The Forgotten Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Joy- What is joy? It's so close to so many things, but they just seem to miss the mark. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is sadly temporary and joy last longer than that. Joy is not merely contentment, it is more powerful than that. It is not exuberance or delight. Joy is all of these things. Joy is none of these things. What is joy? We are told to count it joy when we go through hard times and trials. Like love joy is often confused as an emotion, but it is not. Joy is a way of life that God calls us to be as Christians. If we were always happy, how superficial and fake would that be? Joy like love is an action, a verb. Something that must be lived out rather than felt for a time before it passes away.

How can you live out joy? Why must you live out joy? Live joyfully by spreading the gospel. It should be something that attracts the attention of both the none believer and the believer. It should draw them in and closer to Christ.

The Forgotten Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

When I say the forgotten fruits of the Spirit I don't mean that we have forgotten them entirely. We can still recite them like any good Sunday School child, but we have forgotten the meaning and power behind these fruits. We have forgotten how to live them.

Love- In our culture love can get you hurt. It is much better to just seek after the physical side of love or a superficial friendship and then you won't get as hurt. To have a Christ like love to open up yourself a world of hurt, yet that kind of love is more powerful than than anything on earth. This is the kind of love that will change the world if we only have the courage to display it. I have heard it said that love is not an emotion, it is an action. As a Christian it is a picture of the sacrificial love Christ has for us and the service Christians have.

Currently Reading
When Life and Beliefs Collide
By Carolyn Custis James
see related
Dear Rebecca,

I loved getting your questions. I read in the book
that Jeff Price mentioned, When Life and Beliefs
Collide, that there is this word that means strong
helper. It is used to describe Eve, but it is also
used to describe God. The Psalmist use it when they
call God their help when they are in need. The book
can put it better than I can and I would encourage you
to read it. I am no Greek scholar, but Carolyn Curtis
James is and she does a beautiful job bring it down to a
level that I can understand with out losing any of the
significance or power of the words.

Adam and Eve didn't so much have to fight for any
things as God had given them a mission to carry out.
The mission was first given to Adam, but Eve added her
strength to his to help effectively carry out the
mission that God entrusted to them both.

I would encourage you to read it for yourself. There are
so many concepts that really spoke to my heart as a
woman and as a Christian.

Genesis 2:18-24

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam ^[h] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs ^[i] and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib ^[j] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman, ^[k] '
for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

What was Eve doing in the Garden before the fall? Which of the "good housewife" things was she most proficient at? Was it sewing? Um... they didn't wear clothes. She must have been an excellent cook, that's it. Wait... they just had to go to a tree and pick fruit and there was dinner. She must have kept a spotless house...garden...or maybe she didn't have to do much work in that department. What did Eve do before sin came into the picture?

Eve was Adams helper. Oh, great that makes what I'm suppose to do. That lays out what my life should be well...not.

Eve wasn't just a helper, she was a warrior helper. She was suppose to fight along side Adam, not just give him a nice place to come home to. If I ever marry there will be days when I won't want to clean, when I can't cook dinner, and I already can't sew very well. My point is I will fail to be the perfect house wife. I will also fail in a fight, but the Lord has made me, designed me for this so this is what I will be most suited to do. I hope that someday my husband and children will look at me and call me blessed. Not for cooking or cleaning, but for being a strong warrior that has ministered with my husband and family.

There is a wonderful blog called the Rebelution.

I was scanning some of their previous posts and these two just really stood out to me.

The definition of a real man. I think it is important for girls to read this and search the scriptures and find what a real man should be like. The world tries to sell us a what they call a man, but fall sooo short of what God had planned man to be.

The definition of a real woman. I'm a goal oriented person. If you give me a goal I will do better than if you just throw me in a room point and say do. This breaks down some of the ways that scripture says women should act and behave.

What is Beauty?

When I was in middle school I wanted to be beautiful. I wanted others to look at me and think she is fair to look at. Unfortunately I was an awkward, pudgy, five foot six twelve year old. People did look at me, but it wasn't because I was very pretty. I grew out of that though. Others caught up to or passed me in height. I became less awkward and I grew into my shape as a woman. I eventually found I had achieved my goal of being pretty.

