Something Special <3

So I was going through my stuff and I found my old journal from summer with this written in it and wanted to share. :)

08-08-09

The past week I spent in Orland, Florida with my greatest most amazing friends anyone could ever have! We were in Orlando for National Fine Arts and Convention. It was so amazing and I have so many great times, memories and stories I would love to tell about, but I think I'll tell you about those later. Right now, I want to focus more on what I learned this week down there, and what we got out of this as a team.

I'd never be able to fully express how special our group is. You wouldn't believe if you saw. So let me explain a little bit. In short, we are all VERY different people. We have different dreams, live totally different lives, have different paths we will follow, but what we share is what brought us together. Our differences just make it all the more special. We share a love and a heart for God. We share with each other. We're all so very different, and that is not hard to see, but as I said it's our differences that make what we have even more special and beautiful. I guess I might need to explain a bit (which is the purpose of this...)

Going from oldest to youngest - first there is Vanessa (Ness). She just graduated from high school. Nessa is like the "mother bird" or the "big sister" of us all. She's really sweet and caring. She loves to shop (she's like the fashion queen!) and is almost always smiling. She is quick to take control when a situation starts to get out of hand, and is always there. She's going to be a nurse. (And know she'll make a great one!)

Next is me! And to explain -- I'm just me! I love to dance and worship God and I want to work in ministry after High School. I'm not exactly sure WHO I am in this group. Although, they have described me as a workaholic at times and ambitious...and a brainiac...But I'm just me. I'm different. And I love it! I'm so thankful that God put these girls in my life! I would not be the same without them!

Next is Emily (Emilina!). he is a senior in High School like me. Emily has such a passion for God and worship and has the MOST AMAZING voice! I swear she'll be famous someday! And even if she's not, she's that good and so much better. But even aside from all that - she's real. I love that bout her! She's true to herself and when she's committed to something, she pours her heart into it. Everything she's got - and God always gets the glory. She's so sweet and has a beautiful heart and above all else, trusts God in everything.

Now there is Erica. She is a junior in High School. She loves to sing, dance, and act - she is the greatest when it comes to that! And she stands strong on what she believes in. In everything she trusts God to keep her going and to lead her in his way. She has such passion and heart and strength. She loves horses and has a heart for the lost and broken. God is going to use her in amazing ways.

Then there is Eden (E). Eden is a sophomore in high school. And to describe her well....she's Eden. She's amazing and I know no one else like her. She's real, she's herself. She's different and proud of it. I'd say she's one of the most grounded in our group. She loves Music and is probably going to be a missionary. But wherever God takes her, I cannot wait to see. She's going to do amazing things I know!

Next is Sarah, (Sar-rocks!). Sarah is really sweet, loves drama and is really good at it! (Ok that's an understatement. You ought to see this girl! You wouldn't believe the stuff she memorizes! You'd be blown away! She's def the drama queen-- and I mean that in a good way!) I realize we all have different styles and all, but Sarah stands out as the princess! I rarely see her without a dress. She wears them constantly! She always brings a smile to everyone's face and truly cares for people. She loves music and plays guitar. All out - she rocks! (Oh and she takes around Diego, Dora and Sarah the Mammoth for all of our youth activities! It's the greatest! I believe they are her loyal sidekicks! lol.)

Then there is Jess, ....actually....I think jess is older than Sarah...lol...yeah she is. haha. Jess is all around amazing! She's a gifted musician with a heart after God. Jess is friends with everyone and reaches out to everyone, and has the ability to just pull them in. She never gives up and is always praying for her friends to come to Christ. This girl is gonna be famous someday I just know it! She's amazing with music and dance and with communication. She is sincere and caring, and probably the most humorous of us all...especially when you put her with Emily... (AHHHHHHHH!!!!)

And there is Lydia. She's what i call a diva. Really sweet, spunky, amazing voice, and is gifted. Lydia is our "country girl." She and Erica kind of relate on that level I think. It is really cool though. Lydia loves horses, and music, and well...a lot of stuff! I love this girl! She's got this great personality that just shines through. She loves God with all of her heart. She has a great call on her life and I know that God is working in her in awesome ways! I can't wait to see where He will bring her to!

We all are different ages, and in different places in our lives. We come from different backgrounds, live totally different lives, and yet - we're best friends. What makes us so special is our differences. And we love each other because of them. It makes us strong as a group and it separates us from other groups, out there. We cover each other's weaknesses. There are no limitations. Like i said before, we are all so different - our friendships are unheard of anywhere else, but God brought us together. He is one thing we all have in common. But we're we're best friends, and even though someday we may go our separate ways as we are called, we'll always carry a little bit of each other everywhere. And we'll always be friends.

