After His Heart

When Your Plans Are Not Your Plans Anymore

2012-08-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Planing, knowing and having a rough draft of what my future will look like has always been in my blood. I’m the type of person who schedules and organizes; I have a planer and obsession with calendars. When taking a class my favorite moment is when the professor gives out the syllabus because it outlines the ‘plan’ for the next 15 or so weeks. Itineraries, schedules, details, they create a sense of excitement in me. I grew up asking my mom what the ‘plan’ was for the day or the next day or the day after that. I liked to know what we were having at each meal and what I was going to wear each day before the day had even come. While I can do change and be flexible in some areas just fine my mind runs on knowing what the day will bring weeks before the day has come.

However, life doesn’t always go according to plan and I struggle with that.

But God is ever faithful.

I have come to realize that sometimes I need a reminder that my plans are far better when placed in the hands of a perfect God rather then in the mind of an imperfect me. God has never let me down on His 'game changes' to date and while some changes have been less then pleasant the purpose behind them has always been and will always be far better then I could have ever begun to plan in my mind.

So take a lesson from this that when the straight path ahead of you hits a curve the God behind the map knows far better then you that what He is doing is far better then what you were going to do.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Hero

2012-08-01T18:47:00.001-07:00

With the 2012 London Summer Olympics well on it's way I have been

thinking about a personal hero of mine, Eric Liddle. Eric was not only a gold medalist in the Olympics but also a missionary and example of Christ, a man who preserved and stayed true to his faith. Several years ago I wrote a short paper on Eric that I would like to share with you, beware the writing is rather juvenile but the message still comes across strong. At the end I hope you will see a hero of the faith and an example to live by.

-----

The race was coming to an end, Eric was in fourth it would be impossible to win if it had not been for his perseverance. He passed third, then fourth, and at the last moment first. He had won! He had beaten the odds, but only because of the perseverance that God had given him and that he had used.

Eric Liddell was born on January 16, 1902 In China, because his parents were missionaries there. At age 6 Eric's parents sent him and his brother back to Scotland, so that they could go to the boarding school for the sons of missionaries. It was here that Eric found his talent and joy for sports. Eric went on to compete in many races including the Olympics. After graduating from Edinburgh university, Eric left all the fame behind him and went on to fulfill his dream of being a missionary. He then went on to become an ordained minister and married Florence Mackenzie, together they had three daughters. Eric died on February 21, 1945 of a brain tumor. Through out his whole life he persevered and followed God's calling, even thought it was hard and at times painful, he won the most important race because he set his mind on a goal and persevered.

Half the race was already over, it was Eric against champs, 400 meters agents the usual 100 meters, Eric was already worn out by giving what was thought to be his all in the first half, but to the surprise of all he gained speed, going faster then before he past the finished line, in first place! He had made a new world recorded! He had persevered.

Another example of his perseverance comes as a goal that he set for himself. When he was young, he made a commitment to never run on Sundays, because it was the Lord's day. So when Eric found out that the 100 meter race in the Olympics was going to be held on a Sunday, Eric had to back out. Because of this Eric was hated by most of Scotland, this made it tempting for Eric to change his mind, but he did not he stayed persistent with what he believed was right and he never regretted it.

God gave Eric his perseverance, and because Eric accepted it, and used it, he was able to accomplish his goals. Just like Eric if you are going to accomplish something in your life you are going to need to set a goal, and to accomplish it, you are going to need to persevere, to stay steadfast, to continue in your action even when difficulties come, you must persevere!

God’s Providence in My Forgetfulness

2012-03-27T13:32:00.001-07:00

Forgetfulness: I typically attribute this word as in unwanted action, a flaw in life and for the most part just plain annoying. But God showed me a curious thing yesterday about being forgetful, He pointed out to me, in His own special way, that forgetfulness isn’t always bad, it can, in fact, be providential.

If I hadn’t forgotten to turn in an application by a small bit of 30 minutes I might have had to face the difficult situation of having two obligations to fulfill at the same time, an impossible task, but God in his greatness did cause me to forget. So yesterday, when I realized this, I was amazed, baffled even, to see firsthand that God is by far much greater then I am. He is in control of my life and uses even my faults for a greater purpose.