I enjoyed it for a while, but then I found that with being pretty come other things than being admired. People can be jealous of you and hate you because they are jealous. The admiration that you do receive can inflate your ego, which can then be popped like an over filled balloon. You can attract people that you like and people that you don't like. There can always be a girl that is prettier that you. Last of all you don't always your beauty.

We as women have a job. We reflect just how beautiful God is. We don't often think of God as being beautiful, but the bible says that God is beautiful.

Psalm 27:4

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

Also God created you. He thinks you are gorgeous. He didn't make a mistake. He started you as a cute crying baby and He is slowly transforming you more and more into His image. And we just learned that God is beautiful.

Psalm 45:11

11 The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.

God is shaping us into He wants us to be. We don't have time to wast spending hours on makeup and millions on a face lift. Our job is to reflect His beauty, not to obsesses over our own. Our beauty will not last as long as our hearts will. God shows the beauty of everything in His time. Can we have the courage and the patience to wait on Him?

Proverbs 31:30

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Last week I went as the woman leader on a trip with some of the middle school girls from my church. I had a blast and the relationships that I formed were amazing. I had fun with the girls, yet I learned more about their personal lives and we all shared some about our personal tragedies. It was amazing just how much pain these girls can be in at such a young age. I thought that I would share some verses that have helped me through my hard times.

Psalm 73
1A psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong. [a]
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity [b] ;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance. [c]
11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 27:1-3
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, [a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

Psalms 32:1-5
1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah

Habbakak 2:14
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
as the waters cover the sea.

This was the toast I gave at Mr. and Mrs. Garlands wedding.

One of our family's favorite movie is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. At the end the father of the bride gives this speech where he says that the name of the husband comes from the greek word that means apple and the name of the his family comes from the greek word for orange. He says that they are both different, but in the end they are all fruit. Garland means a a wreath and Pruitt means proud. So Eric, take this beautiful flower and wear her proudly.

A man walked up to another man and asked," Brother are you saved? Brother are you saved?"

The man doesn't say anything but starts to write on a piece of paper. The man who had asked the question asked again," Brother are you saved? Brother are you saved?"

The man looks up and hands the piece of paper to the man. "Here are a lists of names of my closest family and friends. Go ask them if I am saved."

This is so funny, but you have to watch both video's to really get it.







And for you information rabbits are evil as well.

This is my version of a country song


I can see the fire
Going to have to walk right through it
Scared to death
But You say it's okay
I fell the flame
I feel the pain
But You carry me through the way

The bad times come
And I'm ready for it
The bad times come
But You've prepared me for it
The bad times come
God, You're with me through it
The bad times come
And the dross is burned away

I see the storm
All around me
Numb with cold
But Your hand is safe
Too dark to see
Till lightening flashes
So bright I'm blinded but You lead the way

The bad times come
And I'm ready for it
The bad times come
But You've prepared me for it
The bad times come
God, You're with me through it
The bad times come
And You mold me as clay

The bad times come
I can see the fire
The bad times come
I can feel the flames
The bad times come
Can't see through the rain
The bad times come
But You speak through the pain

The bad times come
And I'm ready for it
The bad times come
But You've prepared me for it
The bad times come
God, You're with me through it
The bad times come
You've brought me through it...
And now I can see the day

This cannot be what You meant to be
This cannot be part of Your plan
All of the pain darkness I feel and see
How can this glorify You name?

I'm over whelmed by all the tragedy
The face of sin is seen in hate
But You make us stronger through adversity
In times of war true friends are made

Yet You are loving
You are gracious
You have shown kindness
I give You my trust

Lord, I may not understand Your ways
But I can see Your works in me
I'll strive to honor You and all You say
Mold me through the pain to whom I'm to be

We always return good for evil

Matthew 5:38-48

38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'^[a] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor^[b] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies^[c] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

We always return good for evil. This shows the world that the gospel has truly taken root in our lives.
These verses show us that retaliation is not the christian way to respond and these verses are not justification to be a door mat. There is a third way to respond to an enemy. We respond in active love.
Remember the Beatitudes. We are blessed when we are persecuted. Now others can be blessed when we are persecuted.
When someone insults us our first thought should be "How can I respond in love?" Yet this is often NOT the case in my life.
Jesus says," Go serve the oppressors and serve them better than they expect."

