A Love That Lasts

My family and I went to go see the movie Fireproof last week and what a fantastic movie it was. I am thrilled to see such godly stories and messages projected onto the movie screen! If you haven't seen it I'd highly encourage you to go see it soon! It was very well done, God-glorifying and the movie's message greatly touched me. I think the movie portrayed many ideas but the one and that spoke to me most was what true love is all about.

True love is a subject the Lord has been teaching me this year. I've known the fact that love is much more than what most boyfriends and girlfriends have for each other these days but I don't think I have understood what it truly indicates for awhile now.

I really got to thinking about the true meaning of love after I read a novel earlier this year by Karen Kingsbury. It's rare that I read fiction but I happened one day to spot it sitting in our bookcase and I had to finish it after reading the first few pages. The story was about a godly woman's husband caught up in an affair. Biblically, Katherine (the main character), had the right to leave her husband because of his adultery, but instead she was determined with God's help to restore their marriage because of the commitment she made to him many years ago at the altar. She realized the seriousness of the marriage covenant when she had promised to love her husband no matter what happened. She didn't have to seek restoration but she wanted to. It was a beautiful and powerful story of forgiveness, love and redemption. It demonstrated the kind of love the Lord would desire us to have to one another and it really left an impression on me.

It was so refreshing to see the same message in Fireproof. It greatly touched me because the concept of true love is so rare today. It is one thing many of us lack and I do believe if couples knew the price of it before they married many divorces could be avoided.

The world has a very shallow definition of love. Romantic love between a man and woman is the only form that most are acquainted with. We have been greatly deceived by this unrealistic interpretation through the movies, television and songs around us. But instead reality and common sense reveal that couples who love each other don't always feel ooey gooey about the other person! Sadly, most people don't know love any other way because the world's ideas is all they've ever known and experienced. And once those "lovey-dovey" feelings leave, they automatically assume that love must not be there anymore.

Many of us commonly use the word "love" flippantly these days. We hear dating couples repeatibly throw the words "I love you" around without seriousness or commitment. "I'm in love" and "we've fallen in love" are popular declarations. Everyone frequently and casually uses the word in exclaiming such things as, "I love going to the beach," or "I just love pizza!" Perhaps this is the same attitude we have many times in how we treat other people. Why do we "love" pizza? Because it satisfies our cravings. In the same way we usually love others only because that persons pleases us, makes us happy, and benefits us in some way. Do we really have any idea of the actual meaning and price of this four letter word?

Let it be known that the world has no idea what love really is. They absolutely have not a clue. Because it is equated frequently with romantic feelings it's no wonder marriages one by one are breaking apart at rapid speed. Marriages cannot be built upon feelings and fairy-tale butterflies. If they are they will not survive through the storms. And difficulties will come. No marriage is promised romantic bliss throughout the entire covenant.

This is what real love is:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
—I Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

The Word of God is the only way we can identify true love and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a is the ultimate test. I think we as Christians have read this verse so many times that we've lost the meaning of it. But these are the characteristics of what real, genuine love actually looks like. These qualities are clearly portrayed in God and in our Lord. I really like what John Coblentz said:

"Contrary to popular thought, one does not "fall in" love. One can easily enough fall head over heels into lovely-dovey feelings. One can fall into sexual sin. But the love that holds marriages together through years of good and bad times is cultivated through wise choices and faithfulness to one's commitments. God not only tells us what love is like, but He also has shown the meaning of love by the way He relates to us. He is committed to our good even through great personal sacrifice. He is faithful. He is patient and kind. He shows us respect even when we do not deserve it. He stays true to His standards and true to His commitments to us even we fail Him. God's own example defines love for us and shows us how we are love in the covenant relationship of marriage."

God is the ultimate example of sincere love! The Bible tells us that He IS love! (1 Jh 4:7) The way that God shows love towards you and I is how He wants us to love other people.

