Tuesday, December 9, 2008

No Greater Love



No Greater Love
My first nudge from you was so great,
I said to myself, “I can hardly wait.”
This tiny form inside of me-
I say over again, “Can this miracle be?”

The first time I held you- Oh what joy!
My first son; a baby boy.
Others came from far and near,
The star that night was, my, so clear.

Next thing I knew pattering feet went by,
You grew so fast I could cry.
I wish to hold you near forever;
Not to ever let you go- no never.

A boy of wisdom and of stature,
You could not have matured faster.
You were in favor with God and men;
I did not realize how soon this would end.

You became a man all too soon,
Fading from my grip like the waning moon.
You drew crowds to your side,
Not even in the wilderness could you hide.

You made me tremble when you came-
What had changed? You still bore the same name;
Why did some say, “The Messiah has come!”
While other hearts remained void and numb.

The miracles you did, things you said-
“Was it I who was misled?”
Perhaps my view of you was wrong,
You are so bold, so very strong.

But, oh, dear Son- you must be careful,
I am forever prayerful;
Don’t you see! They wish to kill!
It is your blood they wish to spill.

And spill blood they did,
From you all friends hid.
You died a death no criminal should,
Paid the price no other could.

However three days later I began to see;
You rose up in victory.
My human knowledge is so weak,
You have made my brokenness complete.

You are not mine to own,
It is for my sin you did atone.
What a hard and weary path I trod;
Until You became my Son,
My Priest, my Lord, my God.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Random Thoughts



Dear Blog Friends,

Over the past two weeks I’ve hardly been on the computer but I hope to start emailing and posting more often again.
So there was Thanksgiving and then on the 28th of November I had my 17th birthday. 17 has always been a funny number to me. Right in between sweet 16 and the big 18. But this birthday was very special to me in many was. As I was preparing for another birthday several weeks before I suddenly realized how I really hadn’t thought about my birthday much this year. As a child I hated having my birthday on the 28th because I had to wait all month until the day. Almost as soon as November came I would go ahead and call myself my new age. This year I committed to never say I was 17 until the day. I must admit it was fun when we went to the mall the day after and for the first time I told someone when they asked how old I was, “I’m six…seventeen.”
But what was really so important to me this birthday? Several weeks ago as we had the Lord’s supper at our church I was praying and felt God tell me He wanted me to set aside this next year of my life completely sold out to Him. I asked Him what He meant and I knew I needed to make a list of goals for this year. One was to put romance on the back burner. Not that I’ve ever dated or anything but to focus on Him as the love of my life instead of very often daydreaming about future love. It wasn’t until I gave my dreams up and decided to stop thinking about that stuff that I realized how much I really did. Like those people who say, “I’m not addicted to smoking.” “Oh yeah, then why do you smoke 5 packs a day.” Well, I’ve given my future to God and I’m not going to daydream my days away on what might be. Not that I think it’s always wrong to desire and plan for the future but God showed me I thought about it too much.
Another thing is books. I’m addicted to them. God showed me I didn’t love the Bible as much as I should so every other month I’m not going to read anything but the Bible (and school books, of coarse. I don’t think there is much danger of school being an idol.)
There are other areas I need help in. I am constantly reminded that I need to love more, give more, submit more, not loose my temper, etc. The list goes on.
Have you ever found the Bible confusing? As I study it sometimes I just want to slam it shut. Sometimes I just don’t get it and then the doubts come. I always have to force myself to turn back to Hebrews 11 and recite, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. God help me!”
My studies have led me on so many trails. I struggle with God’s will. “What do you want with me?” My father is such a great guide sometimes I’m so thankful God made it so I can just follow him. He is determined to protect me and I’m so glad. He supports me on this next years commitments to which I hope I can fulfill. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever make a good wife and mother. All day I babysat my 2 year old brother and 8 year old sister. I feel at my end as I type this yet as I do it is a comfort to just sit with the only sound I hear being my old computer humming and remembering that God is a Powerful God who will never change. Thats how I’ll do it I guess. If it’s His will I know He will give me the strength. Pray for me as I enter this next year. However I might as well ask for prayer for my whole life. Because though in 12 months I’ll turn 18, continue to learn, most likely marry and have plenty of children. My life will be constant change full of periods of waiting. And the Christian walk never stops until that glorious day when one reaches heaven. Do you ever think about heaven? I do and every time I think about kneeling as Jesus’ feet I tingle.
I’ll finish this sporadically written post with something God’s shown me over the last week. My place is under authority and right now that is my father, to serve and help. I’m happy. I teach my brother who is in 6th grade and have so much fun helping him study, grading his work, etc. I love teaching. I have a great relationship with me mom and sister. They are my best friends. It’s so funny because it didn’t used to be like that. It would take me pages and pages to tell how it came about. My sister and I became good friends maybe three years ago but my mom wasn’t until the past year. It’s strange the way I thought it was all her fault the whole time but when I finally gave me heart to her and surrendered my own desires: that’s when it got better. Now I wouldn’t go back for anything.
So one day when I meet my dream guy hopefully I’ll be ready for him. Marriage is a beautiful thing. You know God loves tangible symbols to remind us how much we need Him. Look through the Bible and you’ll see all kinds of things He set up to remind His people of Him. The Passover, stones of remembrance, the ark, the Lord’s Supper, and so many more. Something God has shown me is that’s what marriage is. A picture of God’s sacrifice to His bride, the church. It is a precious picture and our culture as so distorted it with sex before marriage, women becoming the head, men shrinking, families divided. I read a wonderful book this week called “The Scarlet Thread,” that drove this home. This passage is taken from a characters journal who had been married to a lost man that died. She then, left all a lone and desperate, turned to Jesus and became a Christian. After that awhile latter she married a Christian man. Then in the end she writes a letter of thankfulness to God telling Him she’s she grateful to be loved by a Christian man, for even when she was married to her first husband who she loved so much in her earthly love nothing could compare to the love she had now. She writes,
“Is all this but a hint of what it will be like to be in full communion with You, Jesus? Do You show us the part so we yearn for the Whole? I remember Aunt Martha reading to me once that to look upon the face of God brings death. Still, sometimes every bit of me yearns to be in Heaven with You all the while I still want to stay here and live to be an old dotting woman seeing her children and grandchildren around her. I do not understand all that is changing in me.”
That part really blessed me for some reason. I like the end, “I do not understand all that is changing in me.” As it says in the love chapter of the Bible, “Now we see in part but when the perfect comes the partial will be done away.” What we have on earth in romance is only a glimpse of what is to come, in that God will be all we need, all we want, our true love, who died for us and has a place in heaven for us. So that’s what God has shown me and I can’t wait to see more. Right now I just want to learn to love Him more and not defile the single years He has laid out for me.

