The Hidden Message Behind a Dance...

"Life is a dance. God is your partner. The most beautiful steps in a dance are those that look like He may drop you." - Ryan Crowe

   Recently, one of my dear friends shared this quote with me. Quotes are some of my favorite things to read - not only can they be inspirational, but they can also induce motivation or thorough reflection. When concise and eloquent, words can be immensely powerful. After all, I have read that "the pen is mightier than the sword."

   Words can deeply shape the way we think. My perception of its meaning goes back to the physical process of dance. In this activity, there are generally two people and two distinct roles: a male leader and the female follower. Although the flowing dress or stunning outfit of the woman may present her as the star of the show, it is the under-credited man who truly brings the dance together. 

   In order to be successful, the man must lead boldly and correctly while the woman obediently follows his movements.  What makes a dance beautiful is when both participants are in perfect syncopation. If God is the leader in the dance, then He is perfect - He will never err. Since it is impossible for him to make a mistake, then the quality of the dance would wholly depend on the woman. 

   When the woman submits to the direction of the leader, it is then that the man can lift her and execute all of the neat tricks. If the man completely trusts the woman, he will have the courage to lunge her into the air, knowing that she will trust him to catch her. Can you draw any spiritual parallels? :)

   While dancing, however, let's say that this woman decided to do her own thing although the leader specifically told her to not improvise. While the leader spun her around, catapulting her into the air she pulled an unexpected move that was not in the choreography. As a result, the man is unable to catch her. She comes crashing to the stage and deeply injures herself in the process. If she had listened to the wise instructions of the leader, she would have alleviated herself pain and suffering. 

   Friends, we are that woman. We are the follower. Who is the leader in our dance through life? None other than Jesus Christ. If we submit to the will of God, we will be able to accomplish great things. However, if we decide to "do it our own way" pain will surely follow. We will break, either physically or spiritually. When we rely on the ultimate leader Jesus Christ - one who can never do wrong - and obey His every command, we will spare ourselves from unnecessary hardship. 

   Follow the Lord, faithfully do His perfect will, and He will use you as an instrument for greatness. Remember: obey the Lord, trust His word, and seek His direction. Do this, and watch Him accomplish amazing things through you. 

Christmas Time!!

  My favorite time of year is quickly approaching!! I always anticipate the arrival of the Christmas season. I relish the gathering of family and friends, baking desserts, and shopping for gifts to give to my parents and siblings. When I walk into my home, I love inhaling the aroma of pine from the Christmas Tree. There are so many things to be thankful for.

  Strangely, the weather here in California has stayed very mild - quite like autumn. During the winter months here in the Central Valley, we generally experience grim weather - cold and rainy - instead of warm cloudless days. Although I miss the stormy climate, being warm when I get out of bed has been a very nice change. ;)

   Finals went quite well; I wrote reports for English and U.S. History, and took a written test for Algebra II. My grades were satisfactory this semester, and I give the glory to God. He truly helped me get through the hectic finals week. 

  Every Christmas, we enjoy spending the day with my Dad's side of the family at my grandmother's house. She cooks a delightful dinner, and our family cooks and brings desserts to share. The dish I bring this year is chocolate cheesecake - my favorite!!

   Also, Christmas happens to be on a Sunday this year! What is a better way to spend Christmas, than sitting in Church hearing the account of Jesus' birth. It will be very special to spend Christmas morning fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

   While preparing for Christmas, my family and I have run into a little unexpected dilemma...our oven broke....and will not be fixed until after Christmas, hehe. :D However, we will (hopefully) be able to finish all our baking at our grandmother's house. Preparing our Christmas dishes without this appliance will prove to be a very interesting experience...however, it will be another unique memory to reflect upon with smiles and laughter!!

   What are your Christmas traditions? How do you celebrate? 

   Amidst all of the hustle and chaos during Christmas, it is important to remember the true reason we celebrate. Unfortunately, Christmas is so heavily commercialized that people focus on Santa Claus or getting new presents. The birth of Jesus Christ is the most beautiful gift the Father gave us. Although he was probably born around harvest time (autumn), December 25th is a day to remember that Jesus Christ left his Heavenly throne and became a baby. He lived a perfect, sinless life so that we can go to Heaven and spend eternity praising Him!! What a wonderful reason to celebrate Christmas!!

"Glory to God in the Highest; on Earth peace; goodwill toward men." - Luke 2:14 

Classical Music...With a Twist

   Here is a string quartet that greatly enjoys to perform classical music. However, they have a very unique style that makes most of their listeners very comfortable...watch and enjoy. :) Blessings!

Thanksgiving Musings...

   This past Thursday, many households in America gathered together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. What a special time to come together and give thanks to Christ for all His great blessings. I hope that all of you had a lovely holiday. :)

   Traditions are always a trademark for such family-oriented occasions. This year, my family and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our church. We all enjoyed sweet fellowship with those who we do not always get to talk to on a regular Sunday morning. How did you celebrate?

   Of course, who can forget the scrumptious meal that is served each year? Families usually enjoy dishes such as cranberries, mashed potatoes, peas, green beans, stuffing, ham, turkey, and good ol' pumpkin pie. At church, we had quite a bounty of food and everyone seemed very satisfied at the end of the dinner.

