So just last weekend, me and my girlfriends Katie, Crissie, and Jolee headed off to Liberty University for cfaw (college for a weekened). We have some friends that are students there, and wanted to visit.
One of the fun activites me and Crissie and Katie went to, was a Leeland concert :]]]]
They where with Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli on what they called teh "Follow You" tour.
At one point, they took some time to talk about a charity group called Food For The Hungry. They work with the poor, and those who cannot take care of themselves, and those who are hungry. It's a great organization. And they teach the word of God, which makes it even better. They are a christian based charity.
They have a lot of different ways you can help, but me and Crissie came up with this idea of sponcering a child through them. And now we're getting Katie and two other friends involved to share the sponcership and split the money. We're also going to have a jar at school for kids to donate. We're pretty excited about it :]
We're going to do things like make t-shirts to help with the money, and sell them at some school functions. Or maybe jsut simple things like bake sales.
All 5 of us just felt like its something God wanted us to do and be involved in. We have so much, and we should be giving and helping others who don't have the simple things we have.
One of the main reasons why I like this charity, is that they don't just give the people food. They don't just hand them everything. They teach them. They give them chicken coops, so the people can raise chickens, have eggs, and maybe even sell them at local markets. They give them seeds to have food gardens. They give them tractors, so they can learn how to farm. They teach them how to have hope, and how to grow, and how to be self sufficient. And they bring the love of God with them.
"To walk with churches, leaders and familiesin overcoming all forms of human povertyby living in healthy relationship with God and His creation."
I've also read a lot of passages in the Bible that talk about helping others, the needy, they poor.
I'm really excited to be a part of this, and so are my friends. Please pray that it all works out :]
you can also watch this inspiring video :] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ajIFfSaEzE
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A huge Orange Moon
So today I was blessed with getting to see some very old friends. The Prays. Their oldest, a girl my age, I have known since I was 2. Which was forever ago, so we know eachother inside and out. And then there is her 4 youger brothers, one of which is my brothers close friend, and the little ones just adore him. And of course our parents are seriously close. They live about an hour and a half away from us now. It's amazing, because since we are both military families, we have both moved all over the country, and we just happened to retire near eachother. God is amazing.
So the four of us girls (me, Arianna, my mom and hers) went out shopping. It was retail therepy as we called it. It was also just such a beautiful day. We saw a wonderful sunset above the woods and a feild. And then on the way home, while it was dark, we got a little lost. But we made it an adventure:] With the windows roled down, driving on a back rode surrounded by corn feilds and a huge orange moon. And of course Celine Dion music blasting. I loved every minute of it.
It makes me think who even though life is filled with great, suprising, ginormous moments, it is also filled with small, sweet, simple moments. Both types make me happy, but in different ways. One is exciting, while the other is satisfying. Or, I guess they both can be exciting and satisfying.
I thank God for them all :]
So the four of us girls (me, Arianna, my mom and hers) went out shopping. It was retail therepy as we called it. It was also just such a beautiful day. We saw a wonderful sunset above the woods and a feild. And then on the way home, while it was dark, we got a little lost. But we made it an adventure:] With the windows roled down, driving on a back rode surrounded by corn feilds and a huge orange moon. And of course Celine Dion music blasting. I loved every minute of it.
It makes me think who even though life is filled with great, suprising, ginormous moments, it is also filled with small, sweet, simple moments. Both types make me happy, but in different ways. One is exciting, while the other is satisfying. Or, I guess they both can be exciting and satisfying.
I thank God for them all :]
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Science
So as a senior in High School, it's a requirment to take Anatomy and Physiology for science. I was a little nervous about it. You see, I took Biology Freshmen year, which is normally a 10th grade course. I found it interesting, but I had a teacher who made is hard and did not like me at all. I had so much trouble, even though over all I did like the subject. So I was nervous this year because of how hard it had been for me years ago.
But I'm really really liking it :]
I find it so interesting. Everywhere it screams "GOD" to me. Right now we are learning about the cell...my third time, haha. It's just so amazing how it works. Every part of it has a purpose. I don't see how scientists look at this stuff and think there is no way God can exist. It doesn't make sense to me how people say "I believe in science", and not God. I don't get how this makes people turn away from the idea of a creator. For me, it does the exact opposite. It's making my belief in God stronger, and it just makes me feel more astounded by His power. How everything works together, for a certain purpose. Even the littlest things, such as a cell. Or the plasma membrane.