Luke 6:27-28

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Do good, bless, and pray for those who persecute you. This is how you love someone.
Kindness is what changes a persons heart.
Conflict is a part of life, enemies are a part of life. God calls us to face it by responding with good for evil and love for hatred.

I'm still thinking about being a godly women. I was thinking of the great examples we have of our faith.
Ruth had her famous speech about making Naomi's God her God. If I too would subject myself to the same obedience that she did.
Deborah was willing to go above and beyond the normal role of being a woman and serve God. That I would be able point others to God and His will as she did.
Esther circumstances placed her in a position where she had the chance to save God's people and influence the nations. That I would realize and act upon when such a time comes to me as well.
Rahab cared for God's people when it may have cost her life. May I to selflessly further the cause of Christ.
Mary worshiped her Lord despite others did not approve. I hope I to glorify my Lord with out hesitation or reservation.

Hello, I have lately been thinking about Biblical womanhood. What does it mean to be a woman? How can a woman be considered Godly? There is the standard of Proverbs 31 woman, but I don't sew or buy fields. And I don't have a household to cloth. I have recently been looking at some other verses that address women.

1 Peter 3:1-5

1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,

These women are not known for how beautiful they were on the outside, but the actions that they did, they attitudes that they displayed, and they love of God that shown through them. This is my answer. I can be a biblical woman by putting these verses principles into practice.

Father, I pray that you would make me a biblical woman. That my life would be a testimony of Your goodness in every part. May I not be lacking in You love and grace in any part of my life.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”- Psalm 139:23-24

I know that this is really corny, but it works.

I hope that every one had a good Valentine's day. I was thinking about the orgin of Valentine's day. There are a lot of different stories about how Valentine's day got started but my favorite is this one.

St Valentine was a priest who lived during the time of the Emperor Claudius. Claudius was fighting a war and he ordered that no marriages be performed bacause he thought that married man would not fight as well with a wife and chrildren at home. Valentine fought for the sactity of marrige and married several people. He was arrested and later exacuted for this.

I like the idea that Valentine's Day is a day we celabrate marriage as something that God ordained.

Dear Friend
Thank you for loving me
Something I take for ganted
You have blessed my life
I know this is something I've never said
But I thank God that you were sent

Dear Mom
Thank you for loving me
I can make it so hard
You have shaped my life
You have lit in me this spark
I thank God for who you are

Lord, I have needed love
And You have sent it
At different times, in many form, in different ways
You give love so freely
May I too give Your love away

Dear God
Thank You for loving me
Though I never can deserve it
Ashamed of who I am inside
But You say You don't observe it
Instead You see inside me the love You emit

Lord, I have needed love
And You have sent it
At different times, in many form, in different ways
You give love so freely
May I too give Your love away

I have had a lot I have needed to repent and ask forgivness for latly. These two psalms remind me that I don't have to bear and carry my sin. God takes it and bears it for me.

Psalm 32
1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD's unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!


Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ^[a] ;
you teach ^[b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are ^[c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

It is Sactity of Life week and this video really speaks.

I wrote this poem after doing a study on Romans. This passage really spoke to because how often do we forget to glorify and worship God in our day to day lives.

Father, You created me
Just the way I am
Though I'm not always happy with it
You created with a plan
You have told me to worship
Though I'm depraved
And don't give You glory as I should
Creator, take this creature
And make me good

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

I was recently in a conversation with one of my coworkers about Israel's wildlife. I said that there were Lions and bears in Israel and he said that there weren't. I said I would research it. Well I did and my findings are as follows:

• Israel's animal life has been very disturbed by the war
• The government has/can do little to protect the wildlife
• There used to be bears and lions, but are not currently
• Israel no longer would be able to support wildlife of that kind because of insufficient food supply.
  

These are very sad finds, but it definitely made me think.

So I've been tagged. Hereare some questions that the JollyBlogger asked me to answer.

0) What's your name and website URL? (optional, of course)

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max)

I like playing nurse and cooking for other people. It's not a hobby. It's a passion.

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max)

I used to play soccer and I still love the game.

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max)

dating

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)

I would like to learn how to deal with hard situations without getting all upset. I would like to learn to be someone that people can talk to when they need help. I don't do iether of these things very well.