   God has been very gracious to us this year. Personally, I have witnessed my own relationship with the Lord flourish this year for which I am very thankful. My family is the greatest earthly blessing I could ever ask for. Not only are they my closest companions, but my wisest mentors and best friends. Cherish the relationship you have with your family; it is a beautiful thing. Also, I consider my friends very significant people in my life. Just recently, one of my friends and I went to San Francisco for the day, just for fun!! Sweet memories!

    And you, my dear readers, fill my life with joy! Every comment and every pageview brings a smile to my face and makes each day a little brighter. I am abundantly thankful for you!! Let me know how your Thanksgiving festivities went. God bless you as we begin the Christmas season. :)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!"

- Psalm 107:1

Thanksgiving

At the very first Thanksgiving, this was a speech given by Mr. William Bradford who helped settle Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts:

"May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: “Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity, etc.” Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry, and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men." - William Bradford

    Notice how they heartily gave thanks to the Lord!! God truly had His hand over the pilgrims as they set out to the New World, so they could freely worship Christ. The members of the Plymouth Colony settled down and decided to give thanks.

   We should always be quick to earnestly thank Jesus Christ for all He has done for us. He willingly went to the cross and purchased our pardon on Calvary, so that we would not have to spend all of eternity in Hell. Because of His perfect life, His endless love for us, and incredible sacrifice, we can go to Heaven to be with Him for ever and ever!! Amazing love! Take a moment and thank Jesus for what He has done. Happy Thanksgiving, my dear readers!

Doing the Impossible

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

- Philippians 4:13

   A few months ago, I announced that I was going to train for and run a half marathon. For the blog post, click here. Two teens who I greatly admire, Alex and Brett Harris, wrote a book called Do Hard Things. For more information about their cause, please click on "The Rebelution" under the links tab. 

   They wrote this book a couple years ago with the realization that the teenage years were (and still are) widely viewed as a season of life to goof off and mess around.  Parents are always warned about the dreaded "teenage years". In their motivational book, these brothers presented a new philosophy - teens should rebel against these low expectations and do hard things for Christ. I read their outstanding work a few years ago, and I highly recommend it. On a side note, these two are currently seniors at Patrick Henry College ;) 

   Anyway, two friends of ours ran a half marathon last year, and I really admired their determination. Naturally, I desired to be like them - full of endurance and strength!! In May, I decided that I would take up running and train for a half marathon myself. Looking back, I still remember my first day of training. It was a hot summer day, and I decided to go run 1.5 miles. After that long and painful 15 minute work out, I felt absolutely drained and exhausted. I was doing a really hard thing. At that moment, 13.1 miles seemed truly impossible. However, I had already committed to the race, and I was not going quit no matter what. After the first week of training, my Mom decided to join me :)

   Over the next few months, we followed a training schedule that we found online. Nearly each week of the training was identical to this: rest on Sunday, run on Monday, run on Tuesday, run on Wednesday, rest on Thursday, cross-train on Friday, run on Saturday. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, we were very faithful to stick to the schedule. Gradually, both our endurance, strength, and speed began to build. 

  Then, last Sunday November 20 came. The morning of the race, I remember being hit with the shocking reality that it had actually come. Lining up to the start line still felt like a strange dream, but once I heard the word "go!", my anxious mind became engaged with my restless body.

    After two hours, seventeen minutes, and twenty-two seconds, I crossed the finish line having run the entire way without stopping. Realizing what had just been accomplished, I thanked the Lord for being faithful to push me across the finish line. Readers, with the help of God I had just run 13.1 miles. 

   I do not write this to parade myself or bring glory to what I did. I could never have completed such a distance without the help of Christ. This blog post is intended to show the grace of God when you decide to not only attempt, but do the impossible in His name. It causes me to remember the passage from Hebrews, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 

   Today, I want to encourage you to attempt things that you think you could never do...and do it in the name of Jesus!! Before accomplishing this feat, I never thought of myself as a distance runner - just one mile completely drained me. However, when you trust in the Lord, He will help you do things that you never thought were attainable. Take a step of faith and watch the hand of God do the impossible :) 

Yard Sale

   In August of 2010, I joined the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. We hold four large concerts every year, and sometimes play at Christmas events and various schools. In June of 2012, we will be embarking upon a grand European Tour!! When I heard of this news, I was so thrilled! :) We will be going to Germany, Vienna, and the Czech Republic and performing in three major cities: Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague. 

   Lately, I have been holding numerous fundraisers so I can afford the cost of this trip. Not only have I been selling coffee and advertisement space in our programs, but just recently held a yard sale. My brother Robert even pitched in and sold baked goods and coffee...he makes a pretty good salesman! The Lord really blessed our yard sale, and I am so grateful. :) 

   Thankfully, a good amount of people showed up and walked away with a couple treasures. A sweet lady from our church and her daughter volunteered themselves and came out to help - their assistance was so invaluable. During this whole fundraising experience, I have witnessed God's blessing...30% of the funds needed have already been raised!! He is so faithful to provide. 

