Thursday, December 18, 2008

My Birthday in Mexico-- the complete story

Hey everyone!! I know that I said that I wasn't going to write, but I couldn't help it when I realized that I hadn't written anything about how I celebrated my birthday.

On Sunday morning I got up (still with a cough and stuffed-up nose) and got ready for church. My family sang me the birthday song (in English and Spanish-- though the Spanish one is much longer), wished me a good day and sent me off to church with my two youngest siblings. Wait. There is something wrong with that picture, isn't there?
Well, it turned out that everyone else was sick. Okay, so I go to church by myself.

Now, according to the tradition of our church, you get wet on your birthday. I don't know who started that particular tradition, but there it is. Luckily they had compassion on me because I was still dealing with a cold. Whew!

After church I was invited to a party for the co-pastor's daughter (her birthday is the same day as mine, she turned two) at four. So, I stayed and helped Pily (her Mom) prepare stuff for the party. By the time four came around we headed down to the place where they were going to have the party. Only one problem, no one was there. Honestly, you have to know Mexican culture to truly understand how everything works here. If you say 2 o'clock, expect everyone to arrive at three. That's just how it is!

Anyway, after the party Karen-- pronounced; CAR-en, she's one of my best friends-- and I went back to my house. When we walked in the door I was pleasantly surprised to see that my Dad and siblings had decorated the house with ribbons. Awww, isn't that sweet!

Of course, I opened the presents first (apparently my brothers had been staring at them all day long =) ).
In case you wanted to know-- my Mom and Dad got me a new matress, YES! my brothers all got together and bought me a cellphone (my last on took a bath in the river =( ), Evie bought me a notebook and finally my Dad bought me a new CD by David Crowder Band called Remedy! I was vastly content!

For dinner-- It was much the same as anything that I ever did in the States; we had kiesh-- a French dish made up of eggs, meat (any kind) and veggies all mixed together and baked in a pie-crust-- and cheesecake. Yummmm!!!! I love cheesecake!!!

After dinner we all sat down and put in Sense and Sensibilty-- much to the dismay of my brothers. Karen and I both share a facination with anything by Jane Austen. I love all of her books and the movies aren't too bad either!

When everyone had gone to bad Karen and I stayed up to an ungodly hour talking and talking and talking and talking. You should hear us when we get going-- actually, you might not understand because we both talk in Spanish, lol!!

And so passsed my sweet 16!! I like small parties! Besides, last year we did the huge thing for my Quince AƱos.
Wow, I can't believe that I am 16!! When did that happen!

Now I am really not going to write anymore (unless I decide to :P )!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Attention!

I wanted to let everyone know that until after the holiday season I shall not be writing as much on my blog. If you comment and I do not respond it is because didn't have time and I promise to try and get back to you asap!
Blessings to you all and I hope that your holiday season is blessed!
Remember that JESUS CHRIST is the reason for the season and don't get too caught up in being busy to stop and realize how great a gift JESUS IS!!

God and Science

(this is a forward that I received. I hope that you enjoy!!)

Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist Professor of Philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'

'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student : 'From...God...'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student: 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness ?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.

' Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?' Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's in humanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir , or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

I've be tagged, now you're it!

I was tagged by Felecia at "Flower in the rain" so here goes!

~ The Rules ~

*Post the six to ten things that you do on a daily basis
*Link to the person who tagged you.
*Tag five other people
*Leave a comment on the blog of the person that tagged you letting them know that have posted this to your blog.
~*~ A rule I'm adding; you must tag at least one person who's blog you have either just found within the last week or some one who's blog that you don't know very well! (added by Miss Sydney)

  • I make my bed
  • practice my guitar
  • brush my hair
  • make something (anything: aka, crochet, bake, etc. I can't live without creativity :P)
  • Read my Bible
  • Spend time alone with God (I try very hard to do that every day)
  • I drink water
  • read the comments on my blog
  • I bug my brothers (HeeHee)
  • Study French
Okay, now five people...

