another good day :)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in me. My body and spirit are God's. I belong to Him, so everything I say and do is a reflection on Him. I want Him to be pleased and proud of me. My words and actions should reflect my love for and devotion to Him.

I had piano lessons today. I enjoyed it. :) Tomorrow I'm going on a road trip w/ Norman and my cousins. My aunt, uncle and grandfather, 5 guys, my cousin's girlfriend and me in a 12 passenger van for 8-9 hrs. It promises to be a fun trip! ;)

long day...

whew! long day today...I went and looked at bridesmaids dresses. That was good cause I found a bunch that I liked :) think I found my colors too. That took a little time, but it was fun trying the dresses on and finding different styles :) man, some dresses are beautiful, and some are just ugly! lol.

after the dresses was piano lessons. I enjoy teaching. the kids are so cute! one little girl in particular. she's a natural at it, but she always tries to get me to play the songs for her first. :P sometimes I will, if they're new to her. I like playing w/ her. she's fun :)

after piano, I came home and we had a late dinner. we needed a few things at the store, so my brother Norman went w/ me and gave me some practice driving stick in his car. it's fun :)

it's mine and Norman's week to clean up after dinner, so we did that late, and I finished up the day by sewing Brandon's ski pants so he can go boarding tomorrow. (I love being the oldest ;)

it was a good productive day. gonna have a great ending too, cause now I get to go talk to Josh! ;) cya!

life is good :)

sometimes it's good to just kick back and have a little fun! I went and hung out w/ some good friends last night, had good food, played cards and Dutch Blitz. fun times :) chilling, catching up on each other's busy, exciting lives, talking and laughing. =)

I've been helping my 7 yr old brother with his school work. It's fun. (for me ;) He's very motivated to get his work done so he can run and play outside :)
I heard a story recently... A little kid in a Christian school asks his teacher if Jesus is the answer to everything. She replies "yes" He is. The kid is satisfied, smiles, and returns to his work. Later, he turns his test paper in, with all the answers marked "Jesus." The teacher gives him an "A." :)

Such a simple, wonderful truth. Jesus IS the answer to everything. The more I get to know Him, the more I want to know Him.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen"
Romans 11:33, 36

Psalm 18:25-26
With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful; with an upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright; with the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure; and with the froward Thou wilt show Thyself froward.

17:15
As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.

Psalm 16:8-9, 11

I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Lord, keep my in Your presence so that I may have fullness of joy!

thoughts...

Good quote from a book I'm currently reading: "Your reactions define who you really are inside and what you really believe at your core level." -Pearl

What are my views on life? How do I react when those views are challenged? Matthew 12:34 says “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” The thoughts of my heart are going to come out at some point, whether I want them to or not. If my mouth is going to speak out of the abundance of my heart, I want to make sure I fill my heart with good things. I am responsible for what I put or allow into it. I can control what I watch, read, and listen to. All of this is will show up in my reactions and everyday conversations.

If I have a favorite TV show I watch every day, I will probably think about it and talk about it. Whatever is on this show is going to come up in my conversation. I will think about the views, thoughts, and actions portrayed there. However, if I am constantly memorizing and meditating on Scripture, chances are, Scripture is what will come up often in my thoughts and conversation.

What happens when my views are challenged? If I have been watching a lot of TV, I may react to this challenge how I have seen others on TV react, probably w/o even consciously thinking about it. If I have been filling my heart with Scripture, that is most likely what will come to my mind and be spoken when my views are challenged.

Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Another quote from the book I’m reading states “The way you think determines how you will feel, and how you feel influences the way you will act.” Statistics say that people think approximately 40,000 thoughts a day. How many of my thoughts are for good, pleasing to the Lord? Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” How many of my thoughts are for evil or selfish? Romans 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. My actions come from my thoughts. So if I change my thoughts, my actions and reactions will change.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The thoughts in this post, that make up a few of my 40,000 for today, have been challenging to me. I hope God’s truths have challenged you too, and inspire you to greater thoughts and actions. :)

Beauty Tips

Beauty Tips
(by Audrey Hepburn)

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness..
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone..
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.
-Audrey Hepburn (read at her funeral years later)

May the Mind of Christ Dwell in Me

May the mind of Christ my savior
Live in me from day to day
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say

May the word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea
Him exalting, self abasing
This is victory

May I run the race before me
Strong and brave to face the foe
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go

His precious thoughts....

Psalm 139:17 “How precious are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! V.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

I looked up “precious” in the dictionary and found: “of high price or great value.”

God’s thoughts are of great value! How much value are they to me? How precious are they to me? Are they important enough that I will do everything I can to please Him?

Dad is reading A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God in family devotions. The chapter last night was talking about how important it is to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness; a desire for God and His Word.

If I am going about my day working and I get hungry, I will go find food and eat. Afterwards, I am refreshed. However, if I am not hungry, I won’t even bother seeking food out. I don’t have a desire for it. Likewise, when I have a hunger and desire for God’s Word, I seek it out and it satisfies, refreshes, and fills me. If I do not have a hunger and desire, I won’t seek Him out and therefore, won’t be filled.

Matthew 5:6 says “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” In the past couple of years I havI have been asking God for this hunger and thirst. He has given it to me and has been true to His promise to fill that hunger and thirst. He gives a desire to be more like Him. :)

His thoughts are so precious! I can’t even begin to count them. May God fill your day with His precious thoughts and give you a greater desire for Him and His Word!

Psalm 19:14 “Let the word of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”