    Here are a few pictures from our event:

My cousin came out and sold cake pops...they were
very delicious and very popular among the shoppers!!

Even my Uncle from Texas surprised us with a visit :) It
was so great to see him!!

"The Lord was ready ready to save me; therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord." - Isaiah 38:20

11-11-11

   Dear Readers, today is November 11, 2011!! This is a unique once-in-a-century occurrence that we get to be apart of! In fact, we may never get to write down this date again :) I thought that it would be fun to compile a list of "eleven things" that make each day a little brighter for you.

Eleven Things

1. Jesus Christ...of course :)

2. Sharing a room with two wonderful sisters

3. Finishing a good book

4. Highlighting verses in my Bible

5. Sipping a fancy drink from Starbucks

6. Laughing until your belly hurts

7. Watching the rain drops hit the cement

8. The sweet aroma of freshly-baked goodies

9. Long conversations with my parents

10. Having a discussion with Robert about something completely masculine :) Love that guy!!

11. Receiving letters in the mail

Please leave a comment about eleven things that are meaningful to you! God bless you, my dear readers.

Fall Recipe #1

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread



   This is my custom banana bread recipe :) Originally, it was a chocolate chip banana muffin recipe, but I altered the baking time so my family and I could enjoy some delicious bread!! This recipe is great with coffee and hot tea, making it a very simple yet delicious breakfast. Feel free to print out this recipe and add it to your cookbook. Enjoy!

Ingredients:                                                                                

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

A couple handfulls of chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease two loaf pans.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In another bowl, combine the egg, oil, yogurt and vanilla.
5. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
6. Fold in bananas and chocolate chips.
7. Pour batter evenly into the two loaf pans
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is risen and nicely browned.
9. Cover with tinfoil and bake for another 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
10. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
11. Serve with hot coffee or hot tea! Enjoy!

Fall is Here!!

    My favorite time of year is when the leaves turn a burnt orange hue, when I can see my breath in the cold air, when Starbucks releases their Pumpkin Spice Latte, when Thanksgiving Day arrives, when I dust off my winter wear, and when the aroma of home-baked goods fills the air. As fall arrives, it brings promises of cozy evenings near the fire, and hot soup for dinner. It is also a glorious time to begin planning for Thanksgiving.

   Ever since our family started pastoring Calvary Chapel Turlock, we have held Thanksgiving there. It is a neat time of fellowship where we can enjoy a delicious meal with the company of our beloved church friends. This year, we intend on making the festives extra special :) What do you all do to celebrate Thanksgiving?

    As the chilly rain showers beckon us indoors, it becomes time to open up the recipe books and start the baking routine. Soon, I will be posting a few autumn recipes that our family likes eating so that you can enjoy some as well!!

   Aren't the changing seasons glorious? When God created the world, I love how He implemented variety. We do not have the same weather every day of the year, but we have four different revolving seasons. I went to a Christian women's conference a few years ago, and the theme was "Seasons". Each one of these seasons is a small picture of Christ.

   We have winter - a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. During this snowy period, everything around us seems dead. No leaves on the trees, no rosebuds on the bushes. However, I think this is a good symbol that we need to die to ourselves, so that we may have new life in Christ (spring!).

   Spring - a new beginning. A time where we clean out our homes after being cooped up from the winter. The blossoms pop out on the Almond trees, and the farmers begin to plant their spring crops. 

   We have summer - the delightful period of vacation from school! The weather is hot, and we spend most of our day outdoors. To me, this season represents laboring through the heat. The heat symbolizes the trials in our lives, and we must continue to "run with endurance, the race that is set before us".

    Then, there is fall. The fruits of our toil in summer are finally harvested. A true representation of Heaven, when our good works on Earth (coupled with our faith in Jesus Christ) will be rewarded. A time where we glean our crops and store them up for the winter months. Then, the glorious cycle begins all over again. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." - Matt. 6:20

    Enjoy this beautiful fall weather that is already in full swing. Please comment below stating your favorite thing about fall! God bless you, my dear readers!!

A Simple Gospel

"It is a masterpiece of the devil to make us believe that children cannot understand religion. Would Christ have made a child the standard of faith if He had known that it was not capable of understanding His words?"

- D.L. Moody

   The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly amazing. Certain facets of this faith leave the greatest of theologians puzzled, but other aspects are easy for a very small child to understand! The Gospel of Grace is not only for adults, or for those who are "ready to understand" the truth. No, even little children are capable of understanding the message of the cross. Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, He constantly called the little ones to him and even compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a child.

   The message of Christ is so simple which enables both the most learned scholar and the  mind to receive salvation. Praise the Lord for such a simple gospel, with an incredibly profound message. God bless you, my dear readers!!

Trust and Love

"A tried saint brings more glory to God than an untried one. Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side and bend to every necessity of our brethren".

- Martin Luther

    A small thought for the day...

   Do not despise the trials that God takes you through. Even though they may be difficult, frustrating or hurtful, God is using them to grow us. View your trials as an opportunity to deepen your faith in the Lord and grow ever closer to Him. If we never went through seasons of hardship, how would we ever know what it is to truly trust God?

