Thursday, June 13, 2013

Blessings in Disguise

"Blessings"

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

And Life Moves on...

Big gecko that lives in my classroom!!  


My kids jumping for joy at their new toy. Play-dough! :) 

 Me
Elijah
This boy makes me laugh everyday! 

Yuji
This boy has the biggest smile!! :)

CeCe
she brought me flowers! was so sweet! 

Monday, April 29, 2013

More pictures!!! :)



The other Student Missionaries and I that decided to go Camping 

 Beautiful Sunset on the Camping trip...


 Sorry this picture is sideways...But it is a little crab that I found out I had been sitting on partway through my devotions...



 Fresh coconut!! Got it myself! (don't tell anyone...but the tree had been knocked down by the storm... ;)

This beautiful place called Nalup where we went camping..


Got my Pohnpei Drivers License! :) Great souvenir! 


We went on outreach this last Sabbath, and did VBS for the kids. 


Learned to play the Ukulele!!! This is my teacher..Trevor :)



Where I went camping two weekends ago...just incredible!


Here Kristi, Kari, and Kami! I posted these especially for you! :) You can see what your big sister is up to. Hope you enjoy them! There will be more soon! Love you!




Thursday, April 18, 2013

Few shots of the past few days...

 Here are some pictures!! I am having a wonderful time! Just about to go camping on a different island for the night. I love my kids, and I am so excited to be here! God is so good! :)



This is my classroom!! And most of the students...about 4 were missing.



This is the little sister of on of my students and she is "THE" cutest little girl!!


This is the daughter of the schools principle. She is really cute too! :) Came to visit me in my room..


This was a waterfall that we went hiking to! It was so cool! Jumped off the first waterfall, and this second one, we swam under it...the water felt so good!! Then afterwards, we hear this noise like as if someone was dropping rocks into the water? Come to find out...the noise was made by eels that were feeding!! So I swam with Pohnpein eels! (apparently the have a pretty nasty bite...)


This picture was taken on the first hike I went on. You could see a good portion of the island! It was beautiful!! 



Saturday, April 13, 2013

Giving God the Crayon

Today was Sabbath. What a blessing it is to have the Sabbath! There are several different small churches in Pohnpei, and the principle of the school goes to a different church then most of the other student missionaries. He wanted to take me with his family, to his church this Sabbath. So we all climbed into the van; the principles family (5 children currently at this school) and one other student missionary. The church was a beautiful 1 hour drive away from the school. It was exciting to see more of the island. Apparently the island is only about a 2 hour drive long, so we basically drove about half the island to go to church. The church was beautiful! There are two things in particular that made it extra beautiful to me... 1. It had air conditioning... 2. Everyone took their shoes off so that meant I could go barefoot... two things I love! Air conditioning, and going barefoot :) The sermon was preached in Pohnpeinease first, and English second. While it was being preached in the language that I could not understand, I kept the principles youngest daughter busy. She was sitting beside me and we were coloring her new coloring book together. I was coloring the trunk of the tree while she colored the green leaves. Soon she stopped and just watched me color...then she took the brown from me and gave me the green crayon and pointed to the leaves. She wanted me to finish the green leaves and color them like I was coloring the brown. She just sat and watched me for a little while, and then took the green crayon again and tried coloring more green. She soon gave the crayon back to me and asked me to finish it. As I finished filling in the empty white spots between her attempts to stay in the lines, a thought came to mind. My life is like that picture. God is coloring part of it, and I am trying to color part of it..but God's "part" of the picture looks so much better then mine, and no matter how hard I try, I can't get it to look like His. After stepping back to look at the picture, I can clearly tell which part God colored. Something inside me longs for the whole picture to look as beautiful as God's "part" does. So I willingly hand the crayon to God and ask Him to take control. Then after a short while of watching God color, I decide that it doesn't look to hard and I want to try coloring again. So I take the crayon back and work on getting the picture just right. But for some reason I can't seem to stay in the lines. After figuring out that there is no possible way for me to color like God, I hand the crayon back and ask Him to please finish and make the picture look beautiful. All I need to learn, is to leave the crayon in God's hand, because the picture will be more beautiful if He doesn't have to fill in the spots where I was attempting to color inside the lines.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Day 1


My bedroom!! Nice pink sheets...lol


This is me and the beautiful flower wreath they gave me as I walked out of the airport. 


my closet... :) and the much needed fan...



