your Worries Away

I've struggled with anxiety for about 6 years now, probably more. I used to become very upset and make myself sick over small things. I was put on medicine, and now I have learned to cope with anxiety a lot better. Now, as a ninth grader, I have a lot more things to worry about, because I am faced with many more choices. I don't become ill over little things anymore, but sometimes I still have small anxiety attacks. The attacks aren't near as severe.

Lately, I've been under some stress, and I've been thinking a lot. I have a lot of things going on with Honduras, softball, my music, school, and most importantly, my relationship with God. I am realizing that my priorities are not in order, meaning I'm worrying way too much over things that I shouldn't. Then I started to think back to what I learned in January. God wants us to live an abundant life filled with joy. In that statement alone, I think we should all be able to find peace, knowing that he will take our worries. I have also found peace in knowing that if we let God be in control of everything, he will take care of us. Whatever happens, his will will be done. Remember the song, "Whom Shall I Fear". The lyrics are so encouraging. God goes before us, and stands beside us. He is always by our side. When I am stressed, and filled with anxiety and worries, I give it all to God.

Amazing Grace

You've probably sang or heard the song "Amazing Grace" before, but have you ever really put thought into what it means? I never did until recently. 

God loves us more than we can ever imagine. Just like many of us, he has a "love language". We may be lost in a storm that seems like it will never pass, or we may be in the midst of just slightly difficult times. No matter where we are, God is ready to intervene. His "love language" is his Amazing Grace. His grace leads us to intimacy with Him.

His grace is extended to us at all times. We don't ever have to go looking for it, because it is looking for us. In fact, grace will find you whenever God sees fit. You may not be ready to embrace it, but it will always be there, waiting for you. But what does -Grace- really mean? Grace is an unmerited, divine, gift given to us by God to renew our lives. We can do nothing to earn his grace, and since we can't earn it, we can't do anything to not deserve his grace. Some may think that they can become unworthy of God's love and grace, But when were we ever worthy? We weren't. We could never be worthy of all the blessings God gives to us. But that's what is amazing about God. He loves us unconditionally. He knows what we have done in our past and he knows what's to come. He loved us then, he loves us now, and he will love us in the future. 

Embracing God's grace is the key to transforming ourselves to become like minded with Christ, and becoming who God wants us to be. To embrace it, we have to experience it, much like Paul, who experienced God's grace as he was on his way to persecute Christians, when God appeared to him and changed his life. The story of Paul, to me, is the greatest example of God's grace in the Bible. Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament in the Bible, wasn't always the great man of God that he came to be. He was once known as Saul, a man who persecuted Christians. If Paul was able to be transformed and saved by God's amazing grace, then so can we. We must always remember that we must be willing to repent before we receive grace.