    Let our love for others never be held back. Because Christ so abundantly showers us with love, let us demonstrate those same actions to others. Something as simple as a pleasant smile or an affectionate hug could bless someone far beyond our realization.

   Trust in the Lord today and let the love of Christ radiate forth!!

"Gone Fishing"

Dear Readers,

I apologize for not posting lately; church activities along with orchestra and school engagements have prohibited me from blogging as often as I would wish. Know that I have not disappeared; I have merely "gone fishing" :) I will hopefully start my regular blogging routine within the next week or so. Please keep checking regularly for new posts!!

God bless you, my dear readers.

God is Our Rock - Part II

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” –Psalm 62:5-7

   In my last post, I talked about how rocks were used as weapons. In this post, I will discuss another aspect of stones; they were used to bring forth water.

  The place where Moses and the children of Israel were encamped was called “Horeb” which means the “desolate place”. Here in the “desolate place”, the children of Israel are desperate for water. In fact, the children of Israel desire this water so much, that they are almost driven to the point of killing Moses. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Moses immediately cries out to the Lord in Exodus 17:4 saying:

"What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” The Lord says to Moses: “’Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it that the people may drink.’ And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” – Exodus 17:6.

   God is our rock, and through Him, flows the water of life. Only He can quench the Spiritual thirst that we have in our hearts. Every longing that we've experienced can be supernaturally fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Only He can give us life and completely satisfy us. God bless you, my dear readers!!

My New Violin

Here are a few pictures of my new violin:

   It was made in Beijing, China last year. Many of its parts are solid wood which causes the sound to resonate beautifully. It has a deep, warm tone that gives it a more classical sound. I decided to name him: "Zhufu", because that means "blessing" in Chinese :) I will be performing with him in orchestra this season, and will be playing in church often. I thank the Lord for this lovely instrument!!

God is Our Rock Part I

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” –Psalm 62:5-7

     King David wrote this Psalm praising God. In this particular Psalm, God is referred to as our rock, our defense, our salvation, our glory, and our refuge. As I studied this Psalm, I decided to see what purpose rocks served in the Bible. This way, I could attempt to get inside King David's mind and try to understand why He chose to call God His rock insread of "a mighty javelin" persay. In the Bible, people used rocks for weaponry, building, and in one instance, to bring forth water. In this post, I will focus on how stones were used as weapons.

   Before King David became King, he was a simple shepherd boy. When the Philistines were encamped around the Israelites, not one man was brave enough to go and fight the giant Goliath. Men, much older, wiser, and stronger than David cowered at the sight of the great giant. Quoting from 1 Samuel 17:11, The Bible says that Saul and all Israel were dismayed and greatly afraid.

   However, the Lord called this young boy David to slay Goliath. The Lord commanded Him to gather five smooth stones from the river and put them in his slingshot. Although He was young, David had full assurance that God would deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. 1 Samuel 17:48-50 says:

   "So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him."

    Because of young David’s complete faith in the Lord, God guided the small rock in David’s sling to bring down a mighty, conquering giant. God is our rock. Even though some situations in our may seem so bizarre, like a young boy challenging a champion of war, through Jesus, we are more than conquerors. With His help, we can overcome the giant problems in our lives.

The Best Birthday Ever

   On September 7th, I turned another year older. I am officially sixteen years old!! Ever since that day, so many exciting things have happened. When my Mom asked me how I wanted to celebrate, I requested that she and my sisters plan a surprise something. 

   On Labor Day, we held a very relaxing, intimate party with my family and very close friends. There, my parents revealed that I would be getting a brand new violin!! What present could be better? As you can imagine, I was elated and extremely blessed!! :) That next Thursday morning, my parents, violin teacher, and I all drove up to Sacramento to select my preferred instrument. After deep consideration and receiving advice from my parents, I selected a Chinese violin that had a very warm tone. Getting a new instrument was such a blessing, and I am eternally grateful to my wonderful parents. I will post a pictures of it soon!!

   The next evening on Friday, one of my Mom's dearest friends (and one of my favorite people) decided to come over since she missed my party. We spent the evening having our make-up done, eating pizza, and watching the new version of Jane Eyre. Special girl times are always very enjoyable :) I concluded that night content; naturally delighted with all these special birthday events. However, I did not realize that my sisters had one more birthday surprise awaiting me...

   After church last Sunday, my sisters, mom, and grandmother all decided to go to Lulu's. Lulu's is an ice cream parlor near my grandparent's house that serves delicious sundaes, different candies, and tasty little lunch items. This restaurant has a darling atmosphere; it is decorated in a classy 1950's style which draws in a variety of different customers. As we neared the building, I noticed a bunch of balloons were gathered inside.  

   Not suspecting a single thing, my family walked up in the building, hoping not to disturb someone's birthday celebration. Once I stepped through the door, a chorus of "Happy Birthday" quickly filled the small room. Instantly, I noticed all my adult friends from church, almost all of my students from my Sunday School class, and a few of my close girlfriends whom I hardly ever see gathered around. Secretly, my sisters had planned a surprise birthday party for me.

