Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost...

This post is for the entire YCF to see should they want to, but I would mainly like to address Araken, Sapphira, Ian, Elliot, and Flinn.
First of all, it has been a year and four months since I last posted, and I will not blame any of you if you don't even bother to check my blog anymore. Even I would have given up on me by now. I am so very sorry that I've been gone this long. When I said I didn't know how long it would be until I got Internet again, I definitely wasn't expecting my absence to be this extended.
Secondly, I've looked around for the past few days, and I want to say that I am really, really proud of how far the YCF has come since I lost my Internet nearly a year and a half ago. So many members! We started out with just the six of us, and by the grace and blessing of our God, the Young Christian Force has caught and spread like a wildfire, just like we prayed it would in the very beginning. Thank you for being an example and letting your lights shine for Christ!
Finally...this past summer (July '09), we moved into a new house, and I now have full access to high speed Internet there. If you five are willing to accept me again, I would love to get re-involved in the YCF and have a chance to rebuild our friendships.
I love you all, and I have missed you more than I can say.
Never Alone,
Shelby Marie

Prayer for the Summer

Hey guys, I am soooooo sorry I have been gone...again. I have been taking exams and will be finished with school on Friday. I will be scarce seen after that until I have my Internet back at my house....=( I will try to check the blog at the library, but I need you guys to pray that I get the Internet back soon.
What will I do without you guys? Pray for me again...I'll be finishing up my book during this time too. This is both ridiculously exciting and unbelievably scary at the same time...it has been a long but wonderful adventure.
As for the YCF...so many new members!! I must update my link list...
I will sign off for now...I'm going to go visit our new members' sites!
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

What is a Christian?

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Alright, so yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, and I tried to post something, but ran out of time. I really wanted to post, especially since yesterday was my fourteenth birthday, which I am rather excited about. God has so blessed me in my short life so far...I only wonder what great things are to come.

Now, on a more serious note, dcf has started a chain of posts about what it means to be a Christian. {To see his post, click on the link on my sidebar(My Life As...), and go to the post entitled "A Christian Who Is Hurt."} In this post, he asked all the YCF to post about Christianity. I know I'm probably the last of us to do it, but better late than never.

So, what is it to be a Christian? What is a Christian? Who is God?

God is love, life, freedom, peace, satisfaction, and salvation. He is all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, eternal, and absolutely perfect.
A Christian is one who believes the above as well as that Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a sinless life, died a humiliating death on the cross, and then rose from the dead three days later! My Redeemer lives!!!
Not only does a Christian love God, but they also love others. No matter what horrible things they have done to you or anyone, you are to love that person. Why? Because GOD LOVES THEM AS MUCH AS HE LOVES YOU!
A Christian also seeks after God and strives to be more like Him, through His power. A Christian pursues that relationship ardently.

So, YCF, did I use my sword well?
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Thoughts at Random

Hello friends,
First off, I just finished reading The Restorer's Journey a few moments ago. It was really, really good, but to agree with Flinn, there should definitely be another one. When I go back to my mom's house tomorrow, I'll start reading it aloud to her and my brother. I've been thinking about how much I treasure that time...the three of us just feel so close when we're reading together. Most of the time we're in the car when I read aloud to them, but sometimes we curl up on the couch or on my mom's bed to read. It's a really neat feeling. When I'm reading to them, or Mom's reading to us, I can't help thinking how much I love them both, and how glad I am that God put me on this earth with them.
Secondly, I was just lying in bed the other night and I got to thinking about what it would be like for all of my Young Christian Force friends to meet...then I realized something. I will meet you someday. It may not be until we're all in Heaven together, but I will meet you. This may not sound like anything special to some of you, but it just hit me really hard. Now I look forward to that day more than ever. Once I realized that, this warm feeling curled in around me. It was reassuring, comforting, wonderful. I will see you all one day. I can't wait.
Well guys, thanks for listening to my random ramblings.

Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Welcome, Elliot!

I just wanted to welcome Elliot Reed to The Young Christian Force! I am so very excited about where this little group can take us and about how much we can grow! May the hand of God be upon us all.
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

An Idea For The Young Christian Force

Hey all!
Araken, I noticed that you had the words "A Young Christian Force Blog" on the header of your blog. I really, really like that idea and just added the same to my header. Sapphira and Ian, if you see this, do the same to yours. Araken, I hope you don't mind?
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie