God's Glorious Word

Tonight I am feeling very thoughtful. I guess that's partly owing to the fact that I've been reading some great books these past few days. Here's a section of the first book of the wonderful series: Elsie Dinsmore.

[Speaking of the Bible] "Do you really love it so, Rose?" asked Adelaide, lifting her eyes to her friend's face with an expression of astonishment; "Do tell me why?"
"For its exceeding great and precious promises, Adelaide; for its holy teachings; for its offers of peace and pardon and eternal life. I am a sinner, Adelaide, lost, ruined, helpless, hopeless, and the Bible brings me the glad news of salvation offered as a free, unmerited gift; it tells me that Jesus died to save sinners - just such sinners as I. I find that I have a heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and the blessed Bible tells me how that heart can be renewed, and where I can obtain that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. I find myself utterly unable to keep God's holy law, and it tells me of One who has kept it for me. I find that I deserve the wrath and curse of a justly offended God, and it tells me of Him who was made a curse for me. I find that all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and it offers me the beautiful spotless robe of Christ's perfect righteousness. Yes, it tells me that God can be just and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus."

I guess that's all I have to say for now... God is working in my heart and tearing down idols. He is good, as ever! Hope you're having a great week my friends.

God is good, and so is life!

Wow. So many thoughts. I went to the IABC Heart Seminar on Friday and Saturday, and, as usual, learned a LOT. I was reminded of how deceitful and desperately wicked the heart is, and how God is our only hope and His word has all of the answers we need. I also gained lots of specific information about specific things - idols of the heart, lies I often believe, and how to overcome sin. And of course, how to counsel others about the same things. I also met lots of new friends, which is always great.

Okay, so, I got a camera for Christmas and I've kind of been going nuts taking pictures this month. I love it! So I thought I'd share some. They aren't that spectacular because my camera isn't the best, and I'm certainly no photographer. But oh well. :)

My puppy dog! She's so cute :)

Very red outfit...  ironic cuz I've never really liked the color red.

I was felling very colorful this day!

My fluffy kitty <3

I'm still skeptical of this copycat who lurks in my bedroom, above the bathroom sink, and various other places...

Ah, the expression of so many emotions! I love piano :)

Just another week...

Another week has gone by. It has been a rocky one, but I've met a few meadows on the way, too. Some of the rockiness has been school; there seems to be so much of it! Thankfully it is Friday again. Although, on Wednesday night I was able to go to a Bible study with a bunch of young adults. That was phenomenal. Most of the people who came were either in college or married, so I was the youngest person there. I didn't feel out of place, though, and I was very blessed by being able to be with other Christians who love God. I really hope I'll be able to go back next week, because I really need more fellowship with other believers to help keep me afloat in the raging river of life right now.

Tonight and tomorrow I'm going to an IABC counseling seminar. It used to be a NANC seminar, but they switched to a different organization. I've been to them at least 4 times before. I am super excited to go again because every time I come away so encouraged. I'm going to go to the advanced tracks, which are about addictions. I'm looking forward to gaining biblical help for myself and friends of mine. it's going to be great!

Okay, so, I know last time I posted several cute animal pictures, and I don't want to go overboard on the whole cute animal thing, but I have to post just this one cuz it's so stinking cute. Hehe :)

Okay, that's all! Have a great weekend my friends!

A Perfect Saturday

I am so glad it's Saturday! It's been a long week. Having a cold the past few days, I've had trouble sleeping. Last night I woke up at 3:30 AM and couldn't fall back asleep, so I picked up a novel I've been reading called Safely Home, and read it until 5:00. I couldn't put it down! As you can imagine, I slept in pretty late this morning after that. Again, I am thankful that it's not a school day, or I wouldn't have been able to do that.

