Life's been busy... hahaha... I always say that for an excuse for not updating. lol. The truth of the matter is I've been lazy.

School's been going.

I've been doing a lot of writing...

I'm reading Lloyd Alexander books...

Devotions have been going great!!!

Friendships have been growing...

God is good!

And I've been tagged. lol. here goes!

Name ten of life's simple pleasures that you like the most:
1. Spending time with God whenever I can
2. Looking and thinking about stars
3. Laughing hard (it's good for my abs)
4. Watching sunsets
5. Writing poetry and stories
6. Getting mail in the mail box (like the good old days, haha)
7. Spending time with my family
8. Playing my guitar
9. Singing (though nobody else likes it)
10. Drawing (and I am not filled with false modesty when I say that I am not very good, I just like doing it)

There's that!

E-team comes on thursday!!!! Please be praying for a passion for spreading the Gospel! That I would glorify God with everything that happens (trusting God with all that happens). And please be praying for good weather! Doing a car wash in 60 degree weather would be 'cool' but it might be more helpful for somewhere in the 80's. haha.

Have a great day!
ps. Kutless is now one of my favorite bands.

Busy week. Thus the reason for no posts
Fun weekend. Hanging with Tai and Mansfieldians and Greg.
Convicting message. About loving correction.
Back to school. Trying to be excited for what God would have me learn each and ever day
Learning a lot about life. God has been showing me a lot of new things lately... it's been really neat.

The main thing would be loving Him more the anyone else ever! Here in Corning there's usually the common story of us teens wanting to grow up and get married is a common subject, and to tell the truth it's not a bad thing... we talk as friends and we get each other's input and we talk about how the Bible talks about marriage (and how we're suppose to prepare for that now). Anyhow, lately, God has been directing my thoughts to His plans... not mine. God really convicted me about saying 'After Catalyst I'm hoping to get married' because that has practically been my plan, finish highschool, go on catalyst then hopefully get married. But... what if that's not God's plan at all? What if He doesn't want me to get married ever? Is that a possibility? And the answer is that it is a possiblity that I might not get married, though I do believe that God calls me to prepare for it, that doesn't neccesarily mean that it will happen. Can I be okay with that? The answer is yes. The reason is because God is my only need. He satisfies me, He gives me life and my joy is in Him.
I've realized that I have made many 'plans' for my life... dreams this world seems to call them... and my life now has been revolving around them. Marriage could never be my complete fulfilment... that is God's role. And I've come to realize that I love Him! He is my first love! He loves me no matter what... no matter how I feel, no matter what the circumstances nothing! I have to give my dreams to God! Each and everyone of them, because He knows what's best for me and that is what He's going to plan out for me!
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." Phil 3:8
"...but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." Matthew 16:25
I have to have a life purpose greater then marriage... and that is glorifying my Savior in all that I do!

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You"

Psalm 73:25

My First Love
Stuart Townend

first verse
My first love is a blazing fire I feel His powerful love in me
For He has kindled a flame fo passion, and I will let it grow in me
And in the night I will sing Your praise, my Love
And in the morning I'll seek Your face, my Love
Chorus
And like a child I will dance in Your presence
Oh let the joy of heaven pour down on me
I still remember the first day I met You
And I don't ever want to lose that fire, my first Love
second verse
My first love is a rushing river, a waterfall that will never cease
And in the torrent of tears and laughter, I feel a healing power released
And I will draw from Your well of life, my Love
And in Your grace, I'll be satisfied my Love
third verse
Restore the years of the church's slumber, revive the fire that has grown so dim
Renew the love of those first encounters that we may come alive again
And we will rise like the dawn throughout the earth
Until the trumpet announces Your return.

Surrender
My hands hold safely to my dreams
Clutching tightly not one has fallen.
So many years I’ve shaped each one
Reflecting my heart, showing who I am.
Now you’re asking me to show
What I’m holding
Oh so tightly.
Can’t open my hand; can’t let go
Does it matter?
Should I show you?
Can’t you let me go?

Chorus
Surrender, surrender
You whisper gently
You say I will be free
I know but can’t you see
My dreams are me,
My dreams are me

Say you have a plan for me
And that you want the best for my life.
Told me the world has yet to see
What you can do with one
That’s committed to your call.
I know of course what I should do
That I can’t hold these dreams forever.
But if I give them now to you
Will you take themAway forever?
Or can I dream again?

Declaration of Love
My dreams are in my hands
Held out to You
I know you'll take them
And use them the way You will
I know You always do what's best for me
Even if it's humbling
But here they are
Take them and shape them
I know You are in control
Here they are
Here they are
Make me into one who will always
Call to You
Who have I in Heaven but You
And on Earth there is no one like You
And once more here is a declaration
Of my love
For I love You!

"Behold God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life." Psalm 54:4
Oh take joy in this! That no matter the circumstances, no matter the pain, no matter the hurt God is your helper, He is our helper, He is my helper. He promises to help you! To strengthen you through His own power. We are weak, He has made it so... so that His glory may be shown through our lives! Take joy in whatever season of life, even in the mistakes, know that God uses all things for our good and will turn even our mistakes and use them for His glory and our good... but not that we may continue in sin! By NO means!! But we know that by grace we are not only forgiven but also transformed! And no matter what we have done, no matter what has happened in our life, He upholds it with His hand... our life is never far from His thoughts. He loves you, and does all for the good of those who believe in Him... He loves you! How absolutely amazing! How absolutely amazing! I've made mistakes, I've made wrong decisions, but God in His mercy forgave me and forgives me! But that is not all... He also is changing me! That is not just my story... but every story of the forgiven sinner is the same! Thank God... what a Savior!!!
dell

My heart seems to rip as I think about all of those I have lost My soul seems to sink as I think about the cost Of having close friends, of having people I love All of the sudden they're gone and all I can ask is why, the answer is ''cuz' My heart cries out... but no tears stain my face I look around...the only place to find comfort is in God's grace

The pain is still fresh... the memory still so vivid Everything seems so far away and livid The hurt doesn't stop and it doesn't go away
It seems to increase day by day
A memory here and memory there
Life isn't fair!

