Faithful Fridays ~ Prayer Needed

Hi everyone!  How can it be Friday already?  Today's post will be a short one as we have a lot of running around to do and things to check on for my PawPaw (more about this below).

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day (although, of course, we shouldn't have to keep it to one day) a week to share something from their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, song, poem, or just something God's laid on your heart.  Just grab the button above (which unfortunately doesn't link to my blog automatically, you'll have to put the link), make your post, then leave a comment letting me know you participated!  I'm trying to figure out how to get a link-up on here.  Until then, I will have the links to other blogs that participate in Faithful Fridays here on my posts.

                                        ~*~

My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home...

Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond...

Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles...

and Rachel participates on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In.

                                        ~*~
PawPaw (my daddy's dad) was diagnosed with a cancer called Multiple Myeloma a few years back.  He is sort of at the end of the road now--extremely weak, unable to eat or drink much, and not weighing much over 100 pounds.  My parents had him admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.  He's in kidney failure.  Right now my daddy and his sister are just trying to decide what they want to do for him right now, so we would appreciate it if you would pray for wisdom and peace of mind on that.  We could really use prayer right now!  Prayer for us and for PawPaw.

Thank you, everyone!
God bless you and have a great day!
Joy :D

Giveaway at Rachel's Blog!

I just wanted to make a quick post and let you guys know that Rachel is hosting a giveaway on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In, and this is the last day to enter!


 Have a great day, everyone!God bless you!Joy :)  

Faithful Fridays

Hi everyone!  It's Friday again!

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day a week (although I don't think they should keep it to just one day) to share something about their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, something God's laid on your heart, etc. To participate in Faithful Fridays, just grab the button above for your post along with a link to my blog somewhere in your post, too. After you've published your post, please come and leave a comment with a link to your blog letting me know you participated!  After I see you've participated a few times, I will add you to this list of regular Faithful Friday-ers!

My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home...

Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond...

Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles...

and Rachel participates on her blog, Stand out Don't Fit In.

                                             ~*~

Today I just wanted to share with you some of my favorite Bible verses.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act.

~Proverbs 3:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

~James 1:27

Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act.

~Proverbs 24:12

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

~Psalm 37:4

And I couldn't resist giving you some church bulletin humor.  :)  Smile!

"Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands."

"Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones."

"Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered."

"Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.

Please use large double door at the side entrance."

"A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow."

"The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility."

And the grand finish...

"Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door."

                                            ~*~
I would like to ask prayer for our extended family (on my mama's side) as we lost my great-grandma early this morning.  She and Granddaddy (who passed away about 20 years ago) were like the roots of the whole family--they had eight kids (they also had a baby that died at birth) and each of those kids had children themselves and so on.  Grandma has dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even some great-great-grandchildren.  Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers!

Have a blessed day!
Joy

Faithful Fridays ~ Criminal

It's Friday again!  Before I start today's post, I wanted to ask you guys to pray for our town.  There's been a lot of deaths recently--four these past days.  A friend died today of cancer that she didn't know existed until two weeks ago, a friend died a few days ago from a gunshot, and three of our precious nursing home friends--Mr. C, Ms. L, and Ms. S (our pastor's mother) died of sickness--pneumonia and flu are rampant in the nursing home and the elderly people's immune systems just can't take it.  So I want to ask that you pray for the family members of the people that have passed away and also for the protection of the rest of the people that are in the nursing home.  We'd really appreciate it!

On with today's post...

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day a week (although I don't think they should keep it to just one day) to share something about their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, something God's laid on your heart, etc. To participate in Faithful Fridays, just grab the button above for your post along with a link to my blog somewhere in your post, too. After you've published your post, please come let me know in your comment that you participated and leave me a link to your blog. I'd love to come read your post! Once I see that you've participated a few times, I will add you to this list of regular Faithful Friday-ers! :)


My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home...
 
Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond...
 
Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles...
 
and Rachel participates on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In.
 
                                        ~*~
 
Most people in America--Christians or not--know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.  But I think sometimes we say that over and over so much that we kind of lose the concept.
 
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
 
~Luke 23:32-34
 
He was led out like a common criminal!  The cross was for murderors, ultimate thieves, and all other kinds of serious criminals!  It was the ultimate shame!  Nails were hammered mercilessly into your hands and feet and it didn't even even stop there.  That position made it difficult to breathe, and as you hung there, helpless, shameful, with a crowd of people staring at you, hurling insults at you, with nails in your hands, you struggled to breathe and couldn't do anything about any of it.  Even one of the criminals hanging beside Him looked down on Him, though he was getting the same punishment.
 
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

~Luke 23:38-41

And do you know what Jesus said to that criminal, that possible murderor?

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

~Luke 23:42-43

Even in His dying hours, in that undeserved shame, in that pain, in that torture, Jesus was still delivering compassion!  Still loving!  Still caring!  Still rewarding those who faithfully followed Him, even in times of trouble!
Surely, surely Someone who loves you that much deserves your faith?  Your trust?  Your love?  Your attention?

Wanna know how you can do that?  Just hop right over here to my Mama's blog.
 
God bless you all and have a wonderful day!

March 14th: 180 Day!

Imagine: The Holocaust.  You're a Jew.  You live in constant terror everyday.  You don't know what's going to happen to you or your family and friends--if there will be a tomorrow to fear, much less live.  That must have been--ahem--down under on earth, right?

Now imagine.  There's a modern Holocaust going on right now, right here.  It's discreet.  And it's becoming accepted--legal!  This Holocaust: abortion.  The killing of babies, no matter how small, even if unborn, is wrong.

Check it out:


The 180 movie, put out by Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, and the rest of the Living Waters team.  Check out their websites and Youtube channel HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Watch these people turn 180!

Faithful Fridays ~ If Necessary, Use Words.