Monday, November 17, 2008

What does the Bible say?


I want to thank everyone who voted on my little survey over the past few days.

When you were saved...

1. You chose Christ over your sin.
2. Christ chose you in that He knew how you would respond to the Gospel.
3. Christ chose you before the foundation of the world knowing you could not choose Him over your sin.

I enjoyed seeing the variety of answers though one was dominate. I would like to know who voted what so I would ask if you voted please leave a comment telling what you believe and why. After I get about 10 responses telling me what you said I might just do a post on what I believe about all this. Thank you so much and I look forward to learning...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Girls....


After my last post and the mixed emotions I was met with I began thinking about how to reply. I am working on a book with my sister Naomi about modesty but one of my chapters which is called, "More than clothing," I feel I expand and explain my views on this whole submission and serving men thing. It's long and since it was for my book it may not come out well on this blog but I'll do my best.



In the New Testament I’ve found only a handful of teachings to women. Jesus never instructed women in his teachings unless it was universal. He did miracles for women and loved them unlike most men of that day who viewed them as property (in exception to true believers who did treat women properly.) He used women in His parables. He blessed them and cared for them but His focus was on men, mainly His disciples.
Later in Paul’s letters and others more specific instruction is given. Women had been serving the Lord, going to prison for it and being beaten. They served the poor and needy and sacrificed themselves in many ways. Then in some of the churches confusion started. This whole New Testament Christianity was new. Then Peter, Paul, and others revealed God’s special will for the women of His church.
Men where given this instruction. They were told you are to love your wives as Christ loved His church. They are asked to be willing to die for us. 1 Peter 3:7, You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker (admit it we are weaker) since she is a woman; show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” Hint... (Don’t marry someone who is not willing to die for you not only physically but to his own desires also.) If I’ve ever seen a living example of this it is my Papa. He works hard for my mother, he tells her in front of us all the time how much he loves her. He does whatever he can around the house even on his day off like, sweeping, washing dishes, ironing his shirts… (now that Naomi are older we can help him out by doing those things) Just little things that make my mommy’s day easier. So don’t marry a jerk. However he treats his family he will treat you, watch him!
(P.S. This does not mean you can boss him around. One the contrary. We have a part in this too. Here it comes….
Titus 2:3, Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips or enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Looks to me like our role in life is pretty clear. We are to love our children, to be sensible, get this – workers at home. Hint, hint, hint. Let’s keep going.


As far as leadership goes. We may think we have so much to say to men. Often times we feel so much smarter, right? Wrong.
1 co. 14:34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to be subject to themselves, just as the Law says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home.
There you have it. God doesn’t like it when women behave like what a pastor once said, “A bull moose.” You can just hear her come into the room, “MOOOOO.”

Your adornment must not merely be external – braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with an imperishable quality of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3 and 4
It is not wrong to try to look your best, but the real person should not be just your outer garments but the inside. When you have a quiet and gentle spirit, God calls it precious in His sight. He doesn’t call many things precious. (Another word for gentle is meek)
Let’s keep going, its just getting good.

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 1 Tim 3:11
Just another call to not be a bull moose.


Pet. 3:1 in the same way, you wives be submissive to your own husbands so that even if they are disobedient to the Word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not merely be external - braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit which is precious in the sight of God. For in the way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husband; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

This broadens the verse I put earlier. But just read it over again. Remember how Sarah obeyed her husband in Genesis? She is commended for that because God has designed it so if we obey our authorities He will bless that.
“Even if they are wrong?”
“For the most part, yes. There have been a few stories in the Bible like when the disciples were brought before the Pharisees and commanded to stop preaching. Jesus had told them to go out and proclaim His Gospel so they rested in that higher authority. When it comes to your parents and eventually your husband I think we are commanded to obey them without a word so that they will be won over by our willing and GENTLE SPIRIRT.
“But what if they ask me to do something terrible liking stealing or murder?”
“How many authorities ask that? Come on.”
“But…”
“Alright, I once heard a sweet women whose unsaved husband did not even allow her to come to church for a time. She was in my Sunday school and when he finally gave her permission to come be with us again she said something like this, “If you are trusting God in your circumstances and leaning on Him in obedience to move this authority’s heart then He will keep you safe from such things. Just like he saved Sarah from being sexually assaulted when she was taken.”
This woman is still living with the same husband and I am glad to tell you God is still working there.