Nastya
Brooke
Lady Jess
Rebecca (aka: Mom)
Caleb

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Pictures and other fun stuff...

Hello, everyone!! I am sorry that I have been out of contact for a bit, duty called!! I can't always live on my blog, I have to fulfill my responsibilities in everyday life as well. I tell my Mom that with all the things I have to get done on the computer every day I could spend all day typing and still not finish!!
To all of my Blogger buddies, I will try and get back to your comments. I do still love you guys!!

Life has been busy this past week. Final exams are coming up on French and I am in a frenzy to be as prepared as I can. I can't believe that it's already the 11th. Where did this year go??!!

I have been horrid sick all week. I suppose it was good to get it out of the way now so as not to get it later, but NO FUN!! It's like one of those colds that gets you and just gets worse and worse. For me this is the worst kind because I can't sing with a sore throat and I basically live by singing all the time!! That might sound like an over-exaggeration, but it is true.

This past week we have also been working on our house. I know, I know, Christmas-time is not usually when you tear your house apart, but someone sent us a gift and we wanted to put it to use. I can't wait for the project to be finished, it will look so nice!! When I can get the pictures uploaded onto the computer I will publish a few in a post.

So, for now I have decided to just post some pictures. I know it has been awhile since I've done so. Sorry, flakiness on my part, but this wrong can be righted. Here ya go!!

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These are some wonderful cows that I made for a friend. She is going to put them on her front gates. Now, I personally don't like cows very much, but I think that these are cute-- that doesn't mean that I would put them on my gates!!!

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This is called "Sarah didn't realize the paint was oil-based so she tried to scrub out the paint pan with her hands". You think that this is bad? You should have seen my hands half an hour before the picture was taken. Yikes!!
Have you ever had one of those kind of days?

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Pizza time!! This is Mom's and my specialty. Yummm!!!! If you come down and visit us I'll even make some special for you, deal?

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Boys will do as boys will do, no? I don't know if they ever actually made something out of the pieces. I don't think so, I think the fun for them was all in the disassembly of the motors!

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This is Caleb's old robot. I don't know if it works or not (I should say worked, it is in pieces upstairs now)

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Puppies and kittens!! I love animals! We have gotten rid of all bu three of them now. Can't say I was extremely sorry to see them go, they are a lot of work and I can't stand chewed-up things strew all over the yard.

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Caleb and I on one of the rare occasions that I got him to play with me ( :P )!

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This was an Agape dinner (potluck) that we had a few weeks ago at our church. To find out more about the potluck turned water fight Click HERE and read about it on our Family blog.

Thanks for reading about what's going on my side of the world! I would love to hear back from you!

Blessings to all of you!
In Christ~

Friday, December 5, 2008

So, what about prayer?

Hey everyone! I have felt led to post about prayer.
Prayer is one of the hardest and most necessary things in the Christian life. Setting up a daily and hourly prayer schedule is difficult and takes a lot of work. It is my belief that it is so hard because we have an enemy whose object in life is to see us fall and fail in all that we do for God. Prayer is what makes the Christian tick. If the Devil succeeds in causing us to fail at it, then he has succeeded in making us live a stunted life. We can't grow if we don't pray and receive from God.

I've found that something that helps me immensely when I pray is to pray aloud. I know, it sounds weird to say that you should talk aloud when there is "no one" in the room. I, however, find that this makes it much easier to concentrate. When I try and pray in my mind I find myself wandering off in my thoughts and I have to constantly be pulling my mind back into focus.
I try to, every time before I begin to pray, ask God to take control. I pray against anything that the Devil is trying to throw against me and I pray protection over my family. This tends to help me gain victory.

Also, we need to realize that just because our minds wander doesn't mean that we are a bad people. Everyone is tempted. BEING tempted is not what we need to fight against, FALLING to the temptation is. We have to make sure that we see any obstacle between us and God as from the enemy, not from us.
Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

This verse says that you are a new creature in Christ. That means that in Christ you are no longer considered a sinner. Sure, you still fail at times, but now you are essentially good. That means that ANY temptation that comes your way is from your FLESH (your old sin nature, to which you are now dead) or THE DEVIL, not you. You are a new creature in Christ!!