Pohnpei

Wow...wow...wow...is all I can say! God's leading is wonderful, amen? I find myself on the island of Pohnpei and I am loving it! The humid-heat and all! Why? Because I have peace in my heart that I belong here...this is where God wants me. I will be posting pictures once I get them. It is so beautiful! And I am loving the rain! I will be teaching 1st grade starting on Monday. Kinda new to me...and I would LOVE your prayers!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

McKenzie

 Hey McKenzie!!
I am going to miss you tons! Thanks for being such a great study partner.
I don't think I could have made it through Anatomy and Physiology without you.
Thanks for studying with me even when I fell asleep on you! ;)
I am pretty sure that God put you in my life for a reason and I have throughly enjoyed
all the fun we have had! Thanks for being my friend and for all
the prayers and spiritual conversations we have had!
I love you lots!!




Saturday, March 30, 2013

Forgiveness

The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. - COL 251.4

Friday, March 29, 2013

Happy Birthday Shannon!!



Happy Birthday Shannon!!!
Thanks for being such a great roommate!
We have had such fun...chasing and capturing that fly?
And inhaling helium? I am so sure it really effected my brain....lol.
It was so fun walking you to Kyle's house! 
I bet walking blindfolded and not knowing where you were going was
a little nerve racking...but it was worth it! Totally worth it! 
That apple pie and those papousas were so good! Thanks Kyle! 
Great idea! And thanks Carmen for helping with the detour! 

I am so thankful for such an incredible roommate! Thank you for
all the times that you made my bed and washed my dishes and for the hugs that 
you just knew I needed. And thank you for all the prayers!
I am going to miss you! 
I LOVE YOU LOTS!!
Happy Birthday









Burdens

What a glorious Lord!
He who daily bears our burdens
also gives us our salvation.
-Psalm 68:19-20

What a promise!! Not only does God carry our burdens for us, but he gives us salvation and eliminates those burdens! May God carry your burdens for you today, and allow him to completely eliminate them from your life.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Strength in Gods Arms

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. -Psalm 147:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. -Isa 41:10

God does not take delight in the legs of man because they are weak, and they fail man. But when mans legs fail him and he can no longer walk the Christian walk on this earth, God has strong arms to carry us. He will uphold us with His right hand. In the Lord, there is strength forever, for He has strong arms to carry us when our weak legs give out. 

Isa 30:15:
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Psalm 90:12-17



Teach us the shortness of life, that we may grow in wisdom.
Oh Lord, come back to us. How long will You delay?
Take pity on Your servants.
Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, 
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery.
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, Your servants, see You work again...
And may the Lord our God, show us His approval and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful.
-Psalm 90:12-17-

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Faith

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord give us faith to be strong

Give me a heart to find hope
Father, I cannot see
How the sorrow I feel can bring freedom
And as hard as I try, Lord it's hard to believe
So, give me a heart to find hope

Give me faith to be strong
Give me strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give me grace to go on
Make me willing and able
Lord, give me faith to be strong
Give me peace when I'M torn
Give me faith, faith to be strong


Friday, March 1, 2013

Friends







Last weekend one of my little sister's best friend who lives in MI flew all the way out to surprise her. It was so sweet! They had a blast together! Playing all kinds of games and just having fun! Here are some pictures they took and let big sister edit... :)



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Faith through Love


I have been reading a book for my Bible class, and it has been really good. I have learned so much! It puts the plan of salvation in such simple terms. The book is called, "All of Grace" by C. H. Spurgeon.
Here it is talking about faith...

       "Another and higher form of faith is that faith which grows out of love. Why does a boy trust his father? The reason why the child trusts his father is because he loves him. Blessed and happy are they who have a sweet faith in Jesus, intertwined with deep affection for Him, for this is a restful confidence. These lover of Jesus are charmed with His character and delighted with His mission; they are carried away by the loving-kindness that He has manifested, and therefore they cannot help trusting Him because they so much admire, revere, and love Him.
      The way of loving trust in the Saviour is illustrated by a lady who is the wife of the most eminent physician of the day. She is seized with a dangerous illness and is smitten down by its power, yet she is wonderfully calm and quiet because her husband has made this disease his special study and has healed thousands who were similarly afflicted. She is not in the least troubled, for she feels perfectly safe in the hands of one so dear to her and in whom skill and love are blended in their highest forms. Her faith is reasonable and natural; her husband, from every point of view, deserves it of her. 
      This is the kind of faith which the happiest of believers exercise toward Christ. There is no physician like Him; none can save as He can. We love Him and He loves us, a therefore we put ourselves into His hands, accept whatever He prescribes, and do whatever He bids. We feel that nothing can be wrongly ordered while He is the Director of our affairs, for He loves us too well to let us perish or suffer a single needless pang." (76)


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Christ Object Lessons, p. 333

As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013


We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are NOT crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. 2 Corinthians 4:8

I You Want Me To...

