Oh. My. Goodness!!!!!!

Okay, have I got some news for YOU!

This blog is gonna take a seasonal spin. In October, I would like to stick with my school girl design, but September is coming to a close... (halfway through September already?) and now what used to be the beginning of the school year now means that I've been in seventh grade for over a month now. So the pink school girl look has to go:( But don't be surprised if it's back next year!:)

In October, with All-Church Hayrides, Harvest Parties, and even the dreadful Halloween, we're gonna have a BLAST! Giveaways, a fall design, fall buttons, (yes, the buttons I didn't know how to do) and, one special FOLLOWER (but you must know me in person) will get a free notebook, with pre-written notes, by me, all about how to improve your blog and tell the world about Jesus with your simple Twitter and Facebook pages.

Also this month, we have to say goodbye to our beloved TBC. I had fun writing comments about pre-picked Bible verses, and had fun reading your comments. WHEN you wrote comments. People like Kayla and Mrs. Jenilee are the ones who may not have always posted a comment or read, but I knew they were updated. YOU CAN BE ONE OF MY TOP COMMENTERS!!!!

Top commenters get all the benefits, because at the end of TBC, there will e a giveaway--- and only top commenters names will be drawn. So everyone, start talking!

TBC is gonna end in an exciting way. Revelation is a fast-paced book, but it can be difficult to understand. My comments on it (I chose verses that I understand) will hopefully give you an idea of it. We are also using hit songs like "Reve;ation" by Third Day, "Revelation Song" NEWLY ADDED to the blog by Phillips, Craig and Dean; and the classic "Hallelujah" by Tenth Avenue North.

Prayer Camp is gonna be an awesome experience in November! At a normal camp, you gain friendships, you have FUN, and you go home as a better and funner person to be around. At THIS camp, you're the host, you develop a stronger relationship with the bestest friend you could ask for, you learn more, you become more disciplined, and you leave your room each day (did I mention for SEVENTY days, seven prayers PER DAY?!) as an easier person to get along with. Host YOUR own camp on YOUR OWN blog right after I start!

To host your own prayer camp, just wait until I start. Copy and paste my post, and my posts will be organized in this order:

-At Dawn
-At Breakfast
-Between Classes
-At Lunch
-After School
-At Dinner
-At Bedtime

Where I wrote what I prayed about, just backspace and type in what YOU prayed about! And make sure you have the bloggy button on every post!

I realized that a way I can make bloggy buttons (similar to Facebook Flairs) is with Picnik. The problem: I don't have, nor WANT Picnik. I know of two friends that have it:

Kayla
www.kaylaelizabethvice.tumblr.com

Bec
www.cheetahbec.blogspot.com

And since Picnik isn't free, and that's the EASIEST way to make a bloggy button, I guess time'll tell. But Prayer Camp WILL have a button, and everyone can put one on their blogs! (it'll be cute for BOTH genders, too.)

In volleyball, my team seemed to be doing great, just when a girl on the other team KILLS us with her serve! 8 consequtive points! Once she had 20! It seems impossible because you have to rotate, but this was a practice game, not for real. I knew there was something fishy about that girl--- not just her serve. From the day of the parent meeting, I sat next to her, and was instantly annoyed.

Bright side, you can pray for my team if you want!

Ideas You'll Love

OMG, I found so many fun things we can do after TBC is over! I know this sounds bad, but I'm looking forward to the end of TBC because it'll be SO fun!

Prayer Camp
Ever been bored of praying? Does it seem like a boring routine/ Prayer is---almost---not a routine anymore. This is a new kind of church camp, but not at church. This is an away camp, but you're right at home. This camp is YOUR camp, but it's focused on God entirely. A free, 70 day camp, 7 prayers each day. Times to pray are when you wake up, (thank God for today) at breakfast (for your food), between classes at school, (praying for whatever your needs for the day are) at lunch, (praying for your classmates) when you get home, (thanking God if you had a good day, venting to him if you didn't) at dinner, (thanking God for you surviving yet ANOTHER day) and when you go to sleep. Any blogs can host it, as soon as I start, you can copy and paste my post, then fill in what YOUR day was like. It's all for God.