   This glorious day continued on with all of us ordering ice cream and fellowshipping with one another. My only regret was that it ended all too soon. In my heart, I declared this my best birthday ever. I could not have imagined a better surprise.

   I am so blessed; God has given the two greatest sisters anyone could ever hope for. Although I asked them to surprise me, I never imagined an event as sweet as that!! I love them immensely and thank the Lord that I get to be with them every day. They are just the greatest!! Also, none of this would have been possible if it weren't for my mother. Even though she prefers to stay behind the scenes, I am going to bring her out to center stage and say "thank you!" She is my best friend and the most beautiful woman ever. Family, thank you so much for putting this together; I love you guys so much ;)

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." -Psalm 107:1

Getting to Know You :)

   Throughout the past few months, I have noticed that my blog has been attracting almost 1,600 viewers from all over the world. The overwhelming majority of pageviews are readers in America, but I also have pretty faithful readers from certain parts of Asia. I only have seven official followers, but I can adamantly declare that just seven readers did not rack up 1,600 hundred pageviews in only five-and-a-half months!

   I am really excited and greatly encouraged to be reaching so many people across the United States and to different parts of the planet. About a month ago, I began to pray that God would use my blog to reach and encourage someone that I did not know. Now that these pageview statistics have been rapidly rising each day, I am wondering if the Lord has caused some people I have not met to stumble across my blog.

   If you are one of these readers who are not official followers, I humbly request that you fill out this "Getting to Know You" questionnaire and submit it in comment form. However, if you feel uncomfortable with sharing this information, I completely understand :) I just thought that this would be a neat way to connect with more of my readers. Even if I only get one response back, I consider this endeavor a great success!

Getting to Know: Olivia (If you would rather not leave your name you can leave this blank :))

Some of my favorite pastimes are: Writing about political/spiritual topics, playing my fiddle, and traveling around the globe.

My favorite season is: Winter, because Thanksgiving and Christmas both take place during this season. Also, it is fun to cuddle up on the couch in front of a fire with a good book while hearing the rain pour down.

I am terrified of: Spiders! Large or small, I avoid them at all costs.
I am currently reading: "Rise to Rebellion" by Jeff Shaara. It is about the political and social events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
Favorite Thing to Study: History. I love learning about the past and drawing parallels to the present.
My favorite sport is: Tennis!
God is currently teaching me: His faithfulness. Lately, He has shown me time and time again that He will never give up on me, and that He is faithful and just to forgive me.

If you are a veteran reader, please feel free to comment as well :) I can't wait to hear from you!!

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

1 Timothy 6:11-16

"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of Faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen." - Timothy 6:11-16

I thought that I would share my final thoughts of the day before I hit the sack :) In this beautiful passage, I love the picture that Paul accurately paints of Christ: "...the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power..." Do you realize that God is so Holy that no man can look upon Him and survive? It is wonderful to know that a God as powerful as He is, chooses to love us! The very voice that called Noah, speaks to us. The very hand that calmed the Red Sea, holds us. The same God who can completely devastate an entire army by merely speaking, is the exact God who zealously fights for us. We serve a glorious and majestic God!!

When We Fail

At times, we as people go through seasons in life where we feel greatly discouraged. We feel that whatever we put our hand to ultimately fails. When we speak, people are left offended and indifferent. Wherever we go, trouble, failure, and calamity faithfully follow. Maybe we're caught in sin, or received a bad grade on a test. Perhaps we unintentionally made a careless mistake that greatly complicated a situation. In some situations, it feels like we have failed so miserably, that it is impossible to be made new and forgiven. We desperately want to escape the world of constant failure, but we haven't the strength. How do we loose the iron chains that bind us to our despair? How can we break free from the feelings of guilt that ensnare us? How can everything be "just as it was" again?

   Cry out to Jesus. Only He, in His mighty power, can release us from such feelings. With just one word, He can destroy the shackles and break the iron bars that pin us to our sadness. We may feel that we have committed a sin that permanently separates us from God or dramatically weakens our walk with Him. However, know that although we sin, God's love is always abounding and His love never shortens.

   Truthfully, nobody is perfect. It is our nature as fallen human beings to sin against God every day, which is why we so desperately need a Savior. God's unending love for us is a tremendous gift, so be sure to never, ever take it for granted. Do not deliberately sin, knowing that Christ will forgive you anyway. God honors a repentant heart, and if you do something you know you shouldn't, knowing that God will forgive your actions, you are not truly sorry for your sin. Jesus Christ forgives those who are truly sorry for their sins and are moved to a degree of sadness because of what they so thoughtlessly did. If we are treating the mercy of God like a common vending machine, then we treading upon His grace. However, there is hope :)

   What if we are truly sorry for our sins, and feel hopelessly trapped in guilt? In the film Amazing Grace, I am always touched by the line, "My memory is fading, but there are two things I remember very clearly...I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior." No matter how many sins we have committed, no matter how many terrible things we have thought, said or done, and no matter how many mistakes we've made, we are never too far gone. If we have a truly repentant heart, Christ is always ready to receive us with open arms, remove our guilt, and make us new.

