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Friday, December 19, 2014

Sneak Peek 2

Here's another more sneak peek for you all out there!


1.
It was long past sundown, Frank leaned up against the side of the helicopter and glanced at his watch, “10:05 pm”  “Where are they?” he asked himself. He searched the surrounding sand dunes, but they were no where in sight. “There’s no way Alice lost her way, she knows these deserts more in the dark then in the light. What happened, where are they?” Franklin called out. “Thieves?” the thought stuck him, “They didn't have any weapons that I know of. Could it be that they were, no,” Frank picked up the gun that was leaning up against the helicopter, swung the strap over his shoulder and started through the miles of sand. As he went along the more he thought about what could happen to them the faster he walked, soon his fast walking turned into a quick run. He climbed over sand dunes, jumped over fallen dead trees and climbed up rock formations. Before long he heard shots in the far distance, he quickened his steps to as fast as they could go, till he could see the flashes of rifles going back and forth. He jumped behind a sand dune and watched them for a moment till he realized that one side only had one gun while the other side had several. “Unless they got a whole mess of friends and are picking on one soldier that side is my side,” He waited for a moment then jumped over the sand dune and ran as fast as he could till he slid behind the sand dune with the single shooter, as he did someone pointed a gun at him. “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot! It’s me Frank!” he called out.



Enjoy!!





I'm Fed up with Giving up

You can't finish unless you start and you can't complete unless you continue.

What are you living for? Anything worth living for is worth fighting for and anything worth fighting for is worth dying for. How much are your goals really worth? Are you willing to fight for them? What's most important in your life?

I believe that relationships are the most important and hardest investment we'll ever make in our lives. From our relationship with Christ to our relationship with complete strangers. A relationship is a two way road, what are you willing to give? How long do you intend on fighting for it?

How many times has it been that you've just given up on a relationship, just shaken your head and given it up as hopeless? Their love is worth more than that! They are worth fighting for!

Are you fed up with giving up? Tired of shaking your head, shrugging your shoulders, tired of hopeless relationships that aren't going anywhere? Well...there's hope!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:13

Nothing is utterly impossible, Christ has given us the strength to conquer any obstacle. When we shake our head and say, "it can't be done," we're saying that God's strength and might has a limit, which it does not!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

Are you giving all that you can? Have you laid down your life for that friend who needs your companionship very much? Or are you sucked up in how you want to feel, and how you want to be treated and how they aren't doing that?

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

What are you seeking first? Is it your video games, movies, books, letters, jobs, shallow relationships (those that are in the we're-not-going-to-get-to-know-each-other-and-we're-nice-to-each-other-and-we-like-that stage)? Or is it the Kingdom of God, family, dominion work, relationships that matter and are going to stand the tests of time? 

Maybe you are losing strength to fight those battles, maybe you are running out of energy to fight for those relationships. But you want to know why? Because they aren't what you're seeking fist. Something else is coming before them, and trust me they can tell that, so they give up too.

"You can tell the size of the man by the size of the problem that gets him down." -Unknown-

When something comes first in your life, you give everything to keep it, to grow it, to earn it's trust. Whether you run out of energy or not, you keep fighting, whether you have to drag yourself across that proverbial floor or not, you keep fighting, whether the way becomes monotonous or the road never seems to end you keep fighting for it! Why? Because it's what you're living for! 

What's the worth of your goal to you? What's the price of the obstetrical that stands in your way? If the worth of the stumbling stone is more than the goal than you can forget it. You'll never accomplish any goal unless it's more important to you than anything in the world. Goals were designed as stepping stones to the ultimate goal, which should always be (Christian or not) Christ.

If you're not fighting for anything than you're not living. 

I want to get this clear before we move on. I'm not saying that the right road is the easy road, in fact if "easy" were measured by how many of the people in the world liked you or how much money you had, the right road is the last one you want to take. Why? Because, "...he that is not of God hearth not us" (I John 4:6) that also means that they really don't like us "Marvel not my brethren if the world hate you." (1 John 3:13)...but that's another story for a whole different article.

