The Big Question

This last week, as I was taking a jog, I started thinking about my life...every one's always asked me the "Big Question"..."What are you going to do now that your done and graduated?" They've asked me that since I graduated in 2010. I give everyone the same answer every time...well for starters, I'm never going to stop learning, when I pick a certain subject up I can, take online classes on it, read books from the library, ask people in our church who have wisdom about that subject, Google any questions that I have...once I'm done with that subject, I'll start learning about something else, I will move onto a different subject matter-simple as that...almost. Let's see, what things do I have the keep me occupied?...well there's keeping up with the house which that alone takes forever, cooking all the meals, making all the salad's/rolls/bread (that means preparing it, cooking it, setting the table) watching siblings, writing, playing instruments, singing, Bible Study, Photography, jogging, teaching Piano, Memorizing Scripture, Watching our friends kids almost every Wednesday, Errands to run...etc...well you get the idea. How can I be bored, that's my question? Just this last week a friend of ours from church taught a few of us girls how to make a braided rug...it's actually quite simple, you just have to get the hang of it. It's really actually quite fun! So my point is...I'm never going to stop learning. The Big Question is...How can I get bored??? : )

At His Feet

Many Times in my life, I have come to Christ with open hands, telling him that I can't do it alone. I need Christ to make things work.
This is a wonderful song by Casting Crowns, it's called, "At Your Feet".
I've posted the Lyrics below.

At Your Feet: By Casting Crowns

Here at Your feet, I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
And I am free

Here at Your feet, I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in Yours I've found
All I need, You're all I need

Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me

Here at Your feet, I lay my future down
All of my dreams, I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
For You my King, You're all I want now
And my soul sings

Cause I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet

And I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet

Here at Your feet
I lay my life down

Gossip and the Tongue

Gossip:

This last week I got the privilege to go to my first Ladies Retreat. While on the road, the ladies and I were talking about Gossip and how the tongue can be used. There are so many
ways that you can be gossiping without knowing it. While at the Retreat, we held one
another accountable, and it wasn’t easy. We made it through those few days, but we
still had to work on it.

I challenge you to work on Gossiping. Just write down what you talk about the most to friends/family, and just see if you catch yourself gossiping or using your tongue in a not-so-nice manner. The tongue is a sharp sword. It can be used to tear people down, or to build people up. Here are just a few verses that I thought were appropriate about gossiping and the tongue.

Proverbs 20:19

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

1 Timothy 3:11

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

1 Timothy 5:13

At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

2 Timothy 3:3

"unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,..."

Titus 2:3

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Ephesians 4:29
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good foredification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

The Altar

There have been so many times in my life when I went to the Altar of Christ, laying down my all. Here is a song that I heard on the radio the other day, and I loved it so much that
I wanted to share it.

The Altar

There's a place, a place I've found

Not made of earth, not made of stone

This place is sacred, this place is secret

Here in the presence of a Holy God

Here in the presence of a Holy God

Come to this place, come seek His face

Find the hands of forgiveness

Look into the eyes of grace

Run to redemption with tears of joy and pain

Let fire fall and purify our hearts

Come to the altar, come to His arms

There's a place, a place of healing

There is no shame within your scars

This place is sacred, this place is secret

Here in the presence of a Holy God

Here in the presence of a Holy God

Come to this place, come seek His face

Find the hands of forgiveness

Look into the eyes of grace

Run to redemption with tears of joy and pain

Let fire fall and purify our hearts

Come to the altar, come to His arms

Be still and know that He is God

Be still and know that He is God

Come to this place, come seek His face

Find the hands of forgiveness

Look into the eyes of grace

Run to redemption with tears of joy and pain

Let fire fall and purify our hearts

Come to the altar, come to His arms

~Tricia Brock

The Thorn

As I mentioned before, our family went to see, "The Thorn" for Easter. For those of you who don't know what it is...it's a, how shall we say it...play/musical about Jesus, and his life on this earth basically until after he rose from the dead.It was interesting to see all the different kinds of costumes, and the actors/acrobats.
In one of the scenes when Judas is fighting himself whether he should betray Jesus or not, Satan was there enticing him, and well... Judas gave in.
They had a "John the Baptist" as the Narrator, and after Judas got the money for betraying Jesus, everyone paused while the "Narrator" came out. He said, "Satan comes here for one purpose, and one purpose only...to kill, steal, and destroy." ...isn't this so true? Whether we like it or not, Satan is always going to try to steal, kill, and destroy. He will destroy our lives if we let him. There is only one thing that can stop Satan from winning, and that is the power that Christ has. We can only overcome Satan and temptation if we have Christ on our throne. That is the only way... in Judas's life, he gave in...but we as children of God have a choice...what is your choice? Do you remember the Lord's Prayer? Matthew 6:9-15 "...And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
With every temptation God provides a way of escape. (1st Corinthians 10:13)