For, how can we say that when we do something good it's from Christ yet when we do something bad it's us. NO! In Christ we are new, different, changed.
Romans 5:18-20
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
[my emphasis added]
Christ has given you the victory!! He died so that you might have life and have it in abundance!!
John 10:10
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Live that life. Claim it in the name of Jesus. The One who is on our side is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Proclaim it in the name of Jesus and the enemy will flee!!!!!

Prayer can only be established by practice. The more you practice prayer, the easier and more natural it will become. The apostle Paul tells us in his letters to the Ephesians that we should pray without ceasing. That means that we should not only set aside a time for private prayer but that we should pray throughout the day.

While you're doing the dishes if you think of someone who needs prayer, pray!! There is nothing stopping you. God invites us to pray to Him at all times. That's what Paul meant when he said pray without ceasing. Not that you should always lock yourself away in your room, but that you should constantly be in communication with God. It's funny, but the word communication has the same root as the word communion. Just a thought!

Thanks guys for listening to my ramblings!


My name!

This is a fun little thing that I found over at Jocelyn's blog. I just thought that it was a neat idea. I think that I prefer my second name in Hebrew to my first name in English (as it so happens, my first name is the same in Hebrew as in English. I haven't found a language yet in which my name is different. Oh, shucks!).
Perhaps I shall change my name legally, what d'ya think?!? I suppose now you want to know what my name actually is. So, without further ado, my Hebrew name is:

MISS
Yochana... I love the sound of it! Yochana. LOL!

To find your Hebrew name click HERE.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Getting My Priorities Straight

Recently I have been thinking about priorities and where God should fit in. I mean, I knew that the Bible taught that God should come first in all that we do and that most churches teach that you should "tithe your time" but what does that mean?

I always saw it as meaning that I needed to give God a percentage of all of my time. I don't know about you, but I found that difficult. To always be worried that I wasn't giving God enough? And what is "enough" anyway? I had no idea.

One person would tell me, "All you have to do is dedicate some time to prayer and read your Bible every day," another would say, "No, no, you have to share the gospel with someone to have truly tithed your time," and still another, "Just follow the rules the best you can and you'll be fine."
Okay, now I was really confused! What's the truth? Where should God be on my priority list?

From all the advice that I had been given my list ended up looking something like this:

  • God
  • Prayer
  • Reading the Bible
  • Sharing the Gospel
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Quiet Time for myself
  • Chores at Home
  • Work
  • Going to Church
  • School
  • Having Fun
  • ...
Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with the things on the list. They are all good things and most of them things that I do every day. The problem with the list is that it's set up as a list of expectations. That means that for me this list was something that I lived by. A standard that I had set. When I went to the Bible, however, I found very different results.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So, the Bible says that in ALL things and ALL the time we must give Him the glory. I found myself thinking, "But that's not what everyone else says!" It turns out that the Bible had something to say to that argument too.

Colossians 2:6-8

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Now I was really stumped. Not only was I wrong in my assumptions, but I couldn't use what people had told me as a basis anymore. I had to go to the Bible and come up with a whole new kind of priority list. This is something like what I came up with:



We need to give God everything and more! We can't give Him a portion or even a percentage. If He isn't being glorified in everything that we do then we are falling short of God's command.
Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

We must be lights to the world and we do that by showing God in our actions. As it says in James 1, "...Faith without works is dead..." You can't be a Christian and NOT show Christ in all your actions!

You need to realize that I'm not perfect or even close. Just because I finally figured out what my priority list should look like doesn't mean I have as easy a time living it out. I still fight against my flesh and the Devil-- whose object in life is to see me fail. Only by the grace of God do I even have a chance. But, thanks to Jesus, I do have the grace of God, and I can do it!!!

