Day 38

Day Thirty-Eight

November 1, 2010

Rain! Rain! So much rain! With outdoor hallways (in Washington?) it's a wonder nobody drowned! Even still I have nothing to worry about. In full honesty, if I drowned right now I know where I would be- in the presence of my Lord and Savior in heaven.

Today was really relaxed and unspectacular. I prayed for all of my classmates, but didn't get into any serious conversations. On the weekend, however, I had a few great opportunities. For the kid that was really rude to me I sent him a Facebook apology for calling him rude in front of everyone. I got no reply, but I know I did the right thing. I also got to talk to one of my friends from Montana last night. We laughed and vented to each other about how dumb high school is and how high schoolers make really dumb choices. We were able to encourage each other. I also told her about The Fishing Project and she's joining it all the way from Montana! Way to stay strong and stick up for your faith my beautiful friend :D.

Tomorrow is youth group and the week after that is youth group and so is the week after that! Hmmm.... sounds like a good opportunity to invite some friends. I think I will! One of my small goals for this week is to invite five different people to youth group or a church event or some other outreach opportunity.

Genesis 9:16;

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Galatians 6:9-10;

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Exodus 23:2a;

"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong..."

Day 37

Day Thirty-Seven

October 27, 2010

Some people are just not nice for no apparent reason. I was in my 1st period class today when one kid decided he would not get out of my seat. I asked politely, I waited off at the side until class started, other kids were telling him to get out, but nothing worked. Finally the teacher had to yell at the guy and after three attempts he grudgingly got up. I was not happy to put it lightly. In another class the same guy called me ugly and loud and other rude things. Only through God's help did I hold back from punching the kid. I took a deep breath and tried to act like nothing happened, but not until after I told him I thought he was rude. I regret that last part. Talking to one of my friends about it afterward I realized that no matter what anybody does to me I still need to treat them with respect and God's love.

At lunch I was sitting at a table with some friends when a girl I had never met before came up to us. She started yelling at one of my friends and was being insanely obnoxious, rude, and ruthless. It was crazy! My friend just tried to ignore the harsh words, but she couldn't get away. We waited until the girl was done yelling and I took my friend and a few others and we went outside to get away. The first thing we did was pray. Out in the open court yard four of us held hands and prayed for my friend and that she wouldn't use this situation as an excuse to fall further into the world, but closer to God. Right before lunch ended we prayed again for the rest of our day and for one of my other friends who was also going through a hard time. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

Matthew 5:39;

"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Matthew 5:44;

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

James 5:16;

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Day 36

Day Thirty-Six

October 26, 2010

Today was really cold and short, but all worth it.

In English I got to listen in on conversations about super crazy dating relationships. I didn't agree with their choices at all, but I didn't say that out loud. I listened to what they had to say and asked them things like what the purpose of dating is. I have never had a boyfriend and I'm okay with that. I think that it's an amazing testimony to others, especially as teenagers, to put God's plans for us before what the world tells us we need. And when those relationships come, to carry them out in a God-fearing way. The concept of not needing a boyfriend or girlfriend is practically foreign in this age. God is my number one priority.

In the same class I got to talk to another girl and somehow the conversation turned to religion. I don't remember bringing up the topic myself, that was purely directed by God. The girl was talking about how she had never gone to church or read the Bible, but that she's a Catholic. I asked her what makes her Catholic and she replied, "Well my parents were both raised Catholic and I think I was baptized." In a non-offensive way I started asking a few questions. I asked things like "Is Catholicism a race or a religion?" She answered religion, so I asked why what her parents claim to be has anything to do with what she says she is. If religion is a personal decision, it can't be inherited from your parents like blond hair or brown eyes. The conversation slowed down and shifted to the topic of shooting rubber bands. That's high school!

All in all, I think today was a fantastic day full of worshiping Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:35-36;

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

Philippians 4:8;

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

Meet Amy

Amy R. Bio

"I was raised in the ideal christian home. I went to church every Sunday, am very involved with youth group, AWANA, Bible studies, etc. When I was 5 years old I gave my life to Jesus Christ and started a relationship between me and my Savior. I'm still trying hard to perfect what I call my faith in the one and only true God. As life goes on, keeping my relationship strong gets SO HARD! God has taken away my friends, put me into not-so-easy situations, but all to show me that I need Him more than anything else in this life. Now it is my goal to live every day for Him and to share this peace, joy, and hope that I have to everyone else. God gave me this life, so I'm living it for Him."

Amy R. is a part of The Fishing Project. TFP was actually a ministry that Amy was inspired to come up with through the Montana mission trips our church takes yearly. When asked about TFP, Amy responded; " TFP is a decision to live each day, especially in school, for the sole purpose of preaching the gospel through interactions with others, words, focus... EVERYTHING! Through my experience, TFP is an effective, simple idea that has real affects. Like my English friend making amazing, life-changing decisions to serve God, even though seemingly minor at the time."