The class isn't easy. I have a lot of memorizing to do, and since I didn't do well the first time when it was just bio, I know it will make it a little harder for me. But I'm enjoying it, and learning so much.
It makes me excited :]
But I'm really really liking it :]
I find it so interesting. Everywhere it screams "GOD" to me. Right now we are learning about the cell...my third time, haha. It's just so amazing how it works. Every part of it has a purpose. I don't see how scientists look at this stuff and think there is no way God can exist. It doesn't make sense to me how people say "I believe in science", and not God. I don't get how this makes people turn away from the idea of a creator. For me, it does the exact opposite. It's making my belief in God stronger, and it just makes me feel more astounded by His power. How everything works together, for a certain purpose. Even the littlest things, such as a cell. Or the plasma membrane.
The class isn't easy. I have a lot of memorizing to do, and since I didn't do well the first time when it was just bio, I know it will make it a little harder for me. But I'm enjoying it, and learning so much.
It makes me excited :]
Monday, August 24, 2009
it's a new year.
School started last week. It is so weird to think I'm now a senior. But I am also very excited for the things God will do in my life this next year. I think He has big plans. I can't wait to see them unfold. I'm now apart of praise team (although that was an accident), but I'm gonna give it a try. I'm also liking my anatomy&phys class. And my government. And biblical worldveiw.
I'm also an FCA leader again this year. Yay!:]
It's also nice to see the other kids at my school taking things seriousley. I got a mass text from a close guy friend, who was saying how since we are now seniors, we need to be good role models, and really follow God, because we have failed at it past years, and we need to start.
I'm blessed with awesome friends.
I'm also an FCA leader again this year. Yay!:]
It's also nice to see the other kids at my school taking things seriousley. I got a mass text from a close guy friend, who was saying how since we are now seniors, we need to be good role models, and really follow God, because we have failed at it past years, and we need to start.
I'm blessed with awesome friends.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Scars
So today I went to a mini girls retreat. It was amazing. Besides the shaving cream war, the yummy food, the wonderful worship, and an interesting never ending game of darts, there was also a great message.
A message, that I (and I'm sure everyone else), needed to hear. It just goes to show you how God lays certain things on people's hearts.
The message was on hurt, and pain, and wounds, and ulitmatley leading to forgivness. What is true forgivness? How do we forgive people who have hurt us so many times in so many ways?
Mrs. Quann did a great job on explaining these subjects. She listed personal things, how she came to forgive, and how she learned what it really means to forgive. For instance, when you forgive someone, you shouldn't look back at those past times with hate, or anger, or even pain. What went on is just a part of your past, it happened, but you can learn from it. And that God is always there, He never forsakes His children.
We also heard a story (while listening to Pride and Prejudice music :]) about how we sometimes collect hurt, our pains. How we don't take them to our Father. Sometimes we have a reason to feel these pains and hurts, but sometimes we sort of make them up. People don't always mean to treat others the way they do, and we take it to heart. But the truth is, we have probably treated others like that too. Hurting someone without even thinking about it. Being inconsiderate, selfish, rude, distracted, and many other things. But we may not realize this is how we are treating people, even ones close to us. So when we are treated that way, we must be gracious, because we are no better. We must not stop loving, for God never stops loving us.
I realized tonight, that God can heal our wounds, even the ones we don't think about often, but are still there deep down. He turns them into scars, which are stronger and tougher than the skin before. God never leaves us, even when we are hurting, we just have to look and see where He is.
A message, that I (and I'm sure everyone else), needed to hear. It just goes to show you how God lays certain things on people's hearts.
The message was on hurt, and pain, and wounds, and ulitmatley leading to forgivness. What is true forgivness? How do we forgive people who have hurt us so many times in so many ways?
Mrs. Quann did a great job on explaining these subjects. She listed personal things, how she came to forgive, and how she learned what it really means to forgive. For instance, when you forgive someone, you shouldn't look back at those past times with hate, or anger, or even pain. What went on is just a part of your past, it happened, but you can learn from it. And that God is always there, He never forsakes His children.
We also heard a story (while listening to Pride and Prejudice music :]) about how we sometimes collect hurt, our pains. How we don't take them to our Father. Sometimes we have a reason to feel these pains and hurts, but sometimes we sort of make them up. People don't always mean to treat others the way they do, and we take it to heart. But the truth is, we have probably treated others like that too. Hurting someone without even thinking about it. Being inconsiderate, selfish, rude, distracted, and many other things. But we may not realize this is how we are treating people, even ones close to us. So when we are treated that way, we must be gracious, because we are no better. We must not stop loving, for God never stops loving us.