Change-My story

I would like to tell you my story that changed my life, but please don’t mind the sentence structure…I know it’s bad! I just wrote what I was thinking without correcting it. (that would take too much time)

This week is marks the 3^rd Anniversary that my life completely changed.
Let me back up a few years. I think I was about 15, and it was December 31^st. My dad was off that day, and our family was just kicking back before heading to our church that night for a game/party night. My parents looked at each other and said, “Should we tell them?” I knew that it had to have been really good news, or really bad news. The news hit me…hard! My parents told me that our friends the “Bryant’s”, and “Tjaden’s” whom were elders at the church with my dad, were moving to Missouri. They felt God leading them to start a church there, they had asked if we wanted to come, but my parents decided that God wanted us here in Colorado. I cried, and cried, and cried some more all that day. My friends, whom had been through everything with me, were leaving. So, Kaylee Bryant, Emily and Allison Tjaden left that summer. I hated my life, and who I was. I wasn’t mad at anyone, but I was upset that they left. We had been through everything together, and had the same vision and everything. Why? Why did it have to be them that left? I didn’t get it. After they left, my life forever changed from what I thought was the worst. But God had other plans for me.
On one warm spring day, my dad took us older three kids to the store, while in the car, he told us a few things, and one of them was that my dad and mom were thinking about leaving our church. I held the tears in until we got into the store, and I excused myself to go to the restroom. I cried in the bathroom stall for 10 minutes before I came out. My life was again falling apart. I asked why to my parents; basically, my parents had a different vision than what a few of my friends had, and they thought it was best to leave, for now. So, once again on April 26^th, my family tried a church called,”The Reformation Church O.P.C”. My parents knew a lot of people there, and so decided to try it. That first day was…another one of the worst days of my life. I hated it…it wasn’t because of the people; it was just because my life wasn’t going the way I had planned. The week after that, we went to the church again, and as usual I hated it. The next day (May 4^th 2009) my little brother, “Elijah James” came into our lives. At 9 ½ months, he was gigantic…but cute as ever. He had Blonde hair, blue eyes, and chubby cheeks. (Even now) For those that don’t know, we adopted him officially on October 8^th 2010!!! The love of our life! ...Any ways, back to my life. So, the next week we went to our old church for the last time and said our goodbyes…it was a good goodbye. A few days after that we went to Missouri to visit the Bryant’s and Tjaden’s.

After we got back from our trip, we started attending Reformation Church regularly. One year in particular though, something amazing happened! One of our many friends, the Gibas family asked me if I wanted to help with serving/making food for the Volunteers at our annual “CHEC Conference”. (Christian Home Educators of Colorado) With excitement, I accepted! That week, I absolutely loved it! After that week, I got to know my friends more, and I went home and cried out on our porch. I thanked God for giving me this life. At the time when I was going through a terrible life, I didn’t see God’s plans. What Satan meant for evil, God meant for Good.

So, that is my story. No, I haven’t finished the race set before me, but I know that God is there for me through it all. You see, during the toughest part of my life, when I needed God most, I declined it. I thought I could do it my way…and look what happened. I surrendered my life to him, after we started going to the church. So I’m asking you, if you haven’t already, please surrender to him. God doesn’t want half of your heart; he wants every single part of it. I learned that the hard way. Don’t make the same mistake I did. If you would have told me years ago, what I was about to go through, no I would not have believed you. God turned my heart, and he softened it. I am grateful to God for forgiving my hardness of heart, and I am thankful that I now have 4 times the amount of friends as I used to. (Breanna, Kendra…this includes you too!)
Thanks for reading!
~ Caitlin

Day at the Capitol

On Friday our family went to "Homeschool Day at the Capitol". I look forward to it every year! It's when all the Homeschoolers plus some come together to learn about our government, the way it works, what's going on in the world, and all kinds of other things. In the morning there was a speaker, and then after lunch we did a march around the Capitol. It was so fun! After that, they have a big rally outside the Capitol building on the west steps. (I think)

I took some pictures, which are below, but it's always nice to go there, because, well...I know so many people there! From the past, present, and hey, the future too. It was so amazing to see some of the costumes for the skit they did. As much as I'm not really a seamstress, I sure would love to get better! After the rally, we went into the Capitol, and boy was it amazing!

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Home

What does a Home look like to you? What Reminds you of a Home?
Frequently when we have people come into our Home, they will often say, "It smells so good in here!" My mom just smiles and says, "Thank you!"
For my dad, what makes a home is... a clean house, candle lit, a glass of tea when he comes home, (filled up with half ice) and dinner ready and on the table.

