Five Minute Friday: Waking Up

Hosted by: The Gypsy Mama
Begin:

Waking up--
Trees beginning to bud after being bare all winter long,
Flowers beginning to bloom,
Cold weather leaving, warm weather coming.
Grass turning green---
Nature is waking up.

The Recent Events in Japan

This question was posted yesterday on my facebook page "19,000 dead in Japan including little children, the kind you see every day? God planned this?"

WOW what a question that is. I have to admit I asked myself the same thing over and over again. Why would God allow this to happen? Did God allow this to happen? Why did 19,000+ people have to die and more lose their homes. Why do bad things HAVE to happen. Why can this world not be perfect? First of all this world is NOT perfect because of man's sinful nature. Because of sin things happen---I can go through a whole list of events in our world that effected people but then you would get really tired of reading and wouldn't get to the meat of this post.

But the question today is "Were the events in Japan God's Will?" My reply to this answer was the following:
"Surprisenly He did. We may not understand WHY things happen in our world but everything that happens is according to HIS plan. I wish the thing in Japan did not happen, I wish people did not have to die, I wish horrible thing...s did not have to happen...I wish things can be perfect. THe Bible says is Matthew 8:27 "that the winds and the waves even obey his command"...I believe that the tradgedy in Japan was His doing. Even during hard time sin my life--with my dad's cancer or even when I had a car accident and totalled my car I see that it was God's Will and for that I am at peace and happy to be in His will. The hard things in life draw me even closer to Him and help me trust Him more and have faith in Him...I admit yes its very hard at times and I want to get angry but getting angry never helps--prayer does. With the events in Japan all I know to do and all I can do is pray for the people there."

So every little thing that happens is the Lord's Will??? I do believe that some things that has happened in our world--the Nazi regime, 9/11, OKC Bombing was against God's Will because God does not want humans to kill others. But at the same time GOD prevented ALOT more from happening and even more people dying. He allowed some Jews to stay hidden, escape the concentration camps, and some come out alive. He allowed some people to get out of the Twin Towers and out of the OKC building. God has allowed several Japanese people to be found alive in the rubble.

We serve a good and a living God and He is in control--even during hard times.
I am also posting a link of an article I found: http://www.gotquestions.org/natural-disasters.html

Christian Education Part 2

I know sometimes my writing and thought may not make sense...I am working on that part when it comes to my writing. I tend to think faster than I can type and my thoughts also get jumbled up as well....

I wanted to write another post on Christian Education. I thinki Christian Education is the next best thing next to Starbucks carmel macchiatos (I would say sliced bread but I really do not like sliced bread). Chrsitian education is a great way to teach Bible priniples to kids who may not hear it at home or go to church. Christin education teaches the student a Biblical way to live out in the world.

It is what they do with it is their choice and also what the parents do at home--this is what I meant in my earlier post. I love the idea of Christian eduacation and love being a part of it. I just wish the kids who are in the Christians schools would take those truths and live them out instead of throwing away the key of what they learned after graduation---when they do that that is what breaks my heart.

The Kids of Christian Education

I grew up in Christian education having been homeschooled until 5th grade, attended Christian school from 5th grade on, and even attended a Christian University. I am so thankful for the privilege I had to attend a Christian school and learn about God and Christian truths.
I was told in high-school by some classmates that if I attended BJU I would not learn how to live in the “real world.” I replied to them that “I rather be ‘sheltered’ and in God’s will rather than in the real world and out of God’s will and miserable.” I attended BJU and I learned how to live in the world from a Biblical view.
One thing that breaks my heart and brings a lot of frustrations are kids and people who attended these Christian schools (I am not being judgmental or any thing or even putting myself on a pedestal and trying to be “holier than thou”) , but it makes me sad as I look at pictures of people I went to school with on face book and see them living in the world…..as in the sinful world. It is as if they are throwing the Christian education they received away and doing what they want to do. I am coming to find out that kids that received a Christian education are no better than kids who did not--there are public school kids who turned out better than Christian School kids. Thankfully, there have been Christian school students who have gone out and served the Lord and stayed out of the sinful ways of the world.
I am just learning that even as a kindergarten teacher in a Christian school that no matter what I need to make sure I pray daily for my students and  “grow up” that they will be the next David Brainerd and Amy Carmichael.
For my life, I pray I stick with the truths I learned growing up and stay out of the ways of the world and live only for HIM.

