More 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.

Hmmm...

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 feel)... Feeling has nothing (really, NOTHING) 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?!?

Over 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...

~Over My Head~Brian Littrell~

I tried to figure it out

Time and time again and time again

I guess there's just some things I'll never understand

'Cause Your ways aren't our ways

But deep down in my soul, down in my soul

There is one thing I know that I know

I'm in over my head

Right where I wanna be

I'm so lost within Your love

The love that always covers me

So high, so deep, so wide

A strong and cleansing tide

My soul has found a place to rest

I'm in over my head

I've been holding on

Now I'm letting go, just letting go

Gonna let Your love carry me away

I don't know where I'm going

But I'm surrounded by the truth

And I can feel the current pulling me

Deeper into You

I'm in over my head

Right where I wanna be

I'm so lost within Your love

The love that always covers me

So high, so deep, so wide

A strong and cleansing tide

My soul has found a place to rest

I'm in over my head

You see me for who I am

You did reach out Your hand

You made me understand

That Your love has always covered me

Growth...

Wow, it's been way to long since I've posted on this blog... But I'm finally getting back around to it...

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?

Contentment

So 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.
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.

A conversation with God

With 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.

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?

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?"

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...

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."

Me: Oh... forgive my doubts, Oh Lord, You will guide me through life even when I can't see the path.

Introduction

Well, 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!