From a Book

I read a book by Janette Oke while I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law this past week.  I don't notice many great truth's that are written in plain ol' fiction books very often.  I found this book to be an exception.

Closer to the ending of the book, a new pastor comes to the church the main character, Berta, attends.  His introductory sermon basically runs as follows:
    
     "Why am I here? I am here because I believe in God. I believe in a God.  I think it is perfectly reasonable to believe in a God. Not MANY gods.  Many gods would result in chaos.  Lesser gods, greater gods, warring gods, self-seeking gods.  Can you imagine such a world? It wouldn't work. If a god isn't really God of all, then he is no god at all.  Therefore, I believe in one god, the God, the reason for all that is and all that ever will be.  So, to me it has been settled. Forever. Clearly. I believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things."
     "Since the Creator God has given us His Word, then it follows that I must also believe that the Bible, which tells us of Him, is truth.  It is His revelation to mankind.  The oldest and most accurate of religious documents, revealing who He is and what He stands for. So, I believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, and I believe that the Bible is His revelation to mankind of who and what He is."
     "If I believe that Bible is given by Him, and He is God, the God, then I must accept this Book as it is.  all of it. To dissect it and choose this and throw out that would discredit it all. To pick my own passages to please my own theories or personal pet doctrines, or pattern my own philosophies or religion on what tickles my ears or pleases my fancy, and reject what else it says, would invalidate the whole. So I must believe and accept it all for what it says throughout.  Thus, I believe in one God, the God, One, though triune, Make and Sustainer of all things.  I believe the Bible is His revelation to mankind. I believe the Bible must be accepted and obeyed in its entirety. It is the written Word of God."
     "So all my sermons will come directly from these pages.  We will study together what the Word says.  We will pray for understanding and His wisdom.  We will pray for willingness to accept with open hearts and minds what that means for you, for me, in our everyday.  We face hard questions in our modern world, but the answers are here in this Book.  To find the answers we must first know the Source, God.  God the Father, who loves us.  god the Son, who redeems us.  God the Spirit, who leads us.  On God, yet three in person, in working, a mystery beyond our human comprehension, but one God."
     "Our purpose for meeting here from Sunday to Sunday is to get to know that God.  To know Him better and better so that we can worship Him more fully."

Okay, so I didn't fully agree with the last sentence.  I feel that the purpose of study throughout the week is more to get to know God better, and the Sunday to Sunday meetings are to worship Him with fellow believers. Although, the Sunday sermon is a time to get to know God better.

Anyways, I just thought I'd share with ya'll.  this book wasn't written all that long ago, but I just love the way Oke explained that we are facing mysteries (trials and people outside the church questions or beliefs and trying to shake our foundations, Genesis specifically) and that we MUST go back to the Bible to stand firm.

What a Joke!

We have three dogs

A Blonde

A Brunette

&

A Red Head

Music

Funny story.

I just went to go listen to a CD on my laptop, and the first song that came on was titled "Music For Silent Movies." I immediately imagined the kind of music you hear when you would watch a silent film.  Here's an example:

"Silent Film Music" Link

Yeah, well, that wasn't what came on.  I clicked play and there wasn't any sound at all.  I started laughing immediately and wondered why in the world they had actually played a joke on the person listening to this CD! Of course it didn't sound like anything cause it was for a silent movie, which is silent! So I laughed for a minute and went on to the next song.  This was from Singing In The Rain, and it too was completely silent.

Needless to say, I had been mistaken about the first song and the sound just wasn't working on my laptop.  So, I restarted the computer and played the song again, and sure enough, it was a song very similar to that in the clip I added.

I'm VERY glad I got the whole sound thing worked out, cause I then got to talk to friends from JHBC for over an hour! Yahoo!! :)

Quotable Quotes: 12 (Or something like that)

"You don't have to be  a ma and a pa and  four kids to be a family. All you needed was people livin' together and lovin' and helpin' one another.  That's what makes a family - blood-ties and love-bonds." - Once Upon a Summer

"I've got two shoulders haven't I?"
"Yeah, and I like how they're arranged.  One on each side."
- Mickey Rooney and Bob Hope in "Off Limits"

"When you open your eyes in the morning, rejoice in the renewal of God's lovingkindness and tender compassion for you." - Gregg Harris Day By Day

Psalm 103

In my Bible study today I read Psalm 103.  The subject was grace.  I've read this chapter many times before, but I was blessed again today by the truth's it contains.