Christ uses trials to train, correct, and mold us into the ambassadors he wants us to be. Those who are at peace with the world and man meaning no trials, usually are rather weak, in fact when trials do come they are the first ones to go. So praise God for your tough situations, those relationships which seem so hard to win, because the ones that you really fight for are the ones that will stand in the end. So in every trial look for the sunshine.

I'm sure we all have a child, sibling or parent that drives us nuts. When something happens, stop for a second, breath and look at the sunshine. I assure you there's some in every trial just like there's some in every person. So look, search and dig as if for treasure, in every person, you'll find it. 

Giving up is the easiest road out of every problem, but not in the long run. The real treasure comes at the finish line when endurance pays off. When you decided to stick by that guy you really disliked in the beginning through the battle, and you come out at the end the closest of friends. 

So keep your chin up and keep forward. You can't finish unless you start and you can't complete unless you continue. So find the goal worth having and get to the finish line, you'll find it was all worth it.

What you can see right now isn't the future, but when you get to the future and look back, those are memories you'll keep with you forever, make sure they're good ones.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Are you a Patriot?



How many times have you passed by a veteran and never said thank you? How long has it been since you went out of your way to say thanks? When was the last time that you stood up against a tyrant? When was the last time that you stood up for freedom?


So many times we forget that someone paid the price and was willing to give his life for our freedom. 

Stand! the ground's your own, my braves!
Will ye give it up to slaves? 
Will ye look for greener graves?
 Hope ye mercy still?
 What's the mercy depots feel?
 Hear it in that battle peal!
 Read it on yon bristling steel!
 Ask it,- ye who will.

 Fear ye foes who kill for hire?
 Will ye to your homes retire?
 Look behind you! they're a-fire!
 And before you, see
 Who have done it!- From the vale
 On they come!-And will ye quail?- 
Leaden rain and iron hail
 Let their welcome be!

 In the God of battles trust!
 Die we may,-and die we must;
 But, O, where can dust to dust
 Be consigned so well,
 As where Heaven its dews shall shed
 On the martyred patriot's bed,
 And the rocks shall raise their head,
 Of his deeds to tell!
-- Warren's Address to the American Soldiers --



There are many times that people will make a statement like, "I'd die for my country without hesitation." But do they really mean it? Do they understand the price that they must pay? Can they look the barrel of the gun in the face, stand tall and say "Die we may and die we must"? Most people that make those statements probably wouldn't be able to do that.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do understand one fact, freedom isn't free, it never will be. I also understand that when a nation stands by while their freedoms are being taken away the price will have to be payed again. 


So ask yourself this question, are you willing to give what it takes to keep this nation free? We take so many freedoms lightly. Most of the time we're so focused on the freedoms we're losing, and don't seem to recognize the freedoms we still have.


The freedom to teach our children
The freedom to say what we please
The freedom to carry a gun 
The freedom to wave our flag
The freedom to walk the streets 
The freedom to fight 
and
The freedom to worship 


One day we will be asked to make a stand. One day we will be asked to fight back. One day we will be asked what we cherish more, our secure jobs, or our freedom to serve God as he calls us to. One day we may have to say goodbye to more than one person.

The generation of WWII knew that as Americans it was their job to protect freedom. They excepted that responsibility and carried out their jobs to the best of their ability. 

Farm boys became marines, women became war corespondents and spies. All of them laid aside their own dreams to fight for a dream they all had in common. If our freedom was seriously threatened, how many people do you think would stand up for it?  

Are you willing to give what it takes? Are you willing to sacrifice your dream for a better, bigger dream? Have you truly pledged your life to America? When you take the pledge of allegiance, do you mean it?

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

"...we will never surrender for it, not now nor ever. We are Americans."

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Destroying Prince Charming




Wow! That's a little mean isn't it? I mean totally, utterly, and with out mercy destroying Prince Charming? Mean? Yes. Needed? Diffidently.

