Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

I Will Lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains

    A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law Jonathan invited my husband and I to climb Pikes Peak with him. As being my first 14er, I knew I would be in for an awesome yet terrible experience. Though I had a really hard time with not being in the best shape for a thirteen mile hike, the altitude sickness is what really got me. 
    Now that I look back at my experience though, I don't think to myself "I will never do that again", or "I had a terrible time, and it really stunk", I can't help but think about God. 
    God is truly an awesome God. He created a beautiful, and magnificent place for us. I can really see why my brother Jonathan is so into hiking 14ers. What better way to witness God's glory? 
    Now every time I see Pikes Peak, which is multiple times a day, I think to myself "I could not have hiked that without Michael and Jonathan's support and encouragement. I remind myself that God is the same way. 
    "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalms 121:1-4
    I will admit, that if I get the chance to hike another 14er, I certainly would, because I truly adore the beauty of the earth that God created for our enjoyment.

Getting ready to start the hike

Taking a rest. . .

Thanks to Jonathan for letting me use his poles on the way down.
Otherwise, I would have fallen down a lot more than I did.
He is an awesome brother.

Almost to the top!

I would say the second coolest thing about the hike was seeing this fox.

Yes, we are hiking back down in the dark.

True Worship of God

Review of "True Worship of God"

Northeast Church of Christ

By Carl Lungstrum

     The sermon this Sunday morning made me think of one of my previous posts, "Training vs. Trying".  As Christians we are to live every day for Christ, and when is comes to worship, God has commanded specifics on how to worship him. He has told us what he likes, and what he doesn't like. 

     Often, people get the idea that they can worship God however they find fitting, and that merely giving just enough to make God happy is okay. God wants our full attention, and the sincerity of our hearts though. He wants us to put our all, our every moment, into worshiping, and pleasing Him. We should have the desire to get to know him. I remember when I was first interested in my husband, I wanted to know EVERYTHING about him. I wanted to talk with him 24/7. I wanted to please him, and be good for him because I dearly loved him. We should treat God the same way. We should WANT to know everything about him. We should want to pray, and simply talk with him every chance we get. We should do our best to please him and honor him, not just put enough effort into him to not feel guilty. 

      Isaiah 1:10-17 "Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah.  “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams nd the fat of fed cattle; 

and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you this trampling of My courts? “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.  “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.Cease to do evil,  learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow."
     This passage really speaks to me. It is talking about people who put on their Sabbath vest, but outside of Church, they are defiled, and worldly. It reminds me of those who believe that once they are saved, they are always saved, even if they fall away or do not live for God. I consider this passage to be a significant rebuttal against that belief. In the passage, God makes it clear that it is not okay to worship in a way that is pleasing to us. He is not okay with us worshiping any way we want to. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul worshiped in a way that was so displeasing to God, that he appointed a new ruler of his people.     

     1 Samuel 13:8-14 "Now he (Saul) waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.  So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.  As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord. So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 

     Point is, we need to worship the Lord the way he has commanded us to. Reading the scriptures, praying, living for Him, merely talking with Him, setting an example, being involved with fellow believers, being part of the Church, and doing what we can to strengthen it is all ways we can worship the Lord. God just wants our full attention; the sincerity of our hearts.  

Training vs. Trying

    "If you can love God supremely and love others as God has loved you without praying or reading the scriptures or participating in worship, good for you. I have trouble believing that you can pull that off, however, because Jesus prayed earnestly, studied the scriptures carefully, and participated in worship wherever he went. If he needed to live that way I know that I do, and I am very confident that you do too."
     There are many people who want to go to heaven, but most don't want to do what is necessary to get there. Exercising unto Godliness is something every Christian should take quite seriously. Disciplining ourselves is the key to persevere. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 cannot say it any better. "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."  We are to simply run in a way to receive the ultimate prize. 

     If you have ever researched an Olympic gold medalist you would be amazed at how much discipline, and training they put forth to win a perishable medal. I'll use Michael Phelps as an example. Michael Phelps swims around 50 miles a week. His diet consists of 12,000 calories a day, and he trains for six hours a day six days a week. He does this. . . .for a medal, and for self gain. 
    Can a Christian try to be a Christian for sole gain?  Someone can choose to do a good discipline not to love God and others, but to impress God and others. Jesus gave clear warnings about this. In Matthew 6:16-18 it tells us that when we fast, we are not to look as if we are fasting, but to pretty much put a big smile on our face. It is not easy to train with anything. Disciplining ourselves is never easy. God though tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 to never tire from doing what is good. Everyday we should be praising God, praying, studying the scriptures, and being a Godly example and of course being with other Christians as often as we can. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." What a glorious day that will be. 
    "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by  him; for those whom the Lord loved he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives."

