Guard It....

Valentines Day....There's alot to think about on this day. But I just want to remind you of a verse that I think is especially made for people that aren't married yet. :)

I thought seeing this one verse in so many translations was pretty interesting. It's almost like a new message with every way that it's said- Check it out...

Proverbs 4:23-

NIV- Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.


NLT- Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.


ESV- Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.


NAS- Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.


GWT- Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.

Just a thought (or rather- a verse) that I wanted to throw out to everyone today...

Have a Happy Valentines Day, Everyone! 

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Merry Christmas!

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!!

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. 

If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. 

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. 

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. 

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior."

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  

~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

 

"Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see"

-Brandon Heath, Give Me Your Eyes

"So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list."

"You Were Meant To Be Touching

The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It


You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing


You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be" 

-Steven Curtis Chapman, Meant To Be

A Reminder.......

"This job has been given to me to do. 

Therefore, it is a gift. 

Therefore, it is a privilege. 

Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. 

Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. 

Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. 

In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness."
 

— Elisabeth Elliot

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I really like Elisabeth Elliot (wife of Jim Elliot) and am going to be looking more into her life soon. I know she was a woman of courage, strength, character, and a lover of the Lord and her family. Those already are allot of things I want to imitate about her that will take quite a bit of time! =)

It Gets Hard Sometimes. . .

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, 

always enthusiastic about the Lord's work for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

-1 Corinthians 15:58

I really feel the urge to encourage all of you today....

Keep serving the Lord with a joyful attitude even when it gets hard and things get in your way or aren't going the way you planned. Sometimes it gets hard when we're in the certain positions that we're in. I very often find it hard being the oldest child in my family...I end up thinking or saying things like, "I did not sign up for this!", "Why didn't God let me choose which "number" I got to be in my family?" (FYI, I probably would've picked the youngest! =), "Why is it that I set the example for all my siblings?". I'm sure for all of you that aren't the oldest wonder why you aren't because you could do so much better and get all the things first and tell your younger siblings what to do and everyone will notice you more, etc., am I right? =)

But you know what? If we could see how God planned all the the facts and all the little details and how He put us in exactly the position we're in and how everything will turn out by the end of our lives...We wouldn't change one thing that's going on right now.

Stay strong not only for yourself but for your family, for us that are praying for you, the non-Christians because they are always watching us, and all the rest of your friends and family in your life! Keep in mind that you are helping to change lives for eternity...Which is a huge job that was entrusted to us by the most powerful king there ever was, is, or yet to come!

Little by little; 

 step by step; 

feeling like you're falling then rising; 

feeling like you're failing then conquering;

we can do this together but it takes every player of the team in order for everyone to win.

Stay steady and keep walking with Jesus!

Hope you all have a great and blessed week!

"Carry the cross patiently with perfect submission 

and in the end it shall carry you."
-Thomas á Kempis

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From Jasmine

Jasmine Baucham said that she...

 "wants to proclaim the gospel that has the power to quicken dead hearts, not the behavioral modification that turns virtues into idols and white-washes open graves."

I couldn't have said it better!

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Quote by R. W. Emerson

"To laugh often & much;
to win the respect of intelligent people & the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics
& endure the betrayal of false friends.

To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child or a garden patch.

To know... that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

-R.W. Emerson

A Poem

One of my most encouraging friends, Sarah, writes these great poems that she'll post on her blog. Here's one I particularly like! I love the truth in it!

Titled "How it is/ How it should be". . .I really encourage you to read it--

Click here

The Essence of Destiny. . .

"The Essence of Destiny-

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Choose your words, for they become actions.

Understand your actions, for they become habits.

Study your habits, for they will become your character.

Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny."

A Young Boy's Hope. . .

"I don't want to just be a soldier in God's army. I want to be a general."
-Noah Botkin (13)

How many 13, 16, 20, or even 50 year olds do you see wanting to be a general in God's army? I had never thought about it until I heard young Noah say it!
It's really neat to see young men, like Noah, have a vision for wanting to do something with their lives and be an example for others to follow.
I wonder if many people we know can (and will) say the same about us? It's makes me realize that there are more people watching me than I know of and that I need to be a Christ-like example to them. Hope you keep that in mind, too. Because as a team, we can show the world what Christian teens look like when they are generals on a mission for Jesus!