1 Col. 11:9 for indeed man was not created for the women’s sake but women for the man’s sake. Therefore the women ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. However, in the Lord, neither is a women independent from a man or a man independent of a women. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.
I have news for you girls, you were not created equally with boys. I know, in our flesh that makes us so mad. We buck against submission, and authority just like God said we would in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:16)
We want to fight against it and be equal. Sorry to say that doesn’t work. Never has, never will. In our culture today you find in marriage often a bull moose of a women and a mouse of a man. And each is trying as hard as they can to fulfill their own desires. You see we are so busy trying to reach the top of the mountain we’re stepping on men’s head as we try to reach it. You may be doing it even without intending it just because our culture is so wacky. God designed men first in His image. Admit it Jesus was a boy because males are suppose to take the lead. Imagine where the church, your school, your youth group could be and do if the men took a mighty lead? The thought excites me. But they really can’t until you step out of the way and do what God intended you to do. You are to serve and lower yourself willingly. I know it’s hard! I know so often I can be that bull moose. But if we embrace this as God’s will and His perfect plan we will find so much joy and fulfillment in doing His bidding. The world says, “Everyone fight for the top!” God says, “Humble yourself and I will bless you.” Can you imagine how many divorces wouldn’t happen if the couple would just die to self? It’s unbelievable. So yes, men should serve you too. Let them figure it out don’t tell them. Hopefully the older men in your church are instructing them in that like the Bible tells them to. Love it when a guy opens the door for you. I sure do. Appreciate them going out of their way to bless you. Now the first time some of them do it you might be tempted to think he’s so mature and nice and then have this big crush on him and you go out of your way to try to be there when he’s at the door. Don’t do that. Let men serve you. Feel free to let them fold the chairs while you direct or watch. Or if you help don’t feel like you have to do three chairs at a time just because they are. I’ve sometimes been teased in a funny way when we were doing chairs in our fellowship hall because my puny self only carries one chair at a time. And I really think that’s okay. When you are in a large group with boys and girls, let the boys lead in prayer. I’m not saying you shouldn’t pray at all but make them lead. Set it up because for many of them it’s a challenge just like it is for us to be quiet. We’ve become bull mousses and they’ve become mice. Change that by forcing them to step up by behaving quietly.

1Tim. 2:9 - 15 Likewise I want the women to adore themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by the means of good works as is proper for women making claims to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with submissiveness. But I do not allow women to teach or exercise authority over man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived but woman, being deceived fell into transgression. But women should be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in the faith and love and sanctify with self – restraint.

Finally to modesty. You may have thought I lost it there for a minuet. Don’t worry, I’m getting there and then I’ll tie a nice big bow on everything. Let’s focus on the verse this book started on. It’s the first few phrases.
Likewise I want the women to adorn themselves in proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair or costly garments, but rather by the means of good works as is proper for women making claims to godliness.
In the New Living Lydia Version
Girls and women, it is God’s desire for you to dress modestly. So by golly do so. Not with flashy and brand name clothing, or so mach make up no one would know you if they saw you when you wake up in the morning. Don’t be caught in the latest trends. But wear something that not only covers you but makes a statement. Modesty is so much more than being covered. It’s making a statement of godliness.
Now for the really fun part. Are you ready because this is where it all ties together? By the way have you been catching on to any themes?

Modestly, Discreetly, Shameless…
When you hear the word modest, what do you think of? Being covered more than most? Holy? Does something similar come to your mind? I always thought something along the line of “covered.” Webster defines it like this,
Modest – adj. having or due measure, modest. Having or showing a moderate opinion of one’s own value, abilities, achievements, etc.; not vain or boastful; unassuming. Not forward, shy or reserved. Behaving dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decorous; decent. Moderate or reasonable, not extreme. Quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc. Not pretentious.
That’s a pretty good definition but I don’t think it even begins to open the word up like the Greek. Looking these words up in a different language as been really exciting. At points I would just have to set the books aside and think for a moment. Sometimes I said I can’t live up to that, and others I sat in awe in God’s holiness by defining our dress in such a way.
I used two versions, King James and New American Standard Version. Both were very helpful and in many ways similar. Their wording was a little different.
NASB Likewise I want the women to adorn themselves in proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair or costly garments, but rather by the means of good works as is proper for women making claims to godliness.
KJV - In like manor also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but with good works.


Now since proper clothing and modest apparel come from the same Greek word, Kosmios, coming from the word World and to set in order. This refers to the order God had when He created the world. The definition…
Kosmios – (from style:italic;">Kosmos (2889) order. To set in order, adorn. That which pertains to space and not time. The sum total of the material universe, the beauty of it; the sum total of persons living the world) Orderly decent. Plato presented Kosmios as the citizen who is quiet in the land, who fulfils the duties which are incumbent on him as such and are not disorderly. He, as well as Paul, associated such persons with sophron (4998 ) sensible, self controlled, one who voluntarily places limits on his freedom. The virtue of the kosmios, however, is not only the propriety of his dress and demeanor, but of his inner life, unerring itself in outward conversation. semnos (4586) one who has a grace and dignity not obtained from earth only. While one who kosmios behaves himself well in his earthly citizenship and is asset, the semnos owns his quality to the higher citizenship which is also his.


Next please; Modesty and Shamefacedness…
127 Shamefacedness, modestly (a sense of shame) from Aidos – modesty, an inner moral repugnance to a dishonorable act. Shame. Grief that a man perceives from his own imperfections considered with relation to the world taking notice of them. Grief upon the sense of disesteem. Aidos finds its motive in itself, implies reverence for the good as good, not merely an act as that to which honor and reputation are attached. Found only in 1Tim. 2:9 , Hew. 12:28

It just keeps getting better…

4997 discreetly - soundness of mind, self controlled.

