Oh my.. so much has happened in just the few weeks since I haven't been on here.  I started my freshman year of highschool... and it is amazing.  I'm not even being sarcastic or whatnot.  The people there are simply awesome.  My classes [most of them] are really good too.. there's a lot of variety, though.  Like in once class, there are only 10 people in it and in another there is 20 people over the limit (45 people in the class).. and I have one class of only freshmen while in another, it is every grade... I don't know.  I just think it is really awesome.

But I've already had to make a lot of big decisions.  My hardest thing was to quit basketball... I know, it sounds like nothing.  But I've been playing since I could walk.. and I had to give it all up.  There's been a lot of other things, also.. many really personal.  Yet, it's so cool to look at how God changes me in ways I could never have even fathomed. 

Anyway.. I started powderpuff tonight.  Our coaches are hilariusly amazing.. (Tommy, Dan, & Ben).. yepp.. it's my new love. 

Well.. I have to get off of here to go to my Geometry (fyi: honor classes are not funn)

With love through Christ,
<3 Angela

Tonight doesn't feel right.  and I don't know why.  It's only 11:58 and  it feels like it is at least 2:00.  Something just feels soo out of place.  Maybe it's just the night.

"I guess I must be wishing on someone else's star.  It seems like someone else keeps gettin what I'm wishing for.  Why can't I be as lucky as those other people are?  I guess I must be wishing, on someone else's star."  ++ Bryan White

School's in one day!  Holy wow.  Here's another devotional which horrifyed me.  Just read.  "6%"

"They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." -2 Timothy 4:4-5

A recent study reported that only six percent of teens today believe that moral truth is absolute. I knew it wouldn't be high, but that's really low. Not good. Young people today are basically saying that life is a sliding scale. Truth has become relative because it all depends on the situation.

In the world of athletics, there are many truths that can not be relative (i.e. wins and loses). Imagine if every athlete defined winning differently--one by score, one by hustle, one by the best fans, etc. It would be chaos! Fortunately (or unfortunately) winning is defined by the scoreboard. Life without truths, absolutes and boundaries leads to chaos.

Psalm 31:5 says that the Lord is the God of truth. God is our standard. The Bible isn't just filled with truth, it IS the truth. Many of us embrace the absolute truth (Jesus Christ), but we find it hard to apply that truth to others. We feel like we are judging or condemning. It's a hard line to walk, but remember that absolute truth is for everyone. And God wants to use us in the lives of others to help them understand that His truth can set them free. We must hold fast to the truth and not compromise under any circumstances. As it states in Proverbs 23:23, "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."

We need to stand for the truth on and off the field of competition. Do not sell out. Are you part of the Six-Percent Club or Ninety-Four Percent Club?

With love through Christ,
<3Angela

so.  there's two weeks left until school starts again.  summer went by fast.  but i'm excited to see everyone again.  home life has been hectic this week.  my sister, brother-in-law, and neice moved in with us, and we don't actually have room for them, so all of their stuff is at one half of the living room.. it's going to hard going from have five to having eight in the house again.  but at least will get to see them more, right?  i've got to get to bed at a half decent time tonight because my mom is leaving at 7 in the morning to take my grandma to the doctor, so i have to get up and watch maddie.  that should be a treat.  so i'm cutting this off here.  be safe, and hey, smile.  Jesus Christ, the ruler of the universe, is crazy about you.  now, that's what i call love.  :)

here's a sweet devo.  my favorite so far because it's pretty much pointed back to me and what i do.  and how i need to change.  it's called "did you hear that?"

"And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:7

Did you hear that?

I couldn't get to sleep last night. There were too many thoughts
racing around in my mind, bumping into each other, forgetting where
they were supposed to be, getting all jumbled and confused. Then one
thought walked out of the nonsense and stood still, clear, fully
complete: God is always listening.

Have you ever been in a room and seen a teammate or friend do
something you thought was amusing? You may have whispered to your
neighbor and had a good laugh. Why did you whisper? Why didn't you
just say it out loud? Maybe because if someone else heard you, they
would think less of you. Sure, you might hurt the other person's
feelings, but let's be honest. . . The real reason is your own
worldly image. You want to appear "good" and "kind." If you were
truly worried about the other person's feelings, you wouldn't have
even whispered the thought.

Now, what if I told you someone else does hear, every time. The other
person's Father is listening, and He's your Father, too. He hears
what you say, and it grieves Him. He doesn't grieve for His other
child, He loves them just the way they are, flaws and all. Oh, He
loves you, too; He just wants more for you than an uncaring, unkind
heart and mind. Yes, mind. He not only heard what you whispered, He
heard every thought before the whisper, during the whisper, after the
whisper.

