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Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day has arrived once again. A day of love and romance, a day where people muster up the courage to confess their love for special friends, a day where flowers, red roses, chocolate and kisses are exchanged. Unless, of course, you're me; and you don't date, or have special friends. At one time, I would have been throwing myself a pity party at that statement. I would have thought longingly of romance and love. Being a hopeless romantic, having a guy hand you red roses, a pretty card and ask you out sounds pretty nice to me! But, though I still have the longing to get married, to fall in love with the man of my dreams, I know longer really care that flowers, roses, chocolate, kisses and dates are apart of my Valentine's Day. Because I have a Valentine, who loves me unconditionally and will never ever leave my side. And that valentine is Jesus! And he outweighs all of the things that people look forward to on V-day. Who needs a bunch of flowers that will wilt, when you got the Prince of Peace, the King of kings?! Who needs chocolate, dates and kisses, when you got the sweetest fragrance you'll ever find?! I have all the love I need right at my Jesus' feet! Sure I'd love to find that guy out there that I'm to fall in love with, but God's got it under control, seriously. He will bring me and the man he has picked uot for me together, in His timing! And I really wouldn't want a 'special friend' right now anyways. I'm sixteen, in highschool, and still pretty young. I'm not even a 'adult' yet! And I'm still in school. I have no need for a 'special friend' in my life now. So, here's to you, Jesus! You rock my life! And fill it with love.......lots of love! May you have an awesome Valentine's Day, Jesus, my Valentine!

I give it a 1.......

At AWANA, when the high-school class is starting the bible study time, Mrs. Hoverson (one of the teachers) will often have each person give a number from 1-10 to rate their week. I give my past week a 1. I was going to give it to -1, but I decided it hadn't' been quite that bad. What with getting sick with a cold, have such a sore throat that I was ready to cut my tonsils out with a steak knife, having my grandma, 'Omi' go nuts, and me thinking that she might have had a stroke, and might never be right in the head again, receiving the news that a dear lady from my church had passed on, and breaking the jewel off of my favorite ring that I got from my parents for my sixteenth birthday and losing it, and just now as I was typing this, another one of my best friends family members died, my week pretty much stunk! It was getting better yesterday as Omi was doing much better and they said it wasn't a stroke, just the meds, and my throat was bearable, my cold was pretty much gone, and I was looking forward to AWANA today. But of course it would get worse! I woke up at 2:30 A.M with a ragingly painful throat(the kind where you want to use that stake knife.......or just die!). And since I couldn't sleep in that pain, I moved my pillows out to the couch and got an ice cube to suck on, hoping to ease my pain. Then I went to get my blankets for the couch, and well...........
I was holding my retainer, the flimsy, packaging plastic, retainer that they gave me this time(I've had braces for 4 1/2 years, and already had them off once, and had a different retainer, that was sturdier, but then they but my braces back on. And now I have a stupid flimsy retainer!) Anyways, I was holding my retainer in one hand, cause I had ice in my mouth, and I bent over to pick up my blankets, and apparently squeezed my hand; the hand that was holding the retainer. Only, I didn't realize that part till heard a snapping sound. And then it was too late! My retainer had snapped in two!!!!!!!! Thus my week dropped to a drastically low 1! It's going to cost quite a bit of money to replace this stupid thing, money that I don't have! So much for that birthday money that I was planning to spend. It will be going to the 'retainer fund'. Though ya know, it still works. I mean, I'm wearing it now. All I gotta do is stick two pieces of retainer in my mouth now, instead of one! Simple!
(I know this is exactly what the orthodontist wanted! He gave me a flimsy retainer this time cause he was hoping I'd break it, and thus would have to pay for a new one! See! That was his plan! I know it!)

So anyway, yeah! That was my stupid week!

But at least Omi is on the mend. That at least is a good thing!
And now I'll stop ranting and going on and on about my bad week. Compared to how Abby Rigg's week has been, mine has been awesome. Of course, I still think it stunk, but compared to hers........I'll take it. Poor Abby has had a pretty rough week. Especially when you remember that the little girl is only three! So, pray for her, when you think of it!

My Favorite Hymn

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

Pray for Abby

As you probably noticed I have a Pray For Abby Riggs button on my blog. Right now I'm simply asking that you will keep Abby in your prayers. I came across the Riggs blog a while ago, and when I read about little Abby, my heart ached for her. She is so young, yet she already has gone through so much pain! Right now she isn't doing very good. In fact, she's doing pretty bad and is in alot of pain! So, I"m just asking that you will keep her in your prayers and thoughts. That's all.

