Synonyms for patience: long-suffering, resignation, forbearance
These nouns denote the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay.

What is patience? What does it take? Patience takes self-control. That is something I need alot of in my life right now. So many times, we want something NOW. That is the way we are built to think. Me me me me now now now. I have to have that NOW. But, if we are patient, things work out better in the long run, and even better so if there is alot of prayer and devotion involved. Why? Because this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. I think the hardest answer to a prayer is not when God says no, but when he says WAIT. Gaahhhhh just thinking about it makes me impatient. God has great things in store for us, but it isn't His will to give them to us until we are mature enough. Maturity is a thing that is very hard to show as well. But once we truly  begin to show some maturity and dedication in our walk with the Lord, we start to get it right. We start to see things God's way. And then we get God's attention. We let him know that we are serious about something when we put alot of dedication, time, and most importantly PRAYER into something. So what does it take? Time + Devotion + Self-Control + Maturity = Patience, which ultimately ends with God giving you the desires of your heart (if the desires are right, that is).These were just some thoughts i've been having. Since I want to be a journalist someday, I like to write stuff down, as you can tell. I wish everyone a great Good Friday. Never forget what he did for you, on this day.

In Christ,
          Garrett Daniel

Well life is just great right now! My God has really come through for me! Only 25 days left of school!!!!!! Then comes summer, fun, and money!!!! And of course I get to see my alabama friends! I can't wait! Summer is so close I can smell it...we just have to make it through six more lousy weeks of school. But be encouraged! Joshua 1:9 says "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thes.5:16-18).

Be blessed by His spirit, 
                          <>< Garrett

It's hailing golf balls outside as I write this sentence!!!!!!

Life is kinda stressful right now, but good in some ways. For the cons, I have had a ton of stuff to do in school. Today I thought I was going to work myself to death with all of the junk I had to do. I am reading 2 books (financial peace and huck finn) and I have a ton of assignments to do on top of that. And i'm pretty sure I got called UGLY in spanish by Mr. Mann, who is in fact the biggest overgrown baby teacher you will ever meet. Lol seriously, he looks like an overgrown baby. And he called ME ugly and threatened to make me leave his class because I laughed at the girl next to me when she said something funny for like 2 seconds. lol, wow, that is ironic. For the pros, I finally got me a job which is a huge answered prayer for me. Me and Ben are gonna work at the church as custodians woohoo! But it's like REALLY good pay and I get to work with my best friend so it'll be a ton of fun. Also, diversion was really cool last night. I got to see some people I haven't seen in a while, which was cool. Hornbaker is coming into town next wednesday to give his crucifixion message, so I will definately be there for that (that is, if I can stay calm and not pass out like last time). But yeah, it'll be a good message. So I hope you guys continue to fight in Christ, especially because things tend to get heated up right after spring break, and especially when you have just been on a mission trip. I am praying for each one of you.



                    Pillar - Frontline


Walkin' by the Spirit,
                       ~ Garrett

When worshipping, try to imagine Jesus walking among us... listening to each of us with one of those stethoscopes that doctors use that filter out all the noise and AMPLIFY the heart...BUT Jesus doesn't put his stethoscope away when the singing finishes on a Sunday or Wednsday night. He's listening to the sound of the heart at work on Tuesday morning; he's listening to the sound of the heart when we're out with our friends on a Friday night. He's listening to the heart when your in that class that lasts forever. He listens to our heart when we are alone in the stillness or loudness as you read this now. He listens to the heart constantly as we should be in constant prayer....so long after any songs you sing come to an end, the sound that continues to echo around the throne room in heaven is the sound of your heart.

**Stole that from John Dunahoo, thought it was really cool**

A quote to live by:

"I pray that when I die, all of hell will throw a party in celebration that I am no longer in the battle!"

