LifeStyle

This challenge isn't about just changing my habits with people in youth group, and around Church. It's not just about learning to live without Facebook for a month.
This challenge for me, is about creating a new lifestyle. I've realized how much sin I have allowed to be in my life and become part of me, that I wasn't even aware of anymore. This covenant is about changing my lifestyle in all areas, with all the people in my life. It's about becoming the person God wants me to be.
I'm excited to become more like the person God wants me to be, and begin to work hard at getting rid of the things that my Savior isn't pleased with me.

Lord, thank you for this relationship covenant, and that through it I've become aware of some things in my life that I need to change. Thank you God for this challenge to help me get started with the destiny you have for me.
Father, I also pray that you would be with each of my friends in youth group that are also partaking in this challenge. Help them to have the discipline and desire to become more like you, that they may be stretched in their faith.
In your name I pray, Amen

Days 2 & 3

 Due to some necessary college cramming for an exam I had this afternoon, I wasn't able to post last night. I apologize. But all of you reading this that have experienced or are experiencing college now, will understand where I'm coming from. If you're not yet at that stage in life, trust me, one day soon, you too, will understand.
 First, let's talk about day 2.
 Yesterday was Thursday, which was the climax of my extremely busy week. Even though I could have been stressed out with my messy room, test to study for, etc. etc. I decided to enjoy the beautiful sunny day, take advantage of class being cancelled, and spend the majority of the day with my beautiful friend Coco. It was her last day in Salem before heading up to her current home in Washington, so I took advantage of an opportunity of having some quality girl time with her. As I spent time with her I realized that life doesn't have to be complicated. It's okay to just enjoy it for what it is; putting off the stresses and worries for a while, and just having fun. I quite often forget that, and I think God really wanted to remind me about that.

Day 3- Well, today was my exam, so I spent the majority of my morning studying hard core for it. (it went alright by the way, in case you were wondering. :-)
This evening I went and saw the play "Facing the Giants" performed by a local Christian youth theater program. My cousin Justin has the main role as the Coach. My cousin Jordan also has a role in the play, as well as many other friends. I couldn't be more proud of all of them! The performance was absolutely incredible! It made me both laugh and cry, and they couldn't have done a better job! Having the opportunity to go and both support all of them, and be moved by the story they told, was in itself, a gift from God.

This week, one of the things I am focusing on, is time management. I haven't been finding enough time in my day to spend one-on-one with God. I'm beginning by writing out my day, and seeing how I spent my time. Also noting the things I did that weren't as productive, and I could/should replace with time of mine that God definitely deserves.

Today, I received a challenge email from Pastor Joe. It challenged us to write a hand written letter to someone in our youth group, and mail it out Monday.
I was very excited to receive this challenge, because over the past two weeks or so, I have actually been thinking about beginning a routine to write two or three encouragement cards to different Crosswalk students each week, and give them to my friends at mid-week Crosswalk. I think this may be God telling me that would be something that would glorify Him, what do you think?

28 Day Challenge- Crosswalk Relationship Covenant. Day 1

During the month of February, my youth group and I are participating in a challenge called the "Crosswalk Relationship Covenant".
 Over the past three weeks in youth group we've been learning about "Active Love". And what it means to live it out.
In the following 28 days, each evening I will be posting a blog about my experience, what the Covenant is all about, and I will go more in detail about what Active Love is.
I will post about the things I'm learning, and the things that are stretching my faith. I will also talk about what I am working on, and how I see God using me through out each day.
To begin, I will tell you the seven basic things of which our Crosswalk Relationship Covenant consists:


1. Love my friends with action not words alone.
 -1 John 4:18

2.  Love my friends with words no more destructive posts, updates, or tweets.
 - James 1:26; 1 John 4:18; Ephesians 4:29

3. Confront sin in love, one on one, not through social networking, texts, gossip or slander.
 - Matthew 18

4. End gossip by refusing to listen to it, repeat it or pass it along.
 -Proverbs 16:28; 26:20

5. Promote unity by logging off Facebook for the month of February and making "face-to-face" the new norm.
 - Phillippians 4:2-3

6. Offering forgiveness even before someone asks.
 - Colossians 3:13

7. Giving God's grace by using my gifts to serve others during this month.
 - 1 Peter 4:9-11

Please go to www.icrosswalk.org to watch a video from my youth Pastor describing this Relationship Covenant, and what it's really all about. Who knows, maybe after you hear it, you'd like to hop on board and do the covenant along with me!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

After my stressful week of finals, I boarded a plane in Portland and headed down to Thousand Oaks, California for four amazing days with my friends from Bethany Church. I enjoyed four amazing days hanging out with my wonderful friends there. Of course, it would be raining the entire time I go to visit, but that didn't stop us having fun! It was fun to hang out with the youth group, and get to know people that I didn't know very well; that hadn't been to Mexico before. We had fun watching movies, going to Christmas parties, puddle splashing, going to basketball games, eating delicious bread sticks, music videos, Crossfire, getting soaking wet, Church, watching Modern Family, going to Sky High, and much much more. It was so great to spend time creating more unforgettable memories with my dear friends in California.
 After my time in California, I began my journey down to Autlan, Mexico. The emotion and anticipation as I spent the day on the plane and in the airport, was almost unbearable! I hadn't seen my family since October. I received six of the best hugs as I finally arrived in Guadalajara. Christian said to my mom before I got there that it was "the best day of his whole life". So cute!
 I was able to spend three absolutely incredible weeks with my family in Autlan. It was great to be able to spend quality time with my family again. I had missed them so much! We got to spend lots of time just joking around, watching movies, etc. It was great! I don't know what I would do without them!
The night after I arrived to Autlan, Morgan had a gymnastics performance in the center of town. It was so fun to watch her do her routine!
We had lots of Christmas parties the first week I was there, where I got to eat lots of authentic Mexican food. I had missed that a lot as well!
The first week in January, we took a family vacation to the beach, which was a blast! We hung out at the pool all weekend, went and saw Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, played games, and enjoyed soaking up the warm, Mexico sun.
 I was also blessed with being able to be reunited with my friends down in Autlan, and get to spend some time catching up with them as well. I spent a lot of time with the Silva family, who has become a special family to my family's hearts in Autlan. Rosa, Chavo, and Vicente Silva are three of my best friends in Autlan. Seeing how Chavo and Rosa have been growing closer in their walk with Christ since I left in August, was so encouraging!
I got to spend an afternoon at the Migrant Worker camp, playing with the kids, whom I had missed immensely! I got to see Justiano, a little boy who lives at the camp, and stole my heart this summer. He is so adorable, and I had missed him so much! I got the best hug and smile ever from him! If I could, I would adopt that him in a heartbeat. But for now, praying for him each day and enjoy the times I do get to go and visit him will do. :)
Also seeing Barbara, Josselyn, the Clark family, Isai, and so many more, was just amazing. I am so thankful and so blessed that God provided the way for me to spend my Christmas break in a country that is so special to me, with people that are very special to me as well.
I'm so thankful for all my family did for me to be there as well. I love you guys!!!
 College Christmas break number one- SUCCESS!!
But now second semester has begun. Which means homework loads, professors in bow ties, pop quizzes, and the crazy life of a college student is in full swing!!

For Unto Us a Child is Born....

Luke 2: The Birth of Jesus

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 ²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

This Christmas, I have been blessed beyond what I could have ever asked for, and given the beautiful gift of being able to celebrate the birth of my Savior with my family here in Autlan. 

 After my first semester in college, and all the changed that I've experienced in the past few months, it is so great to be able to come back to my home here in Mexico and relax. I have missed being with my family very, very much over that past few months, and it is so great to be able to spend good, quality time with them! 

 Christian, now almost 7 years old (I can't believe that!) said to my mom when they were going to pick me up at the airport on Tuesday, that it was "the greatest day of his whole life". How adorable is that?! 

Seeing my friends again, being with family, and being able to relax and enjoy not being cold here in Autlan, is the best Christmas present I could have asked for this year. 

 Since the night after I arrived to Autlan, we've had Posada (Christmas party) after Posada! It's been a blast, and I absolutely LOVE how the Hispanic culture celebrates Christmas here. 

Downtown, the entire center is filled with vendors, surrounded by the nativity scene that lights up the entire garden. Each night there are different performances, and the day after I got here, I got to watch Morgan perform her gymnastic routine there!

 This morning, as we all woke up and made our way down stairs to see what Santa had brought us, the faces of Christian, Morgan and Dane were priceless as they opened each surprise. 

 And of course, a Christmas season can't go by with out the family sitting down to watch Elf, a Christmas classic in our family. 

 Even though all these fun little things we were able to enjoy and memories created that we will cherish for the years to come, through out the day I couldn't help but having my mind constantly being brought back to the words above, found in Luke chapter 2. To think that I'm given all these great memories, parties etc. when really, just the opportunity to celebrate the gift of Christ's coming is waaaayyy more than enough! Really, I don't deserve in the slightest to even be given the gift of God's son, so to be able to celebrate it is the biggest honor and blessing alone! 

Thinking about how amazing this Christmas season has been already, I am placed, once again, speechless at the feet of my Savior, giving Him thanks, honor, praise and glory as I once again am the recipient of more than I could ever ask for, let alone deserve. 


Thank you, my dear Jesus, for sending your Son to earth as a gift to me. Thank you for the beautiful story in Luke 2 that tells us of how you did this wonderful thing for those that you love. 
 Thank you, God for the countless blessings you've given me this Christmas. Thank you for my family and their ministry here in Mexico. Thank you for allowing me to be here with them at this time. 
 God I ask that you would continue to show the world how marvelous you are, and how great your blessings are on this earth, for your people. 
I love you, Jesus, and thank you again, for your precious son. 
In your name, Amen.