The Birth of Christ

This week at S.W.A.G my friend and fellow leader Bethany taught the lesson. (: She was very excited and did an amazing job. She taught the Birth of Christ. Since we were leaving for Christmas Break we felt this was a good lesson to teach all the students. We had 21 kids in S.W.A.G this past Friday, this is more then we have ever had. It was amazing, God is really working in the lives of the students and Paint Rock High School. <3 

The Birth of Christ

• What is Christmas?
• What exactly was the Birth of Christ?
• What gets the Most attention during this time of the year?
• What should we celebrate? 

     Okay, so what's the deal with Christmas? what is the point of it? The obvious answer is that its the beginning of our salvation, but if we take a good look at the bible, that's not so. They've been talking about it since the Old Testament! 
     
      The most popular one is Isiah 53, which seems like it's talking about stuff to teach a lesson, in the same way proverbs does, but if you take a closer look, it pretty much details the entire Life of Christ. Right there.... and again in Isiah 7:14, which is actually directly quoted in the Gospel of Matthew. Then again in Micah 5. IF you look at them, its kind of eerie how well they predicted the Birth of Christ. 
    
      Oh, the best part? Isiah was completed about 500 years before the Birth of Christ! The book of Micah was written only maybe a little after. I know it's only my personal opinion, but that seems a little to hardcore to not have been planned. 

     So, if the Birth of Christ has been talked about for CENTURIES, what did the actual even mean for us? Why celebrate the day of Christs birth, if its been known throughout a huge period of time?
Why go through such lengths to celebrate it, if it's not what actually saved us from sin? 

Resolution
     
      Its actually pretty simple, and its something I want you to try and wrap your brains around. 

      The Birth of Christ is when it became REAL. 
Think about the real gravity of that. Think about it. Hard. A baby boy was brought into the world, like they are every day, hundreds of them. He was Born among the filth of animals because his mother had no other place. Something like that now would be considered a Tragedy. 

        And because this kid was born in a barn some 2000 years ago, everything in the world, all the way to you sitting here reading this, has been completely changed. The night this kid was born, people trembled, and kings were brought to their knees. 

       That is why we celebrate the Birth of Christ. It's when things became tangible, its when all those words from the old testament became real. It was the first step of our salvation to Earth, and the beginning of his trip to the cross. 

This was a powerful lesson and one I had never really been taught on. It was amazing to be a student at S.W.A.G instead of the teacher. I learned something new. The kids, i feel, got alot out of this lesson. People are saying God is gone from schools... they need to take a trip to Paint Rock. God is present, God is near, God is there. We pray, We hand out bibles, We lead worship, We teach his word. God is always with us, he never leaves. Even when we step on the school grounds He is still there. I felt his presence Friday. I feel his presence always when I'm walking through the halls of my school. 

Remember why we really celebrate Christmas. Its not about the gifts, food, parties, its bout Christ. On the day he was born, we were saved. If He was never born, I would not be here writing this right now. Like Bethany said, its when things became real. 

                                                           God bless <3 

                                            Love, 
                                               Heaven April 
  

A poem

I just wanted to share this with you guys. I did not write this nor could I even imagine writing something this beautiful. We all have heard about the shooting and the loss of children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary. It is a tragic event but we have to remember that God still has a plan. It may be hard for some to see his plan right now, but He never leaves us nor forsakes us. I just wanted to share this poem that someone wrote. It brought tears to my eyes, but it also brought me peace. It reminded me that those children are in a better place now. They are in the safest place that anyone could be in. <3 Please take a few moments to read this poem, and also take a few moments to pray for those who lost their family members and children in the shooting. Pray for healing and peace to be brought among their loved ones. 

* For God is not a God of disorder but of peace* 1 Corinthians 14:33

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

                                                           God bless <3
            
                                                  Love,
                                                      Heaven April

Blogger day of Silence

Sandy Hook

My heart aches for this town, victims, family, and friends affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook. Im not sure who started this, but I want to support it. Please just life a prayer up for all of the families, friends, and towns members. The power of prayer is breathtaking, so even if you cant donate please pray. This is a tragic situation and we should turn to God during this difficult, heart breaking time, not away from Him. 

On Tuesday, December 18th, there will be a blogger day of silence. We will post the button and that's it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called  newtownyouthandfamilyservices

Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to: 

"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic 

and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their 

highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support 

groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

 We can't imagine how they must be feeling, especially this close to the holidays. We would love for you to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Let's make a difference and use blogging in a positive way. 

Thank you in advance for participating.

God bless <3

Love, 

Heaven April

Cry out to Him

So this past week was not the easiest. I had a lot going on and instead of sharing with others, I kept it all inside until I exploded. I felt that nothing was going right. I was misinterpreting text messages, I was super stressed  and hurt, and I was upset and angry. All of those feelings mixed together along with me keeping them bottled up inside was not a smart idea. 

One day it all became to much and I broke down. I was so angry, upset, hurt that I was shaking and couldn't calm down. I was talking to one of my friends and she sent me to Psalms 107. At first I didn't want to read the bible, I wanted to have my little melt down and handle it my self. That was a mistake on my part. After procrastinating a little, I decided to read it. 

