Merry CHRISTmas!!

On this day as we spend time with our family and friends, let us not forget the real reason for this season. What is the reason for the season you might ask. Is it just to get together with family and friends and eat cookies and all that kind of yummy food that we will splurge on this time of year?
( I know that I like to make all kinds of goodies this time of year.) Is it to spend our money on gifts for those we love? What is it really all about?
For me it is the day that has been set aside to celebrate the birth of the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, JESUS CHRIST. And this day is not the only day that I think of the coming of Jesus. It is something I think about all year long.
The Gift that God has given us is the best gift anyone has given to me. Who do you know that would give their life for you and me that we might have life everlasting?!
I can't but help loving Him for the new life that He has given to me when through faith I asked Jesus to be my Savior and Lord.
I grew up knowing everything about Him. I have been told that at around age 5 I asked Jesus in to my heart, but I do not remember doing it. Over the years I would pray and ask again because I didn't think I was saved. I really don't know that I fully gave my lift to Christ then. I like to be in control of things and have some direction that I can follow. I like to know what I'm supposed to do and how to do everything. Honestly, I still struggle with this. God let me make a decision that left me hurt and broken several years ago now. I believe that it was His way of showing me that He wanted my ALL. Not part of me or my lip service, but ALL OF ME. God took and broke me to make me whole in Him. To be honest, I almost walked away from God. I felt that I was worthless to even Him. He never stopped loving me and working in my heart. And I am thankful that He didn't stop or give up one me.
I am not perfect. I am weak and still fall. God is still working on me. I am a slow learner. I don't think I will ever stop learning until I die. There is so much to learn.

Jesus Is the reason for the season!
Merry CHRISTmas!

What would it have been like?

I have been thinking the last few years what would it have been like to be the parents on earth of Jesus. God gave them the "task" of raising His Son. ( That is really humbling)
Mary and Joseph had children of their own, I believe from what the Bible tells us. ( I don't have my Bible right with me to look up the places it talks about Jesus' brothers and them coming to Jesus and wanting to talk to Him.)
What would it have been like to be the mother of a child who didn't sin, and then have other children that were born with the sin nature of man? It kind of blows my mind to think about it.
This is just some thing that I have thought about that I thought I'd share with you all.

Just 6 more days!

I'll be flying back home to Ohio in 6 days! I'm having mixed feeling as the time flies by. I'm not really sure where God is going to be leading me next. But I can trust Him. There are several things that I'm praying about doing. And lot's of things to think about. It can be a challenge to keep my eyes on the Lord and not try to get everything figured out on my own. I can make a lot of mistakes when I try to figure out things on my own and not include the Lord in it and what He want's for my life.
I will now have to come back to Minnesota to visit the friends that I've made. I feel like I am part Ohioan and part Minnesotan now. ( I think I spelled those right)
So to those in Ohio, I will be seeing you all soon, Lord willing! And to those here in Minnesota, I hope to come back and visit. We'll see where the Lord leads and where I will end up in the future.
(One of the things I'm thinking and praying about is going to Bible school. We'll see where the Lord leads.)

What are you thankful for?

I have a lot to be thankful for. The one thing that I am most thankful for is for the gift that God has given to us. Jesus Christ, His only Son. He came to die for us, to take to punishment for our sins that we might be able to have eternal life through him. It is so amazing. He gave His life that we would/could have life, and life more abundantly. It is our choice to accept the gift of life that is offered to us. We can accept or reject this amazing gift of love. It's our choice. No one can force us to accept this gift.
I could list many more things but I am going to leave it at that.
What are you most thanful for? Think about it...

Psalm 62 and my thoughts

"1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. "

2"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved."

3"How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall

shall ye be, and as a tottering fence."

4"They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight with lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah."

5"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."

6 "He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved."

7 "In God is my salvation and my glory;the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."

8 "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

9 "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the

balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity."

10 "Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them."

11 "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God."