 Psalm 103 (ESV)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
  and all that is within me,
  bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
  and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
  who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
  who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
  so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
  and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
  his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
  slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
  nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
  nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
  so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
  so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
  so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
  he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
  he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
  and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
  and his righteousness to children's children,
18  to those who keep his covenant
  and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
  and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
  you mighty ones who do his word,
  obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
  his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the LORD, all his works,
  in all places of his dominion.
 Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Music

This is how I think I look or sound like when I play:

How I sound to myself


This is how I probably really sound:

How I really sound

Take My Life and Let It Be

This song is amazing.  I want it to be my daily prayer, that I would be used for His service and glorify Him in all that I do.


Take My Life and Let It Be
Written by Frances R. Havergal
I've added a little about my thoughts on each of these verses. 

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
(I have no life, but through Him.  It must be lived for Him.)

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
(I grumble when I encounter "problems".  I should shout praise to Him who has given me another day to live.  Each day should be lived with praise to Him.)

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
(I can do many things with my hands, and each thing can be done for His glory.  Each action should be done with love.)

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
(Do I drag my feet when doing things for Him?  Shouldn't each thing I do be done with cheerfulness?)

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
(To often the sound coming from my mouth is not a praise to Him, but a grumble or a groan.  I have a voice that should be used to sing His praise.  For any other thing it is useless.)

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
(Am I His messanger? Do I sit back or bite my tongue when I could be witnessing for Him?)

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
(I don't have much, but what I have is on loan from Him. How can I reason to keep it when it isn't even mine to start with?)

Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
(I do not know why God has blessed me with the ability to think, other than to think on Him.  I pray He would reveal to me His purpose.)

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
(Ah, this is one of the hardest things.  Not only do I say "Thy will be done," but I also pray that my will be broken, bent and banished to make way for His will.  All to often  think that my way is the best way, and each and every time I am reminded that I am a frail human that has no idea what is really good for me.)

Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
(My heart belongs to God.  He abides in me, and I abide in Him.  He is the lover of my soul.)

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
(I use "love" far to much and often for things I kind of like.  All my love goes to my Savior, and though bits and pieces of earthly love might be spread around to my family and friends, that was first given to Him.  I do not think one can truly love without knowing the love of God.)

Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.
(I. Am. His.)

Random Fact of the Day

When I type "haha" in a text, in my head I say "hahahaha." One "ha" for each letter I guess!

Pull Me Closer

I realize more and more each day just how many decisions I make.  Large ones. Small ones.  Ones that directly effect others.  Ones that indirectly effect others.  Good ones.  Bad ones.  All sorts.
I've been faced with some pretty big decisions lately, and I realize how blessed I am to have the parents I do.  They encourage me in my walk, helping me make decisions, pointing out flaws, encouraging successes, being my wise councilors.  I cannot begin to express how much they help me and bless me.

While make decisions lately, this song has been running through my head.  I looked it up on the internet so I could share the lyrics, but they aren't on there, so I listened to it a couple times to try to get the lyrics right.  I may have missed some, but I did my best! :)

Pull Me Closer
By This Hope

I want You to show me how to love You more
I want to know Your perfect will, O Lord
I want to hear Your still small voice in my ear
I want to feel Your presence and know that You are near.

Pull me closer to Thee, O Lord
Shelter me under Your wing
Give me peace as You open each door
I need Your leading more than ever before.

I must choose today the pathway to take
I must chose right no matter what men may say
I’m looking to You and You alone to show the way
Keep me safe within Your will, Lord, I pray.

Oh, Pull me closer to Thee, O Lord
Shelter me under Your wing
Give me peace as You open each door
I need Your leading more than ever before.

Just another Jackson Hole Sunset

Three. Two. One.

Three.  There are three girls in out family.
Two. Two of the sisters have gotten married.
One. There is now only one girl left at home.
On Saturday, March 10, 2012, my little sister Caela got married.  A beautiful wedding of a beautiful girl to a handsome man.

