The Reason I Live (a guest post)

{by Naomi H.}

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 4:5-6. It says that “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

This verse is a verse that I quote almost every day. It reminds me that my identity is not in the things of this world, but in CHRIST ALONE! HE ALONE is my light, my life, and my salvation. He is my everything, my strength when I am week, my light when all is dark, and my friend when I feel alone.

On the other side of the coin, it also challenges me to evaluate my life and see if I am showing Christ the way that I should. Are all of my words, actions, and even thoughts Christ-honoring? Do I respect and glorify Him with everything that I do?

An old friend of mine had a gift for writing poems. Although the friendship is long over, the poem has stayed with me through the years. I entitled it “Faith Sings a Melody”. Every now and again, I dig it out and read it. It reminds me that the Christian walk is not a destination, its a life long journey. A path that brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Faith sings a melody, glorious and free

In Christ my faith I’ve put, it’s time to lean on He

Who’s died to pay my debt, no more chains on me

A song which rings aloud, for all the world to hear

Now this song I cry, as Christ does now draw near

I’ll sing it loud I’ll sing it proud, best of all to make it clear

I’ve faith in Jesus Christ, my life He does lead

This passion and this love, his commandments I shall keep

This greatest book of all, a blessing now to read

This faith now does tell me, He is stronger than I

And on this mountain top, I lift his name on high

And soon the day to see His face, I know it does draw nigh

Naomi is a good friend of mine, who I met through John. She is going to college for nursing, loves hedgehogs, and has a beautiful heart for Christ! I'm so proud to call her a friend! Best part of it? We are twins in so many ways...including the fact we both love Psalm 27!

My Life in a Nutshell

My poor neglected blog. I have an indescribably desire to write but alas the kindle is charging right now so I'm making do by typing it up on an email to transfer later. What's up with me? Well tomorrow marks a year since I was diagnosed with pneumonia. And Sunday is Valentine's day! And then next Sunday is Mom's birthday! I have been slacking on my blog, but I have good excuses like: - sorting and deep cleaning out closets and rooms - planning a short show for next Wednesday - sewing up some baby hats I made this past fall so I can donate them - writing lots of letters for my R.L.O.E. ministry (Random Letters of Encouragement) - sending in an application for a new job (and praying I get it!) - figuring out what I have left to finish to graduate this spring - knowing I need to get my permit soon so I have an ID again and so I can learn to drive like a normal person lol - drinking iced coffee because I really really needed it today - catching up with my dance teacher, Colleen, who has been a big encouragement with reigniting my passion for dance (a few small sparks...just need to fan them to turn them back into a flame) - forgetting to turn on crock-pot until 3ish this afternoon when I put the food in around 10:45 this morning XD - enjoying yummy chocolate that someone sent my sisters and I as a thank you for a Christmas present I delivered to them quite late  - being incredibly thankful for the USPS and the internet for being able to reconnect with people I havent talked to in at least a year and a half - teasing my cat with kitty treats - becoming a Trekkie by watching through the original Star Trek series (I just started season 2) - and being called a nerd for the first time ever which made my day XD -  and who knows what else! I really should do an obligatory post about Valentine's day...but I dont want to! :P I could tell y'all that a local school helped us make 400+ valentines to send to a army base in Oklahoma :) Which is awesome!!!! Well, I suppose I should end this so I can post it. Thank you for your prayers! I shall post again soon! :)

Let me tell you about

Let me tell you about my day.*

Lets see, I got up and made Jesus breakfast, oatmeal.
Then I put Jesus' laundry in the washing machine.
Then I rocked Jesus to sleep.
I got Jesus a snack.
Then I put Jesus' laundry in the dryer.
Found some clean clothes for Him to wear.
Then I made Jesus lunch of peanut butter and fluff.
Then I helped my Mom put Jesus to bed for a nap.
After that Jesus helped me with my Algebra..........

Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-45

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:31-45

I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

That is what Mother Teresa's outlook was. 

My Mom and I recently read a couple books about her. 