When I woke up this morning I thought, "Man, I really want pancakes!" It just so happens that my brother Zach makes superb breakfast food, so I read my book some more and waited for him to get up. And sure enough, when he woke up, he made pancakes! So, two pancakes slathered with creamy peanut butter and dripping with real maple syrup, along with a cup of coffee loaded with sweet French vanilla creamer, I snuggled under a blanket to read my exciting novel. Oh what a perfect Saturday! And to top it all off, we got and entire foot of snow overnight, so the world looks like a dazzling white winter wonderland!


Since Saturday is a sleepy kind of day for many people, I thought I'd share a few cute, sleepy pictures with you to brighten your day.

Hope that made you smile! Happy Saturday everyone :)

Beauty Secrets

Every girl wants to be beautiful. It's a natural desire. So, I thought I'd share a few secrets to being beautiful that I have discovered.

~Beautiful Hands~
To have the most lovely hands, wash dishes and scrub toilets often,
hold onto other people's hands,
avoid letting them sit idly for long periods of time
and always extend your hand to someone who needs one.

The most beautiful hands are hands that serve.
"She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy."
Proverbs 31:19-20

~Beautiful Face~
Make sure your lips are always turned upward,
and your eyes are brightened by joy and cheerfulness.
Apply generous amounts of compassion and peace to your expression,
and never wear anger, sullenness, or worry

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance:
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."
Proverbs 15:13
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, with all malice:"
Ephesians 4:31

~Beautiful Hair~
Apply humility, style reasonably.
Wear your hair to the delight and service of the Savior
He made it, so He deserves to get glory and delight from it!

"In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,"
1 Timothy 2:9 (Braided hair was showy in that culture)
"Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus,
and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."
John 12:3

That's all I have for now... happy "beautifying!"
:)

Breaking Free

Hi again, friends! It has been a busy December, and first week of January. My brother, Erik, visited for two weeks, and for the second week his girlfriend, Leah, and her family came to visit, too! It was a full house, and lots of fun. It was especially fun for me, I think, because I don't often get to have girls in the house, and there were several that week. :)

This week I have been getting back to doing school, and I am loving it. Having had a break over Christmas, I've come back to it with a new vigor. Also, my best friend Emily has come spent the night at my house twice this week, which has been a real treat for both of us.

As this new year is starting off, I decide to assess my life and see if there are changes that I need to commit to this year. I discovered a lot of things that need to change, but the biggest thing is the media input in my life. I realized that I watch a LOT of movies, and listen to a shocking amount of secular music, not to mention the amount of time I spent on facebook. I didn't listen to "bad" music, but it wasn't music that edifies me and inspires me to serve Christ more. The same is true about the movies I usually watch. As I became aware of these things, I felt the Lord calling me to make some significant changes this year - like I've never done before.

"Come away," Jesus was whispering to my soul. He wants me to know true joy, not settle for counterfeit joys in godless entertainment. Truly, these influences only extract joy from life; they don't add to it.

So here are the "resolutions," if you will. I have committed to God that I'm not going to waste my time watching movies or listening to songs that do not push me on to knowing Jesus Christ more deeply, which is the purpose of my life. Now, if my family wants to watch a movie together or something, that is okay. The purpose is to glorify God and break free from being saturated with our sinful culture, not to follow some spectacular rule that will magically change my life. Because, as you know, discovering God is what is life-changing, not legalism.

I also deactivated my facebook. I know my life will be much better without it. I can still email my friends, write on my blog, and all sorts of wonderful things. But, facebook just did not have a positive affect on me.

Since I am getting rid of some facets of my life, I also decided I need to replace them with better things. I am reading through the Bible this year, and I love it! I'm reading a Daily Bible, which is divided into daily, chronological readings, with devotional thoughts. Reading about Lot in the the city of Sodom today, I was convinced yet again that the changes I am making this year are necessary. I don't want to live in a such a way that I am completely imbued with sinful, secular concepts. I want to flee them! It is essential that we pursue righteousness - hard. I need to get out of "Sodom" (A place of secular influence) and live well.

I am so excited to see what will happen this year. Surely it will be a year of extreme change in my life, and hopefully I will be much more like Christ by breaking free of this entrapment.