William Booth

William Booth once said...
“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”
Makes you think....right?

Booth's 6 Resolutions
1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.
2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk, in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.
3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious conservation and waning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.
4. That I will read no less than 4 chapters in god's word every day.
5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.
6. That I will read over this everyday or at least twice a week.

Wow right? I encourage you to try to live out Booth's 6 resolutions.

Captivated

Ever just sit in God's presence. In your secret place and just think about the beauty of the Lord. Well this song has been playing on my computer all afternoon. It is beautiful and it talks about being captivated by the beauty of the Lord. The song is written by Vicky Beeching (who was at congress) my favorite part is transform me into the likeness of you.. I encourage you to spend time in His presence today...maybe even download this song :) Another song by Vicky Beeching that I love is called Above All Else. My favorite part in this one is May all other goals bow down to this journey of loving You more. Powerful right???
Be Blessed.

Captivated

Your laughter it echoes like a joyous thunder
Your whisper it warms me like a summer breeze
Your anger is fiercer than the sun in its splendour
You’re close and yet full of mystery
Ever since the day that I saw Your face
Try as I may, I cannot look away, I cannot look away…

Captivated by You
I am captivated by You
May my life be one unbroken gaze
Fixed upon the beauty of Your face

Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my gaze
I become more like You and my heart is changed
Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my view
Transform me into the likeness of You

This is what I ask, for all my days
That I may, never look away, never look away…
No other could ever be as beautiful
No other could ever steal my heart away
I just can’t look away…


Above All Else

Jesus, my passion in life is to know You
May all other goals bow down to this journey of loving You more
Jesus, You’ve showered Your goodness on me
Given Your gifts so freely
But there’s one thing I’m longing for
Hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life

Above all else
Above all else
Above all else
Give me Yourself

Savior, the more that I see Your beauty
The more that I glimpse Your glory
My heart is captured by You
Jesus, You are my greatest treasure
Nothing this world can offer
Could ever compare to You
So, hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life

It's a New Season

Well yesterday was our first GNY Youth chorus rehearsal of the season. It's good to be back although it was kind of annoying having an ice pack on my face the whole time (due to my burn.) I love the youth chorus even more than the band shhh don't tell my dad. I love it because singing the words is very powerful and I believe effective. A couple songs really got me thinking last night. Here are the lyrics
This one is very simple yet very effective and meaningful to me

In All Things

Sometimes it's easy for the circumstance of my present need to chase away any faith in me.
But in my weakness, there is always strength in Your loving hand.
So help me Lord, just to trust and see you plan.
Chorus
In all things, in all things You are King.
Yes You are King.
I won't worry over anything, but I will sing
Jesus You are King.

And the chorus just repeats over and over.
It's funny how the most simple phrases tug at your heart. The whole IN ALL THINGS really gets me. Just think about it. EVERYHTHING IN YOUR LIFE! He needs to be the king of. Wow. Easier to sing than to live right?

And another one
This is a very old song that we are doing for profile night written by Dean Goffin. It talks about Mercy.

Mercy

Welcome, welcome, sinner; hear!
hang not back through shame or fear;
Doubt not, nor distrust the call,
Mercy is proclaimed to all.

Welcome to the offered peace,
Welcome, pris'ner to release;
Burst thy bonds; be saved, be free;
Rise and come - he calleth thee.

Welcome, weeping penitent,
Grace has led thee to relent.
Welcome, long rebellious child,
God by Christ is reconciled.

All ye weary and distressed,
Welcome to relief and rest;
All is ready, hear the call,
There is ample room for all.

I don't know about you but have you ever had that feeling in your stomach when you know it's your time to fall on your knees at the mercy seat and you just sit in refusal. This is the perfect song for that. It blessed me and I hope it blessed you.

CAUTION

CAUTION!
The content in this post may be too graphic and violent for some readers.
Please read the entire post.
Last night I was at the corps working very diligently and completely lost track of time and when I looked up at the clock I realized that it had gone 7pm. So I decided to go for a short walk to a local convenience store. As I began walking maybe like one block or so I came across a guy attacking a little boy from the neighborhood. My immediate reaction was to run to the boy and help him. I hit the man who was attacking him and another guy came out of a car garage and held the bad guy to the ground. As the car garage man was beating this man to the ground I began to ask the kid some questions like if he was ok and why the rumble broke out. Unfortunately the man from the car garage had a welder in his hand and in the process of "containing" the bad guy he burned the side of my cheek. I had a quick reflex so he only got a bit of my lower cheek. All in all it wasn't such a good day.

KEEP READING!!!!!

me after it happened.



Just kidding :) I did burn my face but not like that. I figured that sounded a bit more interesting. Props go out to mhairi who helped me with the story :) I burned my face yesterday with a curling Iron.