My application to you, then, is to look for God’s hand at work in your life and yes even in your faults. To, by all means, work at fixing those undesirable actions in your life but to also not bring yourself down for being imperfect, for God (Praise His name!) even uses our flaws for good. How comforting is that!

31 Days of Proverbs: Day One, Part 3: The Call of Wisdom

2012-03-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Proverbs Chapter One > Part 3 > Verses 20-33 > The Call of Wisdom

²⁰Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

²²“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

²³If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

²⁴Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

²⁵because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

²⁷when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

²⁹Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

³⁰would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

³¹therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

³²For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

³³but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

My Thoughts > This passage coincides with Proverbs 1, Part 1 perfectly. We too often follow our own advice forsaking the help of Wisdom’s, only when we fail ourselves and have no where else to turn to do we seek out the help of Wisdom. In this passage Wisdom is saying that she has tried to help but being turned down and ignored so many times that when one does finally seek her she will not listen but all those who seek her first will be helped. We are but fools who ought to seek wisdom first in every situation.

Side Note > Tomorrow we will look at Proverbs 2 > The Value of Wisdom

31 Days of Proverbs: Day One, Part 2: The Enticement of Sinners

2012-03-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Proverbs Chapter One > Part 2 > Verses 8-19 > The Enticement of Sinners

⁸Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
⁹for they are a graceful garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.
¹⁰My son, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
¹¹If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
    let us ambush the innocent without reason;
¹²like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
¹³we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
¹⁵my son, do not walk in the way with them;
    hold back your foot from their paths,
¹⁶for their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
¹⁷For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
¹⁸but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they set an ambush for their own lives.
¹⁹Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
    it takes away the life of its possessors.

My Thoughts > Though gruesome and unpleasant these words seem at first there is a beauty behind them, the beauty of a father’s loving instruction to protect his son. Follow his instructions and be careful to not fall into the ‘bad’ crowd for they set for themselves a trap of ruin. “My son, if sinner entice you, do not consent.”

Side Note> Check back this Evening for Part 3 of Proverbs One > The Call of Wisdom > Verses 20-33.

31 Days of Proverbs: Day One, Part 1: The Beginning of Knowledge

2012-03-01T08:27:00.002-08:00

Introduction > March has 31 days. The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters. I'm using these two facts in accord with each other to bring you 31 days of Proverbs; a chapter for each day of the month.

Proverbs Chapter One > Part 1 > Verses 1-7 > The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

    to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

    in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

    knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

    and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying,

    the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My Thoughts > 

First Things First > When reading Proverbs I've found it to be so enriching to my mind and understanding to read each line slowly, treating it as you would the rarest, most expensive desert you ever had the pleasure of tasting, savoring every bite to its fullest. Likewise, pondering every word, thought and line of Proverbs, taking it all in as profitable, and good for your own learning and growing, enabling you to pursue a heart after God's. 

What is the Beginning of Knowledge? > Through these verses Solomon is telling us that the beginning of knowledge, to say in short, is to know, receive, give and understand but most importantly the beginning of knowledge is to fear the LORD, and he says that it is the fool who despises all these things, or rather, he is a fool who despises this. 

Side Note> Check back this afternoon for Part 2 of Proverbs One > The Enticement of Sinners > Verses 8-19.

Beloved

2012-02-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day, commonly attributed to romantic love, can cause sorrow in those single on this day, however, for us truly saved there proves a much greater love to be celebrated, that of God’s love for us.

We are His beloved or otherwise put we are dearly loved by Him. He loves us so much that He calls us His children.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.1 John 3:1-2

Our Father loves us so much that nothing can separate us from His love.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

We likewise should be imitators of God and show this love to each other.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Application: this Valentine’s day remember that we are the bride of Christ and He is the groom; we are His beloved and that is worth celebrating!