2689 clothing (only word for clothing in the Bible used) (to keep calm or quiet)

Modest – keeping due measure

Are you thinking hard yet? By these definitions this verse means so much more than to keep covered. It’s calling us so much farther than just not having cleavage show or tight pants. It’s calling us to holiness. Hear it again… “holiness.” To be made in the image of God. Let that sink in.

Now let’s try this verse again with the definition.

NASB Likewise I want the women to adorn themselves in orderly, calm and quiet clothing with grace and dignity. To be one who does not set her citizenship on earth but in a higher place, to have a deep sense of shame to not take this to heart and be remorseful beyond words if she were to cause her brother in Christ to sin. To be sound in mind and to keep due measure. To be orderly and modest in her appearance. Not with flashy and expensive clothes, or gaudy and tacky attire, but with a quiet and submissive spirit.

Where are you?
So after that…where are you? Modesty is more than being covered. It is more than having a desire for modesty. It is more than making sure everything is not too tight. It actually is saying something about style. It’s to be orderly in the same way that God made the world and everything in it orderly. That can be a little scary. I can think of a lot of styles today that are not orderly. I don’t want to be accused of being judgmental, because I’ve worn some of these things too. But could we say, ripped up and faded jeans with holes in them. Even if they cover they aren’t orderly. Spray painted hair gives a tacky and unorderly appearance. Heavy eye makeup. Clothing that shows through to your underclothing or draws attention to it. Tacky items put together to make an outfit that maybe covers you and maybe is so stylish but in no way does it promote a quiet and gentle spirit.
We are to be sensible and self controlled. Our clothing is to be calm and quiet. These shirts that are nothing but sequence…. Lots of makeup that is not natural looking. Writing on your rear… jewelry hanging everywhere.
Do you feel ashamed of your sin? When you think about all the guys around you have you done something or worn something that could have caused them to have lustful thoughts? And when you think about it to you have a repugnance and disgust for it? You should…
“Don’t wear clothing that shows your figure.”
“But that’s everything!”
”I feel like that too sometimes. I feel like I’ll end up looking like an old lady in balloon shirts and pants. I would like to say you can wear clothing that is attractive and modest at the same time but... It all depends how you look at attractive. Attractive I would argue is not always the latest styles. I’m not going to make a list of rules however, that would be so easy. What you should be doing is seeking God and reading these definitions over and over again. There is no way getting around it. Believe me I would have found it. If you ever find anything tell me and I’ll write a sequel, “I was wrong.” But the Bible says over and over again how you are to behave and how your dress should be affected by that.
It’s a lot to think about. Some of you may have heard much of this your whole life while others of you… this is all new stuff. I know for you this is very difficult to grasp and I wish I could be there to talk it through with you and pray for you as you wrestle with putting away those bull moose tendencies. I’m still working on it.
This doesn’t mean you have to be quiet all the time and never share how you feel. I am not telling you that. If anyone where to tell you that it’s not me because I am a strong believer in talking everything out. No problem can be solved without it. But can we all admit we’ve taken it too far be conforming to our culture?
My call is to commit (me totally included) to let the men step up and become leaders and we can become followers. If we use God’s methods so many problems will be resolved.
One more thing. You can be more talkative around your girl friends than when boys are around or adults. When with your family you can act more playful and fun than when at a gathering. That’s not being hypercritical but giving a public witness.

You are God’s Princess.

Let’s go back to this verse one more time.
1 Col. 11:9 for indeed man was not created for the women’s sake but women for the man’s sake. Therefore the women ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. However, in the Lord, neither is a women independent from a man or a man independent of a women. For as the women originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the women; and all things originate from God.
This shows God’s plan so well. All things, all things originate from Him. Just because He had given you a role of submission doesn’t mean you are any less important in His eyes. I strongly believe He loves both man and women equally and we will all get a reward in Heaven because of what we’ve done, not because of who we are.



Commit

Check what you commit to pray about and take action. Make a difference…

___ I will not be a bull moose at any time
___ I will treat guys like guys and not my best buddy, realizing there is a difference and a distance to keep.
___ I will allow guys to serve me
___ I will accept what God’s word says about modesty and submission, applying it to my life. This means to your parents and one day your spouse. (you don’t have to submit to the boys in your youth group. Just let them lead)
___ I will have a mindset that in light of all eternity whether I’m wearing something stylish or not doesn’t matter that much.
___ I will seek to encourage others in this new teaching
___ I will try hard not to cause my brother’s in Christ to sin in my actions, clothing, or speech
___ I will seek godly advice on applying this to my life

Sunday, October 26, 2008

A Good Wife


I thought this was so neat. Taken from a news article from the 1950's this tells about what they thought being a good wife was. I retyped it so it was readable. I really enjoyed it and though I don't think everyone needs to do all the recommended I think it is worth looking at to prepare for our husbands even in 2008 where women give little thought to how the please their husband. I mean can you imagine this being in a newspaper today? It's so sad how far America had come in only 50 years. Hope you enjoy.


1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minuets to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He had just been with a lot of work-weary people.

3. Be gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

5. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

6. Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he had reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

7. Prepare the children. Take a few minuets to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

8. Be happy to see him.

9. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

10. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

11. Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

12. Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

13. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

14. Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as a minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

15. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready fro him.

16. Arrange his pillows and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in low, soothing and pleasant voice.

17. Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

18. A good wife always knows her place.

Monday, October 20, 2008

D- Now




This weekend we had a youth event called D-Now or (disciple now) We got to go to host homes, our house was one for girls. We had teaching, games, and went to a couple's house in our church and cleaned their yard. The teaching was about sharing your faith and was really good. The college group is the one who set everything up for us and I want to say a big thank you.




one of my best friends Hannah and my sister Naomi at the work sight. I love the gloves in their back pockets.


all three of us


this is a shot of our group. It might be hard to tell but my sister and I are in the back. She had sunglasses and my head is turned sideways.





this was our band. They led us in some cools songs. Thank you.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

His Number by Janet Carlton


I can't remember where but my sister and I found this poem on another blog and loved it so much I wanted to share it. It's words are so sweet and such a dear promise to girls who commit their future to God's hands.