When I say Prince Charming I'm talking about the perfect, romantic, handsome, genuine dream man...that doesn't exist. Yes ladies I'm sorry to brake it to you but the guy you've been waiting for and dreaming for your whole entire life (how ever long that is) doesn't exist.

Now I'm not saying that you'll never find the right man, I'm just saying you'll never find the perfect man. They just don't exist!

But how would I know? I'm just fifteen and none of my siblings have married so what should I know about topics like this?

Well first off I have four brothers and a dad, all of them are the most wonderful guys in the world (in my opinion) but...THEY'RE NOT PERFECT!

Secondly, God says so...
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom 3:23

"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Rom 3:12

Well I think that pretty much makes it clear that no one is perfect. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we can grow to holiness but we will never be perfect.

Now I'd like to make a few points on the "knight and shining armor" thing.

First of all if he's an honorable knight, fighting for his king and LORD, his armor should not be dent free. The scars of a battle worn soldier are carried with him wherever he goes, whether to suet a princess of his Majesty or go for a ride alone in the country.

Secondly, as pointed out by my younger sister, it is the wife's job to clean a knight's armor, so if he is not married and he is busy expanding his King's domain, he does not have the time to clean it and therefore the only reason that it would be spot clean is if he's trying to woo you and has not fully given himself to his King.

But the saddest thing of all about this topic is that in a lot of ways, the Prince Charmings of today are created by the woman's imagination alone. And after speaking to my brother about it I know how high standards put a burden on men. Now because of the unrealistic, and unpractical expectations of daughters a suiter has to have enough money to live in a big house, pay for a nice car, afford new clothes, and be able to a have a huge wedding.

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, then a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Prov 15:17

I've heard story after story of marriages being torn apart due to debt. Wouldn't it be better to maybe not have a new car but instead be truly in love with a imperfect but the right husband?





So do prince Charmings exist today? Well you might be thinking, of course not! But you're wrong.

They do exist...everywhere you turn.

There are men out there that are depicted as the perfect man and even attempt to pass themselves off as well qualified for any good looking girl that comes along. We normally refer to them as Cads or Wolves but in a true since they are the Prince Charmings of today.

What is your definition of a perfect man? What are you looking for? Unfortunately there are a lot of women today that are easily taken by any good looking, "christian" "home schooled graduate" guy that comes along.

Whether they're animated or human Prince Charmings are everywhere.

A Prince Charming is any man who is deemed or made to look perfect.  And not only in our day, but in every centenary there has always been Prince Charmings. And I'm afraid that there always well be.

They are given every opportunity to show themselves, they're in the movies (even ones considered safe) they're on social media, in home school groups or at church, and they're on music albums.

But let me say this...whether they'll always exist or not, there's still hope.

When you are idle, temptation knocks loudly, but when your hands are busy, your ears will be too.

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall they poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Prov 6:10-11

Esentially if you're busy with the LORD's work then it will be hard for a man after selfish gain to woo you or capture your heart.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps 119:105

"For the word is quick, and powerful, sharper than any twoedged sword..." Heb 4:12

Keep his word near
And you have nothing to fear

One more note on being busy. The constant encouragement to "wait for Prince Charming" is in all forms...wrong. We as women were not meant to sit around all day and wait for a man to come for us. For most, that would mean over twenty wasted years! Each second is worth so much. "And what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14.

Don't waist your life on dreams that have no eternal value. Although I am only fifteen I've learned the hard way how absolutely precious life is, and how priceless heavenly treasures are. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." Matt 6:20  Selfish dreams of a man who will wait on you hand and foot have no place in the mind of a woman of God, they are wasteful and destructive. "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof..." 1 John 1:17

Even though historically the dominion mandate was given to a group of men...it was meant for women too. We have our part to play and it's time we took our noses out of those romantic novels our heads out of those dreams and our life out of fairy world.

It's time we stopped waiting for prince Charming and instead started helping the knights of our king who are all around us. It's time we stopped seeing men around us as "candidates" and started treating them as soldiers of the Almighty king. They need our help and we have no excuses to keep it from them.

