BIG UPDATE!

Well everyone what I'm about to say next is probably gonna surprise some people and please don't get mad that if I didn't tell you personally: this past month has been awesome but crazy! Class; I would like y'all to meet my beautiful girlfriend Emma Krueger! I don't have time for a complete story tonight (maybe that will come later) but I had to let y'all know! Emma is super awesome and loves the Lord a whole lot! Y'all are also probably wondering what that is we are holding haha! That is our elephant book! also a great story, but basically it holds all of our super ideas of things we want to do! I know all of y'all have a very important question in your minds...Yes everyone; Emma does like Peace Tea! This is a picture of her first sip ever....What a great night that was! Anyways, since I know you are probably gonna end up reading this Emma: I want you to know I think you are incredible! I can't help but be happy when we are together and I look forward to whatever God has planned for our futures! So that is all I have for the moment folks but I had to keep y'all in THE KNOW! Peace

Stand Up....And Make War

God did about 100 really cool things in my life today! I love days like this because more than ever you just see His face in every move you make and situation you encounter. But lately God has been pressing on my heart the idea of boldly standing up for Him, in Him, and with Him. Its been going on now for probably a week...a verse here....a realization there. Allot of what I have seen have been how imperfect I am at this....I see in my life everyday chances I have to proclaim his name but I don't.....Or a chance I get to choose him instead of the sinful desires of my flesh, but I don't...Or a chance to just encourage a struggling friend, but I neglect to do so. I am so thankful Christ didn't call us to be perfect....I am so thankful that Christ tells me to come as I am and let Christ work in me and change me. But on to this idea of standing up! I know I am not perfect...But that does not mean Christ hasn't called me to take radical actions to be more like Him each and every day! There are soooo many verses in Scripture that address this issue! Examples would be Galatians 5:1 or 1 Corinthians 16:3 or Ephesians 6:13!!!! I would encourage you to go look them up! But tonight I watched two videos that really just got me pumped about standing up! And of course I want to show those to you! The first is a pumped up sermon from my main man John Piper! The second is a video called make war by Tedashii! Hope y'all enjoy and feel like punching sin in the face like I did after you watch them!

As For Me And My House

It's Been A While

So, its been probably over a month or more since I last posted! I wish I could tell you all kinds of crazy things have happened (Such as I grew wings and learned to fly, put out a record and made millions of dollars, and got married) but none of that has happened. School has been going as hard as ever and I have been doing lots of studying for the ACT. Tomorrow is the last day of spring break...I could cry! BUT! I started off the week in an amazing fashion! I went up to Vanderbilt to visit my awesome friends Michael and Rachel! It was a dad gum blast (Roll Tide/ Go Dores) Then then the rest of the week...I worked and studied for the act haha! Not a bunch to say but I promise to be a little better about posting!

Sadie Pics!

My Late Night Update!

Hey Ya'll! Yes it is 3:15 in the morning:):):):) Just got home from a super fun filled night at Vestavia's Sadie Hawkins which was so great! My date (Lauren Henderson) looked absolutely beautiful/amazing! Sooooooo I will have pictures up of tonight as soon as I can! I would say I am in the pictures too but some of y'all would never look at my blog again in fear of having to see me haha! Well I'm pretty much exhausted but I'll have pictures soon!

Its Been A Fun Ride...

Well... iv been on a journey that started when I was 4 years old that somewhat came to an end today. Ever since I can remember, from January first till around the end of July, I have lived and breathed baseball! I've always loved the sport and still really do! But due to where God has me this year, I came to the conclusion last night that baseball at Briarwood High School wasn't going to work out this year. I took a look at what was ahead of me this next semester and just didn't see how I was going to fit everything in.... 1- I have school which I'm trying to raise my GPA as high as possible this semester so I can get into the National Honors Society.2- I have scouts and as of tonight I start the last stretch towards Eagle!3- I have the ACT that I am studying for.4- I am heavily involved in my youth group (BYG!!). 5-I have all kinds of stuff going on with things that I do for the special needs ministries at Briarwood Church and Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. So I got allot....So today I went and talked to three of my coaches and had to tell them I wasn't going to be able to play this year. It wasn't easy...I knew I needed to, and I really was looking forward to having a little more time to get things done but coming to the end of something that i have been doing for so long definitely was hard.
      Luckily I have been getting offers and being recruited heavily by another fairly high class team here in the city! I decided that it's where i need to be if I am going to take that shot at going pro;) Rec. Ball here I come! I'm super excited I haven't had to completely give up something I love so much! I'm going to be playing with some really good friends for a rec. league this spring!
      So anyways...Its been real...and its been fun...and yes it actually has been real fun! but I am also excited to see what God is going to do with this semester!

