Lessons from a Fly?

Right now a little fly is buzzing around on my computer screen.

I was sitting here wondering what to write for my next post, but the little guy kept winning my attention.  It's like he was saying, "Me! Me! Me!  Post about me!"  I thought,

Well...

Why not?

*embarassed chuckle*

I mean, have you ever wondered why God made flies? Considering the fact that they were included in His creation of the world, I can only assume they're meant to serve some kind of purpose. (However big or small a purpose that may be!)  Still, I can't help but wonder why God created such pesky little creatures.  It's true that He involved them in some accounts told throughout the Bible.  The biggest and most obvious example being the ten plagues in Exodus:

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies." Exodus 8:20-24

Here's another passage I found that refers to 'flies' as well:

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." 

Ecclesiastes 10:1
.

So... not only does God use these insects to fulfill His purposes, but to demonstrate important truths as well! I never realized He used them as a way to compare things good and wholesome to things which are negative and hindersome--when it comes to living out our faith!  Who'd a thunk it? :)

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Well,

I can honestly say that I never would've thought I

could (or rather, should) write a post about flies! 

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But the truth is, this post isn't meant to be about flies.  It's about the Creator of the flies, who chooses to use seemingly small things (such as flies) to serve an even greater purpose (such as the deliverance of God's people from Egypt!)

It's about a God whose salvation lasts forever, and whose righteousness...

will never fail. :)

 

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

look at the earth beneath;

the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment

and its inhabitants die like flies.

{mental picture -- tee hee!}
.

But my salvation will last forever,

my righteousness will never fail."

Isaiah 51:6

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH.  :)

You Were Bought at a Price

The other day I remembered something my Dad preached about, years ago at our old church during the Lord's supper.  He spoke on the topic that our salvation wasn't free--we were bought at a price. I thought this would serve as a great reminder to us all. :) 

It's amazing to think that our salvation didn't come cheaply.  At any moment God could have chosen to "lower the price" instead of sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins...

(Marking us down to 50% off, or buy 1 get 2 free, etc........ ;) 

But He didn't!  Each and every individual Christian was bought at the same price.  And a very expensive price that was! 

That price was the blood of Jesus Christ.

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For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  1 Peter 1:18-20

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How differently things would have turned out had the Lord decided that the blood of his Son was too high a price to pay...  Nothing would be the same.

 

You are not your own;

you were bought at a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Praise the Lord all the earth! :)

I'm 6,484 Days Old (Yes, You Read That Right!)

I was thinking the other day about what I should post next on my blog.  I always want to write thought-provoking, encouraging, spiritual things that will benefit those who are reading, yet have fun and make it interesting too. =)  SoOoOo...  as I began thinking and praying about it several verses came to mind that had to do with the concept of "numbering our days".  I felt like I should write a post around those verses with the thought that each and every day is precious and should not be wasted.  Then the Lord gave me the idea to actually calculate how many days have gone by since the day I was born. 

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Thus this post begins...
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Man's days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Job 14:5

Isn't it comforting to know that our days were ordained for us before one of them came to be? (Psalm 139)  The thought that God has pre-determined each and every day we will live out on this earth is mind-blowing for sure!  Nothing can keep us from reaching the very last day He has determined for us.  Nothing will allow us to live a day beyond that date.  Basically, because we serve an infallible God, in a sense our days are infallible!  

Show me, O LORD, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4

After reading that verse I can't help but wonder: What kind of situation would prompt such a request?  It sounds to me like David was in need of divine inspiration.  Reading through the entire chapter it becomes obvious that he was a bit unsettled.  Crying out to God, he asked to be shown the number of his days.  Now, I think that if I knew the exact number of my days, I might be motivated to live life a bit differently--with a new perspective and carefully making the most of every opportunity with what I had left!  I have a feeling David needed that kind of inspiration.  Many times, not until someone is given some kind of terminal diagnosis do they realize how fleeting life really is.  It'll make you think twice about things you would have completely overlooked in the past.  Why is that? 

It's so easy to go through a day without taking the time to thank, praise, and worship God for who He is.  With the many distractions this world holds, it's unfortunately become quite easy to forget about Him entirely.  Sadly, we have to make an effort to keep our minds stayed upon Him because that's not something that comes naturally to us.  If we truly realized how significant and holy He is, I don't think we'd have time for anything else!  Think about it.  The only reason you woke up today is because He wanted it to happen.  The only reason you are breathing your next breath is because He's making it happen.  He is 100% responsible for sustaining us through every moment.  Without Him, let's face it, we wouldn't be here right now. 