Biblical love is:

-The act of one person seeking the good of another
-Unselfish concern for another's welfare
-Sacrificing for the good of another
-Selfless giving without anything in return

It is:

-Patient
-Kind
-Does not envy
-Does not boast
-Not proud
-Not rude
-Not self-seeking
-Not easily angered
-Keeps no records of wrongs
-Does not delight in evil but in truth
-Always protects
-Always trusts
-Always hopes
-Always preserves
-It never fails

God has shown and continues to show all of this to us even though we don't deserve any it. That is TRUE love!

Knowing what true love is I would now like to briefly dispel the world's lies by examining what true love is NOT.

True love is not selfish. It is almost impossible to genuinely love someone when you are self-centered. True devotion will always lead to action for what's best for the other person and you can't do that if you are being selfish. At the beginning of the movie Fireproof, Caleb and and his wife were very self-centered people and that's a great reason why they were having so many problems. True love is not selfish.

Premarital sex is not true love! Our culture teaches that love and sex should go hand in hand but this is a deceptive lie. Sex is only allowed by God within the covenant of marriage. Outside of marriage it is not only a sin but it is purely selfish. It breaks my heart to hear of couples committing fornication in the name of "because we love each other!" It's far from true care and devotion. Premartial sex is not patient, it is not kind, it does not protect and it is selfish. It is not love!

True love is not a feeling. It is very grievous because love today is considered primarily an emotion. "I love you because I feel love towards you and when I no longer feel that I don't love you anymore." It's a weak foundation which doesn't endure. Do you think Jesus felt like dying on the cross for us? No, He loved us so much that he chose to do so. Although real love can be and is often accompanied by strong feelings, love cannot be based exclusively on how we feel. It is not entirely an emotion; No, it's not void of feeling but it is not lead by it either. Rather it is an action or a deliberate choice. You choose whether you want to love or not show love to someone. Jesus CHOSE to die in our place. When couples say, "I don't love him/her anymore. We fell out of love with one another..." in reality they made that choice to stop loving and it was most likely never really love in the first place.

The feelings obvious weren't involved when Caleb first starting showing kindness to his wife in Fireproof. She was cold, unresponsive and showed no feelings of affection back towards his caring gestures. But he didn't give up and instead continued showing her unselfish love even when she didn't deserve it. That's what Biblical love really boils down to: it is loving the person even when they don't deserve it. It means giving without anything in return.

This is exactly what Christ did for us. Do we deserve his gift of salvation? Of course not! Did Jesus deserve to die? Absolutely not! But Jesus truly loved us and suffered so we could be reconciled with God. Jesus didn't need the cross but we did and because of that He died for us. That is Biblical love. I don't think I'll or anyone else will ever truly understand the cost and debt of that kind of love.

In a marriage or any relationship there will be bumps in the road but it is the choices that get you through not the feelings. This is the foundation that solid marriages and relationships are built upon. It's not easy but it is much more sacred and long lasting that romantic feelings will ever be. It is the kind of love that God has portrayed and continues to give us and that we need to share with other people.

Is it hard? Yes, it is. It certainly doesn't come naturally. The Bible tells us to love our enemies! Do you think that's a part of our nature to do so? Certainly not. And if we were to wait until we "felt" like loving the people we don't really care for do you think it would ever happen? But since we are children of God, loving others (whether that'll be our spouse, future spouse, family, friends, strangers or enemies) is what God has called us to do. We are to love as He loved. Aren't you so thankful for that kind of love that God faithfully shows toward us? I sure am!

Conclusion:

Let me end by sharing a quote by Harriett Sun:

Only after experiencing and knowing the unconditional love that God has for us, the love that drove God to send his Son to die for us on earth, can we begin to love others with the same quality of unconditional love.

We can only genuinely love by God's example and with His help. It is my prayer that as we experience the love God continues to give to us that we will desire to give it out to others. It is the only kind of love that lasts and survives through the highs and the lows. May we be persistent to choose to love others as God is so faithful to do to us.