Love of My life

Look deep in My eyes

There you will find what you need

Give Me your life

The lust and the lies

The past you're afraid I might see

You've been running away from Me

You're My beloved

Lover I'm yours

Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My Love it unites us

And it binds you to Me

It's a mystery

Love of My life

Look deep in My eyes

There you will find what you need

I'm the Giver of life

I'll clothe you in white

My immaculate bride you will be

Oh, come running home to Me

Well, you've been a mistress, My wife

Chasing lovers that won't satisfy

Won't you let Me make you My bride

You will drink of My lips

And you'll taste new life

You're My beloved

Lover I'm yours

Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My Love it unites us

And it binds you to Me

It's a mystery

Picture by CrossCards, song by Tenth Avenue North

Lesson from Chesterton

2012-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

After hearing the saying "That man will get on; he believes in himself." G. K. Chesterton made this comment "It would be much truer to say that a man will certainly fail, because he believes in himself. Complete self-confidence is not merely a sin; complete self-confidence is a weakness.”

With this said one may well ask "If you do not believe in yourself then to whom should you believe in?", for Christians the answer should be obvious; believe in God, rather than man.

When we believe in ourselves more then we ought we lose our special relationship with God. We in fact are saying that our undivided trust and faith is in our self alone.

Proverbs 3:5(NIV)"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Our own understanding is much like our own self, our own confidence.Our confidence should be placed in the Lord alone. Proverbs 3:26(ESV) "for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught”

Take a lesson from Chesterton and put your confidence in the one true God instead of weakening yourself with complete self-confidence.

Resolution: I Resolve to...

2012-01-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

Last year I decided to take the challenge and create a list of ten resolutions to fulfill in 2011. I only completed half of them but to accomplish five was enough to encourage me to do the same and set for myself ten more resolutions for 2012. Why am I sharing my resolutions with you? Because doing so creates a form of accountability, and accountability increases my desire and will to fulfill them. I hope they encourage you as well to do the same.

2011’s Resolutions:

1. Read through the entire Bible at least once in 2011. - unaccomplished

2. Start a Prayer journal and follow through with it. - unaccomplished

3. Decide on a School and Major. - accomplished to a degree

4. Start a blog. - accomplished

5. Finish reading the Hobbit. - unacomplished

6. Be eligible for my license. - accomplished to a degree

7. Stop any bad habits. - not fully accomplished

8. Manage my time better. - not fully accomplished

9. Make a higher score on the ACT. - accomplished

10. And as always have a stronger walk with God. - accomplished

2012’s Resolutions:

1. Complete 2 - 3 College semesters.
2. Work out more.
3. Read my Bible each day.
4. Start a journal.
5. Finish the Hobbit.
6. Get my License.
7. Become more content.
8. Develop my musical skills.
9. Write and read more.
10. Develop a stronger walk with God.

Looking Back at 2011

2011-12-31T18:48:00.000-08:00

2011, what a year of ups and downs it has been and now only a little bit left of it remains.
I started the year off with 10 resolutions that I wanted to fulfill, I only accomplished half of them but that’s enough to encourage me to do the same for 2012. One of my resolutions was to start a blog, hence what you are reading, I have not only been blessed by this blog but baffled as well. As of now in 2011 After His Heart received over 1650 page views! I am more encouraged then ever to continue writing in this blog as I hope these post are a blessing to you in someway.

Before I end this post I want to say that I hope you have had a wonderful 2011 and that as the New Year rings in you will turn even more so to God and His ways - He has great plans for us all this next year!
Be sure and come back to my blog tomorrow to see what my 2011 New Years resolutions were and what my NEW 2012 resolutions will be.

Philippians 3:13-14 - ^"¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal forthe prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne!”