How great is God—beyond our understanding!

The number of his years is past finding out.

Job 36:26

On the opposite end of the spectrum, God's days are without number.  He is the beginning and the end, eternally existent.  That's not a God we should be able to forget. 

Does a maiden forget her jewelry,

a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number. 

Jeremiah 2:32

We don't want to be a people remembered for forgetting God. 

So... let's make every day count!

 

Today I am



days old.

It's a brand new day the Lord has made.

I'm rejoicing right now...

and I'm glad in it! :)

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

{Psalm 90:12}

Patient Endurance

As I'm nearing the end of my Bible-in-a-year plan, I'm reading a lot of the book of Revelation. This particular book of the Bible is a mind-boggler for sure. It's amazing how much depth this book contains. It definitely requires reading with a discerning spirit! One phrase that has especially stood out to me these last couple of days is the words "patient endurance". Several times John tells us in the book of Revelation, "This calls for patient endurance." It was an eye-opener that got my mind going as I began to think about the many trials and tribulations that are now present, and those that are soon to come. Obviously, having patient endurance is a real key and plays a significant role in these things because the Lord repeatedly reminds us that we must patiently endure. Here is a quick excerpt from 2 Corinthians that gives an example of that which produces this "patient endurance":

"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

However great or small, sufferings in this life will come.  Anyone who claims Christ Jesus as their Savior will in some way suffer for His name.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:57)

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." Revelation 14:12
 

It's my prayer that the Lord will provide me with the ability to endure patiently through all the things he has planned for my life. Without His help I know it is impossible... but with God ALL things are possible! ;)

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

These Days ...

• I'm spending lots of time with my Daddy. 

I didn't realize just how much of each day I spend sitting around with my Dad, until he and my mom left for appointments all day Tuesday.  It was then that I realized after finishing my daily "tasks" that I had nothing to do.  I was so bored and couldn't figure out why it seemed like the day was dragging on.  Typically, it's the other way around and I feel like I'm trying to sqeeze in all my responsibilities and ideas for the day before its over.  So thanks for always keeping me occupied, Daddy! --Or maybe it's the other way around. ;)

• When I'm not with Dad, I'm spending time with Mom. :D

I've always enjoyed talking to my mom about everything.  We spend a lot of time together discussing our struggles, things that need to get done and how to do them, things that God has been showing us lately, or even what we're going to make for dinner that night, etc.  We really do talk about everything!  I'm so thankful for the closeness of our relationship.  It's so nice to really have a best friend you can tell everything to.  And that's exactly what she is to me! 

• I'm getting ready to start my homeschool Senior year.

                                                         ...And I can't wait to say this ↓  :D

I've been planning out my schedule and workload for the next school year, and I'm getting really excited about the prospect of graduating from "highschool".  I plan to start this year's curriculum the first week in September... That's only two weeks away! 

• I'm Driving

^ And here's the proof. :D

I've been doing quite a bit of driving around the area lately.  Whenever we need to make a grocery run or go on a few errands, I take the opportunity to add some hours to my time "behind the wheel".  I still only have my permit so one of my parents has to be sitting in the passenger seat, but I'm working on finally getting my license.  It's just a matter of time...... :)

• I'm about to complete my plan for reading through the Bible in a year...

For the second time!  I first took the challenge of reading my entire Bible through the course of a year in January of 2008.  I learned a lot through that year and was able to stick with the reading plan and finish in January of 2009.  ...A huge accomplishment for me!  For the next few months I enjoyed reading at my own pace.  Not until September did I feel the need to start following the plan again for three reasons: 

1. 
   
   Honestly, there were days when I failed to read my Bible at all because it simply didn't cross my mind.  With following the reading plan I was motivated to dig into Scripture every single day.  
2. 
   
   I remembered reading about a man who was in his 10th year of reading through the entire Bible.  Once he would finish, he would start all over again!  I decided there really wasn't a reason why I shouldn't continue reading through the whole Bible either.  Doing so would only be beneficial! :)
3. 
   
   Like I said in the beginning, I felt led to do it!

