The God of the Heavens and the Earth - made YOU!

So last night I was planning on getting to bed on time for once. ....It all worked out fine, until I looked out the window.
The clouds and the moon looked absolutely stunning. And try as I might, I couldn't resist getting my camera out and taking some video/photos.
I lay on my back in the dark, in the cold, on our rather wet porch holding my camera up towards the sky.
I was overwhelmed with how beautiful the sky was! Cold as I was, I stayed out there for at least fifteen minutes.
The thought that God created this. He formed each and every cloud...just took my breath away.
You can't look at the beauty of the rapidly moving clouds across the moon and not think about an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God who created it.
I can't describe or even begin to describe how awesome God is. How amazing his creation is.
A God who created the sun, the moon and earth, how much more has he created you? Created you just as he wanted. No part of you is a mistake or a mess up. Frizzy hair? Hey! He gave you that! (As weird as it seems!) God created you specially and he loves you.
So don't blow it off by trying to make yourself something you aren't.
What if the sky wasn't happy with how it looked? What if it wanted to be green instead of blue? Ok, ya I know that's a little over the top idea...but do you see what I'm trying to say?
I am overwhelmed with God's power and love. Even this morning, as I look outside and see the snow falling. As much as I don't really care for snow, it's absolutely beautiful.
Psalm 139:13, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

So It's February - And the mountains keep coming

 Wow. February 1st 2011.
Two years ago this date seemed so far ahead.
Now it's here.
It's crazy how fast life goes by. It's true what they say, life is over before you know it. I'm starting to see how fast it goes by...and I'm only 17! I can't imagine how it's gunna be when I'm like...old...like...30. haha ;)
So often we want so much just to get through with the day, but it feels like we're stuck. We're stuck staring at this huge mountain we have to overcome.
So often we find ourselves in conflict with family or friends.
And how often do we keep putting it off? Put it off for another day?
You don't want to deal with working out your issues with your sibling or parent. We don't want to do things that are hard. Things that aren't fun.
We just want to live for ourselves. To pack as much fun in as we can.
But where does that get us? That mountain is still there the next day. And the more you put it off, the more it seems to grow.
Life isn't about serving ourselves. It's about serving God. Doing His will. Trusting in Him.
Now I'm not saying that we aren't allowed to enjoy life. Nope, that's not what I'm saying at all!
I'm saying that we should find joy in honoring Christ. When we serve Him wholeheartedly we will be filled with an unbelievable joy.
When we leave conflict unresolved, it grows. We aren't serving Christ. We serving ourselves. Maybe you don't want to sort it out with that person, because you're afraid of what they'll think. Maybe you don't see any wrong in yourself. That when they are ready to talk it through, they'll come to you. No, Christ calls us to love one another. To serve others above ourselves. Part of that is not living with resentment or anger. If there's strife between someone, work it out. Pray about it. Don't let that mountain grow.
Ephesians 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold" That verse says it so clearly. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" If you have unresolved conflict between someone, don't just put it off. If you can't work it out with that person, and if you're upset at them for some reason, don't let the bitterness. Forgive them. Pray about it. God will give you strength to let go of any anger. Don't let the devil sneak in. Don't let that mountain grow.
If you can work it out, DO IT! Go talk to that person. But with humility and love.
With God's help you can overcome that mountain. :)

(Btw isn't my bro adorable???) ^_^