Growing in faith.

So, today, I had an amazing talk with Denny Pattyn, the founder of Silver Ring Thing, and he realllllllly helped me out. Recently, I've been praying on what God's plan is in my life, and trying to give Him full control on what He wants. If it includes Silver Ring Thing tour, i would be so thankful. It's a dream of mine, and i'm dreaming a dream so big that only God can make it happen. but if it isn't what He wants and i don't make it, I'm fully trusting in Him and I KNOW it's in His plan. it's all apart of His perfect will for my life. If it includes college, He'll slowly reveal that to me and reveal where. If it's just doing ministry without college, it's what He wants. i've just been praying alot about it lately. And it's teaching me to have patience. His response to my prayers are not going to come overnight. but anyways, Denny really helped me lay things out on being a Christian, and just helping me grow in my faith. and let me tell you, i was overwhelmed today with His presence. it was an incredible feeling. He showed me a demonstration on Christianity. and how to explain it to some people. and I really felt like sharing it on here, hoping to reach some people by his demonstration. and this is what he laid out for me.

God, if you look up God in the Webster dictionary, one of the definitions says perfect. God is perfect. he said, all of us can anything the dictionary says, so why is it so hard to accept the fact that God is perfect? it says it in the dictionary right? so, God is perfect by definition.

Picture God as a glass of water. since God is perfect, think of that water being perfect with no contaminants in it. Water that we are able to drink.

Now think of yourself. I think of myself as imperfect, by example. We all have sinned. So with that sinning, we've made our glass of water imperfect, and undrinkable. If you pour our impure water into God's glass of water, it'd make it imperfect. but that can't be, since God is perfect. so what does this mean? it's saying that you cannot go to Heaven because you are not perfect. and God is perfect. so you're probably asking, what? I can't go to Heaven?

But because God's water is perfect, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sin [our imperfect water]. Well, when you think of Jesus, is Jesus perfect? think about that. name some sins He's committed. *pause to think* that's right. you can't think of any. after 2,000 years, no one can prove that Jesus committed any sins. by this fact, Jesus Christ was perfect by definition AND example. making His water perfect like God. because He is God in the flesh. now, this still doesn't answer the question, how can we get to Heaven? well, along with Jesus, God also shared His perfect water by the Holy Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit is perfect. when you are saved, you accept Jesus Christ into your life. but you also are given the Holy Spirit. who now lives inside of you. Because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, God is able to wash away your contaminated water and forgive you of your sins. Now, even though it says your sins are forgiven, it does not say your sin is forgiven. You are still going to continue sinning by being a Christian. but because we now have that Holy Spirit, He helps cleanse us. this does not mean you can go sinning everyday. It now allows you to use the Holy Spirit to help you realize the sinning in your life. and help you recognize it and help you repent of it. Also, think of God as water again. water can be in 3 different forms. An ice cube, water, and steam. An ice cube representing Jesus Christ...an ice cube helps heal wounds. the same as Jesus Christ, who was sent to die for our sins in order to help heal us. water, being completely clean and perfect, the same as God. steam, as being the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us. We all believe we have souls. but we can't see it. just like steam. just like the Holy Spirit. We just can feel it, and it changes our hearts completely. Because of the Holy Spirit, we are given His great love for us and allows us to get through the gates of Heaven.

If anyone is confused on any of this, I'm willing to help explain. It was overwhelming for me to hear and grasp, but it definitely helped me grow in my faith alot today. I hope this helped some, and I thank Denny Pattyn for this demonstration. It blew my mind. and really got me going on my faith. Praise God.

Verse of the day on Bible Gateway:
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
-Psalm 121:7-8...I needed to hear that. <3

Everything Falls by Fee

You said
You´d never leave or forsake me
When you said
This life is gonna shake me
You said
This world is gonna bring trouble on my soul
This I know

When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You´re the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on

When I see
The darkness all around me
When I see
The tragedy has found me
I still believe
Your faithful arms will never let me go
And still I know

When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You´re the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find you mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on

Sorrow may last for the night
But hope is rising with the sun
Its rising with the sun
There will be storms in this life
But I know You will overcome

When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You´re the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on

When everything falls apart
Your arms hold me together
When everything falls apart
You´re the only hope for this heart
When everything falls apart
And my strength is gone
I find You mighty and strong
You keep holding on
You keep holding on.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. -1 Peter 5:6-7

Dying.

