tiphone’s blog

Today has been different. It has been a good day but it has been a different day. I like different days most of the time, because that means variety, and variety is good. Today in Pastor Lawrences class we learned that there is a very very important molecule in our body called Laminin. The molecule actually holds our cells and molecules together. With out it, our molecules would just fall to pieces. It was really cool. If you google this molecule you will find that every structure shown is in the shape of a cross. We have a visionary on the team, yes her name is Chantel. She has this amazing gift at seeing the things that we see as small and she makes those things come to life in your mind. She had us write out our goals, and for the first time I actually enjoyed it. They always made us do this in school, and it was so boring! Its so much cooler when we know that anything is possible with God. I am going to David's (My brother) graduation tommorrow, and Im super stoked about it. A few of my friends are also graduating. I cant wait to see family, and visit for the weekend. PLUS we have a service on Sunday at my home church. Yeah!!

 on the road again.... This afternoon we are headed to Pampa, Tx. (Yaaaa!!) I am very excited to see how the service goes. God has alot planned for this week. Here lately I have been realizing how lucky I am to have the people in my life that I do. I am very blessed with family and friends. Being in Masters Commission, I have became really close with the people around me. I miss my family (and all the extended family) but God blessed me with all the people here who really just stepped out and encouraged me, even when they barely knew me. Thank you God for all the people in my life. ;)

This weekend God gave me a revelation, that was really cool. Lately I have been trying to remember things that my friends tell me, or that they do. Like for instance if one of my friends likes a certain dessert, or they have a favorite color, or if they talk to me about something specific, or if they are praying for something, maybe they would like me to keep them accountable to something. Its always been hard for me to stay on the same page sometimes, and I know I cant always remember everything. I do think that there is a difference between truly caring, and simply just not remembering. Last week there were a few instances were this happened to me, and I thought about scripture.

James 1:19 (NLT) 
    My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

God reminded me of when I was younger and I would ride my bike down this huge hill. I would always have to pedal to get up the huge hill, or I would walk my bike up. It always took work at the beginning. When I would reach the top I would have to start my self off but the hill was so big I would only have to pedal for a few seconds, and then I would sit on the seat and enjoy the ride. In our relationship with God, we always have to work, and the work is important. THe choice we make to pursue him is crucial. But we cant forget to sit down and listen and trust that the bike will get us farther than before. For a couple of years I would get into a daily routine of reading God's word, and praying, but there were too many days when I would forget to listen. I remember that the pedaling was always less than the half of it. To be honest if it took more work, than it was fun I wouldnt have done it. God speaks to us through the pedaling, thorough reading his word, and being a servant, but we cant forget about the necessary quiet times. Its the same in our friendships. If we get so busy with just hanging out, and just having fun and we never really get to know the people around us, than how can reach them effectively? Of course we can get to know them while we are having fun, but we need to have some quiet time, or else we wont know their heart.

This morning Zack had a class. It was cool because sometimes we forget about what light really means. Its something so practical. We have light everyday, yet we forget how crucial it is. It guides us, and it illuminates complete darkness. Cold is the abcence of heat, and dark is the abcence of light. I started flying at the age of 14. It was scary at first, but after I forgot I was thousands of feet in the air, I started realizing the beauty in flying. I like the adrenaline rush from take off, and landing. I enjoy seeing the views from above. When I flew to visit my mom one christmas, I was lucky enough to fly in at night. It was great seeing the lights. It was one of God's cool ways of showing me the beauty of illumination. Zach talked about how we are mentioned as lights in the bible, and how we were lost in darkness before we knew Jesus as our savior. It made me wonder what God's aerial view is like. Does he see groups of lights in one area, or are they fairly evenly spread out? The bible says that heaven rejoices when we accept the Lord into our life. I wonder if there are angels on ariel view lookout. I wonder if the whole world was saved, what would God's images look like at night? Remember to spread God's light in this world. 

 is....

Pateint, kind, never gives up, cares more for others than self, doesnt want what it doesnt have, doesnt strut, doesnt have a swollen head, NEVER DIES.

Commanded of me. Given to me freely through the blood of Christ.

Thank you Lord for showing God's love, and dieing for me. =)

So this week has been a great one. We have had a few classes with alumni so far, and it has been great. God is bringing alot of revelation to the team, and he is changing me tremendously. My discussions with God have been amazing. When you realize the reality that God is with you at all times, and he desires to know you, speak with you, and chase after you with all he has, it changes your whole perspective. Yesterday we went to the mission, and moved some furniture around. I really enjoy helping out there, and meeting new people. God is awesome!!! Could you imagine if Barney loved Jesus?

