What is the Meaning of Love?

What is the meaning of love?
Think about it...
In the bible it says, "Greater love has no one than this, than
to lay down one's life for one's friend. ~John 15:13

Jesus died on the cross thinking about us. Knowing that we would
make mistakes.

My Grandparents sent this little story to us a while back ago...I'd like to share it with you.

Little things to put things in perspective...
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, the forest
rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesque on
the ground at the Base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked
over the Bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from
under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the
base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic
smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.
Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body. The mother had
remained steadfast. She had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her
wings would live.
~Robert L. Durham~

~He cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find Refuge~
~Psalm 91:4~

...Now that's LOVE!!!

One Nation Under God?

What do we mean when we say, "One Nation Under God"? Think about the words, "Under God"?

Romans 13:1, "Let every soul be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."
Maybe this can give us a little guidance as we realize that God is above all.

Below I have posted a poem that Judge Roy Moore from Alabama wrote.
He was sued, and taken out of office for displaying the ten commandments
in his courtroom.

America The Beautiful:

America the beautiful, or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in Dumpsters, abortion on demand.
Oh, sweet land of liberty, your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine,

choosing to indulge their lust, when God has said abstain.

From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away
from the teaching of God's love and a need to always pray.

So many worldly preachers tell lies about our Rock,
saying God is going broke so they can fleece the flock.

We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown
when earth is but His footstool, and heaven is His thrown.

We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless judges who throw reason out the door.

Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God, from whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful, if you don't then you will see,
a sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from thee.

~Judge Roy Moore

The Beginning of Life

I found this video below on GodTube. I think that it's a great reminder that God loves us, and cares for us. He knows the plans that he has for us.

In Psalm 139:13-18, it says,
"For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it ver well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I wake, I am still with you." 

God will pick you up when you fall

We just recently got back from, "Renewing the Family Camp" in Maxwell, Nebraska at Maranatha Bible Camp, with some friends from church, and other families. We had a wonderful time filled with laughter fun and games. During one of the days they had a family roller skating day in the big gym that they had there; in which I took my little brother Elijah. He's never roller-skated before, so it was fun for him. When he first started to do it, he would fall down and start to whimper a little. I then picked him up, and we started over again. It's a great reminder that likewise- God is always there picking us up when we fall. He's right there for us, ready to for us to land into his arms when we fall.
I've attached a video called, "God's Incredible Creation"...it's a great reminder of what kinds of things God puts on this earth, as a reminder that he's there, and that he still loves us.
My friend Emily once told me, "Each sunrise is a message from God; each sunset is His signature"...remember that as you watch this video.

~Do you feel Defeated? Give your burden to God~

Over the last few years I have gotten quite a few emails from various friends and family asking for advice. They feel like they can go any further, and that maybe God has forgotten about them. Or that maybe he doesn't care.

Recently my friend sent out a prayer request to a group of us girls on the prayer support list. She told us that some things were going on her family but that she couldn't specify what. A week or so later she emailed everyone to let everyone know that the reason was her mother's Health. Her mother has Breast Cancer, and was going through a rough

spot in life. They were going through test and are still deciding to see if their mom needs or should take Chemo Therapy.

It's hard in life when you've reached a point in the road where you feel lonely. Believe me, I know. I've been there too.

But...God is right there with us. He has been tempted, rejected, pushed around, hated, laughed at, mistreated, crucified, lonely, and angry before. He knows how you feel, and he is right there with you comforting you. When Jesus found out the Lazarus died, it says in the Bible that "Jesus Wept". He knows what it feels like to lose someone. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he felt alone. He's been there. He knows how you feel. Let him take all your troubles, fears, anxieties, and worry's. He'll take it, if you let him.

Here is a poem that my Uncle Time wrote. I thought that I should let you all read it.

Defeated:

Satan's waged a war for thousands of years,

and brought forth millions of tears.

infiltrating our inner lines, Putting evil thoughts into our minds.

He's destroyed our trust in one another,

and turned sister against brother.

He attacks the mind that's his playground,

and he really knows his way around.

He perfected his schemes, and filled our minds with doubt.

which makes us think there's no way out.

