a new year

Happy New Year Everyone! As for the Porth House hold we are starting this new year off right.... Were all sick. lolz. #welcometothegoodlife. This winter break for me has been so so good. its a nice long break and when i go back to school i will be a second semester senior!! heres to doing no work for the rest of the year! jk jk jk (mom i'm seriously just kidding... maybe)

Since my last blog post i have really seen the Lord working in the people around me. Which has been so so cool. Last Friday i got the amazing opportunity to go to Fieldstone's Food Pantry. Im sure alot of you have helped out with food drives, and many other things to help those in need. but how many times do we walk away from those things with out hearts truly changed? yes, of course were going to feel good about what we've done but can we say that our hearts are truly changed from the experience?  after going friday night my heart was thoroughly changed. The Food Pantry at Fieldstone is not just a place where people can get the needs for their bodies, but they will also recieve the needs of their hearts. The people that are there to serve are radiating with the love of Christ and its hard not to be effected by that. I seriously just had an amazing time getting to sit and talk with these people that have stories that will break you heart. These people have such hope and courage that will just leave you awestruck. I am so blessed that i got to witness such an amazing ministry that the Lord is doing huge things through. (if you want to get involved with this ministry im going to put a little plug down at the bottom! the pantry is ALWAYS in need of food and volunteers)

Another amazing spontaneous adventure i got to embark on is going up to Snowshoe with one of my best friends family. This family truly loves the Lord, and is constantly giving everything to follow Him. Through my high school experience this family has without fail always been there to hold bible study at their house, sit and listen to my struggles, or my highs. They have all had such a huge impact on me and getting to spend the past few days with them was just so fulfilling. Katie, who is one of my best friends lives life in such a way that we are all just jealous of. she is halarious, kind, and competitive. the Lord has used her to keep me accountable on multiple occasions and i am so blessed to have her. one day she is going to be an amazing younglife leader and she's going to change so many peoples lives.

one thing i wanted to end with, i started a new devotional called Disciplines by Upper Room Books lolz its by a ton of people my dear friend Mrs. Judy gave to me. ive only done two days but so far its really great, the passage ive been reading for it is Isaiah 60:1-6 which says:

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
² Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.
³ All nations will come to your light;
mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

⁴ “Look and see, for everyone is coming home!
Your sons are coming from distant lands;
your little daughters will be carried home.
⁵ Your eyes will shine,
and your heart will thrill with joy,for merchants from around the world will come to you.
They will bring you the wealth of many lands.
⁶ Vast caravans of camels will converge on you,
the camels of Midian and Ephah.
The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense
and will come worshiping the Lord.

 

 

this gives me chills everytime i read it. its just such a picture of how i want this year to look for me. i want my friends so badly to come home. I want them to feel this unspeakable Joy i get from following the Lord. reading this passage gives me hope to be a light for my friends, the people around me, strangers. a light that only God can give me, so that they might have the opportunity to come home.

 

as promised:

Fieldstone Food Pantry is ran by an incredible woman named Kim Schwenk you can email her kschwenk09@gmail.com and she can give you all the inforamation you need to help out.