Then I think... if life wasn't fair where would I be?
If life wasn't fair what could happen to me?
I deserve only one thing and that's I deserve hell
I deserve to be sent away where only pain dwells
And what do I have now to look forward to?
I have been given the promise of etenity with all that is true

HAPPY THIRD ANIVERSARY!
Today we had our third aniversary for our church! D&D productions (aka dad and derrick) put together a video for us which was fifteen minutes. loads of fun! I was reminded of how faithful God is and how sovereign He is. I remembered the times when there wasn't a whole lot of growth in our church, and at times that was really frusterating... then there was the 6 in 6 prayer, where we prayed that in six months six individuals or famlies would come to our church. I remember one week I was talking to someone while I was greeting and for some reason I said, 'watch, three to five families will come today' and it was crazy cause that happened (I tried again next week, it didn't work ;-). But just remembering that God has been totally sovereign over our church, it's growth, it's memories and He has been faithful towards Corning in providing us with whatever we may need for whatever season we are in!
God is good.
Corning is called
and I love it!!!

'So, whether you have been with us for the past six years, the past three years, a couple of months, or even the past thirty minutes, you have been apart of the history of Sovereign Grace Church New York.' Mr. Snapp

'Faith is looking back on God's grace with thankfulness, and looking forward to God's grace with confidence.' Mr. Snapp

'And we had one college kid move here, PJ Kememer, and he was for a time, our college ministry.' Mr. Snapp

'So, I think I might have been seeing things... but I'm pretty sure I saw Jesse in orange hair...' I think many people asked that of me today.

'They're just shoes man!!!' Stephanie Rawleigh

'So, back when we were meeting at Winfield we were Anna and Demory's age' Rachael Efthimiou, talking to me.

'I'm not wearing a tie, I'm just gonna wear my hawaiin shirt.' Jarred Cornfield

That's about all I can remember for right now! hahaha.

Psalm 66.

Whenever we are looking back on past grace or looking forward to future grace... may our eyes always end up looking up!

Okay.... here goes
If you guys could be keeping our pastor's daugther, Jennifer Snapp in your prayers that would be fantastic! Today we all (meaning pretty much the gangmill kids) went up to the Efthimious to play some frisbee, however, before we played some people were playing on the zip line. Jennifer went on it (it was her very first time) and she fell off right after take off. She landed on her back... Mrs. Efthimiou Beth and I (and a few others) were standing right there watching her. It is probably one of the scariest things I've ever seen and me and Beth especially were pretty shaken up. Mrs. Efthimiou (praise God for her!) literally revived Jenn, she had the wind knocked out of her and was in shock and couldn't breath. It was about ten minutes before she came out of it. God was gracious! It was clearly by the grace of God that nothing worse happened to her. But if you could keep praying for her, her back is incredibly bruised and she still can't really walk around much. But, I'm headed over there to have a movie night with her and a few friends! Pray that we would be a blessing to her and that she wouldn't be overwhelmed tomorrow at church! Thanks you guys soooo much!

Don't think I'm going on a zip line... lol.

dell.

Ithaca... yesterday for a 'surprise' for the Efthimiou's we went to Ithaca... adn believe it or not... IT WAS GREAT!!!!

A couple hihglights:

Looking at random scholorships with Rachael on the way there: (Hmmm, can I get one for being a blonde...? look it up!)

Getting there and eating food: And watching Jarred make his alphabet with pretzels

Hanging out on the play ground: Yeah, we all felt like kids... it was fantastic! I played on the seesaw, drove in the car, took lots of pictures and almost puked on the swirly machine that you can't explain, so for those of us who saw it and used it, you know what i mean!

Taking tons of pictures with Anna: And yes, I'll have them up here as soon as I can find the chord that hooks up from the cam to the computer so I can dowload all of them

Going on a fifty mile hike up the gorge: Okay, so it wasn't quiet that long... but the way back was cool... yay for biblical fellowship with Rachael!! Luv ya girl!

Going out to icecream at this really cool place: While I wrote a letter while Rachael did homework yeeeaaaahhh.

Then listening to music and chillin' in the car till I got home, then we just chilled at home. GOOD TIMES!

Pictures will come...







someday. hehe.

Breath In Breath Out

So many things flash before my thoughts

How is it that there hasn't been much of God?

My life is a swirling circle

There doesn't seem anything worth it

That makes me want to keep on going

But how do I go through life not knowing

What's wrong and what's right?

I've got to get the things I need in sight

I do not want to keep on breathing filth instead of air

What makes me think I'm gonna make it there

Without anything to keep me going for the end

I can't even make it around the next bend

Help me see what's gotta beThe point in living giving and seeing

All that God's wanting to do through me

Keep on believing

I've been trying to keep on at it for just another day

But doesn't seem as if this momentum is gonna last anyway

Keep on breathing keep on living keep on trying to survive

My passions for what's right I've gotta revive

Help me out of this pit of mistakes

I'm wanting to go on with my life no matter what takes

I look into your eyes

I promise, no lie

I'm not gonna mess up like that one more time!

Breath in...

Breath out...

Fight the sin...

No more of this doubt

Living my life...

With God on my mind

Finally... I have life