• Extra note:

Test your relationships and take the "Is it really love?" test:

Ask yourself these questions:

▪ Are you patient with each other?
▪ Are you kind to each other?
▪ Are you never envious of each other?
▪ Do you never boast about yourself?
▪ Is your relationship characterized by humility?
▪ Are you never rude to each other?
▪ Are you not self-seeking?
▪ Are you not easily angered with each other?
▪ Do you keep no record of wrongs?
▪ Are you truthful with each other?
▪ Do you protect each other?
▪ Do you trust each other?

Quick Note

Just want to share that Holly and I are both starting a blog exclusively for sharing pictures. It is private and only for family and close friends. So if you're one and would like to be invited please let us know. We will be posting photos on it hopefully soon! We must have your e-mail in order to let you in.

I just finished taking a test for the Bible course I am doing. It's coming along well. It's really neat because I just found out on Wednesday night that another lady in our church is also doing the program. Finally I have met another who is enrolled in the Liberty Bible Home Institute besides me!! Very neat.

Today was a great day. I watched the Hargis kids and all went swell. I am excited to see doors the Lord may be opening.

Life has been very busy but wonderful. I've had so much to journal but not enough time to! I now need to hit the hay for another full day tomorrow...

God bless,

~~Brooke

He Must Increase---But I Must Decrease

By: (J. R. Miller, "Ministry of Comfort" 1898)

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men--to be seen by them." Matthew 6:1

One of the most difficult lessons to learn, is self-effacement. It seems to us, that we have a right to put our name on every piece of work we do, and to get full honor for it. We like people to know of the good and virtuous things we do--the kindnesses we show, our gifts, our sacrifices, and our services.

SELF always dies hard.

John the Baptist, in his life and ministry, illustrated the grace of self-effacement as few other men have done. When he first began to preach, great throngs flocked about him. But when Jesus came--the crowds melted away from John and went after the new preacher. John rejoiced in seeing Jesus thus honored, though at the cost of his own fame. "He must increase--but I must decrease" was his answer, when his disciples grew envious of the Galilean Rabbi. He understood that the highest use to which his life could be put--was to add to the honor of his Master. He was glad to be unnoticed, to have his own name extinguished, that the glory of Christ might shine the more brightly.

Renunciation of self should characterize all who follow Christ. They should seek only to get recognition for Him, willing for themselves to be unrecognized and unhonored. Yet not always are the Master's friends content to be nothing--that the praise may be given to Christ. Too often do they insist upon having their own name written in bold letters on their work. It would be the mark of a higher degree in spiritual attainment, if we were willing to be anonymous in every service for Christ.

Not only should we do all our work for the divine approval--but we should not be seeking to get our own name on what we do. If it is done solely for the honor of Christ, why should we be solicitous to have everybody know our part in it? Should it not be honor enough--to have Christ accept our work and use it?

Only what we do for the honor of Christ--is really gold and silver and precious stones in the spiritual building; all the rest is but wood, hay, and stubble, which cannot abide.

Are we willing to do deeds of service and love, and then keep absolutely quiet about what we have done? Is there not among us, too much of the spirit which our Lord so severely condemned--sounding a trumpet before us--when we are going out to do some deed of charity, some act of kindness?

"Everything they do--is done for men to see." Matthew 23:5

Wordless Wednesdays

Occasionally I'm going to be participating in a weekly theme I found from other blogs called "Wordless Wednesday."  You basically just post a random picture without typing any post to it. I've obviously wrote a little bit today so it's not exactly "wordless," but I wanted to introduce it  :)

The picture I am sharing with you is a candid shot I took of Holly yesterday.  She was out in the yard studying and I thought it was pretty.

Keeping Short Accounts

One morning, I had baked blueberry biscuits for breakfast. Afterward, the cookie sheet contained a mess of biscuit, flour and blueberry remainders. I put it in the sink and went on to something else.

Later in the evening, I found Mom in the kitchen vigorously scrubbing the sheet where the scraps were now stuck on as glue.
"You know Brooke," she told me, "you should had let it soaked or had washed it earlier when it was easier to clean."

