Speechless

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

Speechless is a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Here are the lyrics.

God, the God of heaven and earth and EVERYTHING loves and has saves us. What amazing, indescribable love! We are speechless. 

Quotes from fiction books

~Saturday Stories~

I thought it would be fun to share some quotes with you. Feel free to share your favorite quotes in the comments.

"God has me here for a reason. I am sure of that." That reason is to make me depend on God more because I'm being attacked from all sides.  -Addy, First Date

"I think I learned something being single for so long. I'm comfortable alone or with Mark. I know who I am without him." - Cara, Worth the Wait

"Fun is an attitude, not a location." -Kara, First Date

"Thanks for being honest. The God stuff seems more real to me when I hear you telling the truth about your struggles." - Carly, Breaking the Ice

"That's why we struggle. Until we can pray 'Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,' we gonna have a whole lot of sleepless nights." - Eli, Candle in the Darkness

What are some quotes you like? Please share.

Acclaim

~Friday for Friends~

Continuing the Friday for Friends post series, we have the word "acclaim". It means "to greet with strong approval or loud applause; to hail or cheer". 

Isn't it great when at the beginning of the school year we gather together with our friends? You haven't seen each other for a while and there are hugs, pats on the back, and almost endless chatter. We, as people, yearn to be 'greeted with approval'. We want to chat non-stop, we want to exchange "oh-I-missed-you-so"s. And I think that's good. But sometimes people disappoint. 

Good news! Luke 15:7 (NIV) says:

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

We are gladly welcomed into God's family, which is the best family ever! And He delights in hearing us each time we talk with Him. We are blessed. 

Liebster award!

I’ve been nominated for the Liebster award by Athelas Hale at Red Lettering! Thanks, Athelas! And thanks also for saying that ‘liebster’ means ‘dearest’ in German. It’s nice to know what we’re talking about. :)

The rules:

~Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.
~List 11 facts about yourself.
~Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
~Nominate 9 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers.
~Ask them 11 questions.
~Let them know about the nomination.

11 facts about me:

1. I’m one of those kids that have been Christians practically all their lives. I’ve been blessed to have two Christians as my parents and I received Christ when I was 6, I think. It makes for a not-that-interesting testimony, but I'm glad I know Him!

2. I love soccer. Why? Because it’s just the greatest game ever! I love running, stealing the ball, passing, scoring. The part I don’t like is the goal-keeping, so I don’t do that often. :)

3. I've recently found out that Plus One, who apparently dis-banded in 2004 are banding up again. They have this great song, My All, which you can get just for ‘liking’ their facebook page.

4. My favorite genre is contemporary. Most fiction that I read is in that genre and I write in it too.

5. And speaking of books, Nancy Rue and Krista McGee are my favorite authors. Krista’s last book in the trilogy Anomaly is releasing in July and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Nancy has written about a billion books (well, almost) and she’s amazing at telling stories.

6. We live near a national park, which consists of a pretty big forest (mostly pine trees). I tend to take it for granted, but it’s really pretty beautiful.

7. Last year I rode 1500 km on my bike.

8. I'm thinking about being a literary agent or editor when I grow up (as well as a writer). Emphasis on the ‘thinking’.

9. I'm going to be helping in a camp for 11-15-year-olds this July. I’m pretty excited, but kind of scared too.

10. A bee stung me on the nose the Tuesday before last. I looked awful!

11. We don’t have a TV in our house. And, yep, we survive.


My answers to Athelas’s 11 questions:


1. Why did you start blogging?
This sounds awful, I know, but I started blogging mostly to build a platform. You know, build a platform before you have anything to say? Getting my name recognizable? Sounds awful, but I'm hoping this blog will be so much more. Actually, I think it probably already is.

2. Who are your favorite three fictional characters?
Hmmmm…. I love Thalli from Krista McGee’s Anomaly trilogy. Kara in Krista McGee’s book Starring Me is pretty fun. And maybe Cassidy in Nancy Rue’s Tournaments, Cocoa and One Wrong Move. Is it obvious who my favorite authors are or what?

