Hope is Real...Help is Real

It always hurts me to hear about people having depression and the terrible things that come of it. Sadly, this happened to my oldest sister's friend from high school last night and my prayers go out to his family and everyone else who may be going through these hard times. It is awful to think that people are going through this and it may be unknown to anyone, so they might not get all of the love and support they need to get through this. If it is happening to you or someone you know, let them feel loved. Know that God is always there for you and He never wants you to feel broken or unloved. He wants to give you hope and help you through the toughest times. If you let Him help you and if you just reach out to Him with hope, you will feel his unconditional and unrelenting love. Our God cares so much for us and He can not stand to see anyone hurt. There are also other ways to find help. "To Write Love On Her Arms" is an amazing organization for people who are depressed and searching for hope. TWLOHA helps people who think that they are all alone to know that they are not and will not let them be alone. I hope and pray that whoever may be going through this will reach out to others so that they don't have to feel alone so that they can "soar high on wings like eagles" and so they can feel and know about God's love for them because "No one can measure the depths of His understanding." Let's all raise awareness and not be afraid to talk about or seek out help. For more information about TWLOHA, visit their website www.twloha.com

4 Chair Discipling

Today I was blessed to have been invited to the Christian Surfers "4 Chair Discipling". Dean Plumlee, director of Christian Surfers, spoke to us about how to be disciples and live, love, speak, and act in the way Jesus did. He also spoke to us about how to make more disciples who will then follow Christ in the same way and so that they will keep making more and more generations of disciples. The first chair of the "Four Chair Discipling" talked about when you are lost and how Jesus wants you to "come and see" who He is. The second chair is when you begin to follow the Lord, you are a believer. It's your foundation. You cannot completely succeed the third and fourth chair if you are not a fully devoted believer and if you do not understand what a believer is. Jesus wants to teach you to grow to be more and more like Him so that you can speak and love and teach others to do the exact same. Chair three is being a "fisher for men". You are now a worker. This is where you will learn and begin to become a disciple maker. Where you will "walk as Jesus walked" and learn to teach others to do the same. You will begin "fishing for men".  Last but not least, you are now a disciple maker. You will now "go and bear fruit". Jesus strengthens you so that you can go and seek the lost as Jesus did. You will teach them to love our Father and they will go through the same process so they can be strengthened by God and live in Him and with Him. I learned a lot today and I really hope and pray that Jesus will strengthen me to help people to know Him and love Him as He already loves them and I pray that He will strengthen us all throughout our journey and our lives to speak His good word and that we will all find peace, love and joy in Him. Thank you Dean Plumlee for being one of the disciples in my life to help me on my journey :)  "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Luke 6:40

Knowing Jesus

It is crazy for me to believe how many children don't know Jesus. For me growing up with my faith, not knowing Jesus seems impossible because He has always been my strength and my hope. It's like, how could you not know and believe in the person who gave you life and the sun, moon, stars, and everything else that makes us feel so much love and joy? Then, in culinary class we watched a movie called, "Supersize Me". This movie is about a guy who tries to prove a point about how bad fast-food is for you and how it is becoming too big of a part of American's lives. In the movie, they interviewed a bunch of kids, individually, and showed them pictures of people and asked if they knew who the people were. The first picture was of the Wendy's girl and the kids had comments like "Oh, I have seen her on signs before." Then when they saw the second picture they were making curious faces and saying, "I don't know who that is" and "Who is that?" They then, turned the picture to the camera and it was a picture of Jesus. The last picture was of Ronald McDonald and they all knew who he was. Seeing this broke my heart because they didn't know their Father and Creator. I mean, the bible tells us how much God and Jesus love and care for us, yet, some of us have no idea who They are. This is why I started Groms For God, so that everyone can KNOW their Heavenly Father.
"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you." Nehemiah 9:6

#nomorebullying

#nomorebullying

Bullying is something very powerful that a lot of people wouldn't even think twice about. It can tear a person apart and can do a lot of damage. Bullying is a terrible thing that needs to end so that everyone can show their greatness to the world that God has given all of us. "How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you". This quote tells how we are all meant to achieve greatness. For some people it is hard because all of these bullies get in their way, to a point where doing something great seems nearly impossible when all you can think about is what is this person going to do next time. The quote states "thought the world needed one of you." God didn't just think to himself about how He thought the world could use a few more people, He knew that the world needed you. He put you into this world because He needed you to be someone to make a difference in this world. If you are being bullied, you need to reach out to God with all of your heart and find a new way to let your greatness and the love of God shine throughout this world. We can stop bullying if we prove to them that whatever they try to do is no match for God's plan for us and His unconditional love.

God's Love For Us

Last night there was a reunion for the bible study that my older siblings held in their house. This bible study that they used to have had even changed some lives. It even changed mine because after they stopped having bible studies, since my older brother graduated high school and most of the people going there had too, I realized that if they could have made such a big impact within the lives of their high school friends, then why can't I help to change the lives of all of the surfers. So that helped me to start Groms For God. It also helped kids who didn't even know God or anything about his love for us. They would start out just by coming to the bible study because they could get free food, but as they came more and more, and started to find their way to God, they started to understand God and his endless, unbreakable love for us. It was amazing to me last night, to listen to everyone's stories about how it changed their lives and how they wouldn't be where they are right now if it wasn't for that bible study and how that helped them find God. Then, later that night, when Danny read God's word to us, he read Romans 8:38-39 and it really showed me how there is nothing in all creation and nothing that anyone can either do or say that could ever separate us from God's love. The verse is a hope to everyone that whatever happens to them, whatever takes them in the wrong direction or convinces them to believe in something else that is not as loving or amazing as our God, he will always love us and nothing can ever cause something different. I am so happy that I was able to be a part of that last night and even throughout my childhood. I know that even though I didn't completely understand what all of it meant then, it helped lead me on to the right and amazing path.

Seeing God Through Me

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Over the past few months, I have better understood what it means to have faith. It doesn't take popularity to be noticed, it takes the faith you have in God to make a difference in their lives. When I put all of my faith in God, he helps me to be a good example by letting others see him through myself and what I believe in. Even though I mostly travel for surfing, people notice me because of my faith in God, and every time someone notices me through my faith, I am also able to use those moments to be a light in their lives so they can find strength and happiness in God. Being a good example in everyone's lives means a lot to me because it lets me know that what I am doing is right and helps me find my purpose in God's plan. I hope that everyone finds strength and happiness in God and knows that they are never too young to help others find HIM.

The picture is of bible study, "Walk in the Light on Wednesday Night," I started with Randy Nolan of FLOW Surfers (Fellowship Led On Water). Together, we hope to bring all ages to a closer relationship with God.

Jesus Center Joy

JCJ = Jesus Center Joy

 

"Jesus Center Joy" started when I used to go to a bible study that my siblings had started with Danny Cruden, who led the study. After he talked about how Jesus should be the center of our lives, I began to chant it in my head whenever I was afraid or nervous, and somehow it brought me peace. JCJ is what pushes me to my limits and helps give me the strength to do anything I put my mind to. It helps me remember that no matter what the situation is, if I have Jesus in the center of my life, I will find strength and happiness. This has gotten me through everything, from my toughest heats to all of the moments that make me feel more afraid than ever.

 

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even the youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." This bible verse fits JCJ perfectly. It lets you know that if you trust in the Lord you will find strength to do the impossible and find joy in it all.