Faith
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Psalm 29
Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders,the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks, and strips the forests bare. And all in his temple cry, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
How awesome a God we serve! I love the last line..after talking all about God’s power, David ends this Psalm by saying..” The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” How amazing is that?
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A poem
A poem..
The time has come
The time is now
To seize the day
To stand for One
Come boy, Come girl
Come man and woman
See the baby born this day
Share the news
Shout round the world
Jesus Christ is born today
He comes for all to save
Eternal life to give,
Free for all who choose to take
Join the chorus ringing out
“Peace to all” this Christmas
A greater hope must be found
For rags and dust are all the world can give
Riches and glory will be found
In that eternal dwelling place
Search for the babe
Find His love, and rest in His comfort
To all He brings an everlasting hope
Yours to take and ours to share
Go, Run round the world
Telling all of the Messiah
Seize the day
Tomorrow may be too late
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Complicated..
Complicated..
Life can be so complicated sometimes..and personally, I hate it. I wish things were always black and white. But God created more then two colors, and I suppose life would be rather boring if things were always two colors. But still, things would be easier. and friends..they complicate things too..I love them dearly..but sometimes they open their mouth way to wide. Thankfully, God listens and He seems to understand how complicated life can get. He’s given us His word full of guidence and it seems to help when life is complicated. So..when life is complicated as it is right now..I’m thankful I have a God I can run too with all my problems. He will always listen no matter what, even if all the complications are my fault, as they happen to be right now. But enough about my complications, I should be studying!
I’m out..
Amanda
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A Lesson Learned From Cheerleading
A Lesson Learned From Cheerleading..
We had a game tonight..we won too! But we finally got an extension..which for those of you who are cheerleading illiterate, it is a really hard stunt..but anyways, we did one at the beginning of the game and it went perfect..then we tried doing two more and I fell out of both of them. I don’t know why sometimes I can stick a stunt and sometimes I can’t..but I guess that’s the way I am. I’ll learn, hopefully. But I was thinking tonight as I got up..embarrassed about falling out of the stunt. When I’m up there, my whole body is dependant upon Kayla and Eve’s arms..I’m up in the air-on top of their 4 hands, and that can be scary if you think about it. Sometimes we drop the stunts, and although I haven’t gotten hurt from any of it, it still shakes you up a little. But you get back up and try again..back to what I was thinking..there are a lot of parallels to our spiritual life. The first thing that came to my mind was..I’m so glad God is the one holding my life and not Kayla and Eve..no offense to them, but even if my knees bend or I lean forward..God’s got me. He will never let me fall..and that is a cool thought. Then I was thinking about my own spiritual walk..the times in my life when I’ve been so in love with God…and the times I haven’t. I realized that in those times when I was struggling..I was relying on human strength to carry me through. I was leaning on other people and going to them for advice and encouragement. It’s like in a stunt..I’m relying on my bases..but if I bend my knees, I’m going to fall. They aren’t strong enough to hold me up. So it goes in my walk with God..if I rely on people-they fail..at some point, they can’t hold me up..they aren’t there..but if I put my trust in God-He’s always there..kinda like staying on the floor. I’m not usually worried about the floor under my feet caving in..so I’m not worried about God all of a sudden not being there..
I have learned many more lessons from cheerleading..but I have to go do my homework..
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My Speech
My Speech..
I got an e-mail from a friend I met while at camp this summer, and she asked what God had been teaching me lately.. It got me thinking, and I realized that He has been teaching me so much. So, I thought I would share one thing with you. What I talk about..lately, it seems like that’s the message God has wanted to pound into my head. I have been caught several times talking about someone, and having them walk up at precisely the right moment-talk about embarrassing. I am also going through the book-Lord, change my attitude before it’s too late..and I finished up the first chapter on complaining a few weeks ago, and I realized how much I complain..about everything. God has showed me lately how, by my talking about someone, not only is it sin, but it changes the view the other person has towards that person. And although I am far from perfect, and I am working hard at being an example by my speech as Timothy said. We are currently having virtuous woman chapels at school, and they have been really convicting. As I have thought about some of the things I talk about, they are far from what a virtuous woman would talk about.
Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
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My Greatest Fear
My Greatest Fear
Well, I have already written about my biggest fear, but I suppose there could be a slight difference between biggest and greatest..let me know if you come up with one! Anyways, right now I think my greatest fear is something happening to one of my parents. I honestly can not imagine life without one or both of them. My mom is the ever-caring, emtional, always happy, and always ready to give up anything for me. My dad is the balancer, the shoulder to cry on, the protector of his baby girl, and the one I can always count on to take me to the movies. I know God would give me the grace to go on, but it would be very difficult. I can’t think about not having my dad to give me away at my wedding, or having my mom around when I have kids(in many many years). I am so thankful that God has placed me in the family he has placed me in and has so far allowed my parents to stay healthy and safe! So, that is my greatest fear, and I know that God has them in His hand and is watching over them.
