What I Got For Christmas 2012

      Keep in mind, I am not trying to brag about what I got, but since I saw other people do this and I enjoyed reading them, I thought I would write about what I got for Christmas 2012. 
      This Christmas was one of my favorites because I got:

                          - Brown Fingerless Gloves
                          - Black and Pink Checkered Gloves (to wear around the house since my hands are always cold.)
                          - a Polka-Dotted Make-up Carrying Case
                          - a Pair of Moccasin Shoes
                          - Two Bottles of OPI Top Coat
                          - a Book called "Rescue Your Nails"
                          - a Burgandy Sweater from Ann Taylor LOFT
                          - iPhone 4
                          - a White and Pink SPECK iPhone 4 Case

     I got these from my neighbor:

                          - Anne of Green Gables
                          - a Pearly Lavender Nail Polish
                          - Lilies + Freesia Body Mist

Hope you enjoyed your Christmas! Happy New Year!

Not a Fan.

      Have you ever read the book, "Not a Fan?"  My mom ordered this book a couple days ago and it just came in through the mail.  Me and my sister had heard about it through our church and one of our friend is reading it.  The book is about becoming a completely committed follower of Jesus and being just a fan of him.
      I haven't started reading it yet, but i'm sure that when i do, I won't be able to put it down. What are some of your favorite books?

Holy is the Lord - MercyMe

We stand and lift up our hands
For the Joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great how awesome is He

Together we sing
Everyone sing

Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The Earth is filled with His Glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The Earth is filled with His Glory

Me and my sister Elena are singing this song this sunday in our high school youth group band. I'm very excited to lead worship this year as it is my first year. Pray that we (and everyone in our band) can lead worship every Sunday and be image of God this year!

Upcoming School Year

    Are you excited about anything in this upcoming school year? Me and my twin sister are in a band with our high school youth group and we are very excited. We are going to be singing.  I'm taking some online classes this year, and I've never done that before, but I'm excited. :)

"Walk on the Water" - Britt Nicole

You look around
And staring back at you
Another wave of doubt
Will it pull you under, you wonder
What if I'm overtaken
What if I never make it
What if no ones there
Will you hear my prayer

When you take that first step into the unknown
You know that he won't let you go

So what are you waiting for
What do you have to lose
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to lose
Your faith is all it takes
So you can walk on the water too...

Feeling Alone?

    Have you ever felt alone? Like no one is there? Like no one is there to pick you up and to help you when you need it the most?  Someone is always there.  You can't see him, but he's always there.  His name is God.
    He provides the help, support, and comfort you need.  He is all you need.  When you feel alone, sad, and like no one notices you, he always does and he is constantly looking out for you.  Find strength and confidence in God, because when you seek him, he will come to you and bring you the happiness and peace you need.

THINK!

I found this picture from a friend on Facebook and I thought that this is very helpful... :)

Words in Magizines + Poems

    Do you like to write? I assume that whoever reading this has a blog and enjoys writing, but some people only enjoy writing specific stuff that they are interested in or like doing.  
    I like to write poems and songs.  Most of the time, the songs that I create I like and I actually remember.  Peoms are fun because you don't have to writing a long story to make them sound creative. Once in my writing class, we were each given lots of words that had been cut out from a magizine.  Our assignment was to make a poem (adding in a small words like a, is, the, are, etc. when necessary) with the words that we had.  I loved this project, so I started cutting words out of magizines that I had at home.  I made a huge collection, and when I'm bored, I love cutting words out of magizines.  I have all those words, but I still haven't make a peom out of them...

Awarded by Britt

I was awarded by Britt, and here are my answers to the ten questions and who I am giving this award to! Thanks for awarding me!


Rules: 1. Post award and rules on your blog.
           2. Answer all 10 questions that are given to you.
           3. Award 3 other bloggers.
           4. Tell them in a comment on their blog that you have awarded them.