"...but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates." Prov 31:30-31

May we all bring glory to God in everything we say and do. 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Sneak Peak

Ok today marks a very special occasion. For the first time ever I am revealing two clips from my future book, G.S.I. in Danger, to the public... enjoy

1.
                 “I wish the Christians back in America could see this, it might change their mind about how peaceful the Muslims can be,” Christopher said shaking his head as he leaned over the bodies of two Christian Syrians. “They sit back in there pews on Sunday and fold their hands satisfied that they have a place in heaven because they go to church. I’d say it’s almost blaspheme, claiming His name and then treating it like a game. I wonder if they’ll ever wake up,” he said his tone becoming sharper with every word.
“Well we can keep praying,” Jason said putting his hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “And Chris, as long as we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, pleasing God and accomplishing his will, then I’d say that God is pleased with us and that’s the only opinion we should ever worry about,” Jason stopped as he saw a tear slide down the young man’s cheek.
     2.
“Brace yourselves,” Alice shouted. “Just like landing on an aircraft carrier, only there’s no line. I can do this. I can do this,” she told herself as she bit her lip and added, “God help me.” She let out the throttle, engaged her landing gear and braced herself for the shock. Time seemed to stand still as the small strip of rock got closer, perspiration stood out on Alice’s face as she gripped the yoke harder. For a second Alice closed her eyes, “It’s Yours, take control,” she whispered softly. She opened her eyes just in time to watch the plane hit rock, the nose hit but the wheels leveled it out. They sped straight for the other side of the strip Alice slammed on the brakes but it wasn’t enough, on the other side of the strip was a large bolder, the plane ran straight into it, Alice blacked out.

“Alice, Alice!” Frank called as he shook her. He got himself out of his straps and pulled her up. Her head had smashed the dashboard due to her belts snapping at the shock. Blood was streaming from a huge cut on the front of her head. Frank undid the rest of her straps and began to pull her out of the cockpit of the plane as Jason came to. He had banged his head on the window and had lost consciousness for a moment.

“How is she?” he asked as he got up to help Frank.

“Well she’s alive if that’s what you mean,” Frank replied.

“That’s not good.”

“It isn’t?” Frank asked in surprise. “I thought you liked each other.”

“No, not her, I mean that.”

“What?”

“That bolder is lying right on the gas tank, too much pressure on gas could mean..”

“Boom, yea I know,  let’s get out of here,” Frank finished as he put Alice’s arm around his shoulder and started dragging her down the edge of the cliff while Jason grabbed the first aid kit. Frank reached the end of the cliff as Jason started heading towards him, just then there was a big explosion, Jason dove and went tumbling down the edge of the cliff while Frank shoved Alice behind a rock; as he went to jump behind it himself a piece of shrapnel hit him in the arm surprising him and causing him to lose his balance and topple over.  

G.S.I. in Danger

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Content at Home

Well if you're like me, high spirited, adventurousness, "let's go conquer the world," type, then you probably understand the title of this article. If not then let me explain...



Sometimes us "go conquer the world" type women, forget that the home needs to be conquered just as much as the rest of the world if not more. The home is a place where ambassadors, presidents, kings and your average day worker that changes the world one step at a time, were all born. The home is where habits are created, characters are developed and where children learn to shape the world.




 The home has, for the most part, been destroyed by social media, by the movie making industry and even by schools. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, everyone is teaching a simple trend, go to school, graduate high-school, go to collage, get a job, drive a nice car and live in a big house, live a happy life and then retire when you reach the age of sixty. Where in that does it mention the home at all?






When you destroy the home you destroy the family, when you destroy the family you destroy the church, and when you destroy the church you destroy (according to men) God's rule on earth. The home is the foundation for the family, and when you have a strong God-centered family, you have a strong God-centered church and government (which by the way go hand in hand). 


As women adventurers, I'm almost positive that most girls my age and older find it hard to see life at home as an adventure. Now I'm not going to supe-up life at home and change it around to look awesome because that's not my goal. But I am going to tell you something very simple that I've been learning lately.

