God is so Good
It's it a beautiful day? Yes, everyone said that yesterday was unbelieveable. It was wonderous yesterday, but why not today? The rain fell from heaven, and I feel cared for. I forgot to water my garden yesterday, so my Righteous Father did it for me.
As I grow up there are more and more situations where I didn't handle something as I should have, and my parents step in and take care of it for me. When we were little that wasn't a deal because that was their job. I took their care for granted. Now, as I begin to feel responsible for all the things going on in my life, I am so thankful that they are here for me to turn to for much needed help. I love you Mom and Dad.
I get to spend the weekend with my dear cousin Flo Faris. We are so excited. It has been months since I have spent time with her just for the sake of spending time with her. Oh, it's going to be marvelous! Flo and I have been best buds since we were little people. She is four days twenty hours and thirty minutes older than me (or five days if you want to be boring) and we have the best of times together. Needless to say I am going to have a great weekend, and I hope that you all do too.
I have been thinking about my life, and I have been thinking about how easy it is to be encouraged. When a random stranger greets me with true concern and compassion I am so touched. Then, I always wonder why they did that. So I was thinking, I want to be the encouraging stranger. I want to be a woman who is kind and gracious to all people. I want to be an approachable stranger who always has a smile, and always has an answer for the hope that is within me. I want people to ask, to beg, for the answer because it's so evident that I do not hope in what the world hopes it. There are so many hurting people in this world. I am called to love them. I am called to lay aside all differences, and love them. Really love them, with patience and kindness and hope and truth. I am called to give up this egocentrical mindset that we are all born with, and focus on other people. My focus is God. My God is love. Therefore, the logical conclusion would be my focus is love. I forget this truth so often. I selfishly walk through the store with a "don't talk to me" face. I think that it's ok to be in a "bad mood". Upon reflection Jesus was never in a bad mood. True, He wasn't always smiling hugely and "happy." Yet, He was always ready to help. He was always compassionate. He always loved. Oh, that I would be like Him.
Plus, it's not just the world that needs encouraged. Christian need help too. Our lives should be a reason for our brothers and sister to praise and thank God. (John 14.) Oh, let us be like Him. He who gave so much for nothing. He didn't love those who loved Him. He loved us. We were unloveable. So often I think that I shouldn't "put myself out" for an ungrateful person. I shouldn't "waste" my time. Then I think, isn't it because Jesus "put Himself out" and "wasted" His time that I have hope and life?
Yeah... all this to say reread I John and be inspired to love as Jesus loves. It's worth the effort and the pain because He loves you, and asked you to love. For isn't that all He asks of us. To love? Shouldn't we be scrambling to do His every bidding.
upon request and pleasure...
Hello,
I am sorry that it has been so long since I have written and posted on my blog. It's not a lack of love for you guys I just don't have a whole lot of time right now. Except, I dont' like it when people say that, as if there was a limited amount of time for them, and the rest of the world had more. It's not true, I have the same amount of time as Jerusha, it's just that I fill my time with more pressing things.
Right now my darling littlest sister Kez is playing with a ball that my mom bought her. She is truly enjoying walking around, dropping it, and then showing it off. What a princess?! I love her.
Oh, I want to enjoy this week. I am going to try really hard. I have tons of things going on, but I refuse to allow them to rule my week. Jesus is King, and He loves me, and I love Him, and that is all that matters.
On Sunday I was hit with this question... it's my verse of the week if you will, and I want to memorize it and live by it from now on:
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God wil all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?" Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Life is really simple when you think about it.
It continues...
"Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as your are this day." Deuteronomy 10:14-15.
These verse talk about the church, Christ's bride. God loves us. He has set His heart in love on us, and He has chosen us. He owns all of heaven and on and on, yet He cares about us.
The question is, what more does He ask than for us to love Him in return. Really, that is all He asks of us, because when we really love Him we want to do what He wants us to, and we obey. Real love desires above all else to please and honor the center of it's affection.
Ok people, have a fantastic life. I will. I am. I mean, school can wear us down, but let us hope in God and praise Him still. Remember to smile, and to care about those around you. It's not all about us.
Truly,
Rebekah
umm...
Today is Alex's 8th birthday. He is very happy. It's snowing. It's spring. Ok, I don't think you can say that it is spring and that it's snowing in the same sentence. *shakes head* I don't think it's spring. Oh well God is good and He wanted it to snow. I guess I am ok with that.
I got to go to class now. Smile people, snow isn't that bad.
a good week
Good morning to you. I am excited today. There are a few reasons not to be excited, but none of them exceed the millions of reasons to rejoice.
The good thing about today is that it's Monday. Now, just think we have a whole week to excel at whatever we do. It's worth the effort people. It may take twenty extra minutes to do a project with excellence, but God expects it of us. He longs for us to strive to please Him. Therefore, I am going to do all things well. I am going to stick to a schedule this week so that I can get everything done. I am looking forward to see what happens, because I have never stuck to my own schedule for more than a day and a half.
