One of my many blessings

             so it has come to my attention that my friends actually read this...i was completely unaware but i suppose its good that they do? as long as they are reading this i might as well flatter them a bit. i will probably say this a million times, but i am surrounded by the most amazing group of people imaginable. i really can't put it into words. the Lord has truly out done himself. from the friends that have stuck with me this whole time to the ones who are just coming into my life recently, all of them are blessings from above. if you were to tell me a year ago that one of my best friends would be a Young Life leader [and you know who you are... :)] i probably would have slapped you and told you to wash your mouth out with soap. (maybe a little over dramatic) one of the things i have learned from this journey i am on is to notice every blessing from above. Clearly i am not perfect, there are times when emotions such as envy take over and i forget what the Lord has given me. But i always find my way back. I hope you think about this. Next time you see your best friend, or even any friend, think about how much they mean to you and thank the Lord for bringing them into your life. Once you begin to notice the different blessings in your life, you will look at the world as a brighter place, and you'll be part of that light.

Testing my Faith

Growing up in a Catholic household and going to a Catholic school, church (and really anything related to God) was typically the low point of my day. All through elementary school i learned and memorized all the details and facts of the bible. i new just about every tale told, but something was missing. i knew about Jesus, but i didn't know him. he wasn't a real figure in my life. he was just another class that i had to sit through every day. As middle school progressed i came to the conclusion that the reason i didn't feel the Lord's love, was simply because he didn't exist. I know, i was ignorant and slightly stupid. But to me it was fact, God wasn't real. The next 4-5 years of my life could very well have been the most empty times of my life. the spot in my heart that was made for God was filled with drinking and partying. One summer day (2011) i broke down. i needed a friend. i needed someone to love me for the mess that i was. i knew that no human could possibly do that. after a lot of tears a a phone call to a Young Life leader, i decided to attend Young Life summer camp. At this time in my life i had a very deep hatred for anything Young Life, so the fact that I, "Lilly, hater of all things God related", was going to Young Life camp was a huge deal. i will explain what happened at camp in a later post, because it deserves its own to be honest.

In the Letter To James it states that
-testing of your faith brings you closer to the Lord
-you need to ask God for the wisdom you lack
-those who doubt will not be granted
-God cannot be tempted
-temptation stems from your own desires

i am living proof of all of these. I live my life for God. please check in soon for the continuation of my journey. Please feel free to contact my with any questions or really anything you feel i may be able to help you with  your own journey to the Lord.

as some of you already know, My good friend Abby was in a very devastating car wreck. she is currently expected to make a full recovery, but still needs prayers. I don't know how to explain the joy she brings to the world. when she walks into a room, the whole place just lights up. when i first came to the high school i attend (i went to a catholic school all my life and made the switch to public for high school), she was one of the first people who offered to hang out with me and introduce me to many of my current best friends. Even though most of you don't know her, i ask that you take a second out of your day just to say a quick prayer for her recovery. thank you all so much. #prayformarsh

http://www.iamsecond.com/

When i wear my "I Am Second" shirt and bracelet, i typically get a million and one questions about its meaning and typically one or two not-so-flattering looks. I Am Second is simply the idea of putting the Lord first in your life. i recommend that you check out the site and watch some of the videos they have posted. The videos often deal with specific issues, and give you a chance to hear from people who are making the same journey as me. Some of the stories really are mind-blowing.

Nice to meet you

Welcome to my online account of my journey to The Lord. i don't really know how i am going to tackle this just yet, as it is a very long journey that has not yet ended. I guess this first post will be about letting you get to know me. My name is Lilly. i am a junior in high school. i was born and am still being raised in Northern Kentucky. i am involved in Young Life, a nationwide Christian group dedicated to teaching youth about Jesus and His Father. Without YL i would not be the person i am today and would still be living a miserable life. As i have grown closer to the Lord i now know that it is my mission in life to teach others about His saving powers. please feel free to contact me here, on facebook, or on twitter (@Lillianrose49). i promise you that i will do my best to show you what this whole obsession with God is about, you won't be disappointed.