We've had good times and bad. This week was amazing. Some bits of it got stressful and were hard, but we pull through together. And sometimes things come up or out that shouldn't. It is just the enemy trying to break our unity. We were brought together to glorify God in what we do. Our friendship is from him, bound by him, and all for Him.

This group of girls is special to me. We can all be ourselves when we're together. We're all so different and every one of them is just amazing! I think they'll all be famous someday! haha. It really wouldn't surprise me!

Anyways, I love you girls! Thanks for being such a great part of my life and for accepting me for who I am. God bless you always. I continually keep you in my prayers! I know God will do something amazing with each one of you! Know that you're all very special to me and I love you.

Remember - We'll always take a piece of each other with us everywhere we go. We have so much we share together! You girls make me proud, and it's my prayer that you never stop going after God, that you'll always be who you are, stay strong, be the beautiful, passionate, gifted, uniquely designed and glorious girls that God created you all to be! Don't change for anyone!

Thanks for the memories, the good times and the bad. Thanks for just being there. I know this week in Orlando is something that we'll carry with us. It's part of our journey together. I don't know where the road will take us, and I don't ever want it to end! Thanks for everything. Proud of you all, and I love you dearly.

God bless always!

Thoughts on Writing and Speech (mainly writing)

As many of you know, I've been working on a book lately...well two books really. The first one is fiction - Stars in the Storm - and although it has meaning to me, upon starting my non-fiction book on singleness, I've realized something. Both of these books mean something to me. Stars in the Storm is more about seeing God's light in the midst of the great tempest that may be surrounding you. It has a lot of meaning for me, as I'm making a story and applying how God taught me to look for his light. Although the story is not really about my situation or my life, it's still made personal for me, but it's lying underneath a heavy blanket of dramatics and fiction.

My "Single Seasons" book however, I'm already learning that it's going to be a little harder. Writing this requires a lot of vulnerability on my part as the author. Who honestly wants to make themselves vulnerable to the criticism of others? Any hands here? Hrm. Just as I thought- No one! We don't like to feel weak. We put walls around ourselves. We like to portray a story in our lives that is a fairy tale. Or maybe not even a fairy tale, but what we like to portray is a life that we got all together. Perfection. When it comes to writing, the best comes from the heart. It comes from truth. And it comes with meaning. For years I've kept what I knew to be my best writing to myself. My school papers and such were never as good as what I wrote and never showed. It came down to vulnerability. I never wanted to make myself vulnerable, and that's what true writing does. Consider what comes from your mind to pen to paper. When it is something that no one will ever see, is that not when the words flow the most? We hide inside of ourselves. That's what I've done for so long. But in the process of beginning to write this book, I'm finding that is no longer possible. To write this book and not open up with it, is to write without passion, it is to write in a shadow. I could beat around the bush, and touch up on the bare edges of my heart, but to do that would be to fail. I would fail not only as an author, but I would fail my goal. This book has a purpose. So I must write it with that purpose in mind.

Everyone has their secrets or thoughts that they don't want to come out. Some because they're ashamed of them, and some because they do not want to ruin the illusion of their perfect life that they have portrayed. Good writing gets personal. You can learn a lot about an author from reading their writing. Just as you can learn a lot about a friend just from listening or from watching them.

To make yourself vulnerable is to open yourself to criticism. It hurts sometimes. You keep everything in and nurse your thoughts and plans in your heart, then when you finally open up to show them, sometimes you might get shot down. Sometimes it hurts. But other times it can be very rewarding.


It's ones most guarded thoughts that sometimes really truly get the point across. It is those thoughts that really hit home.

For instance, I've never been a big fan of history. It was a most dull subject for me to endure. But when it came to the books I was reading, it wasn't the normal text book that I remember reading from, it was the personal diaries or works of the people who lived in that day. I believe that there is a power in the passionate vulnerable writing. When all is turned to paper, you get the whole picture. Boarder-line doesn't cut it. At least not here.

The journals of Rachel Scott come to mind here. For those who don't know, Rachel Scott was one of the Columbine Martyr victims. Now, I realize that she did not mean for her journals to become a book, but what she wrote was meant for her and God. She wrote so openly holding nothing back. She was honest in her writing. And I couldn't help but when reading her story and reading her journals to feel inspired. She was transparent in her writing. She was passionate. She was honest. And you know what? Her story is powerful. Her words were powerful.

