Thursday, May 31, 2012

The power of the mind...

No matter what happens to you, the important thing is what happens in you.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Parables of Life

Here is just a brief thought that came to mind the other day, and then as I was talking with Mr. Corrigan last night, became even more clear. I was just thinking about all the different parables that Jesus told. It is interesting, cause He was just telling everyday stories. Like the woman who lost the coin? How many women standing there could relate to Him when He told that story? A woman loosing a coin is very common and everyday. Or how about the man who lost his sheep? How many men standing there listening had lost one or two of his sheep and gone out looking for it? These stories that Jesus used, were things that happened to many people everyday. It struck me that maybe one reason Jesus told stories in parables was so that we would learn how to use things that happen to us everyday as lesson builders.  Even the things that don't happen everyday, maybe hurtful things like someones death or something else. Christ is trying to teach us to look at our lives as lessons. Not only for us. Our life could be a lesson to someone else. And I was sharing this with Mr. Corrigan last night, and he told me that when we see our lives as "illustrations" it can actually help us to know what decision to make. When we look at something that happened to us, we can see what the different things represent. In this way, we would be able to see that if this represented the devil, then we shouldn't do that. But if this represented what Christ did for us, then we should do that. So Christ had so much in mind when He spoke in parables. Look at your life as if it were a parable, and learn as much as you can from it. And in doing so, we will often be able to more clearly see what God wants us to do with our life.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Even if you can't see Him....

In the days of cowboys and indians, there lived a group of indians called the Cherokee. Now when a young boy came to the age when it was time for him to "become a man", the cherokee's had an interesting way of turning this young boy into a man. The father would take the son out on a long walk, deep into the woods. Here the father would blindfold the son, and set him down on the ground. The son had to sit there on the ground and stay blindfolded all night. The father would tell him, "Son. You must stay here. You cannot take the blindfold off until you feel the morning rays on your skin. Whatever happens to you tonight, you can tell no one. We don't know what is here in the woods, but you can not call out for help. You must face your dangers like a man." So the boy would sit there all night. Listening to the night noises, and not knowing what was there. Was that a bear? No..it wasn't a big enough sound. Wait...what was that rustle in the leaves over there? But the boy couldn't take off the blindfold to see what was going on around him that night. He had to face his fears calmly. Then as soon as he felt the morning rays on his skin, he took off the blindfold. And to his great surprise, he saw his beloved father sitting right in front of him. His father had sat there all night watching over his son. In the same way we are "blindfolded" in this life. We cannot see the reasons for the things that happen around us. But praise the Lord, we can call out for help, because we know that our Loving Father is sitting beside us watching over us. Just because we can't see Him doesn't mean he isn't there.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Kristi's Photo shoot

I love you Kristi!! Your so cute! Thanks for being you!









From Mistake to Victory

If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God. He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly, and complain of God, but turns the mistake into a victory. He learns a lesson from the words of the Master, and takes heed that he be not again deceived. -Review and Herald, May 12 1896

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Photo shoot of Kari

This is my youngest sister!! Isn't she cute!!? :) I'm so blessed! Thanks Dad for letting me use your camera!














Never forget to GIVE THANKS! :)

Psalm 33:18-22

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You."

Thank you Lord for Your mercy...

Jude 24 & 25

Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Strength because of the Struggle

The day that I read the quote in My Life Today where it says, "Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice." I prayed that God would open my ears to hear His voice...so I could hear the messages that He was sending to me. Twice that day, my little 12 year old sister said some very profound things, that really hit home for me. She was telling me a story...because she loves to tell her big sister every story that she hears...about this man who was really interested in butterflies. One day he found this cocoon and took it home. After several days, this cocoon began to shake...very violently. The man watched this butterfly trying to escape his tiny home. But soon the man began to be afraid that the butterfly was struggling so much that he would kill himself. So the man cut a tiny slit in the cocoon to let the butterfly out. Through the tiny slit came two beautiful wings, and then came the rest of the butterfly. It was a beautiful creature! The man was so excited to have seen this happen, and to see the results of God's creation. But after many days, something wasn't right. The butterfly hadn't flown. The man began to wonder if something was wrong, so he called a good friend of his who was familiar with these things. After re-telling how he found the cocoon, and how he had made a slit in the cocoon to let the butterfly out, the friend figured out what was wrong. The butterfly wasn't strong enough to fly. Why? Because he hadn't gone through the struggle to be released from his tight quarters. It is the struggle that gives the butterfly the strength to fly. Butterfly's have a special place in my heart. During my greatest struggle, God pointed me to the lessons I could learn from them. Each of God's wonderful creations have many a great lesson for us to learn from. God sent a message to me through my little sister, who was casually telling her older sister a story that she had heard and found interesting. Yet to me it was as direct as if God had spoken it Himself. It is the struggle that gives us the strength to fly.



