Designed To Love

I've always wanted to go on a mission trip, I can remember when I was about 8 years old my dad, two sisters and oldest brother went to the Dominican Republic. Since then I wanted to leave the states and travel to different countries, but that was mainly why I wanted to go. Yes, I loved Jesus, but not enough to try to tell someone about him with a translator.
That was me until about a year ago in May. That's when the reality of death and the need for Christ became real. I had wanted to love Jesus just enough to get a pass into Heaven, but not more. On May 5th 2012 God became real to me, my best friend's brother Joshua Eddy had died. I prayed the whole next day for my best friend and her family. I cry so many tears. Josh had a strong love for the Lord. He wanted to share God's love with others, and he's passion changed my life and many others. So this year I went to Gleanings for the Hungry to help bring others to Christ, but I wasn't actually face to face showing God's love to unsaved.
God has place a need in my heart to love the unloved. The past week I've been praying about a country that as gripped my heart. A country with people who need love. When I went to church this last Sunday, I cried during worship. Almost every song was about God's love. I cried for the children who didn't know that love, but what made me cry more was that I had been keeping that love for myself. Like the servant who hid his talent, instead of inventing in it.
"...from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." -Mathew 25:29
I don't want to do nothing anymore. I want to love. I really like the song "Made to Love" by Toby Mac, we were all designed to love, and be loved.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." -John 15:12

He Gave His Life

Jesus gave his life for you. He didn't have to, and he could have changed his mind and saved himself instead. But he loved you so much that he laid down his life, so you can live!
A while back I was talking with my friend about how we feel like we're just wasting our lives doing things that will account to nothing. My friend said something that made me think of something, she said; "I feel like I'm living on borrowed time, and I need to do whatever it takes to make it mean something." In a way we are on borrowed time, because we sinners should have died instead of Jesus who is prefect.
That made me think of a passage in Matthew 6; “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6 19-21

We need to use our time investing in heavenly things, basically God and his people. Because I'm pretty sure when we go to heaven there won't be any cars, computers, or phones. 

~Deanna, just a girl running on borrowed time.

Taken By God.

The pass year I've learned more about how it is to be a real Christian. The struggles I've gone through have made my faith grow stronger in Christ. At the beginning of summer I found out my best friend (who lives 4 hours away) was going to be baptized. That started me thinking about Baptism and that I hadn't done it yet. One thing was holding me back... I had always heard at baptisms I'd seen that the Elder/Dad asked the person why they were being baptized, the answer was usually "I want to follow in Jesus's foot steps." or something along the same lines. So from a young age I thought that I had to be able to not sin anymore after I was baptized and that I needed to have my life cleaned up.

Then about two months ago, I was listening to my mp3 player and a Lecrae song came on. The words that played through my head phone seemed like a new song. "he was like; "Man I really wanna come to Christ, But I gotta clean my life up first, get my sins together..." It was partially same way I thought of myself with baptism. Then the chorus played. "...Will you take me as I am? I know the way I'm living is wrong, But I can't change on my own, trying to make it alone. I wonder, how could you love me when my life so ugly. But you came down and died for me. Will you take me as I am?" Will you, Lord? "...I'm all screwed up. Figure Hell is what I deserve, But your word says we all fall short so I guess we all outta burn. Teach me I wanna learn How you could save a wretch like me, before death says it's my turn. I think I finally understand No matter my past, you'll still take me as I am." When the song finished I had tears in my eye, God loves me and he has already taken me as I am. 

Baptism isn't about being a forever good person after you've been baptized, as I thought when I was young.
Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize those that believe as a picture and testimony of their faith in Christ. 

Last week I was at a week long mission trip in California know as Gleanings For The Hungry. The second day of work I woke up and had "Take Me As I Am" playing in my head. The next four days I was thinking about the song and about being baptized. On the last day of the week I felt like almost sharing about my struggle with feeling like I couldn't be baptized during testimony time. But I held back, then I told God that I would be baptized after my brother Grant. About a hour later I found out my brother would be getting baptized after lunch before we got on the road heading back home. So on Saturday August 31st I was baptized after Grant. :) I love my Heavenly Father!

Another cool fact. I was reading the book of John while I was there, the date of my baptism was 8-31. 

John 8:31 says "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,"

Can't think of a time I was happier then at that moment!

Hugging my brother Grant

Blessing - Fourth Day

1. Color - It adds so much beauty to this world.
2. Blackberries - The berries, not the thorny mess. :) My sister made a blackberry cobbler tonight.
3. Bunnies - Found three wild baby bunnies today.
4. My Mom - She is an incredible servant to God and her Family.
5. My dark hair - I love it and I'm told it's pretty.
6. Light - Think about living on earth in darkness, it would be crazy!
7. Swings - I enjoy going out and talking to God on our swing set.
8. Our House 
9. Rest - God blessed us with a body that needs rest, if we didn't need it then we'd be like God.
10. The power of words - Think about it if God didn't gift us the power of words, we wouldn't know him.