   Although you may have failed God, He still loves you and desires to forgive you today :) Today, make your heart right before Him; remember, Jesus Christ willingly took all your sins, short-comings and failures to the cross. Come to Him with an honest, repentant heart and with a heart of joy, He will forgive you!! How exciting to know, that Jesus bore all of our mistakes and faults for us. With a heart abounding in love, awe-struck wonder, and adoration, I say "Thank you Lord!" 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

As Summer Closes...

   At last, after nearly three weeks, I am posting!! Thank you so much for bearing with me and my non-updated blog; life has been full of busy happenings as summer vacation comes to a rapid close. My family and I have taken a couple trips, as well as welcomed our cousins from Texas into our home for a week. With all the restless (yet wonderful) events taking place, it has been nearly impossible to steal away and dedicate a few precious moments to my blog. This long-awaited post is dedicated to my five favorite events that took place this summer: 1. Seeing my cousins from Texas 2. Going to Patrick Henry College 3. Camping 4. Competing in Tennis 5. Vacation Bible School

   My Uncle and Aunt have five children and the oldest is only six years old. Hearing the sound of high-pitched voices, seeing tiny shoes scattered throughout a room, and washing off small stubby fingers after each meal became very pleasing. Having small children around the house again was really enjoyable :) All five of the children are precious and have really sweet hearts. They stayed at our house for a few days, then we all packed up and went tent camping at my grandpa's large ranch. Having my mother's side of the family all staying together at once was really special. After sleeping under the stars for a few days, my cousins left California and flew home to Texas. I can't wait to see them again!

   About four days after getting home from the ranch, our immediate family re-loaded my Dad's truck, and headed to the hills for our second camping trip of the summer. Lake Alpine - where we camped - proved to be the perfect place to wind down before school and all its academic rigor begins again. We hiked, swam, played games, laughed, and greatly enjoyed each other's company. I truly have no greater friends than my parents and siblings! Unfortunately, we forgot to bring our camera, so that camping trip will be remembered solely by the mental pictures we snapped :)

   Over the past couple days, I have been organizing my textbooks, school schedule, and my cluttered desk in preparation for this coming Monday. It is hard to believe that summer is already over; after all, didn't school just end yesterday? The classes I will be taking are: Algebra 2, Spanish 3, U.S. History, English, Violin, Tennis, World Music, and Piano. This semester, I will really be focusing on expanding my knowledge of music and (hopefully) dramatically enhance my skills as a violinist. Please post in a comment the courses that you will be taking this year; I would love to know!

   Every summer, my tennis team and I have the opportunity to compete for the state title. Our team placed second in our local league,  which earned us a spot in the semi-finals at Clovis. However, we were narrowly defeated by our opponents on the first day of the competition. Even though our team didn't win, I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to make it to the semi-finals and grow stronger together as a team. Next year, our goal is to win :)

   Our church stretched Vacation Bible School out across five weeks and held it every Thursday night during that time. I oversaw the "Bible Memory" station where I selected, then taught the children memory verses each week. The kids competed against one another in a venture to see who could memorize the most portions of scripture. I felt so blessed and privileged to be able to work with the children who had eager hearts to hide God's Word in their hearts :) To check out photos from this event, click here.

   As my beloved summer vacation comes to a close, I thank God for the many wonderful memories that these few months will forever hold :) Now it is time to confidently sharpen my pencil, complacently sit at my desk, and courageously begin my junior year. God bless you, my dear readers!!

Lesson from a Poem

   One of my dear friends from Church shared this poem with me yesterday. It served as a refreshing reminder that the things of this world are empty, and only Christ can satisfy your desires. People are often seeking for material things to fulfill the deepest longings of their hearts. We are born with a stinging void in our hearts that yearns to be fulfilled by something or someone. However, we usually turn away from the open arms of God and seek after the worldly things to satisfy us. The author of this passage (Bethany Spence) beautifully portrays the longing of a young girl's heart as she discovers the only One who can fulfill her.

Filled

by Bethany Spence

She sits and she wonders

Who will it be?

Who is the right one

Who truly loves me?

For years now she's searched

But was never satisfied

While searching she realized

She's empty inside

She found no one to fill her

No one like she's dreamed

Every one worth nothing

All shallow, it seemed

So she sits and she ponders

On a bench at the park

What will he look like

The boy who wins my heart?

Lovesick, she sighs

When out of the blue

Came a lonely old woman

"May I sit beside you?"

She nodded and made room

The the woman began to speak

She spoke of Jesus

And tears fell down her cheeks

"He love you", she said

And she gave her a smile

"He laid it on my heart today

To talk to you for a while."

The the woman got up

And left her alone

She was crying and shaking

How could she not have known?

It was Jesus who loved her

His name she repeated

And right then she knew

It was Him that she needed

So she bowed her head

Her heart ready to be spilled

And from that moment on

To the brim she was filled.