I apoligized and then it dawned on me how similar this is to our spiritual lives! If I had washed the pan that morning I could have taken a sponge and could have cleaned it effortlessly. But the longer I waited, the more stuck it became, the harder it was to clean, and the more elbow grease had to be used. This can be easily compared to our walk with God. When we sin we should take care of it right away and should never wait to get things right with God and other people. So many times I have caught myself thinking, "I can deal with this later," or "I will apologize when I feel like it," or, "before I go to bed I will be sure to make restitution." But instead we should never wait to get things right. Some of the best advice my pastor has given me and that I have kept in mind is to keep short accounts with God. What does that mean? When you mess up get it right then and there. Acknowledge your sin and ask forgiveness. If we wait our sin can easily become worse which could include further problems, bitterness, or a hardened heart.

Sometimes it can be discouraging because we fail so often. I know I do. I remember one week I was striving to keep "short accounts" and was finding myself apologizing to my family members many times in a day. But how blessed we are to have a forgiving God that doesn't expect us to be perfect (because we can't!) but rather to get back up and try again.

Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.

I think the most important thing to remember in "keeping short accounts" is that sin is destructive and separates us from God. The sooner we take care of it, the better things will be including our relationship with God. We can't approach our Lord with sin and usually the longer we wait the sticker it becomes!

James 4:8

Draw night to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded.

Keeping short accounts---it's a worthy goal. It may times takes humility but it's worth it. Believe me, it will save you lots of pain and problems in the long run!

Short Update On Life

The season of fall is faintly beginning to fill the air. The mornings are a bit cooler and the leaves are starting to change their colors. I don't want summer to end even though I enjoy snuggling under cozy blankets, colored leaves, soft snow, warm tea and sitting by the fireplace. I will miss taking walks in the warm morning sun. But that's the way its got to be and change is nice some times.

Amber and Autumn have been accompanying me on my morning walks as of late. We all jog up to the neighbor's deserted house (which is used for his bridal photography company but he's never there) and is surrounded by woods and lots of wild life. I've seen quite a few deers and recently a huge turkey up in a tree.

God has blessed Holly and I with t-shirt printing jobs these last two weeks which we are grateful for. We finished an order for 150 last week and have an order for about 115 to complete by Sunday. God is very gracious. He is always faithful to provide right when we need it :)

I will begin babysitting next week and I am looking forward to seeing the kids again. It's more than just a job to me but sort of a ministry as well. I have been giving the older two kids short Bible studies and such. Their enthusiasm to learn more about God has really encouraged me. It surprised me at first because I wasn't expecting that sort of reaction from them--actual excitement to have a "Bible study." But last time I tried to have one, Chase, the 12 year old, went rocking on his electric guitar instead and politely said he didn't want to do it today. So, anyway, I am praying God will use me as He desires. Chase has been saved for about 2 years but isn't really growing, and Chloe' told me recently that she hasn't accepted Christ as her Savior. Please pray for these kids and me as well. This will probably be the last time I will have to spend all this time with them and I want to use it for God's glory.

I was excited to receive a package in the mail recently of the Bible study materials I had ordered. It's the official leader's guide and I am now in a period of "training." There's several CD's I have to listen to which contain such subjects as learning how to disciple young girls, leading an effective meeting, how to be a good role model, etc. Maybe I will be able to start a discipleship group for girls soon. I'm still praying though.

God has been teaching me a lot lately. How dependent I am on Him. I'm so grateful for His grace and that He still loves me despite how imperfect I am.

I Heart Homemade Bread

I absolutley love homemade bread!! It makes an ordinary sandwich taste delightful. Not only does it taste delicious but it is very healthy and filled with many vitamins. Baking fresh, homemade bread has so many benefits.

I try to bake a few loaves every weekend so we will be stocked for the upcoming week. We use our own organic wheat (which makes it good for you!), and grind it into flour. So that is the first step in baking bread.