Life is an adventure created by God, your journey is like a puzzle being built by the mastermind. Each puzzle piece is a lesson learned, you can't skip one or leave it behind every piece is needed to complete the picture.



 God uses the home for that purpose. Although doing dishes or rocking a crying baby to sleep doesn't seem like much in the way of changing the world, it does in the end. 

But what if you never married? Or never had kids? How in the world could you effect the world by doing dishes? Well maybe I'm putting the wrong reason to this. 

Why should you do the dishes, wash the clothes, clean the house, or put the kids to sleep when you have a beautiful voice or some other talent you could be changing the world with? 

Ok, here's the answer nice and simple....but blunt:

You do it because God says so and therefore it's the right thing to do.

Now I know that's a really straight forward cruel way to say it but I really don't know any other way to. And this goes for unmarried women as well.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he shall not depart from it." Prov 22:6

"And you shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Duet 11:19

God refers to the woman as a "help meet," (Gen 2) we were created to help the man, either our husbands our fathers our brothers or our brothers in Christ.




Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies...She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands...She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meet to her household and a portion to her maidens...She perceiveth that her merchandise is good...She layeth her hand to the spindle and her hands to the distaff...She is not afraid of the snow for her household...She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates...Strength and honor are her clothing...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not of the bread of idleness...She maketh fine linen, and selleth it...She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness...Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates........adapted from Prov 31: 10-31

Some women have been called in the past to be fighting women, but let me say, the women that have the courage to fight the battles of every day in the home, to persevere their way and pioneer in the world of making the perfect home, are truly the strongest women of all.

My prayer for every woman is, that she will live the life of a true christian woman, to fight the fights God has given to her and to glorify God in everything she does.

What I'd like to end in saying is, thank you to the mothers that have made the choice to stay home and raise their families.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Vote- the Decision

Well if any of you wonderful people were watching the comments you might have already guessed the final verdict...the new pro-file will be.......

#2


So for all of you who voted #2 you win! Thanks for your participation in this. I love you all!

Great Books

Well this is the beginning of my 'great books' series. The idea is that every time I get a good book that I'd like to suggest, I'll post it for all you all to see along with links on where to get it.

For my first book, one that I just received from my all knowing oldest brother...

"Save the Cat!"


Now you might be thinking, "What type of a book would be called that???" Well it's a screen-writing book. The book that has completely transformed my writing skills and gave me the ability to write my very first book (...coming soon!) which if I can say is a great accomplishment. 

All though I would warn that he is not a Christian, I do believe that there are many things we can learn from the pros, Christian or not.

This book has now been added to my shelf and I hope you writers out there will find time to add it to your's.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XSave+the+cat&_nkw=Save+the+cat&_sacat=0

Friday, October 31, 2014

Vote

Ok all you people out there.. I need some help with something. Which of these photos from my autumn photo shoot should I use as a professional looking pro-file photo? The one I have on was just to have something up there. Vote in the comments below

Thanks for your help!

#1


#2


 #3


 #4


 #5


 #6


 #7

Monday, October 20, 2014

Time: More Valuable than you Know

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

"I've lived in a fairy tail world for long enough it's time to wake up!" If you haven't told yourself this you should really say it now. Life is too short to live on our own wishes and dreams, we were put on earth for a reason, we are here to glorify God and not man we are here to please him and not us. We are bigger then this because he is. We need to decide who we are for and we need to do it now.

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, chose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods or the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

How many times was there an opportunity for you to do something that you didn't do. You only get that chance once, so how many times is it going to take you before you stop talking and start doing?

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22)

God didn't show us mercy so that we could set around and play the game of life. Life isn't a game, it's time Christians start acting on what "they believe." Christianity isn't sitting in a pew and nodding your head, Christianity is standing in the front lines of battle and fighting for your captain. Don't ask why...just do it.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28: 18-20)

There's no time in there to "sit around" or to think about what you are going to do, or to worry about what you're going to eat. There is only time to obey, now. I find that so many Christians believe that they have done their part when they "chose" Christ. But you didn't "chose" Christ, Christ chose you! Your part is to glorify and obey him your WHOLE life, not a part of it or maybe when you're older but your WHOLE life.