Last year, I officially took over all the cooking for my mom, (to take the stress of of her) and so when my dad gets home from work, it's my job to put all the drinks on the table, and get all the dinner/side/salad on the table.

So what makes a home to you? Maybe it's the smell of a certain candle, newly fresh baked cookies in the oven, dinner on the stove, friends and family gathering around, or music in the background. Whatever it is, remember how blessed you are to have a Home!

He has Risen!!!

Today is Easter Sunday where we celebrate that Christ has Risen from the dead! Yesterday we saw, "The Thorn", I will write all about how I liked it another time, but for now, here is the, "Easter Story Poem"

Easter Story

Jesus came to compensate
For all the wrongs we do.
He came to earth to die for us,
So we’d be born anew.

"This bitter cup, let it pass from me,"
He cried, in a plaintive voice;
"Yet not My will, but Thine be done;"
He said, in His faithful choice.

The Judas kiss would seal his fate;
He faced a hostile crowd;
The governor, Pilate, saw through it all;
Jesus’ guilt he disavowed.

"I wash my hands of all of this,"
Said Pilate, "Let Him be."
But the crowd yelled "Crucify him now,
And set Barabbas free!"

Pilate yielded to their wish;
And Jesus was led away.
The soldiers beat him, and mocked Him, too,
Yet He continued to obey.

A crown of thorns lay on His head,
As His sentence was carried out;
His hands and feet were pierced with nails,
But He did not scream or shout.

"Father, forgive them for this crime;
They know not what they do."
He said this despite His torment, because,
He was thinking of me and you.

"It is finished," he sighed in His anguish and pain,
As His body gave up to death.
The curtain tore, and darkness fell,
After He took His last breath.

The best of the story is the very last part;
It’s why on Easter we’re filled with pleasure:
Death could not our Savior hold;
His power is beyond all measure.

He rose from the grave, and was seen all around;
Ever since, He’s inspired devotion,
And we’ll be with Him for eternity,
When we get our heavenly promotion.

That’s why Easter is a major event:
He suffered and died in our place.
He rose and forgave us and loves us still,
Our Savior of matchless grace.

By Joanna Fuchs

Good Friday

IT WASN'T A GOOD FRIDAY by Harry Page It wasn't a Good Friday, the day that Jesus died, He'd suffered and been tortured, and probably had cried, Seen Herod and seen Pilate, and the Sanhedrin too, All of this he took, for love of me and you. It wasn't a Good Friday; the Devil seemed to win, But Jesus knew he'd come to save us all from sin, The prophesies were fulfilled, all the boxes ticked, But Satan didn't realise, that now he had been licked. It wasn't a Good Friday, the disciples ran away, When they saw the soldiers they knew they couldn't stay, Only John and Peter followed with the throng, While Jesus being marched away, knew he must be strong. It wasn't a Good Friday; the skull place was ahead, The nails, the cross, the mocking, the spear that says you're dead, But all of this he had to bear, it was part of God's plan, To give his all for each of us, as Jesus only can. It wasn't a Good Friday, now God had turned away, Utterly forsaken, this was the darkest day, He could have called the angels to save him from this pain, But stayed and died so we could come at last to heaven again. It was a great Good Friday, ‘It's finished' was his cry, A shout that would have carried, up to God on high, He had, he'd won the battle, and death defeated too, Paid the price, set us free, new life for me and you. So think on this Good Friday, what costs he had to pay, To bring us to the Father, to take us all the way, So put your trust in Jesus, give him allegiance true, He loved you and he died for you, and now it's up to you.

Hammer and Nails

I was trying to find a video about Christ Resurrection, and I found this video on God Tube, so I thought I'd share it.
Enjoy!

After watching this video, I started thinking about how God loves us even though we are constantly pounding that hammer into him with rejection and rejection, and sin after sin. Through it all, God is patient with us, and we are forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross. Isn't it amazing how much love God had for us?
I'm sure all of you know John 3:16, but I thought I'd post it any way's.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
~John 3:16~

What does the Bible say about Gay Marriages?

What does the Bible say about Gay Marriages?
In today's culture we are surrounded by those who are or support the Gay movement. I think it is so very sad, and we can only pray for them that they will know what's wrong, and repent. I've listed some Bible Verse about what God has to say about Gay Marriages. Please read on!

Leviticus 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a woman. It is an abomination."

Mark 10:6, "But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’"

Romans 1:26-27, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."

1st Corinthians 6:9-10, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

1st Timothy 1:9-10, "knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man slayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,..."
I would encourage you to go to this link below on what AIG says about Gay Marriages...

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/nab2/christian-respond-gay-marriage