NIPTO, Day 26

*YAWN*

Good morning. I woke up too early this morning. But what can you do? That's right. You can try to go back to sleep. Which I did. But the sleeping part didn't actually happen. Oh well. Hopefully I'll actually be able to SLEEP IN tomorrow morning, seeing as it's Saturday and all. Woah. Today's FRIDAY. That means 2 days of no school! So exciting. haha. It's also the FIRST Friday of the month, which means that there's a Chipotle service tonight! SWEET. Love Chipotle services. Even if I am going to get Panera... haha.

John 16:33- I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world. This is one of my favorite verses. It's highlighted in my Bible. Which means that it's special. I don't highlight much, but I do underline things in pencil a lot =P This verse is super amazing. The Bible is here so that we can have peace. Philippians 4:8 is another great verse about peace. This verse is amazing in a different way because Jesus tells us that we will have trouble. There's no way getting around that. But we're to "take heart" or to be confident and courageous because Jesus and God have overcome the world. Nothing else is going to "overcome" the world. Satan will try to overcome the world, but it just won't work because he has no power over God. Sweet.

Proverbs 5:21-For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. That's scary. God knows every singles stinking thing I do. Significant or insignificant. God sees it. God also examines our paths. He inspects them and scrutinizes them. And he leads us on the paths that he chooses. Ultimately, we can't choose our own paths. We can choose our paths for a while, but that gets messy. So it's really better to listen to what God has to say about where we should go in life... speaking of places we're going in life, I've been praying about whether I should go to New York this summer with the group that's going from GVUMC. I really WANT to go, but I'm not sure if it's what God wants for me, ya know? So if you would pray that I would keep praying and that God and I would figure this out, that'd be AWESOME. I'd really appreciate it. :) (That wasn't a long section or anything...)

Revelation 5:12-In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and honor and glory and praise!" Jesus is MORE than worthy to receive our praise. In fact, we're unworthy to even give it to him. But we do anyway(s?? I'm never sure whether to put an "s" or not at the end of that word... I usually do when I'm talking... but back to the point.) How crazy is that?! I feel honored that I can even give the Holy Lamb that was slain praise. It's amazing.

Psalm 119:105- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Oooo.... this could be good if I can word it right. So I'm trying to decide whether to go to NYC right? Annd we should follow God's paths for us... so we should read the word because it lights up our path! God can speak to us through the word. YES! I'm liking this more and more. =D

This was a great morning for me. And I'm looking forward to seeing people tonight and talking about the Bible more... 6PM Chipotle on Arlington Ridge. Should be sweet!

I'm out. Press on!

NIPTO, Day 25

Whew. Day 25. I'm actually doing this. Crazy. It kind of feels like it's been years since I last posted, since the last time I did post was yesterday morning. Oh my. Today has been a busy day.

If you remember my post from last Thursday, then you will know that I went to do some assistant work for a photographer friend. We were supposed to go again last Friday, but it snowed. Welcome to Ohio. They rescheduled the shoot for today, so I got to go and help wrangle/shoot some bunnies/kids. It went well, but it was CRAZY. We had toddlers. Toddlers have allll of the power. And they know it. If they make up their mind to not smile, they won't. And there's not really anything you can do about it. You can try and try and try and try to get them to smile, but they won't. So you just have to deal with it. =)

John 14:24- He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. The second part of this verse strikes me because it brings evangelism to mind. When we are trying to share the gospel with someone, we often try to do it in our own power, but the words that we share are not our own. They belong to God. He's the one who puts the words in our mouths so that we can share his love with other people. I try to do so so so many things in my own strength that just aren't possible with out God's help. Like getting through every day sane. haha. Oh dear shmee (to quote James.)

Proverbs 4:18, 23-18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. I love sunrise. It's so cool. One of the things I regret not doing is getting up to see a sunrise this summer when we were at Virginia Beach. One of the problems was that we didn't stay IN in VA Beach... and no one wanted to drive me to the beach at 5 am... =P... but any ways.

Sunrise is such a breathtaking time of day. It's a new beginning. It sheds new light on that new beginning of that new day. I love it. I really want to watch sunrises this summer! I want to get up... once a week? and go watch the sun rise. I like that idea.

23Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. I'm not sure what I want to say about this. But I know that I like it. That's about it. haha.

Bwahhh. I'm distracted. It's awesome. NOT. Crazy teenagers hanging out in Panera making too much noise... I don't want to hear everything you say! REALLY! *sigh*

Revelation 4:2-At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. How COOL would that be. To suddenly be IN the SPIRIT. Woah. Crazy. John was one lucky dude. That's all I have to say on that matter haha.