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die..." (Ecc 3:1-2)

There's only one chance you have to live, most people would say then live well, but I say, live right. If you have only one chance to live but all of eternity to reap your reward I think living righteously is always best.

So in conclusion, live for God, don't waist time, and live right. 

If you had time to accomplish one thing, what would you chose? 

It's time to make the decision that few Christians today are making, the choice to stand with Christ!


Friday, October 17, 2014

A Gun Carrying Woman?

Is it right for a woman to own or carry a gun? Does it lower the ability of a man to protect her? Does it put her higher then men?

There's been a lot of controversy in the church when it comes to a women's place in the world. Now when it comes to women carrying guns there are essentially three sides:
  1. Some women carry guns to prove that they can do anything that a man can do. Basically a feminist.
  2. On the other side women won't touch a gun because they believe that it's a man's job to protect them. 
So is there a middle? Is there a right choice when it comes to women carrying guns? I'd say yes...

    3.  There are women who carry guns because they know it's their right, they need to protect themselves and their children and they know that as a help meet for their husbands they need to be as "helpful" as they can be. Which in a lot of cases boils down to, they need to carry a gun. A gun can make her easier to care for. A woman was meant to be a help meet not a burden, and if that means carrying a gun so that her husband or father can focus on something else instead of worrying about her than that's what she should do.

Does a woman need to know how to shoot a gun. I believe that a woman was meant to help her husband or father stand stronger, "for better or for worse, in sickness or in death..." I wonder how many other women in the world still think about that and would do all with in her power to help their husbands?
The world is a dark place and your husband, father or brother is not always going to be there for you. As Christians we should understand possibilities and be prepared for them, and most of the time that means carrying a gun. We have to face the fact that the world is only getting worse,  The world isn't a "perfectly lovely place" in the least, there are evil people that will do evil things. The best thing we can do is to be prepared for anything. The definition of a great leader is that he is prepared for anything. If God is the greatest leader there is, and we're supposed to be like him...then I think we should also be prepared for anything. And because the world isn't getting any better what was not necessary for women "back in the day" is necessary for them now.

God didn't create men to fight and then create women to sit back and watch them. God created women to strengthen men, to encourage them, to be with them in danger, in the thick of anything that God calls them to be. I see very few women in the world willing to do that.
God created the woman for the man..."But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Cor 11:3) So why should women be focused on how they can serve God and how they can extend the kingdom and how they can fulfill the dominion mandate?

You serve God by following the man that he has put over you.

 It really isn't about weather you should or should not carry a gun....the question is why are you carrying it. Are you carrying it in spite of your husband or are you carrying it to relieve his mind of worry.
 And the last point I'd like to make is that although the Bible doesn't give us a point blank, "you should," or "should not carry a gun." It does have a very point blank "wives obey your husbands" and "children obey your fathers." So I think the best advice that I can give you is to honor your father or husbands authority. If he wants you to carry a gun then carry a gun and if he doesn't want you to carry a gun...don't.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The power of Siblings



"I hate my siblings! I can't stand them! I mean, what are they for anyway?" 

Have you ever caught yourself thinking or saying this? Well to answer the question what are they for...

Where would you be without your loving older siblings to help you along the way? Even if they may be a little tough in the way they do it, they're always looking out for you and trying to keep you on the straight path.

Where would you be if you didn't have that comic relief from either older or younger siblings? Maybe their lame jokes annoy you from time to time but when you need it they'll always have it ready.

Where would you be without a wonderful brother to tell you what you're doing wrong, or a younger sister to tell you what needs to be done, or all of them combined to make the best combination ever?

In the story of our life their are several doors all with locks on them, when we come to a door in our life that won't open most of the time it's because we aren't willing to use the keys that God has given us to open it. One of those keys are our siblings.