In His service~

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Post of Thanks

Wow!! Don't the days pass quickly!! It seems like merely yesterday that my Dad got back from his trip to the States, but here we are almost in December. Oh my goodness!
So, what's been going on in my life here in Mexico? That is such a great question... what have I been doing?

Well, I have been thinking a lot this past week! You know, the "What does God have for my life?" kind of questions. Not much in the way of an answer, just a bunch of ideas! But, I know that God will tell me sooner or later (I would much prefer sooner than later) what He wants!

My French lessons are still going on. Sometimes I feel like I do not have the time if day to be able to do everything that I have committed to. God is good, however!

I am planning on beginning an English class for a few of the leaders of our church. Pray that God would give me wisdom and understanding for teaching them. It will be a rather new experience for me, so I will be learning along with them at the same time.

Thanksgiving is upon us again! This year I think it will be just us celebrating as a family. We had thought about inviting some of our friends, but it is kind of an American holiday (okay, really an American holiday) and they don't recognize it here! :D
We are all looking forward to the surprise cheesecake that my Mom has planned for us!!

Christmas is also coming and with the season comes all of the excitement and anticipation! We have an extra blessing this year in the form of some very good friends who will be coming down to visit us! It is sch a wonderful gift form God. We had been hoping and praying for so long!! We have many things planned for while they are here including a New Years dinner for the local village. Also, we (the teachers of the kids classes: Karen, Mavil, Berlinda, Armida and myself) are planning a big party for the children of the village. It's kind of a tradition we have in the church. I have had the blessing and privilege of participating for three years now (counting this one).
Along with the season comes the cool weather that has been so elusive!! I know that this sounds very much like what I wrote a few posts back but I don't know how many times in these past few weeks we have been hoping that the weather would just change! It finally has. Well, it is still kind of warm in the day, but in the evening it gets down to a whopping 80* with only 60 percent humidity!! Freezing for us. Yeah! (HeeHee :P)

So, in conclusion I am going to write 10 things that the Lord has done for me in this past year...

God has provided me with the funds necessary for me to attend a language school.

God has allowed me to begin teaching the adolecent girls' class.

God has provided me with wonderful and encouraging people as my friends.

God allowed me to visit my grandparents last furlough to the States.

God has increased my desire to follow his will in all things!

God has given me another year of life!

God has given me more pacience with my siblings and I am privileged to be able to watch them grow in Him.

God has continued to increase my understanding of Spanish.

God has give me a passion for music and this year he has allowed me to participate in the worship group of our church.

God has provided everything that I or my family need.

So, I must simply say that God is good!! He has given me so much that the very least I can do is give it back to Him!

Psalm 100
3Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Indescribable God

Psalm 8

How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 66

2Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
3Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
4"All the earth will worship You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name." Selah.
5Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.


Job 38

12
"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14
"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.
15
"From the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken.
16
"Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17
"Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18
"Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
19
"Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
20
That you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home? Our God is indescribable! He is beyond all that we can ever dream or imagine.

“I can understand how a man can look on the world and be atheist; but I cannot understand how a man can look up to the heavens and say there is no God.” Abraham Lincoln

I can’t comprehend how some people say that God is dead! God is not by any means dead! We are dead!! And in our deadness we have become unable to see Him. He is still there and He is moving in our nation and world. It takes a blind man not to see. But then again, the Bible does prophesy this very thing:

Matthew 13:14

“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;”

I thank God every day that He allowed me to see!

I am so glad that God is bigger than my troubles and failures! So much bigger! I hope that by the time you finish reading this post you will have been reminded just HOW big God is! We are so small (I mean, really, really, really, really small) in the bigger picture which is the universe and all that is in it-- which, btw, God made.

I’m going to share some pictures with you… Be ready to be blown away! (pictures found at Hubble Telescope Pictures)


THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
This is our galaxy. And that little arrow is pointing to the approximate place that our sun is located. It doesn't have a point because there is no point small enough to give even a partially accurate size ratio.