I'm excited about finishing, but of course that won't really be the end. ;)  I have so much more to gain in knowledge and depth of insight... I will continue reading until the day I die!  Or until Jesus comes back to get me.  Either one. :)

So there you have it!  That's an overall look at what I've been up to lately.  :)  I hope you enjoyed reading.  Have a blessed day everyone!

Just So You Know...

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that as of this Friday I will be taking at least a month-long break from blogging. :) Our family has started a study on Biblical holidays together and we're really excited to learn more about the significance of Christ behind Jewish feasts and festivals celebrated in the Bible. The holiday that is coming up next on the Jewish calendar is Pentecost, which occurs during the month of Sivan. So, we've decided that we'd like to fast from all electronics for the month of Sivan (which starts this Friday) and spend more quality time with each other and studying God's word. :) There is so much to learn about and we're really ready to dig in! I know this will honestly be a much-needed break for us all. (I'm sure once we start we'll realize just how much of our days are spent using some kind of electronic device! :) I don't think it will be too difficult of a challenge, but I am definitely going to miss reading everyone's posts for the next month... I always enjoy logging into my blogger dashboard and finding new updates! ;)

Anyway, I'm planning on writing at least one more post before I go. (I have a few more tags and awards I need to do! :) So this won't be the last time you hear from me. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up!

I hope that you are all enjoying your week. Have a blessed day!

~ Serving Others, Serving Christ

~ ~ ~ ~

Make Me a Servant

Make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

For you are a servant

Make me one too

Make me a servant
Do what you must do

To make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

Jesus the servant

Got down on his knees

He washed feet that followed
So they would believe

Service to others

Is service to You

So make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

~ ~ ~ ~

Serving others is a wonderful privelege God has given us as Christians. For, by serving others we are honoring and serving Christ! Sometimes it's easy for me to grumble or complain when it comes to doing something I don't want to do. Instead, I should rejoice and be glad that I'm given the opportunity to serve my family (or others, whatever the case may be!) and therefore glorify my Lord in doing so. It's my desire to be a servant of the King of kings, and one of he best ways to serve Him is by serving others with a humble heart.

The song above has been one of my favorites for a long time. :) (Unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere online though. So I have no idea who wrote it!) I love it so much because it serves as a great reminder for me all throughout the day. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as well! Remember, whether you're serving your family in the home, working a job, volunteering your time, (or whatever the case may be! ;D) . . .

you are serving and honoring Jesus Christ! So,

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Colossians 3:23-24

~ Have a blessed Monday, everyone!

Picture credit: Google Images

Why My Lamp Doesn't Go Out at Night ;)

I spend a lot of my late evenings reading in bed with my lamp on. It just seems like the perfect time for that because all of my responsibilities for the day are complete and I can focus my mind better on what I'm reading.

I've always loved to read! My favorite kind of books are the ones I can learn from and/or be encouraged by spiritually. I really love true stories... especially ones that involve missionary experiences, because I find it exciting to read about situations where God has worked miraculously in people's lives! Here are few of my top favorites:


Bruchko by Bruce Olsen; Faith Like Potatoes by Angus Buchan; The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson; Peace Child by Don Richardson; God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew; & Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot

I have to say, though, that my most favorite book of all is definitely the Bible. It contains some of the greatest missionary stories, and I certainly do benefit from it the more than any other book! :)I'm so glad that God allows us to learn from and be encouraged by stories of prayer and faith in Jesus Christ. The six previous books I mentioned may have been written by human hands, but we all know who the real Author is. :) God is the one responsible for those stories--and that's what makes them so worth reading to me!
It's also amazing to think that God's story and plan for our lives is being carried out with each and every moment that passes. As the Bible says in Hebrews, He is the author and perfecter of our faith. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2) It's comforting to know that He has our story all planned out and nothing that happens (good or bad) comes as a surprise to Him. I know my life story has been filled with all kinds of action so far, and the neat thing about it is that I know what happens in the end. :) I may not know what's going to happen in between but I do know that one day, after my life here on earth is done, I will be with my Lord and Savior--forever praising His name!

I'm so glad that Jesus is the author of my life.

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!!

Picture credit: Google Images, unless otherwise noted. :)

Mmm... Mmm... Good

I just love drinking hot tea!

