Fathful Fridays ~ Remember.

Hi, everyone!  :)  It's Friday again! 

My Friday today is pretty different from last Friday.  :)  Last Friday, I had been at home, not doing much.  But this Friday, we're in Alabama, visiting family....after a concert.  :)  The RESET Movement came to a town about four hours from us on Wednesday and my parents were oh-so-kind enough to take me.  And guess who came with the RESET Movement?!  Rend Collective and Morgan Harper Nichols!  I have *loved* Rend Collective's music for a while and was so, so, so excited to see them...they didn't disappoint.  :)  I had heard Morgan sing with her sister, Jamie Grace, but hadn't heard any of her own original songs.  I'm so glad she was there, because she's made a new fan out of me.  :)  Her song "Let Everything" is awesome! 

I also got to hear other artists--Matt Gilman, Lacey Sturm, and spoken word poet/rapper Propaganda.  :)  It was an amazing night!  I also got to meet the artists afterward.  I got to talk with Pat and Chris from Rend Collective for quite a while (with some online friends who I finally got to meet)!  It was an overall amazing night.  :)  God is good!


Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog. I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog. If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post! :)   ************************************************************************   Something I've been thinking about, and that was mentioned at the concert, is remembering what God has done for you.    I mean, we say that we know God's done a lot for us, but do we ever really think about the recent, powerful things He's done that just totally gave us what we needed when we needed it?   I've often wished that I could be given such a mighty sign from God as the sea being parted so that I and my people could pass through on dry land, then letting it go again to crash down on our enemies--wouldn't that have been amazing?!    The Israelites were shown amazing signs like this over and over again, and yet again and again they turned from the Lord.  How could they do that?!   But sometimes we do that.  God does something for us and works things to our good, just as He promises, and reveals Himself and lifts us up out of our despair when we need it.....and then we forget.    We need to keep going back and reminding ourselves of everything that God's done for us.  We need to remind ourselves of all that He's brought us through and all the times He's fulfilled His promises to us.    The Israelites used to put up piles of rocks so that every time they passed by it and it stuck out and made itself noticed, they would remember what God had done and re-tell the account to themselves and to their children and grandchildren.  I think that's a pretty awesome idea.  We don't need to ever forget what God's done for us!    "Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since." -Joshua 7:26   So, if you're going through something, or you're confused, or scared, or unsure, or even if you're not and you're just sitting there and you're perfectly content, remind yourself of all the things God's done for you, all the times He's brought you through and fulfilled His promises.  It does a soul good.  :)   God bless you guys and have a great day!  :) Joy :)   P.S. Linky isn't working for me right now, so if you've participated in Faithful Fridays, please let me know in your comment!  :)

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!

This Week's Waiting Kids!

Update! Sara has found her family! Thank you, JESUS!

Hi everyone! I want to focus on one precious little blessing this week.

This is adorable Jonathan! He is with BAAS, and is about 18 months old. Oh my goodness! He must be a very, very, very sunshiney little blessing! Just look at those pictures! Here's what's written about him:

Updated report on Jonathan (December 2010):

Jonathan was born in October of 2009. His special needs are cleft lip and palate; hernia. He is being cared for at the Half Sky program.
His weight is 7.30kg, height is 71cm, and his head size is 46cm. His chest size is 46cm, and his number of teeth is 6.

He can sit on his own, stand holding onto something and take steps holding hands with someone. He is bright, curious and good-natured. He loves to smile and communicate with others. He understands instructions and loves to listen to music.

Jonathan is from Luke's orphanage (and just as a side note, that orphanage was very good about corresponding with us when we asked through care packages). He is so young! He could be adopted and grow up with an earthly family (because Jesus is our Father, of course, if we ask him into our heart) and hopefully know his Heavenly Father!

Please pray for Jonathan.

Pray that, if it's in God's Will, to please give this beautiful child a family.

Please pray and ask God if this little guy or another orphan might be your child.

Pray for any families that might be considering Jonathan; pray that God will give them wisdom and confirmation on whether this is their child or someone else's, and pray that he will give them courage to face whatever the adoption of a beautiful orphan may bring.

Please pray that Jonathan will come to know Jesus very early on in his life so he can share The Good News with those around him; nannies, children in the orphanage, and everyone else he knows.

Pray that He will help Jonathan if he is bullied or looked down on, and ask Him to help Jonathan to have courage and endurance and hope through HIM throughout the time he is in the orphanage.

Please pray and ask Him to help Jonathan battle his special needs and keep him safe, blessed, and provided for, and that he will stay healthy and have the best care possible.

Please pray for all the orphans, in China and other countries, all the people who need HIM, that they will be blessed and provided for and protected and that they will know Him.

Please pray for the new Christians and the missionaries and pastors in other countries to have faith, courage, hope, love, protection, provision, and blessings in their life and that they will be very, very, VERY close to God.

Blessings,
Joy :)

A Sweet Gift From a Sweet Friend

Hello everybody!!!!! I hope you are having a great week!!!! I am!!!!! When I came home with mom the other day from a few errands, mom went outside to talk to my dad. I came in, and as I sat my stuff down, I noticed a package on the counter with a letter from my penpal, Allyson. I looked at the address. Donna C. I stared for like, two minutes!!!! lol!!!!! I didn't know what to say. I wanted to see if mom knew about it yet. I just finally yelled, "Allyson!!!!". HAHAHA!!!!! My mom came in, and we opened the package, saying over and over, and over again, that she shouldn't had sent it. She had a little bag with the following things for me:

Notebook
Mechanical pencils
Jewelry kit
"Joy" letters
cute erasers



THANK YOU, MS. DONNA!!!!!

My mom also posted about this, so go check it out!!!!!

Have a great week!!!! I just said a prayer for all the people who read this to be blessed!!!!!!

Blessings,
Love, Joy =D