On Sunday, July 22, 2012, my older sister Aimee married Brian.  Another beautiful wedding of my other beautiful sister to another handsome man.

I was blessed to have been a maid of honor in both weddings.  Caela and Cort were able to come out to CA for Aimee's wedding, and it was wonderful to see them and catch up some. 

Aimee and Brian are now on their honeymoon and we are enjoying our last time with some of the last guests that came in from out of state.

Here's  picture of us sisters doing food/flower prep.

Go Out!

Go out and preach to the nations!

Psalm 67
To the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
    your saving power among all nations.
3  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase;
    God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
    let all the ends of the earth fear him!

This Psalm was read in church today at the missionary commissioning that my pastor did.  It really makes you realize and think about how important it is that the Word be spread to other countries, in other languages.  Praise God for people that have a gift for translating.

P.S. This post is tagged as lyric love because it is a song. It says so. :)

A Verse

Here is the Bible verse that my grandma put in my birthday card today.  It made me smile and I thought I'd share.

Zephenia 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Quotables

"Waiting is not resignation; waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son." - C.J. Mahaney, Humility

"More like a giant leap frog of a step off a catapult...!" - M.U.

"So long partner." - Little Britches

Faith of our Fathers

During church history this past semester we learned a lot about the men and woman who have died for their faith.  Those people stood up for what they believed in, fought to change the world from their erring ways, strove to prove the inerrancy of the Scriptures. Today, on Father's day, I appreciate everything that the men of the faith did for today's Christianity in America.

Not only do I celebrate these men of Faith, but also my father, who has done his very best to train up his children in the way in which they are to go.  He has (along with my mother) taught us to treat God with reverence, and to love Him above all else.  And so, above all, I worship my Father in Heaven, who has adopted me as His child, and loves me more than even my father on earth.  Praise God from whom all blessing flow.


Faith of Our Fathers
By Frederick Faber

Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

 Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children's fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

 Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

 Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Humility

    One of the books I am reading right now is a book by C.J. Mahaney entitled Humility.  It's a really great book! (so far at least.)  Honestly, this is the third time I've started it.  I aim to finish it this time though! The first time I was reading it along with a friend and just never finished.  The second time I was reading it at school and was interrupted in the middle and never found the time to finish it.  This time I'm going to finish it... and there ain't nothin' you can do about it! ;)  Sounds pretty humble right? Esh!

Anyways, what I was going to say about it...

I'm on chapter 7, the chapter about special focus' that insight humility.  There are a few really great quotes that C.J. put in, and I thought I'd share them with you.

On Studying the attributes of God:

The grand difference between a human being and a supreme being is precisely this: Apart from God, I cannot exist.  Apart from me, God does exist. God does not need me in order for Him to be; I need God in order for me to be. This is the difference between what we call self-existence being and dependant being.  We are dependant.  We are fragile. We cannot live without air, without water, without food.  No human being has the power of being within himself.  Life is lived between two hospitals.  We need a support system from birth to death to sustain life.  We are like flowers that bloom and wither and then fade.  This is how we differ from God.  God does not wither, God does not fade, god is not fragile. - R.C. Sproul

 Then, at the end of the chapter, C.J. goes into a couple lighter ways of building humility in self.  They are both very true and I appreciated reading them.  Let me share...

Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.  Terry Lindval writes this: "Laughter is a divine gift to the human who is humble.  A proud man cannot laugh because he must watch his dignity; he cannot give himself over to the rocking and rolling of his belly.  but a poor and happy man laughs heartily because he gives no serious attention to his ego."  How about you? Are you making the most of this divine gift?  I'm very grateful that god gave me a father with an unusual gift of humor, who taught me to laugh at myself (there's no lack of material).  Time and again laughter has provided much-needed help in my ongoing battle against pride.

I found that section of the chapter very applicable.  I've been learning to just laugh. I have also been blessed with a father that is one of the funniest men I know, and brothers that all have a fine sense of humor as well! Sometimes it annoys me when they make a joke at a poor time, but I really just need to laugh.  I also am learning to laugh at myself.  I'm weird.  I have quirks.  I am plain ridiculous sometimes.  Praise god I can laugh!

