For Stephen...

First of all... I have pretty much abandoned xanga... not totally sure why, but I have. It was not my intention to abandon my "xanga friends" as well... my apologies for that.

A quick summary of how life is going-

Basketball just finished... Praise the Lord for a pretty good season- 15-15 (1 forfeit), Owen avg. 24 ppg and I 21 ppg (we were the two leading scorers in the VCAA), we beat West End for the first time, Yeshiva, CVHAA (3 times), Evangel, and were competitive in all of our games at full strength. O earned our conference's "Most Outstanding Player" award and I scored my 1000th varsity career point this season and earned "All-Conference". Again... to Him be the glory...

School is going pretty well: MTH 240 (Statistics), PSY 202, and ENG 111 all at J Sarge. None of the classes are too difficult, thank God!

My relationship with God has been changing recently... for the better! I've been learning to trust Him more and more (something I've been praying a lot about) and have been learning about how to live with a servant's heart, a giver's heart, and how to be a blessing with out looking for anything in return.

I've been focusing on trying to live my life as Jesus lived His... a very tough thing to do, mind you, but very rewarding. I have also resumed memorizing Scripture... a very rewarding experience as well. I am now focusing on these 16 verses:

Psalm 119:1-16

' Aleph

    ^{1 [a]} Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
       who walk according to the law of the LORD.

    ² Blessed are they who keep his statutes
       and seek him with all their heart.

    ³ They do nothing wrong;
       they walk in his ways.

    ⁴ You have laid down precepts
       that are to be fully obeyed.

    ⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast
       in obeying your decrees!

    ⁶ Then I would not be put to shame
       when I consider all your commands.

    ⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart
       as I learn your righteous laws.

    ⁸ I will obey your decrees;
       do not utterly forsake me.

b Beth

    ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
       By living according to your word.

    ¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
       do not let me stray from your commands.

    ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
       that I might not sin against you.

    ¹² Praise be to you, O LORD;
       teach me your decrees.

    ¹³ With my lips I recount
       all the laws that come from your mouth.

    ¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
       as one rejoices in great riches.

    ¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
       and consider your ways.

    ¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
       I will not neglect your word.

I love that passage.

As always... to Him be the glory, forever and ever... AMEN!

Be blessed this day... give your BEST effort in all you do, for you do it all for Christ. (Colossians 3:23)

Luke

PS This is probably my last entry... hopefully a good one to finish on! Live for Him!

hmmm... long time no talk. Yup. Long time no talk. It's been a decent two weeks (approximately) since I last updated. Many basketball losses (unfortunately), but a few wins too. I thank the Lord for everything that's been given to me. Wins and Defeats. Gains and Losses. Trials and Times of Good Fortune. Praise Him for everything.

James 2 discusses the topic of sinning: how all sin is the same (or at least my interpretation of it).

¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law ^F40 and yet stumbles ^R75 in one point, he has become guilty ^R76 of all. ¹¹ For He who said, "DO ^R77 NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO ^R78 NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ^{F41 12} So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the ^R79 law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment ^R80 will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs ^F42 over judgment.

ONE POINT! That spells doom for all of us. As Romans 3:23 says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". But... the best part about Romans is that it doesn't end there.

Romans 3:24

"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus"

Thank the Lord for Him not leaving us with only verse 24. Praise the Lord for that.

With this, brothers and sisters, I leave you. Go in peace.

TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

again... I must say, I encourage people to go to my dear sister Abby's site for a FULL RECAP of my past three days (concerning basketball... other than that it's been work and tests)... God's grace is truly abundant in my life.

A few prayer requests for myself (yes, I am selfish) would be that God would bless me with Humility, with Wisdom, with Love, and with Focus. Christmas time is coming (especially Christmas break), and I will definitely have trouble focusing down the stretch as I anticipate the nice break. Loving my family is never a bother, but I know I can do better (as well as loving other people). Wisdom in many tough situations, and Humility, well, because it's something I ALWAYS need. I have a very conceited mind... and I hate it... though "give thanks in all things" applies even here, so thank you Lord for using my stupid conceit to break me and make me more dependent on You.

Amen.

oh, and if anyone would like to comment on the quotes before... please check them before you submit them and make sure they glorify ONLY God and not anyone else. For it is He who made the stars and He who regulates the heavens. Not I.

And also, I want to encourage everyone to head on over to Abby's site and leave her a comment. She is an awesome sister, and it would be a great blessing if you all did. Gracias.

to HIM be all GLORY and HONOR and POWER, FOREVER and EVER, amen.

quotes for the day...

"Man made things get old and weary on the eyes, but looking at God's magnificent creations named 'stars' will never be a bad thing."

"One of the greatest joys in my life is seeing God shoot a star across the heavens".

Praise God in heaven for the stars...