Maidens Of Virtue

standing still in a open field.

2012-01-28T11:55:00.001-06:00

The wind is moving.

The breeze is blowing.

I am standing still. I look at the big clock on the wall...time is ticking.

What are we using our time for? God's glory?

We have a life of pages that are being filled. What we do will determine how our life story reads. Are we leaving a godly legacy for other to follow? What can we do to make a difference in others life and to further Christ's kingdom?

"We need to stop focusing on our lacks and stop giving out excuses and start looking at and listening to Jesus."

-Anne Graham Lotz

the abc's of me + ramblings.

2012-01-25T15:30:00.000-06:00

I saw this interesting, little post on a blog that I follow, so I thought it would be fun to do it too. Maybe you will learn something new about me!

A. Age: 14

B. Bed size: Twin. I share a room with my three sisters and our room isn't very big, so we have two sets of bunkbeds.

C. Chore that you hate: I don't really "hate" a particular chore, although I am not a big fan of cleaning bathrooms.

D. Dogs: None. We have never had a dog before, and I am kinda glad that we haven't. Our neighbors that live behind us has a very loud little dog, and it drives me crazy. Maybe one day we will get a small, quiet dog.

E. Essential start to your day: Reading Bible, writing in my prayer journal, and eating breakfast.

F. Favorite color: Gray, light blue, navy, yellow, lavender, coral, and black.

G. Gold or Silver: Preferably silver.

H. Height: 5'8

I. Instruments you play: Violin.

J. Job title: A servant of Jesus, a student{I am homeschooled} and daughter.

K. Kids: None, right now, but I would love to have some one day, if the Lord allows.

L. Live: Western United States.

M. Mother’s name: Heather.

N. Nicknames: Let's see. Mirbugs, Bugs{by my siblings and little kids}, Mary, Mirs, and Miribugs. Yes, they are all quite funny, and maybe a bit odd too. I really just prefer Miriam, because I really don't care for any of these nicknames, and none of them ever really stuck. Any suggestions? ;)

O. Overnight hospital stays: None.

P. Pet peeves: Noisy eaters, people who peek over my shoulder when I'm reading or on the computer, and ice crunchers{people who crunch ice}.

Q. Quote from a movie: "Plain, old, unromantic Anne Shirley."{from Anne of Green Gables}. I can totally sympathethize with Anne, because I have always felt the same way about my name...not that I don't like it though.
R. Right or left handed: Righty.

S. Siblings: Older sister, Sarah, younger brother, Caleb, Rebekah{younger}, and Anna{younger also.} I love them all dearly.

T. Time you wake up: I am trying to get up on an earlier schedule, but right not I am getting up at about 8:30 ish.

U. Unique random fact: Well, this is more funny than it is unique, but I do not have a particular clothing style. I have lots of different outfits that are different styles, because my mood changes often. ;D

V. Vegetable you hate: I do not hate any vegetables that I can think of, but I have not tried all the different ones out there.

W. What makes you run late: Usually it is:

1. I forget something or

2. I did not give myself enough time to get ready.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Leg, foot, and teeth.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Brownies.

Z. Zoo animal: I have always liked the seals and the polar bears.

I hope you all are doing well! The flu has been going around in our family, and I am just praying that I will not get it. It's no fun being sick!

On a side note, I am enjoying these rainy days. Rainy days are perfect for drinking a cup of tea, reading a book{I have been reading More than a Carpenter, 1,000 gifts, and Rebekah's Diary},working on a sewing project, or dancing in the rain{of course!}.

I have really enjoy reading Rebekah's Diary today...by Rebekah Pearl. I know the Lord has a very special plan for each and every one of us...some are big jobs, some are small, but they are all important. Little is much when God is in it!

"He must increase, but I must decrease. {John 3:30}

In order for the Lord to use us, we have to be humble. Oh, being humble is such a hard thing sometimes {just as a friend mentioned on her blog today}. When we focus on humility, and look inward to see if we are sufficiently humble, we become proud, and focused on our self. When we are thanking the Lord for the things that He gives us, and we truly understand that we are weak, and unworthy, but that He has blessed us with life itself, then we become humble.

Please, Lord, cultivate in my a humble heart. I want YOU, and you alone to be lifted up, exalted, honored, and glorified.

With all my heart, I want to live for you.

Beth's Embellishments product review.

2012-01-21T17:09:00.004-06:00

//click to enter her shop.//

Beth, from Beth's Embellishments, kindly allowed me to review a few of her items for her. I was so excited, because this is my first item to review!
Her shop is simply charming, and each item is handmade with much care and thought. She has all sorts of jewelry in her shop---earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and jewelry sets. She even has a nice selection of bridal jewelry!

Beth was so nice and a pleasure to talk to. Everything was packaged very well, and the shipping was pretty fast too.

I was SO excited when the package came in the mail---a big smile came over my face as I carried the little package under my arm, from my green mailbox and into my home.

Inside, I found three lovely treasures, all nestled beautifully in a little black box, with a ribbon around it.

One of which was...

These lovely earrings, which are called "Infinity" earrings. These are created by using sage green freshwater potato pearls and a hand worked, wire embellishment. All components are gold plated.

Then, to my complete surprise, Beth sent me another pair of earrings...

"Verde Elegante" earrings.

These earrings are made with pistachio green freshwater potato pearls, topped with handmade gold-plated coils. The ear wires are gold plated as well. Oh, I just love the warm mixture that the green and gold creates!

One of the reasons why I was am so excited about these earrings is because I am a big earring collector. I almost have a pair of earrings in every color...*smile*...one to go with each and every outfit! Except, that I was lacking a green pair and a blue pair, until sweet Beth sent me these!

Then, to top it off, Beth sent me a little "Thank you gift", which was a lovely beaded bookmark. I love reading, and I have been doing a lot of it lately, so this is perfect! The bookmark is simple, yet very lovely with the beautiful, bright mixture of beads.

If you purchase from Beth's shop, you will be very pleased with the shipping, packaging, quality, and beauty of her items!

Thank you so much, Beth, for sending me the loveliest of items! I would love to purchase from your shop one day!

Be sure to head over to Beth's charming Etsy shop!

Have a wonderful evening!

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
-Colossians 3:17

prayer journals.

2012-01-18T17:03:00.003-06:00

a pen hits the paper, and a prayer is recorded.

I have heard so many people talking about prayer journals and how wonderful they are. So, I decided to start keeping one too. I thought it would be really neat if I was to keep a journal with my prayer requests, Bible study notes, etc, and be able to read through it at a later time and see how the Lord worked in my life.

prayer requests...

answers to prayers...

Bible verses...

lessons...

revelations...

all in one book.

Well, I started mine on Monday, and I cannot even begin to tell you all what a blessings is has been to me.

I first read my Bible, then I write any verses that stood out to me, along with any new prayer requests. When I look through my prayer request section and see that a prayer has been answered, I write out in a different section the date it was answered and how it was answered.

Any journal works for a prayer journal, and you can make different labeled sections to help you keep everything organized.

The Lord commands us to pray, and to pray with out stopping{or ceasing}. The Lord can use our prayers to do mighty things!

Pray without ceasing.

{1 Thessalonians 5:17}

Do you keep a prayer journal?

To make a bright day even better....

2012-01-14T16:47:00.001-06:00

...read your Bible and drink a Snapple{preferably Strawberry and Kiwi}.

ponderings.

2012-01-11T21:37:00.002-06:00

I have been pondering a lot lately. Oh, the Lord has been so good to me. Every day He amazes me even more. His mercies are new every day. When I sit quiet...alone in a room...I can hear His whisper and His voice. He beckons me to do more for Him, and to serve Him with my whole heart and soul. I know that He will give me strength every day to do the things that He wants me to do.

So amazed by the prayers He has answered.

"Pray without ceasing".

{1 Thessalonians 5:17)

We pray, and we pray, but sometimes, we do not see the Lord working. Yet, He is still working, we just do not know it. When a prayer is answered, we are reminded of His unfailing love and that He still answers prayers.

My heart is so full. I just want to proclaim and sing of His love for us!

But, what am I?

What do I have to give Him?

Nothing, but a broken life. Yet, that broken life is a priceless gift to Him. He treasures it.

He thinks not about what we did, but what we can be{with His help}.

And you know what? I know that He can do amazing things with this broken life, because He is an amazing Savior. Even though I am unworthy, that does not matter to Him.

Rest in His presence, dear friends.

He loves you.

Even though you may not see His plan now, you will one day.

He is still working.

He is still faithful.

Let Him do a work in You.

P.S. On a side note, I was interviewed today at Reflections of Grace, by Miss Johanna and Miss Bethany.

Me. that's all I have to be.

2012-01-07T15:01:00.001-06:00

Hello All!

I hope that this finds you all to be doing well! My family and I are doing great. Of late, I have been occupied with the everyday things of life, like school music, and writing.

Well, my sister and I decided that it would be fun to do a little photo shoot the other day, so here are a few of the photos. I hope you all enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

What has been occupying your life, as of late?

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

{Psalm 46:10}

Be still me soul. be still.

2012-01-01T21:38:00.001-06:00

The Lord knows all. He IS going to take care of you.

He's got everything under control.

Be still, and know that He IS God...