OUR SUN
Okay, if that's how big our sun is in our galaxy then how big does that make the earth?

RED RECTANGULAR NEBULA IN THE MILKY WAY

PHANTOM GALAXY

HOURGLASS NEBULA
He's got all time in His hands, no?

EARTH CAUGHT IN SUNLIGHT
This picture was taken by voyager as it traveled away from Earth. The streaks of light in the picture are a result of the Sun reflecting off of Voyager. That teeny-tiny little dot is us! Wow!!

CAT'S EYE NEBULA

WHIRLPOOL GALAXY

X-SECTOR AT MIDDLE OF WHIRLPOOL GALAXY
This picture deserves a moment of your time. Just look at it and think on this verse...

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

YOU MADE IT ALL
by Chris Tomlin

Mountain maker
Ocean tamer
Glimpses of you burn in my eyes
The worship of heaven
Fills up the skies

You made it all
Said let there be
And there was all that we see
The sound of your voice
The works of your hand
You do all things well
You do all things well

Star creator
Wind breather
The strokes of your beauty
Brushed through the clouds
Light from the heavens
Touching the ground

Imagination runs wild
Breathes the breath of life
Across the fields
Across the miles

You made it all
Said let there be
And there was
All that we see
The sound of your voice
The works of your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well


Friday, November 14, 2008

A life lived beyond expections

Meet Chelly. She grew up in a Christian home surrounded by Christian people and principles. She had wonderful Christian friends and was taught what was right from a very young age. Chelly eventually became a young woman who was involved in the church and with her youth group. Still, something seemed to be missing in her life. She wanted to have a closer walk with Christ. She wanted her pray-life to be strong and persevering; a life that glorified God in all it’s aspects. She shared this with one of her friends but received merely skepticism. “What do you mean?” said her friend. “You already spend time in your Bible everyday and are actively involved in ministry. How would you find the time for anything more?” So, with this discouragement, Chelly laid aside the feeling of lack saying, “If that’s good enough for her, then it’s good enough for me.”

The months and years passed. She got married and had children, yet she still felt that something was missing. She wasn’t sure what it was but she knew it was something. One day she shared her feelings with the wife of her church’s pastor. The woman immediately told her that what she felt missing was a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. She told Chelly that all it took was willingness and effort on her side- God was more than willing to fellowship with her. Chelly felt something inside of her that she had kept repressed for so long rise up in agreement with everything that the woman had said, and she left feeling like God had truly touched her heart.

She tackled the challenge with gusto and was not one bit sorry! Chelly felt more alive than she had felt in years; she wanted to share it with her friends and husband! She started by telling her husband but, like it had happened so many years ago, she met with incredulity and doubt. Her husband was a Christian, but what was this that she was talking about. “A personal relationship”?? Well, he certainly couldn’t see what she was talking about. He had been a Christian all his life yet he had never felt anything like what she was describing. She was disappointed. “What is wrong with me?” she thought to herself. “Could it be that I am merely being led by my own feelings? Should I really dedicate all that time to prayer?”

Now, Chelly did not leave off praying immediately. She continued for weeks, but the time that she set aside gradually became less and less. She wanted to pray and listen to God’s voice, but the feelings that she had couldn’t be from God; not when everyone around her was content where they were. Whenever she felt down and despairing she would merely repeat to herself, “If it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me.”

And that’s how she lived out the rest of her life, knowing that there was something missing yet content to be “the same as everyone else”.




How many of us live lives like Chelly's? How many of us are content living at the minimal rather than the utmost? How sad it would be for us to come before God and Him to ask, "Why did you never seek me? I loved you so much and all I wanted was to be with you; yet you rejected and ignored me." What will you be able to say? "I'm sorry Lord! It's just that..." you fill in the blank.

But that's not how it has to be!! Embrace the journey; Christ or nothing! Live your life seeking God and not conforming to the norm. What does the Bible say about living in that manner?



Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


So what it says is that God wants us to show the world through our actions who He is!! Wow! What a huge responsibility! How much of His reputation has He staked on our conduct!



2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
10When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[My emphasis added]



The calling we have received, to live our lives to the utmost, is not an easy calling. The Bible itself tells us that we SHALL be persecuted. But it also tells us that, through prayer, we can and will be victorious!


Jude 1:17-21
17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:


HAVE YOU???


Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Voting begins at the HSBA

Hey all! I have recently entered my name into a contest for "Best Cyber-Buddy Blogger 2008". I would greatly appreciate your vote if you would be willing to give it! Voting ends November 21st, so hurry up before time runs out! To read voting rules click HERE.

These are the various blogs (family and friends) that are entered in Home School Blog Awards. Click on the links below if you would like to vote:

My blog: Go Therefore And Be Light
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-cyber-buddy-blog-2008/

Caleb's blog: Boom Box
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-teen-guy-blog-2008/

Mom(Rebecca)'s blog: Beautiful Feet
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-homeschool-mom-blog-2008/

Our Family blog: The Coult Family
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-geographical-blog-2008/

A great girls' blog: Feelin' Feminine
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-teen-group-blog-2008/

A great Christian online girls' magazine: Growing in Grace Magazine (GGM)
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-family-or-group-blog-2008/


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Me and My Brother(s)

Well, I am participating in a fun little thing where I get to post pictures of me and my brothers. I am not very good at getting pictures of me though. So I only have one. I love my family!! Even though this picture doesn't have me in it, I still really like it. I like pictures that catch people unawares. These are all of my siblings minus Evie, my sister. I hope that you enjoy!
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Monday, November 10, 2008

A little bit of everything

Hi all! I just wanted to say that I'm sorry I haven't been able to update you all in awhile. It's been so busy around here, what with school and all. Sigh. Do you ever feel like your life is just way too busy all the time. I sometimes feel like I'm getting over-run with all of the things that I should be doing. I suppose I just need to take a deep breath count to ten and let it out. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10... whooooo. Much better!
Alright, now I can write without frustration!

Just to let you all know the weather here is finally cooling off!! As of right now the temperature is 85* 68% humidity. I know that most of you probably think that I'm crazy to be thinking that this is a good temperature. But, compared to that of the last 5 months, this is great!! I actually slept without a fan last night! I'm hoping that this time the temperature will STAY cool. The last few times that it started to leave it just ended up being a trick to taunt us. You know, like a taste of cake and being told that you can eat the rest for another month! ;) The heat can be a very big test of patience. It's hard to be a blessing to those around you when the heat is causing you to be so frustrated! Still, I do thank God for the heat. I'm not sure what good it does though... Wait! Papaya! I forgot that Papaya grow wonderfully in this climate! There is no getting along without that stuff!!! HaHaHa! :^)

I've just started a new book (my Dad brought it for me from the States). For what I have read I really like it. It addresses the issue of low expectations of teens and young people. Why are you a teenager? Is it because you are between the ages of 13 &19 or does it have something to do you as a person? Is the lack of concern for anything and everything found in the majority of teens these days and result of genes or the result of low expectations? You can read about these issues (and, I might add, quite a few others) in the book "Do Hard Things". It is written by the twin brothers of Joshua Harris (the author of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and "Boy Meets Girl").
I would recommend this book as a good read. If you want to visit their site online it's:
http://therebelution.com/blog/
I hope that if you do visit their site you take your time to look around a bit.

So, life continues its continuous spin and, though sometimes it feels like I'm also spinning out of control, I know that God has me safe in His arms.
I know that I can trust him.
I know that he will not lead me astray.
I know that He is good.
I know that He loves me.
WITH HIM I CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

Have a wonderful day! Blessings!

Friday, November 7, 2008

He's Back!!

Finally, Dad is back!!