I really prefer the regular stuff, but all that's allowed

on this therapy we've started is organic chamomile and

organic peppermint. I've gotten pretty used to it now,

though, and I think I like chamomile the best! :)

(I have to admit that my absolute FAVORITE way to

enjoy my hot tea is by adding a bit of sugar and some milk. ;)

~~~

~~~

"Praise the
LORD. I will extol the LORD
with all my heart in
the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the
works of the LORD; they
are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic
are his deeds, and his righteousness
endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious
and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant
forever.
He has shown his people the power of
his works, giving them the lands of other
nations.
The works of his hands are faithful
and just; all his precepts are
trustworthy.
They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and
uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his
name.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his
precepts have good understanding. To him
belongs eternal praise."

PSALM 111

I hope you had a blessed Monday!

Pictures taken by ~ Me

Be Seekers of Wisdom

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"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." Proverbs 3:13-14

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"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.

"Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.
Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' " Job 28:12-28

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"His wisdom is profound, his power is vast."

Job 9:4

Something to Be Thankful For

"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."

Romans 11:17-21

What a wonderful blessing that we have been grafted in with God's chosen people, the nation of Israel. That is something that we--as Gentile Christians--can take for granted sometimes... without even realizing it. The part about God grafting us in with His chosen people that amazes me most is that we were undeserving sinners, yet He saw fit to bring us together as one. It wasn't a result of our own good works or something we had done, but quite the opposite. -Now that is grace! :)

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:1-5

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:11-22

Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in... PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH! :)

Picture: Spring Farm Work--Grafting from Wikipedia

Hope Not Forgotten

This morning we had a wonderful church service. The message was about Jesus Christ, our one and only hope. Unfortunately, there are so many people in this world feeling completely hopeless for a number of reasons. One of our jobs, as Christians, is to share the hope of Jesus Christ with others!

I know that none of us want to get our hopes raised only to have them dashed to pieces. An example of this can be found in 2 Kings 4:28 which says, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes?'" The story goes on and the woman's son is raised to life again... but my point is that none of us want to be let down. We all want someting to believe in. Sometimes people are afraid to give themselves completely over to a belief, because of the fear that it might not be the truth--that it might not work out.

Praise the Lord that we have hope in a God that will not fail us, in a God that is the one and only Truth and Way! In a world full of hopelessness and failure we are to turn to God and trust Him. He is our only hope! We shouldn't forget that we have a reason for living and that God has a purpose for our lives here on earth.

As a Christian, I can say with full confidence that I know where my hope lies. My life and my trust are in a God that is unfathomable, the Creator and sustainer of the entire universe! My hope is in the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God! My hope lies in the promises given by God in His holy word! My hope is in Christ, and Christ alone!

A hope not forgotten. :)

"Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?

Can reeds thrive without water?

While still growing and uncut,

they wither more quickly than grass.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

so perishes the hope of the godless."

Job 8:11-14

Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Yesterday our family went to an event being held at a really nice park (about an hour away from home). My dad's parents and his aunt were there with us. We had such a lovely time and the weather was absolutely perfect! It was so good to see all the falling leaves and pretty scenery around. Here at home we don't have too many "color-changing" trees--they're all mostly dead now. So, I was sure to get a few pictures!

With that thought, I couldn't help but be reminded about how important it is to God that we encourage one another to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to not fall away from the faith, becoming dead in our works. Many places in the Bible remind us to encourage one another daily with a strong purpose in mind: that not one of us become hardened by sin's deceitfulness and that our love for God and one another would not grow cold. It's very important to Him that we care for one another's needs and continually encourage each other in the Lord. "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness." -Hebrews 3:13 Also, in the book of Matthew, Jesus brings up a subject similar to this when discussing the end times with his disciples. He says: "Then you will be handed over to be persectued and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." -Matthew 24:9-13 God created us with a need for each other. And His desire is that we would be united as a Church and continually encouraging one another for His namesake!

I hope you enjoy the pictures... :)

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

Matthew 11:6

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:17-18

I pray you all have a wonderful week! God bless you!

Relishing in the Sweetness of God's Word

The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

PSALM 19:9b-11

I thank the Lord for one of my most treasured possessions: my Bible! It is truly amazing how much God accomplishes through His word. Not only in what is written inside of it, but also by us reading it ourselves and applying it to our lives today. Through reading and studying our Bibles we are searching the mind of our great God!