Vacating Without Vacation
This will be fun. Because of this, we will have a vacation songs tab with songs listed like "Shark in the Water" and "Someday" and stuff you'll like. There will be random things like, "Find a Volks Wagon!" and more! I will show photos of my own vacation from North Carolina to Georgia (Hope went down to Georgia) and you can see EVERYTHING I saw, without ever leaving Ohio this year. Is it vacation? Or vacating? Or neither?

Seven Wonders
The seven seas, the seven landmarks, the seven football teams... SEVEN WONDERS! See the top seven of... pretty much... everything.

All for One
What can you get for a dollar? A lot.

I'm excited! You'll love these series!

The Bible Challenge: Psalms EXCLUSIVE!

OMG I LOVE volleyball!!!! It is SO fun! My teammates are so fun to be around and I can't wait to start playing in games! In odd ways, I kinda like it better than gymnastics, but I won't quit!

Volleyball is... oh so tiring. But it's fun! And it's kinda funny, a girl I've known since like, 2007 who was on my soccer team and is now my volley team kinda reminds me of one of the Obama girls. (Sorry, Yasmeen) Then, another girl, Abbie, reminds me of Autumn Courtney, but only in her voice and face. Okay, she doesn't look TOO much like Autumn, but it's close enough.

Today, I have no school!!! Yipee! teacher work day! Huber is out, same for STEM. So for me, I might as well be out of school when both Charity and Faith are.

I have not blogged since Tuesday. Something is always in the way. I'm either at church, Bible Study, History class, ThExperience, Science class, FAITH, volleyball, or at home, trying to catch a breath or two. But I like it. Only thing I don't like... any time I wanna just blog for the heck of it, I can only think of one thing: THE BIBLE CHALLENGE.

My mind can't get off of these challenges... they're addictive. Someone, give me something to blog about... PLEASE! Anything! Next month is the last month of challenges, so give me something!!!

Psalm 136
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea [a] asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.
who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.
to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.
and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Sorry about how long that was, but I hope you read it in full, because that was A LOT of work. This chapter was so exclusive, I didn't even have it memorized. This verse is very calming. I am so tired and stressed and in need of some girl/spa time. (good thing I'll be doing that tonight!) This is a very peaceful chapter. His love endures forever. At this time, all I need is a back massage, facial, a scripture, a book, some sunshine... and I'll be happy. Well, no one is home to massage my back except for Daddy who is wearing too much cologne, I can't get a facial cuz I'm getting one tonight, I lost my Bible, (as bad as it sounds) I lost the book I'm reading, (thank God it's not a library book!) and it's cloudy and windy outside.

Dear 7p.m.,
Please come faster. My ears are hurting and my nails are chipping. I need you now. Yes, I'm a little sore and I need you now!

Dear Bible,
I love you. You are what keeps me awake when I'm about to crash. So please, tell me: WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU???

Dear book,
Ally carter, you are a great author. However, your book "Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover" is not cooperating. Come on, book! I need you now!!!!!

Dear Sunny Sunshine,
You make me smile. But today, you didn't wake yourself up. You clothed yourself with clouds and made me frown. You didn't shine as bright today. Your weather that you brought on in result is overwhelming. I can't smile. I'm thirsty and hungry. If you're gonna make me grumpy, at least make it rain!

Dear God,
I am so bored and tired. I am very grumpy and hungry and thirsty. Please give me something to eat, drink, and something to READ!!! I'm sorry for every sin. Again, I need a lot of things! Thanks!

Love ya,
Hope!!!

The Bible Challenge: I'm Alive, I'm Alive, That's What I Say (September's Last Challenge)

We've talked about so much since the start of the challenges, sometimes short, sometimes long, sometimes calm, sometimes full of action. We've read about everything from atheists and vampires, "Letters To God" and jacuzzis. Look up the Bible Challenge anytime in my Google browser on the tan bar above the blog title, you'll find many post query.