Comfort and Strength

"For all who are disheartened there is but one remedy, faith, prayer, and work." -TC vol. 6, 438

"At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer." - DA 669, 670


Thursday, May 17, 2012

Faith and Prayer

Prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish. We are seldom, in all respects, placed in the same position twice. We continually have new scenes and new trials to pass through, where past experience cannot be a sufficient guide. We must have the continual light that comes from God. Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice. It is part of God's plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask. - My Life Today, 15

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Faith is the Victory

This morning for my devotions, I read 1 John 5:4 and it says, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." The first thing that came to mind when I read this was the song that our Mixed Chorus sings, Faith is the Victory. And once again, I asked myself a question that I had asked myself before, but I had never really gotten an answer to. So once again, I wondered, how does faith give us the victory? How can we overcome the world with faith? My mind wasn't making the connection. So I decided to wait and see if God gave me an answer later on throughout the day. That afternoon, I felt like I should email a good friend of mine that I hadn't talked to in a little while. So I did. And in his reply he reminded me of something that he had said a few weeks ago. He said that in life, when we have questions, or we don't understand things, it's ok. Because if we understood everything, then there would be no faith. Don't get me wrong, we should learn and try to understand as much as we can, but there are times, when things happen to us, that we just can't understand. That is when we need faith. After reading this email, things clicked in my mind. When I think of overcoming the world, I think of someone that is trying to understand everything about and in the world. If you are going to overcome the world, you need to know ALL about it right? Well God says that we can overcome the world. Yet it is impossible for us to know everything and understand everything that goes on in the world. But this is how we can overcome the world; through faith. Faith that God does understand everything, and has it all under control. We can overcome the world, not through our knowledge, but through faith in His knowledge.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My Prayer

Lord I have tried to do what is right. Don't turn me over to those who oppress me. Promise me, Lord, that you will help me. Don't let the arrogant pressure me to disobey you. My eyes grow tired as I look for your salvation, for your promised help. Deal lovingly with me, Lord, and teach me more about your commandments. I am your servant; give me greater insight and understanding into your teachings. Lord, it's time for you to personally act because people are ignoring your law. (Romans 13:8-10, Love is the law) I treasure your commandments more then gold, even more then pure gold. Because I know that your precepts are right...  Psalm 119:121-128 (The Clear Word Translation)

Monday, May 14, 2012

Life

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Believe that life is worth living, and that belief will help create the fact.

Words

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18

Actions speak louder then words. When God ask's us to love, it's not just with our words. Because when people see us, our actions will speak to their hearts more then our words ever could. Words are empty and meaningless unless they are backed by deeds and truth filled with love.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

When life gives you struggles...

When life gives you struggles, remember one thing; God will NEVER allow you to go through anything that is harder then you can bear. This means that YOU CAN DO IT! "And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve." -Isaiah 14:3 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation...And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." -Isaiah 12:2, 4-6 Friends, there is a day coming when God will give thee rest from your sorrow and burdens and from your fears. Until then, you must keep trusting, and be not afraid, for Jesus Christ is your STRENGTH and your SONG. He is your salvation. And continue to look at the wonderful and great things that He is doing in your life. Because He is in your midst, even if you don't feel it at times, He IS there. Continue to push on! Just a little farther! YOU CAN MAKE IT! With Jesus Christ on your side, anything is possible!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Following God's Leading

