...is everlasting! I've never felt such an intimacy with God like recently. Even with the pressures and stress of school, homework, and temptations, God's embrace is always with me.

I feel blessed with everything he's done in my life and in the lives of others. His promises haven't changed, his will is promising, and church is amazing! God's been touching the lives of my friends in an incredible and overwhelming way.

To be honest, I'm much too tired to be writing right now but I just felt the urge to write this out. God is simply awesome...

Yeah, I know. The verse of the day seems irrelevant but keep in your heart!

-andy f.

Yeah, according to many folks. Right now, I'm in a journalism camp (Journalism in July aka JIJ) at a local university. And one of the main things we'll be doing is producing our own e-magazine on the Internet and all of the campers have been asked to write a story on any topic.

I wanted to do something in the field of sports but after a workshop here at the camp, I decided to do a story on the trend with Christian music associating with today's mainstream culture.

I've always started my outline and it should be published by Sunday or Monday at the latest. I'll try to keep you updated as much as I can via Twitter! (Pull the string above!)

Until the 15th, vaya con Dios!

Well the new layout is fantastic, no? Unfortunately, Windows Live Writer disagrees. I can no longer write my blog posts using the web preview feature but it's not a big deal. Although it was pretty cool seeing what it would end up like!

Anyway, I'm about to leave to church in an hour or so to start praying for our youth retreat at Dallas, Texas. One of our small group leaders came up with the idea of the prayer meetings and attendance has been growing since. It's awesome seeing youth coming under their own will to talk with God.

Thanks for your support by visiting my blog and I hope you enjoy your day!

John 7:37-38

"...'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'"

This is part of pastor Andy Stanley's series, Belief in God.

I've posted links below to the first part (divided into two videos) of the series which I just finished watching a couple of minutes ago.

[Part 1A]

[Part 1B]

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I have a friend who designed a flyer for a small group at our church and she included the scripture of Romans 12:2 to identify the purpose of the small group: a life change through fellowship, spiritual communion, and worship.

But if we look beyond the church and more into our lives, we need to truly involve Jesus with everything we say, do, and think. Salvation cost us nothing but a life for Christ requires every limb and organ from our God-given bodies. As we walk through life, God hands us parables, crises, opportunities for intercession with the Holy Spirit, and the like. All for the renewing of our minds in order to achieve the 'impossible.'

God doesn't want us to be living as a mechanism. We have a purpose to fulfill and it's beyond our careers, daytime jobs, our money, material wealth, possessions, social stance, and it's well beyond our contempt.

God's calling us for a higher purpose and he wants us to get in check with a starting point sooner rather than later. I'm sorry if I'm sounding a bit edgy but this is another awakening for the ones who are hungry for more. In other words, God is calling for you...

"I am not a mechanism, an assembly of various sections. And it is not because the mechanism is working wrongly, that I am ill. I am ill because of wounds to the soul, to the deep emotional self and the wounds to the soul take a long, long time, only time can help and patience, and a certain difficult repentance, long, difficult repentance, realization of life's mistake, and the freeing oneself from the endless repetition of the mistake which mankind at large has chosen to sanctify."

- D.H. Lawrence

(Click on the image for info on the painting)

Hebrews 11:8

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

"Doctors are calling Val Thomas a medical miracle. They said they can't explain how she is alive."

Read more here.

Psalms 90:9

"All our days pass away under your wrath;

we finish our years with a moan."

The video speaks for itself... I cried, sobbed, spilled my guts before God thanks to His message through this video. I hope God gets his message across to you as well.

This week has been hectic for me. I've had a lot of homework, I've been busy with my church meetings as we prepare our new youth room, I've been assisting in the church home groups for the youth (small groups), and last weekend I helped out our kids ministry in their trip to White Sands.

Thing is, I came back with a nasty sunburn on my face. My fault, however, for not packing sunblock and assuming the other assistants would take some. Fortunately though, it's beginning to peel from my face so at least I'm seeing progress!

But all of this activity and work has caused some exhaustion and after our pastor reminded us yesterday during his sermon, he mentioned one of the reasons we become agitated is because we forget to leave some things for the Lord to take care of. We become paranoid with our problems and frustrations and want to solve everything ourselves. And that's due to a weak relationship with God. When we really crave him, we know when to seek him in the midst of commute.

Isaiah 40:31

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint."

I'm aware that other people are going through much more right now in comparison to my "dilemma" but we're tired in our different ways.

Isaiah 40:30

"Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted."

I'm 15 so I can easily to relate to this scripture.

================================================

"Believe me, there have been times where I couldn't bear to live."

I'm aware of the fact that the line above is just a figure speech but God will never give us a burden we can't handle.

Olga J. Weiss wrote this poem The Road Is too Rough

"The road is too rough," I said,

"Dear Lord, there are stones that hurt me so."

And He said, "Dear child, I understand,

I walked it long ago."

"But there's a cool green path," I said;

"Let me walk there for a time."

"No child," He gently answered me,

"The green path does not climb."

"My burden," I said, "Is far too great,

How can I bear it so?"

"My child," He said, "I remember the weight;

I carried My cross, you know."

But I said, "I wish there were friends with me

Who would make my way their own."

"Oh, yes," He said, "Gethsemane

Was hard to bear alone."

And so I climb the stony path,

Content at last to know

That where my Master had not gone,

I would not need to go.

And strangely then I found new friends,

The burden grew less sore;

And I remember – long ago

He went that way before.

(http://www.elite.net/~ebedyah/PastorsSite/otherscripture/isaiahstudies/isaiah40-25-31.htm)

Wow, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow!

God is taking off and he's not looking back. He's changing lives, breaking apathy, transforming families, mending hearts, cradling cities, repairing homes, loving people, and caring for all.

Psalms 108:3-5

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and let your glory be all over the Earth."

Take a stand and share God's love and grace with others. Take the time to love the ones you care for and see daily. We don't know how long we'll get to see them so wake up and spread The Word.