Want to see the whole process? First I...

Mix the ingredients into the mixer (which is the easiest way to do it)

After the dough rises for about an hour, take it out of the mixer.

Knead it.

Let it rise once again.


Bake it.

Remove from oven.

And then you have your delicious masterpiece!

Oh yeah, so good....

The kids love it!!


I then wrap up the remainders....

...and freeze for the rest of the week.

And there you go! That's how's it done. Not too bad, aye? What a blessing to bake from scratch! It really does make a difference.

Remembering the Lord's Blessings

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. -Psalm 77:11-12

A couple of Sundays ago we had arrived back to church from ministering at the local nursing home and had 45 minutes until the afternoon service. I went upstairs to the sanctuary to retrieve my purse I had left in a pew. I found the sanctuary dark and empty; Instead, I walked up to the front and took a seat on the stage overlooking the pews. This day had marked a year since we had started attending our church. My mind went back a year ago and I thought on what the Lord had done since then....

A year ago we had been looking for a home church. I remembered what we were going through at the time. We were visiting churches Sunday after Sunday and had been doing so for over a half of a year. I was so tired of looking for a church and was ready for a place to call home. I was getting frustrated and waning in my spiritual life as well. We had visited many different churches but none of them we felt was where the Lord wanted us. My family and I were greatly desiring and praying that God would give us a home church soon---one who had a sincere desire to honor God above all else and that was led by the Scriptures alone. We kept praying...

After many, many months of searching and prayer, God led us to our church and answered us and gave us our desires. Our church is more than I could have asked for! It has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I have grown in my walk with the Lord more than I have any other church we have been to. We have been blessed with wonderful teaching from the Word of God and wonderful fellowship with fellow believers. Pastor Barry and Mrs. Debbie have inspired me greatly in the things of the Lord through their examples, teachings and friendship. They love the Lord and they love people. I am so grateful for them and they both are very dear to me. They really do inspire me. God couldn't have given us a better pair.

I love everyone else in our church and congregation. I am so thankful for a place to meet weekly with other believers who love the Lord. We have made some special friendships and it is such a blessing to "provoke one another to love and good works," and to "exhort one another."

It is such an encouragement to look back and see how God has blessed us and how He's grown us. I am completely in awe in how He works and all He does.

Let me tell you: God answers prayer! If you are trusting the Lord for something, my encouragement to you is to keep praying. Don't give up. I'd also encourage you to look back on your life and see how the Lord has blessed you. That's why I think journaling is so special. It's a great thing to look back on God's grace and see what He has done.

What has God done in your life? What prayers has He answered? Don't forget His goodness and don't forget to thank Him.

God is faithful and He is good to His children. How I love being His child and how grateful I am for His blessings. A church that is built on the Word is such a precious thing and I am so thankful to be a part of one!



Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21


Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

Bee Stings and Other Things

I was in the dining room innocently listening to a CD when I felt something bite my foot. I brushed it off and realized a yellow jacket had stung me. And in the dining room out of all places? Anyway, I pulled out the stinger, which still resided in my foot, and all I knew then and there was: I was in pain!!

It's neat, because I have been reading through a book on home remedies and I had just finished a section about what do incase you get stung. I read several tips but all I could remember in the time of pain was the suggestion to use baking soda. So I ran into the kitchen and hastily pulled down the baking soda and created it into a paste and guess what? It worked! The pain and throbbing quickly went down greatly. It would have been pretty painful otherwise. It didn't stop it from swelling though (it swelled pretty bad--twice its size), but I was thankful to have had this tip in time of need!

Just incase you're ever stung and would like some quick pain relievers, here's some interesting tips:

-Aspirin. "One of the simplest, most effective things you can do is to apply aspirin. Moisten the sting, then rub an aspirin tablet unto it. The aspirin neutralizes certain inflammatory agents in the venom. This treatment should not be attempted by those who are allergic or sensitive to aspirin, however."

-Baking Soda. "Apply by making a paste with baking soda and water."