David & Goliath in a Child’s Words

After teaching a Bible lesson I like to go back and let my students tell the story back to me. Today, we went through the stories of David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and Shadrack, Mechak, and Abednego. This is how one of my little boys told the story (I wish I could post a video of it….):

Teacher: “We have been talking about in Bible time of people who were brave even though it may have been hard. We’ve talked about David and Goliath. Can somebody tell me the story of David and Goliath?”
Student: “Well David went to fight Goliath. He got this many stones (held up five fingers) from the stream. He got his slingshot and put one stone in it and pulled back (demonstrated pulling back) then swug it roud and roud and roud…then the dragon (sounded like dragon)…then the stone went up (demonstrated the stone going up) and hit the giant on the head and the giant came tumbling down!!! (can you tell what song we've sung over and over again???)

{Smiles}

100 Day Photo Challenge Blog

I am a brave person trying to keep up four blogs =)
The kitchen one is probably the one that will be posted on the least amount....
this next one is a 100 day photo challenge blog. Taking 100 days and posting a different picture each day---so click on the link below and enjoy!
http://100daysofrebecca.blogspot.com/

Music

Ever since I was a little girl I have LOVED music. I grew up listening to dad’s Readers Digest Classical music records. I wanted to know what the composers were and was determined to recognize the songs they played (and still like that today). When I was around 10 my dad gave me about five classical music tapes. I wore then out…especially the Pachebel Canon in D one.

I loved singing in Patch club and was sad when I was too old for it.  I was known growing up to always sing around the house…then I became older and quit singing as much. I regret stopping singing ALL the time…that passion left me when I became a teenager. I still sing in the choir and I love it. I admire one friend though that NO MATTER what she is always singing in the car, in her house, and at my house =) (Love ya Lori).

I took piano lessons as a kid for a year, then again for two years in high-school. I was determined to learn how to play…you guessed in Canon in D. I memorized the entire song and annoyed my family playing it. When I went to college I got away from playing piano…now that I am taking care of a friend’s piano I am trying to get back into it.

But the best thing I play when it comes to music is the radio (or CD player). I always (well almost) have music playing when cooking, cleaning, or just blogging (and yes I am listening to music right now).

What kind of music do I like? Well my favorite is piano—its relaxing and so much emotion in the keys. I enjoy Josh Groban, some jazz….BUT by far my favorite is  Sacred music…and yes played on the piano.

Five Minute Friday: Waiting

Hosted by: The Gypsy Mama
Begin:
Wow what a busy day this has been! I finally have five minutes to sit and write. The topic today is waiting…..something I am NOT very  good at at times.
The first thing that came to my mind was the Bible verse: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait I say on the Lord".(Psalm 27:14)
Waiting at times is sure hard…especially when you are single. I guess the one thing I have been waiting for what seems a long time is for a man to come into my life to love me for who I am despite my flaws and my somewhat hyperness, craziness, and all my quirks. It seems the older I get and each passing birthday the hope of getting married and having my own family becomes bleaker and bleaker. But no matter what God is good and this waiting process has taught me a lot on what I need to focus on NOT a boyfriend or a husband but learning to wait on God to bring the one into my life.
Waiting on an answer to prayer is hard…there are times I want things right away and I mean RIGHT away…but God has not given me the things I wanted right away he has made me wait on Him..I think that waiting period God gives me teaches me to rely on Him more and makes me a stronger Christian. Waiting although it is hard I have come to realize that waiting is part of the Christian life.
The best thing about waiting…it helps strengthen my faith in God.  So I will sit and wait and learn to be patient and in the process learn to trust God more.
Stop

Journey

**I wrote this on my face book and wanted to share this with you. The past few months has been lessons on learning how much God is in control and has His perfect timing for everything.