What are something that you are bless with?

Three Days of Blessing

Well I've completed three days of blessings. 

1. Phones - Talked to my Bestie on the phone today.
2. My Bestie Riah - I love you girl! I'm so glad God planned us to meet. 
3. Music 
4. My foot is healed - So happy I'll be able to go to Gleanings For the Hungry this year since my foot is healed. :)
5. Horses - They help me zone out all my troubles.
6. Finger Nail Polish - Because I like to be a girl.
7. Sunshine - The weather is so nice a bit hot, but it's pretty dry for riding.
8. Summer 
9. Finger nail clippers - one thing I need to get in my purse.
10. Love - I can't fathom how we would be without God's Love. 

Day Two - Blessings

1. Friends 
2. Shoes - I'd be breaking my feet all the time with out them.
3. Our Dog (Colette) - She cheers me and my family up so much.
4. Laughs - I love to laugh! Especially with ones I love. 
5. Doctors and their knowledge - I've been seeing so much of doctors this past year.
6. My Brother (Grant) - He is so awesome.
7. Filtered Water 
8. Books - I'm so grateful I have so much access to books.
9. Fans - To make our house bearable without A/C.
10. Memory - Yes, it might seem a bit strange, but I'm grateful that God has blessed us with the gift of remembering so much of our past. If he hadn't given us such a strong memory, we wouldn't be who we are today. 

Blessings

Summer can get really busy for us, with all the busyness we can miss the gifts and blessings that God has given us. So I'm going to post a list of 10 things I'm grateful for each day until I go camping (which is in a few days). They might be random, but it's something I'm glad God has blessed me with.

Blessings Day One

1. The Bible - I'm so glad I have this book to learn to love my heavenly Father.
2. Nature - To see the beauty, goodness, and evidence of the Creator.
3. My Talent of Art - I'm so glad God gave me this talent. 
4. Watermelon! - I love it! :)
5. My Family - I love them so much!
6. Hiking trails - Had fun going on some trails with my family to day (Camera of course in hand).
7. Camera - Photography captures me.
8. My bed - It's so comfy.
9. My Laptop - My dad got my charger for it working again.
10. My Dad - Who helps so much. 

More to come! 

My Name Is...

When my mom and I were driving home today listening to the radio this song came up...

Hello, my name is regret 

I’m pretty sure we have met 

Every single day of your life 

I’m the whisper inside 

That won’t let you forget 

Hello, my name is defeat 

I know you recognize me 

Just when you think you can win 

I’ll drag you right back down again 

‘Til you've lost all belief 

These are the voices, these are the lies 

And I have believed them, for the very last time 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I've been saved, I've been changed, and I have been set free 

“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I am no longer defined 

By all the wreckage behind 

The one who makes all things new 

Has proven it’s true 

Just take a look at my life 

What love the Father has lavished upon us 

That we should be called His children 

I am a child of the one true King

I think this song is so beautiful and true. We are the beloved children of the One TRUE King!

One Year Ago

One year.

One year ago today

my Uncle passed away.

One year ago yesterday

I realized he wouldn't stay.

One year ago tomorrow

I started to feel sorrow.

One year ago I confess

I started to get depressed.

One year has passed

and it's today at last.

Yesterday is gone

like my uncle Jon.

Tomorrow is a blur

for the future isn't sure.

And Today was given

to live forgiven.

He's Waiting For Me!

 7:14 am Sunday June 9^th 2013 My Grandpa departed from this world and entered into the Kingdom of Heaven. After my dad told me I had an image of my uncle greeting him at Heavens gates, joy light his face and he embraced his dad with a big hug.

I'm sad that he is gone, but at the same time I'm glad he's in Heaven with our Creator. Glad that he's in no pain. Glad that he's hearing his favorite hymns sung to the Lord from angles voices. And so glad that he is in heaven waiting for the day I'll join him!

Death isn't Goodbye

As I sat on my bed the reality of the news sank in slowly. The coldness crept into my arm spreading through my body. I slipped under my covers, but the chill wouldn't leave my bones. I laid there staring at the wall. 

“Maybe Grandpa will see Jon this month in heaven, and Josh too...” I heard my mom say, what ever she said after that I didn't hear.
Tears arose from my eyes. He won't just see them, he'll see Grandma Barclay, Sono, and Sandy. He'll see the face of God! I just wish I could say goodbye! A tone starts to play in my head, I can see all my family and friends in Heaven singing the words.