This is me, back from my FIRST VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE since 2007! OMG volleyball is AWESOME!!!!! I've gotten better at my serve than ever! (However, Maria, I may still need your help.) God, I would have to say, HAS blessed me today. My stomach felt achy/weird this morning, but in a few days, it'll be nothing.

In practice, I realized that on my team, one of my friends from soccer is there! ON MY TEAM!!! I was positive it wasn't her, but turns out, she remembered me, and it had to be her.

There's only one boy on my team... poor boy!!!!! He's so little/adorable!

Our point today is about the resurrection. How was Jesus revived? How did he make it known? How do we know that this isn't a dumb superstition?

Matthew 28:2-7
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the LORD came down from Heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, (I should've mentioned Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there) "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'. Now I have told you."

I love how it ends with: "Now I have told you." Jesus is alive!!!!!! But, the question is: "How can anyone say this its true?"

Good question: Even though creation is a theory, we know it's true, right? Yes! So, even though not many people believe much about jesus and they only take bits and pieces out to make it SOUND right, when it ISN'T right, we Christians---if you're not a Christian, you're about to be one---can belive that we have hope. We can believe that there's someone up above. We can believe that we were put on Earth for a reason--- we're no mistake. Not even one of us. If you believe in God and it turns out He's not real--- no biggie. But, if you DON'T believe in God and He actually IS real, you're going to hell.

Hell is more than just something used on the street. I feel that word is used too lightly. The only living hell that exists is the one where you'll be with Satan and darkness and flames forever. (You should really see what I have but didn't continue of "The Interstate".)

My choice? Believe in God and miracles can happen. When all is lost, we know nothing but one word: BELIEVE.

Now I have told you.

Next in The Bible Challenge: October is time to make a Revelation! We're heading into fall, and with school and sports and friends to juggle, the last thing we can think of is God. Best case scenario for next month is to log on to Your Blog, sit back, read, comprehend, and that's your time with God for the day. Fall is a huge challenge. We can make this fall, the best fall. Because no one's gonna fall this fall!

The Bible Challenge: We Were Born for This

Yes, the "Born for This" you think it is. "Tell me tell me do you feel the pressure now?"

Yesterday was a long, hard day for me. Blogger was SUCH a headache! I learned how to make new pages, if you noticed, and then it took four hours to complete understand how to add comments, all because of a button I couldn't find that was right in front of me!

Blogger,
You need to get A LOT simpler. Where's Windows 7 when you need it?

(I was on my computer typing when all of a sudden it dawned on me: Blogging should be simpler! BAM, there's Windows 7 and all buttons are visible to me! I'm Hope the Blogger, I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea.)

Today's lesson is about something we were born for. We were born for someone to die. We were born for: JESUS.

This challenge is challenging us with what we have been challenged with since the day we said 'Amen' the first time. Will YOU stand up for Jesus? Would YOU take his place? What makes you Christian, not Jew?

Matthew 27:45-49
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--- which means, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." (Because, it also means "Eli, Eli.") Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." (they were being sarcastic.) And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

You would think, 'oh, that's terrible.' Yeah, but amazing things happened at the sight of this. The temple curtain was torn, stones cracked, dead people were raised to life, and there was a GREAT earthquake. This moment began a new revolution, religion, and lifestyle all in one: The Christian Religion.

See, our religion, really ISN'T a religion. It's a lifestyle. Us ladies don't have to cover our faces underneath loads of cloth. Us ladies can say hi to a man without his permission. Us CHRISTIANS of both genders have no rosaries. We aren't told what church to go to. We can believe what we believe. We are not jews. We are not latter-day saints. (aka Mormon) We are not Muslims. We are not Catholics. We believe, so we aren't atheists.

So then, WHAT ARE WE? We're Christians, that is. We're a new kind of church.

Jews believe Christ is yet to come. We believe He's already gone--- but only from Earth. He's still in our hearts, he's still alive. But yes, "Love must be blind". ("Undone" by FFH on the playlist.)

We have proof: Jesus WAS here. And he still is. "There's a God of this city". Jesus, we have work still to be done here. We'll see you Sunday, God!