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)

I think it would be my Grandma Beulah. She is an amazing christian woman and I would love to have an apprebticship with her.

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

I really asked my family and just typed what they said. Elaine was the only one who answered though.

beautiful

vocal

pacifist

B. Now list two more words you wish described you...

loveing

serving

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max)

nursing

cooking

music

6) (sue me) Write--and answer--one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

If you could speak a forgien language what would it be and where would you go to speak it?

[Bonus: What is one question you wish people would ask themselves?]

How I can serve God?

I'm suppose to tagg some people so here you are.

Aly

Annalee

Leslie

Beccah

Jordan

As we are coming into the new year I thought I would leave you all with some quotes from what others have taught me this year.

"Pursuing God's will takes great sacrifice; however, God will give you a future greater than you ever imagined."

"You'll know if marriage and this individual is right if your ministry together is more effective than your ministry as individuals."

"Reality, in fact, is always something you couldn't have guessed. That's one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It's a religion you couldn't have guessed."

"God seems more faithful when the bad things are happening and He's holding your hand than when life is good and your not looking to the Savior for help."

"I need the Psalms."

I really needed this. I often...ok always have this same adittude. I pray that God would work in my heart and create true worship.

Worship Frustration

I love listening to this lady. I may not always agree with everything she says, but she is very funny and I agree with a lot of it.

I awoke this morning
I awoke this morning to find
I could no longer be who I had been
Change had come
Change come but why
The person I was could never return again
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger but it hurts
Yet a broken heart can mend, must mend
I awoke this morning
I awoke this morning to find...

Thank you Mrs. Lynette for sending this to me. This is so cool. How can this not be created? How can this have just evolved?
Check this out

These are the lyrics to a song by Lisa Gungor. I heard them this weekend and I was touched by the message.

Paradox of Faith

She prayed for Your healing
She prayed that Youd be revealing who shes gonna be
She prayed for Your peace
She prayed that Youd heal the pieces of her family
She quoted the word
Said, whatever we ask in Your name we shall receive
And You opened the door
And You gave her what she asked for

He got on his knees
And said Father, would You please hear me tonight
She doesnt have long
Her lifes almost gone
Would You please heal my wife
He quoted the word
Said, whatever we ask in Your name we shall receive
But his wife passed away
And hes left everyday with the questions why

Why do some prayers seem to be unanswered
In return they cause our hope to falter
May hope be found
Not in what I pray for
My hope is in Your name
I will trust Your name

David was pleading
He was believing for God to save his son
But his faith wasnt shaken
When it didnt happen
And he chose to worship God
So much faith and so bold of Mary its told
When she reached to touch Your robe
It was counted as faith
As she went away to worship

Why do we formulate our faith
Provide our answers
For your unexplainable ways
May faith be found
Not in what I pray for
My faith is in Your name
And I will trust Your name

Lord I choose right now to trust You
Not for what You do
But for who You are
And though I dont have all the answers
I know that I will trust Your name
I will trust Your name
My hope is in Your name

Here is a portion of scripture that I think is very appropriate for 9/11.

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, ^[a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

Romans 8
19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that^[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

I too am am eagerly waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. I watch in awe and amazment as I see the works of the sons and daughters of God in this present age. May we are we rejoice in our glorious freedom that God has given us.

This is so cool!

This is the church in Bugambilias.

This is the church in Santa Ana.

This is Iteso University and the Football field where we played soccer at Iteso.

This is the road that we had to drive to get up and down the moutain.

Matthew 20:28
28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

It has been a while since I have posted, but as many of ya'll know I was in Guadalajara, Mexico for a two month internship. I learned a lot while in Mexico. Here are some of the things that I learned

-To speak a little espanol(Still working on this though)

-To serve a little more like Jesus (I'm still working on this one as well)

-To put a tomato on a cut the is bleeding profusely to stop the bleeding(I don't know why this works, but I would love to find out if anyone knows)

-To tell kids no and then tell them what they should be doing

-To cook a few Mexican dishes

-That I can't wait to do that for the rest of my life

Someday I would love to go back as a missionary. Please pray that God would guide me and show me His will for my life.