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?
I really don’t know. The mountains are pretty cool, I guess.

4. If your home was going to burn to the ground and any people and animals were safe, what one thing would you grab?
Dad’s computer. It probably has a trillion things on it and I'm guessing we would need those trillion things.

5. Do you prefer the sun or the moon?
Sun? I don’t think I've ever thought about it.

6. Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Maybe 2 Corinthians 4:1. (NIV)
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

7. Do you speak any second languages?
Actually, English is my second language. I mean, I speak it well, I just speak Russian better. I also speak a bit of Tatar.

8. What makes you cry in fiction? (Do you cry at fiction?)
Probably when the teenager is confronting the parent and saying things like “you’ve never had time for me”. Not in an angry the-world-revolves-around-me attitude, but out of true bitterness.

9. Who is your favorite historical figure?
Probably Abraham Lincoln.

10. (Just as a random question…) Describe your floor.
My floor? Well, in the room I share with my sisters, we have brown diamond-patterned linoleum.

11. What is the skill you’re the most proud of?
Writing? Or soccer. Or studying well. I don’t know.



9 bloggers I nominate: 

1. Jamie @ CTFdevourer

2. Linsey Z. @ Books for Christian Girls

3. Skyeler at Beautiful Mess

4. Elizabeth Sullivan @ Everlasting Hope

5. Abrielle Lindsay (aka TW Wright) @ Lay Me Down

6. Anastasia Cross @ Inkspot Writer

7. Noe’mie @ Seeking Jesus

8. Brittney at @ Daughter of the King

9. Naomi @ Naomiandbooks

11 questions for the bloggers:

1. What time of day do you look forward to most?

2. What’s your favorite genre in fiction?

3. What sport do you like most, if any?

4. What’s the funniest thing you heard (or did) today?

5. Do you/did you like being a teenager?

6. Who is your favorite author?

7. Do you play any musical instruments?

8. How many hours a week do you spend in front of the computer (approximately)?

9. Do you believe music relieves stress? Do books do a better job?

10. What’s your favorite color?

11. You’ve been given three work-free child-free chore-free study-free hours. What are you going to do?

Thanks again, Athelas! It was pretty fun. And now to  notify the nominees... :) 

Am I too messed up to receive God's grace?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Here's an encouraging post by Tessa Emily Hall titled "Am I too messed up to receive God's grace?" I especially like her comparison to taking a shower after a long hike. Isn't it a relief to know that we can't mess up so much that God's grace can't cover it?

How about you? Do you ever feel that you've made one too many mistakes? How did God show you His everlasting grace?

If We Are the Body

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

Listen to If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns. Here are the lyrics.

We are the body of Christ. Why do we so often not only not help others, but hurt them? Why are we not out there helping and being a light?

How about you? Do you feel like you or the church as a whole should do more? What are some ways you can think of that let you reach out? 

Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin

~Saturday Stories~

 Caroline Fletcher knows slavery is wrong. Her father's slaves have been more family to her than her own father and mother. But no one else in the South seems to be bothered with it. And when the Civil War starts Caroline has to decide if she'll do what God is telling her to even if it means losing her friends and the one she loves. 

 Candle in the Darkness is set at the time of the Civil War in Richmond, Virginia. The book starts with Caroline as a child and shows us how she came to believe what she believed. It then takes us through her adolescence and through the Civil War.  Overall, it's a pretty interesting story about standing up for what you know is right even when everyone's against you. Eli, Caroline's slave who hopes to be a preacher when the slaves are set free, delivers so many messages of God's love and faithfulness!     

 Candle in the Darkness is a long beautiful tale, so if you have a number of hours on your hand be sure to check it out. It is the first of three books, the others being Fire by Night and A Light to My Path. 

 For more on Lynn Austin visit her website and Facebook page.