-Meat Tenderizer. "An enzyme-based meat tenderizer breaks down the proteins that make up insect venom. You have to use it right away to make it effective." (We use this along with vinegar for jelly fish stings during beach vacation, and it really works!)

-Mud. "If you don't have anything else handy, you can mix a little clay soil and water into a mud paste and apply it to the sting. Cover with a bandage or handkerchief, and leave it on until the mud dries." (I wish I knew this when I got stung hiking a few weeks ago!)

I spent about two hours in the library last week and had a real enjoyable time looking through many books and finding several interesting ones to read and study. I been reading though several of them, including a couple on the subject of Stem Cell Research.

Mom, Holly and I started the Bible study at our church yesterday entitled, "Created In His Imagine." I am so excited about it!!! We already have daily homework to do and weekly Scripture to memorize. I am thankful for all God has allowed to help grow us in our walk with Him.

Thank you for all your comments. I am a little behind in replying, but please know I will be replying soon!

God bless,

~~Brooke

What I Will Be Doing Starting This Fall

College classes start this week and it looks like I won't be packing my bags and moving to college campus like I thought and desired. This final decision has been made with much prayer. I haven't spoken about it much on my blog, but it has been a winding road coming to this final conclusion but I now do believe this decision is what God wants.

"So, since you aren't attending college this fall, what will you be doing?" you may ask. Well, besides saving up for expenses and preparing for college next year (if the Lord wills), there's several things I hope to do to occupy my time. I do not believe success is equaled in a college degree neither is college the most important thing on my "life to-do's"---even though, don't get me wrong, I highly value higher education and know without a doubt I want to pursue some avenue of it at some time. But, for now, God has a reason that I am not going to college this fall and I plan to make the most of this season in my life.

So then, what will I be doing instead?

First, I plan to be practicing deeper spiritual disciplines. Since I am out of school and have more hours in my morning, (and because once I start college I will be most likely pressed for time), I want to make this season a time for much study and growth. Disciplines such as much more Bible reading, deep Bible study, intense prayer, and diligent Bible memorization are a few that I hope to saturate my time and my mornings. It is my goal to do much more memorizing so I will "hide God's Word in my heart." I am working on the book of James right now (yes, the whole book; it is possible!) and there's so many other verses I want ingrained in my memory.

Second, I will be working on completing my correspondence course in Bible from Liberty University's Home Bible Institute. Right before graduation I took a break from this study and haven't started back until last week. This course is basically an outline and overall study of each book of the Bible going from the Old Testament to the New Testament, then finally ending with doctrinal studies. It's a two-year course and I think I am about half way through right now so I hopefully will be finished by next year. I really have enjoyed this study and I am really thankful for all I have been learning through this course.

Besides working on my correspondence course, I will also be undertaking much self-study. Learning is readily available and is basically at our finger tips in our time in age. Just because I am not in college right now doesn't mean I can't learn on my own! I already have several books I am reading which includes studies in government, economics, speech, etc., but I also plan to do lots of research, and just well, learn! Going to the library and doing some research and reading, making searches on the internet, or whatever, I want to study several things on my own. I really enjoy to learn, more than I did when I was in highschool...

In the area of earning money, for the meantime I will be working part time for my Dad. My Dad owns a thriving home business blessed by the Lord of making signs and creating graphic designs. My Dad not only wants me to work for him and pays me hourly, but he needs my help! He is usually swamped with business and orders, so most of the time there is something I can do to give him a hand. I love helping my Dad and there's no one else I'd rather work for. Will I get a job/job in the future? Maybe. But right now, there's really no need. My Dad pays me more than the minimal wage!

I will also be babysitting weekly again for the same family I have worked for the last year. This time, however, I will be working twice a week, for at total of about 10 hours a week. There's 4 kids I have the responsibility to monitor at the ages of 12, 9, 6, and 3. It's a great job and something the Lord has greatly blessed me with. I love the kids and spending time with them, and I get paid very nicely. What more could I ask for? God is so good to me!