CollegePlus!: Exciting News

2011-12-08T13:35:00.001-08:00

Last September I wrote a post about my experience with CollegePlus! ( Read my story here. ) and now several months later I writing about this amazing program again.
Not only is ColllegePlus! bursting with knowledgeable and helpful employees but its also full of givers and by 'givers’ I mean they are always giving away great gifts!
From now till December 16 (that’s just one week away!) if you enroll in the CollegePlus! program you will be given a $300 Amazon gift certificate ( Find out more here. )!
And if you are concerned about starting immediately worry no more because CollegePlus! is allowing you to wait and start after the new year.
As if this deal couldn’t get any better it does!
Because when you enroll and use this link: http://www.collegeplus.org/requestinfo/?tellafriend=7806 and the code: 7806 you will automatically enable me to receive a fee Kindle Fire!
I absolutely love CollegePlus! with their help I am less then a week away from being a Sophomore in College,
I know you will love this program just as much as I do, so what are you waiting for? Sign up today!

The Point in Disappointments

2011-11-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

Disappointment.

The very word is one that leaves a sour taste in your mouth and yet it is inevitable that at some point(s) in your life you are going to have to stand face to face with it. With this said the question then isn’t IF you are going to face disappointments but rather HOW are you going to respond to it. Some are harder to deal with then others, the ones that seemed to be in God’s will are the worse but you can get through them and still be on top.

The first thing you should do is pray to God for contentment in the situation. Trust in Him and believe that He has a greater purpose for you, after all he is all knowing and has our best interest in mind at all times. Continue to seek His will in everything. Cry a little bit, its alright to do so. Seek a friend to confide in, one who can pray and give words of comfort and wisdom. Read your Bible and listen to a few encouraging songs, good literature will help as well. And lastly look at all the positives in your life, began counting and you will become quickly overwhelmed with God’s goodness.

The bottom line?

Don’t let a disappointment rule you and bring you down. Conquer. Learn. Grow.

This is the point of disapPOINTments.

CollegePlus! My Story

2011-09-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

This past Spring I decided to take a leap of faith and enroll into CollegePlus!, actually it wasn’t exactly a leap of faith, it was very much so a prayerful and thoughtful decision.

But first what is CollegePlus! exactly? Well, CP!(CollegePlus!) is a distance learning program created based on Christian values that helps you to earn your bachelor’s degree in less time and money then a normal university system allows.(Click here for more information about who CollegePlus! is.). Not only does CP! help you to save time and money but it also takes you through several courses including: Speed-reading, Memory Skills, Career Planing and a Life Purpose course all of which are super beneficial. You will also be assigned a Coach(The Coaches are amazing!) and countless (really helpful) study resources that will make, for example, taking CLEP exams a lot easier.

Now that you are familiar with what CP! is I can more easily tell you about my experience with the program. Like I said last Spring I started CP! and since then I’ve improved my reading speed, memory and have learned more about my ‘Life Purpose’ I also CLEPed out of 6 college credit hours and have been studying to CLEP out of 12 more.

This has been a great program for me, it is very flexible so it works well with my schedule while at the same time it still keeps me on track so that I don’t fall behind. I have learned a lot and am continuing to enjoy my time with CP!

I highly recommend this program and encourage you to look into it more. Click on this link and sign up for a free eBook that will give all the information you need to know about CP! www.collegeplus.org/tf/7806. And also feel free to ask me more questions, personal ones as well. Having been through this process before I can easily relate and give you my personal opinion!

One more note: CP! has a really cool incentives for those enrolled in the program(like me and hopefully you soon:), its called “Tell-A-Friend”. Each quarter CP! will choose a different ‘reward’, this could be a discount on tuition, refund in money or like this quarter an iPad, to give if someone enrolls into CP! because of you. So if you do decide to enroll, please do so viva this link www.collegeplus.org/tf/7806 so that you can help me:) I have also been told that if you enroll by the end of this month(September) you too will receive a fee iPad - this is a great opportunity that you won’t want to miss out on!

By Jove, It’s Fall...I Should Write a Post!

2011-09-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Random Thoughts.

Today is the first day of fall, or autumn if you will. We can now officially say that summer is over.

Did you know that Jove is another name for Jupiter?

In the past week I have had six different occurrences referencing the phrase ‘Chain Reaction’....Unusual, right? I’m inclined to think so, as well as wonder what that means.