A new year...

2011-12-31T13:10:00.001-06:00

A brand new year.

The words stunned me, as I realized that a new year is almost upon us. I really cannot believe it. It seems that only yesterday that the year 2010 was ending, and 2011 was starting. This year has been one of the best years that I can remember. So many joys. So many blessings. So many lessons learned. New friends. New hobbies. Joys in simple things of life. So many wonderful adventures. So many moments that I will forever cherish in my heart. I cannot say that this year was perfect, because it was not. It was not without it's hard moments. But, the Lord brought my through those things and gave me the strength to carry on. He will never fail me!

We serve an amazing, awesome God! Every day I am stunned and utterly amazed by what He teaches me, and the promise that His love will never fail.

A few days ago, I started thinking about New Year's resolutions. As some of you may know, I make new resolutions almost every year. Some years I succeed in my resolutions, and some years I do not. So, this year I decided that I would only make resolutions that were important. I feel that time is so short, and that I need to be doing things that will count for eternity. I need to be using all the time that I have for Christ's glory, and doing the things that He has commanded me to do.

-Grow closer to the Lord.

>>walk closer to Him than I ever have.

-Read through my Bible again, and memorize 52 verses.

>>read His love letters to me, and hide them in my heart, that I may never forget them.

-Do more for Him.

>>talk to Him more. witness. encourage my brother's and sister's in Christ. be more like Him.

If I do not succeed in anything in the next year, but I grow closer to my Savior, then the year will be worth it.

Happy New year{early}, dear readers!

May the Lord bless you, and draw you closer to Him in the next year!!

As we walk through this journey through life, may we seek to please Him in everything we say, think, and do.

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

{Psalm 42:1}

What are your New Year's resolutions??

I wonder.

2011-12-26T21:58:00.001-06:00

When I first watched this video, I just knew that you all had to see it too. These are truths that we all need to be challenged in.

This is my plead and prayer to Christ for myself...and for you. Oh, we need a generation of women and men who will truly follow the Lord, give up their own wills, and be more like Him. I do not ever want to stray, and for things to matter more to me than representing Christ with my life. I want to honor Christ in everything I say and do, and give my all to His will. My life is not my own, but His. Whatever He wants me to do, I should do.

We all need a vision; a vision for the future, that when all else falls, and out "little worlds" start to crumble, we will still trust in the Almighty God, and still honor and obey Him.

Teach me, Lord.

Mold, me Lord.

Help me to be passionate about the things of you.

Help me to be compassionate for lost souls.

Let me see that you are in everything.

Ignite in my heart a fire, that I may give up my will, and be more like YOU, Lord!

Pour in us a new passion for your will. Send the rain, the fire, and the wind into our lives, that you make break off "us", and make us a vessel for your glory.

How will you use the time that Christ has given you on earth?

For His will?

*Video used by permission from Melanie, from Forever His Servant.

p.s. I had a wonderful Christmas! Did you? ;)

'tis the season to be jolly...

2011-12-24T10:11:00.001-06:00

...because it is Christmas!

Today is Christmas Eve.

Oh, I can hardly believe it. It seemed that it was just yesterday that it was Thanksgiving, and I was thinking that Christmas was taking forever to get here. This week I have spent wrapping gifts{in brown paper, with plaid ribbon, and paper snowflakes}, making cards, and doing lots of baking too. This week we have made everything from peanut butter cookies with Hershey kisses in them, to gingerbread men. Yum.

I also made a lot of paper snowflakes to hang in my room. They are simply beautiful. Since it is not looking like it is going to snow today or tomorrow, I thought I would try to add a touch of "snow" to our room.

Also, I have spent some time playing and listening to Christmas carols. Some of my favorites are: O Holy Night, 'O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, and In the First Light. What are your favorites?

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas as you celebrate the real meaning of Christmas: Jesus' birth. May we never forget that it is because of Jesus that we are here, and because of HIM that we have eternal life.

Luke 2:1-20

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

May Christ continue to bless and guide you all---as you strive to serve Him, and as we enter a whole new year.

Merry Christmas.

Blessings.

2011-12-21T17:35:00.001-06:00

Oh, I feel so blessed and so full. The Christmas spirit is getting me really excited, and I am hoping that I will have to opportunity to share truth and encouragement with friends and family during this week as I get-together with them to celebrate Christ's birth. I encourage you all to count your blessings during this week. We are all so blessed. Sometimes we do not even realize it...and we take it for granted that many people are less fortunate than we. We need to be looking for opportunities to bless and share the truth with others, that Christ might be reflected in us.

I want not others to look at me and see "Miriam",

but Him.

We can find joy in Christ, and count our blessings, even if:

-things are hard.

-we are in pain.

-we do not feel like it.

-things are not going our way.

We can still find joy, and count our blessings, because Christ is still the same. He never changes. He will always wrap His arms around us, and embrace us with His love.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
-Galatians 6:9

*all photos via Etsy.

looking and wondering...

2011-12-16T18:11:00.002-06:00

Are there times when you just look into the distance, and wonder what the future will hold for you?

I have been doing that quite often, as I wonder what the Lord's will for my life is. As I talk to friends at church and friends out of town, a lot of them have asked prayer for guidance in their lives. How wonderful to know that others, too, want to know what Christ wants them to do with the life that He has given them. It is so important to not just ask for guidance, but to trust the Lord that He knows best, and that we will show you His will in His time{yes, not in our time, but His. He always knows what is best!}.

Also, we need to be praying for our brother and sister's in Christ who are seeking, and humbly asking the Lord for help.

So, with a humble and trusting heart, I am asking the Lord, "What is your will?" Not my will, my dreams, or hopes, but yours. Only He knows what is best.

May we seek Him will our whole heart, as we earnestly pray.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

>>Jeremiah 29:11<<

What I am loving.

2011-12-14T13:47:00.000-06:00

Wool cloche hats.

Seriously too cute! My grandma gave me one a few days ago...it is creme, and has lots of beading detail at the side, and I just love it!

Knitted scarves.

Perfect to keep you warm in the winter, and for added interest to your outfit.

Messy side buns.

So easy, and whimsical. Whenever my hair is not cooperating, I resort to this.

Brown paper packages tied up with string.

I received my first Christmas package in the mail the other day, and it was wrapped in brown paper and baker's twine. It was so old-fashioned and so pretty, that if I did not know that everything inside was going to be gorgeous, I would not open it.

Christmas patterned ribbon.

This year, I have wrapped almost every present with brown paper and tied it with plaid ribbon, polka-dot ribbon, or ribbon with glitter flowers.

I love patterned ribbon!

Typed gift tags.

They add a really pretty touch to any gift, and are very easy to make!

this picture and 2 Corinthians 4:18.

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
-2 Corinthians 4:18

Let us fix our eyes on not what is seen{this world}, but on things which are unseen{Christ}.

What we do see will not last, but Christ will last and the things of Christ, for they are eternal.
Turn your eyes towards Jesus!

What are you loving this week?

*all pictures from google images.

Love. perfect, unfailing love.

2011-12-10T16:52:00.001-06:00

I had a wonderful day today.

I finished up a wooden plaque that I made my grandma for Christmas,

then got ready for the day.

My Dad thought that my Mom and I would like to go to lunch, so He took us to a restaurant called Chipotle. Since my older sister was with my grandparent's, my younger brother watched my two little sisters while we went. This was my brother's first "babysitting job". Oh, he is growing up too fast.

I went to Chipotle for the first time while I was in New York, for a mission trip. Anyway, eating it for the second time made me remember how good it was! So, after that, we went to Ben & Jerry's for some coffee.

I tried to make the most of my day, even though lately I have been having some knee and neck/shoulder pain. I don't really think that it is anything serious, but it is aggravating none the less. I actually had to stop running, because me knee pain was so bad. I was very disappointed, because it was going very well and I was actually starting to exercise regularly and was going to do a 5K next week. But, I know that it's in the Lord's hands. He has got everything under control!

Time of disappointments are also times of learning. It teaches us to totally depend on HIM.

Though a lot may change, things may come and go, but something will last forever...

Christ's love.

Christ's love will never fail.

I cannot brag or boast about my love for Him, because I fail Him daily. But, I can brag about His love for me, because it will never fail.

His Love is:

-Always joyful.

-Always strong.

-Always perfect.

-Always kind.

-Always pure.

-Always sincere.

-Always lovely.

>>ALWAYS PERFECT BEYOND MEASURE<<

Lord, please help me to humble myself before you and show others the kind of love that you have shown me. Pour out your love upon me!

His love never ceases to amaze me. Every time I fail, I think, "How could someone ever love me when I fail them daily?". But, after everything, He still loves me and He always will.

I hope that every one of you have a lovely evening as you rest in the promise that...

His love never fails.

Be strong and courageous in those trying times.

The Lord had has a plan for you.

His love will never let you go.

A simple, crafty Christmas.