Mexico was incredible!!!!!!!!! I'll tell u guys more about it later and i'll put pictures up! Listen to the song "Fearless" by Bulding 429 because its a great song!!! Dios te bendiga (God bless).

edit::


A village of people praising our Savior

me and ben throwin it up

some mexican kids that we gave balloons to

the ladies of the trip

ben and shelby doin...whatever their doin

ben the entertainer

and again...this time with the hackey sack (sp?)

josh and kaitlin praying over a mexican woman

Mrs. Janice and Shelby praying with some mexicans

the jerks!

picture of the river that runs through the Texas-Mexico border

Me and the Shelbonator

Me and Abi

Me and Ami

Me and my favorite person ever

Some Mexican kids and their moms

We all of the people gifts to take home with them

Shelby with her crazy hair but gorgeous eyes

This was our base camp where we stayed

Me in a tree that I climbed

It was the biggest tree I have ever climbed!!! (I actually got up about twice as high as I did in this pic, but Rachel Randolf has those pics. They are yet to be released)

And again....

John at the cross











Olivia and Shelby singin in broomstick microphones

Look those verses up

This was a really cool picture I took of ben when he was prayer walking



Kaitlin sleeping on the van  : ]

A real Mexican Pimp!!!

That is one of my favorites

Ami and Olivia in a tree

A fountain on the prayer walking trail

Josh and Stephanie

Some cool kids by the cafeteria

Me and my boy John...I used to be taller than him lol

That's all for the pics (the rest are in my photo box, so take a look.) Hope u enjoyed.

~Garrett

Well guys, tomorrow we are off to Mexico. Your prayers for this trip will be mucho appreciated, and we can use all we can get. God is gonna move down there, and I can't wait for it. !Yo soy muy feliz!
In Christ,
        ~ Garrett

Well I am doin aight I guess. My last entry sounded kinda emo-depressing, but actually its not as bad as I thought. I probably won't have to move after all, unless my dad can't find a job within 5 months. And he should hopefully have gotten one by then, so yeah. I appreciate all your prayers and comments on the last entry though. Yall mean the world to me. I have really been finding out who my real friends are, and the people that I am gonna stay in touch with for the rest of my life. So tonight at diversion was pretty awesome. We talked about Mexico which is in 3 DAYS and I am getting really pumped about it. I am still waitin on the job at Belle Aire, and it shouldn't be long hopefully with all the references I have. Thanks to everybody who is helping me get on. So once I get that job, i'll FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET A CELL PHONE (I know, I know....i'm a latecomer. It isn't my fault. SO STOP GIVING ME CRAP ABOUT IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! IN CASE U DIDN'T KNOW IT REALLY GETS ON MY NERVES!!!!!). So yeah, I can't wait to start text messaging everybody and calling people just because I feel like callin them.. I can never call anyone for a long time with my home phone b/c my parents don't like me to use it for long periods of time, and they get mad. But of course my brother can stay on there and talk to his girlfriend for like 4 hours and its perfectly ok. But that's life, and its not fair....never was. My mom is actually gettin rid of her phone, b/c she doesn't use it alot and doesn't want to pay for it. Plus the screen is broken. But yeah, this is a pointless blog and i'm just rambling about cell phones and wishing that I had one. So i'm going to sleep.
~Garrett

Well some things have been bothering me lately. I can't seem to get it off my mind. My dad is currently unemployed because the company he worked for pretty much crashed. For a guy with his resume and his work experience, should be no problem finding a good-paying job. But there aren't many jobs around with his posititon. If he doesn't find one soon, we may have to move. OUT OF MURFREESBORO. So yeah...that's a bit of a reality shock for me. I can't imagine what it would be like to just leave all my friends and my entire life all behind and just start all over. That would just be....crazy. I don't think i'd be able to just say goodbye to everyone. But hopefully, that won't have to happen. But I am still a little worried. So please, please pray for my situation! It would be much appreciated.
~Garrett

Christ is Risen!

Here's my update on DBS Formal. Me and Meredith, Ben and Kristen, and Ami and Faust had a ton of fun!!!! It was kind of nerve racking being presented in front of all those people, feeling like a celebrity on stage with everybody taking pictures of you. But we had a blast! We ate at Demos' for dinner and ihop for breakfast, which was great. We didn't end up taking a limo but instead we rode in the back of derek's '06 dodge charger which was pretty sweet. To cut a long story shot, it was amazing and I wouldn't have traded that night for anything. Thanks for everyone who came to see us get presented and special thanks to the Drivers for letting us use their house and for all they do! Here are the pictures....