'Tolerance'

Tolerance: it is one of the most used words in America these days, it seems. The media is forever talking about it, and people everywhere are following their lead, telling people that they need to be more tolerant. Or rather, to be more specific, telling 'Christians' to be more tolerant. To me, the word has become a like a dirty word. I scowl or cringe at the sound of the disgusting word. When I say it, I spit the word out distastefully. For you see, everyone is all to ready to tell us to be tolerant, but when it comes to certain things, practicing what they preach doesn't seem to fly into action. As a Christian, I am told by the media and the media's 'followers' that I need to be more tolerant of other people's actions, religions, and what they believe and do. If a Christian prays out loud at school, or takes a Bible to school though, he is punished. Where is the 'tolerance' there? Other religions, evolution and all manner of different things can be taught to kids at school, but bring up God, and you're in trouble. I don't see that as being very 'tolerant' of Christianity, and Christians. It seems to me, that what they really want is to push God, Jesus Christ, and all that the Lord represents, out of this country. And they are using 'tolerance' to slowly accomplish that.

What really bugs me is that there are Christians who are accepting the idea of 'tolerance'. People who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ are buying into the garbage that the media is feeding us, or trying to feed us, and are being 'tolerant' of others. But you see, the 'tolerance' that the media is preaching, is not Jesus tolerance. It is the media's tolerance. Defined by them; made by them. Their kind of tolerance is simply turning away and refusing to acknowledge sin, and looking the other way, when you see immoral things, that you know are sinful, and an abomination to the Lord. And that is not true 'tolerance'. I am not against tolerance. I am against America's idea of 'tolerance', that she has gotten from the media; and from the Devil.

Jesus did not 'tolerate'. He loved. Yes, he talked to sinners. Yes, he mingled with the lowest, most immoral, people. But he didn't 'tolerate' them. He loved them. He didn't 'tolerate' and respect their sin or them. Instead he told them to turn from their sin; to sin no more. He hated their sin. If Jesus wanted us to 'tolerate' people, why did he overthrow all the tables that had been set up in the temple? He destroyed and tipped over the tables, and yelled at the people who had set them up and were selling things in the tabernacle. He didn't 'tolerate' their 'way of doing things'. He was angry at them. And he loved them. He didn't 'tolerate' them and what they were doing, and He was furious at them, but he still loved them. I don't know about you, but I am determined to follow my Jesus, who died that I might have life, though His name. And because of that, I am also determined to follow in His footsteps and not 'tolerate' and respect that which is wrong. If it's wrong it's wrong. If it's right, it's right. It's pretty black and white. I will love others. I will love those who worship Allah, or mother Mary, or Buddah. But I will NOT 'tolerate' them or their deeds. As a Christian, as a Child of God, as a follower of Jesus Christ the Son of God, I can not 'tolerate' sin. I will not turn away, I will not look the other way, I will not accept sin. I can not. But I can, I will love.

Amen!

Hallelujah!
(Letters from John Newton)
"The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice!" Psalm 97:1
1776. My dear madam, He who once bore our sins, and carried our sorrows--is seated upon a throne of glory, and exercises all power in heaven and on earth! Thrones, principalities, and powers, bow before Him! His providence pervades and manages the whole universe, and is as minutely attentive to every part--as if there were only a single object in His view! From the tallest archangel--to the smallest ant or fly--all depend on Him for their being, their preservation, and their powers. He directs the sparrows where to build their nests, and where to find their food. He over-rules the rise and fall of nations; and bends, with an invincible power, and unerring wisdom--all events to His sovereign will! So that while many intend other outcomes--their designs all concur and coincide in the accomplishment of His holy will. Jesus restrains with an almighty hand--the still more formidable efforts of the powers of darkness. Satan with all his hosts cannot exert their malice a hair's-breadth beyond the limits of His permission! This omnipotent Savior is the head and husband of His believing people. How happy are those whom it is His good pleasure to bless! How safe are those whom He has engaged to protect! How honored and privileged are those to whom He is pleased to manifest Himself, and whom He enables and warrants to claim Him as their Friend and eternal potion!Having redeemed them by His own blood--He esteems them as His treasure, His jewels; and protects them as the pupil of His eye! They shall not lack any good thing. They need not fear. His unerring eye is upon them in every situation; His ear is always open to their prayers; and His everlasting arms are under them for their sure support! On earth He guides their steps, controls their enemies, and directs all His dispensations for their spiritual good. While in heaven He is pleading their cause, preparing a glorious home for them, and communicating down to them reviving foretastes of the glory which they shall shortly enter into! We sinful worms were once blind to His beauty, and insensible to His love, and would have remained so to the last--had He not revealed His goodness and grace to us!"
Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!" Revelation 19:6