2011-12-05T19:47:00.001-06:00

It snowed for the first time last night.
Though it was not much to play it, it was beautiful to look at. Christmas is getting closer and closer...and it is beginning to actually feel like December!!! This reminds me of a lovely woven basket that it sitting near my dresser. Inside this basket, there are presents. The gifts are wrapped up in brown paper and tied with red ribbons, or white sheer tulle. Every time I come into my bedroom, a wave of delight comes over me. Wrapped presents make me happy enough, but knowing that I made these gifts with my own hands makes me even happier. Gifts are lovely to give, but to actually make a gift that it personalized for someone is even better. Back then, everyone made Christmas gifts homemade. There were not usually any stores nearby, and if there were, things were very expensive, so everyone made things to give to friends and family.
How special to know that the person who gave you the gift took the time to make something for you!
Will you join me as we make this Christmas a simple, crafty Christmas?
I have found some tutorials to get you all started. Now, most of these tutorials are not very hard at all, if fact, I have tried most of them, and have been *very* satisfied with the finished product.

Little Button Pouch Tutorial.
I have tried this one before, and it turned out so cute!
It was actually very simple too!
Perfect little gift to put in someone's stocking, or to put a tiny gift in.

Book wreath.
Great for decorating around your house!

Little books.

Box pleat lace headband.

Ruffle make-up bag.

Bows.

Zipper flowers.

Photo bookmark.

Simple Braided Headband.

Coffee Cozy.

Infinity Scarf.

I am in love with this one...I have to try it soon!

-I know it says Spring, but you can make it out of any fabric you want!

Gathered Camera Strap Cover.

Very cute, and perfect for anyone with a camera!

Enjoy crafting, dears!

Please let me know if you all need anymore! I am sure that I can find an abundant supply!

Have a lovely evening, and stay warm!

note: these are not my websites or blogs, so i am not responsible for any content that it contains on the rest of the pages. please just use Christian judgement when reading! ;)

The Power of the cross.

2011-12-04T13:25:00.000-06:00

-By Naomi Wolfenden

It is the power of the cross that we are free and forgiven. We stand forgiven, and ours sins forgotten, because of HIM.

Farewell November.

2011-12-02T17:12:00.001-06:00

Today is the second day of December. *sigh* I still cannot believe that it is December, even though it is starting to get cold, and I see the words "December" on my calendar.
Farewell to my dearest November. You brought much fun and joy!

Goodbye pumpkins. So orange. So tasty in pies, muffins, and bread.

Goodbye gorgeous fall leaves. Fall leaves, with their divine colors of red, orange, and yellow are just too pretty. What it better than to spend a day outside writing or reading, while the breeze blows on your face and you watch the leaves dance in the wind?

Goodbye Novel-writing Month. Oh, you brought stress, but joy at the same time. I loved working on my novel in the month of November, and I am so relived now that I am actually done with it...now just to edit. ;)

Goodbye Pumpkin Pie. Okay, so I know pumpkin pie might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. A piece of this pie, with lots of whipped cream, and a tall glass a milk is perfect for a sweet little treat in the afternoon.

Farewell November, until next year! Welcome December! I am so excited about December. This month will be a time of shopping, crafting, wearing warm clothes, hats, scarves, and gloves, Christmas parties, snow(hopefully!), fires on cold evenings, Christmas stories, wrapping gifts, baking, and more! What are you looking forward to this month?

P.s. Would any of you be interested if I posted some Christmas gift tutorials?

give thanks.

2011-11-24T11:02:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving. Today it is that wonderful time of year when we go to family and friend's houses,

eat, talk, and spend time with them.

But, do we give thanks?

“What if you woke up tomorrow

with only the things you

thanked God for today?

If you woke up tomorrow and only had the things that you thanked the Lord for today, what would you have? Would you be left with nothing, or would you have everything that you have today. because you gave thanks?

I am going to try to take some time today to thank the Lord for every family member, every friend, every blessing that I have. We all have so much to be thankful for.

And now, for my list of things that I am thankful for, although this is not everything. It would take tons of blog posts for everything that I am thankful for!

<< The Lord. Without Him, iI wouldn't even be here. He has given life to me and He is the one that has blessed me with so many things. Thank you, Lord, for everything you have done for me! When I am ungrateful, He still loves me. When I make a mistake, He forgives me. When I fall down, He picks me up. When I was lost, He showed me grace and extended His mercy to me. Thank you, Jesus. I love you so much.

<< My family. I love every single one of them more than I can say. Even though I am not perfect, they still love me. Even though I don't always show them unconditional love, they still love me.
Daddy, Mommy, Sarah, Caleb, Rebekah, Anna,I love you. I am also thankful for my dear grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. And i thank the Lord for the time that He did give me with my great-grandparents, who are now in heaven with Jesus.

>> My friend. Okay, y'all are amazing. In my worst moments, y'all still love me. You love me even though you know my faults. You encourage me on my best days and worst days. You sharpen me, as we talk about God's Word and the things on the Lord. I love all of y'all!!! Friends in-town. Friends out-of-state and out of country. Blogger friends, whom I haven't ever met. I love you all. Thank you for being a blessing to me!!!

>>The Bible. It gives me my daily strength, encourages me, and challenges me. This is the Lord's letter of love and guidance written to us.Since we have the Bible, we can share the Gospel message to others.
Thank you Lord, for giving your written-word to us.

<< Other things. So many other things to be thankful for. God's creation. Church. Fellowship. Bible studies. Journals. Books. Internet(without this, I would have never been able to get to know all of you!). Little things. letters. phone calls. warm clothes. pretty shoes. handmade gifts.

I hope you all have a splendid Thanksgiving filled with giving thanks.

May the Lord bless you all.

What are you thankful for?

My daily life.

2011-11-23T10:50:00.001-06:00

For Today… Wednesday November 23, 2011

Outside My Window… It is cold and a bit cloudy, the ground is wet from the rain yesterday.

How I started my day... Read my Bible and ate breakfast.

I am thinking… I really need to doing some crafting and sewing for Christmas today!

I am thankful… for Christ, and what He did for me on the cross, and what He does for me everyday(loves me, guides me, etc.), my lovely family, and my dearest friends.

I am remembering...last Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I am hearing…my sister humming a tune while doing school, and this video. Oh, I just love this song!!!

I am going… to church this evening.

I am hoping…to finish my book that I am writing by November 30th.

On my mind… why don't more teens rebel against the low expectations that the world has set for us?

From the learning rooms…I am reading thee "Scarlet Letter".

From the kitchen…Nutella on toast for breakfast.

One of my favorite things…writing letters to friends, and receiving letters too! Oh, and wrapping presents and gifts too. *smile*

In my Bible, today, I read... the story of Ruth, and Samuel.

I am memorizing... Psalm 86:1-12.

Pondering these words…

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to
dance in the rain"

A few plans for the rest of this week…go to church tonight, go to grandparent's house for Thanksgiving tomorrow, possibly a funeral on Friday, shopping on Saturday, and church on Sunday.

From my picture journal…

*Sigh*. I wish I could go biking today, but unfortunately, I have a cold, so this picture will have to do, for now.

Have a lovely day as you prepare for Thanksgiving!

Our journey in life.

2011-11-21T16:52:00.001-06:00

Sometimes our journey through life is hard.

I have been going through some tough things lately, but I am resting in one thing.

If the Lord brought me to it, then He will bring me through it.

He knows all and He will help us. He has plans for us. Sometimes the process of the Lord breaking off our rough edges is painful, but it is a much-needed process.

This makes me think of the beautiful lyrics of a song that C.T. Townsend sang, "Through the Fire".

So many times I’ve questioned certain circumstances

Or things I could not understand
Many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision
And my frustrations get so out of hand
It’s then I am reminded I’ve never been forsaken
I’ve never had to stand the test alone
As I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me
It’s through the fire my weakness is made strong

And He never promised the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered victory without fighting but He said help would always come in time
Just remember when you’re standing in the valley of decision and the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again

I know within myself that I would surely perish
But if I trust the hand of God, He’ll shield the flames again

And He never promised the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again

Our journey through life is beautiful...no matter what it may hold. When you are having a hard time, hold on, for the Lord will show up!

baking + fall + recipe

2011-11-16T14:13:00.001-06:00

Last week, we had some friends over and did some baking! It was a lot of fun, and the sugar cookies that we made turned out wonderful! I was a little unsure about trying a new recipe(I could not seem to find my old one) at first, but now, I am glad that I did! This is my new favorite recipe for sugar cookies, and I look forward to making them again very soon.

We had four girls helping with the baking, plus me, so it was very messy, but really fun too. ;)

The sugar cookies were very soft and tasted so sweet and buttery! These cookies were pretty quick and easy, so they would be great to make around the holidays, and they would look really pretty iced and decorated.

Here is the recipe, if anyone is interested.

Easy Sugar Cookies

Servings- 48 (4 dozen)

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Oh, and keep in mind that they will at least double in size, so keep the balls of dough small.

I have also really enjoyed taking some photos of all our pretty leaves! Quite a lot the leaves have already fallen off our trees, and are now laying in piles.

And last, but not least, a shadow of me. ;)

Enjoy these lovely fall days, everyone!

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air. -"

Author: Eric Sloane

52 Verse Challenge.

2011-11-12T11:50:00.001-06:00

I hope that you are all doing well on this lovely Sunday evening. I don't know about you, but I had a wonderful day! I love Sundays, as it is a day of rest and time that we get to go to church and hear God's Word preached, plus spend time with family and friends.