One thing I do want to share is the journey of having surgery sometime this year. It all stared two years ago when some dear friends kindly suggested the idea of nose surgery to me. I have been totally against it. Through a series of circumstances I finally felt the Lord leading me to get something done...but I wasn't about to go to the doctor. In July I contracted ringworm on my face. It cleared up and then kept on coming back for months. Finally in October 2010, I went to the doctor about it. I found myself saying "I want to have nose surgery how do I go about doing it?" The doctor then refereed my to a neurologist (since the problem has to do with a condition I have with the nervous system). I was afraid to call the neuro doctor. I talked to Mrs. Masitto, my pastor's wife, and shared with her what I was thinking and praying about doing. She prayed with me for wisdom in the decisions that needed to be made. It took an entire month to call the neuro doctor. I then had an appointment for Jan 2011. Thankfully my friend Angela went with me as a "second ear." I shared my concern with the neurologist and he agreed the neuroma was growing back and that it needed to be taken care of. The neuro doctor then referred me to a plastic surgeon that was an ENT doctor and specializes in facial plastic surgery procedure. I went to this appointment in January and the doctor agreed the neuroma had indeed grown back and was growing bigger. It was going out toward my cheek and was causing my lip to sag some and effecting my breathing. He said that the procedure would be a medical necessity to get done...but he also said he would have to get insurance to see that this is not for cosmetic purposes.What he is going have to do is remove most if not all of the right side of my nose. He then will rebuild the nose using cartilage from my tip of nose and ear. I began praying hard and my theme verse became James 1:5 "But let him ask in faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like the waves driven my the wind and tossed." I knew that God would answer this prayer somehow...but I wanted it according to His will.

On February 7, I received a letter from insurance that the surgery was eligible for coverage. How excited I was!!! I was telling everyone! Then on February 9, I received a letter to say it was not eligible. How confused I was and heartbroken. I cried my eyes out and my beloved students were concerned because their teacher was crying. I had a friend see me upset and she encouraged me that God is in control. When I turned on my Patch the Pirate CD for my class the song that came on first was a song about Joseph. THe chorus says "God is good through every trial and test." I broke down and cried again thinking God is good no matter the outcome. At lunch time I called the doctor and they explained to me the situation---insurance would only partially cover the surgery (the removal of the neuroma) NOT the reconstruction. But, even before I called with my concern the doctor's office is already working with the insurance. The doctor is already talking to the insurnace company and has to have a person to person conference with the medical director of the insurance compay PRAY that insurance will see this as a medical need and cover it in full.

I had a talk with my pastor's wife and school secretary and told them both that I am okay with what is going on. I am not upset and know God is in control.  I told them that ever since I been spending more time in God's Word this has helped me focus on HIM more and not worry. I was also told that Satan knows I am trying to have a better relationship with God and he wants to interfere...BUT I am NOT going to let him. I also was reminded by a very godly man in my church that Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible no matter what the outcome.

One more thing...(this is how I know God is working)

I told a friend today that I sat on my bed and grasped the letters the insurance sent me and prayed over them. One of my school parents heard me say that in passing and asked my friend if I was talking about insurance. The school parent then said I had a dream/thought last night that I needed to pray for Miss Page about something that was on her heart and  saw her holding a letter that said yes...wow that gave me chill bumps and tears in my eyes! I know God knows what is on my heart and even without this school parent knowing she is praying! WOW God sure is good!

I can't wait to see what happens and know that whatever happens its the Lord's will. God is good NO MATTER WHAT!

Thanks for the prayers about this matter too!

Love you all!

WHAT CAN I SAY??? GOD IS SOOOOOOO GOOD! Two years of prayer about whether or not to have surgery, weeks of dr appointments...two weeks of praying since insurance first turned me down. THEN PRAISE THE LORD---I was able to schedule my surgery! Insurance will cover BOTH procedures (which is actually also one all together). I am super excited and give GOD ALL THE GLORY! As I was reminded at church last night..Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible! =)

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is my favorite season. I love how the crisp winter air leaves, how the brown grass begins turning a luscious green, the buds on the trees begin to appear,  tender white and pink flowers appear on the trees, and I can hear the birds twittering outside my window. The fresh spring breeze is revitalizing and I love the warm weather and soft breeze. Fresh spring rain even makes me happy.
The signs of spring coming reminds me of our wonderful Savior who made the seasons change, who made new life, and who gave is a beautiful world.

