Loved.

thehallowedadventure:

hahaha :)

:D pahahahaha

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<3 this movie :D

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Today I listened to a wonderful message about sacrifice.

I know what your thinking. Sacrifice? Not another one of these things.

But its important.

One of the nice things about being on vacation in Florida is that I get a break from regular routine and we go to a church down here that I absolutely love! (No worries I still love my church at home too!) The message is always really great and encouraging/challenging. Today he talked about how we must subtract from our lives in order for blessings to be added to our life.

*Admit it, you hate giving up something*

But the pastor was right, I must give up something that I love, even if it is a sinful/human nature in order for blessing to be added. He talked about money, we like to hold onto it, afraid that sometime we’ll run out or we just like to spend it.

He told us this story.

He and one of his co-workers had just gotten back from a missions trip. They were encouraging a pastor and his wife in Indonesia. They asked the couple where their wedding rings were. They asked if it was a cultural thing to not wear wedding rings. The couple proceded to tell them that they had sold their rings to get money that they needed for their church. 

They subtracted from their own lives for the better of other people. That is so inspirational to me. This couple gave a sacred symbol of their marriage for the good of their church.

God help me to subtract from everyday life to that you may add to my life.

Today in chapel we sang One Thing Remains, I had never herd the song before but it struck me in a few difference ways…

Below is the lyrics to the song, what we cry out to God. Absolutely beautiful.

One Thing Remains ~ Jesus Culture

Higher than the mountains that i face
Stronger than the power of the grave
constant in the trial and the change
 
One thing remains
 
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Because on and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelmes and satisfies my soul
And i’ll never, ever, have to be afraid

One thing remains

In death
In life 
I’m confident and covered by the Power of Your great love

My dept is paid 
Theres nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love

Then I was thinking what if God was singing this to us?

What is bolded has been changed/added by me.

Higher than the mountains that i’ve faced for you
Stronger than the power of the grave - it didn’t hold me
constant in the trial and the change - I’m working in you

One thing remains

My love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on you, my child

Because on and on and on and on it goes
Let my love overwhelm you,
You will never have to be afraid because…

One thing remains

My love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on you, my child

In death - you come to me
In life - you tell others about me
You never need to worry because my Love always covers over you.

Your dept is paid 
Theres nothing that can separate
Your heart from my great love

Some might be a stretch from the actual lyrics but as I was singing I was in awe of God. He was singing to me, telling me that He was there with me and working in the very room. His love was overwhelming, I was so comforted. He is to be praised! All the glory to Him!

“These people make their own good and worship what they make.” Isaiah 2:8 (MES)

You probably already know, but I’m super passionate about Japan. The one thing that I can never get over is idol worship. Japan is mainly Buddhist (“the living”) and Shinto (praying to your ancestors or “the dead”) religions. Idols can be found almost every street corner with food a drink and even a bib or hat to keep them warm and clean. Sometimes I just want to cry out and scream, “don’t you realize these idols don’t answer your prayers? is there any hope in your life? what have these statues done for you?” . But screaming never helped anything did it? Especially in english :). Both religions are rooted heavily in the line of ancestry. My sister-in-law is half Japanese, her father was in the military, so she was able to go to Christian Academy in Japan, saved by God’s amazing grace she is a wonderful beautiful Christian woman today. Her mom and step dad however, are not. We’ve been ministering to them for years. The main reason is because her step-dad is the oldest in the family, therefore has to to take care of his ancestors and such that have already passed away. His family would completely disown him. Unfortunately her mom found out she had cancer, durring that time we repeatedly told her we were praying for her. She simply said thank you and you can believe what you want to believe, and I’m going to believe what I’m going to believe. By God’s grace she is alive and healthy! It breaks my heart every time I think of it, they both don’t know God… I might not to get to spend eternity with them.

