Change Happens

Sorry I haven't kept my promise to post every day. Things have been hectic around here. :)
This past year, I've experienced more change than I have in my whole life. I guess you could actually say it started almost 3 years ago when I moved from my home of 7 years to this house way the heck out in the boonies. Even though it didn't seem like it at the time, that was a good change. Probably the 2nd best thing thats ever happened to me.
Anyway, back to this year. 
The first big change was on January 17th. My dear friend passed away, and I think everyone is changed from that. For me, death became less of a far off thing, and more of a reality. For the first time in my life, I was experiencing real loss. Even though I had seemed at peace, pain built up in my heart, creating a black hole of anger. I wouldn't admit it, but I was angry with God. I often asked things like, "God, how could you take my friend from me? Don't you love me? And how could it have been Amy?" 
The next big change was when my sister, Clara made the decision to move away for college. She's now living in Hagerstown and going to the community college there. Not having her here has been so... strange. Since she left, there are new responsibilities. And I'm bonding with my little siblings in bigger ways than when she was here. I have so taken them for granted. My brother Josh is turning 13 next month. He's already taller than me, and lately we've been pretty buddy-buddy. Which is cool. :) My little sister Hannah is 11, and Jonathan is 9. They look up to me now. Which is totally weird, but it means that I have to change the way I act in so many ways. 
The biggest change of all came last week at Worthy11(see post Worthy '11(After-Testimony time!)).
Now my whole life is different! I've been seeing so many things in my life that I needed to change. Especially my attitude. Towards everyone. Before Worthy, everything was about me when I was with my friends, and everything was about my friends when I was with my family. I'll admit that my friends are kind of my favorite part of my life besides my friendship with God and Family, but before, I often placed them over my family and even over God. That has been a huge change. 
I find that God can be the ultimate friend. I often find myself talking to him, like all the time. I feel more at peace and ready to face new challenges now. Even though my biggest worries are still about my future, I know that it's all in God's hands.
My prayers this past week have been 
1. That I would trust God with everything, 
2. That I would live for God with all that I am, 
3. That would God set me on fire for him, and 
4. That others would see and believe. 



Hope is here, shout the news to everyone.
It's a new day, peace has come, Jesus saves.
Mercy triumphs at the cross,
Love is come to rescue us, Jesus saves.


Hope is here, what a joyful noise we'll make
As we join with heaven's song,
To let all the world know that Jesus saves!


Free at last, every debt has been repaid,
Broken hearts can be remade, Jesus saves.
Sing above the storms of life, sing through the darkest night,
Jesus saves.


Free at last, what a joyful noise we'll make,
As we join with heaven's song,
To let all the world know that Jesus saves.
Raise a shout to let all the world know that Jesus saves.
We'll sing it out to let all the world know That Jesus saves!


You save, you heal, restore, reveal
Your Father's heart to us.
You rose to raise us from the grave,
Your spirit lives in us!


To let all the world know that Jesus saves.
Raise a shout 
To let all the world know that Jesus saves.
We'll sing it out 
To let all the world know That Jesus saves!