The pathway is broken
and the signs are unclear
and I don't know the reason why You brought me here
but just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
if You want me to.

No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
and I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet.
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
then I will walk through the fire
if You want me to.

It may not be the way I would have chosen.
When You lead me through a world that's not my home.
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone...

So when the whole world turns against me 
and I'm all by myself,
and I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
and I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to.

'Cause when I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down.
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
and I will walk through the valley if You want me to.

-Ginny Owens

God has a plan and I must be willing to follow, no matter the hurt....

Saturday, February 16, 2013


Courage

For I know in short all things work together for good to those that love God and those who are willing to trust him no matter....Courage does not always roar... sometimes its the quite voice at the end of the day that says...”I'll try again tomorrow!”

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding....in all your ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your paths....Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path....Jesus loves you and is there for you always...never stop looking to Him and know that if you remain faithful to Him He will guide in every single ASPECT of your life...don’t give up, keep going....

If we are distressed, it is for the comfort of salvation; if we are comforted, its is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.... 2 Cor. 1:6

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy..Proverbs 15:30
(we must keep positive!)

Don’t think only of your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing... Philippians 2:4

He gives POWER to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength... Isaiah 40:29

For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind... 2 Timothy 1:7

BE BRAVE, BE STRONG... 1 Cor. 16:13

For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught... Proverbs 3:26

When you lie down you will not be afraid or distressed, yes when you lie down your sleep will be sweet...I will be there for you no matter what hardships you encounter and you can know for certain that if you keep your eyes are on the cross, on Jesus Christ, who gives strength to the weak and discouraged, that you will find perfect peace. And know for certain that this too will pass...don’t ever feel that Jesus has not gone through hard times which you think you are going through...He has wept, and he has laughed, He has also been through times of pearl and disgust, but if God is for us, who can be against us...EGW.. Random quotes mixed together...

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me...YOU can do ALL things through Christ who will give YOU strength...Philippians 4:13

To those who are persistent in doing good seek glory, honor and immorality, he will give them eternal life... Romans 2:7

Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus...You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ... 2 timothy 2:3

Thursday, February 14, 2013

God's Love

There is NOTHING that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Savior's LOVE...

There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer. Pray for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to them from the word of God. Upon many is a soul sickness which no earthly balm can reach nor physician heal. Pray for these souls, bring them to Jesus. Tell them that there is a balm in Gilead and a Physician there...

The whole earth, wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin, and sorrow and pain, is to be lighted with the knowledge of God's LOVE...

The message of hope and mercy is to be carried to the ends of the earth...The gloom is to disappear before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The power of hell has been overcome...

But no man can import that which he himself has not received...It is the LOVE of God continually transferred to man that enables him to impart light. Into the hearts of all who are united to God by faith...LOVE flows freely, to shine out again in good works, in real, heartfelt service for God...

The indwelling of the Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly LOVE.

There is NOTHING that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Savior's LOVE...

-Christ Object Lessons, p. 418-419



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

God's Forgiveness

I have been reading many of the parables for one of my Bible classes, and the things I have been learning have been so wonderful! We have a book that we have been reading through, and if you haven't read this book, you should! It is incredibly eye-opening...it makes you think....and it brings up different sides to the parables that I had never thought of before. The parable that we have just finished, is the story where a certain man owed the King a tremendous debt. This man was called upon to pay his debt, which was impossible for him to pay, so the King showed him mercy and forgave him the entire debt. (it was a hugh amount of money) Then this same man went out and found another man who owed him very little. (compared with the debt this first man owed the king, the second debt was like 5 cents.) No mercy was shown at all, and when the King heard about this he called the man back and punished him for being so cruel and sent him to prison until he paid his debt.

