That Ye May Know...

For quite some time, I have been struggling with assurance.
I've been sometimes worried that I doubted my salvation
because I thought if I really was saved, I would know it!
I thought that I was the only one, but over the past few months,
I've realized how other dear Christian friends
I have struggle with the same thing!
I've been praying about it for quite some time,
and thought I'd share what the Lord has revealed to me,
in case any anyone else has struggled as well.

I remember when I was 5 years old,
I understood I was a sinner, that Christ died for me,
and I didn't want to go to hell.
I knelt by my bed and prayed and asked Jesus to
forgive me and come into my heart and save me.
When I was about 9, I felt I may not have
really been saved and that I was basing my assurance
on a 'profession' I had made.
So I told the Lord I was sorry for my sins
and that I wanted Him to forgive me,
come into my heart and save me.

Age 12 I struggled.
Age 14 I stuggled.
I have to say, though, that I've struggled the most this year.
In March I said a prayer to 'make sure'.
In June I said another one to 'make sure'.
But after a while, I'd start doubting again.
Sometimes I just didn't feel saved.
Finally, back in October, I told the Lord about it.
Somehow, I figured He didn't know or care I felt no assurance.
I knelt beside my bed and cried out to Him.
I told Him I was doubting and that I was tired of it!
I was so scared...
did I repent enough? did I say the right thing?
did I have enough faith? did I base it all on a prayer?

But then He stopped me and reminded me...
It's not if what I did was good enough,
It's about what Christ did.
He reminded me that His blood was enough.

Romans 10:13 came to me...
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

All I need is enough faith to just ask Him
and to know I'm a sinner and am sorry.
He reminded me of the time I did that.
When I really called to Him.
I was saved... am saved!
My assurance comes from trusting Him to keep His promise!

I thought I'd share some verses He used to speak to me...


"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
John 6:37

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish,
will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Luke 11:11-13

I knew I was saved... I just needed to trust Him
that He really did hear me and save me and keeps His promises.

It's not God's will for us to be doubting our salvation.
The devil tries to get us to doubt.
Since he cannot have our souls,
he wants to keep us from doing as much for God as he can.
If we spend so much time wondering if we're saved,
we become discouraged and not as useful for Him...
we can forget about all those souls we need to tell, too.
That is our job as a Christian,
and satan tries to keep us too busy with ourselves.

Also, doubting is a sure sign of backsliding.
And when I heard that in a message,
I looked back and realized it was so in my life.
Anytime I wasn't in God's Word,
or did something I knew the Holy Spirit 'pricked' me about,
I would sure enough start doubting.
And after a while, the Holy Spirit will stop 'pricking'.
God will always be there to come back to,
but if we're going to ignore Him, He'll sit back.
Then I really started doubting, since I felt so numb
to the things of the Lord.
But when we're completely right with God,
completely trusting in Him and His Word,
we're not going to doubt!

Praise the Lord that He never gives up.
His mercy and grace never end!
We fall aside so many times,
and when we come back, He's always forgives us!
This wonderful God sent His son to die for our sins.
All we have to do is believe and accept His gift.
If you have done that but are doubting,
I encourage you to tell the Lord about it.
He knows and cares that you are, and He will help you.

"These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
1 John 5:13

Family Photos...

As I stated in our last post,
mom and I were sewing for our family pictures.
I thought I'd share the finished projects
and the photos we took last Monday...

Here is the whole family...
(For these, I put the camera's timer on
and had to run back to my spot :)



And with Suzie, our dog...




Here are my parents, just being themselves ;)



LOL ;-)

Here am I with the best brother in the world!



And all of us siblings together...



And with Suzie...



I hope you're all having a great week!

The Week Gone By...

Last week sure was a busy one.
As I mentioned in the previous post,
we watched Mrs.C's children as she and Mr. were out of town.
They were gone from Thursday to Saturday.
It was interesting having 3 dogs in the house.
They enjoyed the sleepover as well... :o)





Here are Stephani and I reading my latest
issue of Taste of Home...


We spent a lot of our time crocheting for Christmas.
I'm finally finished with almost all of my crocheting!
Only a few more things are left...
but I can't post pictures until after Christmas :)
I can post a picture of me sewing on the crocheted
poinsettas to the treeskirt I made mom last year...

I just finished it and am very happy!
I can't wait to use it!

This Wednesday we had a Thanksgiving Service at church.
Stephani spent the night Tuesday
so we could make desserts together.
It was a great time of food and fellowship...


