billy goats and water towers!!!

soooo....

i've only been in the Washington/Idaho for like 7 hours and i've seen a ton of water towers...and all the water towers look exactly the same...kind of wierd...

and then where i'm staying (Chrissy's house)is next to a mountain and i'm expecting billy goats to come run through the yard any minute now...even though the natives say there are no billy goats :)

gut check!!

this morning I read the book of Titus..it was so good. i seem to overlook Titus alot mainly because of its size :)

there was one particular part of Titus that stuck out to me...it was in chapter 1 and verse 16...
it says this,
"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

this was a definite gut check for me...i had to ask myself...am i one of those people?? do i profess to know God, yet deny His existence with my behavior?

or...

am i letting my light so shine before men that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in Heaven?? (matt. 5:16)


i hope i'm bringing God glory, but i know there are things i need to work on....




to those who have been praying for me, Thank You!!



-Joe

the lyrics that are feeding my soul

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner's cross you broke my shame and sinfuless you rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny through the strom and through the fire there is truth that sets me free Jesus Christ who lives in me

You are stronger you are stronger
Sin is broken you have saved me it is written Christ is risen Jesus you are Lord of all

No beginning and no end You're my hope and my defence you came to seek and save the lost you paid it all upon the cross

So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

these lyrics were written by Hillsong...the song is called "Stronger"

for the week that i have been home i've been singing this song over and over...

it's the subtle reminder that i need to keep going every day...

if you haven't read my blog yet about this song go to www.honestscreams.blogspot.com


hope everyone is having an awesome Christmas!!!

new game plan and awesome books

it's been a learning experience so far at home...i've been trying to do different things to keep me busy and keep my mind off from myself...
house cleaning, organizing junk in my room, putting music in order on my computer, whatever it takes to keep my mind off from myself...
it's a new approach, and so far it is working...
i've been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and that has been a challenging read. It's just awesome how God speaks to me through His word and then challenges my heart even more as i read this book...
i know that it is just a book, written by a man, just like me, but God continually uses Chan's words to speak straight to my heart...

between Crazy Love and The Gutter by Craig Gross, i've had a major perspective change on how i view ministry, how i look at my priorities, and how i communicate with other people...

to all my friends who are praying for me...Thank You!!!
your prayers are working and God is continually amazing me :)

my enjoyment

i was asked to share more of my emotions..

so right now i'm talking with some of my best friends on skype and we're having a good ole' time...

right now my emotion is "Happy" and "Content"

more to come!!.....

When I think of all I have to do for school I feel overwhelmed.

When I think of God's love I feel at peace.

When I think of all the pain in people's lives I feel broken.

When I think of how Jesus is the same everyday I feel content.

When I think about myself I get depressed.

When I think about the One who made me I feel complete.



Thank You Father!!!
without you I am not worth a thing...
it is You that makes me...
help me not to put school or grades above You...
You are worthy of all praise....