Where would we all be today if we held nothing back?. If we wrote honestly and if we spoke our thoughts? Words can be powerful. They can build up and they can tear down. One word to encourage one to pursue their dream or to keep going, but one word can also kill a dream.

Vulnerability. Transparency. Truth. Passion. Those are what make up a true power in writing. When we expose ourselves, we may be subject to ridicule. But who are others to ridicule us? What lies behind their portrayal of perfection? I realize that taking down the walls that we fortify around ourselves can be hard to do. I still find it hard today. And I've found that at times, it can make you feel weak, but it makes you stronger.

So from here on, this is how my words will be. Both spoken and written.

My words will be truth. My words will be real. My words will reveal what is in me. My heart, my thoughts. My words will be passionate and spoken from the heart. My words will be kind and gentle and warm. My words will be pure. My words will inspire. My words will be given to me by God. He's promised that He will give me the words - now I just have to listen for them.

This note hasn't quite gone the way I thought it would. I planned to end one place and went to another. But these are my thoughts. And thoughts can take you on a new road every time. :)

~Brittany

Reality's Dreams - Lyrics by Brittany Ketter

V1:
It’s one of those days,
Where you begin to believe
That you’re not good enough
For your dreams.

They seem so far and
Impossible to reach.
And you’re just who you are
Wondering why you even dream of these things.

Chorus:
What’s the use of dreamin’,
If you’re not believing
If you’re not reaching
For it to come true?
We were made to look up
And dream something new.
See so far from reality,
But it’s what you wanna do.
So why not reach and let
your dream find its way to you.

V2:
It’s one of those times
Where you can’t see
if you could ever be who you dream.
With dreams and reality
It’s hard to find where they can meet.

But keep looking up,
Cause if you believe,
You can make it.
Cause…

CHORUS

Bridge:
Keep dreaming.
Keep reaching.
Keep believing
Dreams come true.
Someday your dream will find its way to you.

CHORUS

Ending:
Yeah, your dream will find you.
When you reach and believe dreams
Can come true…Now it’s all up to you.
Will you reach, or will you lose?

For All of You Single Girls Out There...

I admit, lately I’ve been thinking about that special guy that God has for me, and honestly – I miss him. Be honest girls, how many of you are home on a Friday night doing nothing while all of your friends are out on a date with their boyfriends? Or maybe your best friend has been hanging out with a guy and you feel neglected – feeling the pain? We all know the feeling.
I’ve set my standards, and I’ve set them high. I know what I want in a guy. I haven’t dated. I’ve made up my mind before that I would not date until:

1. Senior Year (at earliest)
2. I knew the guy who fit my list.

Well, here I am at senior year – boyfriend? No. And that’s cool. I’ve found my season of singleness to be my time for growing and my time for going deeper in my relationship with God. I wouldn’t trade this season for anything God is so good!
However, recently, I find myself thinking more and more about “him.” Who is he? When will God bring him in? How? Will I know right away? I have all of these questions, and yet no answers to be found. The only thing I know is that, 1) God has this all in His hands, and 2) I desire this companionship greatly.

I want someone to love, and to love me, but more-so, I want that person to be who God has for me. You won’t see me rushing in on the dating scene. In fact, I’m a bit more into courtship. And, I find that I really am impressed by the guys who first asked the father’s permission to take out his daughter, before they even ask the girl. It shows maturity and respect.

I can picture my own daughter someday, and I can tell you I would not be thrilled or very pleased at all if some guy just came to our door and picked her up to take her out, without first coming to me or my husband. No. I don’t believe I’d be please, and I don’t believe my daughter would be going out with him that night… (and possibly any night. We’ll see.)

I believe there is a special bond between Dad’s and daughters. I look up to my dad, and I admire him greatly. He’s always been my hero. I rarely find something I enjoy more than a night with my dad. I love being with him. Just me and him – even just driving to the store, or watching the game – I can never get enough of the one-on-one daddy-daughter time. The more I’m with him, the more I see in him that I would want in a husband someday. Some of these big things in my dad are commitment, strength and purpose. His commitment to this family is so apparent. Fathering 5 kids, (3 of them being teenagers, YIKES!) he works hard and long hours every day to support his family. And afterwards, you will find him working on things that need done around the house. He doesn’t work for the fun of it. He doesn’t work just for the money. He doesn’t work to give himself a good name. But he does it for us – to support his family. He does it to the best of his ability, and I admire that quality in my dad – his commitment. Strength and purpose fit into that also. My dad is a family man – strength I see is how he handles his household. He is firm and loving and always makes a point when things aren’t running the way they should be. He heads our household well. His purpose – I see in his stance. Whether he’s in his suit going to work, or in his old worn jeans and t-shirt working outside or fixing cars or doing yard work. My dad is a man of purpose, and his purpose is that of one he knows full well of – the position God has placed him in as the head of this family.