It's is supposed to snow tomorrow. I think that that is ok, because I am planting my sweet peas and onions today, but they can tolerate small frosts, so if they are in the ground they should be fine. Just pray that the snow doesn't stick because that would be a bit troubling.
Ok people, rejoice in all things. Smile, be happy tell the world that you've got the greatest gift of all, and them then stand in wonder. Let's make a difference for His name this week. Let's be emboldened, because He may come this weekend. This maybe our last week to share our faith with the lost.
With that said, I'm off to live a life worthy of the King.
Becca has a HUGE test... that she didn't know about
therefore, please do not distract her. Actually it would be helpful if you can think of any creative ways to benefit her study time, please share. She will have this test tomorrow at 8. It's for Psychology, and she didn't know about it until yesterday. A very sad and rather upsetting situation, but she is smiling, and that it good.
-MEC
Did you know...
Ok if you press my pig three or four times she will cover herself with mud. It's totally adorible and you all should try it. I just realized a week ago, and now I am sharing the news. The rule is if you get her dirty you have to clean her again with water. Agreed?!
"Finally, let me speak to those who do pray.
Let nothing at all discourage you. You may often feel great discouragement. Your times of prayer may be times of conflict. But this is quite common, for the devil hates to see you pray. So you much go on. Let me then offer you so words of brotherly advice about your prayers.
-Remember the importance of
reverence and
humility in pryaer. Think of who God is, and who you are.
-Remember the need you have of
the Holy Spirit's help in prayer, and be careful not to let your praying become a mere formality.
-Remember how important it is to pray
regularly. You must see prayer as one of the most important activities of each day, and time for prayer must be built into your daily routine.
-Remember the importance of
perservering in prayer. You will often be tempted to neglect your pryaers, or to cut them very short. This always comes from the devil, no matter how plausible the reasons for doing so might seem.
-Be
earnest in prayer. It is "fervent" prayer which achieves much (James 5:16)
-Remember the importance of
praying with faith. We must believe that if we ask according to God's will our prayers will be answered (Mark 11:24).
You must expect answers to your prayers.-Consider the importance of
boldness in your prayers. I do not mean an improper familiarity, but arguing with God on the basis of His own Word and promise.
-Remember the importance of
asking God for much. How often it is true of believers that they "do not have because they do not ask" (James 4:2).
-Be
specific in prayer. Confess your specific sins; pray for your specific weaknesses tell God your specific needs.
-Remember the importance of
praying for others. Beware of letting your prayers become narrow and self-centered.
-Be
thankful in prayer. We have much to be thankful for, and I dare not call any prayer a true prayer if thankfulness has no part in it.
-Finally, let me remind you of the need for
watchfulness over your prayers. True Christian experience begins in prayer; it flourishes in prayer; and it decays with the deglect of prayer. Prayer is a kind spiritual pulse-by it you may know weather you are spiritually healthy. Be watchful over your prayer life, and I shall be very surprised if anything goes very seriously wrong with your spiritual progress."
J. C. Ryle
Walking with GodI have been learning a lot about prayer, and I am really excited about what J. C. Ryle says about it. He reminds us of the importance of prayer and challenges us to be diligent and careful. Prayer is really powerful and to finish up with one last quote...
"Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness."
I'm not feeling very well. I am writing to ask you all to pray for me. I have some serious things that I need to be working on. The problem is the pressure isn't there. I find it more difficult to study/work on school when there aren't approaching deadlines. I mean I don't have any tests this week, nor do I have papers that need written, rather I need to spend time organizing my research paper that is due next month and working on preparing for Psychology. The boys all left for a week this morning. I am excited that we will have a house of girls for six days. I just hope that I feel better tomorrow.
Also, the weather is beautiful. I am a full believer in spring, and it's coming. I am just sorta sad that they say it will get much colder later this week.
The good thing is that I am going to be able to plant my sweet peas and onions sometime in the very near future. It's cool because they can withstand mild frosts, and so I will be transplanting them shortly.
Well many of my friends are on spring break. Have a good week. For those of you who are sorta on spring break, like myself, try really hard to continue on. Life is too short to waste. If any one is not on any break at all, I am sorry, and yet don't lose hope. Christ is King of everything and that includes all manner of school work.