Thots Before Bedtime

Seems like late at night is the time my mind wants to ramble on....=) If you know me well enough you know I am a rambler..I mean this blog was almost entitled "Rebecca's Ramblings"

But before I was going to bed I was just thinking of the goodness and love that God has for me. I feel that I fail Him so many times---but no matter what God is patient, loving, and kind and is always there even when I don't always go to Him.

I want my life to reflect Christ and I want to please Him.

Summing Up James 1: 17-27

It is hard to put a title to every section/verse in James so this post is going to sum the rest of the chapter up.

vs 17 – God gives me everything –everything I have is a gift from Him. God gave me life, a ministry, a home, friends, etc. The best gift that God has given me is His Son so I can be saved from my sins.

vs 18- I am a “firstfruit.” I a “fruit” for God and I want my life to bear fruit. I am a Christian and I should be planting the seed of salvation—God adopted me when I asked Him to be my Savior from sin.

vs 19 & 20—So many time I admit that I speak before I think. I need to make sure I take the time to LISTEN to those around me---my friends, parents, school parents, pastor, and students before reacting or coming to conclusions about things. I also need to make sure that I am not easily angered (slow to wrath). When I get angry I am not displaying godly character.

vs 21 When going to God’s Word I need to be humble and willing to learn what God wants to teach me. In order to learn from God I need to set aside the things in my life that will hinder my relationship with God.

vs 22 I should listen to God’s Word but I should also live by what God’s Word says. When I am doing what God says and living by His Word I am being obedient. If I am reading God’s Word but not obeying it I am “deceiving myself.” I may think I know God’s Word but I really do not if I am living it and doing what it says—I am being hypocritical.

vs 23 If I am doing what God’s Word says its like looking in a spoon or in my stainless steel pans as a mirror. I can kind of see myself-I see an image but I can’t really see what I look like. God’s Word shows me my sin and my rottenness it shows me what I truly am. I need to make sure I am in God’s Word and letting God’s Word reflect in my life so I can show others Christ and clearly reflect Him--

vs 24 I can hear/read God’s Word but if I do not really study it I will forget what it says and not do what God’s Word wants me to do.Kent described it as a man looking in the mirror and not taking the time to take a second look at himself.

vs 25- I need to make sure I read and study God’s Word each day to get a clean picture of who He is—I need to remember and do what I hear- God will bless me if I am a doer of His Word.

vs 26 A man can act and say he is “religious” while at the same time can act totally differently.

vs 27 I need to serve God in every aspect of my life and be a good example—to take care of others—visit people—helping them grow in the Lord

Another good message to hear "A Chosen Generation"

A wonderful message to share

Don’t Be Tempted

I have been working on my study through James and updating you on what the Lord has been teaching me. James 1:13-16 focuses on temptation and where temptation comes from. The word “tempted” means to be enticed---Christians are subject to sin. We are humans and humans have a sinful nature. Just because one is a Christian does not mean that they {I} will do everything right. Christians (and non-Christians) can have a bad habit of pointing fingers to God when they do wrong---but that should not be the case because GOD IS HOLY and God does not tolerate sin. Temptation comes from man himself. We {I} all have a sin nature. I can be tempted to turn away from God by little things---TV, facebook, internet, netflix, media, etc. But I should let these things tempt me and destroy my relationship with God. Satan does not want me to love God—Satan wants me to to wrong. Sin is like a small seed. A seed is small but something that seems small is big and if I let temptations get a hold of me it can I can grow deeper and deeper into sin and it can ruin my relationship with God. Sadly I will make errors in my life. After all I am human and I make mistakes {a lot of them}. But with God’s help and fleeing from temptation I can make the right choices. I can also be misled by other people in my life. I need to make sure I have godly leaders and choose godly people to follow.

Five Minute Fridays: I feel most loved when…

Hosted by: The Gypsy Mama

My students come running into class filled with smiles, laughter, and hugs. When they bring me “flowers” (dandelions and weeds) from the playground in their little hands. When they see I am sad they always make sure I am “okay.”

I feel loved when I get an unexpected letter, email, or text—even if it just says “thinking of you.”

I feel loved when I have that time with friends for laughter, talking, and of course Starbucks thrown in. I feel loved even when the Starbucks barista gives me my drink “on the house.”