Facebook has changed again. Yes, again. News Feed change. Friend lists. Subscriptions. Ticker. Music App. And Timeline, a new profile look.

News Feed: Not in love but I can live with it.
Friend Lists: Could be helpful but seems kind of troublesome if you choose to use it (which you don’t have to).
Subscriptions: Give this some time and I’m sure it will be helpful but right now it’s somewhat useless. But a feature that does go hand in hand with this is the choice to decided how much you want to view of each person. That’s helpful.
Ticker: I thought I would dislike this, turns out the feeling is mutual. It is good for quick commenting and liking but most of the time I don’t even notice it.
Music App: This seems cool but I’m not fully sold on it yet.
Timeline : This will be coming soon to all users but for now if you want to get this ahead of time you have to go through some extra steps. I went ahead and got it and so far I’m loving it, its cool but will take a bit of time to get use to it. Get Timeline.

Last night another GOP debate was held, which makes me wonder how many more of these are we going to have?

I have decide that I want in iPad. I think it would be interesting and helpful when it comes to education.

The lovely Kentucky Sun

I turn 18 in less then a month and I have several goals to accomplish before then. I’m feeling a bit unsure of myself.

Yesterday I registered to vote. It was quick and painless.

I love music and I love playing the Piano.

I’m reading the book The Help and enjoying it but also finding it hard to read unless its hot out and I have a glass of ice tea and lemon.

The X Factor premiered this week. Mix American Idol and America’s Got Talent and you have this new show.

I’m teaching Sunday School this Sunday and the lesson is on John 1:29, 35-46, 49-51. "What is your role in others knowing about Jesus?”

Well, for now Sine Die.

...And It’s Worth Fighting For.

2011-09-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Frodo: Sam I can't do this.

Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

_________________________________________________________________

To be blunt, I've never actually gotten through the Lord of the Rings series written by J. R. R. Tolkien, honestly, I’ve actually only made it through the first half of the Fellowship of the Ring (the first book). Despite this fact, however, the truth is that I absolutely love the movies that were made based on the books. I consider the films to be simply beautiful. A masterpiece if you will. Above though might just be my favorite scene out of the entire trilogy. Every time I watch it or read the script I find myself blown away by its beauty and truth. This scene comes out of an especially gloomy part of the story. But Sam, the hero that he is, finds hope and a reason to continue on in the trying journey. We as humans often find ourselves thinking and saying the same thing that Frodo says: "I can't do this." But as Christians we know that the only thing to do in times like this is to press on. Why? Because just like in the movie we are holding on to something, as Sam says: "...there's some good in this world...and it's worth fighting for.” When faced with difficult times that allow us to truly see how terribly hard this place is to live in. When at the moment of sincerely breaking, the kind that causes a longing for it all to just pass away. Remember what Sam says, remember that we are living here to fight for the good in this world, to overcome the evil. We are living as warriors, servants, of the one true King.

P.S.

Don’t be a Frodo, instead be a Sam.

Messaging - God's Way

2011-07-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

24 hours. In the span of one day I came across three quotes by three powerful men of God(great thinkers, and great writers). All three of these quotes passed through my Twitter feed and all three of these quotes were then retweeted by me. I liked all these quotes - that's how they connected - I saw them all on Twitter - they connect in that sense too - and all three were written by godly men - again there's a connection - but it took me a little while to see the most meaningful connection; the one about them all relating in topic - detailed topic. God was handing me a message. This message wasn't necessarily one that I thought I needed to hear, nor one that I was searching for but somehow I needed this message or will need this message soon; God tends to give us what we need before we realize we even need it.

"When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it solves a great deal of anxiety." AW Tozer

"God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way." C.S. Lewis

"God fits the man for the place and the place for the man" Spurgeon

------ EAS

Love Unsought

2011-07-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

"Love sought is good but given unsought is better" - Shakespeare

How true.

When we look at God and His love we see that it has always been given before we have sought it.

~ "We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19.

His love is the greatest that can ever be given; His love is given unsought for and His love is given all the more when sought out.

