Do You Know about Eternal Life?

          "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."-Hebrews 11:39-40

           "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."-John 3:14-16

        “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”-Matthew 11:28-30

           The songs that were also sung at the passing was: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Amazing Grace, and The Old Rugged Cross.

          This is the 2nd part of the last entry that I wrote. This is the last thing that got me at the passing of my friend and 2nd father. Stand strong like a tree so you can have enteral life in God. What service do you get reminded of that? I was surprised that these things is what I was getting from it but it did make it happier and like a party because we all knew where he was going. The verses and songs just reminded me of God's Grace and 
Strength that we have in Him. If we remember that, then we will have enteral life forever. 
          It helped me remember that we don't deserve that enteral life at all but through God's Grace and our Faith in Him we can have it. We have it because God has something better for us planned in the future. If He had commend us, then His Works would not be done.  It is like this, with a 2nd father, I think, as older and wiser people get we pass the tradition and information on to the next generation. I feel like I am the person I am today partly because of my 2nd father. I would have never gotten the farm experience without him and because I have that experience it makes me like God's Creation even more. 
          The reminder of an eternal life is a reminder of depending on God and leaning on Him through hard times. It is a reminder that we should lift God up no matter what is going on in our lives or where we are in it. God is gentle and humble and will give us rest if we just ask for it. I love that songs that we sung too because all of them had a theme and went with the verses too. The songs reminded us to look to Jesus and remember what He did for us so we could have enteral life in Him. He gave us grace and died that horrible death on the cross because He cared that much about us. Someday when we die and get to live that eternal life with Him, we will get a crown of glory if we have followed Him in the way He wanted us to. 
          I didn't write this down on my notes because I didn't think it was important about it is. The pastor mentioned another song and it has been my favorite since I could remember it. It is the old song: "Trust and Obey" and that song says it all about my friend's life and I want it to say it all about my life. "Trust and Obey, for there is not other way to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey." You can't live a happy life if you are living for yourself. You will fail every time that you try by yourself. You have to live for Jesus and by trusting and obeying Him, you are doing just that. You should have joy no matter what. Yes, life will be hard at times but God does everything for a reason and that reason is to make us ready to be with Him and have eternal life. 
           I have a question to ask you: Do you know about Eternal Life?
           

Strong Like A Tree

         "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.   That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."-Psalm 1:1-3

          "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads."-Revelation 22:1-4

            ^" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."-Gal. 5:22-26

         " Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”-Luke 13:6-9

    

          There is a very speical reason that I put these verses on my blog. That reason is that these are the verses that was read at a old friend's (my 2nd dad's) passing. His passing is the best one I have been to out of all the other ones I have been to. That might be a strange thing to say and compare but it was. He lived a life that served God and his church. He loved doing and making things for people. He loved children (hint me). He would build things in his wood shop for the church and people. I still have a little wooden bookself that he built for me right by my bedside and that is where it has always been. 

             It was really beautiful that the friends and pastors picked these verses out for him because it did fit him perfectly. He loved animals and the outdoors. His wife and him lived out in the middle of the woods, with a lot of trees around them, on a farm on a gravel road where I grew up. He had cows, chickens, a lot of dogs and cats that I remember. I would go and try to help him milk the cows when I went to visit but I was more of an egg collector. 

              I remember the walks out in the small woods behind the house. On every walk, I use to pick up acorns and collect them. I have pictures of him reading to me outside. That's why I like to read outside when I get the chance to. I just never knew how much his wife and him liked the outdoors but I guess living on a farm you have to in a way. I wonder where I got the love of the outdoors and sewing and rustic things. Now I know. It is from when I was growing up on the farm. 

            I have been going back once a month to visit and it just feels like I am back home because it is so calm and easygoing. So quite too. It feels like I get recharged there on the farm. I thought it was strange because at his cermony I was the only one really crying and I was crying out loud I felt like. His wife (my 2nd mom) joked around with me like we usually do and told me it was okay. One of the relatives that was sitting by her said to her "I love her tender heart." It is hard to think of that person who raised you for the first 4 years of your life and during one week every summer after that until jr. high or high school. 