Here are the 10 questions:

1. What is your favorite color? I have so many... orange, green, brown, and pink

2. If you had to be stranded between the desert or the frozen artic, which would it be? Stranded in the desert
3. Whats your favorite animal? Turtles!
4. What do you like to do when it's raining? On the computer or reading
5. If you could star in any movie, what movie would it be? I have no idea.... I like drama movies though...
6. If you could have anyone in the whole world to come to your birthday party, who would it be?  No one I guess.. :)
7. What creature are you most afraid of? Bees, I don't like it when they sting me...
8. If you could have any animal in the whole wide world to be your pet, what would it be?  a cheetah maybe
9. What's your favorite hobby? Singing and making jewelry
10. What are you most looking forward to this year?  My youth retreat in July


Here are the bloggers that I am awarding:
1. Grace
3. MyMusicFirefly
4. Abby

Thunderstorms

    Right now where I live there are severe thunderstorm warnings in affect.  Are you having any thunderstorm warnings where you live?  It was thundering earlier this morning and it's thundering now.  There is even a tornado warning in affect and that doesn't happen very often!

Beauty in Nature + the Things Around Us

   Today, while I was outside taking a walk with my sister, the green trees were being blown by the wind, giving the illusion that they were waving to me.  I smiled back at them, and they continued waving.  I've had moments when I look at my family and think how amazing they are and that not everybody has a family like I do.  They are very special to me and I would hate to lose them.
   God's beauty is constantly being showed to us.  But do we recognize  and see it? No, not always.  Thank God for his marvelous and beautiful creation, we don't always see it.  We often take it for granted, thinking that it will be there forever, when sometimes it's not.  Thank God and praise him for his amazing and wonderful creation, you'll be happy you did.

Don't Stress, Don't Worry

    In Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  each day has enough trouble of it's own."  When you worry, you are not trusting in God and you are falling into the temptation of Satin.  Keep your heart, mind, and thoughts on God.  Trust in him, and you will not fall into Satin's trap.  He wants you to fail and lose hope, but God wants you to suceed and never give up.  Hold true to that.

Songs and Artists

    What are some your favorite artists and songs?  Some of my new favorites are Love the Way You Lie covered by Colton Dixon, and Blown Away by Carrie Underwood.  Most of my favorite artists are Christain artists: Francesca Battistelli, Matt Maher, Laura Story, Bitt Nicole, to name a few.  What are your favorites?

What Should I Blog About?

    Does anyone have any ideas on what I should blog about next?  Should I do a contest?  Something else? I want to write about something that I can easily write about.... Maybe something that will bring happiness and joy to others.

Believe

    Believing in yourself is important.  Once you believe in yourself, you will have the confidence and motivation to do anything.  Confidence and motivation will help you to see that anything is possible with God.  God makes anything and everything possible.  He gives you eyes to see beyond your small world, and into his amazing world. 

Treasure Your Life

We have one life, besides when we get to go to heaven to be with God.  Treasure every moment and enjoy it, because it goes by so fast.  Spend time with your friends, and family, and with God.  Spend your time like you have very little of it.

Love Yourself

    It's important to love who you are.  We all have things that we don't like about ourselves, but God made us beautiful.  We are made in his perfect and divine image.  We are like God.  You are lovely and beautiful just the way you are, never change that for anything.  God wouldn't want you to.

20 Followers for Claudia

    My blogger friend, Claudia, wants to do another photo contest, but first she needs to get 20 followers.  If you are not yet following Claudia, please follow her! She has an amazing and encouraging blog!  She's awesome! :)

Love Everyone

    Most of time it's easy to love your family and friends.  But it becomes harder to love them if they have hurt you, said something to you that made you bad, or said something about you that wasn't true.  We are to love everyone, even our enemies. 
    In 1 John 4:19 it says, "We love because he first loved us."  We are called by God to love others just as he has loved us.  God always loves us, even though we are sinners and make mistakes. He wants us to be like him, so aren't we to be like him and love others through their mistakes?
   

In the Hands of God

    We are always kept safe in the hands of God.  He protects us.  In Psalm 139:10 it says, "even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  The globe is placed in his hands, and if He wanted to, He could squish the earth with a clenching of his fist.  But He doesn't.  God takes care of us through our darkest times.  He always is watching us, noticing when we please him.

What Your Style Says About You

    Everyone of us has our own personal and unique style.  Some people know their style and love it, and some recognize it and want to change because it doesn't reveal who they really are.  Those people know, but other people may judge that person because of their looks and what they wear. 
    What you wear, how you wear it, and how you present it says a lot about you.  Some people have an eye for style.  They can easily put together an outfit. 
    What you wear should reflect your personality.  If you have a bubbly and fun personality, your clothes should reflect that.  Your clothes should reflect who you are; a wonderful, smart, and beaituful individual.