-

Oh, my Child
Come and weep a while
Cry on my shoulder
Till your eyes have run dry
But listen as I say this
I want you to understand
Never has anything happened
That I did not plan

Psalm 146

1 Praise the LORD. ^[a]
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.

I love how it says,"Do not put you trust in princes." As a girl I cannot wait until my prince comes and just sweeps me off my feet. But here it says that I should not put my trust in that. To often I get my hopes and dreams wrapped up in the idea of being married to the most wonderful guy in the world, yet here it tells me that my prince will let me down. My prince cannot save me.

That is why I take comfort in the fact that there is one man who can and has saved me.

Thank you Father for saving me. May I put my all my hopes and dreams in you and not in mortal men. May I trust you for the future. Amen.

Isaiah 54:16-17

16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.

I´ve been reading from Isaiah for the last few weeks. This realy popped out at me. Think about it. When a warrior is going out to battle he isn´t thinking,"Okay, I need to find out who made my opponites sword so that I know how good his weapon is. I need to find out who this guy trained with so that I know what fighting styles he is use to. I need to..." A warrior is not thinking of all the little things that made his enemy a warrior. Instead he is concentrating on the moment. He doesn´t have time to think big picture just then.

We have such a great God that he does that for us. When we are going through a spiritual battle, He knows exacatly what we need to keep up the good fight. He created everything and He can sure stop it if he needs to. He knew eacatly what we need to serve Him before we were even born. God is amazing. ¿Verdad?

To My Father

Dear Dad,

This is a letter thanking you for being such a great dad. As the f ather of five girls, you have undertaken what many men would dread. When I´m telling people I am one of five girls, no brothers, people will often say,¨Your poor dad.¨

When I was first started to hear this reaction, I would try and come up with a snappy come back to make people laugh. But lately I´ve come to a realization. You are probably the best man for the job of raising five girls.

You are kind and understanding, but you also push us to be tough and strong; therefore you have raised some very stong women as your daughters. You have taught us to lead and think for ourselves, but have also taught us to follow and help those in athority get their job done. You´ve taught us to think through things and us our minds, even when we don´t want to. Have have been an example of what we should look for in a husband. And most of all you have passed on your faith. Thank you for raising strong, smart, God-fearing daughter.

Now when people say,"Your poor dad," I say,"He is really the best man for the job."

Love,
--Rie

Deuteronomy 11:19

19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Wow! so much to tell so little time to tell it. I´m now in Mexico. Lauren and I are have been working for the past few days in a preschool in Santa Anna from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Then we go back to the Trotters house for lunch.

Santa Anna is a very poor part of Guadalajara. Think lucky that some of them have indoor plumbing poor. I will be taking pictures, but I can´t find the USB cord that loads my pictures onto the computer. So you guys might have to wait a while on the pic front.

The kids at the preschool are so darling. I love them so much. One of the kids is retarded and I am having a hard time knowing how to deal with him. Pray that God will show me how to deal with him in a way that will help him to grow and understand.

I need to work on my Spanish. The kids at the preschool don´t speak my English, so I have a good warm up in the morning. But I´m still a little hesitant to speak to adult and teenagers.

This Sunday I¨m singing for worship in the English service and singing an offertory in the Spanish service. The offertory is Be Thou My Vision in Español.

Galatians 5:19-21

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Exodus 34:10-14

10 Then the LORD said: "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. ^[a] 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Here we have to examples of Jealousy. Though these words may appear at fist to be the same that is not the case. One of these jealousies is our own human jealousy. The second example is God's jealousy.

I struggle alot with jealousy and I'm not talking about the kind that God has for us. I struggle with being jealous of others. But I have been warned if I live in a constant state of jealousy I will not inherit the kingdom of God.

My jealousy causes a multitude of problems. It causes me to sin against others, myself, and God. It makes me bitter, hate the people I'm jealous of, angry, despair of being good enough, makes me guilty over being jealous, and causes strife between others and myself. When I am jealous of others, I'm not being content with what God has blessed me with.

My sin that seems just to be just inside my head where no one can see wreak havoc on almost every part of my life. I don't want that.

Father, I come before with a great load on my shoulders. I need You to change my heart. I need You to make me not jealous of others. I do not want to live my life in a jealous state of being. Make me more like You and Your Son, Father. Amen.

