Definition of the word "patience": the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Some people may automatically think that they have patience, perhaps more than the next person (I know I thought this about myself for a long time). But when we really stop and actually think about it, what a big meaning the word "patience" has.
I honestly never thought that I would go through a trial where it seemed to be that the main lesson of the whole thing was to gain patience. I would never have expected it, but there it was, knocking on my door. And by answering that knock, I let that tribulation get a strong hold on my self, my heart, and most definitely on my mind. But we are to "glory in tribulations", are we not?
Going through this trial I recognize that patience is something I am going to need dearly. I know I'll need a lot of it for a long time. And I recognize also that there is only one way I can obtain it: through continuous prayer.
I suppose I'm naturally a stubborn girl, (and I also suppose that's not really going to shock anybody). Patience isn't my strong point. The Bible says "...tribulation worketh patience..." I can only pray that during this trial period, my stubborn nature won't rebel and toss what little patience I have or gain out the window.
But you know what? God is Lord, and He is good in all things. In all things. What he does for His own children really is what is best for them, whether they know it or not, whether they accept it or not, whether they're willing to wait and be patient for an answer or not. And the only thing we, as children, can do about it is pray for the right attitude.
I actually know some people who absolutely will not pray for patience because they know that with patience comes tribulations. This baffles me greatly. I understand the not wanting tribulation part, but the end result is a fruit of the spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." I suppose I know what I'm asking for when I pray for patience, but the end result is a blessed sweetness that enables us more fully to trust in the God of our salvation.
God give me the faith to say, Thy will be done. As I said in an earlier post, we, as man, are sinful even in our righteousnesses; so we ought only to seek the will of the Father, and not what our own wretched selves want, even if we want it really bad. May God grant me the patience I absolutely know I will need to emerge from this trial a victor.
"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope..." -Romans 5:2-4
Blessed be God the Father, Who giveth me trials and tribulations to endure.
Pray for patience. It's the only way we'll ever get it.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
I Almost Pulled My Eye Out!
Ok, so it wasn't that extreme. However, I did almost pull the cornea out of my eye. Tuesday morning was just like any other morning: I woke up, studied, did my hair, put my contacts in, ate breakfast. It around 10 a.m. that I realized that one of my contact lenses wasn't working. I thought that maybe I had put it in backwards, but still, I should still be able to see ok. I'd put the lenses in backwards a few times before and nothing happened, so...But anyway, I decided to take out the lens that wasn't working and flip it around just to be sure that wasn't the problem. Only, the real problem was I couldn't get it out!
What was going on? My contact lenses had stuck in my eyes a few times before and it was difficult to take them out again, but not like this at all! I couldn't even get my finger-nail underneath the lens. So, I decided to wait a little bit and try to take it out again later. When I had tried 3 times, I decided I should probably call the doctor to help me get it out.
Now, I did not want to call the doctor. If he got it out right away, I'd feel, well, pretty dumb for not being able to do it myself. But I called the doctor anyway and asked if there was a trick to getting a stuck contact lens out. The lady I talked to gave me a tip. I hung up and tried what she said. I didn't get any farther. So, I called back and scheduled an appointment.
Mom told me that I should try one more time to take out the ornery lens 5 minutes before I had to leave. So at 10:55, I went downstairs (to my room), got in front of a mirror and tried again. This time I actually got a finger-nail under it! So, I grabbed it with 2 finger-nails (they were longer than I usually let them grow) and pulled gently. But I tell you, it felt like I was ripping my eye out! I couldn't understand it!
So, I went upstairs and asked Dad to watch and see if he could tell if I was grabbing the lens. He said it looked like I had it, so I told him "But it feels like I'm pulling my eye out." "Ok, lets go to the doctor," he said without any hesitation, and boy am I glad he did!
At the doctor's office I felt even dumber when he said that I was actually pulling on my cornea, that I didn't have a lens in my eye at all! That explains why that lens wasn't working. So, yes, I really did pull up part of my cornea! *Creepy*
The doctor told me what kind of ointment to get, then and we went home and told everyone that I had tried to pull my eye out. It sent chills up everyones' spines, especially when Dad said that when he saw that it looked like I had the lens, he thought about telling me to just pull it and get it out of my eye. That would not have been good. So it's a very good thing indeed that I said that it felt like I was ripping my eye out!