What an AMAZING woman after God's heart.

I thoroughly recommend reading about her. 

So when I get mad at my sisters, I get mad at Jesus. 
When I do the laundry, I am doing Jesus' laundry.
When I forgive one of my friends, I forgive Jesus.
When I chat with my friends at dance, I chat with Jesus.
When I dance, I dance for Jesus.
When I clean, I am cleaning Jesus' house.

This is the life I want to live. 

I want to live for Jesus by serving him, by serving people.

I think this song sums it up: Good to be Alive

"I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive"

 
(Mom, I'm stealing your lesson from Chapel!! :~D)

What I needed to hear

I am taking a fast from email this week.

Which is hard, because that is how I access my blog, through email.

I do this every now and then. It really refreshes my outlook through God's word and how I see and chat with my friends.

Email is my form of communication. No Facebook, no cell phone, no texting, no Twitter.

I wanted to write a blog post.

Why, I have no clue.

I pulled up my email to access my blog.

And I saw I had a new blog entry to read from "A Holy Experience", written by the author of "One Thousand Gifts".

And I read it.

And her post talked about something I am dealing with.

PERFECTIONISM

I have a pendulum.

It swings one way: I AM IN PERFECTIONIST MODE
It swings another:   I AM IN WHO CARES MODE

I try to do one or the other. And I am never happy where I am. And then it struck me.

I am fine.

I help out around the house.

I help my Mom.

And then I think.....

:~D ....the rain is falling. But the Son is shining!

I had no clue what to write.

But now I do.

I am going to write my goals.

1. Continue my skim through the Bible, reading about God's holy women.
2. Straighten the library like I promised Mom.
3. Start my French book. And do some math.
4. Think of dinner, because its been a long day for Mom.
5. Work on repairing an antique blanket.
6. Take costumes to the dance studio. 
7. Work on my clothes of Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, Patience, and Love. (Colossians 3:12&14)
8. Have a tea party with my sisters. 

I have nothing to worry about. 

If my bed isn't perfectly made, the cat who was sleeping on it won't care, that is okay.

If my sisters aren't perfect, that is okay. 

If my outfit isn't perfect, that is okay. 

If my hair isn't perfect, that is okay. 

HAVE A MARVELOUS RAINY DAY! THE SON IS SHINING! 

One of these days

Yesterday I had a bad hair day, like this: (pardon the blurry picture :~D)

Today, my hair is more tame-able.

:~D

Yesterday didn't feel like I accomplished much, but I did.

I played with my sisters.

I went to the library and post office.

I finished a French workbook.

I made green tomato relish.

I made pizzas.

I cleaned my Grandma's apartment.

I made more green tomato relish.

(It's yummy :~D)

I did do something.

I did.

I have so much to do, and so little time; like:

Catch up on last weeks school work, laundry, and cleaning.

Work on repairing an antique blanket.

Do some more sewing so we don't have a basket full of mending.

And a bunch of books to read....  :~D

I just got to remember to keep my head up, and I'll stay afloat.

That is sooooooo hard in this world.

Job 22:28-29
What you decide on will be done,
    and light will shine on your ways.
²⁹ When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Good to Be Alive by Jason Gray

I heard this song on K-Love radio station, and adored it.

(Who knows what this is??)

When they had as the song of the week, I had to download it.

These are the lyrics:

Hold on

Is this really the life I'm living?

Cause I don't feel like I deserve it

Every day that I wake, every breath that I take you’ve given

So right here, right now

While the sun is shining down

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive, yeah

Hold on

If the life that we've been given

Is made beautiful in the living

And the joy that we get brings joy to the heart of the giver

Then right here, right now

This is the song I'm singing out

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive

[x2]

I won’t take it for granted

I won’t waste another second

All I want is to give you

A life well lived, to say “thank you”

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be, it's good to be alive

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive

I won’t take it for granted

I won’t waste another second

All I want is to give you

A life well lived, to say “thank you”  

SO TRUE!