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!