Snow, Nuthatch and other randomness

Hello and good morning, almost afternoon. :) I don't know what you woke up to this morning, but I woke up to snow! I love snow! My little brother told me it had snowed about three inches and it was still snowing, and I believe is still snowing! I hope we get lots and lots of snow! It's so cozy. Also, the bird, I finally got a picture of the Nuthatch! Isn't it beautiful! They are so pretty but they don't stay around long, that's why it took me so long to get a picture of it! On another cozy thought, fresh bread and hot chocolate. Yumm. :) Not together of course. :) And a couple other little random pictures I took. Look to Christ in all you do today. Thank Him for everything, the trials and the joys! Knowing that "all things work together for good, to those that love God." Press toward the mark and reach for the goal, which is Christ and Christ-likeness!

<--- The Nuthatch, finally!













<--- Fresh baked bread. Smells and tastes so wonderful!













<--- Hot chocolate in a pretty little tea cup!! Yummy!!!














<--- Decorative little cup with rose in it! (Mind you, it is fake. :) )

















<--- Sun through crystal. See how it sparkles? :)


















<--- More sun through crystal!

<--- And last, but not least, more sun through crystal. :) But there is a point in my crystal pictures. Notice how, although the sparkle from the sun is seen, it isn't the sun because it's merely a reflection. :) Duh, right? :) But think of it this way, we are to be like crystal, reflecting the Son of God, and God Himself. We are to show others what He looks like in our reflection! We are to show His brilliance to others and although it's not much, it's enough to catch your eye, think today how you reflect Christ and what it looks like to others and if Christ is pleased with His "reflection".

Good Monday morning!

Getting upstairs this morning right before running out the door to go to piano lessons, I looked out at mom's heated birdbath and it was steaming! Just little wispy steam, but it was there! I was unable to get a good picture of the steam but the ice around the edge is also very neat!

The other pictures are of the sunrise as we driving, (thus the dirty windows. :) ) My Mommy was kind and took them for me, as I was driving. :) Usually when we leave for piano the sun isn't up yet, but as the sunrise is getting earlier we didn't get to see it rise, but after it had risen. Which was still beautiful! Thanks for droppin' by! Hope your day is going wonderfully and that Christ is at the center of all your thoughts and actions!

Keep your heart

I had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship today in church! It was amazing! And while at church, during one of the teaching sessions, I was reminded of a song that has been so dear to me, such an encouragement, but also a challenge, and I wanted to share it with you! May it be as much of an encouragement and challenge to you as it was to me and as a result, draw you closer to Christ, to the prize!

Keep Your Heart

1)Now on this mountaintop we have gleaned so many things.
We've been drawn closer to His heart, a place that trial brings.
We have seen vict'ry over sin, and witnessed answered prayer.
We have known Christ be our only strength, found His word a jewel rare.

c)Keep your heart, keep your heart, keep your heart with all diligence.
Keep it clean, keep it pure, make your love for Christ endure.
Guard your ears; guard your eyes; Pressing onward to the prize.
Lest you fall, lest you fail, Make your love for Christ prevail.

2)Now from this mountaintop to your valley here below,
You have all of the armory to defeat that wicked foe.
The vict'ry is at your command, Your prayers he'll answer still.
Be the guardian of your only heart, Heed this Word, His perfect will.

~Mac Lynch

Fun at my Sister-in-law's house!

Spending the afternoon with my sister-in-law is the best! I took my camera over yesterday afternoon and took a ton of pictures. So I must say, all the things in the pictures belong to my Sister-in-law, Katie. Hope you enjoy it all as much as I did!

(top and right) Lemons on her table!

<--- A glass bottle on her counter with a flower picture behind it.

<--- A candle holder.


















<--- A pile of wood to burn in their cozy wood stove to keep the cozy, sweet house warm!
















<--- Her cute, cozy hat to wear when it's cold!

<--- Steam coming from a hot pot of water to make tea!

<--- Tea cup to put the hot tea in!

<--- An old fashion lamp in her cozy, get-away corner.

A passion for Thee

A Passion For Thee

1)Set my heart, O dear Father, On Thee, and Thee only,
Give me a thirst for Thy presence divine.
Lord, keep my focus on loving Thee wholly,
Purge me from earth; Turn my heart after Thine.

c)A passion for Thee; O Lord, set a fire in my soul and a thirst for my God.
Hear Thou my prayer, Lord Thy power impart.
Not just to serve, but to love Thee with all of my heart.