Psalm 119:73, 96- 73Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. This is super great. God's hands made you and me. Annnd that's sweet. And understanding is cool too. Especially when God's giving it and it's to learn his commands. Sweet.

93To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless. It's true. In all earthly "perfection" there's a limit. Nothing can be truly perfect. But God's commands are boundless. .

Boundless–adjective

having no bounds; infinite or vast; unlimited

How cool is that. His commands and really his wants/wishes for us are unending. There is nothing that God can't do through us which is almost impossible to comprehend. Love love love it.

Okay. It's time for me to leave, go home, and go to bed! Lots to do tomorrow including going to the Chipotle service! Should be sweet. Always is. =D

Hope you have a great FRIDAY! (Woah. Tomorrow's Friday. YIPEEEEE)

Night all!

NIPTO, Day 24

I don't feel ready to post today... but I'm just going to read and see what God tells me.

John 11:35- Jesus wept. This is supposedly the shortest verse in the bible. There is some controversy in my family that Ezra 2:29 is shorter (of Nebo 52) because it has only 8 letters whereas "Jesus wept" has 9. But that's beside the point. *rolls eyes*

Jesus was weeping because Lazerus who was, I would hazard to say, one of Jesus' good friends had died. Even though Jesus knew that he could raise him from the dead, he still wept. Jesus cared for people probably more than you and I can fathom, and therefore, he wept.

Proverbs 3:5-6- Trust in the LORD and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Good verse. Good reminder to trust God not ourselves.

Revelation 3:8-I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. There are usually open doors in front of us, we just can't see them. I'm going to start looking for open doors, or even closed ones. :)

Psalm 119:57-You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. God is my portion. I don't need anything else. Awesome.

In the bible, whenever you see Lord in all CAPS, it means YHVH (or YHWH) which means Yahweh. In a Rob Bell video that our youth group watched about breathing, he brought up that in Hebrew, to spell Yahweh you say "yod heh vah heh" (I think. It's been a while) which are kind of sounds of breathing. He brought up the question "when we breathe, are we really saying the name of God?" Interesting.

Now it's time to do SCHOOL. Which is the English word for... torture? haha.

Hope you have a great day!

NIPTO, Day 23

I think that I need a snuggie. Or a robe... hmm.... That information should tell you that I'M COLD RIGHT NOW! (it might not help that I'm wearing short sleeves, but ya know... It's just what I grabbed this morning.) I don't have Urban Vision today which is kind of a blessing. I think God knew that I really need to get things done! I'm about... 4 days behind in Chemistry, didn't do Spanish alll of last week and none yet this week, and I have a tonn of other stuff to do! Crazy. But I have all day today to get everything done. SWEET. Kind of. I mean... it's school. I can't get too excited about that, otherwise I'd be considered a home-schooled GEEK. But I enjoy school as much as the next public-schooler.

Okay. NIPTO.

John 8:3-11 (Here is the passage on Bible Gateway if you want to actually read it)

This passage is an excellent reminder that we can't condemn anyone of their sin because we're sinners ourselves. I need to remember this the next time I'm about to rebuke (? I'm not sure if that's the word I want) someone for sinning. I can't do that. Only God can.

Proverbs 2:6- For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. We find wisdom and knowledge in God's word because, well, that is his word.

Revelation 2:3-4- You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Even if you've endured lots of stuff for God's name, it doesn't matter if you've turned away from God or have forgotten what he's done for you.

Psalm 119:37- Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. This reminds me of the song "Turn Your Eyes" Here's a hillsong version of it

NIPTO, Day 22

Hey guys! It's MORNING! Like, before 10 am! Time to WAKE UP and praise GOD! =D (It may be morning now, but I think I'm going to have to finish this post later because it's time for me to start school... annnd I still haven't eaten... So I'm going to get on that and finish this later!)

I need a new bible. Mine is literally falling apart. The cover isn't actually on my bible anymore and the pages are starting to fall out... I'm going to try to glue it, but a trip to the book store is in order SOON. I think that it'll technically be a birthday present, but one that I'll use before my birthday!

John 4:34- "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." I find just in reading the first 6 chapters of John, that he compares things to food a lot. He's my kind of guy. I LOVE food. Not loving food so much is probably something that I need to work on haha.

Proverbs 1:7- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and knowledge. If you fear the Lord, you will begin to store up knowledge. Sweet.

Revelation 1:8- "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." I might have posted this last month, but I really like this verse. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The first and the last. :)

Psalm 119:11- I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. When we are familiar with God's word, we aren't able to sin. My pastor (M&M from here on) was talking about this yesterday. He was talking about walking in the spirit vs walking in the flesh. I think it's so interesting that they can't coexist. It just doesn't work. Spirit and flesh can't be together, but somehow they are in man.

I'm out for the day.

Hope you had a good one =D