It is not death to die 

to leave this weary road 

And join the saints who dwell on high 

Who’ve found their home with God 

It is not death to close 

The eyes long dimmed by tears 

And wake in joy before Your throne 

Delivered from our fears 

O Jesus, conquering the grave 

Your precious blood has power to save 

Those who trust in You 

Will in Your mercy find 

That it is not death to die 

It is not death to fling 

Aside this earthly dust 

And rise with strong and noble wing 

To live among the just 

It is not death to hear 

The key unlock the door 

That sets us free from mortal years 

To praise You evermore 

O Jesus, conquering the grave 

Your precious blood has power to save 

Those who trust in You 

Will in Your mercy find 

That it is not death to die 

That it is not death to die!

The tears stop, as a content feeling sweeps over me. I don't have to say goodbye because this isn't the end of my fun and loving Grandpa. The time I've had with him is just the beginning of something SO much greater.
~Deanna, Just a girl who cries.

A For Good Friend

♪ I've heard it said, That people come into our lives for a reason.
When I was in the car heading to a thanksgiving dinner my family was invited to, I wouldn't have thought I'd make a friend that would change my life forever.

But I know I'm who I am today, Because I knew you. ♫
I wouldn't be the person I am today, writing this blog post, If I hadn't met my best friend that Thanksgiving day years ago.
♫ So let me say before we part, So much of me is made from what I learned from you.

When her family was moving away I thought our friendship wouldn't be as strong anymore, But I was wrong. Our friendship has gotten stronger then before.
And because I knew you, I have been changed for good. ♪
Happy Sweet Sixteen Riah! Your so special to me! Thanks for always being there for me! I love you!
~Deanna

Worship

I have a friend who isn't a christian, but she told me that she thinks God's there it's just she doesn't publicly worship him (referring to why she doesn't go to church). The way she put it struck me weird. Church is public display of worship? Yes, it is. This wasn't that what stuck me as weird as the thought that's what she believed church was solely about. When to me it's body building for the week, a time to fellowship with other believers and part of what our daily worship should be. One thing my friend doesn't get yet is worship isn't just singing or bowing on your hands and knee to pray once a week at church. To worship God means to obey him, read his word, witness about him, serve others, and give him all the glory.
~Deanna, just a girl worshiping her Creator.

Beautiful World

Since the weather as been so nice lately, one day I decided to take some pictures of the flowers blooming. Than the next day I figure out how the manual focus worked (I didn't know that much about our camera) and started doing more pictures. Now I'm shooting away, in a desire to capture beauty. The beauty of this world God made keeps me in total awe. It's unthinkable that this world just happened, that there was no maker behind it's beauty and goodness.

"Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man." ~Psalm 66:5 

~Deanna, just a girl with a camera.

 

He's My Rock

This is a short song I wrote, I'm dedicating it to everyone who was affected from the bombing at the Boston Marathon. Which if the Lord had allowed my dad would have been at, I'm grateful he didn't.

As the sun goes down

I find a gift in the sunset

Even on this horrible day

But here's a secret I know

The sun will come up in the morning

as bright as it was yesterday

the world has change

but the sun will come

In the promise of a new day

I can feel the fear

it's staring right at me

and the cries of terror

reach to my ears

But I shall not be moved

because the son is always within me

He's brighter then the sun.

While all other ground is sinking sand

He's my solid rock

on which I stand.

He Is Risen

I can't begin to describe how amazing and wonderful our God is, but Francis Chan describes it best. Imagine the person you love the most in the world being crucified on a cross. When Francis said that in his video Stop and Think I saw my best friend Mariah dying on a cross and tears came to my eyes. God loved us so much that he sent his beloved son to die on a cross for me and you. He didn't have to do it and he could have changed his mind, but he loves us so much that he let his only son die so we might live with him. It's so amazing, but God didn't leave it at that. Jesus rose from the dead, conquered death and went back to heaven.  He's coming back someday it could be tomorrow or it could be in ten years, please don't waste another day not loving our Creator! He is Risen!