     "Further, this parable, by it's contrast between the colossal and unpayable debt which the servant owed the king, and the trifling sum which his fellow owed him, compels us to remember that any wrong which has been done to us is as nothing to the wrong which we have done to God. When we disobey God, when we disregard Him, when we banish Him from life or any part of life, we are not so much sinning against law, as sinning against love. We are not breaking God's law so much as breaking God's heart. It is possible to pay some kind of legal penalty which will atone for a broken law but it is impossible to do anything which can atone for a broken heart. Therefore, the debt we owe to God is infinitely greater then any debt anyone can owe to us. That is what the real Christian cannot help seeing. Knowing that he himself has been forgiven so much, he cannot be unforgiving to another person...the man who has really appreciated what the love of God has done for him, cannot but love others and seek always to forgive as he has been forgiven." - Parables of Jesus by William Barclay, page 90.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

In His Hand...

Last night at vespers the speaker told a story that really touched my heart....

The story is told about a little boy driving in the car with his daddy. They were driving down the road with the windows rolled up because of the dust outside. Now this little boy was deathly afraid of bees, and as they were driving, there was a bee stuck inside the car and the little boy started crying..."Daddy! Daddy! Help me!" As the bee was buzzing right up close to the little crying boy, his daddy reached out and grabed the bee in his hand. After holding it for a few seconds he let it go again. The little boy starts crying again, "Daddy! Help me! It's going to hurt me!" This is when his daddy said, "No son, it can't hurt you now...look at my hand..." the little boy looked at his daddy's hand as he stretched it out....there in the middle, was a big red circle that was beginning to swell.....in the center of the circle was the bee's stinger..."He can't sting you now son..."

Jesus Christ has taken the devils stinger for us....he can't hurt us now.... "In the whole satanic force there is not power to overcome one soul who in simple trust, casts himself on Christ. 'He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.' Isa 40:29" -COL 157

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Metronomes and Recordings?

Last night we had orchestra, and we are working on a particularly challenging piece. We have been working on getting the notes for awhile, and working on getting it up to speed. But last night our conductor used an especially effective method for learning this piece. We tried in last thursday night and it was incredible how much we progressed in just one night! So he decided to use it again last night. But last night it hit me in a different way. I realized there was a great spiritual lesson here! I have been doing music or playing an instrument for most of my life, and that includes learning music! :) But I have never thought of learning music in light of my spiritual walk.

So, I bet you are wondering what method our conductor used last night that was so effective? Well, we used the metronome, and a recording of the song we are playing. Now, these are incredibly common ways to practice music, I know. But what we did, was listen to one section of the piece, and then play that section with the metronome starting slow and speeding it up until we were up to speed.

The reason why this method works is because we first listen to an example so we can have a goal in mind, what we ultimately want to sound like. Then we start playing it, but slow at first building the speed until we are at the same speed as the recording. The reason why we use a metronome for this part is because we don't have an internal beat that is perfect, much less the same as the person sitting next to you...it is close! But not perfect. So playing it with the metronome helps everybody to be on the same beat, and helps your internal beat so that the song flows perfectly.

Our conductor talked about each of these points last night, and as he was talking, I was thinking...He mentioned how if we practice without the metronome and a certain part of the song is practiced slower then another part, when you add the metronome it will seem like the metronome is speeding up! When in reality, the metronome is not changing, we are having to change our "normal" to match with the "perfect" metronome. It is the same with our walk with God. First we are to listen to the recording, or read God's word and gain a clear picture of His character. Because "by beholding we become changed". -2 Cor 3:18 Then as we practice, we are to constantly have His perfect character in our ears, (minds...same thing....lol) so we are changing our "normal" to match with His "perfect" beat. This will enable us to learn the song that God has in store for us to sing, and we will be able to play with perfect harmony and rhythm when combined with the whole orchestra.


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hymn # 510

One morning, I was feeling discouraged. I was sitting at my desk having my devotions, and I happened to look up on the board where I stick all the notes I have gotten from people, and I have pictures of all my dear friends. And one note that I had gotten awhile back really jumped out at me, so I took it down and read it....

If you but trust in God to guide you,
and place your confidence in Him.
You'll find Him always there beside you,
to give you hope and strength within.
For those who trust God's changeless love,
Build on the rock that will not move.

What gain is there in futile weeping,
In helpless anger and distress?
If you are in His care and keeping,
in sorrow will He love you less?
For He who took for you a cross,
will bring you safe through every loss.

In patient trust await His leisure,
in cheerful hope with heart content.
To take what'er your Father's pleasure,
and all discerning Love hath sent.
Doubt not your inmost wants are known,
to Him who choose you for His own.

