This Crazy Life

 This week has been a long week. Everything has been building up for a while, and it's arrived at the overwhelming point. Through this difficult time amidst this hard transition year, I am thankful beyond words for my family, friends, and most importantly, my Savior that helps me through it all. I keep reminding myself that through the difficult times, if we serve HIM and do the right thing, with the right heart and attitude, the Lord will be glorified most. Because of this, I choose to use these trials to glorify God to the best of my ability, and grow closer to Him.
I love you, Jesus. Thank you for guiding each step I take.

Jesus Blesses His Servants- Bruggeman Example- Missionary Life.

 I would like to take a break from my posts about the relationship covenant I've been doing with my youth group, and share with you something incredible God has been doing in my family's lives in Mexico.
 A few days ago my mom sent me an email telling me the landlord of the house they have been renting in Mexico for the past year had given them some news. It was time for them to renew their contract, and she was going to raise the rent of the house each month to a ridiculous price. On Saturday my dad met with the landlord to discuss things more in detail. The landlord wasn't interesting in keeping the rent at what it had been for the past year. My dad wouldn't fall for the "you're American so you must have tons of money you can give me" scheme. This is a common, yet very frustrating situation for Americans in Mexico. My dad informed the landlord they would be leaving as soon as they find another house.
This was disappointing news for my family, because they really liked the house we had found in Autlan. Although my family was disappointed with this news, God was already laying out the path for them. Two weeks ago, more or less, my parents became acquainted with an eye doctor who had been building a house for he and his wife, but had stopped when just the cabinets and closets remained unfinished, due to the man getting diagnosed with cancer. After meeting my dad, they came to like my family very much. My dad had asked him out of pure curiosity if he would ever be interested in renting his house. He said he and his wife were still planning on moving in to their new house, but they might be interested in renting out the house they were living in now.
When my dad found out they would have to move in the next few months, he called up the eye doctor to follow up on possibly renting the house. Tonight my parents met with this couple, and God's timing couldn't have been more perfect. The couple decided it would be too much work to move again, and because they like my parents so much, have decided they want my family to rent the brand new house. It is in a very nice, safe neighborhood in Autlan, and is very close to where they live now, so they won't have to move far. Both of these people's houses are beautiful, and my parents would have been content with either one, but both God, and these kind people, desired to bless my family with the opportunity to rent this new, beautiful home. The rent is affordable, location is perfect, timing is perfect, they will have a brand new, beautiful house to live in, with very kind landlords. I have three words. GOD IS GOOD! He provides for those who trust in Him, and throw in extra blessings just because He can! I believe God has blessed my family with this because of their dedicated service, and faith in Him.
It will be strange having my family living in a house which I haven't lived in with them....but I am very happy for them nonetheless. I'm already asking my mom to send me pictures! :)
They will be moving in on April 1st. Please keep them in your prayers as they will have to prepare to move and adjust to a new house, as well as continue with all of their daily ministries. Also thank God for providing for them, and showing us how good HE is.
Happy Valentines day, Bruggeman's! Jesus loves you, and this is just one way He is showing you. :)
 

No Texting, Say What?

I apologize if you have been anxiously awaiting a blog post the past couple days, but my life has been quite crazy. I've been very stressed with my High school work, college work, and Scholarships that have deadlines coming up very soon. Even though I have been preoccupied with all these things, I have still been continuing with my relationship covenant, and striving to make it part of who I am every day; even when life is stressful. 

Our assignment for this week is a tough one. No Texting, or IM. Skype and IM are something that could be handy, but I haven't used them in a while, so that shouldn't be too difficult. Texting is a whole different subject. I text a lot, and it will be hard to go seven days with out doing it. Especially since texting has been something I've leaned on since I haven't been able to be on Facebook.

The whole point of this 28 day covenant is to make face-to-face the new norm. Cutting off the mode of communication via texting will make E-mail, Phone, and face to face the only options of communication. I'm nervous, but very excited! This is something that will be difficult for me to do, but I want to prove that I can do it. I want to communicate with the people I care about to show them that I care about them.

Week three- LET'S DO THIS! 

Dear Lord, help me to grow closer to you through this covenant, and that face to face would become then new norm. God, mold me into being a good servant and disciple for you. I also pray that people would know how much I care about them, by the way I treat them, and the effort I go to show them that I care. God, help me to make time for the important things in life and not to worry about the things that don't really matter. Lord, I know you will help me accomplish the things I need to get done. Help me to trust in you, not worry, and let you take care of the rest. 

 I also pray you would help my other friends who are doing this challenge. God I pray you would mold them into better followers of you as well, and that as a result we would form a strong, unified youth group that would be pleasing to your eyes; as might out lives.

 In your name I pray, Amen

Week One- Status: Completed

 On Tuesday, week one of the Crosswalk Relationship Covenant came to an end. It couldn't have come to a better ending, (or beginning of week 2!) than the outstanding lesson Pastor Joe shared with us.
We looked over a variety of passages, that all had different messages, which combined, provided us with a picture and view on life that is what I desire to strive for.
 When I receive the full list of the passages, I will share them with you. Until then, I will share with you just a few notes I jotted down.

• Simply greeting one another is demonstrating love.
• Accept people fore who they are from the moment they walk in the door. 
• Agree to disagree. You can still live in harmony with each other, when you don't completely agree on things that are not sin issues.
• Use your freedom in Christ to serve one another! Not just to get praise. 
• Bear with one another. It's what God calls us to do, and the rewards are incredible! You don't know who's watching.
• Kindness is love in action. 
• Submit to others and allow their needs to be more important than yours.
• Spur one another on!
• Don't judge! (Don't think you're better than them!)
• Confess your sins to one another so you can pray for each other! Carry each other's burdens.

These are such basic things that we should do without effort, because we are good people who love the Lord. However, we live in a fallen, sinful world, and I am first to say that I do not perform these as I should. 

Although basic, these things really hit home for me. I was greatly impacted by this message, and I am now daily striving to perform these things, and not have to constantly remind myself to do them. I want to become this kind of person.

Also, at the end of Crosswalk, PJ gave each of us a homework assignment for the week. Each person was given a challenge that would particularly stretch them, and apply to what they are working on. I was very pleased with my challenge. I think it will be a really good start for one of my goals I'm working towards. I'll update you after I complete it, and let you know how it goes. 

Post Delayed

 My post for today is going to be amazing! I learned and was impacted very much today. However, I'm waiting for a list in order to complete my post. So it will be postponed until tomorrow.
Until then, listen to the song "Take this Life" by Shawn McDonald. Click on the link below to listen to it on YouTube.

Shawn McDonald- Take this Life