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:1-11.

Are you in training for the race that really matters?

  

I Am His Water

I Am His Water

by Debbi Pearl

I am his water;

He gazes at me as I ripple over the rocks,

The sun glistening in a thousand places over my surface.

I dance and play,

Delighting him day after day;

So beautiful I hear him say;

I am his water, lovely and laughing.

He thirsts for me

Like a man in a burning desert,

Hot dry sand burning his throat,

The scorching sun beating upon him.

He seeks me.

I am his deep well filled with fresh, clean, abundant water;

Always there, waiting to quench his thirst; 

I am his water, fresh, clean abundant.

He looks for peace;

His soul grows troubled.

Rumors abound, he struggles;

He comes to me;

He lies in the soft green carpet of my banks;

I am the deep, still water.

Although he does not touch me, I give him rest.

Solace.

I am his water, deep, still; I bring peace.

He has forgotten who he is;

He searches for reality, to reclaim his

personhood.

He stumbles and falls on his knees beside me;

He stares into my depths, searching for truth.

I lie still and reflect the man he is, good, strong, true;

He sees and is reassured.

I am his water, reflecting, reassuring, 

Reminding him of who and what he is.

He has learned to trust me;

I have earned his trust.

I have danced and laughed for him.

In the bright sunshine he thought me beautiful.

I have been clean, fresh, and abundant water;

I have yearned always to quench his thirst;

Waters, abundant water.

I have been quiet and deep; 

I have soothed his troubled soul; 

He has found rest beside me.

When he peered into my depths, searching,

I reflected back to him strength and honor.

He had no fear with me;

He was safe being that man he was created to be. 

Now he plunges into my cool, deep water;

I hear him laugh as he surfaces; I feel his

muscles relax;

I see him find glory and honor-

Other men marvel.

I am. . . .his water.

Manitou Springs

So my family came down to see Michael and I here in Colorado Springs for a visit about ten months ago. I am kinda late with blogging this, but I was just going through the pictures, and was reminded how much I adore it when my family comes to see me! When I was still at home, not married yet, and pretty much care free, I always thought I would be the type to get really homesick once I left, or maybe the type that wouldn't be able to live more than an hour away from home. This past year and a half though, I have only visited my parents in Nebraska twice! And I am not, and never have been home sick once! I guess that proves how great of a man my husband is. . .he is my home now. Love him. Well. . .I guess my point is. . .I love when my family comes down to see me, because I don't often go up to visit them.

Anyhow. . . .

Here are some pictures of our time in Manitou Springs, Colorado

I was trying to smile with a mouth full of fudge. . .kinda silly

This makes me laugh. Love my dad.

Trying on very fashionable, and pricey granny glasses

My sister

My parents

Sunday Dinner

Sunday Dinner's are the best! 

 

Romans 2

God's Righteous Judgement
(1-2) We have no excuse- we judge others, yet practice what we ourselves judge. Therefore we bring condemnation on ourselves: only God's judgement is truth. (3-4) When we do something, but yet judge someone who is also doing it, God will not overlook us, but God's kindness will lead you to repentance. (5-6) The stubborness and unrepentant heart we may hold is only storeing up the wrath against our self for the day of judgement. God will give to each person according to what he has done. (7-8) Those who are constantly seeking to do good recieve eternal life, but those who are selfseeking and reject the truth will put wrath and anger on themselves. (9-11) There will be trouble and distress on everyone who does evil, but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good- both for the Jew than for the Gentile for God does not show favoritism. (12-13) Just because you can hear the law doesn't mean you're righteous; it's when you obey. (14-16) When the Gentiles didn't have the law they by nature did things in the law. Although they did't have the law- it is law to themselves- showing the work of the law written in their hearts whose conscience bearing witness. God will judge the secrets of men according to the gospel.
The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
(17-20) You who are a Jew who rest on the law boast in God and know His will and approve excellence out of the law, are confident that you yourelves guide the blind- is a light to those in darkness, an instructor to foolish, a teacher to babes, having a knowledge and truth in the law. (21-24) Paul is asking if they themselves follow the words and law they speak. He tells them that God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of them.
Circumcision of No Avail
(25-27) If you are circumcised, but don't keep the law your cicumcision won't justify you. If you aren't circumcised, but keep the law and is righteous your uncicumcision will become circumcision. (28-29) Just because you are outwardly a Jew or fleshly circumcised- it does not justify you- it has to come from the heart. 

