closed windows.

Well, I'm going to be completely honest. I did not come up with this post. It's from the sermon I heard the other day, which was totally amazing by the way. And it got me to thinking. We had a guest pastor (Bro. Jason is preaching a revival in his hometown) and he talked about relationships. Relationships in which we get hurt. And we think, "Jesus, you say you know what I'm going through. Nobody's every lied to you, betrayed your trust." But that's not true. Judas betrayed him with a kiss! A kiss! The most sincere gesture to show someone how much you love them. Peter betrayed him too. Jesus even predicted he would deny ever knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed. Sure enough, he did. I've been hurt by my friends too. Hurt bad. Secrets have been told, promises have been broken. And I've closed my window. The window to my heart, as he put it. I've sealed it shut, and it hasn't been opened in a long time. I haven't tried to make another "best friend" because I've been hurt so many times in the past. But God wants us to make best friends. He doesn't want us to be on the outside looking in. He wants us to give friends that have hurt us a second chance. He wants us to give them our heart, even though its been broken. He wants us to keep loving.

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

They'll know that we're His disciples by the way we love one another.

And as usual, I have a song to go along with my post :)

"The Outside" by Taylor Swift talks about the outside looking in. Well, when we close our windows and don't let people in, how can they have a chance to make it up to us?

living a lie?

Christians tend to do this. Live lies I mean. I've even been guilty of it at times. You go to church, youth events, and even wear Christian T-shirts. But are you really walking the walk? Or are you just talking the talk. I think I've been talking the talk lately. Jesus died on the cross for me, yet I don't take fifteen minutes to just say, "Hey God. How've You been?" I don't reach out to people at school that are hurting--I just pass them by. I like staying in my comfort zone, and I rarely step out of it. Does this make me a bad Christian? No, it makes me human. But it does mean I need to put forth more effort. I need to reach out to that kid who's sitting all alone in the lunch room. I need to step out of my comfort zone and tell the world what it needs. Yes, this is a song. By Casting Crowns. You can listen to it on my blog-iPod :)

What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind,
Another two bit politician peddlin` lies,
Another three ring circus society.

What this world needs
Is not another sign wavin` super saint that's better than you,
Another ear pleasin` candy man afraid of the truth,
Another prophet in an Armani suit.

What this world needs
Is a Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love them in their time of need.

A Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love,
That's what this world needs.

What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside.
Have we become so blind that we can't see?
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt.

What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance.
Blendin` in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free.

What this world needs
Is a Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love them in their time of need.

A Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love,
That's what this world needs.
People aren't confused by the gospel,
They're confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God,
But we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn't need
My tie, my hoodie,
My denomination, or my translation of the Bible,
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe,
But we can't strap ourselves to the gospels.
Because we're slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world,
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way.

What this world needs
Is a Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love them in their time of need.

A Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love,
That's what this world needs.

Jesus is our Savior,
That's what this world needs
Father's arms around you,
That's what this world needs
That's what this world needs

So, don't live a lie. Cause the best thing we can do is just get out of the way and let Jesus work through us.

Blessings && smiles,

anna :)

RaNdOmNeSs!

Uggh! I just told you guys I would be posting on Mondays and Fridays, and I've already missed a Monday! I'm really sorry. I was up till ten last night working on an iMovie for Social Studies, and it just slipped my mind. But I'm here today :) And today is my first volleyball game! Woo! I'm not the best player on the team, but it's tons of fun :) So please pray for me to do my absolute best. Hmm...what would you guys (or should I be saying girls?) like for me to post? Are you getting tired of my songs? Do you want more life-lessons? Please leave a comment and let me know :) This post has a lot of smilies. Hahaha :) Guess I'm in a good mood!

Well here's what I'm doing/saying/thinking at this very moment:

Loving: Jesus :)

Sitting in: US History

Thinking about: VOLLEYBALL!

Hungry for: Double Stuf Oreos

Song I'm singing: Place In This World by Taylor Swift

Talking to: Shannon (one of my best friends :D)

Hoping: To see the senior guy in the hallway again (a girl can dream can't she?)

Blessings && smiles,

anna :)

reaching for (original song)

Hey ya'll :) I'm already getting overwhelmed by school again, and it's only the first week! I have homework in six of the eight classes I'm taking. Blahhhh :( But the good news is that I have all weekend to finish it! Yay! I'm definitely ready for some rest and relaxation. So, being so busy with school, volleyball, and youth group, it's hard to keep my focus on the One who matters most. Jesus. And I'm working on a song about just that.

I'm walking down this road
Just trying not to stumble and fall
What means everything to me
Does it really matter at all?

I just don't know
where I'm going now...

I get so caught up in this world around me
And everything that's surrounding me
Reaching for more
I'm lost in this mess that we call life
And I can't seem to find
What I'm reaching for

Still walking down this road
And I keep falling down
But I get back up again
Get my feet back on the ground

Cause I'm just a girl
wanting something more...

I get so caught up in this world around me
And everything that's surrounding me
Reaching for more
I'm lost in this mess that we call life
And I can't seem to find
What I'm reaching for

Then You remind me
I'm not walking this road alone...

Now I'm lost in You, You're all around me
You're everything that's surrounding me
Love that is true
I'm giving You my hopes, my dreams
Cause You have set me free
And I'm reaching for You

so-long self :)

Well, I'm sitting in Word Processing bored out of my ever-loving mind. Not the liveliest class of the day. Anyway...I have a new life-verse. And for those of you wondering, "What's a life-verse?", it's a verse that represents your life.

I used to use Jeremiah 29:11--"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Don't get me wrong; it's a totally inspiring verse and a great verse to live by.

But I've found a new one that describes me and my life better. It's Galations 2:20--My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Technically, I'm not alive anymore. It's Christ living in me. So everything I say and do should reflect Him. People know I'm a Christian. But my actions gotta back me up, or else they'll say, "You're just like everybody else, so why should I get saved?"

So I challenge you to say so-long self and hello Jesus :)

P.S. Here's the song "So-long Self" by Mercy Me

P.S.S. I'll be posting on Mondays and Fridays from now on!

P.S.S.S. Blessings && smiles!

oh, the joys of high school!

Well, I'm back to school again. Joy, joy :P I'm sitting in Life Skills as we speak (or as I'm writing, but whatever). I like high school so far. Actually, I like it a lot. Everyone said that being a freshman would be HORRIBLE, but it's really not. The first three days have flown by, although I doubt the rest of the school year will :) My favorite class so far is Art 1, but it's too soon to tell, ya know? Anyways...I've gotta tell you about my amazing first day. So, my first to classes were normal--nothing special. But then I went back to my locker to get my lunch box (the school lunches aren't that great. Okay, they're terrible). I was one of the last few people in the hallway, so I sorta looked lost. At least that's what he thought. This super-cute senior asked me if I needed help finding anything. I was like "No, I'm good." "Okay," was all he said, and he went on his merry way. What he didn't know is that he had made a little freshman's first day of high school one of the best days ever. Total God-thing if you ask me. The whole time I was nervous and worried about messing up, God was thinking, "Don't worry, Anna. I've got your back." And He did. Oh, the joys of high school! (and God :D)

Blessings && smiles,

anna :)