Here We Go Again

If you actually read my blog you will realize that these pictures are from the same park that we had our end of the season bbq. Well we are all back for a new season. Today was what we call a sneaker sunday. It means that we don't have to wear our uniform. I think it's my favorite Sunday of the year...just kidding :)
Anyway since yesterday was the corps street fair we had loads of people at the corps today. When I went off the stage to sit down I actually couldn't find a seat!

Haahaa. I guess that is a good thing. My Sunday School class was rather large this morning too. They are so cute.. well they look cute but they have an attention span of like 4 minutes hahaha. It's fun though and I love them. They were all so excited to be at the corps and see everyone. They are definitely an important part of our corps family.

Matthew 19:13-15. 13Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Songbook

Even though I am a teen I really love some of the good ole army songbook songs. One of them is this one.
Storm the Forts of darkness
1.
Soldiers of our God, arise!
The day is drawing nearer;
Shake the slumber from your eyes,
The light is growing clearer.
Sit no longer idly by,
While the heedless millions die,
Lift the blood-stained banner high,
And take the field for Jesus.

Chorus
Storm the forts of darkness,
Bring them down, bring them down!
Storm the forts of darkness,
Bring them down, bring them down!
Pull down the devil's kingdom,
Where'er he holds dominion;
Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down!
Glory, honor to the Lamb,
Praise and power to the Lamb,
Glory, honor, praise and power,
Be forever to the Lamb!

2.
See the brazen hosts of Hell,
Their art and power employing,
More than human tongue can tell,
The blood-bought souls destroying.
Hark! from ruin's ghastly road
Victims groan beneath their load;
Forward, O ye sons of God,
And dare or die for Jesus.

3.
Warriors of the risen King,
Great Army of salvation,
Spread his fame, his praises sing
And conquer every nation.
Raise the glorious standard higher,
Work for victory, never tire;
Forward march with blood and fire,
And win the world for Jesus.

Robert Johnson

It just kinda pumps you up doens't it :) I can't even pick a favorite part because I love ALL of them.
I just wanted to share that with you all and hopefully light some sort of spark in your souls.
Be blessed.
p.s. I'm going to try and post more often even if it is little things like this :)

Labor Day Camp Meetings

Saturday morning I slowly walked up to Hilltop complex enjoying the serenity, quietness and beauty of Star Lake Camp. As I sat in the giant tent on the ball field in a band rehearsal I watched the loads of cars and buses pull up and hundreds of people flood out and all over the camp 1,500 people to be exact. So much for the quietness!! Even I was a bit overwhelmed at how many people were at camp. All morning and afternoon were fun and games. The first meeting opened with a big bang! We burst out into song about revival, it was very simple but powerful.
I want a revival in my soul
I want a revival in my soul
I want to be washed in the Blood of Jesus
I want a revival in my soul

Send down the rain (oh glory)
Send down the rain (oh glory)
Send down the gospel rain
Send down the rain (oh glory) 3x's

After that we had the privelege of National Commander Commissioner Israel Gaither preach about Revival and expanding our tent. He preached from the book of Isaiah 54:1-4 1 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

It was absolutely amazing how I couldn't not pay attention. Have you ever heard a speaker where you were sitting on the edge of you seat listening to every single word and soaking it in?? I didn't look at my watch once! It was insane! He was encouraging us to go out into the world and not be afraid to bring people to the corps and tell them about Jesus. My favorite part in those verses is Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame! AWESOME! I think he is my all time favorite preacher.. well one of them :)
After that meeting I quickly ran (literally) down to the campfire where my best friends band was playing. They were awesome. We had so much fun roasting marshmellows, making smores, giving testimonies and praising Jesus. It was an awesome time for the teens. I would do it again in a hearbeat. After that I stayed up really late talking with people that I don't see much. It was fun!
Sunday morning it was a little hard for me to wake up, which was completely my fault. :) Again we had the priveledge of listening to Commissioner Israel Gaither. He preached about dry bones. Ezekiel 37:1-10 1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' " 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

He talked about how people are carrying bags of dry bones and they need to let them go. It was very powerful. Our corps members joined together in a circle of prayer during the alter call. It was awesome. I could see that he had spoke to many of the people in my corps family. Our time of prayer brought many of us to tears, which made me cry.. ofcourse!

As for the afternoon meeting, well it's always exciting. The cadets walked in and Commisioner Eva Gaither gave them the charge andthen Izzy preached a bit and then had us praise some more. He had the youth chorus sing We Are Not Ashamed THREE TIMES! It was fun though. He had those who really ment what they were singing to come to the front and hundreds of people were up out of their seats singing with us. It was awesome.

It was an amazing weekend and it officially marked the end of my summer.
Today was my first day of my senior year of high school. It is so easy for me during the summer to be completely focused on Jesus and in the word everyday but now that everything is starting again it's hard to keep focus. Please pray for me as I go through this school year applying to colleges and busy with everything that goes on in the division and at the corps. I really need to stay focused and on the right path.
thanks :)