when amy and phil returned from duck umc's youth retreat they told me about this rule they started implimenting with their teens. simply dubbed "429." it's taken from ephesians 4: 29 that talks about having "no unwholesome talk coming out of your mouths." the gist of it is if you hear someone say something negative about someone else you call out 429. that person then must first say two positive things about the person and then say two nice things about themselves. amy and phil were so serious about this that they'd pull it out when we'd hang out. and because i wasn't used to the idea yet, it was noramally me getting called out. (i mean seriously, when you're around people you're close to it's easy to pick on them ;]).

i'll admit, at first i didn't enjoy the rule all that much. but the more i heard it (and believe me, at youth group it's thrown out A LOT) the more it started getting ingrained into my brain. i'd catch myself wanting to say/txt/msg someone about frustrations with a person and i'd realize, "wait, if i do this someone's going to say 429 to me and i don't feel like dealing with it". so i would dismiss what i thought.

now i enjoy this "rule". i appreicate 429. it keeps me accountable. the aim of the rule is to remind us we are called to something higher than earthly life. we are to love everyone. and to be uplifting to everyone we contact as well as thinking and saying things that glorify God.

i also have to say i'm very greatful for the few friends i've been blessed with here. the farther we grow in friendship the more God is involved. we're reaching points where we're comfortable calling each other out. we share our ideas and our passions. and we're also achieving an awesome accountability. they've challenged me in areas i've been afraid to mess with and i don't think they realize it. i'm going to stop there before i get all gushy but i wanted to praise God for what He's blessed me with in my brother and sister.

The sun shines
and leaves blow
and my hope like autumn
is turning brown.
And I know it seems like
I'm always falling down.

But it does not matter to me although it seems like it should.
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me, little [Amber] and dry all your tears, you can lay down your armor and have no fear cause I'm always here when your tired of running, and I'm all the strength that you need".

It's up hill
both ways,
tomorrow I swear
I won't act this way.
And I know it seems like
that is what I always say.

But it does not matter to me although it seems like it should.
It's because I know I'm understood when I hear Him say
"Rest in me, little [Amber] and dry all your tears, you can lay down your armor and have no fear cause I'm always here when your tired of running, cause I'm all the strength that you need."

You know I want to be like Jesus,
but it seems so very far away,
and when will I learn to obey, obey? -- pedro the lion