Also, I was 'swept off my feet' in line...

Daddy was being so sweet,
as he knew I was having a hard time getting
around and standing... so he decided to carry me!

We ended up staying pretty late at the fellowship,
chatting and goofing off some...
Stephani with the camera...

Me, after she messed up my hair...


Thursday we went to our friends' house for Thanksgiving dinner.
Mr.C grilled ham and Mrs.C made the turkey.
We brought along some sides and such.
While there, Stephani and I crocheted more :)

Here are the children enjoying the food...


Stephani and I decided to eat while enjoying
the wonderful weather...


Later on, the dads made a fire outside...


Also, this past week, I went back to the doctor
and she put in a referral to see a cardiologist and
a rhuematologist... answers to prayer!
We've been hoping to get me into those
for the past 2 years and pray they may figure something out.

Saturday mom and I spent most of the day sewing
everyone's matching Christmas clothes.
This year we chose red snowflake fabric.
We finished all of the girls' dresses.
Will gets a bowtie and dad gets a tie.
We plan on taking family pictures this week.

Thank you all for understanding the busyness.
I hope to post a little more regularly after Christmas.
Next Sunday is our 10th annual
Carolina Christmas Pig Pickin' at church.
The week after is our sacred Christmas music concert.
Then I'll, likely, be offline for a week or two around Christmas.
So I plan to be very busy the next few weeks!
I'll try to post where I can :)
(Especially on my other blog :)


"The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
Psalm 103:8

The Week In Review...

I would say that this time of year is so busy,
(sewing Christmas gifts, doing schoolwork, etc...)
but it seems, too, that busyness is just life.

I thought I'd share some of the highlights

of our busy weeks ..

We've been seeing our deere friends often lately.
Stephani spent the night last Friday
and I spent the night this past Thursday

(since Dad and Mom went to the ball).

We've enjoyed singing, crocheting,
chatting, schoolwork, and more together.
My birds enjoy having company too...

Puff enjoyed settling in her hair :-)

This Tuesday, Dad took us

pawn shopping!
I was on a search for a new guitar,
so he took her and I out.
Thankfully, I did find a good one!
It was very nice, brand new,
and within the stretch of my wallet :)!
I even got the manager to go down $25...

It's a Kona.
It was an answer to prayer that I was able
to get such a good one so soon.
Stephani and I sing for church tomorrow,
so I was hoping to get a new guitar to sing with.
My other one was old, wouldn't hold a tune,
along with various other problems.


This Monday we went to the park to grill out
with some friends from church...


The children had fun playing...


The dads later took them out on the canoe...




I much preferred to stay on land, though...

Who could resist holding a baby??


I mainly chatted with the moms
but did get some Literature done...


It was a nice time of fellowship,
especially since the weather is cooling down
and turning into my favorite season... winter!
I do enjoy all the signs of the coming season...



My parents went to the annual Marine Corps ball this year.
My mom made her ball gown...

She also made a regency coat to go with it.
I did her hair :)

Lately, I've been doing a lot of crocheting.
I've so much to do for Christmas presents!
I made a list of what to make for my family, friends, etc...
And still have to finish sewing on poinsettas to my
mom's crocheted Christmas tree skirt I made her.
(When everything's sewed,
I plan to post everything I've made!)

This week will be quite busy as well.
As Mrs.C is going out of town next weekend,
her children will be staying at our house... :-)
Wed-Sun is a sleepover I'm looking forward to!

Before I go, I thought I'd share this picture.
This is my Mom and I at the park...


I thought it funny that, in a way,
we kind of look like sisters! :)
I hope you all have a great weekend!

Oh, yes, I also have posted on my OTHER BLOG ;)

A New Blog!

For a while now,

I've wanted to start a 'nature blog'
where I would just share my phography of God's creation.
(Along with a few thoughts or so :)
I have officially started it HERE!




Please be sure to visit...
posting there may be more regular
than my posting has been here...
since all I'll be doing is adding photos. ;)
I've already added a few!!

Oh yes, He Cares!

The Lord is so good!
Sunday afternoon I was crying to the Lord
about how I've had physical ailments for so long.
I was telling Him how I felt that no one understood or cared
and I was getting quite discouraged!

But when we went back to church that evening,
He really uplifted my spirits and encouraged me
through the special music... the song 'Does Jesus Care'.

I thought I'd share the words to this beautiful song.
I, also, composed an arrangement of it on the piano today.
(You'll have to stop my blog background music, though.
And, please, excuse our untuned piano!)







Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night-shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

(chorus)
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares;
His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.


Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong,
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I've said "good-bye"
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

(chorus)
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares;
His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.

Words by Frank E. Graeff


And it really amazes me that He cared so much about me
that He sent such encouragement
right when He knew I needed it!
He truly is a great Saviour!
So good to me and always gives me what I need!


"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
1 Peter 5:7

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous:
but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
Psalms 34:18-19

How Can I Smile?

How can I smile
when my heart aches
And I am lonely and sad?
Because my Saviour
has entered my life
And He can make me glad.

How can I smile when my life seems
A burden too great to bear?
Because my heavenly Father is here,
Awaiting my burdens to share.

How can I smile when I'm bereft
Of much that life holds dear?
Because, though earthly friends forsake,
My heavenly Father is near.

How can I smile when sorrow and pain
Are a part of my daily life?
Because a loving hand is stretched
To help me bear the strife.

How can I smile when home and love
Are taken away from me?
Because my Saviour send His Spirit
A comfort and guide to be.

And so I can smile from day to day
Though sorrow and loss I bear,
For Jesus, my Saviour, knows and loves;
I am ever in His care.

-Florence B. Hodgdon

Week In Review...

Busy, busy, busy!
Sorry I've missed the last Thursday post.

I thought this post could be of some pictures I've taken...
(You can click on the photos to view them larger!)

A few days ago I took some pictures of my babies...




Puff is now flying and likes to fly to the top of my canopy bed!




Fluff still needs training, so I keep her wings clipped!




When she's bad I have to grab her
with a glove because she bites.
She really doesn't like it
and makes the funniest expressions!




My dear singer, Puff, perches on the banjo and sings with me...




My friend, Stephani, has gotten a new pet as well...



She brings little Bell over every Friday now...



I've finally, somewhat, started my 12th grade year.
I'm still waiting for a few more books to come in.
So I've been busy working on that as well as
playing all my instruments and crocheting for Christmas gifts.
With all of that and additional household duties,
I've had a hard time getting on the computer :)

Here are some other photos that I took and edited online...


I love being able to get so close to the birds in our backyard!


This is in tribute to my Dad...



And here's a creepy bug I saw outside by our front rocker...


Oh yes, and last Saturday was my
dear sister, Beth's, 6th birthday!
It's so hard to watch all the younger siblings growing up so fast!
Especially when I remember holding them and changing diapers.
But I do enjoy seeing them get older in many ways!


Well, I thought I'd just post something
since it's the day after Thursday.

Before I go, I thought I'd share a picture of Suzie...




"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him..."
Psalm 37:7

Youthful Romance... Dangers of Dating... Part 3

(Please be sure to read part 1 and part 2...)



In 1 Corinthians 7:32b-34 we see,
“…He that is unmarried careth for the things
that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
But he that is married careth for the things
that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord,
that she may be holy both in body and in spirit:
but she that is married careth for the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.”

Paul says how the married person needs to please their spouse,
but the single one is free to serve the Lord.
In our culture, we’ve completely turned that around!
Those who are unmarried have a great pressure
to be ‘on the make’, but once they get married
they can settle down and please the Lord.
We have it turned around!
God says (Ecc.12:1)
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…”
God has a better way!

I’ve had many people say, “If you don’t date,
how are you going to know if that person is God’s will?”
First of all, I fully believe that God
speaks to us in a still small voice.
Also, I believe the Lord has a different way for each person.
But He will let a person know (ideally the young man),
with the help and guidance of parents.
Parental involvement is very important!

You can tell of a person’s character without dating…
through observing, maybe even someone suggesting;
I believe God has a special way of letting
each person know that what is His will!
Pray with your parents
if a specific person has caught your attention.
And if all 3-
the young person (ideally the young man),
the father, and mother-
really feel the Lord speaking and saying “that’s the one”;
and there is no doubt of it being God’s will,
then the young man should go to the lady’s parents.
They should pray about it and if they have every assurance
of it being God’s will, then they let the lady know.
She then needs to pray about it
and feel, without a doubt, it’s God’s perfect will.
Prayer is the main tool here while searching out God’s will!
In this way, 6 people will be hearing from God
and seeking His will:
And if one of them doesn’t feel it’s right,
it may not be God’s will… or His timing.

God WILL reveal it to them if it is His perfect will!
After coming to the conclusion that 2 people are
God’s perfect will for each other,
then social interaction can take place!
They need to commit to being married
before really ‘getting to know each other’.
Some say now they can ‘date’…
that would still be giving occasion to the flesh.
They’re not married, so they have no right to act like they are!