I know this was kind of long winded and might be a little scrambled :D sorry. If you didn’t understand anything else… please just take this one thing away, prayer for Japan is desperately needed, especially in the time of rebuilding. Please pray for Japan, the missionaries that are working there, and my sister-in-law’s parents. Love you! ~Angie

I’m not going to lie to you.

Its hard to hold back tears when someone else says they got the part you so badly wanted.

To hear them talk about it.

People asking you what you got.

I thought I had gotten it… I got cocky thinking I had it in reach.

Ya I cried, but I had it out all before I got home. I could tell my parents without shedding another tear. Then dad brings it up at dinner… in his prayer. Thanks dad, you know how to make a daughter cry… inside. I have to hold it together at dinner :).

You also know how to make a daughter think.

The words he said bring up the same emotions, but they also bring up that that is not what God had in store for me.

I’m actually excited for being in the chorus, yes disappointed that I don’t have a part, but excited because I know how much fun us drama freaks have together anyway :D.

As I’ve pondered all these things I think of my heavenly father.

My dad is here on this earth to protect, care for, spoil :), and guide me. Its a direct reflection of my heavenly Father. Dad knows how to express what God was telling me, “It’s ok, its for the better.”. When I think of Christ I get excited, I can’t wait to hug Him and talk with Him and be in awe at Him because of what He did in my life and in the lives around me.

To know that I am His and He is mine just makes everything that much better. And to know that whatever happens it exactly what He planed.

Too cute!

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YAY I absolutely love the book os Esther!!! I’m going through it with my niece so this would be really cool! Maybe all edit notes after we talk over it too! I’m really excited to hear what she has to say.

-With Ester I will be pulling out specific verses and talking about them, its story format so talking about each section wouldn’t be as meaningful.

Chapter 1

Verse 12

Most of the time when I read Esther I think, why wouldn’t she just go, doesn’t she know what happens if she doesn’t go? But this time I saw it in a new light. I should respect her! She didn’t want to be just a trophy, and most, if not all, the men were drunk. I don’t blame her, she didn’t want to be looked at like that!

Verse 17

This was interesting, I mean I can she how she would be a model for women to fallow and if there were strict rules under their husband, they might rebel. But I feel like most women wouldn’t just say “well the queen did it, so can I!” I feel like I’d be like the queen did it, but she IS the queen, I don’t have the willingness to do what she did.

Verse 19

When I got her I wondered, did she know her fate? Did she thank that maybe she could talk about it with him, maybe explain why she didn’t want to come. Maybe she wanted out (I doubt this, but who knows)? If she didn’t know how it would end up, would she have done things differently?

Wow totally new look on this, I didn’t think I would have any notes on this chapter but I did! So cool, all the glory to God!!! Feel free to ask questions!! ~Angie

This is the last chapter in Ecclesiastes! A great one too!

Verses 1-8

Great review of chapter 11, again Solomon is talking about enjoying life as God commands. But, if you decided to “live life to the fullest” God is still going to be there at the end - He will judge.

Verses 9 & 10

These verses are talking about the wisdom of Jesus. He is there perfect example for us and then one we should go to to receive wisdom! He taught and is teaching us knowledge everyday!

Verse 11

Wisdom is hard to get, as we’ve discussed before. In Psalms 2 talks about wisdom being a treasure, and it is very much like a treasure! Treasure is usually desired and hard to find. Seeking and gaining wisdom is hard to do. It takes time and thats why most people give up and just go on living life like they did before. If you really want wisdom you have to put your heart in it and work for it. The thought of gaining wisdom should prod is to live upright!

Verse 14

We always want to know plans ahed of time. We look for a schedule in everthing. We are very time oriented. But sometimes that can’t happen. God is in control of our lives. He will guide us on where to go, but He is really the only one who knows what is going to happen in your life, every second. Shouldn’t He be the one you depend on?

Thats it for Ecclesiastes! Moving onto Ester next, I’m studying this with my niece! I’m very excited to talk with her about this and see her side of it! Alright see ya soon! ~Angie