I didn’t just dream this entire up. I had to be taught to see it. But I cannot recall a time ever where my dad wasn’t there for me. Dads are special. And I believe that the Father-daughter relationship is too. There is just a bond there, seemingly from the beginning – my dad’s the reason I’ve gone through most of my teen years without “needing” a guy. I didn’t “need” a boyfriend like some of my friends and many teens my age did. I’d much rather have a day with my dad. As I’ve grown older though, that’s not changed, but I’m starting more to want to find the one that God has for me. I love the relationship I have with my dad, and I don’t ever want it to change – he fills a place in my heart where only a guy could, where only he could. But he’s taught me what I want. I want a man like him.

In a way, I see my mother has taught me that too. She’s taught me to look deeply, see the invisible, and feel the gentlest touches. She taught me to see the world, and she obviously taught me to find a good man (Daddy is exhibit A! ) My mom has also taught me what kind of woman I want to be. She’s raised me right. (Or I think my parents have done a pretty good job, anyway. I mean between the two of them – I turned out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself! – Quite humble too! :P) My mom showed me the kind of woman I want to be. I want to be like she is – a woman of strength and virtue, whose priorities are in line; A woman who watches over her house, and brings up her children in the Lord; A woman who is wise and carries herself with dignity; A woman who is led by the Lord, and who teaches her children to rely on Him.

My mother taught me to work, cook, clean, read, write and all the typical stuff, but by example, she’s taught me the qualities of a godly woman, wife and mother, and I’m proud to be her daughter.

Now girls, stick with me. I’m not as off topic as you might think – remember that longing feeling I was talking about before? The want I have for that companionship and love? My journey with God these last few months- he’s brought me to a place of wholeness – but even so, I still don’t’ feel complete. It’s like I’m missing something – I’m missing him. There is such a mystery about that – only the Lord knows. I was talking with a friend about that, and she mentioned to me how in Genesis, “Adam – even after all the animals, no suitable companion was found. Then God created Eve.” She told me we were born this way – with a longing to have that companion. I chewed on this for a moment, and then it struck me!

Eve was made from a rib of Adam. (Genesis 2:22) There is not something missing in me – I AM the missing piece!

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 NIV

Girls – we are the missing piece. When God made Eve – He made her from a piece of Adam. They were one. The same will before us. God has that special guy out there for you, and someday you will be one. I’m waiting on God, and in the end, I know I’ll be amazingly happy with this choice-because if we’re the missing piece to these guys, girls we don’t want to break ourselves out in the dating scene. Dating just to date, or having a boyfriend just to have a boyfriend or to try to fill that space inside of you or to take away the loneliness you feel for love. Wait on God, because he knows that guy who is missing you. He created them just for you. You’re His missing piece. Preserve yourselves girls. I know it’s hard, especially at this age to be waiting and not going out or getting into these kind of relationships, but you will be so happy later and see how it was so worth the wait.

When I’ve been praying about this wanting in me, I just keep hearing God telling me, “wait.”

Girls, the time will come. The wait will be worth it – but for now, embrace this season of singleness. Let God be your heart’s desire. Get into His word, grow in Him. Listen for His voice and let Him teach you.
Also, your relationship with your parents is important. (God id after all entrust you into their care to raise you up in him) God doesn’t make mistakes. Bloom where you’re planted. You need God’s light to grow, you need times of rain. Sometimes He’ll shade you with his wing. You are where you are for a reason. Make the most of it. Be who you are. Give everything your all. Follow God, learn from your parents, and keep yourself pure. Waiting will be worth it. I guarantee you it will be.

Thinking now, I can’t wait for whoever God has for me to come into the picture, but I will wait patiently, pursue God, and continue to learn. If I’m this guy’s missing piece, I want to be whole myself, and that means surrendering everything in me – even this desire to God. I’ve learned surrendering is a process – not a moment. It’s a daily choice – a daily act.