Me and Meredith on Ami's steps

Meredith and I in the auditorium before being presented

Meredith and I inside Ami's house

Me, Ben, and Derek

Meredith, Kristen, and Ami

Charlie's Angels

The guys throwin it up

The girls TRYING to throw it up

funny

All of us in ami's yard!

Same as first picture except zoomed out

Staring contest....ben lost

While we were waiting in the lobby (for a very, long time) faust got a little sleepy. Ami is getting ready to smack him awake.

Mere and I in the back seat of faust's charger

ben and teeters

Isn't she gorgeous?

Ami shoving the rose down Faust's throat

That's why they call me G-MUNY

Me with the rose

Me and schaller keepin it real

Me and Amy Roeger after presentations

Haha what a couple of dorks!

Katherine and Trent TRYING to dance lol.

Well that's it!!! Hope u enjoyed those!

~Garrett

Let's see how well you guys really know me!!!

Garrett's Quiz

Results: Which Boston Red Sox Player Are You?

You Are: Johnny Damon

You are the easy going, fun loving Red Sox fan. You take things as they come and try to have a good time. Nothing really gets you down. But when the Yankees are in town, you are willing to let your hair down and rise to the occasion. Whenever you encounter a tough situation, you ask yourself, "What Would Johnny Damon Do?"

Take the Red Sox Player Quiz!

Well isn't that odd....considering Johnny Damon used to be my boy but now he is a freaking TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!

Fort Minor - Remember the Name

Why are some people just really hard to get close to, and stay close with? This has been a problem with me. Everytime me and somebody get really close in our friendship, something comes between us. Why does this always happen!!!! It's frustrating!!! lol

I started watching it because I heard it was good. Now i'm wasting all my money on itunes downloading all of the episodes! Somebody seriously help me before i'm broke!
~Garrett

Wow. This last 2 weeks have been up and down on the fortune scale. One minute something good happens, and then next thing I know something sucky is there to kiss me in the face. Pray for me that I don't get discouraged through all of this. School is kicking my butt right now. I don't understand algebra at all (I am really, very clueless as to what is going on. Like seriously...its bad). I have a major english research paper that I am currently behind on. I also have a major science project that I have to decide on. And then there are other things on top of that. I'm also sick, got a cold. Migrans won't stop...even with asprin (sp). I had to miss church tonight, b/c i am so behind, and just straight up tired. Siegel's regional championship game is tonight against oakland in franklin county...mmm shame that I can't make it. If yall could pray for me, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
~Garrett

edit:: Ok I will try to keep this as short as possible, but it will be hard. So I have spent most of the night doing research on the JFK assassination for my english paper. I've been researching this for a few days now, and I can't come to a conclusion about his assassination. As many of us know, (or at least we should) this is one of the most famous assassinations in history because about 95% of all americans belive that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy. Most people don't belive that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the murder. The facts about the case are that Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK from the 6th story of the Texas School Book Depository Building with a bolt-action rifle (I forget the actual name of the rife), in Dallas, Texas at a place called Dealey Plaza . The President was riding in a convertible with his wife and Texas governor Connally. There is alot of question as to how many shots were actually fired. Many people say that the Zapruder Film (which a video that shows JFK being shot) shows reactions to 6 different shots on the president. It is a fact that only 2 shots hit the president (one that went through his neck and another hitting him in the head, causing his head to explode). They say at least one of these shots came from the grassy knoll nearby (which missed kennedy and the convertible completely), and the others came from the book depository building. But officials of the Warren County Assassination Commission (which was a commission appointed by president Lyndon Johnson that came to the conclusion that kennedy was assassinated by oswald alone, and not a conspiracy) say that only 3 shots were fired at Kennedy. Looking at the evidence myself, this seems almost impossible. So I want to know what you guys think. Was JFK assassinated as a result of a conspiracy? Or was it Oswald acting alone? Please leave me your thoughts. And I am expecting to get good, educated feedback from John on this one, since he has the same research topic as me.