2)Father fill with Thy Spirit, and fit me for service,
Let love for Christ ev'ry motive inspire,
Teach me to follow in selfless submission,
Be Thou my joy and my soul's one desire.

~Joe Zichterman

Break down the high place

Break Down the High Place

1) In Israel's time Jehovah God was God alone;
But soon they worshiped heathen idols made of stone.
The high place used to worship God now mocks His holy name.
He's no longer God alone; His people bring Him shame.

c)Help me break down the high place once reserved for You.
Help me rebuild my alter and worship You anew.
Help me cast out all tho'ts that exalt above Your own.
Help me listen for Your sweet voice so Your will is always known.

2)In my own life I longed for God to have first place.
But soon my focus turned away from His dear face.
My heart was once reserved for Him, but soon I went astray.
He's no longer was God alone, I was seeking my own way.

3)Oh thank you, Lord, for loving me although I fall.
Please take my life and use it now I give You all.
I want You to have ev'rything; to please You is my goal.
In my heart You're God alone, my life You now control.

~Matt Herbster

More Birds!

Here are the pictures of the Black-Eyed Junco (Zero Bird) that I told you all about before. :) I finally got a couple of them!

My puppy!!

I thought I'd show you all what my puppy looks like, since this is the "Things that make me happy" category! Isn't she cute!!! Her name is Keda. But she answers to many of my nicknames for her such as: Maya, Mia, Maria, Mariah. The poor little lady doesn't know who she is. :) But she's sweet anyway!!!! The little purple coat is so that she doesn't get cold in the winter!! :) It makes her even more cute!

<--- Who can say no to this little face?!





<--- She's so little in the big chair!!!




<--- Ahhhh, cute little face!!!!! *kiss*


<--- She likes to sit with her head on her paws!!! *more kisses*!!!!

Birds!

God has been very kind to us in allowing us to have many different kinds of birds this year. :) For instance the hawk. Other birds that we have quite often are the Dark-Eyed Junco (my Grandfather called them Zero birds because they always came around when it was very cold. I've also heard them called Penguin birds), House Finch, Nuthatch, Black-Capped Chickadee and Sparrows. I was unable to get a picture of the Dark-Eyed Junco because he kept flying away just as I was about to take the picture, and the Nuthatch, the Black-Capped Chickadee, and Sparrow don't stay around long enough to get their picture. But I was able to get the House Finches. The red ones are the male and the plain brown ones are the females! It was cold today, that is why they are fluffy in some of the pictures! Enjoy!!!

Crystal and a sunset

Mama put a crystal vase in the window because when the sun hits it just right it sparkles beautifully! The picture I took does nothing to show how beautiful it can look, but it shows it little bit! And speaking of sun, the picture of the sun is from a few seconds after I took the picture of the vase! Isn't it just amazing?! The little blob of sun light must have been a water drop on the window. :) Sorry about that.

Snow flakes!!

Standing outside with my camera I snapped these way cool pictures of snow flakes. Mind you I did crop them. :) So they are closer then they were when I took them. But isn't God amazing?! It is so tiny and detailed at the same time!!! And there are so many of them!! Don't we serve an amazing, wonderful God?! Enjoy!!

A light in the darkness

The Bible tells us we are the light of the world. What does that mean? If we're the light of the world, then the world is dark, correct? But what does it look like to shine in the dark? Playing with my candle this evening shows how bright a light is in the dark, and how we're supposed to shine for Christ in a dark world. How different we're supposed to be. Notice how the light illuminates what the darkness once hid!? That is how we're supposed to be for Christ, showing our light to the world. Don't hide the light, be different! Be as the Lord calls you to be! A light in the darkness.

Rejoice in the Lord

Thinking today about trails and tests, after talking to a dear friend of mine, I just had to share this song. For some of you it's nothing new, for some it may be, either way, drink in the words. Let them settle in your mind, and believe them, don't just think about them and push them off. Let them draw you closer to God and trust Him more!