Thanks to God's protection, my Dad is now home and safe! He had a wonderful and blessed trip and was able to bless and encourage family members and friends. It's great to be with him again. Last night after he arrived at the bus station we took him out for Tacos at our favorite restaurant. It was kind of a special because we don't eat out very often (the effect of having a big family ;) ). We all talked ourselves hoarse about the things that we had done and heard in his absence. You should have heard us! We turned quite a number of heads in our excitement.
I am VERY glad that he is back!

Today was pretty much unpacking and hanging around the house. Right at this moment my little sis is play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on the piano while my Dad is messing on the new harmonica someone gave him. They are quite a duo! LOL! I love my family!
My Mom is making Pudding for us, yummmm :P, my brothers are playing with a new ship game called "Pirates of the Crimson Coast" that my Dad brought back with him from the States (I'm glad that they finally have it, it's all they have been talking about for the past two weeks!) and I'm here, on the computer, trying to finish up fast and get back to the piano :)! All in all we are kind of a dull bunch! Not to worry, I'm sure that things will start getting exciting soon enough!

So, I'm now going to get off of the computer and pass it to my Mom. She has some stuff to do before it's dinner time! Catch you guys later! Have a great and blessed day!
In Christ~


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Let's Play a game!


Well, I honestly don't play a ton of different games. I kind of tend to get into a groove and I will only play one or two different games for the longest time before I switch again. As a homeschooler I probably have more time than the average girl my age, but even then I do get too busy to play. Still, I believe that everyone should make time for their siblings and friends doing something other than watching a movie (a sad tradition in the American culture that is hard to break). So, when I do, these are the games that I can be talked into playing:


Scrabble -- I love this game!! My Mom and I play it all the time. She usually beats me, but recently I have actually been able to beat her a few times in a row! WOW! This game is great because it teaches you good spelling and creativity... Some of the words that my Mom and I come up with while playing could be classified as very creative ;) !

Boggle -- Also a favorite of mine. I like this game because it is very short and provides fun for any number of people. Lots of times it can get very boring when you are stuck playing one game for hours on end. This game allows for easy entrance and exit.

Killer Bunnies -- Now this is my FAVORITE game ever! Don't be daunted by the title, it is a lot of fun! We (my brothers and I) will play this about 3 times a week and sometimes more (that's a lot for me). Honestly, it does not teach much (unless you mean reading and understanding the instructions). Well, I guess it teaches people to get along, that is definitely a + !

Risk -- I'd say that everyone probably knows what the game Risk is. I could say that it teaches strategy, but it really doesn't, I could also say that it teaches geography, but it really doesn't do that either. So, what does it teach? Um, good question?

Set -- This is a matching game. I really enjoy playing it. It is not a game you want to play when you are tired!

10 days in the USA -- This a great geographical game. It teaches locations, populations and capitals of all of the US states. They also have this game for Europe, Mexico, Australia and various others. A lot of fun, and you can learn at the same time!

Anyway, that is my list. Some of them are educational and others are...well... not :D! But all of them cause better relationships with my family and friends! And that is a +++++!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

ABCs about me!

abcs meme
I'm am participating in this fun little game! If you would like to participate, find the icon and the "Mister Linky" sign-up thingy HERE.

Ambitious
Blessed
Creative-Christian
Dangerous
Efficient (My Mom)
Forgiven
Giving
Helpful
Intelliegent (My brother)
Jolly
King's kid
Loud
Missionary
Not patient (working on that)
Opinionated
Planner
Quirky
Redheaded
Student
Teacher :)
Unwavering
Vocal
Walking with Christ
X-treme (for Christ!!!)
Yearning (for heaven)
Z-----ummmm------can't think of anything... I know, Zoophile! (that would be the root word "Zoon"- animal combined with "Philia"-love. Animal lover!!!). That counts, doesn't it?

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Pictures of my project

Hey Everyone! How are you? I'm doing great!

These are the pictures that I promised to post of the desk that I made. It was a lot of fun and it was the first major project that I had ever done on my own. I was going to wait until my Dad got back from the States, but I am not a particularly patient person when it comes to these kinds of things.