So, for all of you single girls out there, thanks for reading, and I hope you got something from this. You’re the missing piece. I’m sure you’re going to want the rest of the puzzle to be put together when he comes along, so I encourage you to keep yourself together. Embrace your singleness as an opportunity to work on your relationship with God. Let Him be your everything. Give Him your heart. I know He won’t give it to someone who will break it. He knows who He has for you, trust Him Give your all to Him. You’re the missing piece – but He knows to which puzzle. Just wait until you see the whole picture. That guy that you have your eye on, (come on girls, you can’t say “what guy” you know we all have them,) give him to God. I’ve found the more you focus on God, the more you see from His view.

Giving that up is hard I know. Just keep praying. I pray for my future husband every day. I pray that God will keep him pure and that he will be strong in the Lord and that he’ll be safe where he is. I pray that anything that he may be going through, that God would meet him where he’s at and be there with him. I’ve found in praying for other people, it brings you closer together. In praying for my future husband, even though I may not know him, I believe that God will work something in that.
And you know when a guy comes along, pray about him, and trust your parents’ judgment. Talk to them about it. Don’t toss your other relationships aside just because a new season is in view. You ultimately want God to be your # 1 Priority. As for your parents, they are important too –having a good relationship with them will be of help for you. They’ve been through this before - it’s not so different now as you think. Take some wisdom from them. They know what they are talking about them. If you’re open to receive, you’ll be surprised what you can learn.

So girls, pray and seek God. Work on your relationships with your parents. God put them over you for a reason – learn from them. Keep waiting – God knows exactly what He’s doing. Take this time to grow in Him, and to hang out with your friends. Enjoy this season of life as you wait for the next to come. Something worth it, is something worth waiting for, right? You’re the missing piece to the puzzle. God knows the puzzle, give him all the pieces so He can make it complete.
Love you all so much! Thanks for reading.

Brittany L. Ketter ( 1 peter 3:4)

Through Your Eyes, Through Mine

Through Your Eyes, Through Mine
Lyrics by Brittany Ketter
10-18-09

Song by Brittany Ketter
10-18-09

Verse 1:

In those quiet moments, that's when u begin to hear it.
the lying voice within you that says you're never gonna make it.
Your dreams can't ever come true.
Just cause you're you...

Lookin in the mirror, you see something different than I do.
You're only seeing on the surface, you're not seeing through.
Don't believe what you're seeing is true.
I made you to be you.


CHORUS:
The world shows you a mirror, a reflection of who they see.
But see yourself through my eyes child, look how beautiful you can be?
Look deeper into yourself and you will see,
the beauty you have in me.
Look in that mirror again, tell me how can you not see what I do?
Oh how do you see so differently when you look at you?
You see flaws, and I see flawless.
You see imperfection, I see perfect.
You see hurt and brokeness, I see beauty brought from ashes.
you see yourself so different from everybody else.
You're how I designed you to be, my child.
I dont make mistakes.
This is how you're meant to be.
I made you to be great.
Now can you see what I see?


VERSE 2:
Another quiet moment. Which voice are you hearing?
the lies that say you're not good enough,
or the truth that says you're gonna be something.
You will be something.

CHORUS:

VERSE 3:
You find yourself in a moment, What lies are you hearing this time?
The lies that say that you'll never be who you should be?
Or the truth that says you'll be that person in time.
You are mine.

CHORUS


BRIDGE:

Don't believe the lies that say you are nothing.
Don't believe the lies that say your dreams can't come true.
Believe in me, you are beautiful. Look at yourself from my view.
Look at what I created in you.

CHORUS 2:


Look in that mirror again, tell me can you see yourself as i do?
Oh do see yourself differently now when you look at you?
You don't see flaws, you see flawless.
In your imperfections, You see my power in them.
No more hurt and brokenness, You see beauty I brought from ashes.
you see yourself so different from everybody else.
You're how I designed you to be, my child.
I dont make mistakes.
This is how you're meant to be.
I made you to be great.
Take a look and see.

ENDING:

There's nothing more beautiful than who I created you to be.
I made you to be you.
Take a look and see,
My child look at yourself,
I've made something of you,
because you believed in me.
I made you to be you.