Two of Amy's favorite verses right now are:
Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
"I love this verse because so many times we try to do anything just to fit in. God gives us encouragement here that we don't WANT to fit in because God calls us to be different. We can stop trying to fit in because that is no longer our priority." -Amy

Romans 12:11
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
"This keeps me going and encourages me. I have zeal! I have spiritual fervor! But do I keep it up? This verse keeps me in check." - Amy

Amy decided that she wanted to do more with her daily life than just survive. She decided she wanted to live each day to it's fullest, bringing God glory hopefully in everything that she does. She created The Fishing Project, and she would be the first to tell you, it's not easy. It can be very difficult at times. If you've ever read any of her logs that she's written in the past 35 days, you'll see that it's not always an easy task to stay positive and serve God with your whole heart. But Amy would also be the first person to tell you that it's all worth it!
If you have any questions about TFP, feel free to ask Amy or Alyssa, Colin or Mason.

""Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."" Matthew 4:19

Day 35

Day Thirty-Five

October 25, 2010

It's rainy and it's cold and it's a day in the life of a Washingtonian. There was no ninja playing during lunch today.

I have to admit- I do not want to write an entry for today. I'm behind in one of my classes. I still don't think my friends understand what living a life for Christ means. I'm constantly bombarded with bad language, dirty jokes, and really rude students. I don't feel like anything I do is making a difference. This project is so hard! Living a life wholeheartedly for Jesus and "stepping only in His footsteps" is insanely difficult! In fact, it's impossible! I can't do it. At least not on my own.

It's times like this that I can't lose heart. God still has a plan that I'm still a part of. As much as I hate to admit it- this means that I have to change. There's something that I'm not doing right. I'm not staying caught up on my school work. I'm not keeping Christ at the front of my mind for all situations. I'm not starting my day the right way. I'm not praying nearly as often as I should. To sum it up: I'm not giving my God my everything. That needs to change.

Are you giving God your everything? Or are you giving Him leftovers? God didn't create you halfheartedly, so you shouldn't serve Him halfheartedly either.

2 Chronicles 28:9;

"...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

Psalm 119:175-176;

"Let me live that I may praise You, and may Your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands."

Day 34

Day Thirty-Four

October 22, 2010

I love food. Today was a good day. We had a food party in my Chemistry class. Today is "Mole Day" (don't ask me why, but it has some educational purpose) so we renamed doughnuts "mole"nuts, lemonade became le"mole"ade, and stuff like that so we could eat it for a class party. We also played jeopardy about random jokes. I got to make friends, get the shy kids more involved and less separated from everyone else, and eat food!

Some of my friends and I get together during our lunch and head outside to play a fun, yet pointless, game called "ninja." Most high schoolers know how to play and it's an easy way to get to know people. With the group of people I play with we are able to hold ourselves accountable to hanging out with the right people, practice keeping our cool under frustrating circumstances (like me NOT winning when it was NOT my fault), and we pray right before leaving for our classes. Today our group got bigger! Finding fun, easy games like Ninja is a great way to keep each other in check and an easy transition to doing something like praying right before class.

Proverbs 3:5-6;

"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."

Isaiah 45:5-6;

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other."

Day 33

Day Thirty-Three

October 21, 2010

I started making small goals for myself each day. Yesterday the goal was to compliment 5 people I didn't know. Today my goal was to make a new friend. I got to know a girl in my Chemistry class and I FINALLY talked to that one girl I share two classes with! Tomorrow I am going to write someone an encouragement card. Small things like that are easy ways to remind ourselves of the ultimate goal- living a life full of Christ's love.

Today in English I got to talk to one of my friends the whole time about life. We didn't hit any major topics, but we talked about what it's like living in this day in age. We talked about temptations, reading our Bibles when we need to set our minds back on God's path, shared funny stories about our families, and I got to know her so much more. Not all of it was easy to hear, but it was true and raw and real and it made me love her and respect her so much more for her honesty.

Cell phones are an amazing invention. They help you keep in contact with friends that you would otherwise lose track of- especially when you've gone to five different schools like me! Texting is a really easy way to hold each other accountable to living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. I love giving random encouragement texts and through just that I found out that one of my friends is going through a really hard time right now. She feels lost and confused and hurt due to events way outside of her control. Through texting I got to comfort her with passages from the Bible, talk through some key points of life with her, but most importantly I could listen without interruption. Listening is sharing Christ's love.

Philippians 1:27a;

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

James 1:19;

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

Romans 12:15;

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."