Let us take this as an example to live by in loving the people of this world.

Love them before any love has been sought.
Love them when they seek our love.
Love them when they want none of our love.
Love them when they want all of our love
Love them when you feel they don't deserve any love.
Love them when they deserve it all.

Love them because God loves us and because even though we are yet sinners lives are changed through love."Love sought is good but given unsought is better" - Shakespeare

Through Christ's love,

Emilee Smith

You Can Help Me Win an Essay Contest!

2011-02-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

In the mist of my busy schedule I've manged to enter an essay into the College Plus essay contest. The great thing about this contest is that you can help me win part of the prize! All you have to do is go to this link and press the 'like' button on the left side of the page. Every 'like' is greatly appreciated! The contest ends tomorrow morning and the essay with the most 'likes' wins, so tell all your friends about this contest and have them 'like' my essay! Thank you and have a wonderful God blessed day!

Here is the link:
http://www.collegeplus.org/scholarship/vote/essays/emileesmith

Day 48 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. - Psalm 94:19

Losing someone is a terribly hard thing to have to go though but we don't have to go though it alone. As Christians we serve a God who gives comfort, love and peace in these great times of pain! I ask that you please pray for a friend of mine and his family who are suffering the loss of their 18 year old brother/son. I can't imagine the pain that they must have right now but I praise God that they have the comfort, love and peace given by God to them!

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul."

2011-02-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

^{In the busyness of the the week I've missed a few, well several, of my blog post but today I've decided to write one and on a rather long passage; in fact its a whole chapter. This past Monday was Valentine's day and although we often contribute this day with the romantic love between a man and a women this love can be seen as a different love between ourselves and God and ourselves and our family and friends. 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter, this chapter is one of my favorites in the Bible and is very fitting for February 14 being that it speaks about love. Take some time and read and reflect over this chapter, think about the true meaning of love.}
^{Happy belated Valentine's Day to you all!}

^"1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
⁴ Love is patient andkind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love endures all things. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
⁸Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13

Day 42 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life we find ourselves to be in an 'Overachiever' position, for my life this happens to be tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be taking the ACT(again) and testing for my Purple belt in Karate; my ACT last till 12:15 and my Karate test starts at 12:30. Yes tomorrow is going to be difficult but I'm confidant that I will be able to make it though the day, why? Because I serve a wonderful God who gives strength to me when I need it most! Psalm 28:7 says: " The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." Be comforted by God's strength!

Day 41 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

^{How wonders and amazing it is to be able to find comfort in God thorough His inspired word!}

^{Psalm 119:73-80}

^"73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
   give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
   because I have hoped in your word.
⁷⁵I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
   and that infaithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶Let your steadfast love comfort me
   according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
   for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸Let the insolent be put to shame,
   because they have wronged me with falsehood;
   as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹Let those who fear you turn to me,
   that they may know your testimonies.
⁸⁰May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!"

Day 40 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

^"12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, ¹³not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴But their minds werehardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We know where the Spirit of the Lord is
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
We know living in Your freedom
Living in Your freedom we see Your glory
We know where the Spirit of the Lord is
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
We're Yours and Yours is the Kingdom
We are Yours, and Yours is the Kingdom"

Day 39 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

Psalm 149

Sing to the LORD a New Song

¹ Praise the LORD!Sing to the LORD a new song,
   his praise in the assembly of the godly!
²Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
   let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
³Let them praise his name with dancing,
   making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
⁴For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
   he adorns the humble with salvation.
⁵Let the godly exult in glory;
   let them sing for joy on their beds.
⁶Let the high praises of God be in their throats
   and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷to execute vengeance on the nations
   and punishments on the peoples,
⁸to bind their kings with chains
   and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the LORD!

Day 37 and 38 of 365 Day's of Scripture

2011-02-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

1 Timothy 6:11
"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."
As men(or women) of God we must flee from all wickedness and pursue that which comes and can only come from God. Take a moment and read the rest of 1 Timothy 6, meditate on what it says, I'm sure you will be blessed by what God has to show you in this inspired word.