Reading the Bible should be a daily habit--something we do naturally. Unfortunatley, that's not always the case. It can be easy to find excuses or reasons that keep us from doing one of the very things God created us to do. By passing up opportunities to dig into Scripture, we are missing out on more than we realize, I'm sure! From it we gain wisdom and understanding, knowledge and depth of insight. He uses it to teach us and to open our eyes to truth.

Nothing can explain better the word of God, than the Word itself! That being said, here is a really good verse that comes to mind: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is the very breath of God, and He uses it to breath life into us! It is filled with teaching, encouragement, answers, comfort, strength, help, love, songs, prayers, truth, prophecy, and so much more. Whatever the circumstance may be, God always has something to speak to us through His holy word!

Anyway, I just thought I'd write a quick post about one of the greatest treasures in life. I encourage you to dig into and relish in the sweetness of God's word! It is rewarding and the spiritual benefits are great!

The Bible truly is one of the best gifts God has given us. Thank you, dear Lord, for such a precious gift!

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" PSALM 119:103

Waiting on the Lord

It's been almost two weeks since I last posted! Wow, time sure does fly! Since I haven't posted in so long I thought I'd just give a quick mini-update from the past couple of weeks. I haven't really blogged much about my Dad and his recent medical mystery (lol!). So I thought I'd give a brief update on the situation as it is now...

As most of you should know, my Dad went in for an MRI on July 9th, and the tumor (or whatever it really is) showed no change in size or anything. We found that to be quite frustrating, as we really hoped to finally get some answers. Still, we are also VERY thankful that there was no new growth! We do trust completely in God's timing and realize He has a purpose in all of this waiting. . . we just haven't completely figured out what that purpose is yet! :) His next scheduled MRI is four months away. He has still had no spasms since June 19th! That is one of the greatest reliefs. Now he's been getting tired very easily and yes, he still has his double vision among a few other "minor" things. All in all, though, things are going okay right now.

We've found that one of the greatest challenges in all of this is the waiting... who'd of thought it! ;) If it were up to us, we'd know exactly what was in Dad's brain and already be treating it, but apparently God has other plans! While we're not entirely sure as to what those plans are or what all they entail, we are grateful and praising God that he has it all under control. One of the greatest comforts is having the knowledge that He knows exactly every detail of our situation and He knows what is best for our family. And I believe He is doing and will do that very thing! Yes, the waiting can become exhausting and quite frustrating to say the least, but it's verses like this one that sustain us with the strength and hope to continue on: "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." (Hebrews 6:15) That's a simple verse, but there sure is a lot we can learn from it!

I know we all go through times in our life when we are forced to "wait". While each circumstance may be different, there is one truth that remains the same through them all: God has called us to "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Another thing: When the waiting is over and we've done our part we can be sure God will fulfill His promises to us, just like with His servant Abraham. Psalm 105:42"For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham." Psalm 145:13"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." It's important that we wait patiently on the Lord. Now, I know that's a lot easier said than done, but it's still very true. The Lord has a purpose in all things and we are called to trust in Him alone.

I just want to encourage others and say that we serve a faithful God! I know that He is doing a mighty work in our family right now and I'm looking forward to the time we can see that work complete! But it's not completed yet and we must be faithful to do our part, just as He is faithful in doing His. So, whatever you may be going through right now, whatever you may be waiting on, I encourage you to do it. . . patiently. You will reap the benefits!


Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him...

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Psalm 119:116 Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live......"

Galatians 3:29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

Choosing to Remember in a World That Forgets

Last night we had a Good Friday service with our church. It was very nice. Our pastor preached about how man's helplessness, God's sovereign grace, and the cross were all predestined before the creation of the world. It was a really good sermon, but there was one thing that impacted me more than anything else: Remembrance.

Our most important ordinance that Christ gave before His crucifixion was The Lord's Supper, which has been continued since then. Why? Because Christ commands us to do it in remembrance of Him. I don't know why this affected me the way it did. It's something I've known all my life and have been raised in. It's just that the spiritual condition of the world today is continually declining. By partaking in The Lord's Supper we are choosing to remember something the world encourages us to forget. Last night my Dad, sister #2, me, and another couple from church went to Wal-Mart for the purpose of witnessing to people about Christ. I was very shocked by how many people did not know the true reason for celebrating the holiday widely known as Easter. It just goes to prove that Christ is not being remembered the way He should be, as our Savior.

