Verses 43/44 of 52!!!

I have been continuing my memory of Romans 8, by God's help.

Romans 8:5-9

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

This passage makes us pose the question: am I in God's Spirit, or in the flesh? Am I born-again, or am I simply living life how I see fit?

Thankfulness Days 1-3

I do not know how often I shall post this month as we have a b-u-s-y schedule ahead of us, but I thought that I would share my first three days of this thanksgiving challenge.

I Am Thankful For . . .
November 1
     1. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ
     2. God’s Word to hold in my hands and learn from
     3. Godly parents
     4. Eleven siblings on earth and two siblings in heaven
     5. Prayer – an open channel to God
     6. Religious freedom
     7. Bible-believing churches

November 2
     8. The way that God works in issues – even if it goes beyond my understanding
     9. For God allowing me to be a tiny part in ministering to others
     10. A house to clean
     11. God’s daily provision 

     12. Music – Godly music :)
     13. The ability to play piano and how God has used it in my life to humble me and dedicate it to Him
     14. Good, Christian friends (“iron sharpening iron”)

November 3
     15. God using me, even though I am FAR from perfect!!!
     16. My friends, Brianna and Courtney, coming for a visit
     17. Safety as our family busily goes 101 different directions
     18. God opening the door for me to take private music theory classes
     19. Another open door in which to learn American Sign Language
     20. Sweet grandparents who love me
     21. Emails and letters from friends

Give Thanks! Challenge

Last fall, I saw this challenge by KBR Ministries and thought it was very neat - though it was towards the end of November so I did not get to participate in it. This year, I found out about it before November actually started and by God's help, would like to take the whole month jotting down 210 different things that I am thankful for. As I have time, I might share a few on here with you.

Will you join me??

Verses 41/42 of 52!!!

In the past two weeks, I began memorizing Romans 8. If you cannot tell, Romans has been a book that has really spoken to me this year, and by God's grace, I would like to memorize as much of it as possible.

Romans 8:1-4

"There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Verse 40 of 52!!!

This week, the Lord allowed me to finish memorizing Romans 12!! This passage has been a continual, daily challenge to me as I have been committing it to memory.

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:13-21)

Verses 38/39 of 52!!!

In the past two weeks, I have continued to memorize Romans 12, by God's help.

"Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

Romans 12:7-12

The last few verses have really challenged me this week. What a wonderful standard set for born-again believers!!! May we truly become more like Christ in the way we act, think, and talk.

In Awe . . .

. . . Of my God's Creation.

Chimney Rock in New Mexico

Clouds in Colorado

The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

Psalm 95:5-7

Take My Life . . .

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

(Words by Frances Ridley Havergal)

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/445#ixzz25B1fCYtT

What am I holding back from God? Can I truthfully sing, "Take me, Lord, let it be as You please?"

Verses 36/37 of 52!!!

Last week, I memorized Philippians 4:8. It is a verse that I kinda knew, but always got the order mixed up. So I dove into it determined, by God's help, to learn the correct order of pure, true, honest, etc. :)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

This verse has been one that I've "known" for years and years. But as I memorized it, one little part stuck out to me: "whatsoever things are of good report." I imagined myself, at the end of the day, standing before God saying, "Father, here is the report of my thoughts today . . ." Wow!!! How often would I be able to give a "good report?"

~*~*~

This week, I memorized Romans 12:4-6. I would like to completely memorize Romans 12 and already had verses 1-3 memorized.

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member one of another. 

Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith;" 

Romans 12:4-6

The ability to memorize God's Word is such a blessing! I am grateful for all of the verses that God has allowed me to store in my heart.

Proverbs and Picture

This verse always evokes the question: am I being diligent . . . or hasty??

Jumping Ahead

Waiting and patience: these could possibly be some of the hardest life lessons to learn. As believers, a large part of our waiting is not on simple things but on God’s timing. It does not matter what stage in life we are in: single, married, pregnant, with a home full of little kids, with a home of unmarried daughters, or other, there are times in which we are required to wait.

Part of waiting on God is in trusting Him – putting our full expectations, dreams, and desires in His care and leaving the results up to Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (KJV)

Why do we need to trust God? “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) God has His special plan for each of our lives, but to discover this plan, we must trust in Him, seek His face, and wait.

It is simple to say, “wait.” The struggle comes with the application. The tempter will use deceitful lies to entice us to jump ahead of God’s perfect timing. Our own excitement and emotions will also cause us to neglect to be still and wait for God’s leading. But what does God’s Word say? “Be still, and know that I am God:” (Psalm 46:10)

We have a choice to “wait patiently” or to “jump ahead.” There is a blessing or consequence depending on the choice we make.