While waiting
As a bride-to-be
I heard God firmly speak to me
To cast aside the world’s device
And become a living sacrifice
Namely, that my womb should bear
The ones He planned to cradle there
And that no humanistic creed
Should limit my fertility.
Oh, how I wrestled with that word-
So unusual,
So absurd!
Could God?
Would God take control?
And what would His requirements hold?
After much debate and doubt
I threw my own decisions out;
If God can measure earth and sea,
Can He not chart a family?
And if He names and numbers stars
Then in His book is each of ours.
We therefore gave to Him the right
To build the house and take the charge.
A mother now
With nine on hand
By faith and grace I have no plan
But cast aside the things that kill
To let His number be fulfilled.

Monday, October 6, 2008

My Papa

Check out my dad's blog. His newest post is about casting a vision for the next ten years of your life. It's for youth and teens. Tell him what you think! I promised him readers.

http://pastorjimlaw.blogspot.com/

Lydia


First time TAGGED!
I got tagged for the very first time by Maiden of Purity.


1. Link to the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up

Ok...I know I have six random things about myself!

1. i am terrified of heights
2. i only like ice cream with stuff like nuts, cookie dough, chocolate chips, etc...in it.
3. as a child i ran after any creature that moved from dogs to frogs(that is no longer true.)
4. my favorite tv show is 'i love lucy.'
5. i hate playing the piano but love the flute
6. i get very bad grades in algebra

now here is who i tagged...

Hannah http://livingforhim-hannah.blogspot.com/
Naomi http://abundantgrace-naomi.blogspot.com/
Jarrod http://ymcorner.blogspot.com/ (not that he will answer. he is my youth pastor)

i don't really have anyone else but here it goes.

Monday, September 29, 2008

New Book "Does Modesty Exist Today?"


Chapter One

Why is
Modesty a
Struggle?


“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of your flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for theses are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things you please. But if you are led by the spirit you are not under the law.”
Galatians 5: 16
- Hey, to begin with, writing a book on modesty was the last thing on my mind. This whole book was totally Naomi’s idea and I simply agreed to go along with it because she wanted my help I’m kind of like the writer of the family. As I began, I really wondered if this was such a good project for me to do. After all, who am I to write about modesty? I struggle with it, I want to be in fashion, I want the attention when I wear an awesome outfit and, like many Christian girls I know, the problem isn’t I want to attract a boy; I just want to be ‘in’.
So how could I dare to teach others on such a thing, something on which I still have so much to learn?
I was amazed after I started on the first chapter how much I really did know from my own personal experiences and on what my parents and others have taught me. I continued to search and dig I became so overwhelmed by the definitions and verses and how in the end so much ties together. So even if I’m not completely there yet, God is at work and I hope this book will be not a lot of do’s and don’ts, but what we and others have learned.

- Hello, dear sisters, I am Naomi. I am just like you, nothing special about me except for Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I indeed am nothing but Christ is my everything. In myself I am weak, but in Christ, and Christ alone, I become strong. I struggle with the same battles that you do. In my flesh, I buck at the very idea of modesty. I can come up with excuse after excuse after excuse to not dress modestly, but the Holy Spirit silences me every time.
As my sister said earlier that this book was my idea, and true I did say to her, hey Lydia, I have this idea to write a book on modesty, but quite truthfully, it is not my idea. The whole idea of modesty did not come from me, but rather, it came from the clear commands in the Bible. This book is not something that I decided to write for popularity, in fact I expect the opposite, but rather this book is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and everything that we write is based on what Jesus Christ has said to us in the Scriptures.
There may be things in this book that make you angry or upset, there may be things in this book that make you defensive and proud. I am not apologizing for these things, on the contrary, I am pleading with my precious sisters in Christ, that you read this book with a heart open to the Holy Spirit working in your life. Lay your flesh and any pre-suppositions and biased attitudes on the teaching of modesty and let your mind be opened to what God would have you learn.
As Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:18, I pray for you:
…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
May the Lord open the eyes of you heart so that you might see and know the riches of His glory.

Tell us what you think of our idea to write a book on modesty.
Lydia and Naomi

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sorrow and Joy



We are a homeschool family, our dad is a preacher, our mom is a stay at home mom, and for the most part we fit in the homeschool mold. One thing we don’t have is a lot of children. We have five and sure that’s more than most people but not for homeschoolers. We have been asked before why. Some homeschool mom even dared to ask if we were against lots of children. The answer is no. In fact, every time I think about it, pain comes.
My parents felt led by God to release their family planning after my brother (our third.) (I do not want to judge and so don’t think I’m saying this is for everyone. Only if God’s called you to it) so there was me, my sister and brother along with one miscarriage. My mom had no idea what would come or what God would ask of us. She lost another baby after my brother. Then my sister was born and she felt God told her she would have another son, but it would be awhile before she knew it.
Every year after that she was pregnant, and every year we lost a baby. We don’t know why but it happened. The hurt, even though it wasn’t my children, was so painful. I didn’t know why this was happening or why God would allow us to loose all these little ones. We wanted them in our family. We desired those children and they were being taken away from us. Most the time I could bear to forget but then it would happen again. I have 7 unborn brothers and sisters in heaven now. After the seventh I begged my mom please don’t let it happen again. Though she too was struggling she told me she couldn’t because God had asked her to trust Him. Then she got pregnant again. It was hard to even get excited about it. But we counted to weeks as a family, no one else knowing about it and her belly got bigger and bigger. She had a son and we named him Nathan which means, “Gift from God.”
We gave him to God while he was still in my mom's womb because we knew he was safer in His hands then ours.
So now that my keyboard is wet I’d like to tell you why I’m sharing this. It is because I have learned something in it all and even though I would have loved to have had so many more siblings and even though I sometimes wish my mom was still having children I find comfort in remembering that God knows what He’s doing even when we don’t. Nathan means so much more to us than he would have if it had just been another child and I’ll be able to carry that into my future home, a love for every child and knowing they truly are a blessing. When other girls in our church have a moms who goes through the same thing we can tell them we understand because we not only went through it once but seven times.
This applies to all of life and so many things could be used to illustrate this but I like our story because you can see a beginning and an end. In my heart I still see seven tiny graves in our families past but I see hope in the future and every time I sit and hold my now two year old brother I give thanks.

