A Thankful Heart

Okay, so I could tell you a million things that I am thankful for. God has given and blessed me with so much! One thing that is especially important to me is how He sent His only Son to die for each and every one of us on the cross so that we could all go to Heaven if we accepted God's gift. My mom printed this out for us to read. I liked it so much that my brother and I shared it with our Youth Group at Church.
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A Teenager's View Of Heaven--------------------

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em; he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote.. It also was the last.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

-----------------Brian's Essay: The Room...-------------------

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. Ther were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the one's in Libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which streched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was the one that read 'Girls I have Liked'. I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifless room with its small files was a crud catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as i began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I have Read', 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I Have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed At'. Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things That I Have Yelled At My Brothers'. Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I have done in my anger', 'Things I have muttered under my breath at my parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected . Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Show's I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents.The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of the shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run down my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them! In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find that it was as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore 'People I have shared the Gospel with.' The handle was brighter than those around it, seemed newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed way the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hads and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No,no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name was shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written in His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' -Phil. 4:13
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'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.'-John 3:16
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Modest Make-Up?

I got this post from http://aponderingheart.com/. It is really great! It is so sad to see just how many young people that cover up their natural beauty.





Modest Make-Up?
Is there such a thing as modest make-up? Should we have standards for that as well? If so what are they and how do we determine what we wear?
The Bible does speak on make-up, though I didn’t really know of it until just the other day. Mother Dear read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 4 aloud to us, which speaks to and about Israel and Judah - how they’ve turned away from God and how they follow after the heathen ways. When you get down to verse 30 you find mention of the painting of the face, and it makes me wonder if this means makeup.
“30And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.”
I find myself, lately, asking “is this acceptable because it’s holy and pure, or because I was raised with it?” Another verse I hadn’t really thought about in terms of makeup was 1 Timothy 2:9 where it speaks about not being made-up in broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. Perhaps wearing make-up fits right into this as well?
I myself believe that depending on how you wear and for what reasons will determine if it fits in with the above verses and if it is shamefaced. I don’t agree with anyone under 15 wearing make-up, for a few reasons, and I get confused when I see young Christian ladies wearing make-up extensively. Or fashion photos posted on modest-clothing sites with the models completely covered in dark makeup.
When I say extensively I mean more than is necessary, such as eyeliner, eye-shadow, mascara, lipstick/gloss, lip-liner, or blush. Wearing those cosmetics make you look unnatural and immodest. You are much prettier, if anything, without all of that artificial beauty the world has come up with.
I believe make-up is to enhance your natural beauty, and not to cover anything up. I believe you only need to wear the basics, which are simply foundation and powder. Both of these products neither cover-up or “make-up” your face in an immodest way, but enhance your natural beauty and protect your skin.
When Amanda and I were 15 and 16 Mother Dear decided we could wear the basics just to cover up small blemishes and to protect our skin. To this day the only thing I wear is the basics. However, after a little discussion with Mother Dear, I also wear blush as I am quite pale, though you can hardly tell. Usually my makeup is completely gone after several hours because I barely put any on and it is not a big concern of mine to look made up. I only wear it to cover up blemishes, and I spend less than five-minutes doing so.
Honestly, you should hardly be able to tell you even wear make-up it should look so natural, and if it doesn’t you need to reevaluate why you’re wearing the make-up at all. I am still pondering whether the makeup I wear would be consider the painting of the face or not, and then I shall go from there with what the Lord leads me. However, I wanted to encourage you in this area to consider if your makeup is modest.
Christ calls us to be set a part from the world, that includes how they look and dress. Just because our culture says it’s alright for ladies as young as 9yo to wear makeup, extensively, doesn’t mean we should.
Challenge: If you wear any kind of makeup take a before and after photo and see if your makeup is modest or not. *This was written to young ladies.





Blessings!

Making Herself Beautiful

I'm Reading this book called 'Beautiful Girlhood'. It is a really good book so far and has really made me think about things different. Here is something that I just read and think that it is something that all girls should read.

Sometimes, much to my amusement, I read in the magazines those comical letters that girls write to the beauty specialists. If these letters could all be put together into one it would read something like this: "How am I to make myself pretty so that I shall be admired for my good looks? I want to be rid of all my blemishes, my freckles and pug nose and pimples and stringy hair. I would have my hands very white and shapely and tender, and I would be neither too fat nor too lean. Tell me, Miss Specialist, how to make myself beautiful." The wise man of old has answered this question in words that are most appropriate: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Every girl is a lover of beauty. Beautiful homes, beautiful furnishings, beautiful flowers, beautiful fruits, beautiful faces--anything wherein beauty is found, there will be found girls to admire it. From the time her little hands can reach up and her baby lips can lisp the words, she is admiring "pretty things". And when a little of that beauty is her own, her pleasure is unbounded.

Every girl longs to be beautiful. There is in a woman a nature, as deep as humanity, that compels her to strive for good looks. There is no more forlorn sorrow for a young girl than for her to be convinced that she is hopelessly ugly and undesirable. Oh, the bitter tears that have been shed over freckles or a rough and pimply skin! and the energy that has been expended in painting and powdering and frizzing and curling herself into beauty!

A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly. A woman who is not beautiful cannot properly fill her place. But, mark you, true beauty is not her face, but of the soul. There is a beauty so deep and lasting that it will shine out of the homeliestface and make it comely.

This is the beauty to be first sought and admired. It is a quality of the mind and heart and is manifested in words and deed. A happy heart, a smiling face, loving words and deeds, and a desire to be of service will make any girl beautiful.

God made you the person that you are. Don't cover it up or try to make yourself any better.

Blessings!

Saving the lives of the unborn

Something that has really pressed on my mind lately is abortion. I think of all those helpless babies that die because of the parents carelessness or because they might have some sort disability. I think that just because the baby might have some disability, or down syndrome, or that you are trying to cover up your sin, doesn't mean that it is just a worthless creature that can be thrown away; but that baby is a very special blessing that God gave to you. Everything is wonderfully made by God. I have an Aunt that has Down Syndrome and you know what? She is loved very much! She is a very beautiful young lady and I think that it is just so wonderful that God put her in our family. We are very blessed to have her on this earth with us. There are more deaths of babies by abortion than there are of sickness or accidents. To me, that is a very sad thing to think about.

Psalm 127:3 says: "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."


Children are a blessing from God, and when you abort those babies, you are throwing away that special gift and blessing that God has given you.