Rejoice in the Lord

1) God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

C) O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

2) I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

3) Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Let us remember, God does everything for our good. No matter what it is! Whether it be taking things away, or not giving us what we think we need. Watching someone else get what we want or watching others do without. God does all for the good of His people and we can rest in His hands knowing what's happening now is the best way things could happen! Let us remember God loves us and what He does, He does to make us like Him and isn't that what we all want? If it is, let us rest in His strong, able, in control hands and trust!

More random shots

<--- Decorative window!!! Love the picture in the left hand corner!!

















<---- A painting a friend gave to me!!! He painted it himself!! Isn't it wonderful??!!!










<--- Warm Rainbow Granny-square quilt I made myself!!! Keeps me very warm on cold nights!!!















< --- Lace curtains and roses!!!! It's beautiful when the sun shines through it!!!!
















<--- A very small portion of my very large book collection!!













<--- A good book and a cup of tea!!!















<--- And if you're gonna have tea, why not have a beautiful tea pot from your sister to go with it?!

Encouraging reminder

I've finished reading Hebrews in my Bible and was so encouraged with chapter 12 that I just had to share it with you. I'm sure you all know what is says, but I must share anyway!

Hebrews 12:3-11~
"3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." 7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Dare I say more? Simply trust this to be true and call it to mind when trial and chastening comes! What a joy! Let us thank the Lord, wholeheartedly, for our trials and chastening!

Random shots

Talking to my sister-in-law recently she reminded me that we find peace and joy in God not only in the things we read about Him, but in the things He gives and shows us. They show to us His love for things that are good and beautiful. And thus, we can take pleasure in things we find beautiful as long as they do not draw us away from God! For example: Roses and the sweet smell they offer. A beautiful sunset on a winter day. A house, a family, and so on and so forth. So here are somethings that I find joy in and that make me happy!

<- Beautiful Rose petals!!!!

<-- More beautiful rose petals!!!!

<--Pretties on my sheets!!!

<----Fresh new sheets to sleep in!!!!! Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more. :) Keep looking to Christ in all that you do, whether it be making a bed, cleaning a room, or sipping your tea!!! Include Him in everything and you will find joy in strange, but wonderful places!!!

Hawk indentity

After I posted my last blog, a friend of mine looked at it and then informed me of what it was. :) It is a female (not male, thus the "he"'s in the last post are incorrect) Marsh Hawk or also known as a Northern Harrier Hawk. Anyway, this is a short post, I just wanted to share the info I received. :) Thank you Will for the info! Hope you are all having a wonderful day! Oh, and don't forget to check out Katya's (My sister-in-law) blog and see her way neat-o fire picture (when she posts it ;)!!!

A hawk in my backyard?

As I was laying on the couch this morning (recovering from an illness) my little brother came running into the room and said there was a hawk on my mom's birdbath. I didn't believe him right away, since we are in the middle of town. But I pushed to my feet and followed him into the kitchen to look out the window. And sure enough, I stood corrected. There was a hawk on my mother's birdbath! He was nice and big and when he flew (I was unable to capture that with the camera) his wings were huge! Here are a couple of pictures I snapped before he flew away. Isn't the Lord amazing!? I will never understand how He can make so many different kinds of birds and none of them like another!!And speaking of different kinds of birds, on Sunday I looked out the window and the Lord had brought Cardinals to our backyard! The first time that I can ever remember! They are so beautiful! In case you didn't know, the boy is the bright red one, and the girl is the one off to the left with the bright redish-orange beak! Hope you enjoyed looking at God's creation as much as I did!!!

Love

I am reading another book, since I finished "Shadow Of The Almighty", called "Young Lady's Guide To The Harmonious Development Of Christian Character" by Harvey Newcomb. And although I do not agree 100% on everything he has to say, there are many, many things I have gathered that I would love to share with you. As I said, I do not agree with everything, but I will quote from his book and then explain what I don't agree with, if the need be. :) This quote is taken from a part in the book going through the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