“Sorrow may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Who my Dad is makes me who I am


What’s it like being a PK (preacher’s kid)? This is to answer the question is my dad still a pastor. Yes he is. We will be celebrating our 15 years at our church within the month. We do belong to a denomination but that’s not what rules us. We base all our convictions on God’s word and I like to refer to us as Reformed Christian.
Often I like being a PK and sometimes I don’t. I’ll start with what I like.
1. Our standards are generally higher than others and it keeps me accountable. I get to meet some really neat people because it feels like my dad knows everyone. My sister and I work at our church so we get to talk with the staff and do jobs. We know where all the candy is and enjoy talking to everyone. I like seeing my dad preach every Sunday. He gets to choose his day off. He knows so much about the Bible we can give him a key phrase to a verse and he gives you a reference. He has an awesome memory. (Too bad I didn’t get some of it. Sadly I have about the same memory skills as a 40 year old. My sister often teases me that I’ll be senile by the time I’m 30)
2. I sometimes don’t like being a pk because our friends sometimes act weird around us. We go to someone’s house to watch a movie and their parents freak out over every part and start fast fording things you know they don’t usually do. Lots of people expect us to be the “good kids” which can be a good thing and challenge you if you take it right. My dad had to carry so many others problems and this sometimes affects the way he acts when he comes home in the evenings.
There are good and bad just like every other job. I guess I’m thankful for it. What better thing for my dad to do than serve God in his work? Because of who he is and how he affects my life I am who I am.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

To Date or not to Date...




It wasn’t until recently (over this past year) that I became aware of the fact that many Christians still date. I don’t date because I feel God’s will in my life is to save myself emotionally and physically for my future mate and I don’t want to compromise this in any way. But others see nothing wrong with this system of finding one guy, date around, break up, and finding another, maybe being a little more physical with this one. But when it hurts you may put your guard up for the next one only to break up again at one time or another.
I was challenged by a new friend I met online saying, “How can you just give up? Then life would be pointless.”
I totally agree with this statement. But it can be misapplied. She used the examples… “If a relative dies and you realize you are not going to live forever do you just give up?”
No, because the Bible tells us to live life to the fullest in Christ. (By the way I base all my life on the Bible so if you disagree take it up with God.) This is not something we are called to give up on.
Another thing… “What about a friend who is not a Christian. What do you do when they spit in you face and reject the Gospel. Do you give up?”
Never, the Bible says, “Go into all the earth making disciples of all nations…” Is that not obvious enough?
Does the Bible say, “GO and Date.”
I think not. In fact, it says and hints the opposite.
It tells you how you are to spend your single years.

“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, (or his house and family) and his interests are divided. And the unmarried is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is worried about worldly things and how to please her husband.” 1 Cor. 7:32- 34

My thought on this verse is…

“Be free from the worry of a relationship and devote yourself to God. The unmarried man can devote himself to God and work in the Church. But the married man is committed to caring for his family. For the unmarried are to be worried about the things of God and His ways. But married women are to be focused on her home and how to please her family.”

This verse shows how we are to spend our single years. Not going from one relationship to the other but devoted to God and ministry.
Another verse that I believe confirms this is found in Song of Solomon. No one says it better than Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh.

- “The Song of Solomon is the most romantic book in the Bible. It describes a love relationship between Song of Solomon and his bride. Three times in this powerful love story the young women is charged not to stir up or awaken love before it is time.”

God wishes for us to have a pure and devoted heart to Him and not to every man that makes us laugh.
Another thing...If we look or are checking men out now it’s not going to stop after we are married. We know that’s wrong. Should our behavior towards the opposite sex be any different now than when we are married? I don’t think it should. Remember you can’t marry them all. You get one. If you flirt, hug, go out with, hold hands with, kiss, or even go as far as to have sex, you are doing all that with someone else’s husband or wife. When I am deciding how to treat a boy I treat him as if he already belonged to another. I wonder if a girl somewhere far away or near who knows my future mate and treated him as I am treating this guy would I be jealous? Would it hurt? If you date and date then enter marriage you never know, “What did he do on his dates?” “Did he treat her like he treats me?” “Am I as fun to be around as she was?”
God’s desire for you is to be whole, not broken into several pieces all along the way. It’s not just a, “Well, that didn’t work out so I will press on in another relationship.”
That is the way of the world and we should not follow it. Anyone may dare to disagree with me and I will listen to you or read about your view but I am firm in mine and feel I have a solid foundation for it.
One more story…
I went to a class on dating and this is how the man teaching started things.
“May I borrow a piece of gum?”
A guy brought one up and the speaker took it and chewed saying, “The first bite is always the best.”
Then wrapping it back up, all wet and gooey gave it back and said, “Maybe he won’t notice…”
We all got the picture. Each date there is one more chew out of us. And one day when you marry, if that is God’s will as it is for 99% of Christians, you can hand you mate a chewed piece of gum or say…
“All I am, all I was, and all I will ever be is yours. I have never given my heart to another and all of it is wholly and completely yours.”
Lord willing I will be able to say this but there are many who can’t. Some have even lost their purity entirely. God can heal and mend; I know He can because of other area in my life in which I have failed terribly then found forgiveness. All you have to do is ask…
For more info on giving dating up there are some awesome books. I kissed Dating Goodbye, by Joshua Harris is the best in my opinion. Also by the same guy, Not even a Hint. (I heard he changed the title recently so watch out) Before you meet Prince Charming is good for younger girls. And Lies young women believe and the Truth that sets them free. There is a lot of great info in this book but two chapters talk about dating. It’s by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh.