              It is strange how people in the country can be so much alike but yet so different. Country people do stick with their passions and things and people they love. They will never let their love ones down and will try to help all they can whether be building them something or teaching them something about life. They have hobbies and they do them. Sometimes they will spend all their lives doing that one or two hobbies that they love. It has just opened my eyes to so many different things and gave me more respect for people in my life that I should have had a lot more respect for before this all happened. 

          Strong like a Tree is what I want to be like. I want to take root and stand my ground on my passions and beliefs. Stand up for what I know is right and try to do it. Try to grow more and more in God so I can make a difference in a place where I know I can and will. I want to bare fruit where it is possible too. I do not want to curl up and die that is for sure. 

Strong Like a Tree (5 steps):

-Take root and stand your ground

-Stand up

-Grow more and more in God

-Bare Fruit

-Don't curl up and die

If you can follow those 5 simple steps, you will be living a life for God but not in that exact order. Some of them might need to be changed around depending on the situation.

               

Waiting with His Love and Grace

        The word that God has been putting on my heart lately is......Waiting with His Love and Grace. God has been putting "waiting" on my heart since yesterday morning and He has been putting the words "love" and "Grace" on my heart since last Monday. I feel like God has put a lot of people (aka my friends) around me that are just waiting for things like another job, college, or their dream to come true. I feel like I'm waiting for a lot of things too.
         The things I'm waiting for is to go to grad school again and the way to go, having not just a job but a career, getting married, having a family, and adopting. Those are the desires of my heart right now along with everyone else's that is around me. I can relate to 3 people because it is one or the other of these things. It maybe not just one but two of these things to for that other person.
         It is strange that I'm just thinking the words "Love" and "Grace" over and over again too. It is just that God is trying to show me something through all of this. I have lived my life in His Love and Grace. That's for sure. Everything I have done in my life has been because of His Love and Grace. I will write more about that later in another entry. Then why can't I wait in His Love and Grace and just Trust that He will give me my heart's desires.
          The strange thing is, though, His Love and Grace for me as always been given through me to other people. I guess I never thought about those two things for me. Waiting in His Love and Grace. Enjoying the time in it while I have it to myself. Really, I do have it all to myself most of the time now expect when I'm working with the children or talking to friends. I get to soak in it all by myself and it is fun at some points but then other points I just want to share it. It is meant to be shared.
           While you wait with those two things, it gives you hope too. It says that no matter what happens in the time of waiting, His love and grace will be with me to get me through. To lead me down the right path. To make me see things that I would have never seen other wise. People do just say.....Wait......a lot but they never say it with something of God's. If it is anything it is His Timing but His Love and Grace are most important. It is those two things that keeps you going, not the timing. It is just like the children I work with they are waiting for someone to love them but while they are waiting they are hoping in, whether they believe it or not, in His Love and Grace. It is His Love and Grace that keeps human nature running its course.
             If you think waiting is bad or boring......look at it another way........look at it with His Love and Grace and then you will see things even the small things in that waiting time that could help you get to those things or be better at those things. Sometimes the Wait is not so bad. That is when He grows us the most.
            Friends, wait in His Love and Grace. He will not let you down in the end.