Bondage to Freedom....How?

Iv been on an interesting journey these past few days....I journey that God is sending me on and revealing certain truths to me through all kinds of things. And they are all pointing me to a truth...Freedom. Whether you are right now or not...you have at one point in your life been a slave to something. And odds are you are right now...you are to some degree. Bondage can come in so many forms. It can be that you are hooked on pornography and no matter how hard you try...you just cant stop. Or it could be that you desire popularity so much that you are a slave to whatever it takes to get to where you want to be. Or it could be a substance...that has taken over your life and it is what is controlling you. Or it could be worry. Or it could be straight up selfishness. Or it could be food. Or it could be religion. Or it could be a sport. Or it could be you girlfriend/boyfriend. Or it could be sex. Or it could be....ANYTHING.
I'm saying all this for a reason and it is that you can not become free until you admit that you are a slave...I also say this to show you that so often we wont admit to ourselves that we are a slave to something (I'm not a slave, i could stop anytime i want to) We look at is as something to be ashamed about...sin is not an easy thing to deal with sometimes.
But lets move on to the answer to the problem. How do we break free?
You are locked to something....or maybe multiple things. And regardless of what it is... you are a slave to it... you are locked in and there is only one key.
The first thing that should be done is to clear up common misconceptions about what that key is...
1- it is not self determination and will power (You and I are just not strong enough to break free on our own. I have tried it but now matter how much I wanted it...I just couldn't)
2- it is not advice from self help or even friends
But there is a key....and it is truth.
You have been lied to by the father of lies. Satan tells you every day that you can not break free from sin. Satan tells you every day that there is no way out. Satan tells you every day that this world is what you need. Satan tells you that there isn't anything better out there for you.
The answer lies in John 8:31-32
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

So freedom comes from the word where we find truth...and the truth will set us free! True freedom comes from Christ because He is truth.
Just a few more verses on freedom that God has shown me that I would like to share with you:
Galatians 5:1
"for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery"
Romans 6:22
"but now that you have been set free from sin and have become servants of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."
2 Corinthians 3:17
"now the Lord is spirit, and where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom."
John 8:36
"so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"

I hope through reading this you have come to realize where freedom comes from. My prayer is that you will get in His word...and flood yourself with the truth, because of your desire to become free. I'm praying that whoever reads this will be turned to the father and will see His glory.

Love Y'all

Fear.

     What is fear? If you were to ask dictionary.com, they would tell you that fear is: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid
    
You don't have to be told what fear is...we experience fear all the time. And if right now you are denying it...well, your not being honest with yourself. In John 6:33, His word tells us that in this world we will face tribulation. And I wish I could tell you that when the struggles come, and when the hard times roll in, I stand up and proclaim that God is in control. But...I don't. Sometimes I question God...
     I just finished listening to a sermon by David Nasser that was truly just amazing. He was preaching on Isaiah 41:9-10 which says "you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from the farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off" ; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
     Notice what comes after the "fear not"....That's right...Its a comma. That comma is for me. And if when you read that "fear not" statement and your think to yourself, "well hold up. that's easier said than done. Do you know whats going on in my life right now? Do you know what I'm going through?"
If that's you....God put that comma in there for you too. Cause here is what that comma is saying..."I know your struggles are big! I'm not discounting them in the least! I know that you are tempted every day and sometimes you just feel weak. I know that trials and tribulations come and they seem overwhelming. I know that you honestly feel like the world is closing in on you sometimes. I know that you are facing financial troubles. I know that you have a family member who is really sick and you are scared out of your mind. I know that your relationship with your parents is really bad right now and all you want is guidance but don't know where to find it. I know you are depressed and cant find joy in this life anymore. BUT GUESS WHAT...I AM BIGGER."
"For I am with you."
                                                                             Love y'all