I hope to write more later about God's jealousy later.

Proverbs 31:30

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

A woman to be praised. What a wonderful thing. I have know many women who have been worthy of the kind of praise that this verse says we should give them. I would like to thank all the mothers and single ladies who have lived their lives devoted to God. It is such an awesome thing to see.

My sister wrote this. She's awesome!

The Trees
By:Noelle Pruitt

What do you think of when you see a tree?
I think of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Why?
Because we always have room to grow.

What are the larger trees?
They are those who are wise and strong in the faith.

What about the littler trees?
Those are the ones who are young and untested. Pray for those.

What about the trees that are bare and have no leaves?
Those are the ones that have bo fruit. Who believe but never flurish.

What about the ones that have flowers?
Those are the ones that have gone before us, and now light our way with their bright colors.

If we are trees, what are squirells?
They are poeple that test our paitence with their ceaseless chater!

What about the wind?
thos who would have us bend and never grow. Those who would try to uproot us us and knock us down.

What about the birds?
Birds are angels, sining out for God's glory and cheering us on sky ward.

If we are trees, then what is God?
God is the Sky, big and beautiful. Giving us water to drink and sun so we can grow. God is the sky because we could never reach him ain a million years without Jesus.

One last question, what are the trees with all the little pods on them?
Those are the ones planting God's word into the hearts of others.

1 Peter 4:11
11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

As Christians we are called to be "little Christs." Are we doing that? I looked up faith on biblegateway and one of the things that came up was "GLORIFYING GOD » Accomplished by » Faithfulness." We were made to praise and glorify God. We are told in this verse to do everything to glorify Him. How amazing would it be to have God so on your mind that you think about glorifying Him in everything.

Father, my heart does not glorify you, yet that is what you created me to do. Pleasese turn my heart. Make it into something that longs to please and serve You with everything in it. Amen.

A friend recently asked why I am so stressed. It got me thinking. Why do I get myself in a stressed out state? It's unbiblicle. It isn't good for my health. People don't like to be around me when I get like that. I'm not fixing or helping in anyway the thing that I'm stressed about. And last, but certainly not least I'm not trusting God with my life.

So the next time you see me stressing over something and not trusting God for the outcome. Please tell me to take a deep breathe and pray with me.

A guy sat down to write a story. He though as he sharpened his pencil,' Who will be my main character? Should it be a boy or a girl? A girl. What family should I put her in? What special gifts and abilities should I give her?'

He starts writing. He puts her in a large family and gives her many blessings in her life. 'What kind of story should this be? Action, romance, mystery, or inspirational?'

He thinks for a moment and decides all of them. He wants to make this story really special. He already loves his heroine so much.

He gives her puzzles to work out. He watches her as guides her through obstacles. He is filled with happiness as she finds some one to love for the rest of her life. He smiles when she's happy and joyful. He nearly cries when she is facing tuff times and needs someone to cry with.

After writing for what seems a couple of decades, he sets down his pencil and takes time to reflect on what he has just written. "It is good," he whispers softly.

Our heavenly Father writes our story. Can we wait patiently for the end of the story to be revealed?

I went to a conference last weekend and over that weekend God really reached out and touched me. The speaker spoke just what I needed to hear and the worship band was one of the best I have ever seen. They truly knew how to worship God. I came back so blessed from the trip; however, ever since I got back I feel like the Satan has been attacking my friends and me. But God is in control.

Matthew 8:23-26

Jesus Calms the Storm

23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

God right know is saying to me,"Why are you afraid? I'm here and I am in control. I will take care of you."

Our God is a loving God. Some day it will be completely calm.

James 1:2-4

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Okay this is a girls only post. Sorry guys, but this really won't be something that you want to hear.

Isaiah 30:19-22
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

Look at what these verse s are saying. It's saying that we will turn from our idols. We will love the Lord so much that we will throw it away and see just how gross and dispicalbe our idols really are. As soon as we ask our Father for help He will not only hear us, but He will open our eyes and ears so that we can have understanding. He will give us guidence and show us just how much we really need Him. That is too cool for me.