Lavender Lake and Storm's Eye

Lavender lake with matching sky, scratched with hues of pinks as the fall of nigh begins. Waves softly lap the shore and the tide begins to rise. Ever so slowly, the light fades to darkness as the sun disappears under the sea. The stars and moon shine down on the beach. A soft breeze comes through and rustles the nearby trees. Everything seems to fall asleep. Looking at the stars shining bright and high, and the dark lapping waters of the midnight sea, I feel the softness of the cool summer night breeze and breathe in deep. This is the quiet my soul now feels, and I am now at peace. Peace where the past and the present meet and peace with the future unforeseen. In this quiet still of the night, I find peace in the midst of what is not right. For coming on from the north and south are storm clouds pregnant with rain to fall in the night. The soft wind will pick up; the waves lapping at the shore will crash on the beach. The still, calm and sleeping nature will wake as the storm passes over this lake. The stars will be covered by clouds, and the wind will howl. A great tempest, a great storm, and yet, I will stand there still warm and at ease, remembering the quiet calm that was before the storm – and be at peace. The storm will pass, the rain will slow, and the wind will not forever blow. The waves will be still, the stars will shine, clouds of grew stay only for a time. The sun will rise and the earth will awaken. My soul will flourish and life renewed will keep on living, though surroundings change, and storms will come and pass again. But what cannot be taken away, is the peace given. Even in the strongest of storms, the eye is always calm. In the midst of a tempest, I will be the eye of the storm, and I will stand strong and be at peace. And in my heart and soul, I will forever be by the quiet waters. I will close my eyes and see the lavender lake and sky. I will not be blind to the storm surrounding me, but simply be the eye.

The Master Potter

There are times that I might seem weak,
but I'm stronger than I appear to be.

I have this power inside of me,
by the one whose blood set me free.

The one who broke my chains, and gave me my name,
is my source of strength.

He holdds my head up, he guides my way.
He molds me as a potter does clay.

Strong and beautiful, of unique purpose and shape.
The Lord has crafted me in His masterful ways.

Once I was flawless, but I have gone my own way,
every crack has a story, but it makes me stronger all the same.

Don't think that I'm weak, because I know that I am strong.
My brokeness tells where I've been, but does not define where I belong.

Although I may look fragile, the Lord holds my life together.
He holds all the pieces, my creator - The potter.

Things I've learned this summer -- Going beneath the surface <3

1. Letting go doesn't always mean giving up -- It just means putting it in God's hands.

2. God can use who we may see as the most unlikely people.

3. Be still and wait on God, he will meet you when you see Him.

4. Sometimes you have to let go of what you love in order to take what God has for you.

5. Rest in God --He keeps you in perfect peace.

6. God reveals to heal.

8. Love can be the most powerful force in the world.

9. One person can make the difference of a million.

10. God equips the called for ministry. He wil give you what you need in order to fulfill His work.

11. Sometimes God places people in our lives only for a season.

12. Some moments we hold keep us moving forward and give us hope for the future. Others hold us back from pursuing what we are meant to do. We have to choose to hold onto those precious moments and let go of the ones that hinder us from becoming who God called us to be.

13. God will use what the enemy meant for bad against you, for good.

14. God will never leave you empty.

15. Friendship isn't about how long you've known each other, how often you're together, or even the ability to see the heart by looking in the eyes. Friendship is a shared heart and soul--linked by a chain that no distance can break, and that no amount of time can rust.

16. Time moves fast when you want it to go slow, and slow when you want it to speed by- Time is precious, make the most of every moment.

17. In the midst of storms - God's light always shines through.

18.God's best for you lies beyond tomorrow.

19. My dad continues to be the most important man in my life and he teaches me what a man of God really is, what commitment means, and how I deserve to be treated. He's taught me so much more than that, and I'm watching for someone like him. But he's basically my hero. :)

20. To rest in God doesn't mean the chaos stops-- it just means you can rest knowing that God holds it all in His hands, and find peace in knowing that everything is still in His control.

21. I am my mother's daughter and proud to be so! And it's an honor to be that.

22. I am so blessed!

23. God can't make something of you til you give him all the pieces.

24.You can cspend seemingly forever wishing for something that may never come; or you can give all of your hopes and dreams to God and He will make known His dreams for you-- and they are far better than you ever could hope or dream of yourself.

25. When you're constantly attacked by the enemy, you know you're destined for greatness - Stand strong, God has big plans for you.

26. The simplset things can mean the most.

27. There's ALWAYS a reason to dance!

28. One smile can spark a frienship. (just make sure there's nothing in ur teeth. JK!)

29. What commitment means.

30. God is always moving.

31. There is a light in the storm, you just gotta find it. And when you can't see it...you might be the light in someone else's storm...

32. God is still speaking - Listen.

33. Frienship is 2-way. Both need to want it, both need to strive for it, and both need to listen and talk, and jusst be together.