I'm blessed to have five siblings in my family. All of my three older brothers are 1, awesome and 2, insanely talented in their own ways. My two younger siblings usually account for the comical relief but not always, Sometimes it just takes a suggestion from my 12 year old computer savvy younger brother to get past a locked door or a very to-the-point order from my 14 year old younger sister to get me moving.

Now I'm not saying that I've never said I hated them, never said that I couldn't stand it any more or that I have never asked what they were there for? But what I am saying is, thanks to the grace of God I 1: now know their purpose, (which is more than to unlock my doors) and 2: when those hard times come when I "can't stand it" I take a breath and think of what a wonderful gift God has given to me.

But before I leave I want to add one more thing. You may think that someone else's siblings would work better for you, but the locks on the doors in your life require a combination, one which only your family, your siblings and you can open. And if one of the reasons that siblings were put on earth is to open up locked doors, maybe you should get to work helping them open their's.

I love you guys! You are awesome! 






Pictures taken throughout our time in TN

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

What to Write?


Have you ever wanted to get rid of that teasing blinking line that tells you that you have yet to write anything on that long white, still blank, page?

Have you ever told yourself that you have nothing to write, nothing to say, and nothing anyone wants to hear? Well I believe you’re wrong. Because everyone has a story, everyone has a lesson learned, a mistake corrected or a testimony that the world needs to hear.

But how do you start? Where do you begin?

The greatest stories, lessons or just short friendly notes always start with Christ. When Christ is not your center you’ll find you have nothing to write, but when the God of creation is your focus, what can hold you back? Christ is never idle, and therefore, neither should you be.

What does this add up to? If you have Christ as your center, if you are never idle, you will always have something worthwhile to write about.


So what are you waiting for? I can’t say that the world is just waiting to hear what you have to say, because frankly they’re not. But what I can say is, they don’t matter but God does. So get out there, and join the ever growing army of writers for the LORD. And share your story, written by God.


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The fear of God vs. The fear of man



“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)