Last night was the third night of putting the ointment in, and my eye is much better. But every time I think about what I almost did, I cringe. Who knows, I could have gone blind! But God, in His mercy, prevented me, and I thank Him so much!
What was going on? My contact lenses had stuck in my eyes a few times before and it was difficult to take them out again, but not like this at all! I couldn't even get my finger-nail underneath the lens. So, I decided to wait a little bit and try to take it out again later. When I had tried 3 times, I decided I should probably call the doctor to help me get it out.
Now, I did not want to call the doctor. If he got it out right away, I'd feel, well, pretty dumb for not being able to do it myself. But I called the doctor anyway and asked if there was a trick to getting a stuck contact lens out. The lady I talked to gave me a tip. I hung up and tried what she said. I didn't get any farther. So, I called back and scheduled an appointment.
Mom told me that I should try one more time to take out the ornery lens 5 minutes before I had to leave. So at 10:55, I went downstairs (to my room), got in front of a mirror and tried again. This time I actually got a finger-nail under it! So, I grabbed it with 2 finger-nails (they were longer than I usually let them grow) and pulled gently. But I tell you, it felt like I was ripping my eye out! I couldn't understand it!
So, I went upstairs and asked Dad to watch and see if he could tell if I was grabbing the lens. He said it looked like I had it, so I told him "But it feels like I'm pulling my eye out." "Ok, lets go to the doctor," he said without any hesitation, and boy am I glad he did!
At the doctor's office I felt even dumber when he said that I was actually pulling on my cornea, that I didn't have a lens in my eye at all! That explains why that lens wasn't working. So, yes, I really did pull up part of my cornea! *Creepy*
The doctor told me what kind of ointment to get, then and we went home and told everyone that I had tried to pull my eye out. It sent chills up everyones' spines, especially when Dad said that when he saw that it looked like I had the lens, he thought about telling me to just pull it and get it out of my eye. That would not have been good. So it's a very good thing indeed that I said that it felt like I was ripping my eye out!
Last night was the third night of putting the ointment in, and my eye is much better. But every time I think about what I almost did, I cringe. Who knows, I could have gone blind! But God, in His mercy, prevented me, and I thank Him so much!
Monday, October 10, 2011
May God's Will Be Done
Sometimes the Lord intervenes and does the direct opposite of what we wanted done. When this happens, some may think, "The nerve! He has no right to intervene in my personal life, especially when I really wanted something, and He didn't give it to me." But how can we possibly say such things so dishonoring to God the Father? We may want something, yes; but we should always ask the Lord's will to be done in our life. And when He does step in and His will is done, we ought not to oppose it.
Think about it this way: if we, man, being so wholly depraved that even our goodnesses are sinful, how can we deliberately blame God, in Whom is no sin found and is completely righteous and is always good, for stepping into our lives and pointing us in the direction that He wants us to go?
It is sad to think about how many times we've blamed God for being in our way, when in fact, He was doing something good for us! Some may say, "Well, I don't need God's help. It's my life and I can do whatsoever I please with it!" My friend, be very careful of what you wish for. Thinking in such a way will only lead you farther and farther away from the Savior, and that is a truly dark place to be, where no light is found.
'If we would be saved form the destruction which is coming upon the World, we must submit ourselves without reserve to the commands of our Lord Jesus. We shall not be saved for keeping the commands of God, but if we have true faith we shall prove it by following the Lord's directions.' That is a quote from Spurgeon. The Father looks after His children, but if we refuse to heed to His judgment, He may allow us to be led into temptation. And once there, it is not an easy task to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness of the Lord.
God's Word says in Psalms 119:9: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
Give heed to the Lord of hosts, and let not the feelings of this sinful flesh get in the way of serving the God of heaven.
Think about it this way: if we, man, being so wholly depraved that even our goodnesses are sinful, how can we deliberately blame God, in Whom is no sin found and is completely righteous and is always good, for stepping into our lives and pointing us in the direction that He wants us to go?
It is sad to think about how many times we've blamed God for being in our way, when in fact, He was doing something good for us! Some may say, "Well, I don't need God's help. It's my life and I can do whatsoever I please with it!" My friend, be very careful of what you wish for. Thinking in such a way will only lead you farther and farther away from the Savior, and that is a truly dark place to be, where no light is found.