Watercolor Painting I did

Be Yourself

I haven't been very happy for... Awhile. Then I realized it's because I'm not being completely myself, I'm constantly trying to impress the people I'm around. At church I'm always trying to dress fancy and sometimes wear a little makeup and I keep wearing belts (Maybe I'm trying to show that my waist does go in?). At art school I'm trying to show off what I'm working on, but it's not like it's that amazing. At my horse group I'm trying to prove that I'm a good rider to the others. Even with my family sometimes I feel like I need to prove that I'm a good writer, that I have something that makes me different. But I don't need to prove anything or impress anyone, it's just makes me unhappy when I don't get the high praise I want. I'm realize now that I could get all the praise in the world and I would still want something more, sure I'd smile and like the complements. But I'd still long to hear a praise from my Lord, to hear "Well done good and faithful servant!". No matter how much amazing drawings I draw, how nice I look, the number of books I write, or how well I ride, would I get that praise. It's people that matter to God not earthly things. I can use the gifts God has given me to help people know him. I need to stop trying to impress everyone and just be myself, and if you feeling like I am then PLEASE just be yourself (jsyk, God mad you to be you and nobody else).
~Deanna, just a girl not trying to impress you with this post. :)

Strive For a Rebellion

[This post is inspired by the song Rebel by Lecrea.]

The meaning of Rebel is: a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition.

Who's the highest authority? God. A simpler and faster way to say the meaning of Rebel is sinner. So then everyone is a Rebel.  Okay, so you might be wondering if I'm saying that why do I have my post titled "Strive For a Rebellion" just hold tight I'm getting there. We all know everyone sins. Do you remember that rebel also means to resists a tradition. Since everyone is sinning it's sort of become tradition and then it's no longer rebellious to sin. Jesus was a rebel to the traditions this world had made. Here are two clear examples of Jesus's rebellion: never sinning and "working" on the Sabbath. We also need to rebel against the ways of this world, read your bible like your live depends on it because it sorta really does and loving others above yourself because hardly anybody does. That is real rebellion, it's the only real rebellion left.

~Deanna, just a girl trying to rebel.

Expectations Vs. God's Plan

Today I started to feel a bit worried that I don't know what I'm going to do once I graduate next year. I've been waiting to be free from school, but now that it's approaching I'm scared. People have already been asking me "What do you planning to go to collage for?" and "What do you want to do for a job?". I don't really know, and that answer scared me. Then I realized the only reason why I'm scared is because of what the world's expects of me, But whose expectations aren't always what God has in plan for us. Right now in my life I'm learning to listen for God's voice telling me what's next in the plan, and to be patient as I wait.
~Deanna, just a girl writing as she learns.

What Are You Doing?

Tonight my family and I watch a movie called Last Once Of Courage I'd suggest watching it. It's about the fight for our freedom in areas of believes and free speech. I won't give that whole movie away but a character in the movie simply asked his grandpa "What are you doing?" not as in what was he doing right then but like what are you doing to save your freedom? In the movie they slightly make the situation more dramatic with a high-up-man saying he can't do the things he was doing even though there was no law against it just because it could be "offensive". Did you notice that word slightly? We're close to loosing some of our freedom, as it is people in the public say 'Happy Holidays' or 'Season Greetings' instead of 'Merry Christmas'! Also that there's been people (in different states) who have been ask to take down their U.S. Flag because their neighbor found it 'offensive'. People don't even want us to show our love for our country by flying the flag. What?!? What I'm saying is that we need to not back down and let the government take our freedom piece by ever so small piece. To tell you the truth I cried after the movie, because myself or my children after me might be living in a country so messed that freedom is non-existent. What are you doing? It could just as simple as going to pro-life marches or sharing the gospel. don't say you'll do something when your older because the freedom we have to do that right now might be gone in the future, or from you doing what you feel strongly about may prevent it from being taken away.
Does any of this makes sense? I'm just a girl here trying to do something she should do, but together we could change the world if you decide to get out of the chair, couch, or bed your in and do something the Lord has placed on your heart. What Are you going to do?
~Deanna, Just a teenage girl writing her mind.

Love, Bless, Pray and Give

I'm reading through the book of Luke right now and today I read chapter 6. This passage stuck out the most because I forget this so often and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

Loving a chocolate thief

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:27-31

I want to memorize this passage so that if I started to think of myself that I'd turn to these verses instead to help me do as the Lord wants me. I encourage you to try and do same.

Lay It Down

Lately I've been having a lot on my mind. Should I look for a part time job? I need to get better at my math for my last state testing this summer. Should I go to Gleanings for the Hungry or on a mission trip? if so when? Then I realized I need to lay all these at the Lord's feet, and when I did my burden was gone. Why I'm posting this is because so often we take things into our own hands questions, worries, and problems. Instead of going to the one who can help us most. We need to go to him every time, and lay any burden at his feet. He won't forget about them, I promise.
-Deanna

Video Blogging?

Since it's hard to find the time to post with you guys I was wondering if you all would be interested in me posting vlogs (Video Blogs). I would film myself reading the bible, sharing a thought, or a challenge to do something the Lord has placed on my heart. Tell me what you think. Oh and if you have an idea for what I would call them too!