On Monday night, Mr. Corrigan did a worship thought that was really thought provoking. He gave a very good illustration with a story about a rescue dog. This rescue dog had a very good sense of smell, so one day when a hiker was reported missing, this dog was recruited. The search and rescue men gave the dog an item of the lost hiker, and the dog picked up the scent immediately, and began the search. The men followed the dog as he caught a whiff of the hikers sent in the wind on the top of the mountain peak. So up and over the mountain top they climbed, with the dog running several yards in front of the men, and then returning to make sure they were coming, then running ahead several yards, then returning. This process continued down the mountainside, and into the valley. As they continued through the valley, the dog kept pushing on. They eventually reached another mountain, which they began to climb. Soon they neared the top, and the dog kept going. Over the mountain peak they climbed, and then there before them they found what they were looking for. The glacier had pulled away from the mountain, and the lost hiker had fallen inside and was unable to get out. The rescue men quickly began work to get the poor, frozen man out of his predicament. They were able to get the man out, and to the hospital where they were able to get him back on his feet. This story may just seem like any other normal rescue story, and it is. But there is something that we can often find ourselves over looking. One important detail that really makes this story, and many other rescue stories, quite fascinating. The dog had a good sense of smell, and could smell the mans scent from the top of the mountain that was quite far away from the mountain that the hiker was on. But the wind was on top of the mountain. What happened when the dog went down into the valley? He lost the scent from the wind. So the dog had to rely completely on his memory of the direction of the scent when he could smell it last. Which was on the top of the mountain. He continued to push forward, even though he couldn't smell the scent like before. Then when he reached the second mountain, he was able to smell the scent again, and find the man. In the same way, there will be times in our life when we lose the sense of God's presence. When this happens, do we give up? or do we continue to push forward, and rely on the last message we received from Him? When God asks us to go in one direction, or to follow something, He means it. And until He tells us to change, we must continue to push in that direction, even if we feel at times like we have lost His leading. We must go back to where we last sensed His presence, and push forward from there. Whether we are on top of the mountain or in the valley, we can still be assured that we are doing His will.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

More Memories...

                                                                 I love you Loralee!






My Day...

Today has been a wonderful day. I spent most of the day with my mom driving, but we are now at Rosario beach. This place is beautiful! Just what I need! My mom and I took a walk around to many different points and it was incredible to look down and out across the water and see the mighty waves crashing against the shore. With my first glance, I could feel God's presence. I could sense His power. And I was reassured of His love for me, and His leading in my life. My mom was pointing many things out to me, like the little yellow and pink flowers that covered the green grass. And the ducks trying to stay afloat on the ruff waves. Then we went down to the dock, and sat there for awhile talking, and watching the seaweed in the water. Today God has reminded me of how much nature speaks of His love. I am reminded of how important it is for us to spend time in God's nature. It truly is a place where God speaks to the heart.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Memories

Here are some pictures that I just had to post! I love you Ashely and Esther and Kami! :)






Friday, May 4, 2012

Lamentations 3

Lamentations 3

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when i cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone,  he hath made my paths crooked. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. he hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord.

(These feelings that are being described here, are ones that are easy to feel. I have struggled with feeling these feelings. Feeling as though God isn't there...feeling as though God is causing all this affliction to come upon me. Feeling as though He isn't hearing me when I cry out to Him. But lets continue reading...)

verse 21: This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth...for the Lord will not cast off forever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men...Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?...Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with out hands unto God in the heavens...I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou has redeemed my life. O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.


(Here...even though we don't feel God near, and we feel as if He is hurting us, we must remember, and recall to our minds, this hope;  That the Lord is merciful. And that He is not wanting us to hurt. But He is wanting us to grow. And often growth hurts. We should not complain when we are justly punished for our sins. But we must have a change of heart, and turn to the path of righteousness. God is there...and will be there whenever we call. And He is just, merciful, and ready to freely forgive.)



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

We gain strength and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot.

We have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that we meet it with courage and with the best that we have to give. -Eleanor Roosevelt

Pro. 29:25

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Miracles

There are times when you feel lost.
There are times when God seems silent.
There are times when you wonder what life holds for you.
There are times when painful heartache fills your heart.
This is when I long for a better place.

Yet there are times when I wonder how will I ever get there?
There are times when I call out to heaven but it seems as though there is no response.
I beg God to take my unclean heart, and make it new.
To fill me with His righteousness.
To change me into an image of Him.
Though this task seems impossible, and you may not feel or hear an answer from above,
Know that God still pours out His miracles.
When I don't deserve them.
When I have pushed Him aside.
He hears, He sees, He knows, and He loves.

Keep your eyes open for the miracle that God has in store for you today...We don't have to be perfect children for God to pour out His blessings and miracles on us. Even when we have done wrong, God will still hear, and see, and know, and love.