Cleaning with Vinegar

       You know in those moments when you think "Oh, I'll never do that or be like that" but then you turn out to be like that. There is a lot of DIY things that makes it cheaper on you as a person to have like cleaners and decorations and so on. For some reason, those things get me to thinking when I actually do those things like cleaning with vinegar. I knew it was a good cleaner and learned that in college and other ways but never thought I would do it.
          Of course, I was in college when I thought that. I was stubborn and thought I could get everything with money and so on but that's not the way my life is going right now. I also thought, like in an earlier entry, I could make my own food but right now it is the easiest to make boxed food. It is something I do need to get use to because with my dream, I will be supporting children with the money that is being made and making things like cleaners and clothes. Not really, but it is possible because I know how.
            Things cost so much these days. There are barely any small or big families that live on homemade things. You do that now if you are just single and by yourself because really there is no one else to care. You work and/or go back to school until you find the one that is right for you. Cleaning with vinegar, also humbles me a lot because it makes me see how much money I really have. It is a part of the missionary life. I might not have enough money to by name brand cleaners but at least I have some money to buy vinegar. Some people don't even have that much money.
             I will admit I would like to take the recipes and crafts off of Pinterest and do those someday. I learned to make my own clothes, blankets, and laundry soap while cooking for 10 people in a big house. Sometimes if people really know me that will say that I want marriage and I won't argue with them because it is true but there are some things I want before that and I just have to learn the fastest way to do things now as a single and then I can do the other things when I get a bigger house or get married. It is just no point in doing it now for me even though I could start living that way so I will be use to it when I do get married.
             That might be my New Year's resolution, making my own things. I can save money that way for school and a family plus it is fun. People always say prepare for marriage and this is the way I want it. This is what I want. It is funny because I'm taking the preparing for marriage the totally opposite way that some girls would but that is me. I am the simple, country girl. Put me in a cabin out in the woods and I would make it. I like to make life as simple as I can. Might not seem like it sometimes because I am a deep thinker too but doing things I like the simplest of ways.
               Whether it is cleaning with vinegar or a name brand cleaner, just remember the kind of life you are living. Do you want to live where you are making a difference or where you are just following someone else? I turned this whole entry into a thought process. Like how I did that? You can turn anything into a learning and thinking process.

Pray for the Nations

         "My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations."- Mark 11:17a

      I have nothing else to write right now so I'm writing about this verse because it has been on my mind and bathroom mirror this month.
     I heard this verse during a sermon one Saturday night. I would love it to be the theme of my house (now apartment). I am the person that loves missions and ministries. I'm that person that love to pray for other children and people in other nations. Why can't it be?
     I have been to Mexico and Guatemala and seen so many things. Been to trash dumps and orphanages in those to countries. I love everyone of those children. I have seen children on the street selling things to barely get by. Helping their parents while walking all day. I sponsor a little girl (not so little anymore) from the Philippines through Compassion International. I know too many children not to pray for them whether in other nations or here in the states. That is not the only way I am thinking about this verse and the word "nations".
      Besides the the "real" nations, the word means more to me and the meaning is the different cultures around me. The word "nation" really means: a large body of people, associated with a particular territory, that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or to possess a government peculiarly its own. Cultures like Hispanic, abused, homeless, hunting, plus more. Everyone needs to be prayed for. We have so many "little nations" around us if we just look where we least expect it. I know the meaning is talking about just countries but replace the word "territory" and it is simple.
          Although, you could leave that word in there too. It is just saying that a group of people that are passionate about the same thing and wanting to come together because of that passion to do something about it, to own it is a nation. Even Christians are a "nation" because we are passionate about Jesus Christ and we want people to know and Love Him. We are shining for Him. A "nation" could really be your job, church, friends, or even family.
         Taking this verse as is, "Let your house or place of living be called a place of prayer for everyone around you plus those who you come in contract with throughout the day." AKA: Let's pray for everyone that needs it. Prayer is that important and God cares about people that much. He cares enough for us to bring our problems and blessings to Him. God gets to know us through our prayers because we share things with Him then we never would with anyone else. WE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH GOD. HE IS OUR CREATOR AND FATHER.

Activities to Help Teach Children

           I never thought about activities to help with conflicts or just to get to know the children but I learned today that activities can do both of those. Maybe that is why I love to do crafts or school things with the little children? The way I am doing it now it is letting me have one on one with them and teach them how to do things they have probably never done before. If schools saw activities more this way then maybe children would want to learn better. Especially today's children.
           I have two ways that activities that can help children and youth and why it helps them the way it does. It is something else that I really have to look into and learn about somehow.
One way is to use activities and basic needs for initial communication after or during a conflict. Why? It is often easier to talk over a game of cards (aka preschool making something) or a snack. ACTIVITIES AND FOOD TEND TO PUT PEOPLE AT EASE AND MAKE COMMUNICATION FLOW.  For adults, that makes since to, especially for me, because I have to keep doing something to calm down or I will response in a negative way. I will also think about things that are not true and then get worked up about those things. Once you are walking with a friend or playing a sport it is easy not to even think about what bothered you and just talk.
             Then it is common sense to know that activities are used to form relationships and it helps youth with their willingness to form one with someone else that they are just getting to know and that is true for all of us. You might ask why is using activities such an easy way to form relationships. When you do an activity with the child, it puts the child at ease (no tension) and it seems non-threating because you are having fun with them. Talking about having fun, you also satisfy that need to have fun. Children and youth might not be use to fun because they have been in charge or scared to do anything fun because they don't know what it will end up like so they need to be taught that it is okay in a safe place.
               The thing I love about using activities is that it is the best way, in my opinion, to provide opportunities to teach skills and to model behavior. It is also more effective when used to support and encourage, rather than as a reward or punishment. Learning all of this in a meeting as helped me realize that I am doing a lot for those children while I'm doing crafts with them and that we need to do more. It might be easier to do it a a middle school or teenage level because you can sometimes see the change right away but preschoolers needs it just as much. I know they need emotional and mental help most of the time but crafts and other activities besides just playing can help them learn a lot in every way especially we when take time to think about what kind of activity to do with them.
             I just happy that I have something to back me up now when people ask me why do you do some much with the children or spend so much on them. You learn through everything you do even crafts and sitting in circle time.

