Dirt...

Today I was sweeping my kitchen. It's not one of my favorite things to do but I did it to please my mom. While I was sweeping I gathered the dirt in small piles and then eventually in a big one. I started to think about how sin is a lot like dirt. Weird huh? I thought so too. But if you think about, it's true. When we have sin in our lives we try to cover it up or even spread it around a little. Just like how dirt spreads and gathers on a floor over time. We either try to hide our sin from others (and even God sometimes) or we try to explain to people how its ok and that it won't hurt anybody to do it.
Yet when we finally turn to our Savior to help us "clean up our lives" we see how much sin (dirt) we've collected and that no matter how hard we try to cover it up, it's still there.
Our Savior is so gracious that He doesn't just wipe the dirt away, He makes us clean again, completely clean. Its like on a spring morning when clean your floors, you don't just sweep your floor, you mop it and wax it and make it look beautiful. For me, thats how I feel God sees us when He cleans us up. New and fresh and ready to serve Him again.
So next time you sweep, look at your little dirt piles and think of the sin in your own life that maybe you are trying to hide or cover up. Instead of trying to just sweep it away or leave it, let Christ clean you up and make you completely clean and new again. Praying for you all!
Love in Christ, Hannah

Calming the storm

This morning I read Mark 4. In the end of the chapter (4:35-41) he tells the story of when Jesus calms the storm. Yes a very common and often used bible verse. But as I was reading through this chapter, this one stood out.

How often do we go through storms in our lives and feel like there will never be calmness again? I know I have those times!

In those storms we often feel insecure, helpless, drained, lonely, and pretty much every other emotion that tries to swarm us.

But by reading this text (which I encourage you to do =]]), Jesus says amidst all this "peace, be still!". Isn't that quite the opposite of what we want to do? Cover your self with peace, and just be still and wait for God! Wow, I don't know about you, but these two things are not something that comes naturally for me.

God knows that, He knows that it doesn't come easy, but He tells us to do it anyway.

Peace, be still.

Maybe this means not going to the college you want, or taking the job you think you need, or marrying a guy you know isn't the God chosen one. It's different for all of us, but one thing is true.

God is love. And when these storms start brewing and you know your in for a deep one. Run to Him! He has His arms wide open for you, waiting for you to just give Him your all, and let Him do the steering during the storm!

So I encourage you all that if your in a storm, let God be the one to steer you. If you know there's one coming, prepare yourself and be ready for whatever is coming. If your just coming out of a storm, praise God, it's a time of celebration! And even in those times when your out of a storm, you can try to take the steering wheel from Him. So just step back, grab your bible, and let God take it from there.

Peace, be still!

Ps...if your a music person, try listening to the song "praise You in the storm" by Casting Crowns! One of my favorites =]]]

Christmas Celebration

Well hello again =]
Excuse my absence of writing these past few months. Business may be an excuse, but sad to say mine was just laziness. So forgive me for not blogging. I have quite a bit to catch up on!

Christmas always gets me thinking. Thinking about family and friends, gifts that we give and receive, childhood memories, and most of all love. Many people don't realize the true reason for Chritmas, and why it's a 'Merry' day.
Yes Christmas is a time of giving gifts, decorating everything, and spending these special few weeks with family. But it over all a time of celebration! Celebration that a prefect God would send his one and only son, to save us from our selfishness!
I as well as most people love to get into the 'the Christmas spirit'. But is that 'Christmas spirit' about the joy that has come because of a little baby, or is that 'Christmas spirit' there because were excited to get and receive presents, or eat food, or spend time with family. Don't get me wrong, all this is, very good! But is this all Christmas is about?
If this was all Christmas was about then this could be any other day. We celebrate Christmas because it is the day a Savior has come to rescue us! So yea, get into the 'Christmas spirit', but just keep in mind what Christmas is and why we celebrate it!

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas and New Years!
Love, Hannah

writing and reading....

Recently I have been really into reading! I actually have been my whole life, but right now, I really love poetry! I used to make fun of my sister because she liked it and I thought it was dorky, well turns out its one of my favorite things to read now (funny how that works=]).

One poem particularly stuck out at me when I read it. Its called "If I can stop one heart from breaking" by Emily Dickinson. By even reading the title you can tell its a great poem! I'll quote it for ya'll, its not long at all =]


"If I can keep one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life from aching,
or cool one pain,
or help one lonely person
into happiness again
I shall not live in vain."


After I read that I was like that is just awesome! I dont know why but that poem has kept with me this whole week!

I have also been reading novels (a lot, haha). Two by Robin Jones Gunn and one by Virginia Smith. They write so well! And even tho their just books and made up stories they still show the love of Christ on each page! I am just so blessed to be surrounded by that where ever I go!

Recently I have also been making up a couple 'quotes'...I guess you could call them. Their not much but they remind me I'm unique and that God loves me the way I am! So....if ya'll don't mind, I'll show ya one =]] now, please don't make fun of me cuz I am not that great of a writer, and its just for fun! here goes...


"dont wait for the impossible to become possible--- dont quite so you dont have to wish you didnt---dont stand by till there's no more time to---dont wait for the yes, go until God tells you no---....do the impossible, dont quite, do it now, and dont stop! God wants you to be apart of this, dont get to the end of your life and wish you had been!"

