~Patience in welldoing

Imagine with me that you are helping out at an elderly person's home (and of course doing your best!) maybe cleaning or something. And here someone comes up to you and starts criticizing you and telling you what an awful job you are doing. (Assuming this person is a non-believer.) How would you respond? If you simply smile and respond kindly you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. (If you have the right attitude as well, that is!) In 1 Peter 2:20b-21 it says 'but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:' 
  God says it is acceptable to him when you respond correctly. And through that, what a witness we can be to others! God brings things like that into our lives for a reason, but we have to choose what we are going to do with it. Get upset, maybe retaliate, or praise God.
  Now something like someone criticizing us isn't really that big a thing, but what about if someone were about to harm you? Would you grab a gun and defend yourself? Maybe even shoot them? Just one question about that: What kind of a witness would that be? Is that how Christ would respond? (oops that was two!) Umm I don't think so. He commanded us to love our enemies, to bless the ones that curse us, to do good to those that hate us, and finally to pray for the people who wrongfully use us and persecute us. (Matt 5:44)
  You may say "Well I need to protect myself and those around me!" All I have in answer to that is "How big is your God?" Is He not big enough or strong enough to take care of you? Yes, what I am talking about here is non-resistance. Please understand that I am writing this out of complete love for all of you out there reading. but if this offends you, I suggest you take it up with God. I got all this from His word.
  I urge you, if you don't agree with this, go talk to Him about it.
 
To sum it all up: I wholeheartedly believe God IS big enough to take care of us, it all comes down to weather or not we will trust Him and allow Him to do it.  

~Why do you believe?

   Why are you a Christian? 
I always feel kinda on the spot when someone stops me while I'm out and asks me questions about my beliefs or lifestyle. I know in my heart why I'm a Christian but so many times when its popped on me I can't get my thoughts together.
  Do you know that in the Bible there is a command for you to be ready to answer questions like that? (If you don't know the answers yourself then I would suggest going and spending time with God right now to find out.) In 1 Peter 3:15 it says 'But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.' But there is also a verse that talks about not worrying what you will say. (Matt. 10:19-20) Now by this I'm not telling you the Bible contradicts itself because it doesn't. God can't so the Bible can't. What I'm trying to bring across is that there needs to be a balance between knowing it in your heart/living it, and letting God direct your words. I'm really saying this because I see so many young people living a 'Christian lifestyle' because that is what they are supposed to do and they never seem to have it as their own. Their parents say so, or their preacher says so. What they don't realize is that they are missing the intimate relationship God wants with each one of us. Its wrong and therefore its sin. Did you ever think about that? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this to tear anyone down but to push you forward! If you don't have this relationship fall down before God and beg Him for it! He won't deny it! He wants it more than you could ever imagine! You may say you still don't know how to get that. Well if you truly want it and put everything into getting that relationship, God will show you the way. A lot of it depends on you though. How important is it to you, to get it? Two things are necessary to obtaining it though: a broken and contrite spirit.

~A purposed heart

What can God do with someone who has totally dedicated their life to Him, and promises to keep themselves pure?
 Well I found one answer to that in the book of Daniel. The verse that really got me thinking on this was Daniel 1:8 'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine that he drank.' So Daniel explained his problem to one in charge, because he could not eat it. By this you can see Danial obviously knew what God asked of His people, and he was determined to do it even though it could cost him. He would please God. And he did. It shows how pleased God was with Daniel and the three others that stood with him, (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) and that He rewards those that stand on His word. In verse 17 it says 'God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.' It also says in verse 20 that the king 'found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.'
  So here's a question: Did God only bestow those kind of blessing back then, or can it still happen today?
Most certainly it still can and does happen. (Except you won't see it unless you're looking.) But how?
The answer is in Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices are a broken spirit and a contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise." In order to please God we need to have a humble and willing heart to do what He asks. I love what David says in Psalm 27, where he writes about God asking him to seek His face. David replied that his heart said 'Thy face Lord, will I seek.' It wasn't just his mouth saying it but it was the deepest part of his heart crying out to be where God wanted him to be. And he did seek God's face. How else did he become known as the 'man after God's own heart?' 
  So once again it comes down to us. We are going to have to make a decision. Is this how we are going to live? Wholeheartedly seeking Him, honoring Him, obeying Him, and ultimately living for Him? But there is only one way we will be able to do that. Its by knowing what is required of us, and there is only one book that gives the guidelines and directions for that. The Bible.

