Grace

                            What is grace? Grace is a powerful word, meant for a powerful action. Grace is a beautiful thing, that God has given us, though we did not and do not deserve it. 

       "God's grace loves, when there is nothing good, even beneath an awful wrapper.  Words like; favor, beauty, thankfulness, gratitude, delight, kindness and benefit, are all derived from the root that gives us the word grace. Mephibosheth, a grandson of Saul and son of Jonathan, was  cripppled in both feet. He was brought to Jerusalem and invited to dine at the king's table as one of the king's own sons! How geatly David's kindness resembles the grace of God: freely given even though it was not deserved. When God shines the light of his word down on our inconsistent blunders, we cower in its brightness and dart away to find cover. Oooh! It's so hard to face up to our errors as guilt points its accusing finger. What good is guilt? It actually opens the door to healing! We have to see, really see, our sinfulness in order to recieve God's grace." --Elisa Morgan

     "Grace is Christianity's best gift to the world! A spiritual nova in our midst. Ecerting a force stronger than...vengence, stronger than...racism, stronger than...hate. Weil concluded that two great forces rule the universe: gravity and grace. Gravity causes one body to attract other bodies so that it continually enlarges by absorbing more and more of the universe into itself. The beginnig of good is percieved in the midst of bad...the simplicity and comprehensiveness of grace--who shall measure it? I have walked merely the perimeters of grace, as one walks around the cathedral far too large and grand to behold at one glance! What's so amazing about grace and why don't Christians show more of it? I now end with a final question: What does a grace-full Christian look like? Perhaps I  should re-phrase the question. How does a grace-full Chriatian look? the Christian life, I believe, does not primarily center on ethics or rules, but rather involves a new way of seeing. I escape the force of spiritual "gravity" when I begin to see myself as a sinner who cannot please God by any method of self-improvement or self-enlargement. Only then can I turn to God for outside help--for grace--and to my amazement I learn that a holy God already loves me despite my defects. I escape the forces of gravity again when I recognize my neighbors also as sinners, loved by God. A grace-full Christian is one who looks at the world through "grace-tinted lenses." -- Philip Yancey

                    " Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved."  --Ephesians 2:5

     Have a great week as you bask in God's GREAT love and protection for you!

Deception

                         Me and my friend Caleb got an opportunity to work for my mennonite back round. We planted  male and female beet roots seperatley to create a new variety of beet seeds. It was hard work and yet it was a bit of fun too. But the mennonite back round is very much into the "do want you want when you are a teenager." Now Caleb had to leave for his other job, so he didn't quite work as long or stayed as late as I did. So he had no idea what went on when he wasn't there or what was said in German. Because he doesn't understand German. It's really hard not to try and fit in when they're talking about the parties they go to, or the alcohol they love to consume, or the advantage they take of girls ( they are a very judgemantal people)...basically what I'm trying to say is, that I got to be a witness to them. By not going along with them, but to tell the truth. The one girl I hung out with on Saturday was telling me all about her boyfriend and how they love to party on the weekend and be bad while they can, before work starts all over again on Monday. She asked me if Caleb and I were together...I said, "no, I'm not into the dating and marrying and all the other stuff that goes along with it." She literally thought I was insane not to love getting a new borfriend every once in a while and to have fun with the whole experience! I asked her if she was into the partying like the other girls and boys at work did. And she was like, "Oh yes! I love being able to get loose on the weekend and party and drink and stuff." So she in turn asked me the same question. And I said, " NO WAY!! I like to stay at home with a good book, and just be by myself. " Her jaw literally dropped open and she was speechless! What I'm trying to get across here, is that we need to be witnesses for the Lord, and to be a light for Him. It makes God really sad, when the people He created have that sort of mind set.You know, I told some of the girls that Caleb was heading to Toronto this year to the Bible Institute and to eventually go to places where he could be a light to those who didn't know the gospel. They were really extactic to hear that. God calls us to bring others to HIM! That they might have eternal life, and one day reside with Him  in heaven, rather than the firey Hell, because of their way of life and attitude toward people who aren't into what they are into! I would like to share a quote from a precept upon precept pamphlet we got. It say this;

                     "If you are confident in your Salvation and you are as excited as I am to experience these promises first hand let me ask you this question...,"Are you taking people with you?"   

   Have a great day as you bask in God's love and prtection for you! 