The other concern people have is love.
People say, “You marry the one you love.”
NO!
You love the one you marry! Love is a choice!
It’s not an ‘ooey gooey’ feeling (as my pastor says!);
it isn’t uncontrollable- you choose to love someone!
The expression “fell in love” is absurd!
It seems to indicate you fall in love like you fall into a ditch!
You can just as easily fall out!
No, you don’t accidentally love someone!
You choose to love that person!

If we are truly seeking God and are serving Him in His will,
He will bless us and let us know who His chosen spouse is for us.
Just as He created Eve especially for Adam,
He has created a partner especially for each person today-
if we’re willing to seek it and submit to His will.

After all, the whole design of marriage was for
a picture of the church’s relationship with Christ.
The Lord says, continually, He has betrothed the church to Him.
We need to make sure we, personally, have a deep and sincere
relationship with Christ before we move to marriage.

Notice also, that God the Father betrothed Christ to the church.
(He, also, uses the word ‘espoused’ sometimes)
This, in itself, clearly states that God’s will and way is betrothal-
He never once mentions dating or courtship!
And if an exhaustive study was to be done,
it would prove that dating is a sin...
in every way it is NOT God’s will!
If only people were more willing to open their eyes!
So many people harden their hearts to such an idea
because it may not be what they want or what they think.
But with all that God refers to in romantic relationships,
if one were to be completely open and willing to submit to God,
they would see how God really looks
at the world’s idea of dating.

Please note this is not just my opinion-
nor was it, I admit, my first choice or desire
when I first studied it,
but I am very thankful the Lord really softened my heart
and opened my eyes on the subject!
And I know now that I’m not the only one!
There are, I know for a fact, many Christians who believe this…
but many more who don’t.
Now I’m not at all saying that God can’t use dating
to bring His will of people together-
but I do believe that dating is His permissive will
and, certainly, not His perfect will in marriage.

In His Goodness, He works with what we give Him,
even if we’re holding back more.
But wouldn’t it be so precious to Him (and us)
if we surrendered that area as well
and really trusted Him to bring our marriage about,
not only with His chosen person,
but His time and way of bringing it about?

I challenge you today, to risk the criticism and the sacrifice,
by being totally commited to
God’s absolute best and perfect will in this area.
I know from experience that people
will mock, criticize, and disagree;
friends, family, even other Christians and church members,
but there comes a great peace in knowing that you are in
God's perfect will and are resting and trusting in Him!
And the rewards will be eternal,
as well as wonderful here on earth!

“And this I speak for your own profit;
not that I may cast a snare upon you,
but for that which is comely,
and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”
1 Corinthians 7:35

Youthful Romance... Dangers of Dating... Part 2

(Please make sure to read part 1 before this continuance...)



We need not only to focus on chastity
(as mentioned in part 1);
but romance opposed, to not only physical ,
but emotional purity.

Does God have a design there? I believe He does.
This is where the second part of 1 Thess. 4:6 comes in.
“That no man go beyond and defraud his brother
in any matter…”

He not only tells us ‘do not go beyond’,
but also ‘do not defraud’.
What does it mean to defraud?
In businesses, what is defrauding?
Essentially, it’s leading the other party to believe something
and make decisions based on assumptions that aren’t true.
You’re “ripping someone off”.
You’re cheating them by leading them
to believe something that’s not true.

In the area of relations between men and women,
is it possible for one or both parties to defraud each other?
To lead them on?
It certainly is! We call it ‘flirting’.
Paul is saying “Don’t even flirt!”
Now what about dating?
Let's say a married woman and a married man
(not married to each other) wanted to 'go out'.
But they say, “Well, it's nothing physical.
We don’t mean anything that’s really wrong.
Just kind of ‘getting to know each other’;
‘developing a friendship’.”
NO!
You’re not suppose to have that kind of relationship
with someone else’s spouse!
What kind of relationship is right
for one’s spouse to have with another’s?

What about the relationship
of one’s daughter and the other’s son?
Paul specifically wrote to Timothy about relations.
He said to treat older men as fathers, older women as mothers,
and to treat the young women like sisters!
Siblings?! How do treat siblings?
Or better, how should you treat siblings? :)
The thought of being romantic with a sibling
of the opposite sex is rather repulsive!
They may be a great person and all,
but… the thought of kissing that sibling?
No! No way! You don’t treat a sibling like that! Yuck!
Flirting with a sibling? No way! That’s abhorrent!
Paul says the young women and men are to treat each
other like brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We need to make the decision not to be
seeking each other out, but seeking the Lord.

