Faithful in hardships

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Awhile back author Tessa Emily Hall wrote about hard times in her post "Ruth: Remaining Faithful During Hardships".

Right now I'm not going through any hardships per se, though I know some people who are. And it's not easy to say "hey, I'll trust you anyway, God." But it's worth it. It's so so so worth it.

"Those who know your name trust in you,
  for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

How about you? Are you going through a hard time? What or who has been helping you through it?

Amazing grace

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

"Grace Like Rain" is a song by Todd Agnew. Here are the lyrics. 

How amazing is the grace God has given us!!!

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a (NIV)

How about you? What other verses do you know on God's grace and love? Who can you encourage today with the fact that God loves them?

Turkey Red by Esther Loewen Vogt

~Saturday Stories~

I wrote this review a while back, so its format is different than usual.

“Was it true they had left the good life in Russia in order to settle in this lonely, wild new land, as Jake had said? Maybe she didn’t understand it, but hadn’t Papa and the other church leaders prayed about it?  And hadn’t God led them here?”

After the Mennonites emigrate from Russia in 1877, Martha finds herself in Kansas. And though now they are free from religious persecution, other problems abound. Snakes, Indians, fires, blizzards are all dangers Martha and her family and friends encounter quite often. Was it worth it to come here at all?

Martha struggles to understand why the Mennonites came to America, leaving what seemed like a good life in Russia. Also, she wonders if she can be friends with another girl, who is not a Mennonite. Throughout Turkey Red Martha learns that God is with them wherever they are and accepts Jesus Christ.

Genres: historical, Mennonite. For those 13 and under. Issues dealt with: different denominations in the church, emigration. 

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”  Genesis 28:15a (NIV)

For more on Esther Loewen Vogt visit the Goodreads page.

Selfless love

~Friday for Friends~

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Relationships… So many today love because they want to be loved back, jumping into relationships so that they will feel that bliss and joy of being one’s all. And it seems that so few come into them with “What can I give to make him/her feel better? What can I do to make his/her life a bit more filled with sunshine?” This is not just about boy/girl relationships, although it definitely applies to them.

How often do we catch ourselves thinking “Why does [friend] ignore me? Why did he/she do that? Why can't he/she spend more time with me?” But when was the last time we thought “Hey, maybe I should go see him/her? What would he/she like? What is the best way I can encourage him?” Granted, we do that every once in a while - possibly more at this past Christmas season. But oh-so-often it's about me, myself, and I.

God loved us first and therefore we should love also - with sacrificial love.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:10-11 (NIV)

Let's try to think of others all throughout the year! 

How about you? Do you have ideas on how you can show love to those around you throughout the year?

How did you celebrate Christ's birth?

Christ is born!!! 

Christmas at our place was a day full of presents, sweets, radio-controlled cars, and hanging new pictures on the walls.

How did your day go? How did you celebrate the birth of our Savior? I'd love it if you shared!

Standing up for what is right - no matter what

~Tuesday Thoughts~

In the Bible there are many men and women who stood up for what they knew was right no matter what it cost them. 

Esther went to the king to plead for her people. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow to the image. The church flourished in the first century A. D. despite persecutions. David did not kill Saul when he had the chance. Paul proclaimed the gospel even when he was in prison. Job did not give in and curse God. Rahab hid the Jewish spies. Daniel prayed when the law said that was forbidden. 

But Jesus is the greatest. He was completely blameless and yet suffered for everyone’s sins. He made the ultimate sacrifice.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

We should learn from and imitate Him and the men and women of the Bible who did what they knew was right even when it cost them.  

What about you? What Bible stories of courage and bravery do you know? What can you do to stand up for what is right?

Write Your story

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Write Your Story" is a song by Francesca Battistelli. Here are the lyrics.

God is the ultimate Author. He is in control. And He loves us. How awesome is that?

"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." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)