"Love is something that can be felt. It is an outgoing of heart towards the object loved, and a feeling of union with it. When we have a strong affection for a friend, it is because we see in him something that is lovely. We love his society, and delight to think of him when he is absent. Our minds are continually upon the lovely traits of his character. So ought we to love God. The ground of this love should be the infinite purity, excellence, and beauty of his moral perfections. He is infinite loveliness in himself. There is such a thing as feeling this love in exercise. In the Son of Solomon, love is said to be "strong as death." Surely this is no faint imagery. Is it possible for a person to exercise a feeling "as strong as death," and yet not be sensible of it? Love takes hold of every faculty of soul and body. It must, then, be no very dull feeling. Again, the warmth and the settled and abiding nature of love are represented by such strong language as this: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Surely this can be no fitful feeling, which comes and goes at extraordinary seasons. It must be a settled and abiding principle of the soul, though it may not always be accompanied with strong emotion. We may sometimes be destitute of emotion towards the friends we love most. But the settled principle of esteem and preference is abiding; and our attention needs only to be called to the lovely traits in our friend's character to call forth emotion."

Now here I would have to say, although love can be a feeling, it is a choice one must make. We choose to love our enemies, obviously we do not love them because of their beauty. :) Love is not just a feeling, it is a choice and as we choose to love something, or someone, the feelings will follow. :) So we can apply this paragraph but we must remember love is not always a feeling, at first. :) Hope your Sunday was filling with joy in the Lord and worshiping Him wholeheartedly!!

Recommended reading

I have been away from the computer for a couple of days so I apologize for the long time in between posts. But in that time I have finished reading "Shadow Of The Almighty" by Elisabeth Elliot! I highly recommend this book to any one who wants a challenge in their Christian walk! It was such a good book! I loved it. And it amazed me the way Jim looked on everything with a God-centered focus. What really struck me was his willingness to die at any given moment for the Lord. A couple of quotes give you an idea of what he was like but you must read the whole book to understand what I mean!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

"God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus."

"Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine alter."

~Jim Elliot

This is a short post, I must run out the door. But think about the words and ask yourself, "Would I truly be willing to die and leave my family, my life and live in eternity with Christ at any given moment?" Also, read this book any chance you get!

Encouraging verses

Hello all! I have just finished reading 2 Timothy in my Bible reading and am now going to start Titus! But reading through 2 Timothy I came across some verses to encourage us and to push to our goal.

2 Timothy 3:12~
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

2 Timothy 4:7~
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

So first of all when people persecute us let us not be surprised and shrink back. Let us rejoice! Why? Because we can be assure that if we were not trying to live a godly life, there would be no persecution! It is because we're doing as we are told, we are following Christ, we're trying to be Christ-like, and because of that we suffer persecution! Let us stand for what we believe, persecution or not! And with that, when we come to the end of our lives, or if Christ comes, will we be able to say with Paul "I have fought the good fight, ..." Will we be able to say, "I suffered persecution for Christ and "have kept the faith"? Will we be able to stand in that day of judgment and stand knowing we "fought the good fight, ... finished the race, ... have kept the faith"? Let us look forward to being able to say those things in truth. Let us be careful how we live now, in persecution, in trials, in hard times, in good times, so that we are able to stand before Christ, in His day of glory, and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"!

My prayer discovery

Lately a few verses concerning prayer have been on my mind and I thought I would share them with you! :)

Philippians 4:6~
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

Romans 14:23b~
"... for whatever is not from faith is sin."

Now thinking about those verses, let's start with the first one. "Be anxious for nothing." What are we to be worried about? Nothing! But in prayer, with thanksgiving (thanking God for Who He is and what He does and what He is going to do) we are to let our requests be made known to Him. We are to tell Him what we want. We are to be open with Him because He knows what our prayer and request is going to be even before we pray it (Matthew 6:8), so why try to hide something? :) But then we take a look at our second verse and we realize that, yes, we are to make our requests known to God, but if we can't pray for something in total faith, we shouldn't be praying for it! If we cannot go boldly before Christ and ask Him for something in complete faith, knowing that it isn't something God wants, we have no reason to pray for it, for then it becomes sin! So let us ask ourselves before we pray, "Can I ask God for this in total, complete faith?" And if the answer is yes, "Let your request be made known to God." If there is any doubt, even the slightest hint of a doubt that you can't pray for it in faith, then don't! Let us remember if we can pray for something in faith, with no doubting, with thanksgiving, then God will be pleased.