The Power of God

    God has the power to change people.  God has the power to do what no one else can.  God has the power to see what no one else sees.  He is always there though our darkest times, and through our happiest times, he's always there.  He keep our life in balance and steadies us when we stumble and fall.  God gives life meaning.  God gives our life grace. 
   No matter where we are, we can always reach him and call to him when we need him most.  Even when we feel like no one can connect to us, he can, and he does.  Anytime you need him.  Millions of people have felt encouragment though Jesus Christ, and he's waiting for you to reach out to him so that he can bless your life too.

My Salad

(This photo is for Claudia's food photo contest.)  I made this salad a couple days ago for lunch.  It was really good! :)

Be Thankful

    Be thankful for what you have.  Most people don't have what you have.  We often forget to be thankful for what we own, the people we know, and the places we go.  He has given us so much.  All of us are blessed and we need to thank God for that.

God of This City

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Be Original, Not a Copy

    Have you ever heard of the quote, "You were born original.  Don't die a copy."  That saying is true.  You should be yourself and not try to be someone your not.  Even though we all have imperfections and someone you know may seem like they are perfect, they are really not.  They have imperfections just like you and me.  You don't need to be like anybody else because you are perfect just the way you are.  Don't copy the way somebody else acts or thinks.  God made you without any mistakes, he made you perfectly.  He created you in his perfect and divine image.

Best Possible Life

    Do you want to live the best possible?  To live life to the fullest?  Having a relationship with God will meet your requirements and more.  He brings people peace, love, happyiness, comfort, and contentment.  God is a god of love, mercy, and order.  He loves us so much and he will never stop loving us even though we are all sinners.   
    In John 3:16 it says, "For God so loved the world that he gave he one and only son, and that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  God loves us so much that he sent his son for us.  If you truly believe in him, you shall have eternal life and go heaven with God when you die.  And God promises that for everyone.

God's Love

    God's love is unfailing and it never ends.  He will always love us no matter what we have done, even though it may not have been pleasing to him.  But we have the power to confess our sins, and once we do, he will forgvie us.
    In Jude 1:21 it says, "keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."  We all must remember that God will always love us and that we must all love him.  Look what he has done for us! He died on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins! Love God, just as he has loved you.

Spring/Summer Fashion Trends

    You may not be fashionable or into wearing the latest clothes but here are some of the latest spring/summer trends:
   1.  Neon:  Neon colors are very popular this season.  Mint green is a popular color, along with orange, bright blue, yellow, and hot pink.  Pairing a long, bold, pink and lime green neckace with a brown or white shirt with a pair of dark wash jeans will make the perfect outfit.
   2.  All White:  Wearing all white is also in the season. A white shirt, white pants, and a pair of white shoes.
   3. Whimsical Patterns: From deer prints, feathers, and many others, these are all in. Blouses and dresses will have it. Anything big and bold.
4. Stripes and Polka-Dots: You can almost never go wrong with stripes, even though wearing horizontal stripes may not be the best opnion. Most of the time, vertical stripes are the way to go. Pokla-Dots were in season last year, but I believe that pokla-dots will never go out of style.
5. Florals: They are really big this spring and summer. Whether they are on a dress, blouse, or on a cardigan, sporting this look in every shade imaginable will show your beauty.

Hope you were inspired to try out some these latest fashion trends!

Pride

    Pride is the chief of all sins.  In Proverbs 11:2 it says, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."  Be humble in everything that you do and don't let pride consume you.  Don't let it take over.  After all, God wants us to be an example for everyone and how can we be a good example when we are full of pride?

Popularity

    Most teenagers want to be popular.  They want to be talked about at lunch and be the coolest person around.  But is popularity always a good thing?  Sure, you may be invited to fun parties, hang out with "cooler" people, and have lots or friends, but does that really mean that you are happy with your life and enjoy it? 
    No, it doesn't.  Popularity is not necessary, although it may be fun at times.  Being popular doesn't bring you privacy.  Friends may be constantly texting you or wanted your attention.  After all, in God's eyes, he will always see you as the popular one even though you may not be in reality.  God sees you as precious gold and he greatly values you.  We are his children.  We are his sons and daughters so it makes sense that he values and loves us.  Read his Word and keep your heart on God and you will always know that you will be valuable and popular.