And laugh, really laugh.  Because funny stuff is happening all around you. (Sometimes because of you.)

This picture ALWAYS makes me either laugh or smile. Just sayin'. :)

Things... of the Day

Well today has been a long day, and the things of today have been somewhat wonderful. :)

#1: Washing dishes.  I really don't know what it is, but I have recently discovered that there is something very gratifying about washing dishes and making the sink all clean.

#2: Doing laundry.  Again, I don't know what it is, but having all your clothing but the items you are wearing cleaned and put away feels so good!

#3: Bible Study! I keep learning more and more about trusting God! Today I read about Abraham and how, when the Lord told him he was to sacrifice his own son, he went through the process of doing so without complaining.  Abraham trusted God, and God provided an alternative sacrifice.  God is so good, and I cannot even begin to fathom just how good He is!

#4: Watermelon.  Yep! I've discovered one of the best ways to eat it... cut it up into bite sized pieces and chop up mint, add that to the bowl.  Then, squeeze the juice of one lime over the whole shabang and mix it up.  Bibbity Bobbity Boo! You have watermelon fit to eat. *winks*

#5: Watching "The Princess Bride" as a family:
   "Is this a kissing book?"
   "Maybe I was a bit...concerned..."
   "I do not think that word means what you think that word means."
   "My way doesn't seem very sportsman-like."
   "As you wish."
And OH! So many more great quotes!

#6: Great friend who give you great advice in every situation.

#7: Oh, and hey! Did ya'll know that it's SUMMER!!! :)

        

Tis So Sweet...

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Lyrics By Louisa Stead
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.


This song means a lot to me, as I have had the priviledge of learning to trust Jesus with my life.  I trusted my life to Him when I was small, and I continue to trust it to Him as I continue to grow in faith.  The refrain strikes a note close to home.  The whole song is all about how much Louisa (or the singer) trusts Jesus, but the end of the refrain is says "Oh, for grace to trust Him more!"  I find that to be somewhat convicting.  No matter how much I may trust Him, I can always trust Him with another aspect of my life, another worry, or another care.  He should be the One in Whom I trust the very most. 

I know that I can and should trust god more in so many aspects of my life, and that is what I am striving to do.

"In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them." - Psalm 22:4-5

I need to remember that, no matter how hard it is, no matter how dim the path, no matter what I can (and cannot) see in front of me, God is in complete control.

Grand Canyon

Do You Have The Time? #2

     As you may remember from another post I made a while back, ( Do You Have The Time? ) I pretty much "live" in different time zones, because I think about what the time zones are in different places that are important to me.  Last time I pretty much only had two time zones that mattered to me.  Currently, I have 3 special time zones.

     Time Zone #1: I am blessed to be able to attend the 2011-2012 school year at Jackson Hole Bible College in Wyoming.  I have been learning so very very much, and I would not take back this year for nearly anything.  Seeing as I'm in Wyoming, I am currently in Mountain Time.  I enjoy this time zone, although it is not very different from my time zone at home.  Speaking of home...

     Time Zone #2: My hometown/the place I will be going back to in less than 2 months/most of the rest of my family in the Pacific time zone.  Whenever I think about my family I mentally calculate what time it is where they are.  Right now my family is doing a pre-season party for the 49er Fun season of Rock-N-Water and I mentally thought of what the light is like at home and what they would be doing and whether or not they would be eating dinner about now, or if my dad is home from work yet.  But, not all of my family is located in the Pacific time zone right now.

     Time Zone 3: Two weeks ago today my little sister got married to her prince charming.  Now, instead of her name being Micaela R., she is now Micaela T.  I love Caela and her husband so very much, and they currently reside in a far away place called the "Eastern" time zone.

     There you have it, 3 time zones where my heart resides.  What made me think of this interesting topic? Well, I tried calling my little married sister and she didn't answer.  Why? I don't know, but she
"has her own life" now and so I don't really mind.  I'll talk to her sometime soon.  I miss my family in the far spread time zones.  But I am so glad that God has placed each of us in the time zone that He has placed us, and I am so blessed by His love.

I Know Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12 "For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."

I Know Whom I Have Believed
By Daniel Whittle

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

By Fanny Crosby

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.