Wait for the LORD

Why does it take losing something for you to appreciate it's worth? What is it going to take for you to appreciate the very air you breathe? I have a friend who is recently dealing with death. Her brother died at the age some call "the prime of life." 3 days before his 28th birthday.  When you aren't personally connected to the permanent calamity of death, it's easy to only kinda feel bad but then just shake it off without another thought.  When is the last time you thought about death? Recently it feels like it's been put on my doorstep. I have another dear friend who could have died in a car crash at the age of 17, but lived with scars to show. As Christians we have hope and even anticipation in death. We get to trade this broken world for eternity with the Author and Perfecter of our faith! For those of us still here on earth, death is still painful. We still have to deal with our grief, but we have hope that we can cling to, making par...

Forgiveness.  How do you describe a word like this? It is something you can never do enough of. Once upon a time, I was a little girl; and the worst thing a person did to me was cheat in a board game, or make fun of me, or take away the toy I was playing with.  Ha, it's funny how when you're a kid you have a perfect, magical view of life. Everything is fun, nobody is mean to each other, responsibilities? You mean cleaning my room? What are bills? Having a job is something you do for fun, not a necessity. Then BAM. Welcome to adulthood! (Actually not, growing up isn't as fun and perfect as it seemed when you were 8 years old; looking up to all the "cool, older people")  I had a pretty easy, carefree childhood. I don't have a crazy, tear-jerking story with a huge list of wrongs I need to forgive people of. I just have the story of growing up. Making mistakes, being a part of other people's mistakes, learning by doing, being molded and shaped God. An...

"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." Proverbs 21:23 How often do you think about the words that come out of your mouth?  We live in a world where people want a response ASAP. A world that doesn't like awkward pauses. Let me ask this, since when did it become awkward to think about what you're going to say?  Words are such a powerful tool! How often we underestimate their power.  I'm the kind of person who can be super quiet, and then on the other extreme I'm super crazy and loud and there tends to be no filter on my mouth. Whatever pops into my head comes out. Then later I look back and regret all the foolish things I said.  "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." Proverbs 17:28 How many of you have said something you regret? It's not a good feeling. Why is it so hard to think before you speak? I'd say one reason is that it's not ...

This is something that has been heavy on my heart and mind. Like really  on my mind. It has to do with our personal desires and what we think we want, and what the Lord actually wants for us.  Granted, knowing God's exact plan for your life is pretty much impossible.   But I'm not talking about figuring out our life schedule. So let me begin... I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels this way, (maybe I am, I seriously doubt it though) But have you ever had a desire for something, thought you needed something SO badly that it almost consumes you? I'm talking about those things you think you need to be "happy" or "satisfied'. The thing that you think about 24/7. The thing you start making up little scenarios and conversations about. The thing that you want so badly, that the thought of not having it is like a heavy burden on your mind. The thing that makes your heart burn within you.  Of course this "thing" will be different ...

It's that time of year again! I can hardly believe we're at the beginning of a new year already! It's bound to happen... people will make posts; (wait, isn't that what I'm doing...) either with a list of all their resolutions, or condemning resolutions with an "I'm too good for that" attitude. I'll admit for a while I was one of those "Resolutions are dumb, why would I make any?" kind of people. And now? Well, I guess it really doesn't matter to me whether someone wants to make resolutions or not. There's definitely always room for improvement. We'll never "arrive" or be perfect in this life on earth, (which by the way isn't a good reason not to try.) What I'm not a huge fan of, is the joke about how "no one ever stays committed to their goals so don't expect to make it very far". And then the whole mentality that you can only make changes for the better at the beginning of the year, or at the...

Wow! I know it has been a long time since I made a post. It's crazy how time flies by and I don't even notice! Lately it's hit me how negative, selfish and disapproving the world can be, and how easy it can be to lose focus and follow that harmful pattern. Darkness does anything it can to try and drown out the light. (Sad, right?) I believe the Devil is especially cunning in trying to take our focus off of God. To weigh us down with other people's opinions, whether or not I'M having a bad day, what so-and-so did, really just petty little things in life. I'll be the first to admit that I am especially susceptible to caring too  much what other people think of me. I tend to be a people-pleaser, I like to make people happy, and when someone says negative things about me, it really does hurt! But with God's help I've been able to focus more on HIM  than what people say about me. Now, with my thoughts more on HIM, it's like my mind is clearer and I n...

I just recently heard this song and I fell in love with it! The world constantly tells me I need to be something I'm not. That I need to have a perfect complexion. Have perfect hair. Own the latest style of clothes. Act a certain way. Say certain things. Be up to date in the latest gossip. Be popular. Watch the TV shows that everyone rave about.  Do what the world does. Then I heard this song, and it was a wonderful reminder that my identity needs to be found in Christ. I can chase after this or that. Try and be someone I'm not. But at the end of the day, God is the only one who matters. He is forever.   "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8 "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is ...