'If we would be saved form the destruction which is coming upon the World, we must submit ourselves without reserve to the commands of our Lord Jesus. We shall not be saved for keeping the commands of God, but if we have true faith we shall prove it by following the Lord's directions.' That is a quote from Spurgeon. The Father looks after His children, but if we refuse to heed to His judgment, He may allow us to be led into temptation. And once there, it is not an easy task to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness of the Lord.
God's Word says in Psalms 119:9: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
Give heed to the Lord of hosts, and let not the feelings of this sinful flesh get in the way of serving the God of heaven.
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Fifth Commandment
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
~Exodus 20:12
That's what the Bible says, God's Word. And God's Word is not to be taken lightly. As we see what would happen to a child that does not honour his parents in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, which reads: "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto to the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
Jeremiah 17:10 says: "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." We should obey our parents with a cheerful heart. We shouldn't obey them grudgingly, with the attitude, 'Well, I'll do it, but only because I'll get in trouble if I don't. As I said a moment ago, the Lord searches the heart. Even if Mom and Dad don't know what we're thinking or feeling, God does. And He will reward us according to our doings.
Parents only look after their children. They usually know best. If they tell you not to hang out with certain group of people, and you decide to dishonour them by disobeying and you hang out with those people, and they turn out to be a murderous gang, turn around and kill you - what then? It's too late to go back home, say sorry to you parents and start trusting them. Or if they say, 'Look both ways before you cross the street,' and you deliberately rebel, look straight ahead while crossing, and get hit by a car, what then? "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." -Proverbs 29:17 It seems that the children who are disciplined by their parents are more honouring, respectful, and obeying to their parents. But today, the parents who actually discipline their children seem to be in the minority. But even if some children are not disciplined by their parents, the Bible still says, "Honour thy father and thy mother..." and it ought to be obeyed.
~Exodus 20:12
That's what the Bible says, God's Word. And God's Word is not to be taken lightly. As we see what would happen to a child that does not honour his parents in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, which reads: "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto to the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
Jeremiah 17:10 says: "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." We should obey our parents with a cheerful heart. We shouldn't obey them grudgingly, with the attitude, 'Well, I'll do it, but only because I'll get in trouble if I don't. As I said a moment ago, the Lord searches the heart. Even if Mom and Dad don't know what we're thinking or feeling, God does. And He will reward us according to our doings.
Parents only look after their children. They usually know best. If they tell you not to hang out with certain group of people, and you decide to dishonour them by disobeying and you hang out with those people, and they turn out to be a murderous gang, turn around and kill you - what then? It's too late to go back home, say sorry to you parents and start trusting them. Or if they say, 'Look both ways before you cross the street,' and you deliberately rebel, look straight ahead while crossing, and get hit by a car, what then? "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." -Proverbs 29:17 It seems that the children who are disciplined by their parents are more honouring, respectful, and obeying to their parents. But today, the parents who actually discipline their children seem to be in the minority. But even if some children are not disciplined by their parents, the Bible still says, "Honour thy father and thy mother..." and it ought to be obeyed.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Deletion of Rocky Mountain Maiden Blog
Those of you who read my Rocky Mountain Maiden blog probably can't find it anymore. The reason is because I deleted it. I just wasn't doing anything with it, so I decided not to keep it.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
My Testimony
Growing up in a Christian family, having devotions every night, praying often as a family, going to church every week, and you can see why I've wanted to become a Christian for as long as I can remember. I didn't want to go to Hell when I died. Heaven is where I wanted to be, living up there on golden streets, never crying, never getting in trouble. Living splendidly with Jesus. I thought I could earn all that if I was saved. Boy was I wrong! I don't, can't earn anything from my Lord and Savior. The Bible says "...All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." We sin even when we try to do good things. And if we sin in everything we do, how can we possibly even hope to earn a single thing from Jesus Christ?