Some of the blessings of waiting:

       God is good to us: “The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

       It builds our trust in God: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:5-6)

Some of the consequences of jumping ahead:

       Leanness of the soul: “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:13-15)

       God will give us up to our own lusts:“But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” (Psalm 81:11-12) and “They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” (Proverbs 1:30-31)

Is waiting worth it? Absolutely! Is waiting sometimes a struggle? Indeed! But I challenge you: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Giveaway . . . again

The giveaway I mentioned last week is still going on. If you haven't seen/entered, you might want to stop by: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/cynthias-lilla-rose-giveaway.html

Verse 35 of 52!!!!

This week, I memorized a verse that tags onto two verses already memorized: 1 John 2:17. I found it a good reminder to consider what I am doing - what I am holding on to.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17

Giveaway

There's a giveaway for pretty hair clips here: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/cynthias-lilla-rose-giveaway.html

Staying at Home

“What will you do after graduation?” This question is posed to all of us girls as we near the completion of high-school. Most people are slightly confused when the girls in my family leave them with the simple answer: “Stay at home.” Why stay at home when there is a world of possibilities before you?

Preparation for Life

From the very beginning of time, God planned for women to be a help-meet for men (see Genesis 2:18, 20). We see a very good example of what God intends for women to be in Proverbs 31. The “virtuous woman” depicted in Proverbs 31 is industrious, diligent, knowledgeable, teachable, wise, kind, and much more. If you take a close look at the verses that describe her (Proverbs 31: 10-31), you will notice that what a “virtuous woman” is capable of are not things that she learned from outside of the home, but from inside the home. If this is my ideal, why would I desire to get education or “experience” from college or the work force? God has given me the best teacher in the world – my own stay-at-home mother – why would I want to trade her for someone I have to pay tuition for?

Another very good reason for staying at home as a daughter is because I anticipate being a stay-at-home wife and mother, if the Lord allows (as Titus 2:3, 4 depicts,“[That] the younger women [be] . . . keepers at home . . .”). If I spend my single years working or attending college, then when I settle down to become a wife, I would be clueless in the management of my home!

Blessing to Family

Besides my personal gain in staying at home, there are others reasons why I stay at home. Because I stay at home, I can help my Dad, Mom, and siblings with their workloads. Staying at home past graduation has helped me to realize that life is not all about me and my desires but about serving and helping others. There are many verses in the Bible that point out how we should live our life for the benefit of others, and not just our own (“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” 1 Corinthians 10:24, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself. . .” Romans 15:2-3a). I have found that the best way to encourage my desire to serve is with my own family. If I cannot joyfully serve my family, how can I expect to joyfully serve a friend or a husband?

Fears about Staying Home

I am sure that there are those who are new to the idea of staying at home, and probably have questions and fears about it. The two biggest fears about staying home seem to be:

1) How will I ever find my husband?

I have decided to let God be the Author of my love story. I believe that in His perfect timing, He will send the perfect young man for me to be my husband, if it is His will. There are numerous examples from the Bible about God bringing two people together (Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah, Boaz and Ruth). I believe that the God Who wrote those love stories can do the same type of masterpiece in my life.

2) I will be in bondage!

I think that it is up to each girl to choose how they view staying at home. If we see it as bondage and a trial, it will be bondage and a trial! When I am tempted to have pity-parties about the things I miss out on while staying at home, I have to remind myself that life isn’t all about “me” (my fun, my desires) but others.

Ultimately, the greatest answer to both of these fears is realizing that if God has led me to stay at home, I know that He has done so for my benefit. One of my favorite passages is Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” When considering staying at home or any other aspect of life, I must trust God and follow His directions! If I lean on my thoughts or my finite wisdom, I will be led to do things that are contrary to God’s perfect will for my life. With God as my guide, I know that the path He leads me to take is the best path – even if the “path” is as simple as staying at home.

~*~*~

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jeremiah 17:7-9

Giveaway!

A few days ago, I posted about the giveaway at Meditations of His Love. Today, they hosted a giveaway of books!!! Check it out here: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/mohl-summer-giveaway-party-three-book.html

Verse 34 of 52!!!

This week, I am memorizing Hebrews 13:5.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; 

and be content with such things as ye have: 

for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Recently, I have been talking to several girls about contentment, waiting for marriage, etc. This verse is one that I believe fits in SO well!!! We are to live our lives without covetousness (coveting a married life, a husband, children). We are to be content with what we have where we have it (our parents, our siblings, our singleness, our home). But how can we be content and live without covetousness? The last phrase explains it: Jesus Christ is all we will ever need! He will never leave or forsake us!!! When I really think about that, I sometimes wonder how I could be discontent!

. . . on this subject, check in during the next two weeks as I will be sharing a couple of articles that I wrote specifically for single girls. :)

Verse 33 of 52!!!

I'm not 100% sure that I'm back on track with my verse number, but here are some verses I memorized this week:


For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Giveaway

One of the blogs that I enjoy and receive a lot of encouragement from is having a giveaway in the next couple of weeks. Thought I'd pass the news along. :)

Trust

One of the words that God has brought to my mind so many times recently has been "TRUST." It is such a simple word, but so hard to grasp. May we grow in our trust to Him.