A good friend of mine, Ana Renee , from Rubies like Ruth is hosting a verse memorizing challenge. The challenge is to memorize 52 verses from God's Word in one year, memorizing one verse a week. The challenge starts on January the first. What better way could we start off the New Year than to join a verse-memorizing challenge!

Hiding God's Word in our heart is such an important part of our Christian life!

The best thing is, that you can chose which 52 verses that you want to memorize the year out of the Bible. So, if you are struggling with a particular thing, then you can pick out certain verses that pertain to that. Or, if you want to memorize a short chapter and a few verses, you can do that to. The goal is to just memorize 52 verses in a year. However you do it is up to you!

Ana Renee has created a blog dedicated to the challenge here, so that we can stay updated to what is going on, and you can also read more about the challenge and how it works.

I really encourage each and every one of you to join this challenge! You can memorize your verses by yourself, or you can ask a friend to join you!

So, please pray about this and think about it, because I think it would help all of us so much to join this challenge. Also, spread the word and tell your friends!

Have a wonderful evening!

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
-Psalm 119:11

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

2011-11-11T09:05:00.000-06:00

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

crisp apples.

tiny acorns.

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

Emily Bronte

autumn leaves.

Yesterday was a lovely day in which I spent with some dear friends from church...playing instruments, having a tea party, baking brownies and sugar cookies, playing in the fall leaves, talking, laughing and more.

My dream is for fall to just go on and on....and for it to last forever, but, sadly, that will not happen, so I must enjoy it to the fullest.

Each and every one of the seasons that the Lord made are absolutely beautiful and divine, but my favorite is fall.

the leaves, the acorns. hot cocoa and cider. baking. thanksgiving. chilly weather. pumpkins. harvest.

AUTUMN.

cherish & and treasure it, for it is fleeting faster than we think.

*all photos via etsy.

a vessel.

2011-11-09T15:25:00.000-06:00

Safe inside your hands you hold me
Pain and tribulations mold me
I try to run away from you
The pain's too great you put me through
I find myself on my knees to pray
Then you hear the words you long for me to say

Make of me a vessel that you can always use
No matter how you break me, what I win or what I lose
Let me be a vessel pure and holy, perfect in your eyes
Lord, hear me when I cry, for you to make me, a vessel

Deep inside my heart you've shown me
Despite all my sins you've known me
I try to run away again
I break your heart with all my sin
I fall to you with tear-filled eyes
I run to you with broken heart and cry

Make of me a vessel that you can always use
No matter how you break me, what I win or what I lose
Let me be a vessel pure and holy, perfect in your eyes
Lord, hear me when I cry, for you to make me, a vessel

Make me into what you want for me to be
Oh, Lord, may my prayer be
Make of me a vessel that you can always use
No matter how you break me, what I win or what I lose
Let me be a vessel pure and holy, perfect in your eyes
Lord, hear me when I cry, for you to make me, a vessel
Oh Lord make me, a vessel
(Written and sung by Chris Sligh)

This song is just beautiful. So calming. So full of truth.
I listen to it quite frequently, so that I can be reminded that I am Christ's vessel and that I should let Christ mold me into something for His glory.
*Pause my music player at the bottom of the page and listen to this wonderful song "A vessel".

My poodle skirt.

2011-11-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

Oh, it is such a pretty day today! The only reason that I am indoors right now is because...I am writing! I decided the do National November Writing Month, so I have been really busy working on my novel.
But, hopefully, I will get some time today to go outside and just enjoy the weather!

Anyway, last week we went to our church's annual Family Fun Night! We had an awesome time. My sister, brother, and I helped with the games. Well, that night there was a costume contest for children, teens and adults, so I made a costume to wear that night.
After debating for a little bit, I decided to go as a 50's girl, and I made a poodle skirt!

I was inspired by this pattern...

...and mine come out like this-

My poodle skirt was really fun to make, once I figured out what I was doing. I did not use a pattern, so it was

a little tricky at first, but after a little help from my sewing teacher, I finished it! I really like how it turned out. I do wish that it could of been a little longer, but somehow I got carried away with the scissors and cut off too much. Oh well!

I just bought two yards of felt, some wide elastic for the waistband and a square of black felt for the poodle.

I added a scarf, blouse, hair bow, shoes and some red lipstick and I was ready to go! I just love what teenagers wore in the 50's!

Although I did not win the contest, it was definitely worth it and it is something that I can wear over and over again!

Have you ever made a poodle skirt?

What is your favorite era?

Have a lovely afternoon!

my life.

2011-11-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

i was reminded by a friends blog post today that bloggers are not what they seem to be on their blog.
most people only post about the beautiful and great parts of their lives. what they are really like, we do not know.

we all have hard times in our lives. i do, and you do too. we have days that are just bad days, we don't always look picture perfect...we make mistakes sometimes. and sometimes we get frustrated when things don't go our way and we wish like we could be like "so and so".
even the blogger that appears to be the most perfect is not.

she has bad hair days(we all do!).
she has frustrating days when nothing goes right.
she has times when tears drop from her eyes.
she has times when she doesn't think life is beautiful.

no one is perfect.

but, we still have a beautiful life no matter what.
even though life is sometimes hard, it is still beautiful.

when i think of wonderful times, i think of the mission trip i went on and

those beautiful carefree, saturday afternoons...

and i think of the fun fall festival we had at our church on monday night.

but, then there are hard times too...like when a friend looses

a loved one...when nothing seems to go right, and when

i feel like i am loosing my mind.

In all these times, God is there.

That is a wonderful truth that we can always rest in.

No matter what happens in our life, He will help us.

He is there watching out for us.

Even if no one else understand us or knows our pain,

He does.

He is always right there, no matter what happens.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

-Hebrew 13:5

2011-10-30T21:58:00.001-05:00

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

-Joshua 1:9

The Lord will give us strength and courage for each new day.

Some days might seem overwhelming, but the Lord never puts things into our lives that He cannot give us the strength to handle.

We are human and we will fail sometimes, but we can always get right up and start over again.

A fresh new day always awaits us.

come away.

2011-10-26T15:01:00.003-05:00

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."

-Solomon 2:10

it is early in the morning.

the house is quiet.

i hear nothing but the sounds of birds chirping and singing.

the sun comes up and lightens my room. i am sometimes tempted

to pull the warm covers over my head, but not today. why sleep when you can spend time with your best friend? i hear a quiet voice calling...calling to to come away. his voice is gentle and kind.

then, i hear it again. "come away with me. it is early and you have nothing to distract you.

why not talk to me and sit at my feet?"

i arise out of my bed and feel the chill in my room. i hurry to get dressed.

i look out of the window and see that is is a beautiful day.

the sky is blue.

the ground is covered with leaves of every color and size.

the sun is shining.

the birds are singing and praising the Lord.

after getting dressed, i pick up my Bible...oh my lovely Bible...

God's letter of guidance and love to me.

i sit at the kitchen table with the window open.

i can feel the warmth of the sun on my face.

i open up His Word...He guides me as I read.

i realize what i am missing when i chose

to sleep in late.

i sit at His feet. i pour my heart and soul out to him.

the Lord longs for us to rise early in the morning and spend time with him.

he longs to teach us from His Word and guide us in the way you we should go.

take his hand.

he beckons you to come away with him.

he longs to hold your hand and talk with you...

he loves you will everlasting love.

his love will never let you go!

Friday night thoughts.

2011-10-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

I am at my grandma's house right now...staying the night tonight...sitting here typing on her Mac computer in her beautiful, newly-painted, apple green kitchen.

Well, I have been thinking about becoming more like Christ and less like ourselves.

We are all sometimes selfish. We don't want to give of our things, our time, or our resources for others.
Christ, on the other hand, gave of Himself everyday to help those in need(both physically and spiritually). He came to earth as a humble servant. He healed people. He saved people. He served people.

We often complain about things because they do not go the way that we wanted them to go. We complain about the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the things we cannot do, etc.
Christ had a joyful heart. He daily praised and thanked the Lord for the things that He did have, instead of complaining of the things that He did not have.

There are many other examples that I could use, but I think you see what I mean.
We are sometimes so concerned about "our needs" and what we want, when we could use that time to be helping and serving others. If we truly are servants of the Lord, we need to become more like Him. If we stay the way we are, it is going to hinder us from giving completely over to the Lord and accomplishing what He wants us to do.

Lord, please help me to think about others before I think about myself. Help me to be more like you. It is not about me, Lord, but about you and others. My ultimate goal should be to bring glory to you, so give me the right attitude to do that. Do not let my"self-pity" or thoughts of what I want to get in the way of serving you.
I love you Lord and I long with all that is in me to be more like you!
Empty me of myself and fill me completely with you.

My prayer is that we might put away ourselves and desires, and serve the Lord and others.
I challenge you to try just one day of doing this. Try not to think of yourself for one day. And if you do think of yourself, take that moment to pray and ask the Lord to help you deny yourself. At the end of the day, you will see that you had a wonderful day and you will(Lord willing) want to do this every day.

This is not going to be easy. There are times when you will probably want to give it to yourself.
It is a daily struggle for me. But, with Jesus' help, we can do it.

You, 'O Lord deserve us to sacrifice of ourselves.
Empower us for your glory.

Have a wonderful weekend as you strive to serve the Lord!

hot cocoa. autumn. cold weather.