"We were born for this. HE was born for this."

The Bible Challenge: Who Knows:)

Note to self: Movie you don't want to watch is "Letters to God".

Today, I want YOU to write a letter to God. (Oh my gosh, I'm tearing up!!!) No, you don't have to have cancer. No, you don't have to be a teenager who's depressed. No, you don't have to be the best friend of someone with cancer. Just write it. I've written MANY letters to God in my own journal. It's fun, too!

What made me mad while watching the movie is that Ty (Bec's brother) was like: "Tyler (the kid with cancer) isn't gonna die." I was on the verge of tears and when he said that, I was okay. Then--- okay, I don't wanna give the entire movie away so I'm gonna stop. Let's just say... Faith, Bec, Sarah, even I started crying by the time the movie was over.

DON'T WATCH letters to god EVER!!!!

If you wanna burst into tears see a sad movie, go on and watch it, but I'm warning you.

I'm working on making my blog better and more technical, so if I'm moving slow, a girl can only update so fast.

Today's challenge has... not much to do with any of the above. Now, we're talkin' 'bout Jesus!

The Triumphal Entry is a famous part of Matthew. Let's just say if you know about the crucifixion, you PROBABLY know about him riding on the colt of a donkey. (Go Colts!)

This part of Matthew makes me mad. It's like, the people love him one day and just hate him the next? What kind of believer are you if you hate God's son a few days later? Yeah, some believer you are!

Matthew 21:9
The crowds went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!"

I have gazillion songs stuck in my head, (such as "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real, "Unbreakable" by Fireflight, "Spinnin' Around" by Jump5, even a few Justin Bieber songs) but "Hosanna" is one of the best. "Hosanna, Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest..."

My question is: Why would you praise God one day, and crucify his son the next? In "Letters to God", even though the kid has cancer, he encourages many kids around him to write letters to God. And they do! He didn't lose faith in God, and sometimes, that's all that matters.

Faith Hope

The Bible Challenge: "I'm Holdin' On..."

Have you heard the song "Broken" by Lifehouse?

("Broken" is not on the blog due to it not being a Christian band, but the song is well Christian-based.)

Really, you need to see the music video. First, let's read our verse.

Matthew 16:23-25
Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. [Then Jesus said to his disciples,] "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Before we talk about the song, let's take it little-by-little. What's a stumbling block to you? What's keeps you from a good mood? For me, it's being nervous that (this is real-time) I'll completely, honestly suck at volleyball after like, three years of not doing it and switching to gymnastics and cheerleading. Or maybe when I return to gymnastics I'll enter the gym even worse than when I left. But, those are stumbling blocks. That's not what God has in mind, (as in worrying) that's what I have in mind.

Following Jesus comes with a $cOsT$. What Jesus is saying is that if you follow God, the road is GUARANTEED to NOT be easy. Even if it means dying for Christ, it's TOTALLY worth it.

In the video for "Broken", on YouTube, at 3:13, it shows the lead singer standing in the middle of the street, at an accident scene. There's two other people, a woman and an older man, with three smashed cars. He sees the woman, and she sees him. She soon finds herself---DEAD---in her car. She seems hopeless.

Then, an old man, (who honeslty, I think, looks like a Sharpay dog) looks down at the body and sees that it's him, on the street.

Then, the lead singer look at both of them and walks toward his OWN car. He soon sees that he isn't alive either. It takes him a moment before it clicks in his head: "I Can Stop This!"

He runs back into the tunnel and bangs on his car window begging himself to stop, and then a police officer goes up to him and says "Get out of the way" to the version of him who's not dead... yeah... you really have to see the video to fully understand what I'm talking about.

The point is, sometimes, we have boring lives and hate ourselves, but once it's too late, (not meaning when you're dead, cuz I'm going to Heaven, so that's like, impossible!) you start to regret you did nothing with your life.

But, if you lose your life for Jesus, you'll find it.

The Bible Challenge: "But When YOU Pray"...

