Take a Look

Have you ever stopped to stare; in the car, at your house, at school, out the window? Well, I find myself doing that A LOT. Probably every day I end up just looking around at the world that we live in. From all my observations, I can tell you one thing that’s just so obvious to me. Our God is amazing! I could never make anything that’s even remotely close to as beautiful as our world.

I was up with a whole bunch of other teenagers from my church at my youth pastor’s cabin this past weekend. I got so many bug bites, sore limbs from sleeping on the ground, and a sunburned face, but, it was gorgeous and fun and worth every itchy bug bite. On Friday night we were out on the lake just as the sun was setting and I think I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. I think my mind just takes things in at a whole different level than most people because I see the grass and I think, “Wow! That’s so amazing and wonderful! How in the world did God create something so great?!”  When normally people would think, “It’s just grass.” I mean, I just get so excited about what God’s doing. It’s absolutely spectacular. Anyways, the lake was so gorgeous and I’m convinced I’m going to live on a lake one day because they’re so stunning and every time I see the gorgeousness that is a lake, which is a lot since I live in Minnesota, it reminds me of how great God is!

 

(My backyard at sunset)

The sky is also just so magnificent! Every day I see the sunset and can see the wonders of God. In everything I see I see Him. And after the sun sets the stars come out and I am in awe all over again. The way you see the world has a big impact on how you see God. God is so present in Creation so just take a look!

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (NIV)

Have a blessed day and you are a blessing!

Janae

Dire Prayer Request!

At camp this summer I had the joy of meeting my new friend Nicole! While at camp I also got to briefly meet her wonderful boyfriend Aaron. Now this boyfriend, he recently got into a terrible swimming accident, think Joni but more serious, and now he is at least paralyzed from the neck down and can only breath at this moment. His family, friends, and Aaron himself more than anything, need your prayers! They need a miracle very badly. To learn more about Aaron and how he's doing visit: www.caringbridge.org/visit
/aaronjohnson1 

What a Creation!!

Last weekend I went up north with my family and we stayed in Two Harbors. Let's just say that God is almost never more evident then when I'm out in His wonderful Creation and northern Minnesota displays what He did perfectly. It was so beyond gorgeous I still can't get over it! Here are some pictures from my trip!

 Isaiah 40:31- 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.

 Matthew 6:33- But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Psalm 37:4- Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

(P.S. I really love this verse.)

How could I not smile when everything is so beautiful and my Lord is so good!

Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

 

... Including catching a fish in my mom's case!

Lake Superior 

It was so crazily calm that morning we went fishing! 

Gooseberry Falls State Park! 

Waterfalls 

More gorgeous Creation

Psalm 118:24- This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

(P.P.S. This one too!)

Super crazy beautiful and crazy high up! 

 Deuteronomy 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Another water fall!

Proverbs 18:10- The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

We found some giant lawn chairs across from where we ate lunch! I felt so little! haha

The typical, wonderful view all weekend (:

The view from the Split Rock Lighthouse

And there it is! 

And this is where the keepers would live with their family.

Psalm 34:8- O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

1 Corinthians 13:13- So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

Doesn't it look like the ocean?

And there's the lighthouse from below!

Isaiah 12:2- Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalm 51:10- Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

(This is the verse on my purity ring too! Wonderful verse.)

Proverbs 3: 5-6- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 37:5- Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Isn't it just delightful? On the first night we got there and we went to an old lighthouse and walked right by the Lake (it's the first picture) and I felt like my brain was going to just like, I don't know, become overloaded or something because of all the stunning-ness (Yes that's not a word but oh well. It fits.) that's all around me! I mean sometimes I just can't believe just how wonderful God created everything. It's surreal. the more beauty of Creation I see, the more I love God and appreciate just how wonderful He is and definitely is majesty. I could not even come close to making a place as beautiful as Earth. Even the clouds are lovely! I just looking up at the sky and admiring how grand everything is. Take some time to admire the works of our Creator! It's quite something (; 

Have a blessed day because you are a blessing!!

Excitement, what a wonderful thing!

The other day I was telling one of my best friends how I'm so excited for this and that, and then the list kept going on and on! I realized that I'm such an excitable person, or more or less, I'm excited for lots of things! The future holds so many new adventures and I just can't wait! Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to in the (near) future:

• Getting my haircut short
• Driving
• Wearing sweaters (Yeah, I know. I just love sweaters though!) 
• Buying new clothes for fall and winter
• School to start so I can see my friends
• Being in Chamber Orchestra (I'm a little scared to for this one...)
• Going to Two Harbors for the weekend! 
• Going up to my youth pastors cabin with my youth group
• Getting my pay checks for babysitting 
• The leaves to start turning colors
• Wearing jeans 
• Skiing this year (hopefully without any injuries... haha)

Well, just lots of things I guess! I can't think of much else but I KNOW that there's lots of things to be excited for and thankful for!  

I think that the things I'm most excited for are the things and plans that God has in store for me. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." - Jeremiah 29:11-12

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” - Psalm 32:8

Have a blessed day! 

p.s. Sorry for the messed up white behind the bible verses but I'm not really sure how to fix it at the moment though. I'm not the most computer savvy (; haha

A Cat in the Hat

Okay so this post isn't about the Cat in the Hat but as soon as you read the title you already assumed it was. This morning, when this whole thing was more fresh in my mind so bare with me here, I was just thinking about the titles of blogs I've read and how you never really know what something is about until you actually read it, listen to it if it's a song, or watch it if it's a video or movie. So many times I've heard the expression, "Don't judge a book by it's cover!" however, it seems that most of the time I do.

Example. When I'm deciding what movie to go see with my friends, if I don't like the title or it sounds stupid, dumb, or scary, I immediately decide I don't want to watch that one. Sam thing with a book pretty much. I always read the back but if the front doesn't intrigue me enough then I don't even bother.

Titles are so tricky sometimes. The Bible is the best book that was ever written but if I didn't know what it was about I wouldn't think that it would be.
Possible names for The Bible that would make me want to pick it up:

God's Never Ending Love Story
Past, Present, Future
Read Here to Save Your Soul
Pathway to Heaven
Wisdom for Dummies
Just Out: Jesus is THE Savior
Straight from the Lord's Mouth
The list could go on and on, (I personally love the first one because I'm a sappy teenage girl and it reminds me of a Lori Wick book title! I also recommend her books!) BUT none of those are the ones God has picked for His Word.

I feel like God picked a title that was more humble so that those who read it would choose to read it out of the content and not just because of a catchy title or a wonderful cover illustration. God also does that with us! The way He made us and who we truly are is much more than just what the world sees. And it is so much more than what we look like on the outside and our Earthly name. I think that our identity rests in God and our actions speak louder than our title and cover.

First impressions are a big deal I think but you shouldn't keep that image of someone in your head forever when their actions correct that first picture of them. I've been called or known as The Goody-Two-Shoes for a long time and there are good and bad things about that reputation. A long with that title I've also been thought of as up-tight or just no fun but once people get to know me they know that that's not true. Don't judge a person forever by their Earthly title that others have given them without seeing their true identity that God has given them. Actions truly do speak louder than words. At camp one of the things that I kept hearing during chapel and prayer was that no matter what people think of or title you as, with God speaking through your actions, you will be known as His son or daughter and the one that has what everyone else wants. That will become your new title and your new title will be God-proclaimed not peer-proclaimed!

You are a blessing in someone's life and SO loved,

Janae