2011-10-19T16:29:00.001-05:00

hot cocoa on chilly october afternoons...is d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.

pouring the steaming liquid into your favorite mug, add a few tiny marshmallows and you have an amazingly delicious beverage.

i especially love hot cocoa on rainy, lazy afternoons in which i read books or pen a letter to a dear friend.

today was one of those days. i organized a bit, read, repaired a few clothing items, made a few birthday gifts for a lovely friend of mine and am about to sit down with a cup of cocoa and write a few overdue letters. so, it was not a completely "lazy" day, because i did get a few things done, but it has been a fun one.

autumn is bliss!

the weather has quickly changed cold and we have all said "goodbye" to out t-shirts, flip-flops and summer skirts for the year.

hello cold weather.

hello striped socks.

hello cozy, colorful sweaters.

hello hot cocoa.

hello to a beautiful time of year!

P.s. what do you think of my new header?

blessings. joys. smiles.

2011-10-15T19:05:00.000-05:00

Spending time with friends who love the Lord...

Beautiful fall days.

Sisters, a brother, and parents whom I love so much.

Starting your days with God's word...

He is calling you to come away with Him!

Raw wood...there is a unique beauty about it.

Mini cards and envelopes...

Wouldn't it just be too cute to hide these little notes in places where

your family and friends would find them?

Under pillows? In lunch-boxes? On a vanity? Under a door?

In a book?

Letters in the mailbox...just to know that a friend took the time

to write me a letter or note always brightens my day!

A cup of tea...

As of late, my favorite has been black peach tea with

a bit of milk in it. Oh, so delicious.

Apples. Crisp, juicy apples.

Deliciously delightful.

An encouraging Bible verse...

Be still and know that He is God.

He will take care of you.

Rest in His promises, for they are all true.

Exalt and praise His name!

What gives you joy?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

2011-10-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

-2 Corinthians 5:14-15

In the past week, I have had conversations with two different friends of mine about evangelism. It was quite refreshing to hear about people that they were sharing the Gospel with and opportunities that they have had to further spread the Gospel.

When sharing the gospel and doing things for the Lord, something constrains us. Something keeps us going. Something makes us want to do more for Christ. Something makes us want to press on and never give up.
This "something" is Christ's love.

His love was so powerful.
It was deep.
It was everlasting.
It was not swayed by anything that we did.

He died for all. He gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of everyone in the world.
He did this not for Himself, but for us. He died on Calvary's tree so that we would be able to have life and have it more abundantly!

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

-Mark 10:45

Without Him, we would be nothing. Without Him, oh, how lost I would be!
My life would be hopeless.
I would have nothing to live for... nothing at all.

But, now, we are living for none other than Jesus!
He keeps us going everyday.

His love and grace compel us to do something for Him.
It compels me to tell others about His love, just like someone told me.

Lies and Doubts.

2011-10-09T20:12:00.003-05:00

Often times we give into our flesh and we listen to lies that are going through the back of our minds. Sometimes we think we have gotten rid of them, but we have really just put them on the back-burner to pull out another time. Young women, like you and me, are persuaded easily by lies from the devil or our flesh. We also give into doubting things like God's love sometimes too. We tend to give into our emotions and the way we are feeling.

A few lies/doubts that I have come across are:
1. God has forgotten about me.
2. It is just too hard to wait on the Lord.
3. I need to make my own decisions.
4. One little sin will not matter or hurt.

These thoughts are thoughts that most if not all of us have thought before. What we do not realize though is that that the Lord does not forget about us! We never leaves us! There is no such thing as a God-forsaken place; God is everywhere at all times. He is here with me as I am sitting on my bed typing this and He is there with you even though you might live a million miles away from where I live. He is with every one of you. He is sitting right beside you. He is here. We are in the presence of the Almighty Lord!
Christ says in Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
So much more should we want to honor and please Him since He sees all we do and hears all we say! There is nothing that can be hidden from the Lord! He knows and sees all!!!

Let us not give into the devil or our flesh and listen to these doubts and lies. Listen to the Lord and read the Bible for those are the only 100% true sources on this earth!

For every doubt and lie that we hear, there is a promise from God.

1. God has forgotten about me.
God never forgets anything! He is a all-knowing God! You might think well He has fogotten about me because He has not answered my prayers. He always answers prayers. The answer to your prayer might not be what you wanted it to be, but He still answered it.
"I will never leave thee, not forsake thee." -Hebrews 13:5

2. It is just too hard to wait on the Lord!
When we have Jesus in our hearts, nothing is impossible! The Lord can and will give us strength to wait on Him!!!
"With God all things are possible." -Matthew 19:26

3. I need to make my own decisions.
No, you do not need to. If you make your "own" decisions you will end up making many, many mistakes, because you might think that you know what is best for yourself, but you do not. Only God knows.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct thy paths."
-Proverbs 3:5-6

4. One little sin will not matter or hurt.
We may thank that one little sin will not matter or hurt, but it will! The little(and big) things that we are doing today will affect our life in the future. Right now you are either making or marring your future life.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
-Galatians 6:7

God's promises always come to pass. His words are true! Believe on Him and do not listen to the lies and doubts that we may think about sometime. Dig deep into His word and read His promises. Cherish and treasure then.

Trust Him.
Have Faith.

He loves you with everlasting love! He will take care of you always.

Always & Forever.

A Movie Review: Courageous

2011-10-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, we had a chance to see the movie, Courageous. My friend's mom called us and asked me, my brother, and sister to go with them. Ever since Sherwood Films announced the making of a new movie, I was so excited. I had really enjoyed seeing Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel. It seemed so long until September 30, though. I waited and waited. Then, finally it was September 30, and I could hardly believe how quickly the time had gone by! It is amazing how quickly time goes by when you occupy yourself with other things.
I had seen the trailer several times before, but nothing could of prepared me for the movie that I saw. It was awesome!

Courageous is the story of four men: Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller.
The movie goes into the lives of these four men and their families. All of their lives are very different. They have different families, different struggles and so on. But, they are all Fathers. None of them really realize their true calling as Father's until a tragedy strikes and they begin to truly realize their role as a Father, leader and protector in their family.
Our country desperately needs more godly men that will be Courageous and step up to the plate! We need leaders that will make good choices for our country and train up their children in the way of the Lord.

My favorite part was probably seeing Jade, Nathan's 15-year-old daughter, accept the purity ring that her Father bought for her and agree to stay under her Father's protection while she was single. While sometimes this may be hard, it is important to trust our Father's. While Jade did not see why her Dad would not let her go on a date with the young man, it was all for her good. Our Dad's know best!!!

Watching this movie made me SO thankful to have such a loving Father! I love Him so much! I am so blessed to have such a godly Father who loves, guides, protects and provides for me.

This movie is a must-see for anyone! There are a lot of different parts that we can all relate to, even if we are women. I cannot think of even one think that could of been done to make it better, and that is why I am giving it five stars out of five.

So, have you seen Courageous? If so, what did you think about it??

P.S. On another note, my sister, Sarah made a good post on how to keep your blog, email, etc, from being hacked into.
You can read it here: http://alwayslive4him.blogspot.com/2011/10/avoid-being-hacked.html

Simple things.

2011-10-01T22:43:00.002-05:00

The simple things in life make it even better. Simple things like...

laundry on the line.

cucumbers growing in the garden.

typewriters.

chocolate-chip scones.

a stack of books that i am reading.

Beautiful.

Life is beautiful.

The Lord makes everything beautiful in His time.

Sometimes we think something is ruined or messed up, but the Lord has a plan and

He has just begun working. Before we were children of the King, we were like

broken pieces of glass. But, when we received Christ as our Savior, He took the

broken pieces and is making us into beautiful masterpieces for His glory.

Let Him mold you into something fit for His work.

Life.

2011-09-28T16:37:00.003-05:00

Life is so precious. Yet, lives are lost every day.

It seems way too often that I hear about a friend who has lost a dear family member or friend.

Just this week, I have heard about two friends of mine that lost their Daddy. Yes, their Daddy...their precious Father who loved them so much and would of laid down His life for them.

It is so sad. I cannot even begin to imagine what these young ladies are going through.

The sadness and pain...

No longer feeling needed or possibly not feeling loved anymore.

The emptiness inside.

Their heart breaking.

Regrets of things that did not say or do to show that they loved their family member

or friend so much.

The feeling like half of you is missing.

It just made me realize that life is precious and short. I am also thanking the Lord that I have not had to go through this before. I am so blessed. I have a wonderful, healthy family, yet I take that for granted quite often.

Also, we need to always carry a smile and joy wherever we go.

We never know when someone has just been back from a funeral and is grieving deeply.

A smile can make their day. A word of encouragement can lift their spirits.

Declaring God's love for them can give them hope.

You can make someone's gray day pretty.

autumn.

2011-09-24T15:46:00.001-05:00

all around us, things are quickly changing; quickly changing into

delightful season of fall.

i love autumn.

orange, red and yellow leaves. breezy, cool, crisp weather.

cozy sweaters. colorful socks and tights. tea. furry boots.

afternoons that i spend sitting under a tree writing a letter to a sweet friend

or reading a book.

taking naps on rainy days. curling up with a book while watching the fire glisten in the fireplace.

eating apple pie.

staying up late watching old movies and chatting with my big sis.

autumn is beautiful.

off all the seasons, fall is my favorite.

so, farewell dear summer! you have given me many lovely times and fulfilled many dreams.

until next year...

what is your favorite thing about autumn?