We live in a very broken world. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but on Sunday I had LifeGroups and I get most of my blogging done at night, on Monday I was tired, on Tuesday I was tired and had History class, and today, I was at the Cleveland Clinic.

It's been busy. Back to my point:

We live in a world where there are thousands of poor people in the ghetto and living in cars. I know what the ghetto must be like, (ever been downtown anywhere?) although I've never exactly LIVED in my car. I'm a very fortunate child, unless you count the V.A. as a bad luck charm.

At the clinic today, there was a lady in a wheelchair, and she was [obviously] in deep thought. On her way to the computer, when she could've been in a HORRIBLE mood, (actually, she really wasn't in the BEST mood) she said 'hi'. Very nice.

Poor (not really, I mean, she's at the Cleveland Clinic!) lady, in a wheelchair with MS. So, what can a 5'8", seventh grade, Christian-living, ELEVEN-year-old do? Well, I can pray.

I'm just a volleyball-player. Just a gymnast. Just a girl. But every PERSON is unique. I, am VERY unique. I LOVE $95 perfumes, (Coco Chanel oil perfume... yeah, it's my mom's... SHH!) I love to strut the sweatpants, I can't get enough of rue21, I'm taller than 100% percent of the girls my age that have been to the WP hospital, yet I still shop at Justice.

What can I do with my uniqueness? It usually builds a talent. My talents:

-I like---love---to SING!
-I can write, the best thing I'm good at.
-I can sew my own top.
-I can make you LAUGH!
-I'm weird. (But that's good!)

So, I'm one girl. But, I can pray, but wait!

Matthew 6:1-4, 6
Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from Your Father in Heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in FULL. But when YOU give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you... When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen.

This reminds me of TWO songs:
-"Secrets"-onerepublic
-"Bugler's Dream/Olympic Anthem"-Some kind of Philharmonic

You don't have to not let other people see you pray, but just don't make a huge deal like "I'm gonna speak in tongues as loud as I can so that everyone will think I'm a great person". Tongues come from the Holy Spirit, so I really hope no one starts speaking French for no reason.

It reminds me of "Secrets" because it says:

"I'm gonna give ALL MY SECRETS AWAY..."

I honestly LOVE that song. Especially the cello and violin and "...got no shame, got no family I can blame..." I LOVE ONEREPUBLIC!!!!

It reminds me of "Bugler's Dream" because it says don't announce it with trumpets and well... the anthem IS trumpets.

("Secrets" is not on the playlist due to it not being Christian. The Olympic song is the last song on the Mixpod.)

So, when you pray, (we're having a prayer challenge soon! It'll be seventy days of prayer.) go in your room and don't make it--- just make it discreet.

So:
-Walk in your room
-Close the door
-Grab your Bible
-Read
-Praise God
-Admit sins
-Request
-Thank him (aka doing your P.A.R.T.)

Not so hard! Just pray! No need to lie to yourself, no need to keep secrets from yourself. I was listening to "The River" (Only in Columbus!) and this song came on like this:

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sin
The punishment that brought us peace
Was upon him.
And by his wounds,
By his wounds,
We are healed.

As long as you remember that Jesus died for us, popularity isn't the big deal that much! And, people don't have to think you're amazing right now, they just need to know you're living your best life. We're all equal in Heaven, so what people think? Not so much of a big deal.

"What can wash away my sin? NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS."

The Bible Challenge: McDonald's is TOO Salty!

Isn't it??? I know!!! McDonald's is way too salty!!! I need to report this! But I love McDonald's so I'm not going to :)

Salt is... a mineral. Salt is... white grains of something that looks like sugar. Salt is... somewhat valuable. Salt is... tasty. Salt is... light.

No, salt is NOT light on your stomach, so beware of McDonald's. (sorry, McDonald's employees if I'm trash-talking your french fries.) But, salt is---at least used to be---very valuable. At one point, it was used as $mOnEy$.

God uses it in the Bible. But Jesus said it.

Matthew 5:13-16
YOU are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled by men. YOU are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to the whole house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.

I like this challenge because I like salt. And light is pretty cool too.