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."
-Augustine

(I think I put this up for myself! =)

Amen!!

"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I can't change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me."

-Matt Wilson

Christian Heroism

"To be a true hero you must be a true Christian.
To sum up then, heroism is largely based on two qualities ---truthfulness and unselfishness, a readiness to put one's own pleasure aside for that of others, to be courteous to all, kind to those younger than yourself, helpful to your parents, even if helpfulness demands some slight sacrifice of your own pleasure. . . You must remember that these two qualities are the sign of Christian heroism."

- G. A. Henty

One Week Without God

I received this in an email and wanted to share it with all of you.

Go ahead and pass it on!

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Without GOD , our week would be:

Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatterday.

If you are not ashamed of GOD , pass it on . Remember seven days WITHOUT GOD makes one WEAK!!

Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and associates. Show them a new revelation of your love and power.

Hold On

"When your body is betraying you and your mind is spinning. Hold on. When hope seems like it is lightyears away and strength is disappearing. Hold on. When your relationships are crumbling and your feeling all alone. Hold on. When life is throwing death at you from every direction and you think that's all there is left. Hold on. When you feel your faith is frutiless and that it's all a farce. Hold on. When you feel like giving up, don't give in to those feelings. Hold on.

Keep watching and praying, Keep trusting and believing. Keep singing and offering the sacrifice of praise. Don't let go of what you know is true. Don't let the lies rob you of your joy and don't let the devil deceive you. Hold on, Hold on, Hold on. Help is on the way!

Hold on to Jesus, He's holding on to you.

"If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand will lay hold of me." Psalm 139:9-10."

- By my friend, Mrs. Janet Fugate

Like A Warrior!

"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again."

-General Nathanael Greene

(I think that says enough in itself!) =)

The Son, who will take the son?

This is probably one of the best ways I have heard the gospel presented in an easy way so I wanted to share it with all of you! I first saw it on my friend Jesi's blog. Please feel free to send it to anybody you'd like!

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Take my Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas,

There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father

0AOpened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence..

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the
Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

Do whatever you like, but remember that maybe 'one' of the people you might have taken the time to send this to, may be just the person who needs to hear this message. You have a choice to make.'


God Bless.

Maturity, What Comes To Mind?

I have this little book that I've really enjoyed since my parents bought it for me, it's called "God's Little Devotional Book for Teens". In it is a section about maturity and I wanted to share it with you because I think it's not to hard to see that the average teen today is. . . not really mature.



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"Maturity doesn't come with age; it comes with acceptance of responsibility."- Ed Cole

A number of definitions of maturity have been offered by experts , but these are perhaps among the best understood by the average person:

Maturity is when you not only want to have a puppy to call your own, but when you remember on your own to give it food and water every day.

Maturity is when you not only know how to dress yourself , but remember to put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper after you've taken them off.

Maturity is when you not only are capable of using a telephone to call a friend, but when you know how to keep you calls short so others can have access to the phone.

Maturity is when you not only are old enough to stay at home alone, but when you can be trusted to stay at home and even have friends over.

Maturity is when you are not only old enough to drive the car by yourself, but you pay for the gasoline you use.

Maturity is when you are not only old enough to stay up late, but wise enough to go to bed early. (I especially liked this one!)

The more you learn to accept responsibility for your life, the more you will grow in maturity. With greater responsibility and maturity comes greater privileges.

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." -1 Cor. 13:11

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I read once where someone was teaching on this verse that notice Paul doesn't say, 'when I became a teen I looked like a man, sounded like a man, talked like a man but, when I became a teen I still acted like a child and wanted childish things'! No, I think Paul knew what it meant to mature.

Let's follow what not our peers, but what Paul, Jesus, and other godly people we have in our lives define as maturity!

"The two most important words: 'Thank You.' The most important word: 'We'. The least imporant word: 'I' "

Freedom. . .

" Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged." -Ronald Reagan


"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." -Anonymous

"Learn to hold thy tongue; five words cost Zacharias forty weeks of silence."

- Fuller