Change

The past few months have been a time of major change for me. For a long time I had been falling away from God. I had gone through some hard times and was seriously starting to doubt his existence. The times when I chose not to listen to God are the times in my life I regret the most. Every time I have tried to get through things on my own, without God, I have fallen flat on my face. I felt like I had screwed up too much for God to take me back. A few months ago I started going to Revolution youth group at a church in my town. Honestly I sort of wandered in there on my own, curious. It really is one of the best decisions I have ever made. They started playing worship music and It really is awesome to sing praises to God aloud. There's a power in that. The first night I was there, we sand a song called You Never Let Go by Matt Redman. Its about how God will never leave us and never give up on us. It just really touched me, and I started crying. Yeah, I know Im a dork, crying on my first night in a new youth group in front of a buch of people I dont know. But back to the point. I realized that God never had left my side, through all of those hard times, and he was still there for me then. That night I rededicated myself to God, and I started going to church and to youth group all the time. Im reading my bible almost every day, and Im praying all the time. My life has done a complete 180 degree turn.
Martin Luther King Weekend the youth group went on a retreat. I didnt think I would be able to go, due to costs, but the wednesday before the retreat my youth pastor came up to me and told me that if I could get half the money, I could go. And I got half the money. I am so greatful I was able to go on the retreat, because It really brought me even closer to god. The holy spirit was all over that chapel. It was awesome. The worship was awesome, the speakers were awesome, and just being able to get together and pray together was awesome. I was baptized in the Holy spirit that weekend, and it really was the most incredible experience. There was no way that I could not believe in Him now. The theme of the weekend was Change. That no matter what you've done, no matter what you've gone through, God can change you. And in turn, god can use you to change the world. It really was awesome, and there was no way that I could have left that retreat without being changed, completely transformed.

Pride

Recently I've realized that I have alot of pride, more than I should. I take pride in my grades, in my art, just in myself and in my awesomeness. (Just kidding about that last one) And while it is good to have good grades and to be good at art, I shouldnt think of these things as my own, and I shouldnt rely on these things to have self-worth. How I feel about myself shouldnt be related to my grades. My talents and my gifts come from God, not from myself. I've always wanted to become famous. Not Britney Spears Famous, Mother Theresa Famous. I wanted to become famous for doing good things. I wanted to go out and help alot of people, I wanted to build schools in Africa, make sure every child recieved an education, help the modern-day-slaves, and save the world (that last part might be an exxageration). I think part of me wanted people to know that I did these things. I knew that I recieve joy just by helping people, but think I also wanted people to know that I did it and think i was a great person.
While its great to want to do these things and help people, it should never be about my own glory. The only person who should ever recieve glory from anything I do is God. Everything I do should be about bringing God glory.
I've also realized that I have to be content with where I am now and where I'm supposed to be now. God is using me and working through me all the time, and he has a reason for everything. He is using me now and needs me to be where I am now.
That doesnt mean I shouldnt have goals or aspirations, just that I should focus on the present more.
So Im really going to try to focus on being Humble from now on.

Heres a good verse about humility:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

Dusty Feet

So I've decided to use my first real post to highlight an organization called Dusty Feet.
Jared Flower, a youth-leader in my church is going to be moving to california next week in order to help work for this organization. Jared will be greatly missed but we know that he will be helping alot of people, and God wants him to be there.
The Mission statement for Dusty Feet is as follows:
The mission of Dusty Feet is to be an advocate for those oppressed by poverty without creating a foundation of dependency. The Dusty Feet Organization is focused on community development and education for people society has dismissed: the street child, commercial sex worker, child soldier, or anyone subjugated by deprivation. Dusty Feet cares for and shows respect for all people regardless of race, religion, culture and socioeconomic status.
Dusty Feet is an awesome organization that works with street children, child soldiers, and human trafficking victims in east africa.
They work by building a 'micro economy' in some of the worst slums, creating businesses that will then use their profits towards a community center that will provide HIV/AIDS teseting, a feeding program for local children, and life-skills training.
It really is a great organization. If you would like to learn more about it or donate to it, the website is located here: http://www.dustyfeetonline.com/index.php

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 58:6-7