So, I encourage you to do something today that goes against the nature of this world. Remember. Remember the holy birth of Jesus. Remember the perfect, sinless life He lived. Remember the truths that He spoke. Remember the prayers He prayed. Remember the lives He changed. Remember the miracles He performed. Remember the love that He showed. Remember the parables He taught. Remember the bread He broke. Remember the wine he drank. Remember the road He took to Calvary. Remember the cross on which He was hanged. Remember the wrath that He bore. Remember the life that He gave. Remember the grace He so freely gives. Remember the helpless state of man, how lost we would be without the redemptive work of Christ. Remember His glorious resurrection and the empty tomb! And remember, He's coming back!

Life Through the Spirit

Last month was filled with much activity and excitement for our family for sure. There was nothing significant really to make note of, we just had so much going on. Now that a new month has started I am excited to see what God has in store for us each day. I wanted to take the opportunity right quick to share what's been on my heart the last few weeks.

I just started a personal Bible study a couple of weeks ago on the fruit of the Spirit, and it's been very encouraging and spiritually uplifting. The entire study is based around the theme of living life in the Spirit--living beyond yourself. It's amazing to think that God's Spirit has been present since the creation of this world: "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the water." (Gen. 1:2, emphasis mine!) It gives me chills to think about that! :)

I'm so thankful that God has given us His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 lists many ways that the Spirit meets the needs of the church and individual believers. Many different gifts are given which include: the message of wisdom; message of knowledge; faith; gifts of healing; miraculous powers; prophecy; distinguishing between spirits; speaking in different kinds of tongues; and interpretation of tongues. The Holy Spirit manifests itself in us and develops fruit in the lives of believers! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

One of the things that has been so inspiring and eye-opening to me is the fact that we have so much power living inside of us, as born-again believers in Jesus Christ! The thing is, we can sometimes quench this power. Therefore, we have to be very careful to see and recognize when this is happening, and do something about it! :) The Bible warns us of this in 1 Thessalonians 5:19: "Do not put out the Spirit's fire..." Ephesians 4:30 says, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." It then goes on to list ways in which we can prevent this: "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:31, 32)

What greater encouragement could we receive than to know that the Spirit of the living God is inside each of us!? I just want to encourage all readers to continue living each day for the Lord, allowing His Holy Spirit to comfort, lead and guide you in all truth! Life in the Spirit is definitely exciting! May I never hinder the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. At one point, the study had me write my own paraphrase of 1 John 4:4 which says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." My paraphrase? "With Christ in you there is always hope and sure victory over evil. We are a new creation, able to overcome. The Lord reigns over all and is greater than the most severe evil. He will overcome. Praise God!"

Our God is in the Business of Completing What He Starts!

You might have guessed it; my Dad preached last night. This is my interpretation of the sermon just from memory and checking my notes. Yes, I always take notes during sermons! Don't you? :)


"You were bought at a price." 1 Corinthians 6:20

Alright, you know how when you buy something really expensive like, say, a Wii (for lack of a better example), just to realize the game console doesn't come with a second remote? So, then not only do you have to go buy another remote, but you have to buy a whole other game in order to get the remote to come with it. ...Or we can use another example. Think about buying a digital camera. You can't just buy the camera and... vwwala! You have a camera! No, you have to buy the memory card, the battery, and so on. Anyway, my point is not to bash Wii games and digital cameras! My point is that the world is full of these different examples, yet it's all very contrary to the character of God.


Scripture is full of examples where God did something and carried it out to completion. Let's think about it. There's the Israelites. The Lord didn't just choose to use a few of them when He called them out of Egypt. He had Moses lead ALL of them out of Egypt. Then think about when God parted the Red Sea. He let them walk across on DRY ground. Not just damp or muddy, but dry! Here's another example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were thrown into the fiery furnace they didn't come out with even a minor burn. They weren't harmed at all, even when the guards who came anywhere near the furnace fell over dead just from the heat! Another: Daniel in the lions' den. God didn't just dull the lions' teeth, or only keep them from pouncing on Daniel! :) He shut their mouths. There are still many, many more examples that I'm sure you know, and then there's the biggest example of all: Christ hanging on the cross. His last words? "It is finished!"