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
offer your service faithfully.
And trust His word; though undeserving,
you'll find His promise true to be.
God NEVER will forsake in need,
THe soul that trusts in Him indeed.

WOW....this song is so powerful!! It is officially my favorite hymn...(which is a really hard choice...and will probably change in like 2 months, cause there are SOOO many incredible hymns that touch my heart when I need them most...but for now...this is my favorite! lol!) I got even more out of it just writing it on this blog then I did when I first read it! This really encouraged me...."Just trust Kalyse"....was God's voice in my heart. "I know what you want...I know what you need....and I will give them to you when the time is right. No mater how hard life may seem, I took a cross for you, and I am not going to leave you alone to suffer. You will come out stronger on the other side. Just wait...and trust...and hold on to my discerning love....be content with life as it is now....and cheerfully hope and wait for the blessings I have in store for you. Don't forget, I am ALWAYS here beside you....I will NEVER forsake you. "



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Through His LOVE....

The countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the heart shines out in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The sweet peace of heaven is revealed. There is expressed a habitual gentleness, a more then human love...Through its life-giving power it brings all there is of mind and soul and strength into harmony with the divine life. Man with his human nature becomes a partaker of divinity. Christ is honored in excellence and perfection of character. As these changes are effected, angels break forth in rapturous song, and God and Christ rejoice over souls fashioned after the divine similitude. -Christ Object Lessons 102.2 and 102.3

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Embrace the Cross

Every morning when I wake up, the hardest thing about my day is getting out of bed. I am not a morning person. But I just can't seem to spend enough time in my devotions. Every morning I wish that I could have spent longer. Every morning, I long for even more time with my Saviour...I can't wait till one day, we will be with Him forever! So, because I value this time in the mornings with Jesus, I get up early. As much as my head and heart love this time spent in devotions, my body does not appreciate it too well. I have to force and drag myself out of bed. I have to plead with God every morning to give me the strength to get out of bed and make it through the day. Often when I wake up, I wake up from a beautiful dream. Then reality hits me. I have 3 classes today, 6 hours of work, orchestra practice, and hardly anytime to study, let alone eat. These thoughts can get very discouraging. I don't want to make effort. I just want to stay in bed where life is easy. Especially yesterday morning, I was very discouraged. My sleep that weekend was very sporadic, and now I had a pretty tough day to face. All I could think, was, "Why does life have to be so hard?" And it wasn't just me either. Many of the people closest to me, ones that I love dearly, were having a terrible day as well. And because I longed to help them and fix things so they could be happy, it was hard for me. Because there was nothing I could do. I was struggling too, and I couldn't give them, what I didn't have. As I went to have my devotions in a quiet room, I poured out my tears and fears to God. Then a song came into my mind...

I am crucified with Christ
Therefore I no longer live
Jesus Christ now lives in me.

Embrace the cross
Where Jesus suffered
Though it will cost
All you claim as yours
Your sacrifice will seem small
Beside the treasure
Eternity can't measure
What Jesus holds in store.

Embrace the love
The cross requires
Cling to the One
Whose heart knew every pain
Receive from Jesus
Fountains of compassion
Only He can fashion
Your heart to move as His

O wondrous cross our desires rest in you
Lord Jesus make us bolder
To face with courage the shame and disgrace
You bore upon Your shoulder

Embrace the life
That comes from dying
Come trace the steps
The Savior walked for you
An empty tomb
Concludes Golgatha's sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering

Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus
-Steve Green

As I listened to this song, I was filled with strength. I could feel it. I left my devotions that morning with determination to be a conquerer. Jesus had to carry a cross, and with His strength, I can carry my tiny little one. As I was filled with strength, it gave me joy, because now I could work to help others who were having a difficult day. If not by anything else, with my prayers. I am crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live...Jesus Christ now lives in me...I must not think selfishly of everything I have to face, but think of making Jesus happy and reaching out to those around me. And eternity can't measure what Jesus has in store....

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Faith in Him?