One taken, One left

                              Have any of you heard about this guy, who is saying that he world is going to end on May 21st? How can anyone really know when the world is going to end? No one can, that's just it! You know my mom was giving a devotional this morning that I would like to share with you. It's out of the "Below the Waters" devotion book. So keep in mind that what I'm writing, is not my words, but someone else all right? I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:


               The trench from the dairy barn to the lagoon was well under way. Two men were in the trench. Suddenly one looked up and saw the ten-foot sidewall cracking. "Lookout!" he shouted. "The wall is coming in!" It came, crushing one man against the side and killing him. The other man was burried under about three feet of chunky dirt.

            A backhoe started digging urgently. The dead man was uncovered first. The other one was found alive after they finished digging him out by hand. They thanked and praised God for preserving him underground for forty-five minutes.

         One was taken; the other was left to live. People grieved for the life taken and rejoiced for the life left. But when the trumpet sounds, people will rejoice if they are taken and will grieve if they are left.

          Will you be taken or left? Most of us have a living hope of being taken, because we believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord and we have repented of our sins. We love our dear Father and His Son Jesus and have confessed Him before others. WE don't want to be left behind when Jesus gathers His bride to take her home. What a day that will be! 

           All children who die go to Heaven. Heaven is for the saints who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamd. Hell is for the unrepentant sinners. God allows testing to mature and perfect us. Thank God for the struggles and for His power to overcome.

         This short life is a preperation for eternity. FIGHT the good fight of faith. SERVE with zeal. On the last day we want to be taken, not left.

               Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
                                                                                                     --Mathew 24:41

        Will you be taken...or left...Have a great day as you bask in God's great love and protection for you!

Betrayal

                        Here is the Prologue from my trilogy series, called, "The Missing Cops." This is from book one. I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writting it!

                                                           Prologue

     "It's Christmas eve man!" Ryan anxiously replied.

"I know, I know. But the chief wanted me to do one last check-up around the station, before we go," answered Tyler. Ryan and Tyler made sure that all the windows and doors were locked and that the security systems were all set.

  "Grrrr."

Tyler and Ryan both stiffened. There was a low rumble coming from one of the K-9's.

"What is it boy...easy now," Ryan followed the dog's vicious gaze into the back room, and disappeared into the darkness.

"Ryan," Tyler called into the still air. He was so tense, that he could hardly breathe without putting painful force on his chest. He looked around for any sign of movement, his trained hand reaching for the gun and pointing it into the dark. His finger fidgetting on the trigger.

"Hey Tyler, false al-,"

"PAKKKEWHH..." The gun went off without Tyler realizing what he had just done.

"Ryan...Ryan!" Tyler sank down and knelt over his body. "No, Ryan?...No, Ryan! Buddy, wake up!...I didn't mean too Ryan, I swear I didn't mean too...Tyler broke down and silently started to sob. His body heaving from the force of the tears. And his body trembling all over, with the horrible relization that he had just killed his best friend...and partner in crime.

"NNNOOOOO!!" He cried out. But there was no response. No one there to comfort him, to tell him that it was not his fault. The darkness crept up around not only him, but also his heart. As he held the lifeless corpse of his dear friend...his brother in battle.

        I hope you enjoyed the prologue even though it was sad. Stay tuned for chapter one of "Betrayal." Have a great day as you bask in God's great love and protection for you!

Fried Batteries...Or Charged Batteries?

                                        It took me a while to come up with the title for this one. I cahnged it every which way, to make it sound as intriging and inviting as possible. I hope it worked. Do you notice when you're play a video game, you sometimes get a warning on the screen, reminding you that you need to change your batteris? Now, if you are like me, you ingnore it ( oops ). But becasue you ignored that warning, half an hour later your game just shuts off...your remote is dead, your batteries fried. Am I right? Same with a PSP, or a DS. It's the same way with our daily devotions. Sometimes, I leave it in the morning, but than I do the same thing happens the next morning, and the morning after that, and so on. Because I ignored the warning in my heart, soul and mind. I set a routine for myself, costing me my daily quiet time with God. Usually, when I don't do my devotions; my day isn't right, I get down on myself, I lash out at my family and even friends. It comes easily to me and without a warning. My anger isn't in check, and my attitude is downright rotten! At the end of the day, when I'm sitting in my bed, or reading my book, my brain goes, " HUH!" And I sorta realize what happened these last few days, I finally take a look at the ugly truth that I was avoiding, no! The truth that I was ignoring...I ask God to forgive me, and to help remind me of the consequences when I don't read my bible. when I put God on a shelf. But He can't be contained, and He will get you. After I get back into my daily devotions, my days are right as rain, I'm more confident, happy, loving, caring, and my attitude and anger are at bay. I stop putting myself down, and just enjoy the life that God so graciously has given me. Now my question is simple...Are your battries fried?...Or charging daily?...Have a great week as you bask in the glory of our Almighty creator, our Redeemer and Friend.

