Prom Night 3-19-11

March 19, 2011

I have to admit that it was an amazing night. =)

I didn't think that this prom was going to be this huge, and I ended up meeting some awesome people as well. Definitely a night I won't forget. 

Thomas and I before we left for prom. <3 <3

Thomas and I at prom. 

Me, Brandon, and Sierra at prom (We decided to bowl for a bit). 

I'm Completely Overwhelmed...

I know I just got done posting another entry today, but I feel that I need to share some things with you all. 

First of all, if you did not read last night's entry, Click Here.

This post was, indeed, the hardest, and most personal entry I have ever posted. I cried typing it up, and I shook when I click on the "Publish" button because I completely revealed who I really am. 

So I gotta admit, the responses I got were INCREDIBLE!!!!

I didn't think I was gonna get that many responses from this, but I got comments on my Facebook, personal messages, emails.. I am overwhelmed by how much it has impacted people already. I never knew that being real and speaking out would be this rewarding. 

Basically, all that I gotta say is: Thank you all, and Thank You God!! =D

Trust In God

I was reading in my bible course booklet today and came across a part that told me to read in Genesis chapters 37-43.

The story was about Joseph, one of Jacob's sons. My bible course explained the story of Joseph like this:


Jacob had 12 sons. Joseph was his eleventh son, born to Jacob in his old age. Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children. This caused the older brothers to hate Joseph. 


Once, when the older brothers were far away tending sheep, Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were. When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they conspired to kill him. One brother, Judah (my bible says Reuben), did not want Joseph to be killed. He persuaded the others to sell him as a slave to a caravan of traders going to Egypt. The brothers told their father that wild beasts had killed him.


Through no fault of his own, Joseph ended up as a slave in the house of Potiphar, a wealthy Egyptian man. But God was with Joseph. 


Potiphar's wife was a wicked woman who tried to seduce Joseph. When he fled from her presence, she was furious. She lied to her husband and told him that Joseph had tried to force her to have sex with him. Through no fault of his own, Joseph was sent to prison and put in chains. But God was with him. 


Sometime later, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had a dream that troubled him. His wise men could not tell him the meaning of his dream. The chief butler told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret his dream. Pharaoh immediately called for Joseph. 


God revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dream to Joseph. He told Pharaoh that there would be seven years when the harvests of grain would be plentiful. Then there would be seven years of famine when they would have no crops. 


Joseph suggested to Pharaoh that he seek and find a wise man to put over the land of Egypt, to store the excess grain during the years of plenty, so that they would have food during the seven years of famine. Pharaoh chose Joseph to be that man. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You shall be over my house, and according to your word shall all my people be ruled... I have set you over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:40-41)


Later, during the years of famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food. Joseph knew who they were, but they did not recognize him. God used Joseph to bring his brothers to confess and repent of their sin. 


Joseph freely forgave his brothers and he sent royal wagons to bring his father, Jacob, and all his household to Egypt. There they were royally cared for by Joseph. 


Joseph was like Jesus Christ; he was rejected by his brothers, but stayed true to God and was rewarded.

When Jacob died, Joseph's brothers were worried and feared that Joseph would punish them for all that they did to him, so they fell before him and begged for forgiveness.

What they didn't realize though was that Joseph already forgave them. His brothers didn't know Joseph's heart and didn't know his love for them. Because of it, Joseph wept and comforted them, and assured them that he would continue to take care of them.

How amazing is that? Joseph's brothers went against him and sold him into slavery, and he still forgave them and took care of them.

Why are we so scared of God's love? Joseph's brothers feared Joseph, just like we fear God sometimes.

There's no need to fear anymore. We have a God that loves us no matter what, even when we mess up. We need to trust in God more when we do mess up that He will comfort us and forgive us. We should not be afraid of his love anymore.


Heavenly Father,
Please forgive us for not knowing your love the way you want us to. Well, we know you forgive us, so we should actually thank you for your forgiveness and comfort you provide for us. Lord, we fall behind and we mess up sometimes; you know that. We ask that you continue to guide us towards the right directions that you want us to be going. The narrow path to Heaven is a tough road to walk on, but we know during our journey it'll lead us towards you and the kingdom you have prepared for us. And when we trip and fall, we know you will heal us and keep us going. Thank you for Joseph and teaching us of your love and trust.
Amen.

Where Are You At In Your Relationship With God?

My name is Samantha Brown.

At home, I do my chores, do my homework (sometimes), play my guitar, and pretend that everything is all good.

At school, I cuss like a sailor, I hang out with people who are not the best influence for me. I cannot talk about my religion without being ridiculed or teased. I carry my Bible in my bag but cannot read it without being questioned.

Outside of school, I'm at church. I pretend to be this person in love with God when I'm really slipping farther away from him. I sing in the worship band; on stage I'm singing and everyone can see me, when I get off the stage, I'm the one sitting by myself and don't make an effort to talk to anyone.

In front of my boyfriend, I'm an ordinary "Christian", but do things I know isn't right. But I do them anyways. I don't like talking about religion in front of him bccause I know he doesn't believe anymore, so I keep my mouth shut.

Anywhere else, well it just depends on who I'm with...

Which one is the real me? I have no idea..

Youth group tonight was almost a "slap in the face", but why is it that I hear that I need to live for God and not anyone else over and over, and though I still continue my "normal" lifestyle that I know I'm ashamed of?

Last night at band practice, my worship leader asked me to pray, and I stopped in the middle. Although I wasn't all that embarrassed about it, I was more upset and wondering what happened to me that I couldn't finish a simple prayer. I've done prayers before; but something stopped me. I knew right then that I was simply slipping away from him more and more. My heart sank after that.

I have talked about change before, and I know I have not followed my own words. It's hard to change when you're used to living how you are now.

I don't want to live many personalities like I am today; I want one life. Change is tough, but it's worth it in the end. I have no idea what's gonna happen to me, but I'm ready to find out. I don't want to say that I'm sincerely going to change because I may fail again and again. But there's nothing wrong in trying.

Whoever is reading this, I want you to know that I am sorry for my wrongdoings. I am sorry that I am not who you want me to be. And I'm sorry that I have never been "me" all along. I'm sorry that I'm a fake, and I'm sorry that I am not perfect. But before I end this post, understand something. The only thing you should be living for is God. I sound like a hypocrite, only because I am. I have not been living for God with everything I am, just enough to pass by. But guess what? There's no such thing as passing by. It leads you nowhere. God should be your #1 priority. He should never be the back burner.

I'm not the best speaker ever, but take my word for it.

Let's Bow Our Heads and Pray...

Friday was pretty intense, right?



The whole earthquake and tsunami in Japan was pretty intense the more I kept watching about it on the news. It's pretty devastating just how many lives are affected and all the lives of loved ones that will change forever.

Each time you say a prayer, pray for Japan. Pray for all those who lost a loved one in the earthquake and tsunami; pray for those who are still missing. Pray that the Japanese people will be able to overcome this. The power of prayer is so phenomenal, and the more prayers, the better.

Peace.Love.Happiness.Smiles
SammyJane