Postcard from San Francisco

Hey everyone! School starts tomorrow for me so my family squeezed in one last trip:

notice how i lined the clouds up??

it's called boredom...

Cable Car!!

Alcatraz

my parents are cute:)

So is my sister:)

Ta da!!

our view driving home<3

Beach Camp 2015

This past weekend my church high school group joined up with another youth group from Menifee and went beach camping in Coronado.  We had a great time fellowshipping with each other and diving deeper into God's word while being surrounded by His beautiful creation.  Besides paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing, volleyball, spike ball and other awesome beach activities, we all just had a great time hanging out.  Each night one of the pastors would teach on multiple verses from Romans 8- all talking about the Holy Spirit.  I learned so much and it was such an encouragement hearing how God has been working in my fellow high school believers' lives :)

Something that stuck out to me pertaining to the Holy Spirit, and his part in the trinity, was that the SAME power, the Holy Spirit, that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (3 days after he died on the cross for our sins) is living in us as believers!! What an incredible thought!

"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you... And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:9, 11 

I pray that you would be encouraged by this and that you would strive to trust God and His power working in and through you!

Staying Pure

Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say they "want to stay pure"?  Most of you may first think of staying pure physically, before marriage, but for me, and others, it means so much more.

Last month, for my 16th birthday, my parents bought me a purity ring- then made me explain what it meant, and why I wanted one.

As it says in 1 Timothy 4:12, "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in PURITY." 

I love this verse- it has always been an encouragement to me, because I'm still young, and because I love the thought of being an example to other believers, not for my benefit- but to glorify God.

Back to purity- I think for me the thought of having a purity ring is to show people, not that I am pure, but that I'm striving to be.  To me, purity is so much more than not having sex before marriage (although I strongly agree with this). To me purity includes being of a sober mind (1 Peter 5:8, 1:13), not comforming to the pattern of this sinful world (Romans 12:2), and putting God ultimately first (Matthew 6:33) in my life- before any of my plans or any guy.

  To you purity may not even be important, but I urge and encourage you, that even if you haven't been staying "pure", that you would turn to God and look to be "purified" through Him.

Summer is here!

Welcome summer!!!  With a new season comes a new blog template:)  I am really loving this one-  let me know what you think about my blog design!

With a new season also, for me anyways, comes new goals and more ideas!  For fall through spring my goals are primarily focused on school and school related activities.  For summer,  the burden of school has been lifted and I am free to finally do fun activities without having to stress about getting school work done.  This summer I hope to get in the Word everyday, I have no excuses of being "busy" now; exercise and eat less sugar, take more and better pictures, read some good books, grow in my relationships with my friends and hang out with them a ton!

 This summer I, once again, have many plans!  In a couple weeks I will be serving at my church's Vacation Bible School as the photographer!  The week after that a team 58 people (ranging from ages 8-76) are going to be headed to Washington, DC to share the gospel on the National Mall with Global Recordings Network.  The following week I get back from DC I will be headed to Allen, Texas to visit my close friend, Mikayla, and her family!  (Check out her blog here!) Two days after I arrive home from Texas I am going to Beach Camp with my church high school group for 4 or 5 days!  Check out last trip's (2 years ago) pictures here!  For now I'm not sure what I have planned for August besides jumping back into school:P .

What are your summer plans?!

The book I'm currently reading, by Dorothy L. Sayers, called Gaudy Night.

This week I've been reading Lamentations chapter 3- I recommend it!

Lamentations 3:22-23   "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  

Rely on God's never-ending faithfulness and compassion, trust that His plan for you is ultimately best and rest in His peace.

With the Girls

Hey everybody!  I don't know about you but I am so excited for school to be out!!!  Tomorrow I have my last final then it is officially summer for me!!!  I need a break so badly!
Sadie, Maddy and I got together and did a photoshoot in the meadow:)

The outfit that Sadie has on and the one that I'm wearing are both mine:) haha