34. Love NEVER fails.

35. Love is patient.

36. Never compormise what you believe in.

37. Stand when no one is standing. Fight when you're the only one ready for battle. Speak and let you're voice be heard - proclaim Christ to the nations, you might stand alone, but if you dont' stand to lead, who will? And even more - When you stand, how many more will follow?

38. I am not my own.

39. My CAUSE is FOR CHRIST!

40. If you keep things in the dark, they can't be tested by the light of truth.

41. Sometimes, it's not you're place in this world that you need to find, but rather, you need to find yourself to see that you're where you belong.

42. Patience isn't just about waiting. It's the willingness to wait, and finding peace in God's timing. Patience is about submission.

43. Better to have tried and failed, than to regreat never trying at all, and living you're life wondering what would have happened.

44.Sometimes you need to get past your fears, get off the surface, take a deep breath and dive right in.

45. God will always see you through.

46. Love is a choice. Love is forgiving when forgiveness is not deserved. Love is showing mercy, when none should be obtained. Love is void of anger and jealousy. Love is pure and true, tried and undeserved. We are incapable of loving all the time. Love can change lives. Love saved us, made us, chose us, names us. Love never fails us. But sometimes we can fail to love. God is love, we who love abide in God and God in us. Love is bold. Love is true. Love lives in you, love changes you, it changes everything. Share love, you share Jesus. You get past the emptiness and pain that this world bring you down to, and love takes you up, holds you, and makes you feel wonderful again. Love is of God. Love means holding on and nog giving up when the situation seems hopeless. But love is also letting go and releasing to God. Love is the cross. Love is the sacrifice. We are made to love. We recieve love, but do we give it? Do we show love unconditionally? Of course we don't. We are flawed. But love sees the imperfections, and sees beauty in them. Love is always the answer, because God is the anser-and God is love.


Spread the Fire!

Brittany Ketter (1 Peter 3:4)

Surrender All; Follow Me - lyrics by Brittany K

V1:
I layed it all down
at the foot of the cross.
So hard to not look back
at what I seemingly lost.

Something greater I know,
lies on the road ahead.
Surrendering all, I walk
following God on the road He made,
Listening to Him say...

Chorus:

Surrender what you love.
Leave it at the cross.
Keep your eyes on me and walk.
I have something greater,
I promise you.
Follow me and someday You'll see
what you gave up is not a loss,
what you left at the cross
is nothing comapred to what you now got.

V2:
Along the way I go,
I find new things to hold onto.
Then, I reach the crossroads
don't know what way to go.
Which road to take?
And then Lord, I hear you say

chorus

Bridge:
As I walk along on my way.
Lord I can't help but hold to something.
But in the end I see that It's really you
telling me...

chorus

I should be holding to you. All I need is you.

Defining Love <3

I Corinthians 13 - well-known as the "love chapter" breaks down what love is.

"Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy. It doesn not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not selfseeking. It is not easily angered. I tkeeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails!" 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

As direct as this passage defines love - the greatest display of love defined is Jesus Christ. There is no greater definition of love than Him. God became a man. He took on the sins of the world, and paid our debt - a price so high we could not pay. He who knew no sin, became sin, and he redeemed us with his precious blood.



Jesus took on our sin. He was beaten,whipped, spit on, mocked and had a crown of thorns pushed into His head. He was nailed to a cross - shamed to die a criminal's death - crucified.

There is a scripture that is so well-quoted and so well known, that I think people really don't see the power in it. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

There is such a power in that verse there! God loved you so much that he sent his son to DIE for us! To REDEEM mankind! We were bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ! There is such a power in the love of Christ!

John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Jesus Christ is LOVE defined.

A love so sacrificial, so costly. A love that is never-ending and never-failing!

"God is love." 1 John 4:16

"God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him." - How will you define love through your life? If Christ is in you, so is His love. How will your life define the love of Christ in you?

What's been on my heart...