The Monster under my bed!

                              Okay, many of you might be saying something like, "WHOA! A monster under your bed? Really? What's he like?" But I don't mean that kind of monster. I mean the one that creeps up on you...the one who invades your; thoughts, actions, and sometimes, your emotions as well. He may not always be there, but he still comes about, hunting you as his next victom, because quite sadly, he does have victories. He's the one who gives you nightmares at night, from an experience during the day, or from an unpure thought, from a chance encounter or misfortune. You know what I mean? That's why I call this post, "The monster under my bed." It's satan. Waiting secretly for you; under the bed at night, under your brain during the day, under your emotions, and e.t.c. Now, what comforts a child most, when he or she thinks there is a monster under his or her bed? Can you take a guess? You're right, it's the assurance of his or her's mom and dad. You feel as if nothing can harm you, as long as they are there to protect you. It's the same way with God. When you're having a bad day, and your emotions are running wild, or you're experiencing a nightmare, from watching something scary, or even impure thoughts about something or someone...call out to God, like you would your mom and dad. He's there to protect you as long as you let Him. He's your loving father who loves and cares for you. And He's the only one who can protect you from the, monster under your bed, the only one who can save you from the nightmare to come...Hell. Cry out to your God...your father, and He will save you from harm. I hope you take comfort in the verse below. Have a great evening as you bask in God's great love and protection for you!


                            "Sumbit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
                 
                                                                                                       --James 4:7

Nakamun

                    Here is a quick update from quizzing. Over about thirty or so teams, my team placed 11th in championship, my brother's team placed eigth in championship. Um, Kimmy placed 10th, in championship individually, Caleb placed 15th, April placed 23, Isaak (my brother) placed 22, I placed 27th, and Rebecca placed 25th I think, I could be very wrong though! And our rookie team placed first in the rookie division, which is amazing! Our consolation team, I'm not exactly sure where they placed. I'll get back on that. Other than that, our weekend, was really good, lots of sun, on Saturday we did get hail, rain, and snow all at once! But after that it was sunshine and cloud free again. That's all I can think of for now. Our year is done, so there won't be any updates until September. Have a good evening everyone. I'll write new posts next week! Until than, good night, and God Bless.

Family

                                                 Parents are a blessingsent from God Himself...sometimes I take them for granted. I don't realize just how much they mean to me, until you're put into a situation. And then you sit back and go..."oohh." You know what I'm saying? Parents are a treasure from God. Now some of you may bring up the thought, "well in the bible it says that you are supposed to hate your father and mother, yet in another passage it says you are supposed to love and obey them...what are these passages saying?" You wanna know something? When God said that, what He meant was, you are supposed to love God so, so much, that it looks like you hate your earthly parents! Does that make sense? It doesn't mean that you are literally supposed to hate or loathe them....it just means that we are to love God so much more than our parents, that it seems that we hate our parents here on earth...but guys, we need to respect, love, and be there for them...when they're going through a hard time, with a problem that is none of our concern. I know it can be hard...when they're down, and moody all the time...but the best thing that we can do for them in those times, is to keep a possitive and happy attitude, to lift up their spirits, and not to get down on them, which is really distructive in hard times...I hope this has been an encouragement to those who are struggling. Or whose parents, or sibblings are struggling. I hope that this has been good advice...Have a good day, as you bask in the glory of  God, and keep hanging in there, not matter how hard it is...God bless.
  
                                                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                       Lisa. F.

     " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
                                                                                                     Proverbs 3:5

   " The Lord is my Shephard; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He restores my soul; He leads me in the path of righteousness For His names sake. Yes though I walk in the valley in the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me (God is with me...with you).
                                                           Psalm 23: 1-4