Now I don't do this because it's fun. There are many times I wish I could have a guys attention or want him to put his arm around me, etc. These desires are normal and one day will be satisfied in the greatest way. If I had nothing to look forward to waiting would be a waste. Sometimes it can be hard but I am trusting God to work in me in such a way that when I stand before the man He has for me I can look back and have no regrets.

God Bless...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Desire of my Heart

I have many desires and dreams. I want to write and publish Christian books, get married to an awesome Christian guy (have no clue who he is yet), have children to love and teach, and so many more little thing that I hope may one day be apart of my future. But right now as an American teen I have a desire that is so very close to my heart and wishes and I want it to be happening right now. Passion…
Now there are many kinds of passion. We live in a passionate age and see it everywhere. People have passion for their love life, for a football team, food, cars, sports, TV, video games, music, money, etc… but that is not the kind of passion I want to see.

Revive Us Again

LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered their sin.
You withdrew your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation towards us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to His people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him that glory may dwell in the land.


I found this Psalm (Psalm 85) a few years ago and fell in love with it. I have prayed over it with tears as I think about America and more importantly, the American Church.
This is my version for my country with this Psalm…

“Lord, you were favorable to you land. You were kind to our founding fathers. You restored America to George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and so many others from the hands of the British. You forgave our iniquities and sins. You withdrew your wrath from those who disobeyed you and were gracious.
Yet what has happened? We have turned aside.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation towards us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people will rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us salvation.
Speak to your people and turn away our love from this world. Speak Lord, for he will speak peace to his people, to his chosen ones. But let them not turn to the world. His salvation is near those who fear him and his glory will dwell upon them.


This is the desire of my heart. I see so MANY that claim to be Christians and many may be but they are so consumed with the pop culture to even stand out. You wouldn’t know one from the other because there is no joy. Sometimes I can hardly believe Christians are watching some of the movies I see advertised. I wonder how? And then come to church on Sunday and have a pure heart towards God? Do they just throw Philippians out the window when it comes to entertainment?
My heart is burdened for America’s church. Where are we going? Why don’t I see people seeking hard after God? We go to youth group and all these godly things are said and done, then we go in the hall and talk about trashy movies and do not speak as I believe we would if Jesus were there. I feel I am often included in that. Why do we go on mission trips and the only time we smile is with our friends? Why is there so much complaining about the heat or bugs? I went to China last spring and I felt like all our team did was complain about the food. (It was strange food at timesI must admit) but I found myself complaining because of this attitude. Do you realize how your attitude affects others?
At a camp I went to this summer I found myself complaining over a very annoying situation I found myself in and it defiantly affected others.
We are called to be joyful and show the world we are followers of Christ by our behavior. It’s not happening. The Church is like the world and we seem stuck in this rut of having to be hip to reach the world. Don’t you think God can save people without us compromising his holy standards? This is the desire of my heart and I ask that anyone… anyone who may read this would work with me to change the world by changing ourselves. Pray though Psalm 85 with me and let the Lord restore us…

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Not everyone got out with simply no power for a few days...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/ascension/28040704.html

Friday, September 5, 2008

Hurricane Gustav 4

Day Four...

<
making breakfast






We spent the day like all the other days. Hot,playing games, cleaning what we could... in the afternoon one of our good friends invited us and my friend Hannah and her sisters to come swim in their pool. There I found out she didn't even get water. I can't imagine. But while we were there her mom called and we found out their electricity had come on. That evening ours did too.
God's mercy was so great. But pray for the people in Louisiana. Many still don't have power and others have a lot of clean up.

We got lights!

Night time

y favorite time was in the evening. It was so dark we didn't go off by ourselves but all hung out in the living room reading aloud and talking. It was so hot we all bunked up in the kitchen.



playing with the flashlight...

Hurricane Gustav 3

Day three


we were able to hook the generator up to our washer for a few hours which was great. We could wash clothes! Then we hung them out to dry...







hanging clothes ( you know things that came off the line were a lot stiffer than dryer dried clothing.)


Thursday, September 4, 2008

Around Us

We thought things were going pretty well until we took a drive around. Everything was out of power. Imagine driving through your city and no stores being open, every window is dark, gas lines forever, no traffic lights and just as many cars as normal.
Trees were everywhere, lines were long. We saw a trailer slit in half by a tree and more...

Here is some what we saw...


a billboard torn up


>
the garden section at home depot. you can see some letters missing and the torn look



the gas station across from our church lost their sign



we found it

.

Hurricane Gustav 2

Day Two

Ever wished you could travel in time? We got a taste of that. Dark house, bugs, doing everything by hand... it was hot, it was awesome and I gave God thanks for it...
"Praise Him in the storm..."



this is how we tried to kept cool. It gave us light too... yes we kept our doors open all day except at night.



making lunch...yum looks good doesn't it?


guess who became nature boy in all this? Off hunting for food this little guy was outside all the time.



doing dishes by hand was something new. The worst part was it was hot and the water was hot so you soon became...very...hot...