P.S.- if you want to listen to this sermon which I would REALLY REALLY REALLY encourage you to do just click on this link. It honestly is worth watching every single minute of it!

http://player.vimeo.com/video/30737755?portrait=0

This Is Love...Gotta Watch This

Sometimes It Just Takes Your Breath Away...

Hey yall, I just got home from a 3 day backpacking trip up to Clingmans Dome which is the second highest point east of the mississippi river! Man it was absolutely beautiful! and of course...I HAVE PICTURES!!!!
But first let me tell ya...When I saw these views, it really did just take my breath away. I love the pictures but this was the kind of view you have to see to really understand it. I stood there thinking to myself that I was the smallest thing on earth...Like compared to some of the amazing things and sights God created...Im like a spec!

A New Year

So its been a while since I last posted! Things have been a little crazy but here we go....2012! The world didnt end whatever idiot told us that one... I honestly have no clue what to expect from this year! In the past two years allloottt has been changing in my life! Sometimes its hard to keep up with it all. Luckily God is in control so I dont have to worry cause He is the one thing in my life that will never change!
So a few things have happend in 2012 that are worthy of sharing!
       The first thing is that I got as to Vestavias Sadie Hawkins by Lauren Henderson....WITH PEACE TEA! Thats right folks...PEACE TEA! I cant think of a better way for anyone to ask me! So im excited about that! Ill get pics up and tell yall all about that after it happens!
     Also with school starting back we got our schedules for the second semester and because I didnt get into computer lit...I GOT TWO STUDY HALLS ROLL TIDE!
       Break is almost over for my college friends and they either have or will be heading back soon...I miss them like crazy when they are gone! I love when they are home but it makes it that much harder to see them leave again...One and a Half more years...I can do this! (Caroline..when you read this calm down...Im not wishing my life away and I will enjoy high school)
  So thats bout all I got for now but i cant wait to see what God does in this new year!
P.S.- ROLL TIDE TO SOUTHERN PRIDE! (michael...get yourself some camo)

    

     

ROLL TIDE

Why Do I Even Try...

OK, so I made it through my first two exams....I'm still alive but Math was so dad gum hard! But its over that that is what really matters to be honest! But this day threw me a little curve ball around 4 o'clock! So I get home today around 12 and I'm exhausted so I lay down for a while and around 4 I decide it is time to start studying. I only have one exam tomorrow and I wasn't very worried because it is just a Bible exam and I have a really good grade in Bible! So I open up my backpack and pull out my Bible binder and it is much lighter than usual....and when I opened it...completely empty. NOTHING IN IT PEOPLE! Then I remember we had to take all our stuff out and put it in a folder and turn it in for a notebook check! few...that was a close one! Then...I start looking through my backpack for my folder! WHERE IS IT?? So I call my brosef Jonathan and was like "Did Coach give us back our Bible folders???" and what an answer i get..."uhh..well this is awkward...We were supposed to pick them up Monday or today after our exam!" Well isn't that just dandy...So I have a exam tomorrow covering 18 weeks worth of material and nothing to study with! This is what we call inconvenient my friends... Luckily all I have to make to keep and A in that class is a 60 on the exam but still....I am a very hard working student and don't like not being able to study! Hope my misfortune could bring some joy to your day...or night! Nothing like being happy because something bad happened to someone else and it finally wasn't you this time! Don't worry haha...I give you permission  cause I would be laughing at you if this was your story!

Need Gods Help...

Ill have time for a real post tomorrow but until then I would really appreciate you praying for my Math and History exams tomorrow....I AM SO BAD AT MATH AND IM GONNA FAIL!