Pray for Your Siblings - Day 8

At last, final exams are complete and our internet is cured of all its troubles. It had been broken for a few days, and last week we got it fixed! Thank you for your patience! Let the challenge resume. :) 

My beautiful sister. Isn't she pretty??

14 Things About Caroline

1. My family often jokes that she is "our actress". Although she may not show it in public, she displays around five thousand different facial expressions a day. 

2. She is a very natural athlete - horseback riding, swimming, tennis, ballet, and many other sports come very naturally to her. 

3. She can put a smile on your face, even when in your dullest mood. Essentially, she could make watching paint dry hilarious. 

4. She is a dedicated Little House on the Prairie fan. 

5. She is definitely not a breakfast-food person. If she had to eat Mexican food for the rest of her life she would be one happy camper. 

6. She is a very faithful friend. 

7. She is one of those neat people who can have a great conversation about virtually anything.

8. She offers supportive encouragement when you need it. 

9. She has the strongest competitive streak in our family. 

10. One of her great loves, is horses. Not only is she completely natural in the saddle, but she continually seeks to improve her skill in this area. 

11. She has enormous energy and such a passion for life. 

12. She loves her family very deeply. 

13. She has a strong work ethic and isn't afraid of a challenge...in fact, she lives for challenges. :) 

14. The joy of the Lord radiates through her. She keeps our family going a million miles an hour, and makes every step of the way absolutely wonderful. 

I love you, Carey :) Happy 14th birthday! Thank you for being a great sister and making each day full of life and laughter! 

See if you can list at least five things about each of your siblings. As you list each thing, ask the Lord to fill you with love for your brothers and sisters. Ask Him to give you His love, patience, and wisdom when spending time with them. Siblings add such beauty to life. Cherish them, and never let them go! 

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." -1 John 4:20

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

Pray for Your America - Day 7

   

   I apologize for posting a couple days late; our internet has been very flaky and we have had very limited access to it since Wednesday. Thankfully, one of our good friends from church helped us regain access to the world of media once again.

  Instead of assigning you a topic to pray for, I would like you to please watch this video instead. After watching it, you won't need to be told what to ask the Lord for. The video speaks for itself...very clearly.

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”  - Deuteronomy 30: 15 - 20

Being Thankful - Day 6

   As I write this, I sit in a warm coffee shop, surrounded by delicious aromas and one of my favorite people. There is something wonderful about sipping a toffee nut latte while finishing academic reports. When someone grinds away at homework while at Starbucks, they are bound to be successful. :) 
   We are so fortunate to be citizens of the United States. We have so many luxuries available: warm clothing, wireless internet, delicious warm beverages, laptops, clean water, sports cars. The list could honestly go on forever. It make me wonder, how often do we count these blessings? 
   What if we woke up today, with only the things we thanked God for the day before? Would we still be comfortable, or would we find ourselves destitute? As Christians, exhibiting a spirit of thankfulness is crucial. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."As you go about your day, thank God for all He has graciously given you. Learn to be thankful and recognize His blessings - both the obvious and those that are hidden. 


"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" - Psalm 107:1


"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 5:20


"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" - Psalm 105:1


"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15