12 " Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work." Psalm 62

Some things hit me when I read this chapter the other day. I have been writing, for the most part on this blog, about trust and trusting in the LORD. The heading over this chapter is ; "Depending on God". I wonder what would happen if we Christians would stop putting our dependence in ourselves or the things of this world and solely rely on the Lord? That is something I'm sitting here thinking about. It sure goes against our fleshly nature.
The first verse of Psalm 62 is a big reminder/challenge for me. Do I truly wait on the Lord? This is something that I need to work on in my life. I'm the kind of person who likes to have a long term plan and goal that I can work from. But that isn't how it works all the time with God. I think that the biggest lessons I have learned from, have been from not knowing what God is doing and where He is leading me through this life. Where I have to be trusting Him completely, and not knowing what the big picture is going to be, but I only see the now and the past. I can't see the future. I think this is where God really teaches us true trust in Him. And we will never stop learning this lesson until we die.
Our salvation only comes from Him! There was/ is nothing that we can do to earn our salvation.
It is only through Christ that we are saved. I know that there are people out there that say that "all gods/religions, lead to Heaven". Or "you do your thing and I will do mine and we will end up in the same place". I have a hard time with that. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on me shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. " Jesus came as a baby, died and rose again to bring us the gift of eternal life. He lived to die. Or I could say, He came to die. But on the third day something happened. He didn't stay dead and in the tomb! He arose from the grave! Amazing! Wonderful!
He came that we might have the gift of life offered to us. We have the choice to accept or reject the most precious gift that has ever been given to man.

In Verse 2 and verses 6-7, it reminds me of the parable that Jesus told about the wise and foolish men, and what they had chosen for the foundations for their homes. ( Matthew 7:24-27 & Luke 6:47-49) We can either build our lives on the Solid Rock ( Jesus Christ), or the sand ( the world and the things of the world).

In verses 11-12 I think that it is beautiful. I'm not sure what to say about it. Power and mercy belongeth to the Lord. What can I say to that?

I know that I have written a lot here. I guess that once I get started then I get going. :) I pray that what I have written makes sense to the ones that read it.

Memories- To my Family

Last night, I was going through some of my stuff as I have moved to a room downstairs. I was looking at the birthday cards I recieved for my birthday. I got teary eyed when I re-read the note from my Daddy that they put in my card from them. I know that me being gone from home and being the first girl to kind of leave home has been hard for my parents. ( And the rest of my sisters and brothers) This week has been the worst week as far as being homesick goes. I have to be honest about it. I think part of that is because I am thinking of moving away from home and the ones I love there at home. The future is uncertain for me right now. What am I supposed to do, be, go, and the questions go on. God is in control! I know that and am clinging to that! I can find my everything in Him!
Thinking about my brothers and sisters, I have to smile about something. Before I left, two of my little sisters and I went and were picking blueberries. We were talking and I asked one of them if they were still going to punch any guy who was interested in me and wanted to get to know me if she was still going to punch him in the nose, and tell him to go away and never see me again. :) Well, both of them said that they were going to do that and they were never going to let me go away. :) Who ever God has for me is going to have to not just win my heart but also the hearts of my sisters. I have been having a lot of memories about home and the family this week. From when I see a tractor in the field working, I think of helping with the field work a little this spring with my little brother riding with me, to just thinking of everyone and missing them.
So I am going to say; I Love you and miss you all! Daddy ( Moddy) and Mommy, I'll always be your little girl no matter where God leads me and takes me in this life.

Trust

..." 39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in time of trouble. 40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in HIM." Psalm 37: 39-40

I guess the theme I have this week is trusting. I guess that is what is most on my mind this week. I don't know what the future holds for me. I have to trust. Who can I trust or where can I put my trust in? Nothing is sure in this world, it is always changing. I can't trust myself. I can make some pretty dumb choices and decisions on my own, doing my own thing and going my own way. So where can I go? The only thing that I know that never can change. So, what is this that never changes?, you ask me.
The LORD never changes! He can not change! "He, (Jesus Christ)(is)the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
I will put my trust in the LORD! How about you?