Today, I’m not sure why, but I just could not stop thinking about how blessed I am that God put certain people in my life. I know I wouldn’t be the same without them. It was a long thought process ending in happy tears. My thoughts took me back to the beginning – I, at about 13 years of age was pulled from my roots, taken from all I had ever known to wander aimlessly – or so it seemed - for what seemed like an endless amount of time.
I grew up going to Full Gospel Church of Carnegie. I spent just about my whole life there until the summer before my 13th year. That summer, 2005 was well…honestly the least enjoyed summer that I ever lived through. I loved Full Gospel and I loved what I did there. It was home to me. I knew everyone, I had friends there, it was home. Well, saying I wasn’t a happy camper when we left there to visit other churches is an understatement. I complained week after week about the churches we visited, (nothing personal against them – they simply were not home.) It was a miracle that my mother put up with my complaining that summer. Well, we visited New Day Assembly sometime in August – first on a Wednesday night.
I was the only other girl in class besides Erica. Now Erica was only just over a year younger than me. We talked a little but were both kind of shy. The conversation went to horses and we were off instantly. There was just a sudden link between us right there. I loved her right away. It’s amazing how close we are now because oh, if anyone could see what I put her through! And every week! It is purely God we are friends still. Long story short, I was a know-it-all, and if you didn’t know something that I did, well…I was terribly shocked and felt the need to educate on the subject…Well anyways, back to that first Wednesday night at New Day, we did a short class and then leaving that evening I still remember going, “Mom! We have to come back here!” That was something she had never heard me say all summer! A few weeks later, New Day became my second home. Me and Erica – well we were a pair alright. I picked on her mercilessly I’m ashamed to say. That was over with after a few months, but oh what I put her through!
It didn’t take long to figure out that Erica was…holding back…I guess I could say…to me she just seemed so amazing! She could sing and dance and she had a horse and her life sounded amazing! She was everything I had always dreamed of being! I didn’t think she would want to be friends with me. I mean what was so special about me? For the longest time, things stayed the same. We weren’t super-close. We didn’t really know each other. But God worked in both of us.
Then at Youth Convention 2007, the walls came down, and God was really able to move in us. That’s where we first really became friends! That was when things really began to turn around for me. That Convention, Erica and I shared a room, so we were together a lot when we were not in services. Everything really changed there. We learned so much about each other, and even still, there was so much we were both holding back and so much more we still had to learn. At the worship service Friday night, everything changed. There was an altar call, and we all went down, Erica and I together, and I remember singing, “I Am Free.” Hand-in-hand we raised our arms and sang, and that’s when the walls came down. After that night, we were never the same. Gradually after that, we became closer and closer and eventually – inseparable! That’s really how people see us now. It’s like we have always been that way. But really we have had a long journey. There are several dates that stand out in my mind right now…I wish I had time to go into all of them, but I’ll do as many I as I can now. After that February 2007 Convention, next day I’m thinking of would be, June 29th, 2007.
That Friday night we had a speaker at church – Johannas Amritzer. Erica and I were both there, as were the other girls. He was speaking on “Chainsaw-through-the-roof Faith.” Afterward they did an altar call, and then they called up anyone who had their friends up there to come up and pray with them. So we were up there. We went up there for our friends, but we were the ones who ended up receiving. Sue Willis prayed over us, and we both received our prayer language that night! It was just amazing! The Spirit was really moving and really powerful there! I have no words to describe what it was like exactly! We all sat together after, talking and just, WOW! Looking back, I can really see how God was moving with that! We left the church at around 1am. Getting back to the house, I just couldn’t sleep! I was so excited about everything that had happened that night. I listened to the recording I had of the service over and over and over again through the night! Which in listening to it, I found that I had forgotten to turn it off when we went up for prayer, everything was on there! That night was just really memorable for Erica and I.
Those I think were our biggest nights…after that, I think what kept us together and what really helped build the friendship we have, is dance. We could really relate to each other with it. Dance is where we came back to the heart of worship, where we came back to God, and ultimately, where we found each other. I think God used that to bring us together. That was really where we found our unity. And it has been growing and growing through everything.
We have had long conversations throughout the days of what God is doing in our lives, and just about our faith, and it has really brought us closer together, and has strengthened our faith. We have both come so far, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am without her. I think we showed each other what true friendship is. I have never had a friendship like I do with Erica. There is never anything between us. We never leave anything unsaid. When one of us is down, the other is always there and ready to help them. I can’t count the times she has been there for me when I really needed someone. We always know when something is wrong, or just something that is not right, just by looking at each other. The smile can’t fool you when you know the heart.
My friendship with Erica is unexplainable, and there is none and never will be another like it. Strong, built on God, tested and tried. She’s my angel friend. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. Us today…well no one would ever know how rough the journey has been…and what is written here, hardly scratches the surface…there is so much more that must be left unsaid…and even more that can’t be put into words…All I can say is,
Erica, thanks for being there when I needed you most, and when I pushed away, and just for everything! You truly are amazing and I can’t wait to see what God will do in your life! I know he’s going to use you in amazing ways! Luv you angel!!!
~Brittany (1 Peter 3:4)