I'm so excited with my new desk (more like a table, actually)!! I now have a place to do my Bible study, French homework and anything else that I feel like doing! Yeahhhhhh!!!!!!

The only thing left to do is one more coat of stain on the wood where I filled in the screw holes with putty... But that's not pressing and it might be awhile before it gets done :) .
I made the cusions for the chair too... I really didn't enjoy that part very much (not a big fan of sewing. I know how more or less, but I prefer it when my Mom helps me ;) Lazy, I know!)

(BTW: The cow cut-outs that are in the edge of the picture is another project I am working on for a friend. Her last name is Cowert and she is absolutely obsessed with cow art and decore)





Thursday, October 23, 2008

10+ facts about me!

Ha Ha, I've been meaning to do this all week!! I signed up for this at Homeschool Blog Awards. if you would like to sign up also click HERE.
Finally...

10 Facts (or maybe one or two more) about ME!

  • I love animals!!
  • My favorite type of cake is cheesecake
  • I love eggs with broccoli
  • One of my favorite passtimes is playing the piano or my guitar
  • I have 10 pair of high-heels and I never wear them (note to self: get rid of them)
  • One of my best friends is someone I've never actaully met
  • I live in Mexico but I'm learning French
  • I speak Spanish
  • I really, really like to read, but sometimes it's a stumbling block for me
  • My favorite book is "Pride and Prejudice" and I like anything by Jane Austen
  • I don't watch TV
  • I have 4 brothers and one sister and I love them to death!
  • I HATE mosquitos with a venom!
  • I tend to speak without thinking and then regret it immediately
  • I prefer to stay at home than to always be out and about
  • I want to go to a Bible school next year
  • I really don't like school, but I love languages
  • I'm a Christian, but I prefer the title "follower of Christ"
  • I believe that the Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20 was meant literally
  • I believe in anything the Bible says, if you can prove it with valid Biblical truth I'll believe you
  • I make friends very easily because of my outgoing personality
  • I am a full out reckless Christian and I want to give God the glory in EVERYTHING that I do!



General Update From Mexico

Hey there everyone!! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, I've just been so busy that I didn't have the time to sit down, let alone type, at the computer. So, here I am after all that time, giving you my weekly update thing-a-ma-jig.

This past week, as I mentioned above, was, has been and is being very busy. Today it was self-inflicted, but the past few days I've just been feeling run off my feet!
I worked extra time at job and I was painting! And not just regular painting, I was painting shelves. I'm not sure how many of you have done that before, but if you have you know that it is absolutelly horrible on your back! In addition to this, I was also working like crazy on a powerpoint (actually two) for my Dad to take with him to show in the churches he will be visiting. It's just that making them is soooooo time consuming... not complaining too much, however, because I really enjoy the designing part! (btw, I think that the powerpoints turned out very well, though I might be a little biased ;^)! ).

As of last night my Dad left for the States. We went to town and had a fun time going to the junk yard (mostly for the boys, though I found a cool chair) and eating pizza!!!!!!! Yummm! At 8 p.m. we saw him off and then drove on home. The house seemed strangely quiet when we got home, I suppose that if I miss him today, a week from now is going to be really bad. Sniff. He's going to be there for two weeks, returning on the 6th. Pray for us (and him, of course :) please!

Today I've been working on a desk for my room (pictures will be posted when I'm done). I have a friend who is welding the metal legs together as we speak so that I can finish it up. I can't wait!! I've been wanting one for so long, but I'd never found one that I liked. The trick is making it yourself.

The weather here is still hot (but getting cooler!). It's actually possible to sleep at night without a fan! I know, I know, most of you would probably take our hot weather over your cold weather any day (and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't want to trade), but when you're in the hot weather it's hard to imagine being cold. I mean, we still go swimming every day!

This is the picture I'm going to share with you: Evie working on her painting skills (and getting quite good, I might add!)

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And so, life in Mexico goes on. By God's grace we make it through!
Thank you for your time! Have a blessed day!
In Christ