I'm not the least bit embarrassed to say this: I was once afraid of the dark. I don't know why, but something just made me feel... uncomfortable. I liked to sleep with my head underneath the covers, probably because that made me feel warm and comfy. That part doesn't have to do with the dark. But when I had my own room, I slept with no nightlight, nothing. And I was fine.

But, when I moved up here on the other end of the country, and shared a room with Faith, I used a nightlight because we had connected bunks, (now they're separated, otherwise they still exist.) and Faith was on top. She had bad nosebleeds at night, and she needed a light to see where she was going. I guess I got used to being with a light at night, because when I abandoned the nightlight what should've been for good, I was so afraid of the dark that I wouldn't step outside of my room, or even glance at the dark air embracing me.

I was a weird child... that's kinda why I like light. I don't know HOW I got over that, but it took loads of courage! You can do anything when you have courage. Fear is what's holding you back!

Jesus is saying (not relating to any of the above, realy) what is salt if it isn't salty?? I can just imagine chewing cardboard that's boring and tasteless. No one wants salt that isn't salty! People want tasty hamburgers and french fries and even chicken. If it's not salty, you might as well throw it in in the trash or just put it in the driveway to melt the winter ice.

The funny thing is, YOU are salt. I foyu aren't salty, you're just not doing your job. Your mission on Earth is... "Tell the world that Jesus lives, tell the world that, tell the world that..." Oh, love that song. But the song on the playlist that works, just like how I used a playlist song for our 9/11 post, is "Strong Enough To Save" by Tenth Avenue North.

There's always a post for that! www.blogatmyfingertips.blogspot.com/2010/08/bible-challenge-mission-accomplished.html

If you are salty, you need to know that GOD is the one who saves people. On the playlist, we have a Tenth Avenue North video journal for Strong Enough to Save. Just a few minutes of your time.

Your faith can't be hidden if you show it. Like how people light lamps and don't hide them, you shouldn't call yourself a Christian and not do anything about your not-religion-religion. Let it show and let the whole world see it, like our other song on the playlist, "Until the Whole World Hears".

NOTHING IS EVER TOO SALTY! Are YOU salty enough?

The Bible Challenge: THIS Is Where The Healing Begins

Hey! Blogger is looking really weird today... must be my computer! Or maybe Blogger has a new design??? Maybe??? Comment me or email me contactyourblog@gmail.com even TWEET me at @gymnastics1710 and tell me if Blogger looks kinda odd for you too!

I'm in a GREAT mood today! However, this month will come a day when not everyone will be in the best mood.

After a nice, relaxing Labor Day with my fam up north, soon will come a day of terror and fear and sadness. That's not healing!

If you know about 9/11 or was alive to tell about it, you know it was TERRIBLE. I... honestly... didn't really remember September eleventh for a long time, probably until Patriot Day 2008. I was alive to see it on telelvision, but... some things people just don't remember. I'm surprised I didn't.

I was watching "Guiliani's 9/11" last night with <3DaDDy<3 and saw live footage of the towers. And... I can't believe I EVER took 9/11 lightly! It was horrible! I saw how the dust was following the people wiping them out one-by-one, I saw the way a plane crashed and they thought it was an accident, I saw how a second plane came and it was obviously not an accident. I saw how the north tower fell down like a Jumbling Tower game. And, finally:

I SAW HOW NO ONE SURVIVED.

Can you imagine BEING in those towers right there in that moment, knowing that at the top, you were sure to die? In the show, it showed how the people at the top were waiting for help, but the people helping replied to them, "we can't help." Those people were sure to die. In fact, people were even jumping out of the hundred-and-first, hundred-and-second floors. They would rather choose to take their own life than to face the fear inside.

But, do you hear it? "Healing Begins" by Tenth Avenue North? I'm telling you about my nine-years-later experience because THIS is where the healing begins.

Matthew 4:23-24
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News spread about him all over Syria, and people brought him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-posessed, those having seizures, adn the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Jesus rocks! Jesus loves! JESUS HEALS! You can come to Jesus with all your sins, of course; but wanna know another thing that He's capable of doing?