Instantly I noticed a repeating pattern. In verses 6,13, 19 and 28 the same thing is written over and over again. "Then they cried out to Him in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress." Instantly upon reading that, I was able to quite shaking, I calmed down, and I felt peace. 

How amazing is that? That if we cry out to God, He really does answer! I am living proof of that. I cried out and he brought me peace and calmness. Throughout the whole week I have used Psalm 107 when talking to kids who are in need. I actually ended up teaching S.W.A.G this week out of this Psalm. 

I just find that mind blowing, that God hears even our deepest cries. He brings us peace, joy and delivers us when we are in trouble. Bad things are going to happen to us, we will face times of trouble. That's life. God never promised that this life would be easy, but He did promise it would be possible. The amazing thing is, that even during our darkness times. Times when we feel we have no one that we are alone on this crazy ride called life, God assures us that He is with us. That he will never leave.

He assures us that if we trust in him, and call out to him; He will deliver us from that distress. One thing everyone needs to realize that, Yes, God delivers and answers prayers, but No its not always right away. God does not work on our time. He works on His own time. He has three answers. "Yes, maybe, and No I have something better planned." God has a plan for our lives. He sees what is ahead for us, even when we cant. He knows the burdens of our heart and He knows how to heal our wounds. 

Cry out to Him. Trust in Him. Believe in Him. Have faith in Him. He will deliver you from your distress. His time is the right time. Be patient and remember you are loved. Someone is always there even during hard times. Someone is there to hold you when you cry. We can always run to arms that never close. 

They cried out to Him in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. (Psalm 107:6,13,19,28)

God Bless <3

Love,

Heaven April

Blessings

Blessings come in all shapes and forms. A blessing could be an A on an exam to the news of a new baby. I have so many blessings in my life. I would like to just list a few and share some photos of my blessings with you all. Please feel free to share some of your blessings with me and everyone else. (:

This is my best friend <3 I trust her completely and she is always there when I need her. We have one of the best friendships because it is all built around God. We met through a mutual friend at a christian concert. We started talking again during a found raiser for camp two summers ago, and that summer we became best friends. Shes helped me through alot and God truly blessed me with an amazing bestie! <3  She also knows how to make me laugh when im upset (: For instance- why was the bear afraid to cross the road?? ...... Because it was berry scared!!! (: haha best joke ever!

This is Coach wood and Mrs. Wood <3 Coach wood is the first preacher I have ever had. I didn't really go to church much until I attended Paint Rock Baptist. Mrs. Wood was the first Sunday school teacher I had. Even though they are no longer at our church, they are still blessings in my life. They helped me so much in my walk with Christ. 

Stormi and Johnathan <3 I could say a lot about these two. They have kept me going at times. It was actually Stormi who started taking me to church and camp. Shes been a huge part in my walk with Christ. Her family and her have accepted me like I am one of them. I am truly thankful for all they have done for me. They are all blessings <3 

My big sister and my rock star <3 Me and my sister fight but she has been there through it all. We have been through so much together. I can not even think of life without her <3 There is so much I can say about my little rock star. She is the light in a world of dark. She was a blessing to all of us and sometimes I feel she is what keeps my family together. <3 I love her more than words can say.

These guitars have gotten me through some pretty dark times <3 No matter what mood I am these ladies and gentlemen can cheer me up. I treat them as if they are my babies. Music is a great way to grow closer with God, and it was through music that I first felt God's presence. 

My bible <3 The best way to grow closer to God is by reading his word. No matter what, no matter what pain, joy, or angry, no matter what mood I'm in, Gods word makes it all better. He gives me hope, joy, peace, and love when I feel I have none. With God all things are possible. God is my blessing <3 although I don't deserve all He gives me, he keeps giving. His love is unconditional. We must decrease, He must increase <3

I know that I have shared this song before but it falls under the category of a blessing. <3 The first church camp I ever went to of summer 11' the band played this song the first nigh and I fell apart. When they sang "Take my life and let it be all for you and for your glory. Take my life and let it be yours" that was when I feel I felt God for the first time. This song is a blessing and makes me cry each time I hear it <3

I have many many more blessings in my life. Life itself is a blessing, the breath I'm breathing and things I'm seeing are blessings. Blessings come in all shapes and forms. The smallest thing, such as a butterfly, can be a blessing in your life. Look for these blessings in your daily life. If you focus more on God and his love, peace, hope, blessings and less on your problems; you will see a difference in your own life. Just believe and seek the things above. 

                                                                 God bless <3

                                                                       Love,
                                                                         Heaven April 

How great is our God.

God is amazing.

That's the simple truth.

How great is our God you ask.

His greatness is hard to put into words.

Today I got a glimpse of this Greatness.

God was definitely at work, 

during S.W.A.G today.

God is amazing.

So for the past three weeks the S.W.A.G meetings have been in the lunchroom during lunch. That means there is lots of distractions and lots of noise. Today was a big step for S.W.A.G, we finally got a classroom and a teacher to sponsor the group.! (: I didn't know how much having an actual room to meet in would make such a difference.