It's Friday!  It really seems like it's been a long time since I've written a Faithful Friday's post!

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day a week (although I don't think they should keep it to just one day) to share something about their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, something God's laid on your heart, etc. To participate in Faithful Fridays, just grab the button above for your post along with a link to my blog somewhere in your post, too. After you've published your post, please come let me know in your comment that you participated and leave me a link to your blog. I'd love to come read your post! Once I see that you've participated a few times, I will add you to this list of regular Faithful Friday-ers! :)

My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home.

Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond.

Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles.

Rachel participates on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In.

                                       ~*~

Do you ever struggle with how exactly to go about sharing your faith?  I mean the word "witnessing" can sometimes make me sort of cringe because I have no idea how to go about doing it!

After I watched the 180 video made by Ray Comfort, I began trying really hard to get my witnessing skills up.

• I found THIS awesome Youtube channel by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron and signed up for their newsletter (Check out their other website HERE).  I love the Living Water University videos.
• And I found THIS awesome website by Trish Ramos, a woman of God that helps empower other women to witness.

And all of their methods are wonderful!  I really love them and I can see that I'm becoming more bold in my Faith (and I encourage you to check them all out!) 

But, you know, no matter how much witnessing we do, no matter how bold we become, if our actions don't reflect what's written on those tracts and what we're telling those people, and most importantly what's written in the Bible that we're telling them about, then there won't be any change in their hearts.

Like my mama said, the best thing you can do is to be a living example for them.

Preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Isn't that awesome?  Preach the Gospel.  And if you have to, use words.  But we shouldn't even have to use words!  One of the best ways to witness (although of course there are times when we need to talk) is to simply live a Christian life and let people see the difference in you, and the right time to witness to them will come up.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

~1 Peter 3:15-16

So have a good day, my friend; go out and preach the gospel, and if nesessary use words!

God bless you!

Lists, Lists, Lists.

I really just love making lists.  I guess that's the writer coming out in me, because my mama loves to make lists, too, and we're both big writers and English/grammar/spelling-people.

I love making to-do lists (well, sort of), "favorites" lists, and sometimes even grocery lists!

And I also like adding to my "bucket list".  These are things that I want to do before I leave this earth.  And I intend to try to do every one of them!

So here you go, my bucket list:

Learn a second language fluently



Have one of my books published


Visit China again


Visit and work in a Chinese orphanage


Go on a mission trip to China


Go on a mission trip elsewhere


Adopt internationally


Learn to sew


Sew one of my own articles of clothing


Sew an article of clothing for someone else


Make a snowman that is standing on his head


Personally help a family find their child/waiting child find their family


Climb a rock-climbing wall. (This has been partially done; I have rock-climbed, but it was a small wall--I'd like to climb a bigger one.)


Read the Anne of Green Gables series all the way through


Read the Narnia series all the way through


Read through the Bible


Visit New Zealand


Visit Australia


Be a bridesmaid or Maid of Honor in a wedding.


Learn to Spanish flamingo dance


Learn to dance Chinese traditional dances


Dance on pointe shoes


Meet Bethany Hamilton


Meet (and hug) Nick Vujicic


Meet Katie Davis


Own a window box garden


Visit Mongolia


Drink lemonade out of a mason jar


Be at at the pier at Huntington Beach, California when Ray Comfort is soap-boxing (See THIS link--click on the Open Air list)

And just for fun, here is my current wishlist.  Just things I would like to have at some point.

Cowboy boots



Sundress


Supergirl Shirt


Soul Surfer Book


Shadow Spinner Book


Tim Tebow Book


Tangled (movie)


Peter Pan (movie)


The Perfect Game (movie)


CUTBACK (movie)

So what about you guys?  Do you have some things you want to make sure you do before you leave this earth?  Some things you would like to have at the moment?

Faithful Fridays ~ Those Little Things

Hi everyone!

It's Friday again!  Wednesday was Leap Day!  I'm usually not one to do anything special or unusual or really even ponder Leap Day and all, but as I looked around at other Leap Day blog posts, I'm wondering what I'll be doing in four years.  Let's see...I'll be sixteen (Eek!  Ever wanna go to Neverland and never grow up?  :P).  Eleventh grade (Scary, I'm telling you, scary!).  Going through all of the CLEP stuff and online college, hopefully, and even more hopefully--I will have been to C*ina and back

over...
and over...
and over again.  :D

Please note--this button does not link back to my blog.  :)

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day a week (although I don't think they should keep it to just one day) to share something about their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, something God's laid on your heart, etc. To participate in Faithful Fridays, just grab the button above for your post along with a link to my blog somewhere in your post, too. After you've published your post, please come let me know in your comment that you participated and leave me a link to your blog. I'd love to come read your post! Once I see that you've participated a few times, I will add you to this list of regular Faithful Friday-ers! :)

My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home.


Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond.

Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles.
Rachel participates on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In.
 
                                                         ~*~
I've posted on this before, but today made me want to post about it again. 
 
Today was a pancake-flippy day.  My day started off hectic, crazy, tiring, and frustrating (not to mention it was cloudy and overcast--literally).  And then in the last few hours, it just flipped like a pancake.  The sun came out, things calmed down, and I got a new burst of energy.  A catchy song came on in my head and as I was alone outside, I began to sing to the air.  I felt like skipping around, hugging people, dancing, singing, and praising God for just about everything.
 
And sometimes, we just have to pause.  Take a breath.  And really just thank God for those little things (blessings) that He sends to brighten our day.  Because he really does care about the little things, the small things that make us happy.  Those little perks to our day.

A new friend.
A random compliment.
A hug.
A smile.
A greeting.
A Scripture.

And then we can sing and dance around the room. :)

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.  

~Psalm 37:4

Have a great day, everyone!