So back in the month of strawberry picking we got a ton of strawberries that my mom and I cleaned. I think the best part about picking strawberries (besides eating them) is seeing the ones with weird shapes.  To some cleaning and cutting up strawberries may seem like a boring or unwanted job. But as I sat there at the kitchen table cutting up strawberries all I could think was, "How can I honor God even in this little task?"  No, I wasn't out giving food to the hungry. I wasn't out sharing the gospel. I wasn't translating the Bible into a different language. And I wasn't teaching Sunday school. Are these good and God honoring things? Yes! Should we do them? Absolutely. (Obviously God isn't calling everyone to Africa, or to teach Sunday school or whatever it may be. Everyone has something different that the Lord has given them to do)  But just because we aren't out there doing these "big things" for Christ do...

You know those words or sentences or things like that in the Bible that we hear so many times that when we read them it's just like, oh yeah, whatever. Have you ever really  thought about what it means to be dead in your trespasses and sins? And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, Colossians 2:13 Trespass: Wrongful entry upon the lands of another. To commit a transgression or offense; transgress; offend; sin. Arrogantly step across the line. ...

"The price is certainly high for people who don't know Christ and live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark" -David Platt

O Love That Will Not Let me Go ~ Incredible Grace Music 1. O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. 2. O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores it's borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine's blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. 3. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. 4. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life's glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be.

I meant to do this sooner... But my brother, two of my friends and I went down to New Tribes Bible Institute for their "Prospective Student" weekend thing (we also went down to visit my sister Katie who goes there (: ) And I LOVED it! We got to sit in on classes and we played lots of baskeball and soccer, ate delicious food, met amazing people, but what I really liked the most was being surrounded by people of the same heart and mind (missions) not to say that everyone thinks and agrees on certain Biblical issues and stuff but just the passion there for unreached people is amazing! Here is a translation of an Amto Village letter asking for a missionary... "Yes, you people of the mission. Why are you being humbugs (big headed)? Do your stomachs have a good fashion? If your stomachs agree with us, then you will hear our cry and come quickly. Are you people true Christians? If you people are true Christians, you will hear our cry and come. We are very close to dying...

Who knew it would be so hard to find modest clothes? We have searched almost every store around and just about found nothing.  You can't just wear anything. So what did we do? My sister and I went to www.gap.com and ordered a bunch of small and mediums of the "Favorite Tee" (To make sure we got the right sizes) in the colors that I wanted, then I can return what doesn't work. Anyways....Back on track. :) This is gonna be for the girls... Modesty is not an option. It's a command. " 19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 " 9  likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10  but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works....

Proverbs 21:2 "Every was of a man is right in his own eyes, but the L ORD weighs the heart." Only you and God know your motives, your heart. What you are really thinking. You can look like a good person, do good things, be a kind person. But you know the saying "you can't judge a book by it's cover". I know I really need to examine my heart. I can do the dishes because I have to and have a stinking attitude about it. Or I can be glad that we even have food to put on our dishes, and even be thankful for the pile of dishes! And it doesn't only apply to chores! It can be what you do around other people, what you say. I mean, it applies to a million things. Examine your heart. Why are you doing what you do? Saying what you say? Is what you are doing honoring God? Or are you trying to impress man? Proverbs 21:23 "He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." This is a hard one! I like to talk. Many times I say things I d...

Be Thou My Vision. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that Thou art Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great father, I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,  Thou mine inheritance, now and always; Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art. High King of heaven, my victory won,  May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'n's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. Amen.                                                                         ...

Oh the joys of dishes! Never ending are they not? So at our house doing the dishes is my responsibility. So day after day (sometimes not every day) I get the joy of tackling a pile of dishes. Which can be quite satisfying when you are all done, and you look around the kitchen and the counters are clean, and your job is done! Though at other times can just be a bore. (though good music usually helps with that :) ) I was sure, there must be some sort of poem about dishes out there and I found two that I liked.  1. Thank God for Dirty dishes They have a tale to tell. While other may go hungry, We're eating very well. With home, health, and hapiness I shouldn't want to fuss By the stack of evidence, God's been very good to us. 2. Please be a dear Do your dishes here For if you do not The house will be wrought With people dismayed  By the mess that's displayed And hence are not able To dine at the table For lack of clean dishes Restric...

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this: There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP' It's easy to understand UP meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house, and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be p...

You think English is easy?? 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 2) The farm was used to produce produce. 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4) We must polish the Polish furniture. 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 7) Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present. 8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10) I did not object to the object . 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13) They were too close to the door to close it. 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18) Upon seeing the tear in the ...

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prephecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love  abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. <3 How many times do we read this verse and just skim ...

The other afternoon I got a hankerin for some cookies, and since i'm the only one at home who eats gluten-free the only I could get some was to make them myself! Though I wasn't so sure if i could pull the off....i'm still kinda new to making gluten-free food, and just about every other thing i've tried has failed the first time. Pancakes? watery as soup. Waffles? thicker than cookie dough. Other cookies? didn't taste quite as expected. so I was a little wary coming into. But they turned out GLORIOUS! :D I was SO happy! So, hey. if I can do them, so can you. If you are new to maknig things with rice flour, just to warn you, the rice flour has it's own special flavor, but it is still really good! Also if you want these cookies the same day you make them (if that makes any sense xD) make sure you have enough time. (the dough has to sit in the fridge for 2 hours before you bake them) Here's the link to the...