Have you ever been praying for something for a long time? And it just seems that nothing is really happening, or that God is saying "wait"...or even...."no"? Yet what your praying for seems to be in line with Gods will? It can be very discouraging! Last night, I went to a Bible study, and we did a study on prayer. It was really incredible! In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus is talking about how powerful our prayers are. "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." This verse has always made me a little confused. Here God is saying that whatever we ask for in prayer we will receive? But what about the things that I ask for in prayer that I don't receive? Last night we discussed that, and someone pointed out verse 22..."And Jesus answering saith unto them, 'Have faith in God.' " Notice it doesn't say, have faith that God will always say yes....it says, have faith in God, regardless of the answer He gives for your prayer. Believe that God hears, and have faith in Him. So often, we just come to God when we need something, and we say we have faith that He will just hand us what we want. But God is asking for more. He is asking that we believe in Him...not just when we see answers to our prayers, but when we don't see answers to our prayers, that we still have faith in Him. Having faith in God, regardless of the answers to your prayers. We can have no doubt, that God will answer our prayers. But when the answer is unseen to us, or it is a "wait" or "no", this is when we need to have that grounded faith and trust in God.

Monday, January 14, 2013

God's Presence...

Yesterday, a group of us went up to a ski resort for the day. There were some people taking a class, and some of us had just gone along for the fun of it! :) We woke up early, and drove to the resort. When we got there and got out of the car....wow....it hit us! It was FREEZING cold! so we all bundled up, got our skis and snowboards, and headed up the mountain. It was beautiful! We had a blast skiing down the mountain with the snow flying! Near the middle/end of the day, some of us decided to go up into some incredible powder. This powder went down the mountain a little ways, and people hadn't traveled this very much. So we get to the top of the hill, and 3 of us head down. Within the first 5 seconds of our descent we were all flat on our backs, skis sticking up into the air, looking at the sky! God's nature was incredible! I felt as though I were in a picture! (one of my friends informed me that I looked like I was in a picture with my skis sticking up into the air...and lying flat on my back!) We all sat there and watched the snow gently falling and felt fully enveloped in the powdery snow and God's great love for us. Then on the last run of the day, there was pretty much no one out on the ski trail, and I stopped and just listened. As I looked back up the mountain behind me, the sun was starting to set, and through the clouds you could see a little line of orangy-pink. The snow on the trees was incredible, and it was completely silent as the tiny snowflakes came floating down. It was so quiet. As I listened to the stillness, I couldn't help but feel fully at peace. I was in God's presence, in His beautiful nature.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Today...

"Come to me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete. As you rest quietly in My presence, My light within you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness. Therefore, rejoice on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish and inadequate. Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend on Me in childlike trust. If you persevere in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence. The perfect end to such a day is a doxology of gratitude. I am He from whom all blessings flow!" -2 Corinthians 4:6, Matthew 5:3-6, Colossians 2:9-10, Psalm 150:6.

As I was sitting in my room at my desk finishing my homework, I was fully exhausted! I kept looking at the clock...ok...8:30...I'm going to bed! But I happened to look up at my picture board in front of me. I have several quotes and Bible verses up there with the pictures. And I saw this quote. I don't remember where I got it...or where it was from....but it totally described my last few days. God has been teaching me throughout this whole school year....and last! well...I guess every single day I learn how to better depend on God. But especially the last few days, God has worked little things out for me...like getting out of class 10 mins early so I could eat lunch. But every morning I have to make myself get up and out of bed. And the first thing I think every morning is...Lord...please give me strength for this day!! And He does! Every single time! I have gone to bed everyday this week praising God for the strength He has given me! And I have slept so well the past few nights because I have had peace and joy...God is so good!!


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Early Writtings p.39.1

I have seen the tender love that God has for His people, and it is very great. I saw angels over the saints with their wings spread about them. Each saint had an attending angel. If the saints wept through discouragement, or were in danger, the angels that ever attended them would fly quickly upward to carry the tidings, and the angels in the city would cease to sing. Then Jesus would commission another angel to descend to encourage, watch over, and try to keep them from going out of the narrow path; but if they did not take heed to the watchful care of these angels, and would not be comforted by them, but continued to go astray, the angels would look sad and weep. They would bear the tidings upward, and all the angels in the city would weep, and then with a loud voice say, "Amen." But if the saints fixed their eyes upon the prize before them and glorified God by praising Him, then the angels would bear the glad tidings to the city, and the angels in the city would touch their golden harps and sing with a loud voice, "Alleluia!" and the heavenly arches would ring with their lovely songs.

Wow...I read this during my devotions this morning, and it completely blew me away. God has been showing me a lot lately, how REAL He is. Just imagine...angels are carrying your discouragement's right to heaven! And Jesus Himself is commissioning an angel to come and give you comfort! All this is taking place around us...we just can't see it. If we would only remember that more! We are NEVER alone.