I got back from our youth camping trip about 2 days ago and i have to say besides the fire ants it was really awesome. and I'm not just talking about all the fun we had i think that we really came closer together as a youth group. it all started when we realized that some of our youth group had decided to go hiking at night with a chaperon at night. after we all stopped saying how stupid they were being going out in the middle of the night. we came together and prayed it came to the point where the leaders had to go out and look for them. me and another girl were left in charge. we got all the youth out and we gathered in a circle and started praying and thanking God for delivering them through the wilderness. i was actually pretty emotional because i was thinking about what i would do if my brother was out there. no one would stop me from going out there and looking for him. one of the girls we were with was freaking out because her brother was actually out there. and i think that during that time of our youth being missing we really came together. at that time there was no drama there was no bickering. we were just praying and God gave me a peace and i knew that they would find their way back to camp and eventually they did and they were really proud of themselves haha praise God.

I think i figured out what i am supposed to do with my life. I don't think that i will be much of an evangelist like my sister will probably be when the time comes. and I'm most likely not going to be a musician that travels around the world like my brother will probably do. i was talking to God last night and i asked him to show me what his plans are for me. i have to admit that this idea has been haunting me for a while. I'm fixing to enter my first year of High School and i wanted to get a head start on thinking about a career that i would love to do that also will glorify God. I think i fell asleep because next thing i know i wake up and i start thinking about Psychology which i can barely even spell right. but i like the idea of being a psychiatrist i like to help people. but i wouldn't be doing this to help them figure out their problems. I would tell them about Jesus and how God is a big God and he is bigger than any problems that they may have. so I'm not wishy washy about my career decision anymore because i know this is what i want to do. and no thought will dissuade me like how will i find work because like i said before my God is a Big enough God, not to mention a more than enough God and i open myself up to him so he will use me to reach out to people. no matter what career you have God can still use you. I don't care if you work at a Gas station or a Fast Food Restaurant he will use you. i find that amazing.

well i guess that is all i have to say for today...later!!
Always Ashley

Now don't be mad at me. i know that i have not been writing as much as i would have liked to, but i guess the truth of the matter is that i didn't really have anything to say, but now i do. we were getting off late from the revival meetings as usual (not like that's a bad thing!). as many of you probably know that spending many hours sitting under God's word can really work up your appetite, anyways we decided to go eat at steak n' shake. we got to the entrance of the building and there was a homeless man sitting in front of the door asking for change. I think that everyone pretty much knows that most of them don't buy food with the money. He asked us if we had any change on us. My friend that was with us said no, but if your hungry we will feed you. I'm not sure what his answer was because I was already inside. we all got a table and after we ordered the man came inside. one of the girls that was with us read him this deliverance cards that you read to them and they say the prayer to ask Jesus to come into their hearts. He said the Prayer and started crying. He took the card and walked out. we were Excited especially me. its amazing how powerful God is. After we finished our food the man came back, he was slurring his words so he must of had a few Beers. he noticed we were still there and came over to thank us for the card. He said he read it three times. we had a good long talk with him. we told him that he has purpose and that God put him on this earth for a reason, also that God loves him SOOO much. he sat and listened. he told us how stupid he thought he was for always getting drunk. he said even though we were very loving people and that he does believe in God, he still was going to go across the street and get more Beer. we didn't judge him, we didn't tell him he was being "Sinful" by getting drunk all the time. we sat there and listened to what he had to say. sometimes if you just listen some of the things you might hear will surprise you. but what i learned from this experience is that Gods timing is perfect. No matter what you think should happen and how you want it to play out, God always pulls through and his way is always better. Sometimes ill be like..God when is this gonna happen for me when will i finally do this and it Blows my mind that God always provides for me I have what i need in His perfect timing. it makes me mad at myself that i never was this open with people about the love of Jesus. If he has done such an amazing thing in my life why would i not want to share that with others. can you imagine that i used to be embarrased? but you see God has given me a new bound boldness that i will take with me ever, Because God lives in me I am his Temple his presence dwells in me.

Always, Ashley