Newest Lego Creation

   My 11-year-old brother Robert is a builder. God gave him the most creative, mathematical, and detailed mind I have ever seen in someone his age. Every time he proudly presents one of his newest lego creations to the family, we are always amazed by his remarkable talent and skill for constructing things. One of my favorite designs of his is pictured above. Being a musician, I found a very unique appreciation for this piece. The intricate details on the violinist and cellist are truly amazing to examine. A couple weeks ago, he presented this to our violin instructor and she was completely awed by his work. I can't wait to see how God uses his incredible mind :)

From Drab to Delightful

"Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."   - Psalm 27: 11-13 (emphasis added)

   The portion I bolded in the above passage is primarily what I want to discuss :) In the Hebrew language, one of the literal meanings of the word "goodness" in this passage, is "beauty". The Psalmist here writes about his pursuit of the beauty of God. He desires the faultless refinement that only the Lord can give.

   As a newly-wed housewife does to a mis-matched bachelor pad, she rids the house of plain items and replaces them with pleasant ones. When she spends time making her dull house an attractive home, she is ushering in beauty and warmth. This is what happens when Christ comes into our lives; he takes our filthy rags and replaces them with His perfect righteousness. Before Christ, we are repulsive and distasteful, but once we are filled with His glory, we become new, fresh, and appealing.

   As a follower of Christ, we should continually be filling our minds with things that are good, pure, noble, and beautiful. When we meditate on the things of Christ, we are pursuing His holiness and His peerless beauty. It is important to break any habits you have or thought patterns that are unpleasing or unglorifying to God. Take those trashy areas of your life, lay them at the feet of Christ, and ask Him to fully replace them with His irreproachable beauty.  

   Find an unkempt corner of your home today and purpose to rid it of its shabbiness. Practice making the world around you delightful and appealing. Value the things that are lovely and always pursue the beauty of Christ.

Love 101

   What is love? This pending question has tried to be answered by Jane Austin writing her romantic novels, Beethoven composing his passionate music, and Thomas Cole painting his affectionate portraits. One of the greatest desires of mankind is to love and have their feelings reciprocated. How can we define this pleasurable, captivating, feeling?

   Today, people casually use the word "love" for almost everything;  we can love our parents and love onion rings. Although we feel for our parents much differently than we do food, we use the same phrase to define our affection toward both. The world's definition of love is a lifeless, bleak thing. According to our mislead culture, love can be understood as either sinful lust or just strong admiration for another person. God's concept of love is completely different than what our world thinks. Love is a powerful action, whereas it is usually misused to defining a mere feeling. If love is a verb, how exactly do we act?

   In 1 John, its says that "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." It is impossible to love without personally knowing and serving God. Those outside of Christ cannot truly love one another. In essence, God is love, and those who do not follow Christ cannot truly love.

"If you love Me, keep My commandments." - John 14:5

   Obedience and love are completely inseparable. One of the ways we express our love is through our obedience. We love our parents by obeying them, just like we love God by keeping his Holy commandments laid out in Scripture.

   "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up..." - 1 Corinthians 13:4

   Love willingly endures trials and hardships. Long suffering can be better defined as patience. True love holds fast and abides for a long period of time. Our love must be lasting and permanent. Since God Himself is love, we should always be looking to Him to see how this action portrayed. God shows patience by still accepting us after we have failed. We are to love others by forgiving them even when they have wronged us.
   Love is kind. We love others by showing them mercy and grace. Jesus flawlessly demonstrated this by helping those in need and not slandering them. He sacrificially loved the people by spending His time with them, gently teaching them, and miraculously healing them.
   Love does not envy. Jealousy usually leads to covetousness and - when it gets out of hand - hatred. We love other people by rejoicing for them when they are happy, and mourning with them when they are hurting. If we observe someone who has triumphed in a certain situation, we must love them by being genuinely glad for them and not putting on a hidden attitude of jealously.
   Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, In order to truly love, we have to destroy our pride. As you may have seen countless times from history, pride destroys rulers, countries, and the lives of ordinary people. Love is accomplished by the complete humbling of oneself. When Jesus came to Earth, He did not come as a "big-wig" or "Mr.-goody-two-shoes". In fact, Jesus was born in a stable and executed his earthly ministry as a regular man (note that Jesus was fully God and fully man) even though He had access to complete power. We have no room to be puffed up and love and the same time. If we want to be great in God's Kingdom, we must humble ourselves and learn to be the servant's of all. Love is humble!
   If we lack any of these above qualities, and I exhort myself above anyone, we do not truly love. Ask God to examine your heart and give you a spirit of true love for others :) Have a blessed day, my dear readers!

To expand upon this subject, please visit this link.

God's Existence

   Do you ever ask the questions: Does God hide Himself? Why doesn't He make Himself known to the ignorant beings who reject Him? Or, why doesn't He just paint "I am the true and living God" across the sky for the whole world to see? Truthfully, I used to be struggling with these tormenting thoughts and constantly asked these same questions to myself. More specifically, my mind usually wandered to the world-renowned Oxford professor: Richard Dawkins.