I feel loved when I am told I am beautiful.

I feel loved when I am smiled at.

I feel loved when I think of everything that God did for me---how He gave His Son as a precious gift to die for ME. I feel loved when I sit and read God’s Word and the love letter He wrote to me. I feel loved when I think about everything God has blessed me with~ a wonderful family and friends.

 

The Tongue

James 3:5a “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…”

I am the first to admit how outspoken I can be. Many times I have spoken my mind and at times haven’t meant to. It seems I always say, “oops didn’t mean to say that.” The tongue is a very important part of our body. It helps up eat (preventing food from going right down our throat), we can taste things, and it helps us speak. But the tongue can also be something that can get one into trouble.

Growing up my mother always told me to “think before I speak” and many times I have just spoken my mind and regretted it. James warns of the tongue and tells the Christian to control what we say.

James uses three illustrations with the tongue:

• Horses bridle: very small and helps guide and CONTROL the horse
• Ship’s Rudder” very small and helps GUIDE and CONTROL the ship.

Just like the horse’s bridle and the ship’s rudder both being small and both controlling something big I need to make sure I control my tongue. I need to make sure that my tongue {words} please the Lord.

The third illustration that James uses is fire. A fire starts as a spark and can grow bigger and bigger. How is this applicable in our life?

1. I need to make sure I am not spreading rumors and gossiping
2. I need to make sure I am telling the truth
3. I need to make sure I am not boasting

(vs 7-10)

Man has tamed many animals. I think of the dolphins and whales at Sea World and watch how tame they are…I mean look at all the tricks they can do its AMAZING! Although animals can be tamed the tongue cannot—but the tongue can be controlled. To control the tongue one must ask for wisdom to be careful what to say and to speak S-L-O-W-L-Y (or think before you say something.)

(vs 10-12)

Am I careful what I say. Do I say one nice thing then turn around and say something mean---or something that does not please the Lord? James warns of  “blessing and cursing” coming out of the mouth. This should not be so---I need to make sure that only blessings comes out of my mouth. Two illustrations are used

• a fountain with sweet and bitter water cannot be so. Both kinds cannot come out of the fountain. My words need to be like sweet water.
• A fig tree cannot bear olive berries. Therefore I need to make sure that only one thing (blessings and sweet words) come out of my mouth.

(vs 13-18)

I need to make sure my heart is right when I speak wisdom. I can say the right things but if I am not believing it in my heart or saying one thing and doing another it is a sin. I need to make sure that I say and live and do. I need to make sure that I pray before saying things---and that my words are TRUE. The wisdom from God is “pure, peacable, gentle, and full of mercy, not partial, and not hypocritical.”

May I live my life in this way and make sure everything I saw is wise and pleases the Lord.

Update on Surgery

Things have kept me so busy that I haven't had a chance to sit down and update you on my surgery. Several weeks ago I was informed I was only going to get partial coverage for my surgery. Two weeks of prayer the Lord has answered in His way---I have full coverage on my surgery!

The plastic surgeon office called and I have been able to schedule my surgery for June 7th!!! Praise the Lord! =)

Five Minute Friday: When I Look in the Mirror I See…

Five minute Fridays hosted by: The Gypsy Mama

“Mirror Mirror in the Wall what do I see? I see a face staring back at me.”  I see clear brown eyes (tired from a long week teaching 17 four year olds), I see my floppy and scraggly brownish reddish hair that come to my shoulders, I see a thin smile (since I am NOT  a morning person), I see a nose that isn’t the prettiest. I see my dad’s eyes and mom’s facial features.
And as I look in the mirror and cover the flaws I see with makeup and brush my scraggly straight (and sometimes “fluffy”) brown hair I see a face that God made. A face that God made unique because He loves me. I see a face that is not approved by man, but a face that God approves of. I see that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” and think that there in no one just like me. I see a young woman who once was low on self-esteem and hated herself turn into a beautiful confident young lady who desires to serve the Lord.
But as I go places (Oh the places I will go) I hope and pray that people will not just see ME but will see Christ shining through me.
(well this was a hard one to write and I did it!)

(A picture of little old unique ME!)