So I guess thats all for now =]] if your not a reader kinda person, thats ok cuz well we're all different =]] just keep doing what ya love...and love what ya do!...and remember what ever you do, do to God's glory!! =] hope your having an awesome week!

Ps. if you are a reader...try reading some poems, their surprisingly fun to read! =]

gesegneter Redeemer ...blessed Redeemer

Recently I have been playing my piano and guitar a lot (that's part of the reason I haven't blogged in a while =])! It's a ton of fun and a huge blessing! Its amazing God would give us the ability to sing and praise Him =]]]But any way, I have been playing one of my favorite songs "Praise You in the storm" a lot, I highly recommend it, specially if your having an off day, it reminds you that we need to be praising Him always. So I play it and listen to it on my ipod all the time. I was hoping that Casting Crowns would come up with another great song that I could play and listen to! Well...they did =] Its called "Blessed Redeemer" from their new cd 'Until the whole world hears' (which is another great song). Let me just say..wow...its a something else =]]] You can ask my mom or sister, I play it alllll the time on my piano now! It just explains so well what Jesus did for us and how amazing He is for it! I know this was shorter than my norm but I just wanted to show you this song. I hope that God will use it to show you something new about Him =]] Have a wonderful blessed day!! Love ya =] btw...there's a link below for the version of it on youtube, there should be words and stuff to go along! Hopefully it works =]]]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyD1FSC3d08

meine Familie!...my family!

einen was für Segen es, zu haben ist, zentrierte ein Gott Familie! (what a blessing it is to have a God centered family!)

Over the years God has shown me more and more what a blessing it is to be raised in a Christian God centered home! Many many times I don't realize what it would be like if I didn't have the family I am blessed to be a part of! I take advantage of growing up and learning from the start that Jesus loves me! So many times I haven't payed attention or learned more about Jesus because 'I've heard it a million times'! But no matter how many times I read or hear the Bible I can always get something from it! I could never imagine what it would be like to know in your heart there is a God but not be reassured because I have never read or even heard of the bible! Or being a Christian and knowing the Truth but having parents that tell you to go the worldly way instead. To know when I get up in the morning that I am going to hear from my parents and siblings and friends that Jesus is real and cares, that should get me excited and ready for the day...but sadly many times it doesn't, and I don't see the blessing in what that brings. I realize that I could have been born into a budism family in Iraq across the world. But God knowing what I need and in choosing me as a child, put me here in Joppa Maryland born to William and Sherry McCurley, younger sister of Robert, Nathanael, Matthew, Caleb and Rebekah McCurley, a niece, cousin, aunt, sister-in-law, granddaughter, and friend to many. He knew before I was born and even before the world was formed that I would be placed where I am today! And all that I can say to that is...WOW, He put me just where I needed to be! I know complain sometimes that I have annoying siblings and crazy parents, but I know at the end of the day that God put me where I am for a reason, and I love it, I wouldn't change it for anything!

So today and the days to come...remember that you're here you are for a reason! You are placed in the family that you have for a reason! You live where you live for a reason! That reason is that you may glorify God in what ever you do and where ever you go and who ever you're with!!

Glorifizieren Sie Gott, in dem überhaupt Sie heutiger Tag sind! (Glorify God where ever you are today!)

ein Wunder!...a miracle!!!!

Ist Januar 21. an ein Datum, das ich mich immer erinnere!...The 21st of January will be a date I will always remember!

My best friend (naomi o!) in the whole world is a Chaplin daughter so they have to move every 2 years =[ but God heard our prayers...THEY'RE NOT MOVING!!! I am just about the happiest person ever! I was sooooo sad I was going to loose my best friend at the end of the school year, but now we can still hang out all the time =]]] She'll be able to graduate from Open Bible too, she's sooo happy about that!
Oh my goodness I dont know what to write but THANK YOU JESUS!!! He heard all those times I prayed that they wouldn't have to move and all those times I cried when I remembered that I would probably loose the best friend I have ever had! God knew, he KNEW how much i wanted her to stay, and he knew I didnt want to loose the closest friend I've ever had.
All today and last night I have just wanted to scream, cuz for one my BFFL isn't moving and another that my God heard me and when I cried out to Him and he answered my prayers!! mmm...I know everytime I hang out with Nomes now, i'll thank God for her! and every time she's there for me and encourages me and helps me through the tough times, I will be praising God that He has given me a friend like her!!! =]]] My new favorite bible verse is:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
A friend (especially a best friend) inspires you and encourages you to do more! And I know from being best friends with Nomes that she has encouraged me in the Lord soooo much, and I wouldn't be where I am now if God didnt put her in my life!
Ein was für Geschenk vom Gott zum Haben einen Freund, der Sie durch die stark Zeiten anregen und Sie an die Freude am Lord in den guten erinnern kann!!! What a gift from God to have a friend that can encourage you through the tough times and remind you of the joy of the Lord in the good ones =]
Thanks Naomi.. my sister in Christ =]

Ich hoffe und bete, dass Sie einen gesegneten Tag haben!...I hope and pray that you have a blessed day!