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David Ring
David Ring
At our church this morning, David Ring spoke. He was born with Cerebral Palsy, and I think he was the best person I have ever heard speak. He walks with a limp, and talks funny..but that hasn’t stopped him from preaching. He has pneumonia at the moment, but that still didn’t stop him from coming to our church. He challenged us to serve and kept asking us, what is your excuse? I sat there thinking about all the excuses I have given lately for why my spiritual life is slacking and why I’m not serving..and as I went through the list, I just kept looking at Brother Ring (as he called himself). My excuses paled in comparison to the situation he is in and has been in. I realized how my excuses were so dumb..and couldn’t hold an ounce of water. He kept talking to us about being available and being willing to serve God. I haven’t made myself available to God lately..I’ve just questioned when He was going to stop filling my plate. Instead, I need to be asking Him how can I serve Him, how can I take all I’m doing and turn each into a ministry. As soon so the service was over, I remembered the other day as I was sitting at my hall monitor table in my cheerleading uniform..just minding my own business. When a 6th grader, who probably isn’t the most popular girl in her class, came up and started talking to me. I kinda of shrugged her off because I was overwhelmed and too focused on me. But David Ring kept reminding me over and over that God’s grace is sufficient and that I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me. As I listened to him, I realized how selfish I had been. How much I had been talking about me lately and how often I complained about all that was on my to do list. I can hear myself saying, I never have time for me any more. How ashamed I am of my attitude, and how thankful I am for God’s forgiveness. As I sit here forcing down some lunch, I realize that since I’ve given up letting God run my life, it has gone helter-skelter. I’ve lost weight-which is not a good thing, I’ve almost quit doing my devotions, I’ve stopped letting God run the show. I have forgotten to take the time to smell the roses and to enjoy the little things in life. I have thought I couldn’t serve because I don’t have time, but have failed to realize that serving doesn’t have to take time. I need to give the steering wheel back to God and not keep giving Him my excuses. So, I am going to let God be in control..I’m going to trust that His grace is sufficient even when I’m low on sleep and have a million things to do. I’m going to trust that no matter what is going on in my life right now..He knows. And as Hebrews reminds us, We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted in all things and triumphed. God seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear, and I am so glad I got up this morning and went to church. I will never be perfect, but through God’s grace and power, I am going to work on it. So, thanks to be God for the great things He has done!
Amanda
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Authority
ok..I know it says in God’s word we are to submit and obey our authority. But sometimes that is so hard..God has brought cheerleading into my life to show me an area I need to do some major growth in. I always thought I did fine with submitting and obeying my authority..but I have never struggled with it more. There are so many times I disagree with what my authority tells me I must do. I’ve found that while I don’t usually just disobey them..I struggle a lot with my attitude. And I will be the first to tell you, I know hardly anything about cheerleading or the like..but some of the stuff is just beyond my realm of thinking. Like making us wear our uniforms to school every game day..I can’t see their reasoning. I will do it to obey them, but I don’t think they realize the teasing it is going to get us..it’s like wearing a neon sign in blinking lights that says..we’re the cheerleaders, make fun of us!! but God is teaching me through his word..and showing me ways I can grow and change in. I’ll keep you updating on how I’m doing..
I’m out,
Amanda
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What freedom is most important to me? ( I think this was our English blog topic)
I think I would have to say the freedom of religion because it has impacted my life the most. The school I attend, the church I am a member at, and the daily time I spend with God would not be realities if we were not guaranteed this freedom. I thought of the war in Iraq..and the oppression those people lived under, and Paul and the disciples-they underwent a ton of persecution for their beliefs. The worst I’ve ever had to deal with is being made fun of…and that pales in comparasion to what other believers must endure for the cause of Christ. I am thankful I don’t have to worship in secret, or worry when I go to church about the police coming and arresting us all. I am thankful I have the right to pray before my classes, and to talk with my friends about God openly. I wish I could say I have never been ashamed of my faith, but that would be a lie..however, when I think about the amazing freedoms I have, there is no way I should be ashamed. I have nothing to lose, at this point, I’m not going to die for sharing the love of Christ. I am also thankful the government doesn’t have the right to enact a state or national church. Even in my own class at school there are different churches and different beliefs represented, but they aren’t a source of contention or arguements, instead, they have provoked some very interesting conversations with my friends. It’s neat to listen to what other people believe and why they believe that, I have even learned a thing or two. And thanks to our founding fathers, we have the freedom to have different beliefs and attend whatever church we may choose. So for all those reasons, and for many more, I am thankful and I value the freedom of religion the most.
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God’s LOVE
Have you ever thought about the magnitude of God’s love? This week, I have been continually reminded of His love for me. I didn’t really do anything out of the ordinary this week, but it was really long and really rough. A lot of old hurt kept coming back, and i couldn’t shake some memories I regret..but it seemed like every night in my devotions and every day, God kept bringing back this idea of His love. And I took one night and read through Christ’s last days, and realized how much He sacrificed for me. I began to think about the things that had been dragging me down, and how none of them mattered to God. He loves me, not because of anything I do, but because that is His nature. It is in His character to love. On the other hand, it is not in my character to love all the time. It is a choice I must have to make sometimes. But it’s not so for God, He always, 100% of the time Loves me. When I’m failing him miserably or when I’m serving Him, He’s still loving me. And He loves each and every one of His children. No matter what you’ve done, or do, He still loves you! That is an amazing thought. And it’s one that has changed some of my thinking. I’m so thankful I have a God that loves me, no matter what.
I’m out..
Amanda
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