Well, there is much to be done, and a nap is at the top of the list. *smile*
reasons for a fulfilling day
1. It is thunderstorming.
2. I had a McGriddle this morning with nothing on it and it costed $0.57
3. I got to babysit for the Birds.
4. I scrubbed/organized/sealed our church bathroom floors for more than six today.
5. I worked along side some of my favorite people in the world.
6. I spent some time with Daddy and we had a good talk.
7. My mommy missed me.
8. I got to take my babysister into Starbucks for her first trip ever.
9. Tomorrow is worship.
What are your nine reasons?
fulfilling and thankful
It is Friday, and I am happy. My spring break won't end until April 7, so there is no cause for dispear just yet. There are a million things to do for school. Well, I guess there are a million things to do period. I'm just glad that I am not alone. I don't even know what it would be like to try to live and grow up without hope.
It's a day of thanks:
I am thankful for the rain.
I am thankful for my car.
I am thankful for my mind.
I am thankful for break.
I am thankful for air.
I am thankful for my bed.
I am thankful for the Bible written in my language.
I am thankful for jobs.
I am thankful for friends.
I am thankful for my Dad.
I am thankful for my Mom.
I am thankful for my six little brothers.
I am thankful for my four little sisters.
I am thankful that I lived to see my 5/6ths birthday. (which is today by the way.)
I am thankful for God's grace.
I am thankful for a million things that I don't even know about.
I am thankful for the hope that is in me.
Well people, feel more than free to write a thankful list. It's a good thing to do every so often. I am going to work on World Views now. I hope that everyone has a great weekend.
a song to sing
I have a song to sing. My little seeds are sprouting. When I planted them they were dead, and I had to hide them in the soil; I had to hide them in darkness. After they were buried God saw fit to give me a little miracle. He didn't have to, but it was His pleasure. God sent me little tiny plants. They live, and it makes me happy. What can I learn from my little baby plants? Well they had to die before they could live. The life they had before death was selfish because they lived to be served on their mothers vine. Yet, they died and I buried them, and now God has seen fit to raise them up. They will now live a life of service. See, they have a purpose now, and that purpose is to grow and bear life of their own. Their purpose is to please their gardener and glorify their Creator. They sing His song with me, because we have the same God, and He cares for us.
I sent in my application today. I am going on an RP mission this summer. I am so excited. It's going to be a summer filled with lessons to learn. I desire to be blessed and to be a blessing.
Well it is my spring break from Marian but we have a Physics test tomorrow and Mr. Pulliam's class this week, so things won't be easy. It's ok though, I have no reason in the world to complain. God is so good.
*Smile*
floored by her powerful love
She steps out of her car with her arms holding as many things as she can grasp. The girl taps her door shut with her foot, and almost looses her balance, but catches herself and heads toward the church door. As she reaches the steps a familiar car drives past. She smiles and a loud gasp exits her lungs. "Flo is here!!!" Her cousin had told her that she wasn't going to come down to Indianapolis this weekend, but for whatever reason she had come, and Rebekah was so excited. She quickly set down her many belongings, and ran towards her beloved cousin. The intense friendship that exists between the girls accounts for the eagerness to embrace one another and catch up on all that God has done in thier lives. Not only are Flo and Rebekah cousins, they are dear life-long friends. The girls spend hours on the phone chatting about anything and everything. They hold each other accountable to the commitments and goals they have, and the girls pray for each other. God has graciously blessed them with this kind of precious relationship, and living more than a hour away means that when they see each other, they run, and smile and scream "I love you. I missed you. How are you?!"
As they ran to each other’s arms somehow they missed, and Rebekah was knocked over, or better put, floored by Flo's powerful love.
See, the girls love each other so much, and their hearts are so closely knit, that sometimes the only appropriate response is to be floored by the love of God bestowed on them. Sometimes, it's painful, as Rebekah is so acutely aware, but it's a blessing, and blessing that Rebekah will be thankful for through all eternity. Not everyone has a cousin that is four days, twenty hours and thirty minutes older than them. What's more, a girl who loves God so much that talking with her brings one that much closer to God Himself. Rebekah, is thankfully floored by the blessing and the power of love.
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
I John 3:18
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear... We love because He first loved us."
I John 4:18-19
posts, Marge, and life as we now know it
Ok this is my forth post of the day. Yes, I should be working on school or in bed, and I should have been posting all of this week rather then four times in one night, but I can't help these things now, they are already done.
I want to thank those of you who prayed for me today as I took my midterm. I think it went well, and I really appreciate your concern on my behalf.
I also want to say that we need to keep Margaret in prayer. She is getting her wisdom teeth pulled this afternoon, and we need to pray that God will keep her safe and at peace. We love you Marge.
I also wanted to say that if you have time you should try to read all that I wrote, because you may enjoy it.
Ok, now I need to get serious. See ya.
prayer
Something I am learning lately is that prayer is powerful. When I pray for something, God hears me, and He answers. Now, often times He says no. Often times He says wait. More times than I realize He says yes. Sometimes His yes is not in the same form I expect it to be in, so I misinterpret it. It is a misfortune indeed, for it's a blessing to realize that God answers prayer first hand.