Yeah so I don't have a whole lot to say about one weekend, except that it was amazingly fun and I learned a whole lot in our group sessions. It was also great to get the "it" award, even though I wasn't expecting that one at all. Let it shine was fun as always...I had a foam pit fight with Christian and got it all stuck up in my hair and in my eyes. I also may have pulled a muscle or two doing the high rings (or whatever those things are called). But it was all worth it. Yesterday I sat at home and watched the second half of the first season of the show "Lost" that comes on abc. If you haven't seen Lost before, you should go rent the first season on DVD. It is a great show b/c of all the twists that the director throws in there. Just when you think you have it figured out, something new is thrown into the mix. It's completely unpredictable and a great show. But anyhow...

God has been teaching me so many things through His word lately. I want to encourage everyone to get into His word, b/c I know that many of us don't get into it at all on our own free time. But ask God to give you a thirst for His word instead. Not because you have to read it to be a good christian, but because you have a DESIRE to get to know your savior better.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

~Garrett

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.

The rset can be a taotl mses and yhou can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs rpsoet it.

So I have learned SO MUCH today. It's been one of the best learning days for me in a while. It's amazing how much God can teach me about His character, and His current will for my life, in just one simple day. I had a great conversation driving home...just me and my God. I realized how much he had blessed me and that the blessings I have are BLOOD BOUGHT through Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord has given, and the Lord can take away. It's all for His glory. It all unfolds for the ultimate plan in my life. So I praise the one who paid my debt, that He cares enough about me that His ultimate will can be unfolded in my lilfe. Tonight, God just gave me this incredible thirst for His word so I decided to read out of psalms. WOW. GO RIGHT NOW, PICK UP YOUR BIBLE, AND READ THE FIRST 7 CHAPTERS OF PSLAMS. DO IT. RIGHT NOW! GO! WHAT ARE YOU WAINTING FOR! YEAH...YOU! I'M TALKIN TO YOU! DO IT NOW!

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. - Psalms 3:3-4

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. - Psalms 5:1-3

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? - Job 2:10

Jesus Blood...Never Fails Me.

So today is tuesday. The anberlin concert is tonight at rocketown, but its sold out. I was gonna go to the chris tomlin/matt redman concert at the ryman, but I can't. I'm broke as a joke. I need a job. Badly. On the flip side....tomorrow night is the night of the AO/Diversion live cd recording "At All Costs!" It's gonna be soooooo cool! Yesterday for bible study we went and layed hands on all of the band members and prayed with them so that was really cool and we also got to see them practice and oh my gosh let me tell you....yall are in for a heck of a show. It's gonna be amazing! I hope to see everyone there at 6:30 wednesday in the AO space!
~Garrett

So the snow day yesterday was really awesome. A bunch of us went over to ben's house and had a snowball fight and then we went sledding down a giant snow/mud hill. Yeah, we got dirty lol. It was fun. .Then last night I went to aaron's house to spend the night with the guys. WOW it sure was fun seeing forrest, aaron, ben, and faust getting nailed with ping pong balls on the bare chest. Yeah, I am pretty sure they all have an intelligence level of about ZERO (especially forrest, since he just insisted on being whacked with ping pong balls continually b/c he kept loosing) but that's why its so hilarious. Then we played poker untill about 5 in the morning and I was really low then I made a comeback and I was winning and then I made a few bad calls and ended up coming in third place. Then I decided to drive home and sleep in my own bed instead of sleeping at aaron's house. So yeah, I got about 6 hours of sleep last night so I am really really tired right now. I have to go to a mexico meeting at church for the mission trip coming up so that should hopefully be interesting. Here is a picture of me holding Mr. Schaller's Thompson Semi-Auto Submachine Gun which was pretty awesome.

Now THAT is some gangsta stuff right therrr

"Feel what You feel, love what You love, go where You go, that's what we want."  - Charlie Hall: Running With Your Heart.