When I was 11 years old, a boy in our church who was 12, made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. And I thought, If he's 12 and he's saved, why can't I be saved, too? So, I made a decision: I was going to make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Dad and I had recently been having late night discussions on the Bible, mostly Dad talking and me listening. So, that night, I asked to talk to my mom and dad. This is what I said right off to them, "I believe the Lord has saved me, and I would like to be baptized." Thinking that would be it, that they would cry a little and congratulate me on my "decision", I was surprised when Dad asked me why I thought that. Well, what do I say now? Remembering the talks I'd had with my dad, I said, "Well, everything you told me about God, I believe." "So, it's just me you believe," Dad said. Long story short, I fumbled my way through, making even myself half-way believe I was saved. The next Sunday, Dad took me to talk to the pastor and the assistant pastor of our church, and I told them what I had told Mom and Dad. They also asked me a few questions and with tears in my eyes, I answered. My baptism was scheduled for 3 weeks from that time so that my grandma could see me baptized. During those 3 weeks I convinced myself that I really was saved and that I wanted to serve God. After I was baptized, I was even surer of myself.
Everything was great! I wasn't going to burn in Hell, I had been saved, I was baptized, I was protected. I started reading my Bible and if there was something I didn't understand, I'd ask Dad. Every once in a while, I'd even boast that I'd read this many chapters in the Bible or I read Psalm 119 all in one day, and wasn't that something? I even sent out some letters that I'd been saved and that I wasn't going to Hell, I was going to Heaven when I died.
After a while, the excitement faded, I wouldn't read near as much, wouldn't even pray very often. There were times when I would start to doubt my salvation, but then I'd remember I was baptized. My pastor baptized me, and he certainly wouldn't baptize me if he didn't think I was saved. So, that would give me a little comfort.
Over the next few years again and again that doubt came back, and it was really bothering me. I even talked to some girl friends and told them that sometimes I don't think I'm really saved. They'd turn around and say that they thought I was saved, that the way I acted made it look like I was saved. I even had one friend tell me that she knew my heart, she knew what was in my heart and I wouldn't have made a profession if I didn't believe I was saved. That stuck out at me - big time! I didn't know much about God, but I knew enough to know that He was the only one who knew my heart. And when I thought of that, it really scared me.
I kept thinking back to that day when I told my parents I was saved. Am I really saved? Or aren't I? But I've been baptized. But baptism doesn't save a person. Oh, I'm so confused!
Sometime when I was 16, I started doubting my salvation, and I couldn't comfort myself in any way, couldn't make myself believe I really was a Christian living for Christ. It tormented me! But I didn't tell anyone. What would they think if I did? I had already been baptized, said I was saved for 5 years. And if I just up and told someone now what I was dealing with, they would have said, "So, you've been lying all these years." That was what I thought.
I couldn't shake the feeling of despair, helplessness, hopelessness. I knew I was lost, and I didn't know how to find myself. I wasn't really happy anymore. I tried to hide it, but Mom and Dad both noticed it and said as much. I tried to make something up, but I'm not sure if they believed me.
I would think of everything I've done, and try to see if I could remember anything that I had truly done to try to please God. I couldn't think of anything. Anything at all.
Then, one March night in 2010, I was lying in bed (couldn't sleep), thinking of all the sinful things I'd done. And so suddenly I became (and I don't use this term lightly) overwhelmed. I was so completely overwhelmed with all my sin that I felt like dying! I cried out to the Lord Jesus to save me, to forgive my sins against him. I poured everything out and laid it at His feet. And if you're reading this and you're not a Christian, you won't understand when I say that at that moment, I felt the most peaceful peace all around me. Christ Jesus took my sins and bore them on the cross at Calvary. He redeemed my soul that night. He made me a sheep in His pasture. I am a child of God's! Praise the Lord of Hosts, He saved my soul! You've never truly felt peace unless you are child of the Most High.
Now, it's not about going to Heaven when I die. Now, I want to serve the Lord in everything I do, say, and even think. If I died and went to Hell, I'd shout His praises at the top of lungs until the end of eternity! He is the Lord! He is God! He's my Redeemer! My Savior! He's my Lord Jesus Christ! He owns me, and no one and no thing can ever take that away! So, praise Him, glorify Him, and bless the Lord, o my soul!