I had a lesson planned over some scripture in 2 Corinthians. This was not the lesson God had planned out for us. I'm half way through the lesson and I pause and ask if anyone has questions. Out of no where, completely off topic, one of the kids asks me how to be baptized. This made my heart skip a beat. I wanted to cry, I was so proud of him <3

From that moment on we never did get back to the lesson. We talked about baptism for a little bit and made plans to do a lesson over it next week. We got on the subject of the power of prayer and how others praying for you when your going through a hard time really helps. We talked about blessings and personal ones God has brought into our lives.

The topic became God and anything he was putting on our hearts. It was truly amazing <3 We got to know each other a little better today. I got a glimpse into the lives of the kids around me. I truly felt God's presence during today. I loved that He was putting all of these things in our heart and that He gave us the opportunity to come together and share them.

At the end of the meeting my Spanish teacher pulled me aside and told me how proud of me she was. That was the first time she had ever seen me teach and she said I have a gift (: That nearly made me cry. I also had some of the kids tell me "thank you" and my friends telling me I'm good at this. That truly means alot to me.

I am beyond bless to have these meetings and the kids in it. God is truly at work in us. When one of the girls in the group comes up to you and asks what she can do to continue the meetings next year. That really makes me so proud! We have only had four meetings and I can see growth in the kids and in myself. No matter what kind of week i have had I look forward to Fridays! I look forward to spending that time in God's name with people I Love.

God is amazing. His blessings leave you speechless and He fills us with so much love. He is always with us. He always works things out in his own time. Just believe and know He has a plan. <3

God Bless <3

Love, 

Heaven April

Testimonies

These are three powerful testimonies that have left me with chills and tears <3 

This one is of Lanae Hale, who is a christian singer. She has a beautiful voice and a powerful testimony. This testimony really touched me because she dealt with some of the same pain I did. She dealt with the self-harming that I struggled with for years.

This next one is from Tiffany Darlene. I first came in contact with this video because of my youth leader James. One day he told me that he had this video he wanted me to check out. I did not knowing what to expect. I was left speechless and in tears. I got the opertunitunity to talk to Tiffany over facebook. Her testimony is powerful and I'm glad she decided to share it with everyone and that she gave me permission to share it with all of you. 

Most of you have probably heard of the band flyleaf. I'm not sure how I even came in contact with this video. I was on YouTube looking up christian artist and this video came up. I decided to watch and I was amazing. The power of God is so amazing and truly does save. Lacey is proof of that.

All these three testimonies are ones that have inspired me. They are powerful and raw. Its incredible how God saves. It is incredible how he loves us. He can take the broken and make them whole. Please take the time to watch these videos. They are pretty powerful. Expect chills, tears and to be left speechless. I know I was. 

To see more powerful videos check out I AM SECOND on YouTube. They have artist who have decided to share their testimonies. All of them are miraculous. If anyone would like to share their testimonies with people let me know and I would be more than glad to share them on here :) 

           God bless <3

Love, 

Heaven April

Why We Live for God

Why We Live For God

God created us and all that we are. The very air we are breathing is because of Him. He gave us the sun and the moon, night and day. Without him there is no life.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image;

In the image of God he created him;

Male and female He created them.

God wants us to strive to be like him. He created us in the image of his self. He saw us broken and hurt and gave us life. He took us as sinners and said I love you, come be with me. God is the reason we are here right now. The reason we are breathing and living.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God knows every sin we commit. He knows that none of us are perfect and that we fall short of his glory most times. (Romans 3:23) The miraculous thing is, that He loves us anyways. He forgives us when we commit those sins. He shows us that in Him is forgiveness and Faith fullness. He says to confess to him and he will cleanse us.

1 Chronicles 28:20

Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid for the task ahead. For the Lord God, even my God is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

Hebrews 13:5

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

God is always there. He never leaves us, he never forsakes us. If we call upon Him, He will answer. He gets us through the difficult times and comforts us in the sad. He weeps with us and laughs with us. He will let no temptation overtake us and he provides a way out so that we can endure the pain of life. God tells us to do the work, live for him, and sometimes we may be put down for living for Him, but He is always there.

Life gets hard, and people will tear you apart. They will shun you because of the love and work you do for God. Do not be afraid for what is ahead He never leaves, He never forsakes us.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

God will give us peace when those tough times come. He gives us peace when we are stressed, angry, upset and broken. The world will give us false peace, false hope, false love, but God doesn't. He says to not let our hearts be troubled, don't let them be afraid. He will take care of us.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:14

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one had died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died for their sake died and was raised.

God sent His only son to die for each and every one of us. The least we can do is die to ourselves and live to Him. God is in control of our lives. He knows everything about us, more then we even know about ourselves. He has a plan for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11) Jesus died for all of us so that we can have life. We need to live that life for God. 



There is so many reasons why we live for God. Trust in Him. Let Him lead guide and direct your life. Fully commit yourselves to Him. Give God the burdens of your hearts. He will be there when you feel like no one else is. God can take the brokenness of your life and heal you, if you let him. Believe and trust in Him.

God bless <3

Love,

Heaven April