Keep Christ in Christmas

Hello everyone. I hope you are having, or have had, a wonderful, Christ-centered Christmas! But as we open gifts and give gifts away let us not get caught up in the moment of a happy, fuzzy, warm feeling! Let us stop and remember what truly happened at Christmas. Jesus came to earth! Why? To die and provide a way for us to be forgiven and to spend eternity worshiping and praising Him! Let us not focus on what we got or what people will think of what you got them, but let us thank Christ for coming to earth to save us in our hell-bound state. I often think of what it was like for Mary to look at her baby and know that it was God! Every time she looked at her child she looked at the face of God! Every time she picked Him up and hugged Him close, she hugged the Son of God! What a thought! I wonder if Mary ever thought of what Jesus would do. As she held Him close, as she laid Him down to sleep, did she know that one day He would be beaten, scourged, mocked, and killed for her? Did she ever think about what He could actually do? He was the Son of God (and still is). He made her. Did she know the things her baby would do? Did she think of His Godness moment by moment? Can you imagine all of God's Godness packed into a little baby body? :) What a thought! Jesus never stopped being God, even in His new born body. As a newborn who was unable to do anything but lay there, all of His Godness was still there! This song has become one of my new favorite Christmas songs. Think about the words! The things Jesus did. Whether Mary knew or not, Jesus still did all these things and more!

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy
Has come to make you new;
This Child that you delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy
Has walked where Angels trod?
When you kiss your Little Baby,
You kiss the Face of God!

Oh, Mary, did you know?
Oh, Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb!

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy
Is Heaven's Perfect Lamb?
This sleeping Child you're holding
Is the Great I Am!

~Mark Lowry

Have a wonderful Christmas and don't forget the greatest gift anyone can ever give was already given, Jesus Christ! Don't leave Him out of your Christmas!

You know better than I

I had to share this song with you, it is one that I sing over and over in my head at night, thinking about the words and praying them as I sing!

You Know Better Than I

1) I thought I did what's right,
I thought I had the answers.
I thought I chose the surest road,
But that road brought me here.
So I put up a fight,
And told You how to help me.
Now just as I have given up,
The truth is coming clear.


c) You know better than I,
You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why,
For You know better than I.


2) If this has been a test,
I cannot see the reason.
But maybe knowing I don't know,
Is part of getting through.
I try to do what's best,
And faith has made it easy,
To see the best thing I can do,
Is put my trust in You.


last c) For You know better than I,
You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why.
I'll take what answers You supply.
You know better than I.

~Unknown
From the movie, "Joseph, King of Dreams."

Do you see why I sing it in my head? :) How many of us can truly say, "I've let go the need to know why, I'll take what answers You supply"? Can we truly let go when situation after situation comes into our lives and we don't understand? Can we truly take whatever answers God supplies? There are times in our lives when trials come and we don't know why, but do we ever think that maybe God doesn't want us to know why so that we may learn to more fully lean upon Him for all things. Even the things that confuse us? Even the things that we understand perfectly? Maybe God is waiting for us to say, "I don't know Lord. I can't do this on my own." Because, truth be told, we can't! Apart from God we can do what ... nothing! We must lean fully on Christ for everything! May we be able to say, wholeheartedly, "You know better than I. I've let go the need to know why. I'll take what answers You supply. For You know better than I"!

Another read, don't sing!

Recently we had our Harvest Banquet at church. It was an amazing time of fellowship and praise! We sang songs, had special music, gave testimonies and a man from church told us the things God has taught him over the years. During the singing we sang a song I had never heard before. Some of you may know it, some may not. But as I've said before, (in a previous post) read the words, don't sing along and just mindlessly read through it. Think about what the words mean and apply it to your life!

Thanks to God for My Redeemer

Thanks to God for my Redeemer, thanks for all thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory, thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy spring-time, thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that thou hast answered, thanks for what thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, thanks for all thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure, thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, thanks for love beyond compare!


Thanks for roses by the wayside, thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for homes and thanks for fireside, thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, thanks for heavenly peace with thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, thanks through all eternity.

~August L. Storm

Think about those words! Thanks for what thou does deny?! Thanks for prayer that thou has answered?! Can we be thankful for all that God brings into our lives, and also the things He doesn't bring into our lives? I'm not going to make this a long post, I simply want you to think about the words and apply them to your lives! Let us be thankful to God for all!

Be separate!