I realized tonight, that God can heal our wounds, even the ones we don't think about often, but are still there deep down. He turns them into scars, which are stronger and tougher than the skin before. God never leaves us, even when we are hurting, we just have to look and see where He is.
Monday, August 10, 2009
How long must I wait?
So I've been wanting to blog for awhile now, but I just couldn't seem to come up with anything worth blogging about.
But I think I finally found something.
yay! :]
About two weeks ago I had lunch with a girl I am becoming very good friends with. Her name is Amie. We where sitting at the Goolrick's counter, drinking cokes and eating sandwiches, when she suddenly asked me "So Tori, what has God been teaching you?"
It caught me by suprise, but it was a great question.
It took me a minute to really think that out, because God has taught me so much over this past year. Little things and big things. But I knew the one huge thing that I had been learning this past year.
So I answered "Patience."
I've learned that God's plan is the best plan and the only plan worth living. And sometimes, we have to wait for that plan to reveal itself. Things don't just happen all at once. Thats what was, and still is, hard for me. Not knowing what God's plans are right away.
I would also worry, "What if I miss God's sign?"..."What if I don't realize when He's telling me to go a certain way?"...but I could be wondering "what if's what if's what if's" all day. They don't solve anything. They just make your head hurt.
But someone showed me this verse "Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it" thats in Isaiah 30.
That verse has helped me a lot.
But its not just patience about the future that I have been learning, but patience in the little things. I'm naturally not a patient person, its just one of my huge faults. I never tried to fix it. I just always told myself "Nobody's perfect, everyone has their problems, and this is one of mine. I'll live with it." But thats not the attitude we should have.
Thats another thing I've been learning.
Being an inpatient person is not appealing to anyone. I don't even like being around inpatient people, and yet I AM one. I shouldn't just brush off my faults and live with them, I should want to change them. So, I've been working on being more patient with my family, and friends...and the computer and the microwave, and even my dog. Things take time.
I can't rush the microwave, because it takes time to heat up food. I can't rush my dog, because she is a puppy and it will take time for her to get the hang of things, I can't rush my family and friends, and I most certainly can not rush God. His way is the best way, and His plans for you will not always come out the way we want them too, or when we want them too. But we have to have comfort in knowing He is always there, and He will not let us down.
So, there are some of my thoughts lately :] I know it was kind of all over the place, but hopefully I got my thoughts across.
But I think I finally found something.
yay! :]
About two weeks ago I had lunch with a girl I am becoming very good friends with. Her name is Amie. We where sitting at the Goolrick's counter, drinking cokes and eating sandwiches, when she suddenly asked me "So Tori, what has God been teaching you?"
It caught me by suprise, but it was a great question.
It took me a minute to really think that out, because God has taught me so much over this past year. Little things and big things. But I knew the one huge thing that I had been learning this past year.
So I answered "Patience."
I've learned that God's plan is the best plan and the only plan worth living. And sometimes, we have to wait for that plan to reveal itself. Things don't just happen all at once. Thats what was, and still is, hard for me. Not knowing what God's plans are right away.
I would also worry, "What if I miss God's sign?"..."What if I don't realize when He's telling me to go a certain way?"...but I could be wondering "what if's what if's what if's" all day. They don't solve anything. They just make your head hurt.
But someone showed me this verse "Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it" thats in Isaiah 30.
That verse has helped me a lot.
But its not just patience about the future that I have been learning, but patience in the little things. I'm naturally not a patient person, its just one of my huge faults. I never tried to fix it. I just always told myself "Nobody's perfect, everyone has their problems, and this is one of mine. I'll live with it." But thats not the attitude we should have.
Thats another thing I've been learning.
Being an inpatient person is not appealing to anyone. I don't even like being around inpatient people, and yet I AM one. I shouldn't just brush off my faults and live with them, I should want to change them. So, I've been working on being more patient with my family, and friends...and the computer and the microwave, and even my dog. Things take time.
I can't rush the microwave, because it takes time to heat up food. I can't rush my dog, because she is a puppy and it will take time for her to get the hang of things, I can't rush my family and friends, and I most certainly can not rush God. His way is the best way, and His plans for you will not always come out the way we want them too, or when we want them too. But we have to have comfort in knowing He is always there, and He will not let us down.
So, there are some of my thoughts lately :] I know it was kind of all over the place, but hopefully I got my thoughts across.