I implore those of you who are not saved to seek the Lord with all your heart. God's Word says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9
When I was 11 years old, a boy in our church who was 12, made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. And I thought, If he's 12 and he's saved, why can't I be saved, too? So, I made a decision: I was going to make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Dad and I had recently been having late night discussions on the Bible, mostly Dad talking and me listening. So, that night, I asked to talk to my mom and dad. This is what I said right off to them, "I believe the Lord has saved me, and I would like to be baptized." Thinking that would be it, that they would cry a little and congratulate me on my "decision", I was surprised when Dad asked me why I thought that. Well, what do I say now? Remembering the talks I'd had with my dad, I said, "Well, everything you told me about God, I believe." "So, it's just me you believe," Dad said. Long story short, I fumbled my way through, making even myself half-way believe I was saved. The next Sunday, Dad took me to talk to the pastor and the assistant pastor of our church, and I told them what I had told Mom and Dad. They also asked me a few questions and with tears in my eyes, I answered. My baptism was scheduled for 3 weeks from that time so that my grandma could see me baptized. During those 3 weeks I convinced myself that I really was saved and that I wanted to serve God. After I was baptized, I was even surer of myself.
Everything was great! I wasn't going to burn in Hell, I had been saved, I was baptized, I was protected. I started reading my Bible and if there was something I didn't understand, I'd ask Dad. Every once in a while, I'd even boast that I'd read this many chapters in the Bible or I read Psalm 119 all in one day, and wasn't that something? I even sent out some letters that I'd been saved and that I wasn't going to Hell, I was going to Heaven when I died.
After a while, the excitement faded, I wouldn't read near as much, wouldn't even pray very often. There were times when I would start to doubt my salvation, but then I'd remember I was baptized. My pastor baptized me, and he certainly wouldn't baptize me if he didn't think I was saved. So, that would give me a little comfort.
Over the next few years again and again that doubt came back, and it was really bothering me. I even talked to some girl friends and told them that sometimes I don't think I'm really saved. They'd turn around and say that they thought I was saved, that the way I acted made it look like I was saved. I even had one friend tell me that she knew my heart, she knew what was in my heart and I wouldn't have made a profession if I didn't believe I was saved. That stuck out at me - big time! I didn't know much about God, but I knew enough to know that He was the only one who knew my heart. And when I thought of that, it really scared me.
I kept thinking back to that day when I told my parents I was saved. Am I really saved? Or aren't I? But I've been baptized. But baptism doesn't save a person. Oh, I'm so confused!
Sometime when I was 16, I started doubting my salvation, and I couldn't comfort myself in any way, couldn't make myself believe I really was a Christian living for Christ. It tormented me! But I didn't tell anyone. What would they think if I did? I had already been baptized, said I was saved for 5 years. And if I just up and told someone now what I was dealing with, they would have said, "So, you've been lying all these years." That was what I thought.
I couldn't shake the feeling of despair, helplessness, hopelessness. I knew I was lost, and I didn't know how to find myself. I wasn't really happy anymore. I tried to hide it, but Mom and Dad both noticed it and said as much. I tried to make something up, but I'm not sure if they believed me.
I would think of everything I've done, and try to see if I could remember anything that I had truly done to try to please God. I couldn't think of anything. Anything at all.
Then, one March night in 2010, I was lying in bed (couldn't sleep), thinking of all the sinful things I'd done. And so suddenly I became (and I don't use this term lightly) overwhelmed. I was so completely overwhelmed with all my sin that I felt like dying! I cried out to the Lord Jesus to save me, to forgive my sins against him. I poured everything out and laid it at His feet. And if you're reading this and you're not a Christian, you won't understand when I say that at that moment, I felt the most peaceful peace all around me. Christ Jesus took my sins and bore them on the cross at Calvary. He redeemed my soul that night. He made me a sheep in His pasture. I am a child of God's! Praise the Lord of Hosts, He saved my soul! You've never truly felt peace unless you are child of the Most High.
Now, it's not about going to Heaven when I die. Now, I want to serve the Lord in everything I do, say, and even think. If I died and went to Hell, I'd shout His praises at the top of lungs until the end of eternity! He is the Lord! He is God! He's my Redeemer! My Savior! He's my Lord Jesus Christ! He owns me, and no one and no thing can ever take that away! So, praise Him, glorify Him, and bless the Lord, o my soul!
I implore those of you who are not saved to seek the Lord with all your heart. God's Word says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9
Monday, July 18, 2011
My First Camping Trip! (Part 2 - People)
Ok, I know these are a lot of pictures. But I just couldn't leave any of them out! Enjoy! We certainly did!
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| Abigail, directing the breakfast traffic. |
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| Sisters aren't just sisters. They're Friends! |
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| Washing dishes in freezing cold creek water! |
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| I love this picture!!! So funny! |
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| Look at all that hair! I'm jealous! |
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| Karate Cook |
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