I Am Yours... Save Me

Yesterday was one of the craziest days of my life. School work + quizzes + SLC meeting + district track meet+ twisted ankle + choir concert + 2 solos + no time to eat dinner + ice cream = Monday! :) First up at the meet was the long jump. 2 years ago, my pr (personal record) was 12'10". Granted, that's pretty short, but this year, I could barely get 12'! I was getting discouraged and decided that there was no point in me jumping. I stopped doing it for 5 meets or so. Coach decided to have me try it again in the league meet to get more points. I assumed that would be my last time. After all, I got 1st in the 100m, and 3rd in the 200m, but 6th in the long jump. Coach signed me up for yesterday to my surprise, so I had to at least try again. I did OK with 11' something, and ended up being 5th place, so I had to do it again for the finals. After getting 13.91 in the 100m (my new pr), I came back. I had moved my marker because I assumed I was finished, so I had to find it, and quick! Coach had me switch the foot I started with and I was ready to go. I said a quick prayer and decided to forget about form and just jump as far as I could. I threw myself in the air and closed my eyes. 12' 9 1/2"! Almost my freshmen record. Tried again... 13' 4"! I jumped from 5th place to 3rd and finally broke my 12 foot mark. It was all God's doing. It certainly wasn't my technique. After twisting my left ankle and having to jog the 200m, we hastily left for the choir concert. With two solos looming ahead of me, I knew I had to pray. Practice was one thing... I'd finally gotten comfortable singing in front of my choir buddies... but a concert? With my first note I realized I was nervous. I remembered Luther's words as he lay desperate on the ground seeking God's guidance and strength: "I am Yours, save me." I closed my eyes and focused on the words of the song. My voice gained strength and I finished well. God be praised! Tomorrow, we are singing in the high school chapel and my prayer will be once again, "I am Yours, save me." And I know He always will.

A Collection of Sentences

Happy May Day! I can't believe we only have a little over a month left of school! I could definetely use prayer for using the last weeks wisely and also for the SAT (I'm taking it for the first time on June 3, day after graduation).

Just wanted to note that I finally have Banquet pictures on my flickr site. Enjoy!

For His Glory,
*Nat*

He Calmed the Storm and Saved the Drowning Woman

Wow... today I experienced a crash-n-burn-in-a-glorious-fireball-complete-with-explosions-and-flames type of breakdown. :D I crack myself up, but, seriously, it was bizzare! I had spent Wednesday night small group deep in thought which continued into this morning. I was trying to understand why, when I've been much more faithful in reading the Word and prayer, I was still frustrated with choices I was making. How could I seemingly be growing, yet still clinging to finding happiness for myself? Where's the balance between wanting to have fun and hanging with friends (comfortable) and reaching out to kids who could use a Godly example (out of the box)? This morning I read 1 Peter again and was reading MacArthur's notes on Peter's life. Something really tore my heart. According to tradition, right before Peter was crucified upside-down, he had to watch his wife be crucified. What did he do? He didn't get angry, fight the guards, cry bitterly... he said three simple, yet utterly powerful words... "Remember the Lord." I couldn't believe the beauty of the Holy Spirit's work- a man is watching his love perish in a very painful way, yet he finds comfort in knowing his home is not here. She was finally going home. I was talking with Kim much of the morning discussing our future responsibilities and how amazingly close adulthood is to us. Our eyes were opened to the sad departure of our world and even "Christians" from God's purpose for relationships. Like I've mentioned before, people these days have everything backwards. They make relationships all about them and what they can get out of it- it's so selfish! A book Kim is reading made an excellent point: (In a relationship, whether friend or "romantic") Everything you do and say should be motivated by the purpose of helping the other person become more like Christ. THEN I started thinking about becoming a wife someday (Man my friends and I keep thinking about it!) and how completely unprepared I am! I'm way too selfish and emotionally unstable ;)! I want to be ready to serve my husband completely and help him along in his spiritual walk. I need to be able to put God first now and always before I can even begin thinking about a relationship! It's hard when so many young women have a desire in their hearts for a earthly protector who will love and take care of them. But, if we can't submit to our Father and father now...? What kind of helper will we be? The tears just came all of a sudden in choir as I felt so helpless and unworthy of God. I can't love the one who saved my soul and forgave my disgusting sins?? How pathetic! As I bolted from the classroom (my unfortunate habit of wanting to get away) and sprinted to the gym parking lot, my heart sank. Here I was, once again (granted it doesnt happen often, but still) in despair. Trying to find God when I knew He was there if I only would trust Him and reach out. As Mrs. Frisk reminded me later, Satan is always trying to remind us how we fail and fall short. The mistake? Focusing on myself once again. Ok, so I realize I'm not giving Him my heart completely and I'm not being wise about preparing my heart for being a Godly woman and wife. So... turn back to God! I must pray, pray, pray, and trust He will see me through! A song I have been praying lately really fits:

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy fallsI raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus:I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember whenI stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Repeat

Chorus

Armadillos, Creole, and Palm Trees- The South

We got into New Orleans late at night and were just in time to view a sunset over the Mississippi from the tall heights of our hotel room.

Sorry... I didn't get too far, but I also had to load banquet pictures on the computer.

Ironically, we're headed to Kayak Point for a nice on the "beach" dinner. The ironic part is the fact that TK has pics from their day there and here we are going today.

Well, hopefully I'll complete my posts soon. If not, who cares, it doesn't matter in light of eternity anyway!

Sardonically yours, Nat

Armadillos, Creole, and Palm Trees- Texas

Well, here it is... a photo journal of sorts from my spring break adventures. Thought it'd be more entertaining than me blabbing on forever. Enjoy!

*Just thought this sign was funny... I saw it in the Colorado airport. Maybe that's what people should call me instead!

*This is a statue of one of the Apollo 13 guys. When I saw it, I realized it was the same airport we had gone to on the DC trip two years ago! I have a picture of me posing by it in my photo album.

*Welcome to Texas! It's the Houston city lights at night. It's a little blurry, but taking pics on the freeway isn't always easy!

*Here's the Pontiac Torrent we got to drive half-way across the country (When we added all the miles up, we did actually drive all the way across the country if you count the going and return trip!)

*And here we are at Johnson Space Center looking inside one of two mission control rooms. It was here that the fateful words were heard: "Houston, we have a problem". The middle screen is tracking the International Space Station and the right screen is a live feed from the ISS of the earth.

*This is the room where all the

astronauts train. They have full size models of all ISS modules, a space shuttle, and "weightless" simulators. Pretty sweet!

*Here are some lovely examples of rockets including the ever-humongous Saturn V-5. No NASA visit is complete without a grassy field of space vehicles!

*Hey look, it's a famous Texas longhorn! They make their home at JSC. Granted, it's weird to see them grazing amid space ships... hmm...

*It's me exploring some shuttle drawers. The freeze-dried and water-deprived foods don't look that great... trust me.

*I wish I was the one floating around instead of the astronaut dude... :D

The official sign:

*How'd you like to live here?

I can't even begin to say that!

*Here I am enjoying the sun next to LeTourneau University's clock tower. I like the effect of my dad's shadow in the bottom corner...

*Yet another picture of me... this time showing off my new t-shirt.

*Here's a stuffed armadillo I got with a cute hat that says Texas on it. He was creatively named "Army". Of course the only real armadillos I saw in Texas were dead... on the side... of the road.

*I'm sorry, but it just made me laugh. What can I say?

*Goodbye Texas!!