Older and wiser
This is not always so
I don't know

Growing older means
Relying more on me
Is that what I want to be

As I walk through trials
And worlds unknown
May I cling to You
And not let go
My Heavenly Father
I cry
Give me faith as a child

Simpler and easier
The way it was long ago
I didn't know

Cleaner, purer
My heart now is torn
Between mine and Yours

As I walk through trials

And worlds unknown

May I cling to You

And not let go

My Heavenly Father

I cry

Give me faith as a child

Not an emotion that will soon pass away

Not thinking about it real hard

Not something I just say

To have something to say

It is being sure and certain

Of what I may not see

And trusting You through the mundane and insane

Lord, I don't understand
Why I'm suffering in Your Plan
Why I struggle through trials day by day
Though I may not see how this will end
How You'll bring out Your perfect plan
Yet still I'll sing glory to Your name

Great is my Lord
Merciful to me
Holy is my God
Ever loving me
Pure is my King
Cleansing and washing me
Thank You Father for saving me

Isaiah 30:18
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

I have been much in need of this verse lately. I have needed the Lords active compassion and He has given it just as this verse promises.

Currently ReadingCommon Grounds: Conversations About the Things That Matter Most
By Ben Young, Glenn Luckesee related

I'm over due for a book review.
I was given this book from the author himself. It is a very different sort of book and I learned alot from reading it.
The story line is three friends who have know eachother from college go out for coffee about once a week. They all have different religous beliefs. Two of them are christians, but belong to very different denominations. The third is an atheist. One of them hears a pastor who comes and preaches at his church. He is captivated by what the pastor says and it gives him a whole new insite to his faith. He invites the pastor to the coffee meetings with his friends. They discuss a lot of thoelogical matters that the three friends have questions about. The questions are not easy ones and I love the way that the story uses so much scripture. It is an awsome book that has deepened my faith and understanding of God.

"We are called to do good works and to do good work."

My friend Mike said this one day and it really stuck with me. We were discussing music and whether it was okay to listen to secular music. I said that it was and that I do. I'm just careful with what I listen to. He said that he was really disappointed with some Christian artist because they didn't seem to do good work.
He gave the example of Marlene Manson. Marlene Manson may not do good works, but he does good work. He is a very effective artist in that he is able to make you feel the emotions he wants you to through his music.
Now I don't listen and hopefully never will listen to Marlene Manson, but my friend Mike does have a point and it applies to my life. I may do good works, but am I doing them well? Am I doing everything in a way that would please, serve, and worship my Savior? Am I doing everything to the fullest? No, I'm not.

Father, I pray that You would work through me and not only do good works, but good work as well. May I be a testimony of Your greatness. Make me more and more like You. Amen.

We went to Frostburg to go see my sister for her birthday this weekend.... or so I thought. I was not happy about this trip. I had made plans for this weekend I couldn't believe that my parents made a last minute to go see Annalee for her birthday. I had made sure to tell them I had plans, but they decided to go anyway.

We met my sister and her boyfriend, Eric, at Burger King for dinner on Friday. We sat down to eat and I noticed my mom was doing something funny with her hands. Shaking them in a weird way. I looked at her and she nodded towards my older sister. I looked at my older sister and then I looked at her a hands. I saw that she had gotten a nice pretty new ring. A NICE PRETTY NEW RING!

She saw my glance and then she told us that Eric had proposed to her! She told us how her proposed and we all agreed that we will send our boyfriends to him for lessons on how to propose.

He had a project for his astronomy class and he did a presentation on the stars. At the end he asked my sister how it went. He then said he had some questions for her and asked her several questions about stars and such. He then said," I have one final question." Then he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She said yes. They called my parents and told them, but asked them to not tell us girls because Annalee wanted to tell us in person.

Isn't that totally AWESOME! I have done a lot of shouting in this post, but the I am just so happy. Hugs and kisses to you all and great is our God who has the perfect plan.

How blessed our we to have a Father who shows us such favor when we are in need of it.

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

There is so much I want to do for the ministry of Christ, but only so little I can do. I am really struggling with which ministry do I want to be a part of. I would love to quite school and just spend all my time working on the different ministry I'm interested in, but I need some schooling before I can do that. So for know some of that work is put on hold. My heart cries to do it now, but God is saying wait. So I'll wait.

Psalm 27:14
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.