Psalm 136:3-7

2011-09-21T16:45:00.001-05:00

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach

Sometimes, we just need to take a break from the business of life. Running around here and there, projects,etc.
Often we just need to take a break from these things and just sit still and be quiet. Take that quiet time to reflect on your life and talk to the Lord. These times are much-needed in all of our lives. Sometimes, we just get so busy and things are so crazy that we forget to give thanks and thank the Lord for all our blessings.

Reflect.
Think about what you have been doing. What are my top priorities?
What matters the most to me? What do I think about when I wake up and when I go to sleep?
What do I put my whole heart in to and use all my energy doing?

Count your blessings.
Take time to count your blessings!
We all have so much to be thankful for. Make a list of the gifts that God has given you. Sometimes the most meaningful blessings are the small ones.

This week I am thankful for...
-Breezy fall-ish days.
- Laughter at twilight.
-Big smiles from little siblings.
- Gorgeous blue eyes.
-Journals in which we pen our deepest thoughts.
-Good news.
-The "ding" of typewriters.
-Hugs and kisses from family.

Little things in our life make it special.

Give thanks....

"O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:"

-Psalm 136:3-7

Use your life to be one of thanksgiving and worship to the Lord. Time is short! We need to use what time we have to use it for the best.

Thanksgiving.

Blessings.

Joy abundant.

Justified!

2011-09-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

Just think...all because of Him you are justified. It is because of Him that our debt is paid.We could not pay the debt for our sin! It is because of Him we are what we are. He took all our sin away!

It is because of Him that we are justified.

He gave us life through his precious and holy name!!! He took our sin---dirty and filthy, and exchanged it for new life in His name.

May we praise Him every day and give Him thanks for He is worthy!!

He has done so much for us.

We have new life in Jesus's name!

Typewriters-

2011-09-17T20:51:00.002-05:00

There is just something about getting out your old typewriter and typing out your thoughts and watching them dance along the pages. Typing on a typewriter is just one of those beautiful things in life.

Some people exercise or play music to release stress, I type on my typewriter instead.

I love the cool, breezy, fall afternoons in which I sit on my bed, with the window open, and pour my soul out with words. I love the "ding" noise that it makes when I go to a new line. And the satisfaction you get when you finish a paper, story, or poem on your typewriter is priceless.

Some people will switch to computers and put their typewriter away in the attic, but mine, it will stay faithfully beside me.

How deep...oh so deep is His love.

2011-09-14T21:23:00.002-05:00

Tonight, I just began to think about the love that Christ had for us.

His love was so deep that He died on the cross for us. He knew that we were going to keep sinning, but He loved us so much that he died for us anyway. He loved all of us in all our sin and the filth of it. He did not do it for himself, but for us. Our sins held Him there. Thank the Lord for the blood of the Lamb that He shed for us!!! It is only because of Him that I am here. I did not do anything to earn it. Even if I did, it would not have made any difference. We couldn't have done anything to earn salvation!
Please think about the words as you listen to" How Deep The father's Love For Us".

The painful memory of...9/11

2011-09-11T17:35:00.001-05:00

Today marks the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

That day was a tremendous tragedy for many.

I was but four when it happened, so I do not remember much about that day, unlike some which the memory is burned into their minds. I have always heard about 9/11 and seen television programs about it, but it was not real for me. It seemed so far away and like such a distant thing.

When I went to New York a month ago for a mission trip, everything became so real.

I got to see where the Twin Towers actually stood. It all became very real. I was standing in the street where it all happened.

(The re-building of the Twin Towers)

A few of the people on our mission team actually got to talk to people who witnessed 9/11 and had family die on that horrible day. I have also watched several programs about 9/11 today and it breaks my heart how many people lost their lives during that day, or lost their loved ones.

Ten years ago, these streets were covered with debris.

Ten years ago, many, many people lost their lives.

Ten years ago, the streets were crowded with people trying to escape.

Ten years ago, America experienced this dreadful event.

But, ten years ago, many trusted in God for their help. And we still should trust in the Lord today, no matter what happens in the future.

He is in control.

However much it pains us to remember that day, we must remember it.

It was a time in history.

We must remember to pray for the people who are still hurting because of that day and pray that they come to the Lord.

So many lives were lost, many families torn apart, but there are so many courageous men and women that we need to honor and remember.

small things.

2011-09-10T14:35:00.002-05:00

It is the little words you speak, the little thoughts you think, the little things you do or leave undone, the little moments you waste or use wisely, the little temptations which you yield to or overcome---the little things of every day that are making or marring your future life.(taken from Morning devotional by D.L. Moody)

Small things.
-Zechariah 4:10

More pictures from New York...

2011-09-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

Well, I finally gathered more pictures from our trip, so here they are!
Hopefully there will be more to come!
*Pictures taken by S.K.

A park that we ate at.

The re-building of the Twin Towers...

A park that we did a Kid's club at...

Little girls playing in the water.

Inside the subway.

Sarah(my sister), my Mom and I...about to get on the subway.

Our group walking.

Central Park.

Our whole group-

I pray that each and ever one of the people on our mission team will continue to live and share the Gospel like the trip never ended!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

-Philippians 4:13

My heart is fixed on you, Lord.

2011-09-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

I have some many things to tell all of you...so many things I have learned in the past week and still so many things to tell all of you about the mission trip...but there is just not enough time to tell it all now.
School started back for me about a week ago, so I have been pretty busy with that and quite a few other things too.

And I still cannot believe that it is already September even though I see the weather slowly getting cooler...
Fall is getting closer and closer!

I am just reminded of God's goodness and blessings.

I sat outside a few nights ago and just praised the Lord. I asked Him to always help me to have my total attention set on Him and Him alone. It was dark outside and all was quiet. The moon was gleaming and was beautiful. It was just me and the Lord. My times alone with the Lord are always so sweet. Whether I am going through a trial in my life, or I am just praising Him and giving thanks, I am reminded of his presence. He is always here with me and here with all of us.

I am also reminded that we should always press on toward the high mark and set our affection on things above.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
-Colossians 3:2

He who has his affections set on things above is like one who hangs on by the skies. And having secure hold of these, he could say, though he saw the world roll away beneath his feet, "My heart is fixed; my heart is fixed; O Lord, I will sing and give praise!
(By Guthrie)

If our heart is fixed on things above and the Lord, all else will fall in place!

Have a wonderful week!!!

Happy Birthday to my dear sister...

2011-08-27T16:57:00.004-05:00

Today is my sister, Sarah's 16th birthday!
I am so amazed on how quickly the time has gone...I can remember her 13th birthday.

My sister is the best big sister that I could ever ask for.
She is...

1. Beautiful.
2. Talented.
3. Loving.
4. Caring. She is always available to help me out with anything and listen to my questions, problems, etc.
5. Hilarious. She cracks me up quite frequently. We have such good times together.
6. Sweet.
7. Thoughtful.
8. Good with kids. I always admired that she had lots of kids following her around anyway we went. She will make a great Mommy someday! :)
9. A Blessing.
10. The best sister in the whole world. I could never ask for a better sister!!!

So, Happy Birthday, Sarah!

I hope you have a wonderful year as you continue to walk with the Lord!!!

I love you!!!

The Lord is our strength.

2011-08-27T14:30:00.004-05:00

Today I was just thinking about how powerful the Lord is. Christ always picks us up when we are down. He sustain us and fills us up with HIS strength.
When we are weak, He makes us strong.
One of my experiences on my mission to New York really proved how amazing the Lord really is.
It was early in the evening and it was street preaching time. Most of the mission team was already exhausted from the long day. While the men were preaching, all of us ladies and girls were standing around in a semi-circle listening and waiting for people to talk to.
I was so tired. I really did not think that I could make it any more.
So, there I was, just exhausted. I almost thought that I would collapse on the ground. Yep, it was that bad.

My strength was gone...

My energy was gone...

and sadly, most of my want-to was gone too...

but Christ's, it was just getting started.

While standing around the sketch board while one of the teenage guys preached, I whispered a prayer. I told the Lord that I could not make it alone. I just could not do it. But, if Christ gave me strength and empowered me, I could do anything. I then earnestly asked the Lord to put someone in my path to share the gospel with, or just encourage. I also asked Him to give me strength and endurance.
I turned around after the young man finished preaching, and there stood a Mexican lady.

We talked for a while and I found out that she had already knew the Lord as her personal Savior.
It is such a blessing to talk to others that are following Christ!

From then on, Christ sustained me.
He gave me strength.

He helped me to endure for His sake.

He was enough for me.

He IS enough for me and always will be.

He is all I need.

I was no longer tired, I was energized and ready for our next mission.

The Lord never lets us down!

He is always with us and looking out for us.

What a mighty God we serve!!!

He is able to give you strength so that you can carry on, just trust Him!!!

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

-Proverbs 3:5

Pictures from New York...

2011-08-24T14:33:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures from my mission trip to New York!