That word seems to bring fear to most people. A fear that even I'm afraid of. A fear that I felt I almost encountered today. None of us ever know how long we will be on this earth. It's just a temporary home, as Carrie Underwood likes to say it [I hate country...but it was necessary]. We all act as if we're going to be here until we're 80-90-100 such years old [some say young...depending on how you look at it]. We all make plans as if tomorrow is going to come and be a marvelous day in the neighborhood. Making plans for vacations that won't happen until another month or two, or even a year or two. Planning what college you are going to attend, or what job you wanna get, or what you wanna be when you grow up. Deciding which path to take, the good path or the path of destruction. We always look at life as if it's not that big of a deal. We all wonder what God has in store for us next, but fail to look at if His plan is for us to be sent to judgement day possibly tomorrow. We all see the tragedies on the news of what happened to the teenagers that were found killed, or someone was shot at, or down to the simplest thing, a kid got bit by a dog and now the family wants to sue. But do we ever think, what if that were me? Do we ever think to try and comprehend the pain that family is going through? Imagine losing someone who you love that you never thought you'd have to see the day where you had to say goodbye. Think of the pain you would have to deal with. Tragedies happen everyday on the news, but it is viewed just as a show on tv. We watch it to get the gossip of the world. Tragedies happen, yes. But what if it were you next...

What made me start to think all of this, is the fact, I was almost in a car accident today...it had the potential to be a BAD one. so bad, I wouldn't be here right now typing this. Praise the LORD for watching over me. I had KLOVE music on the radio, and my guardian angel in my car. Honestly, if I didn't have Jesus with me, I wouldn't be here right now. The car would've hit head on into the driver's side...I was driving. Honestly, it scared the crap out of me. I'm not ready to die...yet. I have so much living and spreading the Word left to do. but the whole incident, made me realize how LUCKY I am to be alive. and how Blessed I am. and how ashamed I am for the sin in my life. It was definitely a much needed eye opener to say that no sin is worth eternal damnation. Living for God is the only option we have to have our spirits live forever. and if we see someone else struggling with sin, go after them and help them find God before it's too late. Think about who you want to see again in Heaven. don't let someone close to you lose in the end from sin. I realized that if I were to get sent to judgement day, and stand before the LORD Himself, what would He do with me? I'm not worthy of His love. I am ashamed at what He would say to me. But He, still, somehow loves me and cares so much for me. I can't thank Him enough that I'm alive.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:18-31.

Update.

so...I didn't realize that it's been a while since I've blogged. I also just realized that I never shared my experience of preaching for the first time in my life. so HERE'S THE STORY...

well, I'm so proud to say I got the humble privilege to speak for my church's youth group. and let me just say, nervous was an understatement of how i felt. my youth group contains about 200 middle schoolers and high schoolers. making me that much more nervous. thanks to dylan for his positive encouragement. "Savannah, just remember. If you mess up......it's going on the website for the world to see!" thanks for that dylan. unfortunately, it didn't get recorded. so even though i didn't mess up, it didn't go on the internet...something with recording it went wrong:/ BUT ANYWAYS. I just wanted to share everything that went on that night inside of me.

First off that night, I was freaking out nervous, like I said, almost to the point where I wanted to throw up. all there was left for me to do, was get down and pray. Once everyone showed up and service got started, I realized there was nothing left I could do. It wasn't in my control on how much I practiced, if I didn't practice enough or what not. so, service got started and we had worship time and worship music to start everything off. I tried staying focused during music. Just surrendering and giving it my all. Once worship was over, I was no longer me. all fears and nerves, completely gone. I went up on stage, and I don't remember a thing. I let the LORD speak through me and control everything. and, as expected, because God is amazing, He took over, and according to others, I did awesome. all I know is, that was the deciding factor, that this is what God is calling me to do. He is calling me to do youth ministry. It is what the LORD wants, and no longer about me...because let's face it. we ALL hate public speaking. I give You control LORD. I hand You my life, and I Praise You for all the opportunities You continue to give me LORD. You are amazing, and I don't deserve any of Your love. thank You for controlling my life. I love You LORD!

I now leave you with one of my favorite, and a famous Bible verse...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6