Those 9/11 families of victims have a way of being healed by God. You can come to God when it comes to death, whether you KNEW someone in the World Trade Center, or you knew someone who was murdered.

Or you can be healed like how Jesus healed the people of Syria or Galilee. (I think both???) Like, here's MY story:

You should know me just by reading this post. However, if you 100% ACTUALLY know me, you know that my dad has MS. If you're RELATED to me, which I only think one person from my family is possibly reading this, you know that pretty much ALL of my genetics come from Dad. The scary part???

That increases my chances of MS someday. I could be showing symptoms right now and not even know it. But, because I know God as a healer, I'm the least bit afraid of that! Not just because I naturally picture the glass half full, (however, I frequently say half EMPTY) but because my God is greater, my God is stronger, God is higher than any other, God is a healer, full of power. Because I believe in God, NOTHING is impossible!

Cute Pic! Bible Break

We're having a Bible Break... break from all the challenges. For this cute picture that will instantly make you smile or laugh.

This is Lexi... again. She's probably gonna be my profile picture. Right now, if you scroll down, she probably is. My profile already is her in the snow... she loves snow.

This is her on my bed and modeling... showing off whatever she wanted to show off and... what do you know? She's walking by right now, LoL!

The finger phalanges with the pink nails are mine. Yes, those dangerous, sharp nails belong to me. And Lex, the main model in the photo, is chilaxing on... MY PINK SWEATPANTS??? Not cool, Lexi. But yep, that's Lexi for ya.

The Bible Challenge: The First and Only Nativity Story

It's quite early to be talking about Christmas, isn't it? Yes. I know.

So much has happened since I stopped last month's challenge.

I scheduled gym appointments, I found out that because of stupid V.A. we can't have me do gymnastics there, I made blog changes, (changes you'll love) and really decided that I'll stay in Youth.

Now, you know the nativity story, probably. Mary, Joseph, Jesus... blah. Is that all? Blah? NO!

Matthew 1:18-21
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Jesus is the Greek form of the word 'Joshua' meaning the LORD saves.)

Is that all Jesus is to you? Blah? A baby? A descendant of David? You've probably heard this story before, even if you aren't a Christian. At least now you have.

The real story behind it all is:
An angel appeared to Mary one day (she was possibly doing laundry, at least that's what I imagine) and told her she would have a son and to be honest, Mary wasn't much older than... fourteen years old maybe? Not much older than you, if you're not older. So, if I were Mary, I'd be like:

"Um... I'm not married yet, so can you revisit me in a few weeks? See, I've got to go..." Excuses...

But MARY was smart. MARY allowed it to happen, unlike the excuse I would've used. ("See, I'm late for school, so can you come back after dinner?")

So, after she had the child, they named him Jesus. He was born on hay, in a manger, in a barn, in Bethlehem, in Israel, (I think) in the world. Because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus wasn't born for no reason. Jesus was REALLY born to die. He lived to die. He died for you to live. Talkin' 'bout the best of both worlds! Back then, it was hard to know that this baby was being born, just to be whipped and spit on and hung on a cross, and nailed and crucified. I couldn't imagine the pain.

If you were at Missions Extreme and you saw my human video, you have a good idea of the crucifixion. Believe it or not, there would've been many little girls at the site, probably many teenagers.

Jesus wasn't an excuse maker. He died for us. ("See, I'm only 33... a few more years and I'll get back to you.") He had the courage to pick up a cross, walk down the street, allow people to curse, scream, yell, and spit on him; get nailed to a cross, (ouch!) hang from his hands and struggle to push himself back up, and then die the worst death on Earth.

But, people often forget that Jesus came alive again three days later. There's a post for that. www.blogatmyfingertips.blogspot.com/2009/04/celebrate-its-easter-monday.html

JESUS ROCKS because even though that was 2,010 years ago, He's alive today!

P.S. Good and bad news: The Country Count is no longer on Blogger. But you can find it on Twitter! @gymnastics1710