Monday, July 13, 2009
jsut ehr sida
I've come to realize, that I really make lots of typos when I type. My fingers just move so fast because I have so much running through my head, and I'm trying to put thoughts into words. haha. But I promise you, I DO know how to spell, even if my past blogs say otherwise.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Time after time.
I haven't blogged in what seems like forever.
I almost deleted my blog, because I was abandoning it.
I don't want to be a blog abandoner.
Well, lets see...last night Grace Prep's class of 2009 graduated. Congrats!
As happy as I am that they will be going off, living a life of their own, learning new things, all that good stuff, it still makes me just a little sad.
Ok...maybe more than just a little.
These four girls are some really close friends of mine. Alix, Kirsten, Lindsey and Rachel. its been an interesting four years together. We've had our up's and down's, but things have always turned out alright.
The fact that they are leaving makes me think about my future. I mean, now that I'm out of school for the summer, you could say that I'm a senior. Or at least a rising senior.
Me? A senior in high school? Whaaaattt?
Weird. I know. I am having trouble believing it.
I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do exactly. I have ideas, dreams, and thoughts about what I could do...but its still all one big confusing mess. And its slightly annoying. But I know thats just how life is sometimes.
I have been reading a lot of verses in the Bible lately that talk about the future, what's to come, and how as long as we trust in Him, thigns will be ok. I know thats true, but I still wish that I could see what's going to happen, where I will be, what I will be doing.
I gave my life to God a while ago. I finally said "I want what You want for me. I know that you have plans for me that will make me happy. I want my life to be the one You want me to live." Now, being the young-unpatient-frustrated-plan making girl that I am, I have at times tried taking my life back into my own hands. But of course, things just get messed up and annoying that way. Life is much better when its in God's hands.
I like...ok, love, drinking coffee and orange juice. Not together! Ew. Every morning I have a cup of one or the other, and I like to use this one mug my mom has. It has these words on it:
"Good morning, this is God! I will be handeling your problems today. I will not need your help-so have a good day. I love you!"
It makes me smile and feel so loved everytime I read it.
Here are some verses that I've read lately. There some of my favorites.
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon Him; for He cares for you."
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Proverbs 20:24 "A man's steps are directed by the Lord, so how can anyone understand his own way?'
Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way. Walk in it."
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 "Consider what God has done: who can straighten what He has made crooked?. When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider: God ahs made one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."
I almost deleted my blog, because I was abandoning it.
I don't want to be a blog abandoner.
Well, lets see...last night Grace Prep's class of 2009 graduated. Congrats!
As happy as I am that they will be going off, living a life of their own, learning new things, all that good stuff, it still makes me just a little sad.
Ok...maybe more than just a little.
These four girls are some really close friends of mine. Alix, Kirsten, Lindsey and Rachel. its been an interesting four years together. We've had our up's and down's, but things have always turned out alright.
The fact that they are leaving makes me think about my future. I mean, now that I'm out of school for the summer, you could say that I'm a senior. Or at least a rising senior.
Me? A senior in high school? Whaaaattt?
Weird. I know. I am having trouble believing it.
I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do exactly. I have ideas, dreams, and thoughts about what I could do...but its still all one big confusing mess. And its slightly annoying. But I know thats just how life is sometimes.
I have been reading a lot of verses in the Bible lately that talk about the future, what's to come, and how as long as we trust in Him, thigns will be ok. I know thats true, but I still wish that I could see what's going to happen, where I will be, what I will be doing.
I gave my life to God a while ago. I finally said "I want what You want for me. I know that you have plans for me that will make me happy. I want my life to be the one You want me to live." Now, being the young-unpatient-frustrated-plan making girl that I am, I have at times tried taking my life back into my own hands. But of course, things just get messed up and annoying that way. Life is much better when its in God's hands.
I like...ok, love, drinking coffee and orange juice. Not together! Ew. Every morning I have a cup of one or the other, and I like to use this one mug my mom has. It has these words on it:
"Good morning, this is God! I will be handeling your problems today. I will not need your help-so have a good day. I love you!"
It makes me smile and feel so loved everytime I read it.
Here are some verses that I've read lately. There some of my favorites.
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon Him; for He cares for you."
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Proverbs 20:24 "A man's steps are directed by the Lord, so how can anyone understand his own way?'
Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way. Walk in it."
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 "Consider what God has done: who can straighten what He has made crooked?. When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider: God ahs made one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."
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