We really did not get any photos of us talking to people or doing mission work, because there really was not any time! We were busy almost every minute of the trip! But, I hope you enjoy the pictures that I do have.

Note: All pictures were taken by my sister, Sarah.

A park in which we had on-one-one conversations with the people in.

One of the street corners in which the men and teenage boys preached on.

The statue of Liberty;we got to ride the ferry to see it!

I really enjoyed the ride, since this was my first time on any sort of boat.

My dear friends!

From left to right:

Rebekah, Leah, Me, Sarah(my sister) and Lauren.

The room that all nine of us girls on the mission team slept in-

(Sorry that it is pretty messy---we were in such a hurry in the mornings that we didn't have a chance to make beds and such.)

The church that we stayed at in New York...

The huge pipe organ-

My dear Mother...

The subways.

We had to ride on the subways every day to get to the places where we would be having Adult Meetings, Kid's Meetings, etc.

So, that is all of the pictures that I have of New York right now, but hopefully, I will have more soon!

I am waiting on some pictures from a few friends. =)

Have a blessed day!

I am back....

2011-08-20T14:43:00.004-05:00

Hello. I am finally back!

It is so good to be back home and to be together with the rest of my family.
I do miss my friends and the mission team though.

It is almost strange to be sleeping in my own house and not in a church...it felt so good to be back in my bed last night.

I have so many things piling up....emails, blog posts, letters and laundry too. I feel as if I have been gone forever, but it was really only about 12 days.

My trip was so good though. The Lord was with me every step of the way. It was incredible to see Him work through us. Last week was probably the most amazing week in my whole life. It was such an eye-opener.

The Lord did some wonderful things during the week in so many people's lives. All the glory to Him!

There were times when I just couldn't go on any more. I was exhausted and all my strength was gone. Like always though, Christ picked me up and gave me strength. He will always give us strength for each new day. I saw this to be so true. He will never leave us!!! He is always with us.

The mission trip was so good for me. I learned so many things about sharing the gospel with others and what true evangelism really was.
God-honoring evangelism is not something that we do; but it is who we are.
When we interact with people, they should not see "us", but they should see the Holy Spirit spilling out of us.

For victory in evangelism we must be willing to launch into the deep, out of our comfort zone, where we know and benefit from a total dependence on Christ.
To be honest, the first few days in New York were really hard. It is hard to just walk up to someone that you do not know and share the gospel with them. Christ kept me going though. Our job it just to share the Gospel with others. What they do with Christ is their choice. We just have to obey Christ and leave the rest up to Him.

There are so many things I could tell y'all and so many stories I could share, but for now,
I must say goodbye.

I hope to share pictures and more about the mission trip very soon!!
Many thank to all who prayed for me, my sister, and Mom during the mission trip.
I really appreciate it!

Well, I hope you all are doing well and are having a great day.

Bye for now.

Going away...

2011-08-05T12:13:00.003-05:00

"The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

-Psalm 145:9

I am going away....

Wow.
I can hardly believe it, but I am leaving for the New York mission trip tomorrow morning.
The time has gone by so quickly. I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do during this trip. I pray that He uses me and everyone else on the team for His glory. I am hoping that He will do some amazing things! I know He will do some awesome things, if we will only trust Him to and give over everything to Him.

This has been a wonderful week...I can see the Lord working all around me.

The sunsets have been so beautiful.

The rain has been a blessing. Oh, we really needed it so much.

The letters from my dear friends have been so sweet.
I have so many wonderful friends!!!

Oh, and Christ's lessons for in the past few weeks have been so amazing.
I serve such a mighty God!
Even when I let Him down, He always picks me up and forgives me.
He is the creator of wonderful things. His mercies amaze me more and more every day.
I have been ever so blessed!!!
I cannot even put how much I love Him into words.

I really do not understand why some people think that there is no God.
He leaves His footprints everywhere!

Every time that I open His Word, the Bible, He has something that He wants me to learn that day.
He has something new to teach me and instruct me in.
It is so important to open His Word every day!!
Just open your Bible and ask Him to teach you and guide you through your reading.
He will speak to you.

My family and I are leaving tomorrow morning, probably around 9:00. Lord-willing, I will return on the 18th of August.

I would really appreciate it if you kept us in your prayers as we drive and go on this mission trip.

I will miss you all!!

Keep on keeping on for Christ!!!

So, tell me, what has the Lord been showing you in your life and in your Bible reading?

A faithful servant...

2011-07-30T11:29:00.002-05:00

A faithful servant. Faithful.
When we all get the heaven and life here on earth is over, would it not be wonderful for the Lord to say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
There are times where we feel that God is not with us and He is not there, but He is.
There are times when we feel like giving up, but please, don't do it. Don't quit. Keep going and keep working.
Press on. Keep serving Christ with everything that you have.

Don't let the fire in your heart go out! Don't let Christ down!!

Faithful.

Be faithful to Christ.

He was faithful to you and He still is. He never leaves you or forsakes you.
Even when we mess up and let God down, get up and start again.
It will be worth it.
Ask the Lord to make you His faithful servant!

"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"
-Deuteronomy 7:9

Disappointments.

2011-07-27T14:05:00.007-05:00

"Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." -John 13:7

One of Christ's best teachers is disappointment. Disappointment gives us hard lessons. It sometimes leads us into thorny paths and rough roads. Disappointment often strips off a load of luxuries and makes our heavenward way freer and lighter. As much as disappointment hurts, I am thankful for it. Number seventy-two on my give thanks list is disappointment.

I have to be honest though. Disappointments can be very hard. Sometimes I did not think I could go on, but Christ brought me through the valley! He is always faithful. Even in the valley, God is faithful and true!

Also, disappointment shows us where our total focus is and what our priorities are.

For example, am I disappointed because I can't go to church that Wednesday, or am I disappointed because I can't go to the movies?

Disappointment can show us those things that we focus on too much and things that we need to let go of.

Thank God for these times, because during these times, you are learning lessons that will last a life-time.

Time-

2011-07-23T10:53:00.005-05:00

In these past few weeks, I have been thinking about time. The real problem of life is never a lack of time. The real problem of life-and in my life- is a lack of thanksgiving and gratefulness. Thanksgiving will, and does, create abundance. Life is not an emergency. It is brief and fleeting, but it is not an emergency. We all need to just slow down. That is what is wonderful about thanksgiving...it makes you stop, slow down, and think. You have to slow down to give thanks. We all have so much to be thankful for. And we all, at some time, take all our blessings for granted. So, I decided that I would start out a list in my journal of 100 things to be thankful for.

I started only a week or two ago, yet I have almost made it to 60. Wow. I am so blessed!!! I would encourage you all to start a list too.

Christ gives us time. We just have to decided what to do with the time that He gives us.

Use the time that God gives you for His glory!! Time is limited.

Give thanks.

Would you be willing?

2011-07-16T21:52:00.004-05:00

While going through a dear friend's old posts tonight, I came across this video by Leslie Lundy. Wow. It was convicting. I know that I sometimes fail in this area. I tend to put things that do not matter before my time with God. I sometimes wait until I am really tired to really spend time with Him. But, now, I am hoping that will change. I want Christ to be the main goal in my life. I want my life to be a honeymoon with Jesus.
There were three question that Leslie asked-

1. Where do I spend the best hours of my day?
2. Where do I turn to for rest, enjoyment, and pleasure?
3. Are there things in my life that I can't imagine giving up?

This is a good way to tell if something had become a idol in our lives. Idols dominate us. It takes up the majority of our time and we think about it more than we think about Christ. Even good things can become idols if we put them above God. Even a friendship could become an idol. We have to be careful that we always give Christ number #1 place in our lives. He deserves everything!!

Would I be willing? Would I be willing to give this "thing" up, if Christ asked me to? Would I say "Yes" and give it up, or would I say "No, Lord. It is too important."?

Would you be willing???

If I was locked up for a long time in prison, would Christ's presence be enough?? Would I be content in Him and Him alone? Don't wait until everything is stripped away to have a honeymoon with Jesus, because you can do it now. I can do it now.

Lord, I surrender to you. You always know what is best for me. When you tell me that something has become too important in my life, I will give it up. I will give it up for you! I love you more than anything. I offer you all that I am! Make me a vessel for you!! I surrender all.

He will sustain you. He will fulfill you. He will give you all you need in life if you will let Him.

I want my life to be a honeymoon with Jesus. Do you?

Would you be willing to give everything up for Him?

Edit: I just realized that my little devotional that I read this morning went right along with this! Isn't it amazing when the Lord shows you things that you need to work on, and sometimes you don't even realize it at first?

"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me."
-John 4:34

The real secret of an unsatisfied life lies too often in an unsurrendered will.
J. Hudson Taylor
(From Morning Devotional by D.L. Moody)

Mission trip 2011: New York

2011-07-16T12:16:00.004-05:00

The Lord has given me the wonderful opportunity to go on a mission trip to New York with my Mom and sister. The Lord truly provided it! He amazes me more and more every day. He can do anything! Anything. I really did not think that we could go. There were so many things to work out and it was quite complicated, but the Lord is working everything out! Praise the Lord!

I will be leaving on August 8th, I believe, and will returning the 16th. So, at that time, I will not be able to answer emails, phone-calls and comments, but I will reply to them as soon as I get back. But, until then, I will try to post faithfully and keep you all updated.

