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.

Indescribable God

Psalm 8

How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9O 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,
13That 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,
20That 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

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]

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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!

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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.

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2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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HAVE YOU???

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/

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!

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!

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~

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 +++++!