~Snow Pictures

Hey I decided to post a few of the 'better' pictures from a week or two ago when I was riding Dunny in the snow. Kalin had actually asked so here they are! My sister Tashia took the first two then Jessica my youngest sister took the next four. Very fun and it was a BEAUTIFUL day!

(Love this one! The angle and the coloring.)

 He even brought his head around back! I was like "Take a picture, quick, you better not have missed that." all while trying to look like I'm just smiling! It turned out really good though!

Then we ran back the lane. I started out nice and easy to see how slick it was but there was no problem. He wanted to go, I wanted to go, so I let him out a bit. I love to run! (Who doesn't?)

I didn't realize his head was up so high! Gonna have to work on that. 

I also took some pictures in the snow the other day and was very happy with how they turned out. :)

My (baby) sister Jessica! I love photo-shoots with people AND horses! I took tons of pictures of Jess and Hank together but decided only to put on two. 

~God is good...

...all the time!

This is a song I heard by a group called 'Adopted', and it was on their CD 'In His Presence.' I really love the song and its message and I thought it fit in very well with the post I was writing.

If I never get to see another rainbow,
Or share another laugh with a friend.
If I never stand barefoot by the ocean,
Or get to kiss my child goodnight again.

If I never have another prayer that's answered,
Or have another blessing come my way,
If this is all I know of heaven's kindness,
Father I would still have to say-

You have been good! You have been good!
And I am in wonder how could it be!
You have been good! You've been so good!
In so many ways, you've been good to me!

You have shown me mercy upon mercy!
Grace upon grace, time after time.
I know all too well what I'm deserving,
But you are still so patient and kind!

 You have been good! You have been good!

And I am in wonder how could it be!

You have been good! You've been so good!

In so many ways, you've been good to me!

If suddenly it all were ended,

And your blessing disappeared,

Looking back over a lifetime, 

The evidence is clear,

You have been good! You have been good!

And I am in wonder how could it be!

You have been good! You've been so good!

In so many ways, you've been good to me!  

  Did you ever stop and think "Why did that have to happen?" or "Why to me?" There is one simple answer and once you understand it you will be able to accept all the things that happen to you in life. Are you ready? It is: God is good, all the time.  So simple yet so profound.
  God knows exactly what it is going to take for you to become exactly who He wants you to be. So everything that it takes for you to get to that point is 'good for you.'

  He also wants you to praise and thank Him for what He sends you through. Once you can wholeheartedly do both of them you will be able to truly say: God is good, all the time. And have a smile on your face, and be able to tell others about what God is teaching you through it.

Isaiah 55:8-9

   For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.    

~New header

I just wanted to write and say "Thanks Tashia!" She helped set up and make my new blog header. (She also took the picture.) We took a bunch of pictures in the snow that day and then my youngest sister Jess came and took some more! I don't get pictures of myself and my horses very much, so I take advantage of it when I can!

   Have a blessed week! 

~Fill me Lord Jesus

How is your cup doing? (That might sound a little strange. Let me explain.) Is it half-full? 99.9% full? Overflowing? What fills your cup? Are you running so much here and there trying to keep up with your busy schedule that you miss your special time with God? Or does you day revolve around your time spent with Him? God would LOVE to fill your heart to overflowing! In essence it is Him pouring Himself into your life. Then you, taking from that flow, can pour it into others around you! Are you filled with Him? Lets look at it from a different angle. Would you know if someone else was filled with God and His Spirit? Matthew 7:17 says “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” We should be able to see it.

How will you know if someone is filled.
By their words-
    Psalm 71:8 ‘Let my mouth be filled with thy praise an honor all the day.’
By their hunger for God’s word-
          Matthew 5:6 ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’
By their bold and sincere love for Christ-
          Acts 4:31b ‘And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.’
By their joy-
         Acts 13:52 ‘And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Ghost.’

Are these attributes in your life? Does God rule there? Can others tell that He is the one filling you?
  Romans 15:13-14 tells a few more attributes that should be present in a God-filled believer’s life.
   ‘Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
    And I myself am also persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.’

I think its interesting here that Paul says “able also to admonish one another.” We are to be able to go to a brother or sister who is living in sin, and lovingly speak the truth to them. There may be something they are struggling with and just need someone to encourage them to go to Jesus, or to take them to Jesus. .) Either way they need to know that you will hold them accountable.