It's time to go home for Thanksgiving break, and I cannot believe the semester is almost over. I am almost halfway through my junior year in college. Man, time flies by, and I feel like I'm getting so old. I just wish I could make more of an impact in people's lives. I look back and see all the time I spent worrying about myself and things I need to do and things I did for myself. I could have spent that precious time making an impact in other's lives. Worrying is the most selfish thing one can do because it puts things you haven't even done yet ahead of others. It takes one's concentration off the world around them and focuses all that energy just on themselves. Man, oh man! I only wish I could do more with the little time I have. If I am going to make a difference, then I need to do something-- not just wait around on people to come up to me and ask me to serve. Part of the ministry is putting your foot in the door and taking that step out there in order to make a difference in other people's lives. When you make an impact on other people, then that reflects back onto you and changes your perspective on life. Wow...if only I could take my own advice. Anyways, on a lighter note, I have not having closure.

-Jenna Beth

carpe diem....seize the day!!!

troubles, troubles, troubles....they surround us everyday, everywhere, and all the time. however, its how we treat the troubles that make them seem harder or easier. i was reading in 1 corinthians 1 today, and it speaks how God presents us with troubles in order to make us stronger, and, most importantly, so we will know how to comfort those who come along with the same struggles down the road. we can stand up and say, "i know exactly what you are going through." we dont have to pretend we know, like so many people who are trying to comfort us, but just dont get it. when troubles come around, God knows we must lean on him because he is the only true comforter that knows what we are going through and exactly what we feel. look throughout time and see all those people God has helped through their troubles (and we think he doesnt understand?!?). God was there with Moses and plagues, he was with the pilgrims when they first came to America, and he was with the Jews being tortured during WWII. he has seen and felt everything with us, his children!!!

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us...So that when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation." I Cor. 1:4, 6a

so...i was writing and writing and writing a lot on here, then suddenly it stopped...haha! can i tell yall what ive learned lately? no matter how much you think people will fully understand what you are thinking and going through and no matter how much YOU want to lean on THEM, its not possible. ive fully realized that, especially since im in a relationship, that no matter how much i want to lean on him for things, im just held back by that instinctive feeling inside me (aka Holy Spirit) to remind me to cast all my worries and plans and whatever i have for my life onto him and everything will be fine. now, dont get me wrong, you can go to your friends for support and help, just dont lean on them for your sole support, if anything, lean on God for support.

"Commit your work to the Lord, and then your

 plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

So, I learned something from church the other night. Well, actually it was something I had already know for a long time. You know how people have done things that they regret and they ask for forgiveness from God, but they never asked to be restored? Until we ask to be restored and have God refill our lives in certain areas, we are forever going to be bogged down and wondering why we can't move on. Yes, God has forgiven us and yes, we have forgiven ourselves, but there's something missing. God gave me the analogy in my head of a wall that had been punched through and has holes in it. Just like things we've done in our lives can't be taken back, so the holes in the walls can't be completely taken away. However, we can let God plaster over those walls, smooth it out, and then paint a pretty color (PINK) on top of it. In the same way, we must let God cover our holes and make the wall just like brand new. Yes, the holes are still under there somewhere, yet God has still taken them away and made the wall like new. He has covered it up and restored it and put an even better  gorgeous color over top!!! Isn't Christ amazing?!?!

 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah  gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" (MSG)