Be An Example For God

    God has called us to be like him.  He wants us to follow his example and show God to others.  He has called us to show and spread God's word to others who don't know Him so that they will personally the amazing God that has changed lives.  If you accept Him as your Savior, your name will forever be written in the book of life.  You will go to heaven.
    In John 13:15 it says, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."  As said in verse, God has set an example for us and we are commanded by God to follow it.  We are to live out what God told us to do.  After all, he all-knowing and allmighty.

Beauty: How It Should Be Portrayed

    Beauty: A combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.  Beauty doesn't mean you need to be perfect in every way, shape, of form.  Being beautiful is important, but not always necessary.  Most girls love to experiment with different make-up products or go shopping together and try on cool clothes.  It may give you more compliments and friends, but that doesn't mean you don't have any inner beauty or can't make friends.  Being beautiful is not about being the "coolest" human being and being the most popular person around.
    Did you know that God sees you a diamond?  We are precious and extremely valuable to Him! We are like gold!  In 1 Peter 3:3 it says, "Your beauty should not come from outward addornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing or gold jewelry or fine clothes."  We are beautiful just the way God made us.  Don't strive to be someone your not, be who are.  God sees you as a beautiful and valuable individual no matter who you are or what you look like. 

The Power of Family

    Having family or relatives in your life is very important whether they live with you, next door, or far away.  Most of the time, they make you feel valued, loved, and happy.  They make you feel content. Without a family in a persons life, someone may feel broken or sad.  They may constantly feel that they are never loved and that no one recognizes them for who they are, an amazing individual that deserves a chance to be cared and valued in their life.
    In Peter 4:8 it says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."  We must love each other and our family, even though they may have said or acted in a way that was not pleasing to God or people around them.  We must each other and love God, because God commands it.

God's Bigger Story

    God has a bigger story for each of us.  He has a plan for our lives.  He gives you the hope to continue life even if it's in a hole and it seems like you can't escape.  He places us on solid ground, and he is always in control no matter what problems we face.  You may have something else in mind, but God's ulimatly knows the right way for your life. 
    In Proverbs 23:18 it says, "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."  God gives you hope for eternity.  You can put your life in his hands, and he will always keep you safe from the world.  In Psalm 31:24 it also says, "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Stand strong in God's word and never let go of it.  He will keep you safe forever.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The Value of Love

    As human being, we all want to feel loved, valued and appreciated.  We feel a sense of belonging and self-worth because of it.  Most often, our families and our friends give us love.  They make us feel valued.  But unfortunately, some familes do not provide that.  Some children or teens may belong to a family that does not value them or take care of them like their parents should.  They neglect their children! 
      In John 15:12, it says "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you."  Just as God has always loved us, we must love each other! We must love our friends and families! We must not neglect them! We all have the desire to be loved, valued, and appriciated, so lets do what Jesus did.  Love each other as he has loved you.

The Benefits of Christian Music

    You may have thought at some time that all music is fun, not harmful, to listen to.  But does that statement really say that secular music is ok and clean to listen to?  No. Not at all.  And as a matter of fact, Christian music can be just as cool as secular music.  Even though most of the world may listen to a certain genre of music, that do not mean that you have to conform with society. 
    When you listen to Christian music, God's word and holy spirit will be with you.  You are putting his word and his speech in your heart.  The lyrics from those songs will be with you thoughout your day.  His inspiring words will be permenantly set in your heart. 
    Many people have been changed through godly music.  They had been struggling and one day they come across a Christian radio station playing, at that moment, the perfect song for their life.  It personally speaks to their heart.  By listening to godly and inspiring music, their life becomes changed forver, and so can yours.