There were quite a few thoughts running around in my mind last night
that I would not want anyone else to hear. Things I would never dream
of saying out loud. Some of those thoughts would create hard feelings
in my relationships, some would reveal my own insecurities, others
are too critical and mean. And God heard them all! How completely and
wonderfully embarrassing! Wonderful because He loves me, bad thoughts
and all. Embarrassing because I know better.

The Bible teaches us to guard our thoughts. This means we are to
stop, confess and ask forgiveness for the hurtful thoughts that cross
our minds because He hears them as if we have shouted them from the
rooftops. And they hurt Him.

That being said, I need to get back on my knees and talk to my
Father. He heard some things last night He shouldn't have had to
listen to. . .

with love through Him,
<3 angela

hey.. so, im pretty much bored to death right about now.  im talking to bengarman on msn about spanish.  yeah, very interesting conversation, don't you think?  i had all last week off (moratorium week) and we couldn't communicate at all with any of the coaches.  no phone calls, instant messaging, nothing.  which was funner than fun.  but then today i went to practice.  me, katie, keelah, and this other girl (i forget her name.. she's like in 7th grade) showed up.  no one else. then we find that our coaches canceled it, but due to moratorium week, couldn't tell us.  yeah.  i woke up at 5 for nothing.  hmm.. that's my adventure for the day!  whoo.. what a great one. 

here's a devo called "made for a purpose."

"Therefore; whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory." -1 Corinthians 10:31

I love sports-themed movies like "Facing the Giants," which I highly  recommend. It is an inspirational story of courage, faith and the power of God's word. I am sure each of you can recall one of your own favorite sports movies, as well.

As great as "Facing the Giants" was, I have to say that my all-time favorite sports movie is "Chariots of Fire.". It was an internationally acclaimed Oscar-winning drama based on a true story. It tells of two very different men who compete as runners in the 1924 Paris Olympics: Eric Liddle, a Christian Scotsman, and Harold Abrahams, a Jewish Englishman. The film crosscuts between each man's life as he trains for the competition and illustrates how each is fueled by very different desires. As compelling as the racing scenes are, the depth and motivation of the two main characters are what touches you throughout the movie.

One of my favorite parts from the movie is the scene when Eric Liddle is walking with his sister Jenny in the Scottish countryside. At this point in the movie Eric is explaining, or actually defending, to his sister (a devout Christian like Eric) all the time Eric spends running. Jenny is, in a sense, questioning Eric's faith and his commitment to the missionary field. After an extended dialogue trying to get Jenny to understand his running, Eric finally responds: "Jenny, you've got to understand, I believe God made me for a purpose--for China. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel
His pleasure."

In the movie, and in his real life, Eric Liddle used his talent as a gifted athlete to drive him, and he ran to win! He used the recognition he received to share his faith with those who came to see him race. In real life, Eric Liddle, after winning a Gold medal in the 1924 Olympics, did go on to full-time missionary work in China, but his running remained an important part of his life.

Just like Eric Liddle, as an FCA athlete, you know that God has made you for a purpose. But that same God has given you the desire and the ability to run or throw or perform in whatever sport you play. And, like Eric, God wants you to live for HIS PURPOSE, and He wants you to feel HIS PLEASURE.

with love through Him,
<3 angela

so.. this is angela, of course.  life has been basically amazing, just very busy, but that's how i like it sometimes.  it's nice, though, to sit down like this and just relax.  i had the day off of basketball for once, so i went everywhere.  it was fun, from the mall, to the hospital, to the store, to a daycare, to.. well.. many other places.  uhm.. plmf is going on at the very second, but i couldn't go today because i have to go to bed at like eleven :(  oh well.  i'll live.

well, what i have today really isn't a devo.  i'm just going to write something that i have known for a couple of years and would like to share with you all.  hope you understand it!!

labels:

if you had to call yourself one thing, what would it be?  (a mom, dad, uncle, aunt, mvp of a sport, number one in your class)  now make a mental list of all of the positive labels you would place on yourself.  how many came to your mind? 

now, switch over to God.  what labels would you place on Him?  here is my list:

Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End, Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, Friend, Author, Creator, Perfector, in every heart, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Holy Lamb, Maker of the Heavens, Bright and Morning Star, Breath of all Creation, Healer of the Broken, Calmer of the Seas, Risen Son of Man, Everlasting Father, Almighty One, Light of the World, Faithful and True, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Mighty God, Fallen Sin of Man, Prince of Peace, the Answer, the Promise, Heartbeat of the World, and Who Always Was and is to Come.

That is the short version on my list, too.  Now, how do you compare to Him?  That comes to show us how big God truly is, to have so many labels that are so meaningful.  It says that even when we feel that we are being beat down by this world, that we are soo much bigger than it when we have someone as BIG as God backing us up.

I actually carry my list with me wherever I go, whether it be the grociery story, a ball game, anything.  When I think I am getting a big head or feel so horrible because of someone else, I just take it out, and just read.  It really helps.  Try it.

With love through Him,
<3 Angela