tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772955772495478852023-11-15T08:16:04.200-08:00Shine Bright for ChristAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-13503897212463559592010-02-04T22:19:00.000-08:002010-02-04T22:19:45.206-08:00More musings...I had yet more thoughts as I was at the puppet meeting last night. For anyone not familiar with me, I moved from the town I had lived in the first 12 years of my life about 5 years ago. About a year and a half ago, some of my best friends from over there moved only 5 miles down the road (praise God for that!). Through their moving, we met their two neighbor boys... Fast forward to now, thanks to the influence of my best friends and their family, both young men are involved in the puppet ministry and many other wonderful Christian things. I started thinking, had my family not moved, my best friends family wouldn't have moved either, which means these young men would never have been involved with any of the things they are now. This isn't to bring any glory to me or the fact that I moved, but instead glory to God for working these things for the greater good and I am honored and blessed that God chose to use me as one little peice of this wonderful puzzle.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-46688697193877911882010-02-04T22:08:00.000-08:002010-02-04T22:08:41.404-08:00Hmmm...So last night at our puppet ministry meeting, a brother in Christ, Zach gave a devotional. It was an absolutely amazing devotional, but one line in it really stood out to me. "Being a Christian is not a faith based on emotions." Too many times have I said to myself that I feel indifferent, I feel like God is not with me, I feel like I'm all alone (notice the <em>feel</em>)... Feeling has nothing (really, <em>NOTHING)</em> to do with the reality. No matter what I say I feel, God is always there, always with me, always in control and always acting within my best interest and everyone elses in the world... Now who else can claim that?!?Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-69471432922639618332010-01-31T22:27:00.000-08:002010-01-31T22:27:15.129-08:00Over my Head...I have found a most wonderful song... God, always keep me over my head in love with You and in Your love... Some things I will never understand, but I will always rest in You...<br />
<br />
<div align="center">~Over My Head~Brian Littrell~</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I tried to figure it out</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time and time again and time again</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess there's just some things I'll never understand</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Cause Your ways aren't our ways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But deep down in my soul, down in my soul</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is one thing I know that I know</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in over my head</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right where I wanna be</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm so lost within Your love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The love that always covers me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So high, so deep, so wide</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A strong and cleansing tide</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My soul has found a place to rest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in over my head</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been holding on</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I'm letting go, just letting go</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gonna let Your love carry me away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know where I'm going</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm surrounded by the truth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can feel the current pulling me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Deeper into You</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in over my head</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right where I wanna be</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm so lost within Your love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The love that always covers me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So high, so deep, so wide</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A strong and cleansing tide</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My soul has found a place to rest</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in over my head</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You see me for who I am</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You did reach out Your hand</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You made me understand</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That Your love has always covered me</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-88990846108428985222009-12-02T19:06:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:14:13.126-08:00Growth...Wow, it's been way to long since I've posted on this blog... But I'm finally getting back around to it...<br /><br /> The other day, I was thinking a little about spiritual growth and also about horses and then something struck me. When a foal grows, it grows in spurts. His hindquarters grow first, so he appears to be built downhill and then his frontend will catch up to start the process all over again until the horse is full grown. Spiritual growth is kinda like that. Your physical maturity often grows first, and you seem a little downhill built, but then your spiritual growth catches up and you are balanced again... But what if your spiritual growth never catches up to the physical? In horse terms, they are built downhill and will not do well in any discipline. Now is that what you would want in your spiritual growth?Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-27931582678922445622009-07-20T17:30:00.000-07:002009-07-20T17:40:02.694-07:00ContentmentSo yesterday was my second horse show. I took my pony and did very well for not practicing like I should. Unfortunately I didn't take my mare, Dancer, because she isn't trained to load into a trailer and is a rather timid/nervous horse. My day at the show left me feeling less than elated, all I could think about was the fact that I couldn't take my horse to the show. As I was working on chores today, I was arrested in my thinking.<br /> Here I was, moping about at the fact that my young green horse needs work, and forgetting that I was at a show yesterday with my pony. I've come so far in my riding overall, and yet I was only thinking about what I can't do. God reminded me to be content with what I can do, and to trust Him to help me to do what I can't.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-33075400154240319442009-07-14T22:31:00.000-07:002009-07-23T09:35:01.524-07:00A conversation with GodWith school looming in front of me, I've really been feeling the pressure to know exactly what I'm going to do with my life (that is, at least my school life). My heart asks questions, and luckily God gives me answers... Here's what my hearts been asking lately.<br /><br />Me: God, I know You plan everything, but are You sure that You're planning my life? I mean, I feel so lost at times, am I where You want me to be?<br /><br />He tells me: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"<br /><br />Me: Yes, but I want to know my life plans now... Where should I go to college, what should I major in, should I even go to college, will I get married? I'm anxious...<br /><br />And He tells me: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."<br /><br />Me: Oh... forgive my doubts, Oh Lord, You will guide me through life even when I can't see the path.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-677295577249547885.post-43379805347871000532009-07-04T12:08:00.000-07:002009-07-04T12:14:30.237-07:00IntroductionWell, I figure an introduction is probably a good way to start my blog (starting out is always so akward). I'm Ashley, I'm 16 years old and a Christian. I'm starting this blog to share my thoughts and lessons learned in Christ. The goal of this blog is to 'Shine Bright for Christ' as we are encouraged to do in Philippians 2:14-15. Check back for frequent (hopefully) updates!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380967638027640402noreply@blogger.com0