   Richard Dawkins is a brilliant scholar to whom God gave an incredible mind. I highly respect him for his level of intelligence and proficient eloquence. Although this knowledgeable man has a remarkable intellect and a superior position in the world of education, he is a pronounced and zealous athiest. In 2006, Richard Dawkins wrote a book called The God Delusion where he forcefully argues the non-existence of Almighty God. In short, he completely denies the mere possiblility of the existence of a Higher Power who created the universe.

   Observing the sucess and fame of someone like this man caused me to ask God, "Why don't You reveal Yourself to men like Richard Dawkins who are fighting so hard against You?" Then, in His soverign, gentle, yet powerful way, God answered me. God didn't audibly speak to me, but with a still, small voice He removed the walls of confusion that enclosed my flustered mind.

   Friends, whether you realize it or not, God is openly revealing Himself and proclaiming His existence and majesty every moment of our lives. God's handiwork and proof of His existence is made manifest in every object He created. Take something simple, like the tree. A tree has roots which absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil which allows is to live. It then uses those nutrients to aid in the growing and strengthening of its trunk, the complicated process of photosynthesis, reproducing seeds that fall to the ground and begin to form into their own trees. My question is: How do they know how to do that? How does a tree just "know" how to grow roots, use sunlight and water for energy, make seeds that grow into trees that repeat the same life cycle?

    God does write His name across the sky. The very fact that the sky is, means He is! In fact, He leaves His signature on every leaf, feather, human body, and insect. Please don't confuse this; God is not the sky, but the sky is an object of His very creation. Don't worship the creation, worship the Creator. We may not literally see the sentence "Made by God", but hasn't God proved His existence already? God did not choose to etch His name using letters in the atmosphere, because all of creation bears His mark. Look out across the ocean, observe the stars above you, and marvel at your own hand. Do not all of these things bear the mark of the Almighty?

"Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 'Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors..'" - Job 38:3-10

My Trip to Virginia - Part 2

   One of the most impacting lessons I took away from Patrick Henry College was learning the characteristics a godly leader. A leader is not merely someone with a booming voice, commanding presence, and an eloquent tongue. Although these attributes would definitely come in handy as a leader, those are not the key elements required.

   You need to have a humble spirit. No one is going to want to follow someone who is arrogant and haughty. Those who shun the opinions of anyone else because they think that they have all the correct answers, will never be esteemed. Proverbs 11:2 states: "When pride comes, them comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." God deeply loathes and despises pride, which means that we should stay far away from it. Don't take all the credit for the things you accomplish, make sure that you are continually giving the glory to God. 

   Secondly, be a servant! Jesus was the perfect example of leadership and He, the King of Kings, lived His life in full humility. His lowly birth in a stable and His entrance into Jerusalem on a mere donkey demonstrate that his heart was bursting with humility. In Matthew 23, Jesus says "...he who is greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Those who exercise a life of servanthood will often make choices for the betterment of others. Would we not want to follow someone who had our best interests in mind?

   Finally, exercise prudence and discretion on a daily basis. These two traits are essential for a godly leader. When one leads (and everyone does in one capacity or another) and is faced with certain decisions, they will need to have sound judgement, wisdom, and understanding. Proverbs 2:11-12 says, "Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things..."

My Wing

   My week spent at Patrick Henry College was full of convicting yet inspiring lectures. I hope to strive to grow in all of these areas and faithfully execute the vocation that God has called me to. However, our days at Patrick Henry were not full of speeches alone; we had plenty of recreational activities which balanced out seriousness and fun :) 

  At the very start of camp, we were assigned to different dorms and within those dorms, specific wings. There were six gentleman wings and six lady wings. Each wing had a team name; we were the "Southern Belles". One gentleman wing and one lady wing would combine together to form one team, making six teams altogether. Our opposite guy team were the "Arabian Knights". Consequently, we combined our team names and became "The Southern Knights". 

   Throughout the week, the co-ed guy and girl teams would compete with other guy and girl teams to win the envied Party in a Bag. We earned points by arriving to meals on time, participating in games, and making a skit at the end of the week. Long story short, our team ended up winning the Party in a Bag which contained all sorts of delicious junk food, a variety of sodas, and a movie :) It was so much fun!! The way we won it though, was not due to our teamwork talent or our incredible acting skills. In fact, our team was a little dysfunctional at first. As God worked on our hearts, we slowly began to put our knowledge of leadership into praxis.

   Each activity we did involved working together as a team. Although it may sound simple, it took a great deal of time before we actually understood how to a) choose a main leader and b) respect each other as we functioned as a team. During the first couple recreational activities, each one of us all had our own ideas about how to best complete our challenges. That often caused slight frustration because we weren't working together as a unit. However, when we truly understood the Biblical principles of leadership and applied them to our common actions, we began to function like a true team. Once we decided to regard the opinions of others above our own, we began to get along almost perfectly. As previously stated, at the end of the week, our team won 1st place and we throughly enjoyed our Party in a Bag :)
    There were so many valuable lessons I learned during my time at Patrick Henry. I hope to holdfast to what I learned and commit myself to the Lord by constantly applying these principles to my life. I encourage and exhort all of you to be godly leaders with humble countenances, displaying the heart of Christ through your servanthood. God bless you, my dear readers!