Schedules and Boxed Food

         You might be thinking, "What a strange title that is for a entry!" Let me explain, though. For the past month or two, I have been really trying out an everyday schedule and noticing how "normal" people use boxed food because they are busy and not lazy. I thinking about starting to live off of boxed food and fresh fruits and veggies. Anyways, here are my explanations for both and what difference they have made in my life. I will admit too, I have had people tell me months before to use a schedule of some kind but I never stuck with it.
          Let's start with something that I am actually doing right now and how it came about. You remember that women's Bible study I was taking back a month ago? Well, that is what got me started in this whole scheduling thing. The first thing that I was reminded off was that God cares about every little details of our lives so we should too. In our Bible study book, there was a chapter on how to organized things. You would think, being the person that I am, I would have my personal life organized and down pat. Well, I don't I just like everyone else to be organized or that was how it seemed. There was an organization chart that you could fill out of your daily routines. What you had to do that day.
            It was a few weeks after the Bible study was over that I really got to thinking about it and got to where I could use that chart. Now I was just thinking about using it for the things I should be doing everyday or every other day like they are "suppose" to be used. I thought once I got my daily routine down again with new things added in then I could stop using those charts after I run out. Let me tell you that I am not going to stop using something smailiar to those chart like a daily planner and I will have it out on my table at home. Just like the charts are. I'll admit it is kind of like a child having a daily chore chart. When you look at it through God's eyes, that is exactly what it is through because we are His Children and we should shine His Light.
            I know I am getting a lot more done and it is bringing out the best in me. I like seeing everything crossed off at the end of the day. It is very rewarding. I know I sound like a child but it is true and it runs in the family in a good way. Plus today's world is just that busy where we do have to write down everything to remember it. We have so much to do in 24 hours and they can change but time can't.
            Now about the boxed food. I got to thinking about this when I here my single friends talk and even young parents or young married couples with or without children. It goes back to the fast pace of today's world and that it is only me in an apartment right now. I LOVE to cook! More then anything, I LOVE to cook WITH people. It's not as fun when you have to do it by yourself. It can also be my stress reliever in so many ways. There is a reason my degree is in FACS but it is hard cooking for just one person especially when you have grown up with 5 people in the house and had big holidays every holiday. You don't know how to cook smaller sizes. Even though, I might miss cooking at times like taking hours to cook. Mix and back sort of thing. The easy boxed food has their advantages too.
           I can cook a tray of cookies in 5 to 10 mins instead of a half a hour. I can have some unique things that I would never thought of making myself or don't know how just yet. You can make it for as many people as you want. Sometimes depending on how many you have in your family that is even way faster then making food because it comes in a big box. It just depends on your lifestyle  and career right now. I'm noticing that even though I love to bake, it is not the prefect time for me to cook. I am single and I have a job that I love but can make me sleepy and emotional at times so I need something easy to bake when I get home.
          For me, it is kind of like I have children that I take care of all day and then I come home and cook something fast for me. It would be that way if I had young children of my mine so why not get use to it now, right? It is strange how God can open your eyes to little things like these and make you see that those things make life much easier for you so you can spend more time with Him.