Attacking unrelentlessly , he slaughtered God's Holy Lamb.

Desecrating the words of the one who says I AM.

But in Satan's ignorance, what he didn't see,

Is the Lamb that he slaughtered, is our eternal victory!

Now he struts up and down this land,

thinking everything is in his hand.

Satan is known as the angel of light,

disobedient deceiver, he continues to fight.

He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour,

but soon he will see God's final hour.

Satan fills our heart with jealousy and with pride,

making it hard to stand side by side.

Always attacking in such a way

that even God's best Lambs are led astray.

He'll make you believe things that are not true,

try to make you do things you don't want to do.

putting temptations before your eyes

and covering them up in disguise.

The battle cry is getting louder.

the countdown is close to the finals hour.

Satan's attacking from every side.

but he's STILL no match for The Crucified!

~ By Tim Baughman '88

Modesty

I love wearing skirts. At the time when I started wearing skirts, I wanted to be like one of my best friends who wore skirts all the time. As I got older, my vision changed, and the reasons why I wore skirts changed too. I started reading and studying the bible and what it says about modesty. What I found was amazing!
In the Webster dictionary the definition of modesty is: Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful; not loose; not excessive or extreme;...the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle.
1st Timothy 2:9, in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety, and moderation, not with braided hair or gold pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works."
This is my personal opinion/conviction, and thoughts.
I'm not saying that you can't wear pants, (I do on rare occasions) and only wear skirts, I'm just saying that we should be a little more careful with the reasoning behind what we wear.
A friend of mine sent me this video below and I thought that I would share it.
It definitely makes you think.

• I don't like the music in the beginning or the end, but I love the thoughts in between.
• You might have to turn the music down a tad bit (for those like me who don't like that kind of music.) 

The Love of a Family

The other day my little brother, "Elijah" had his toy gun, and him and I were playing bad guy-good guy.

He turned around and pretended to shoot me; with a little sigh I pretended to die. He of course came over to me and said, "Kate-Kate, (which is what he calls me) I'm sorry!"

I said, "I'm gonna die"

Elijah said, "No!!! You can't die!"

I then said, "Why not?" Wondering why he was so upset about it...he said, "Because your my best friend." :-)

Isn't it wonderful to take in the life that God gave you? To breath in all the blessings that he has been gracious to give us? I love my family!

At times the house may be hectic, and it may feel like were living in a zoo...maybe it's messy, crazy, and a disaster all around, but I find that I miss them most when their gone. I can't imagine life without them!

Marriage

This last Sunday my very good friend, "Meredith" came over to me with her now "Fiance" and said, "I have some exciting news to tell you...Peter asked me to marry him this last week and I said yes!!!" You can imagine my excitement was over the top! It's so exciting to see yet another marriage taking place in October.
On each of our families birthday's, the tradition of the family for my dad to give us a "Birthday Blessing". He will sit us down just the two of us, and talk. He will give us praises that we've done, he will ask questions about our new goals, and he will ask us specifically what he can pray for.

This time, My dad asked me if I had thought about Marriage at all...now that I'm 19, who knows, maybe God has a plan for me to get married in 2 years; maybe 5 years, or 10. Whatever the case my dad wanted to know what my thought was about it.
For some people marriage is a scary thought, for other people it's exciting. My friend Meredith told me, "The thing you fear the most is you sharing your deepest sins, and thoughts with them." Because you want them to like you for who you are...not who you will become, or what they think you are. Be yourself, and act like Christ would act.

Our family believe's in "Courtship"...there are many different people's opinions on courtship, and everyone's going to be different.

As my parents raised me up, they raised me up to focus and think on things that are, "True, noble, just, pure, lovely, and holy ..."

I will be saving my first kiss until the day that my daddy gives me away to the man that I marry. (if the Lord wills it)
Marriage is talked about so much in the Bible. Ephesians 5:22-33 talks about Wives being submissive to husbands, and husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church.

Marriage is a sacred thing that God has blessed human kind with. No I'm not an expert, but from what my friends have told me, from the wise council of my parents, and from the help of my pastor's, I have learned that Marriage is a one time thing that is precious, and sacred.
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and
they shall become one flesh."
~Genesis 2:24