I've recently been looking over other people's blogs and websites and I have to say I was greatly unsettled at what I've seen in different blogs. Blogs of people who claim to be Christians but when I went there I couldn't tell. They dragged Christ's name and reputation through the mud! It greatly disturbed me, thus, I'm writing a post. :) The Bible says, "Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord...' " (2 Corinthians 6:17). 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 is talking about being holy, how to become holy, and it says in verse 17, as you've just read, to "come out from among them and be separate." Come out from among them. Think of it this way. You are in a house filled with people, it's time to leave, so what do you do? You come out of the house, you leave them behind, you walk away, you come out from among them! We are called to leave the world behind, to come out from among the world. It also says "be separate." For my own sake I looked up "separate" in the dictionary. Separate: "1. To set or keep apart; divide; disunite." We are to "set or keep apart" ourselves from the world. Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). Jesus did not come to unite all people, make peace with people and to be everybody's friend. He came to separate His people from the world, to be the world's enemy. And if Jesus did thus, then we should as well! We are to separate ourselves from the world, the people and the things in the world. "Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him" (1 John 2:15). If you didn't get it before, it's crystal clear there. We cannot love God and the world. "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Think about it! What do you prize most, the things of the world: friendships, money, being cool, being in the "in" crowd, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, etc.? Or Christ and what He loves: Himself, His word, His glory, His honor, and His name, etc.! We don't live to protect our own reputation, as Christians, we live to protect Christ's name and reputation! Don't drag His name through the mud! Be separate!

Giving up

As of late, the Lord as been showing me things I need to give to Him. Things I need to let go of. And I won't try to lie and tell you it's been easy and a joy to give what I treasure. It has been hard, painful and at times I sit in a daze wondering why I must give what I love. But as I read through my quote book a couple quotes have been such a comfort to me!

"When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love Him. If I can say yes to that question, can't I say yes to pleasing Him? Can I say yes even if it means a sacrifice?"

~Elisabeth Elliot, "Passion and Purity"

"...but let me give to Him not what I value least, but what I prize and delight in most."

~Elizabeth Prentiss, "Stepping Heavenward"

"If God, like a father, denies us what we want now it is in order to give us some far better thing later on. The will of God, we can rest assured, is invariably a better thing."

~Elisabeth Elliot

Now read, and reread those. I have! :) If I can say yes to loving Him, can I say yes to sacrifice? Yes! Do I say yes and give Him the things I almost love? No, let me give Him my best. Be it a treasure, be it a talent, be it a desire, be it the things I can't control. Let me give Him all! And if He denies us something, let us thank Him for His wisdom. For His kindness in allowing us not to have all that we want, but for teaching us to lean and be all satisfied in Him. Let us willingly give Him anything in loving obedience! Let us offer to Him not what we almost prize, what we almost value, but those things which we love the most! And not just the things that we love the most but everything! And if He denies us something we want, let us love Him all the more and find true joy, delight and pleasure in Christ alone!

Content in any state?

Over the last few days I watched my family get sick and come down with the flu knowing full well the I would probably end up with it. Did I want to get sick? Not really. So I prayed. I prayed that God would help me get through the days, to help those who were sick and that He would give me the grace and strength to make it through the day when He allowed me to get sick. And I was so amazed, although I shouldn't have been (because God does answers our prayers), that I was able to be content with my sickness. Did I enjoy it? No! :) But I wasn't complaining, I wasn't wishing not to be sick (well, I didn't want the pain but I wasn't trying to complain). As I was lying on the couch a verse came to my mind and has stuck with me.

Philippians 4:11b~
"... for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."


In whatever state? In sickness? Yes! In health? Yes! In trials? Yes! In hardships? Yes! In uncertainty? Yes! In anything? Yes! What a joy it is to be content in whatever state the Lord puts us in. Something else that came to my mind a while back and has stuck with me. We know that the Lord can make us content, but we also know it is so hard to be content. But we forget, if we ask the Lord to make us content, and He makes us content, then we will be content! Did you get that? :) If the Lord makes us content then we won't be worried about this, or we won't be wondering about that. We will be content! Isn't that an encouragement? Not matter what the state, trial or situation we're in, if we ask the Lord to make us content (and we truly want to be) and He makes us content, then we will be content! We won't be worried, we won't be anxious, we won't be wondering. We can rest content in His able hands!