Hurricane Gustav

I live in Louisiana and recently a hurricane known as Gustav hit near our home. We were without power for four days and tonight is my first night to be on my computer in it feels like forever. No internet, no air conditioning, nothing…
So how was the past four days? Some moments were better than others. We have running water and our neighbor got a generator which they kindly shared with us. God was good and I want everyone to know about it.

Day One….

Originally it was supposed to hit us at a category four. If you look at the picture of the computer screen below you’ll see what I’m talking about. We were so blessed when it unexpectedly went down to a category one.





It hit Monday… the winds were incredible. I tried to get some good videos out the window but nothing I could get could do it justice. We couldn’t believe we were only experiencing a small hurricane. My sister and I had cleared everything out of our room in case a window broke and we sat and waited. The electricity went out at about eleven – thirty a.m. but the temperature outside was windy and after the storm we went and played in the water.


notice the gray sky in the back


mimi holding up a piece of our roof.



the wind was crazy


playing in the mud


racing (i always win)

We were so blessed in the way God took care of us again and again. The first night we sat down in our dark house and my Papa asked what we were thankful for. I had to say, "I'm thankful that our God is a big God." This storm could have been so bad and as we had watched it come I must admit I got a little scared but this storm that could have been so devastating wasn't some big glob out of control in the gulf of Mexico. God holds the oceans in the palm of His hand and He was holding Gustav and guiding it's every move. This was a great adventure but we survived with nothing more than a few shingles missing. Isn't God great! Though then we didn't know what was coming next.

How Christ Saved Me...

I was asked by a sister in Him how I became a follower of Jesus. Here is my answer. I am so excited about sharing this.

When I was three my younger sister was born and I was no longer the only child of my family. My Papa was a pastor and my mom a stay at home mom but I was as rebellious as a three year old girl could be. As a year went by I became as jealous, angry, and full of pride as ever before. One evening I did what my mother directly told me not to do. (Not like I didn’t do that often enough) but this defiant act caused her, my Papa, and I to all become very upset and our little home was full of tension. That night as we were trying to have our family prayer time my Mommy asked me, “If your Papa had had taken you to the bedroom and spanked you as you deserved…then Jesus walked in and said, ‘Don’t spank Lydia, spank me instead.’ What would you do?
A simple example but that night Christ turned the light on in my little heart and I began to understand. That night I asked Jesus to come into my heart and I was never the same. Still I was only four and knew little about living the Christian walk. I went through phases of being excited about the Bible to almost dormant. I was around it all the time, in every ministry available at our church and somehow it became all very ordinary to me. But God was still working. As I entered my teens I was confused and wanted to be apart of our youth group, and I wanted so much to be ‘in’ but with my parents putting so many ‘hindrances’ (so I thought) I couldn’t be all I wanted to be. Then my eyes were opened just a little more and I began to see where I needed to be. I knew I needed to dig more into God’s word and work on having a quiet and gentle spirit to; focus more on the inside than I was on the outside. I knew I struggled in many areas but I wasn’t taking action to fix them. Then in only the past six months my life continued to turn from my own desires to that of God’s and my parents. I didn’t view submission as a burden so much anymore and I began to find God’s word to be more than the book I based my life around because that was the right thing to do. I started waking up early and seeking for myself what the Bible say and started really seeking His will. So I am this sweet, Godly, humble, submissive, quiet teen. Absolutely not! I still have years to go before I come near that. But like God has worked in the past twelve years since the night I knelt on my parent’s bedroom floor till now I am sure He will continue do great things because He is great.
I sometimes feel like I’ve wasted those twelve years and I am determined not to continue in that pattern.
Life goes on… and so does my awe in God’s hand over me. This morning I sat and wept asking, “God why on earth did you choose me? I don’t understand.” I can only say thank you and hope that I will become so surrendered to His will that He can us me, even little 5’ 2’, unpopular, silly, me for His BIG plan.
So that’s my testimony and how God reached from heaven to save….me.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Family (siblings) Good Times

Ok, I must admit as I started my list of things I am thankful for about my siblings at first all I did was stare at a blank screen as a line blinked at me. But it still works. Over the past few days I have felt much better attitudes in our home. NO, it is not even near perfect and we (I) have a long way to go. But remember your siblings will be with you the rest of your life. Maybe you won’t live near each other and maybe your contact will be much less than it is now. However they will always be related to you. Out of all the people in the world they are the closest to you. They know what makes you happy or sad or what ticks you off. They know your habits and who you really are. That can be scary.
And admit it if you try you can have a lot of fun together. Try to have fun with them when you can. Play Apples to Apples or hide and seek. If they are younger than you like mine are than it’s a great time to drop the way you act to impress your friends and just be a like a (mature) kid again. Have some fun with them. Look for opportunities to go places together. I understand sometimes that can be embarrassing. Sometimes my whole family goes to the mall together and my sister and I just want to put a sheet over our head and drag our feet so we are far away from them. Don’t do that. Make people believe that you are so glad they are right beside you.
And let me tell you, little siblings are so easy to impress. Try saying some really silly and corny joke and watch them laugh. It can really be fun. You just have to try.

having fun


this is the four oldest kids in our family in a pool on our vacation to Florida.
To the far left is my sister Naomi. Then my 8 year old sister, (we call her Mi Mi)
Then my brother DJ. Then me.





We also went to the beach together





this is my sisters and I at Bible Drills.





this is my sister and I having our devotions at a camp we went to this summer.