When we think of fear I’m pretty sure we don’t think about fearing our friends right off the bat. We probably think more on the side of fearing what the government is going to do or what if your family is attacked one day. Probably the last thing we think of is fearing God. So few people actually fear God, they think “why should I fear someone who is nice like him, I mean a God of love and all.” Well first off although God is a God of love he also is a God of jealousy, (Ex 34:13) and a God of judgment (Is 30:18) and he is a God of power (Ex 15:6; Ps 62:11).  The LORD tells us to “fear no” (Is 41:10) so why should we fear God?Fear: The unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or is a threat.
Let me put it this way, we were meant to fear,(Prov 3:6) the question is, (like all other abilities that God has given us) in what way will we use this ability? Later on I will talk about the good things that are brought about when we fear God.What is the fear of God? A lot of people can understand the fear of man but they really don’t understand what it means to fear God.Fear of God:                Fear of what God will know or do to you.When we fear God, we fear him justly; he has the power, the right and the might to do with us as he pleases. Whereas when we fear man, we fear without cause, man can never do to us what God says “no” to.                We fear men to much, because we fear God to little.What is the difference between the fear of God and man?When we fear men we are hindered from doing anything for the kingdom. When we fear God we are pushed on to the bettering of the Kingdom. Why? Because when we fear men we are worried (be anxious for nothing) about what they (men) will think or do. We can never be curtain of what they will actually think and so we never make our move. If you are a Christian you will never be able to please men (so you might as well give up now), while you now have the power (instilled by the blood of Christ) to please God.                So what is one of the main differences between the fear of God and the fear of man? Well do you notice the difference in wording in the definitions?  The fear of God, “…what he will know” The fear of men, “…what he will think.” God sees the deepest part of your soul, he will know what you were thinking, doing, planning, ect. And he has the power to judge you, While man can only think about what you’re doing or thinking, and they have no say in either your eternal damnation or happiness.“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)                This verse brings me back to another part of the definition, “…do to you,” While both man and God can do to you there is a saying that narrows it down, “What God wants to happen to you, will happen to you; but what God doesn’t want to happen to you, won’t.”                So which would you rather fear?The fear of man is really ungrounded; now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I have never feared men before! In fact I’m still struggling with it, hence this article. But really if you think about it, God has the power to through you into hell justly, all men can do is what God wants them to do. God is omnipotent and all-knowing, and yet we chose to fear men? I think God called us humans “sheep” for a reason, (if you didn’t know sheep are the dumbest animals on earth).
I personally believe that most men are hindered from extending the kingdom because they are afraid of something more than God. Just think about it! If a man knew that a specific mission field was his calling and yet he was afraid to go because he would have to lose his job, who is he more afraid of? God or man? God, if he went in the knowledge that it was His will. Man because if he didn’t have enough money most people would probably look down on him.
But when are you considered a real Christian? When you forsake all and follow him! That could mean your job, your family, your friends or even your church. So really if you are a true Christian, what man thinks should not matter, what God knows, should.Using my own life as an example, I often catch myself, as I get changed, thinking about what someone will think about this dress. Instead of wondering if I’m honoring my father and God by that choice of clothes. Or not doing something in church because I wonder what the girl behind me will think. But I constantly forget who’s opinion really matters. Who’s love will really pull through. Who’s grace is really sufficient. And who’s blood paid for me. Instead of making decisions based off of what your friends, boys, or even sometimes family will think, your decisions should be based on what God will know.
There was a fraise I used earlier “We fear man too much, because we fear God too little.”  One fear replaces the other. If we learn to fear God more we will learn to fear man less. So how do we fear God more?                 Before I go into that I want to point out a few differences between the different fearsThe fear of GOD is,                      i.            Fountain of life (Prov 14:27)
                     ii.            Clean, enduring forever (Ps 19:9)
                    iii.            The beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10)
                   iv.            Hatred of evil (Prov 8:13)
                    v.            The beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7)
                   vi.            Prolongeth days (Prov 10:27)
                  vii.            Strong confidence (Prov 14:26)
                 viii.            Instruction of wisdom (Prov 15:33)
                   ix.            Riches, and honor, and life (Prov 22:4)
 The fear of man is                      i.            Lays a snare (Prov 29:25)
 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)                A lot of these verses can tell us what we want to know on how to grow in the fear of the LORD. Proverbs 9:10 says that it is “the beginning of wisdom.” So what is the beginning of wisdom? (See Proverbs 8:22-29) As I see it wisdom can only come from God, which means that his word is wisdom. So here’s one idea; the more you read his word, the more you will grow in the fear of the LORD. Now please don’t take these things as solid fact. Rather just the simple attempts of a striving Christian girl to reach more godliness.So here are a few ideas on how to gain in the fear of the LORD:-          Read the word (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10; Prov 1:7)
-          Learn to love righteousness and hate evil (Prov 8:13)
-          Learn how to love (1 John 4:18)
-          Do what you know is right (Prov 1:7)
-          Do righteousness and run from evil (Prov 8:13)
 The fear of the LORD is the “God-given way to fight the fear of men.”
Another thing you need to remember in that you need to fear God and love him at the same time! (1 John 4:18) “Fear without joy is torment, and joy without holy fear would be an assumption.” So in other words we need to fear and love God at the same time while eliminating the fear of man.IT”S OK!You don’t have to get overwhelmed. We (as Christians) have the power (instilled in us through Christ) to accomplish this. He has instilled in us the power to fear and the power to direct that fear!Praise God!“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”I guess the last thing I want to say is that (especially for us young people) never despise wisdom and instruction from older people. I know it’s sometimes really hard to believe that our parents can actually know more than us when they don’t even know how to access Facebook! But let me say (humbly) that they’ve lived life longer and probably with more hard knocks then they want you to have. One of the hardest things that young people (including me) need to and must learn is, to just listen. (James 1:19) As my mom would say, “You have two ears and one mouth.”