Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The post with no name.....

It's true, sometimes the hardest part of blogging is coming up with a title. Something that seems so simple, is actually the hardest thing for me. Oh, and another hard thing for me would be blogging. Seriously guys, I was looking at my last post. July 13th? Really? Anyway, I really don't have anything important to blog about, really. This is rather just an apologetic, and here-is-what-has-been-going-on-in-my-life-since-last-time kind of post. So what has been going on in my life??

Absolutely Nothing. 

Just kidding.

July:
So, lets see. Well, at the beginning of July (or rather June 30th) I started at my first place of employment. Where's that you ask? Oh you didn't ask? Well I'll tell you anyway. I started at Starbucks! I never thought I would be working at Starbucks, but I am. And I really can't even describe my job.....it's......fun. Ok that was easier than I thought. Haha, but seriously I love my job! The coworkers are great, and it's not the kind of job where I'm like "Ugh, I have to go to work today" but rather I enjoy it.

August:
Umm... well school started in August. August 20th to be exact. How do I know this is the date we started? Because on August 20th, I started the countdown to Christmas break. Seriously folks, it's come to that. It's my senior year! I can't even believe that. It's so weird to think that in May I will be an official high school graduate. And I'll be done with school FOREVER! Ok, just until August when I start college. Or rather continue on with college, cause guys, get this. I'm taking college classes right now, ok, well not like RIGHT NOW, because obviously I'm typing up a blog post. And we all know I wouldn't be doing such a thing during class. :P Yeah, I'm taking classes at WIT right now in the Graphic Design department as part of their "College Now" program. Which is basically highschoolers that have the opportunity to take some College Classes before they graduate high school. A lot of my friends are also taking WIT classes which is pretty awesome. 

September: 

Umm... well still school of course. But we had our annual church retreat. Oh my goodness guys, it was awesome. This was only my second year attending, but guys it's such a great time of fellowship and worship and just spending time with the body of Christ. The speaker we had this year was phenomenal! So yeah, that was pretty much the highlight of my month, or should I say year. Looking forward to next year already.

October: School continues. Mid-terms this month guys. Hope you all did fantastic on 'em. Oh, and I turned 17. It's hard to believe I'm 17 years old, guys. Like seriously, you people who know me, are saying the exact same thing. "He's 17, I thought he was like 13!" Yeah, yeah, if I didn't know me I would probably think I was 13, too. 

And I did it. I pretty much just summed up my life in the past 3 months in one blog post. Not in very much detail but that's beside the point. 

Life has been busy. Not gonna lie. It's been pretty hard to keep up with everything. But when it does get busy we NEED to make sure that we don't lose sight of what's truly important. I've struggled with my Bible Reading on somedays because I just have to finish this homework, or even because I'm too tired. Yeah, guys, seriously there has been those days. And even though sleep, and homework, and work, and (fill in the blank) are important things. It's not more important than Christ. 

I was listening to a sermon by David Platt the other day and he talked about how in Phillipians 3 Paul said "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." 

And that even though some things that Paul listed earlier in the chapter were even GOOD things, but that he understood that all those good things, were a loss without Christ. 

So life is going to get busy, for everyone. But don't lose sight of Christ, because that's what is truly important. 

Until next time....

~JD

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Some of my favorites...

Lately, I've been thinking about some Bible verses that have really stuck in my mind throughout the years. Some of my favorites being:

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

That verse means a lot to me. For when I'm down and I'm doubting myself in whatever life throws my way. There is no need to fear, cause Christ will give the strength to get through whatever may come our way. God's in control and he knows what will happen. And will give us the strength to make it through each day. Times will get tough, no doubt about that, but when they do lean on Christ and his strength! 

Isaiah: 41:10 - "fear not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Another verse that encourages me a lot. It's just so awesome when we are afraid or worried about stuff in this life to know that God is with us. And he will give us strength and help us to get through whatever the situation. He will not leave us on our own. What a great God He is! 

Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for  the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

This verse is an encouragement and great reminder to me to keep running the race of the Christian life with endurance. Laying aside every weight. Whatever that might be that is holding me back from Christ. To cut it off, and lay it aside. No distractions. Looking to Jesus, keeping our eyes on him. Seeking first God's kingdom and not the things of this earth.

So those are just a couple of the many verses that are an encouragement to me, and hopefully now, an encouragement to you as well!

~JD


Monday, May 12, 2014

What? I have a Blog?

Once upon a time, there was a teenager. This teenager was super stoked about writing. Writing in general stories, books, you name it. Then one day a brilliant idea struck him. What about getting a blog? Yes! That was it. He would get a blog. Something to have fun with, to improve on his writing, to share with others about his somewhat boring life. And so he did. He began his own blog. Boy did he have fun posting. Especially the first couple times. But as time went on the posts became fewer and fewer. Until one day, they just stopped completely. 

In case you haven't figured it out by now... that teenager is me. I can just picture it now: 

"And the winner of this year's Worst Blogger of the year goes to......JD!" 

Haha, ok. Maybe I'm exaggerating a tad, but seriously I'm sorry for not posting forever. So anyway I thought I'd just give you an update on life. 

It's finals week!! Yup, the week that most students get stressed, Starbucks and other Energy Drinks become a need, and you feel the need to read over every word that you went over that semester. Thankfully, this isn't me (this semester anyway). This semester I took classes that ended up not really being ones that you can "study" for. For instance: I'm taking a class called Vector Drawing. 

Vector Drawing - A smart sounding concept which really ends up being defined as "drawing on the computer."

And really, there isn't much you can do to study for drawing... so yeah, classes like that that don't really require studying. Which is quite spectactular! 

Oh, and I decided to perhaps go into Graphic Design as a major (for the time being) unless God starts to lead me elsewhere. I took a couple of classes in the Graphic Design program and somewhat enjoyed myself. So next semester I'm gonna take some more classes in that program, and I'm kind of super excited to see what God is going to do this next semester! :) 

Well, this is kind of a short blog post but Lord-willing another will follow soon! :) 

Until then...

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31

~ JD

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Where feet may fail...

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior


AHHH! This song has been stuck in my head the past few weeks! Some of the lyrics just hit me in a way that just leaves me in awe of God‘s grace. “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now!” I just love that sentence. God doesn’t fail. He never has and he won’t ever fail us. At times we may think He failed us, but He didn’t. God’s plans don’t always fall in line with what we think should have happened. I hope that this is all of our prayer, that we would go wherever God calls us. Though we may fail, God won’t. 

The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)


Seriously, if you haven’t given this song a listen too, you should. Even if it’s just once, or a thousand times. ;) 

~JD

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Today I heard someone say that this chapter was encouraging so looked it up and was encouraged by it as well! So just wanted to share this with you and hope that you too were encouraged by it. I know it's been awhile, a LONG while, since my last post. But hopefully, soon I will have a new post written. Thanks for reading!

~JD