Today has been a good day. We painted a trailer, and it was hot but fun. I am excited about tommorrow, and the parade. What is cool, is next week starts spiritual emphasis week. We will really busy with alot but it is going to be great. I cant wait to see what God has prepared for us. We will be doing a lot of volunteer work, and we are going to be going to classes, so it will be busy. Just remember when you are tired, and ready to take a break, thats one of the best times to keep going! Have a great day! Thank you for reading my blogs!!!

                                                        God is Awesome!

This morning in prayer, Will was talking about a story of Saul and David. It sounded really cool so I looked it up. I thought it was pretty cool that even Saul himself prophesied, after all 3 armies, that he sent to kill david! Today has been a great day, I am excited about everything going on in the team. Last night's service was amazing!!! God is Awesome!!!

1 Samuel 19:1-24 (NLT) 
    Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his close friendship with David, [2] told him what his father was planning. "Tomorrow morning," he warned him, "you must find a hiding place out in the fields. [3] I'll ask my father to go out there with me, and I'll talk to him about you. Then I'll tell you everything I can find out."
    [4] The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. "Please don't sin against David," Jonathan pleaded. "He's never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could. [5] Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!"
    [6] So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, "As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed." [7] Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he took David to see Saul, and everything was as it had been before.
    [8] War broke out shortly after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away.
    [9] But one day as Saul was sitting at home, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp for the king, [10] Saul hurled his spear at David in an attempt to kill him. But David dodged out of the way and escaped into the night, leaving the spear stuck in the wall.
 [11] Then Saul sent troops to watch David's house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't get away tonight, you will be dead by morning." [12] So she helped him climb out through a window, and he escaped. [13] Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat's hair at its head. [14] When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn't get out of bed.
    [15] "Then bring him to me in his bed," Saul ordered, "so I can kill him as he lies there!" And he sent them back to David's house. [16] But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat's hair at its head.
    [17] "Why have you tricked me and let my enemy escape?" Saul demanded of Michal.
    "I had to," Michal replied. "He threatened to kill me if I didn't help him."
    [18] So David got away and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. [19] When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, [20] he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel and the other prophets prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men, and they also began to prophesy. [21] When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time! [22] Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Secu. "Where are Samuel and David?" he demanded.
    "They are at Naioth in Ramah," someone told him. [23] But on the way to Naioth the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy! [24] He tore off his clothes and lay on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, "What? Is Saul a prophet, too?"
 

Psalm 118:13-29 (Msg) 
    I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
        when God grabbed and held me.
    [14] God's my strength, he's also my song,
        and now he's my salvation.
    [15] Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
        in the camp of the saved?
            "The hand of God has turned the tide!
            [16] The hand of God is raised in victory!
            The hand of God has turned the tide!"
 
    [17] I didn't die. I lived!
        And now I'm telling the world what God did.
    [18] God tested me, he pushed me hard,
        but he didn't hand me over to Death.
    [19] Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
        I'll walk right through and thank God!
    [20] This Temple Gate belongs to God,
        so the victors can enter and praise.
 
    [21] Thank you for responding to me;
        you've truly become my salvation!
    [22] The stone the masons discarded as flawed
        is now the capstone!
    [23] This is God's work.
        We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
    [24] This is the very day God acted—
        let's celebrate and be festive!
    [25] Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
        Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
 
    [26] Blessed are you who enter in God's name—
        from God's house we bless you!
    [27] God is God,
        he has bathed us in light.
    Festoon the shrine with garlands,
        hang colored banners above the altar!
    [28] You're my God, and I thank you.
        Oh my God, I lift high your praise.
    [29] Thank God—he's so good.
        His love never quits!
 

Today has been a good day. I am super excited about our service tonight here at destiny. The team has came so far in the last month, its crazy. Today we were in a staff meeting, and Pastor Lawrence was discussing graduation, and I got really sad. I cant believe I have been here for almost a year. I dont want it to be over yet, it seems like the year just started. God has been showing his love to me in a way that I am not used to. He has been using the people and relationships around me. God is amazing, and His Love Endures Forever....

So its been a while since I have voxed. It seems like I have been away from Oklahoma for months. I have been gone for a while, but not that long. My trip to Scotland was amazing, and the Indiana trip was filled with change, and God moved our team to new levels. We were in St. Louis, and the NHRA was awesome. Loud and fast! (And lots of sunburn.)

TODAY is a day to remember. It really started last night. There is a friendship that I have had for a long time, and a few years ago I lost the trust in the relationship, because of a decision I made. The decision I made was a great one, I personally think it changed my life. Yesterday I talked with her, and for once I laid down my selfish desires, and I regained trust. I think sometimes we just say what we think, not what God wants them to hear. Today God has been telling me things I dont necessarily want to hear, but I need to. He is showing me who I am through Him. It is something I have never experienced before. It completely changes your whole outlook on things. PrAiSe GoD!!!

Who are you? What do you want?