God finishes what He starts! The Bible mentions Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith. When we were bought at a price, God didn't just buy one little part of us and leave the other for our own sinful pleasure. He bought the whole package! Let's look at Hebrews 7:25a: "Therefore, He is able to save completely those who come to God through him..." God's desire is to have you--completely! The problem that we so often find ourselves with today, is the fact that we may not be giving God our complete "package". We may not have completely submitted our all to Him. Which, at times, we may not even realize we're doing! I am very guilty of this myself. The thing is, we have to be careful to examine ourselves. What is it we are witholding from God and how do we bring whatever it is under the submission of Christ? I believe it is by simply giving it to God through prayer, and then allowing Him to take control of that thing. Just think about what God can do with a Church that is completely submissive to the will of the Lord and has given every aspect of their lives over to Him! With man it is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible!


"Let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:4)


I want to encourage you to sing this song to the Lord right now! It's a familiar hymn, I'm sure. If you don't know how it goes, then you can simply say it as a prayer unto God. I suggest singing all the verses first, and the chorus at the end.

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me, Jesus, take me now

All to Jesus I surrender

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine

Let me feel the Holy Spirit

Truly know Thy pow'r divine

All to Jesus I surrender

Lord I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me

I surrender all!

I surrender all!

All to Thee, my blessed Savior!

I surrender all!

(Repeat as necessary! :))

Now, we are left with this promise: "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

Declaration of God's Rights

God has the right to:

• Govern the world


• Judge


• Cause sickness


• Heal


• Give grace


• Have mercy


• Give


• Take away


• Forgive


• Destroy


• Create


• Bless


• Curse


• Separate


• Unite


• Begin a new life


• End any life


• Display his wonders


• Make His name great


• Reveal His glory


• And control all things!

In class at church last night, we were specifically discussing God's providence in regards to His rights to govern the world. We were all in agreement that God has the right to do as He pleases with all that He pleases. For, the earth is the LORD's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. God has all rights over all His creation. No matter how we think things should be, we do not have the right to question God in what He does. Our teacher challenged us to come up with a declaration of God's rights with at least 10 items listed. She also shared with us how when she was a little girl she would find herself saying, "That's not fair!" Her mother would then reply, "God's not fair. He's just." She would then respond, "Just what???" That's a very true statement! God is just. You could even stop a word sooner and say that God is. You might then ask, "Is what???" But there's no need to finish the sentence! The sentence is already complete!

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Our God is in the Business of Breathing Life Into Dead Things!

"The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:1-3a

As we all know, so many times it can be easy for our spiritual lives to "dry up". A couple of weeks ago my Dad preached a sermon about this type of thing, as an encouragement not to become a lifeless, dry, dead bone! :) (He actually brought a bone he found out in the pasture that he trips over each time he feeds the chickens to use as an example! He felt like that was confirmation that the Lord wanted him to speak on this topic!) Anyway, he mentioned how many times we find ourselves becoming discouraged and downhearted by our daily "duties", tasks, or things we know we need to get accomplished but we just don't feel the desire to do it, which then has a major effect on our spiritual lives and relationships with the Lord. We may begin feeling like "we just have to" as opposed to "I want to" in a lot of situations. He quoted the verse in Psalm 51:12b which says, "Sustain me with a willing spirit." What a wonderful prayer we can pray! That the Lord would sustain us with willing spirits to accomplish His purposes through us. So many times in the Bible examples are given where God breathes life back into something lifeless. There are at least 10 examples of resurrections in Scripture, some including Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, and Jesus, of course! Though, there are many more. It's amazing that God chooses to use us to help accomplish His will. It's not in our own strength or capabilities that we can boast, because it is God's strength in us that helps to fulfill His mighty plan. The children's lesson at church tonight was on "Be Still and Know That I am Your Strength--a Way to Accomplish God's Will". That's really an awesome realization! When we're feeling upset, discouraged, or just plain lifeless, we can call on the Lord to comfort and protect us. He will strengthen us in ways we never thought possible. And it's all for His glorification! So... when you're feeling alone, depressed, or "burnt out" in life or a certain area in your life, be sure to seek the Lord and pray for His strength to be made perfect in you. He is a faithful God! And secondly, you may ask yourself this question: Can these bones live? I pray you will find this answer:

"The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’” Ezekiel 37:3b-14

(I can't help but notice that God chose to use the man to prophesy to these bones, in a situation where He was fully able of handling it all on His own. Just remember, He takes pleasure in using His servants! May we be filled with willing spirits!)