There does come a time, however,
when God wants a man and woman
to move beyond the brother/sister-in-Christ relationship.
So how do we get there?
In our culture it's often said,
“Forget treating them like brother and sister –
treat them like prospects.”
And so many times young men and women
are looking for prospects…
And not just looking, but teasing each other,
and flirting with each other.
Leading each other on and defrauding one another.
Is there a better way?

A good idea would be to do a whole Bible study
for yourself on the topic of dating.
So, here comes the concordance:
D… D-a… D-a-t… dating… it’s not there!
God doesn’t say anything about dating,
so anything goes, right?
Not at all!
There is a phrase repeated in the Bible,
“given in marriage.”
Now that implies ownership.
How can you give something you don’t own?
But who owns what when God talks about
being ‘given in marriage’?

In weddings you clearly see it is the father,
but that’s not really real; just a formality-
everyone knows it was the bride’s choice, right?
Well, instance after instance the Bible shows that
there was parental involvement in marriages.
Lots of Scripture implies that parents need
to have some say in this whole thing.
Why, the Bible doesn’t say anything about dating!
Dating is a sin!
It’s giving ‘occasion to the flesh’! (Gal. 5:13; Rom. 13:14)

Here are some things that helped us come to the conclusion
that dating is, in fact, a sin.
1st argument can be historically.
Where did dating come from?
Dating is a real recent phenomenon; something new in history.
It hasn’t always happened.
Even as near as 100 years ago, the man went to the girl’s father.
The father would then ask, “Are your intentions honorable?”
Now what did he mean by that question?
What did he mean by ‘honorable’?
He really meant,
“Are you committing yourself to marrying her?”
And if the young man couldn’t convince the father
that that was his intention,
he wasn’t allowed to see the girl!
Essentially, he was proposing to the father!
Before any social interaction between
the young lady and himself.
Well, unfortuneately, not too many people
are impressed with or interested in that answer,
so we move on.

Before we move on, let’s define our terms.
We currently practice something we call dating.
Well, essentially, we can define dating as:
“A social relationship between and guy and girl
that both parties understand to be temporary.”
It’s a temporary romantic relationship.
Now both parties may harbor the hope that it may
some day grow into something more permanent,
or they might not.
But in any case, they both understand it to be temporary here.
And the whole focus is enjoying each other now.
Even if you have ‘high moral standards’;
and intend that ‘you’re not going to cross the line’,
still, the whole focus is on current, temporary enjoyment.

Now to propose an alternative – betrothal.
Some would say, “What about ‘courtship’?”
Courtship has, for the most part, become
‘Christian’ dating! – still no permanent commitment.
Now, betrothal doesn’t necessarily mean
that the parents make an alliance with a complete stranger
or someone you particularly don’t want to marry.
It really means that a man and woman are
committed to marry each other
before having any romantic relationship.

Now, let’s go back to dating.
Typically, a guy sees a girl he ‘likes’ and asks her ‘out’.
They go out and maybe talk or something or other…
it’s just so fun to them!
They want to do it again. So, another date and more follow…
soon, the things that were so special at first
start getting a bit dull.
Say they move on to something new… slowly.
Maybe they hold hands, sit with each other in church, etc…
They just keep rolling downhill, but how do they stop?
Well, they decide it best to ‘brake up’.
This hurts and is very painful.
So, he decides soon after to ask a different girl out…
they have fun, but it wasn’t the same
as the first time he’d gone out.
And they could ‘move forward’
a little easier and quicker than the first time.
People watch and are saying,
“Awww, how cute! They’re preparing for marriage!”
BALONY!

‘Breaking up’ and pairing off
is more preparation for divorce than marriage!
There is much pain and wounding.
Do we need to see youth groups as ‘happy hunting grounds’?
Where you’re either the hunter or the hunted-
where everyone is enticing each other,
flirting with each other …
No!
We should, instead, be focusing on the Lord.
To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and then trust that all other things will be added unto us.

God the Father knows what we need –
He’ll provide what we need…
at the right time!
Can we trust Him?


{{more to come next week}}

May we spend some heartfelt time
in deep meditation and prayer,
seeking God's Truths, will, and best...
in this, particular, area
as well as all areas of our lives.


"Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. "
~ Psalm 139:23-24