There is so much going on right now.
I feel as though i am being pulled in a million directions at once and there is expectation after expectation.
One of the main things in my vocabulary right now is "i can't".

But God says I can, right now i am in the palm of his hand and i am doing everything by his strength.
It makes me wonder.Who ever said i couldn't ?,
things are tough but i have God on my side.

Everything that i am facing now is helping me to trust and rely on God. Right now i am vonurable but his srength is a perfect match for my weakness.

I just need to trust and believe....


There are two switchfoot songs that come to mind...



"Meant To Live"
by Switchfoot

Fumbling his confidence
And wondring why the world has passed him by
Hoping that hes meant for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside

Dreaming about providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe weve been livin with our eyes half open
Maybe were bent and broken, broken

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside

We want more than this worlds got to offer
We want more than this worlds got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live
We were meant to live





This Is Your Life"
by switchfoot

yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
yesterday is a promise that you've broken
don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
this is your life and today is all you've got now
yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

yesterday is a kid in the corner
yesterday is dead and over

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes

this is your life are you who you want to be
this is your life are you who you want to be

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

and you had everything to lose

something my past didn't see

Something My Past Didn't See


Looking into the future
something my past didn't see.
The outcome of my experience
has allowed God to transform me.

Longing to be alive
for within I was dead.
Darkness was my company
and each day I dread.


Walking with a lost soul
Understanding nothing at hand
I once had a goal
My dreams turned to sand.

Seeking the face of comfort
To captivate my distressed mind.
can't give up on life
Hope, I must find.

Thank God I found hope
In the midst of the dark
Pursuing to find some light By
Until it penetrates in my heart.

Now that I'm blessed with life
and has allowed God to transform me.
I'm excited about the future
Something my past didn't see

Gaye D. Hight

From www.christianstories.com

All In Due Time

By: Kathy Schroeder


How often, Lord, I've wanted life
to be as I preferred,
impatient to reach all my goals,
insisting I be heard.

How many times I questioned You,
embarking on a feat,
unwilling to be passenger,
but in the driver's seat.

How seldom I was patient
as I begged that life be calm,
not believing all along
that I was in Your palm.

How fast possessions slip away,
though often I would cling
to things thought safe instead of trusting
what Your will would bring.

Be with me, Lord, as I search for
another hill to climb.
I know rewards will come to me,
all in the Lord's due time.

Praise You in This Storm by casting crowns

words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms



I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.


Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm


I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away


Chorus
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm


I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Challenges

'We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.
We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.'

2 corinthians 4:8-9
NLT



'I can do all things through christ who strengthens me '

Phillipians 4:13

brave

This song.....

Demonstrates so much.

God's confidence and strength are a perfect match for our insecurities.

The lyrics of this song need no discription.
Just another example of how good my God is.

I am made whole in God.
I am brave
and i am willing to accept the challenges
and to live this life by God's strength.



Brave - nicole nordeman

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been


'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings


chorus:
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Anyway

from :www.christianstories.com


»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« U»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God.
It never was between you and them anyway.

Everyday

Every day I need you Lord
But this day especially,
I need some extra strength
To face what ever is to be.
This day more than any day
I need to feel you near,
To fortify my courage
And to overcome my fear.

By myself, I cannot meet
The challenge of the hour,
There are times when humans help,
But we need a higher power
To assist us bear what must be borne,
and so dear Lord, I pray -
Hold on to my trembling hand
And be near me today.


from www.christianstories.com

Young people

Young people ......

They're so awesome.
we are the future and the key to what lies ahead .

God has really put dreams in my heart.
I'm talking biggies.
I want to be a youth worker.
To have an affect on them .
young people need to be shown the other way .....

We don't need drugs to make us happy .....
GOD is bigger than any situation.
He wants to see a generation rise up...
To do great things and to fulfill that awesome potential that he sees in them.

When i hear people as young as twelve talking about drinking alcohol and taking drugs my heart breaks.
I am so blessed to know God.
He has turned my situation around in such a way that i have an insight and willingness to help others.

Many people disregard teenagers in the belief that they could never achieve anything.
I am so blessed to have leaders that believe in me and let me see my full potential.
God hasn't given up on me yet...
In fact, the situations have been the most challenging are the ones that he is using for growth.

Young people are constanly developping their identy based on who they want to be and their intrests .
But how can this be done effectively with the influence of things such as the media, t.v ,magazines, peer pressure and adults that don't really understand them?

The media has a HUGE affect on the body image of young people. Fashion trends tell them what to wear and celebrities and supermodels present the idea of 'The perfect figure'.
This media creates the idea that 'Thin is in', which futher encourages peer pressure and creates the idea that no-one is beautiful unless they are physically attractive.

Adolencence is a time for young poeple to discover who they are and develop their identity.
It is difficult for young people because the media creates stereotypes and tells them how to behave.
There is also a common believe that 'stuff' equals happiness .
How can a young person develop their own values when our society is so concrened with obtaining material goods?
The paradox is that we have more things but less morals and values.

Other things such as drugs and alcohol have an effect in the lives of young people ....
How cool is it to do drugs ?
Well actually it isn't .
The common misconception that 'everyone's doing it' gives young people the idea that drugs are the answer.

The truth is that JESUS is the answer...
Jesus brings new life.
I want to be able to encourage young people to be all that they can be.
There is amazing potential locked up inside the youth at church.
God has done so much in their lives already and the future is going to be HUGE.
Just think: the children and youth of the church today represent the future leaders of tomorrow.

Young people are awesome ........
It is so great to see all of my friends at church running for God.
Despite what life throws at them they are serving in church and amongst God's people .
It is hard....
The peer pressure at school other issuse such as drug use and depression make it hard to talk to friends about God.

Even though it is tough ...
God has his hand over their lives .
He sees their struggle
and the way that they choose to put him first despite the challanges they face.
Being in church is how they are going to see growth and God is building the Foundation now for the awesome future ahead.

Those young people that are making good choices now are the future.
We are going to see so many people come to christ in the days ahead by the choices they are making now

Step by step .....

Rome wasn't built in a day ....
but by individual bricks .
and it is so amazing to see how far they have already come.

Young people are an inspiration.

The Daughter i see

The Daughter i see....

The daughter i see is a daughter of the King.

She is a daughter that influences and encourages everyone in her world.

I see a daughter whose worship touches heaven and brings it to earth.

She is Joyful always, prays continually and gives thanks in all circumstances.

The message she brings is of hope, life and eternal difference.

Hearts are transformed by the truth she speaks and shows.

She is equipped, empowered and released to serve her calling.

The daughter i see is unique, carefully created, loved,adored, priceless and valued by Me.

Yes, the daughter i see is MINE.

-God


My friend sent me this in an email. It is a really good reminder of god's love.
No matter how hopeless we may feel God loves us and he is a proud father that is so happy when he sees us making good choices and inspiring others.

we all have dreams and we all want to make a difference but those dreams can seem so far away . when we don't belive we can do it that is when God says:
wow that is my daughter and she is already making such a difference.
she inspires everyone around her and is a good friend.
She is faithful in all she does and is consistant.
This is my daughter that is going to do amazing things.

God sees everything we do and he is so proud of who we are - sometimes it can be hard to believe.