I am learning that I need to be careful in what I pray for, because prayer is a powerful tool, and it's not to be messed with. When I pray I talk with God. God. When I pray I approach the throne room of Heaven and I ask our Father to grant the desires of my heart. Some are small and some are large, but that is what I do when I pray. He has promised that when I pray in the name of Jesus He is sure to hear me, and to consider what I have to say, and to consider what His Son has made me to be, and to consider what the Holy Spirit interprets on my behalf, and then He has promised to grant my requests. Now, when I abide in Jesus (John 15) and in His Word then the desires of my heart or the requests of my mouth should match God's will. It is through the Bible that I learn how to pray for God's will. It is from abiding in Jesus that I learn how to desire His will above anything I could think up. That is why Jesus says that when we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we wish and it will be done for us.
Moses talked with God in a way that I cannot even understand. Exodus 33 tells us that Moses spoke with God the way that a man talks with his friend. When I read the prayers of Moses it blows me away; I long to have the kind of relationship that Moses had with God. The awesome part is, that through depending on God for all things, He will make me more and more like Jesus and more and more acceptable in His sight. I will and do find favor. It's really awesome.
These are a few of the things I am learning.
I just heard a great man speak
This evening I got to go to hear President George Bush Sr. speak. He was amazing. The man is witty, gracious, fun-loving, wise, forgiving, confident, inspiring, humble, and enjoyable. He spoke on many things, but one of the things that struck me was his attitude of humility. The guy was the president, and yet he really sorta of talked about it as if it wasn't all there was to life. He commented that one of the greatest days in office was when Millie had her puppies. He joked around about different stuff, but his message was clear. He was there to encourage Americans to get over themselves and serve each other. I was really impressed with our former president. We owe him a lot. It was really cool being able to connect with history on a personal level. I learned something this evening, and I am thankful.
An Amazing Brother
The lights glare off the slick gym floor and sound echoes violently from wall to wall; these along with the crowed stands and locker room/concession stand scents are very familiar to me.
My favorite Warrior's player, number 54 is the infamous Luke Long. at 6'1" he is a good match for any player ready to take on a challenge. Luke sits across from my bleacher seat along with his dear teammates, but nor for long. He will soon be switched, and then I will watch with anticipation as my little brother plays ball.
The Warriors have suffered a few losses this year. The reason for our misfortune is not due to lack of character on the guys part, rather the Warriors team has had an excellent attitude every game, win or loose. Our guys are friendly competition, and they make us proud. The refs let them down and make bad calls, but they don't cuss or complain, they press on giving their all to play for honor and for Christ.
I've come to hundreds of Warrior's games over the last several years. Since Luke has begun playing I have faithfully attended his games- being his second biggest fan (his loyal mother being his first.)
Luke has improved over the years. His first year of Jr. High he barely played and when he did he didn't really know what to do. Today, Luke's a star. He leads his team to victory.
Like is very much a team player. He really admires the seniors; a prime example being his best friend David, or #52. We're going to miss David next year. His jumping team spirit is a great encouragement to Luke and the other guys as they play the court. David has grown a lot too, and like Luke it hasn't all been physical or athledical. He and Luke have grown spiritually these last few years, and they have come to know God on a personal and real level. They live their lives for His glory and not their own.
Luke is just a sophomore, but he doesn’t look it. People often mistake him for my boyfriend or at least my big brother- he may be bugger than me, but he's my younger/little brother through and through. Luke is all of 11 1/2 months younger than me, and we have been best friends since before I can remember. Luke and I have been through thick and thin. I'm thankful to God that He gave me Luke. I don't know what I would be or do without him. I just know that I love him, and I need him, and I it's cool to watch him play basketball.
a promise
Hello,
I had an excellent day yesterday. There are a dozen reasons for that, but I can't go into it all right now. I do think though that today is going to be a good day. I am determined to have a great day, and I will. Sometimes it's ok to have "not so good days" but I haven't exactly figured out when. I think that I am so blessed that there really isn't a reason for me to have a bad day. There are people that are suffering so much that they can truly cry out to God from the depths of despair. I am not one of those. God is faithful and He has been so gracious to His people.
I am about to leave for Physics, and I am excited about seeing my friend Mr. Baumer and my even dearer friend Margaret.
I am looking forward to Spring Break, which is next week for Marian. *happiest of smiles*
You know, when I get home from class we are going to play a game. I am going write a list of all the reasons I am having a great week, and then you guys can add and we can have a wonderful little blog game like old times.
We don't have Pulliam's class tomorrow which was the best news I heard all week. Not that I don't appreciate Mr. Pulliam, he's a great guy, but he's a tyrant.
Ok, I am going to pack up my car. Thanks for listening.
Respectfully,
The girl who is having a great day (aka Rebekah)