Please pray that many will receive Christ as their Savior. We definitely need the Lord to work through us as we share the gospel and Christ's love with these people! We will be doing some street ministry and some children's programs as well. I am hoping that it will be a wonderful week for me, as I will have no distractions from my walk with Christ. No computer, TV, etc. Also, two of my wonderful friends are going, along with their Dad, and I am so excited to be with them. They are such sweet, godly girls and I always enjoy our fellowship and time together! It is so encouraging and refreshing to be with people that love the Lord! Don't you agree?

It will be a whole new experience for me. I will be in a whole new place and have to talk to people that I don't know; but I know that it will be really good for me. It will force me to step outside of my little comfort zone, which sometimes, I tend to stay in. I know that it won't be easy, but Christ will strengthen and help me every day.

I am sure I will have lots of stories and photos when I come back to share with you all. =)

Please remember to pray for us, and the whole team that is going, that we would grow closer to Christ as we share the gospel. Without God and a team that is rooted in Christ, we will not be able to do anything. A week is not that long, but God can do anything, if we are bonded in Him! May we glorify and give Christ the praise for anything that happens!

And remember, even if you are not going on a missions trip this summer, you can still be a missionary right where you are!

Have a great day as you serve our Savior!

Finding strength for each new day...

2011-07-13T11:45:00.005-05:00

"...as thy days, so shall thy strength be."
-Deuteronomy 33:25

No day without its duty; no duty without strength to perform it.
(From Morning Devotional by D.L. Moody)

Some days, it may seem that we cannot carry on and that all our strength is nearly gone. I have definitely felt this way before. But, every time, Christ gives me the strength to go on.

He always provides the strength that we need for each day.

Every day we have a duty to do, but no matter what that duty is, Christ will always provide us strength to perform it.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".
-Philippians 4:13

What I have been doing...

2011-07-09T12:17:00.004-05:00

I have been busy, busy and busy!

I have really enjoyed my summer thus far. What about you?

I have been....

Reading books.

I have read almost the whole Christy series and the Millie Keith series. And now I am reading the Hidden Hand,

Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott, and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I also hope to get my hands on a copy of "Joyfully at Home" by Jasmine Bauchum soon.

Writing letters to my dear friends. I really enjoy writing letters and receiving them too!

"Letters are above all useful as a means of expressing the ideal self; and no other method of communication is quite so good for this purpose. In letters we can reform without practice, beg without humiliation, snip and shape embarrassing experiences to the measure of our own desires..."

~Elizabeth Hardwick

Sewing.

From a craft tutorial that I found on the Internet, I learned how to make rolled fabric rosettes. You can make these rolled rosettes from fabric or ribbon. They so cute and very easy to make too! You can make the flowers into hair clips, jewelry, or sew them onto a purse, or anything!

Playing violin.

I always work on several songs at a time, but right now, I am trying to work mainly on a song that I will be playing at church. It is called "Hiding Place". It is a very lovely song and I hope to have it down by the end of this month.

Baking.

I just love baking! I have made several chocolate cakes and some delicious cinnamon rolls too.

One of the greatest and most rewarding joys of a homemaker is baking for her dearest family!

Journaling.

Journaling is most enjoyable for me. I am pretty much addicted to journaling and writing. Since I am sometimes too tired in the evening to write, I carry a pocket-sized journal and pencil in my purse.

I can tell the daily happening of life, my ideas, my dreams, poems that I have written, what the Lord has showed me in my spiritual life, quotes, and more!

So, what have you been doing this summer?

Do you have any vacation plans?

Have a wonderful summer day!

Independence day...

2011-07-04T12:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Independence day to all of you!

Many people have given of their service, and some, their lives, for us.

America is a land of freedom, a land of beauty. We have the freedom to worship Christ and to serve the Lord. May countries do not have this freedom. And, yet, many of us take this blessing for granted.

Today, especially, we should remember the people who gave of their lives and service for this country. And may we thank Christ for allowing us to be born here!

I hope you all have a great day as we celebrate our country's birthday.
May Christ continue to bless America!!!

Enjoy the fireworks, grill-outs, watermelon and time with family and friends!

Have a wonderful day,
Miriam

2011-06-29T16:02:00.002-05:00

Lately, after reading my Bible in the morning, I will read a page in "Morning Devotional", by D.L. Moody. So far, these devotionals have been really good. It seems that almost every day when I am struggling or having a hard time with something, that it what the devotional is about that day. It is so amazing to see the Lord showing me things and speaking to me through different things.
One particular devotion really stood out to me that I read yesterday.

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
-Acts 13:2

"We have such a nice little quiet shady corner in the vineyard, down among the tender grapes, with such easy little weedings and waterings to attend to. And then the Master comes and draws us out into the thick of the work, puts us in a part of the field where we never would have thought of going, and puts larger tools into our hands, that we may do more at a stroke. And we know we are not sufficient for these things, and that the very tools seem to heavy for us, and the glare too dazzling and the vines too tall. Ah, but would we dally, go back? He would not be in the shady corner with us now, for when he out us forth, He went before us. And it is only by close following that we can abide with Him."
-Frances Ridley Havergal

The work that Christ leads us to do, might not be what we had in mind, but it was what he had in mind for us to do! He has bigger things in mind. Even though the tools might seem to big and the work too hard, with God's help, we can do it.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
-Philippians 4:13

May blessings to you all!

Blessings come through raindrops...

2011-06-25T15:22:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, while I was at my grandma's house making a birthday cake for my mom's surprise party, I heard "Blessings", by Laura Story on the radio.

The words just spoke to my heart. We all pray for blessings and peace, comfort,protection, healing, and prosperity. But, sometimes, we do not realize that sometimes blessings come through raindrops and that healing sometimes comes through tears. Christ hears each spoken thing and He will take care of us. He might not answer prayers the way the we want Him to, but we knows what is best for us! I know that I have some dreams and I am sure you all do too. And if none of those dreams ever come to pass, we still need to be content and satisfied. This is a very hard thing for me and I pray that Christ will continually help me to just let go of my desires and dreams. It is very hard and sometimes we might find it nearly impossible, but by God's grace, help, and encouragement, it can happen! We need to trust Christ in our lives, because he always knows best!

Always.

We might not understand His plan right now. It might not make any sense. Sometimes, I have thought,"What? You want me to not do that, Lord?". I could not see why. I did not understand. But after I did what he said, it made sense. It was for a reason! We need to just trust Him anyway and give Him complete control of our lives.

Blessings- By Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Have a great weekend.

I love you all.

Makeup: Why or why not??

2011-06-22T12:29:00.001-05:00

So, I enjoy wearing make-up on occasion. I think it is pretty normal for ladies to want to look nice and enhance their natural beauty. I am not talking about creating something that is not there, but just enhancing it. There is absolutely nothing is wrong with wearing makeup as long as you do not overdo it and are wearing it for the right reason. Do you wear it to cover yourself up because you do not think that you are beautiful? If so, you do not need to be wearing it! The Lord has made each and every one of us to be beautiful young ladies. When we try to cover it up, then we are making our Savior and Creator sad.
How would you like it if you spent a lot of time to make a beautiful dress for your friend, then she wore it, but with a black cloak over it?
You would probably be very sad and disappointed, because your friend was covering up the loveliness of the dress and hiding it away. This is the way that Christ feels when we try to cover up ourselves. Wearing a little bit of makeup it fine, but we do not want to overdo it. Now, I completely understand why some girls have decided not to wear it. It does take time to apply it and money to buy it. Also, sometimes, girls get so consumed with their appearance and themselves, that that is all that they do. When they are not at home looking into a mirror, they are worrying what others think of them. I truly believe that the key is moderation. If the applying of cosmetics hinders us from things that we should be doing, or even our walk with Christ, then it is not a good idea.

I would love to hear all of your thoughts of the subject,girls!

So,do you wear makeup? Why or why not?

The Lord speaking...

2011-06-18T10:35:00.001-05:00

Wow. It is so amazing and wonderful when the Lord speaks to you through someone or something. I read a blog post yesterday written by a friend, and the words just jumped out at me. I knew that the Lord definitely led this young lady to write this post, if not for any other, than it was for me.

These verse that she used really stood out to me-

"I have set the LORD always before me:

because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:

my flesh also shall rest in hope...

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:

in Thy presence is fulness of joy;

at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

- Psalm 16:8-9, 11

These verses are so true. Christ is at our right hand, and if we are grounded into his Word, we will not be moved even in the midst of struggles in our life. Christ will lead us and fill us with His presence and joy.

So, be looking for ways that the Lord might speak to you today. Listen closely to the words of songs, preaching and such. And obey when you think that the Holy Spirit is telling you to do something, because He has a purpose for everything!

Update-

2011-06-15T15:15:00.001-05:00

Hello again!
I had a few minutes, and I thought I would give you all an update on Luke.
It turns out he just had a concussion. And he was bleeding, because he bit his lip really hard. He went home from the hospital last night. I am just praising the Lord that it was nothing really serious and that he is okay. God is good!!!
And thank you all for praying for him! I really appreciate your prayers!!

Have a nice rest of the week!!

Love from your sister In Christ,
Miriam