Confidence

    Confidence is a great qualities to pocess.  Confidence often shows that you are happy with yourself.  When you are sad, others will not want to approach you.  But when you are happy others will see that you appear friendly and kind.  They will say "She's happy with who she is!"  Confident people are not prideful, they are willing to go the extra mile to make someone happy, and they are willing to take risks.  Even if someone may mock or critize them for something they have done, they don't let that knock them down.  They stand strong in a situation.  If they made a mistake, then they learn from mistake.  
    Having a personal relationship with God will also increase your confidence.  God gives you hope, strength, love, kindness, peace, and many others things.  The list never ends!  It goes on forever! Confidence can be what makes you stand out from the crowd, in a good way. 

God's Forgiveness

     God's love is unfailing.  God's forgiveness and mercy never ends. He always forgives us no matter what we have done.  No matter the cost.  God's love, mercy, and forgivenss are plentiful and they never run out.  They are always in full supply.  
     We are always able to reach to him when we need him most.  And if we recognize that we have done something wrong, that we have sinned, God will not hesitate, he will gadly forgive us.  Sometimes people think that they have done something that is so wrong that God could never forgive them, but that is far from the truth.  God will forgive them for everything, even if they think that he won't.  God's love is unfailing.  God's forgiveness never ends.  God mercy continues forever.

Friends: Why They Are Necessary

     Friends are an important part of life.  When you are a teenager, friends can be like siblings to you.  You are able to tell them anything, maybe even something that they wouldn't tell their parents.  Friends may even understand you better than your parents.  They are there for you when you need them most. 
     Friends stand up for each other when they need it most.  They help and support one another through each of their stuggles.  God protects them through that time as well.  He will always keep them safe.  People, often in their childhood, make friends that last a lifetime.  A friendship with that person will increase as you spend more time together.  They are always there to support you and pick you back up again if you fall. 
    Friends, whether you stay lifelong buddies, are important to your relationships in life.  They can bring you confidence and motivation.  They often keep you from being sad.  I have often read and heard stories of how a friend has dramatically changed a persons life and that would have not been able to continue living life without that person.  Friends have changed most peoples life, and they have changed mine. 

The Importance of God

     God is the key to your life, and without him you will stumble and fall. God prevents you from falling, and he always picks you up again. God guides you and keeps you on the right path.  He guides you back on the path if you take a detour.  God keeps your life in balance, even if at some point you lose your balance.  He is the one and only God, and he will always be. 
     Since God created the world and every living and breathing creature in it, don't you think he can save us from our biggest problems in life?  He is more powerful than any of our problems.  God can, and will, save us.  He is all mighty and powerful! One day when Jesus comes back to earth to bring us to heaven with him, we will see his miraculous strength and glory.  We know that he is, and always will be, the one true God.

Appropriate Clothing Can Be Beautiful

Some girls think that they need to wear reveiling clothing to look beautiful, but that's not the truth. It's far from it.  For example, Taylor Swift is a great role-model. Most teens today look up to her.  She always dresses appropriately and is tasteful. Most teenagers today should act and dress like her.  She displays natural beauty, and her clothes mirror that.  You do not need to wear revealing clothes to get attention or love. Some girls do it because no one seems to love them.  God always does, and he will never stop loving you. You can always recieve love and attention from appropriate clothing, and you might even recieve more.  Show your natural beauty, not the kind that revealing clothing brings you.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! This is the day that Jesus has risen from the grave! He rose again from the grave after three days of being dead.  We celebrate this day as Easter Sunday.  We go to church today to praise for God for coming alive again.  He paid for all of our sins on the cross so that we didn't have to bear that burden, he did.  He did it out of kindness and compassion.  We thank him for taking our sins, dieing for us, and coming back to life.

Outward Beauty: Not the Key to Happiness

    You may think somebody's life is perfect because of how they look and how they act.  They wear the newest trends and hang out with the coolest people, but does that really mean that they never encounter barriers or are upset from time to time? Not necessarily.  They may look like their life is perfect, but in reality, it's not.  Their life could be off track.  They could be putting up a barrier so that people don't see who they really are. But most importantly, they do not possess inner beauty.  Inner beauty is extremly more important then outward beauty.  It shows who you really are, even though you may not hang out with the "right" crowd or live in a big house.  It can show that you are on God's path and that you are genuinely confident about yourselve and who you are.  You become more motivated and determined to do what's right and to never stray from God's path.  Inner beauty doesn't depend on what you look like from the outside, it's what matters most on the inside.