Romans 1

    Paul, who is a servant of Christ, was called to be an apostle and was set apart for the gospel of God- which He had promised beforehand. (3-5) regards Jesus Christ- who is known to as his human nature- a descendant of David, but through the Spirit was declared with power the Son of God by His resurection. Through His resurection we have recieved grace and apostleship through faith. Verse 6 Paul intales that the Romans are among those who are called to belong to Christ Jesus. (7) This letter is for all of Rome- whom God loves.
Paul's Longing to Visit Rome
(8) Paul first thanks God for all of Rome because of their faith being reported around the world. I love verse 9 because Paul says "God, whom I serve with my whole heart..." I can't imagine Paul or anyone for that matter truly serving God to their full potential if their whole heart is not involved. Also verse 9-10 Paul is telling the people that God is his witness to how constant he prays for them. (11-12) Paul's longing to see them-so he can impart spiritual gifts to make them stronger and to encourage eachother in the faith. In verse 13 Paul is makeing sure that they know how long he has been yearning to come to them. He reassures them that he was prevented intil now. (14-15) Paul is obligated to everyone- but because of his obligation he is eager to preach to those in Rome. (16-17) Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. It is through the gospel that righteouness is revealed- a righteousness through faith.
God's Wrath Against Mankind
(18-20) It is told that the wrath of God is being revealed against the wickedness of men who supress the truth even when it is made plain to them. God's creation, His power and divine nature are clearly seen, so men are without excuse. (21-23) Although they knew God- they didn't glorify or thank Him as God and their hearts were darkened. They claimed to be wise, but became fools, and exchanges the glory of God for man natured images. (24) Because of this God gave them up to their own sinful desires. In verse 25 they exchange the truth of God for a lie and worshipped created things other than the Creator. (26-27) Because of this God gave them over to sinful lusts. Their woman and men abandoned natural relations and were inflamed with lust for eachother. In verse 28 God also gave them over to a depraved mind because they did not think to retain the knowledge of God. (29-32) They are filled with everything that is NOT pleasing to God. And although they know God's righteouness they still ignore it and follow their own evil deeds, and except those who follow it as well.

First Cake

      Last year, about August of 2010, I got the opportunity to make. . .or attempt to make a cake for a surprise babyshower. I didn't really know the mother-to-be at all, but her husband was on Michael's flight in tech school. Her husband thought of the idea to hold a surprise babyshower, and of course invited all the guys on flight to help make it a special time. So. . when I heard of this grand thing he was planning, I offered to make the cake and mints to help out his budget. After going to Hobby Lobby and selecting some special tools I began to do some test tasting and baking. 

      I tried out one homemade white cake recipe, and it was a no go. So then, I tried out an almond cake recipe, and it was a hit. So then I got on the internet and looked up some cakes to get some ideas. Anyways, if you know me at all you would know that simple and elegant is just. . .me. Also since I have not mentioned, this cake is supposed to be for a baby girl. 

      I don't like pink. In fact it is a very obnoxious color to me. Okay so Champaigne is the only pinkish color I can stand, and of course pink in small quantities is not to bad. So unlike most of the cakes I saw on the internet, I decided to do a simple white on white, with elegant colors that would be suitable for a baby girl: light pink, aqua blue and purple. 

     So two days before the babyshower, I made six rectangular pans of different sizes of almond white cake. I let them cool, took them out of the pans, wrapped them, and set them gently in the freezer. I then made a special frosting and seperated it into three bulks, and colored each one to my desired tint. After doing such, I put each color into the piping tube, and made little flowers. After about three hours of piping out little flowers, I let them sit overnight to harden. 

     The next morning I took the frozen cake out of the freezer, shaved them, stacked them, frosted the cake, did detailing, and then gently put the flowers on in a fashionable manner. Afterwords, I was feeling pretty accomplished. I guess working at a bakery for over a year really taught me some tricks with cake decorating.   I also realize that cake decorating is a real passion of mine.        

     Bright and early the next morning, the husband dropped by my apartment, to pick up the cake for the babyshower. He did not expect to get such a large cake, but thought it was very beautiful and was very thankful. From what I know, the babyshower went well, and a couple weeks later their baby girl arrived. I am very very glad that I got to help him out with his big plan. I look forward to making another baby cake in about a month for another friend of mine, I'll be sure to post pictures of that one as well. 

I forgot to mention I made mints to. . .