For an additional side job, and if the Lord blesses, I will also continue printing t-shirts along with my sister.

Next, since I have graduated and don't have a strict form of "schooling," besides flexible self study, I plan to help Mom more around the house to lighten her load a little bit which includes doing a majority of the cooking.

Besides the privilege of helping mom, I also want to develop more of my homemaking skills. Besides those things such as cooking, baking, cleaning, laundry, helping with homeschooling, etc. I would like to embark on other things, like for one, develop my sewing skills. Our pastor's wife is planning on possibly teaching some ladies in the church how to sew, including myself. I would love to learn how to sew some skirts...I also desire to crochet a quilt, particularly a baby afghan for my hope chest. I've always wanted to but never have taken the time. Plus, I would LOVE to sew a quilt. I sewed a small one when I was in about the 8th grade, but it was nothing fancy and I forgot how I did it. I have searched for quilting classes around here but haven't found any just yet...

As for weekly activities, my church is starting a Bible study on Mondays from the book "Changed Into His Image" by Jim Berg. I know this will be good and I am so excited! Holly will be taking with me as well. My church is also hoping to start a Bible memorization program. I just can't wait for this to start!!

I will also be continuing my piano lessons on Tuesdays afternoons and practicing daily.

With all of this, I also hope, if the Lord's will, to start a Bible study for young girls. I am still praying and planning, but some how I feel like this is something the Lord wants me to do. Not that I am a good speaker or teacher (speaking in front of large groups is not my favorite thing to do!), but it's been a desire of mine for many years and I think this is the opportunity to do so. (I may be writing more on this later...) In concordance to this, if I can make time, I'd also love to start a blog designed particularly for young ladies.

Some other things I'd like to pursue if I have the time are:

-Doing some deep and extensive reading. There's so many books I desire to read!!
-Working on some books I have started writing but are unfinished.
-Possibly take some CLEP tests and go ahead and earn some college credit. I'd especially like to go ahead and clep out History of Civilization, a freshman core subject.
-Look into scholarships

I also desire to help more in our church, if there's anything I can do and if they can use me.

As you can see, useful things to do certainly aren't limited!!

So, these are a majority of the things I hope to be occupying my time with this year. "Bored" is never part of my vocabulary, and I am positive it won't be this year either!

I didn't write this to brag, neither to say that I think all young ladies should do what I am doing. Rather, I wrote this to share what I will be embarking upon and where God is leading me. Believe me, I did NOT take this decision lightly---much prayer, fasting and thought went into it. Being in God's will is essential to me, and I deeply feel that this is where He wants me for the time being. I was not happy with this decision at first. I cried and was very upset and thought I'd be "loosing" a year that could be spent on a college campus earning college credit. But you know what? I now see things differently and I do not think I am "loosing" a year at all! If all I did was sit around and watch TV, then that would obviously be a problem, but rather God has things for me to accomplish and I need to be faithful. Life after graduation doesn't start at college! There's so many things I can do to use my time for the glory of God here at home. In addition, I can work on becoming closer to my family members and developing a stronger relationship with my siblings.

I only want to be where God wants. If going to college will never be a part of His will for the future, then I shall never go. If He desires me to start next year, then I will be packing my bags at that time. In the meantime, my duty right now is to do what I am called to do and that is another year at home.

As for now, higher education and college will have to wait. I didn't think this would be the path I would be taking but I am and you know what? I am happy about it and excited to see what the Lord will do. :) May He be glorified.

~~Brooke~~

Only a Plain, Common Day

I really liked this and it inspired me! Thought I'd share it with you :0)


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Only a plain, common day

(J. R. Miller, "The Every Day of Life" 1892)

Perhaps the every-day of life, is not as interesting--as are some of the bright special days. It is apt to be somewhat monotonous. It is just like a great many other days. It has nothing special to mark it. It is illuminated by no brilliant event. It bears no record of any brave or noble deed done. It is not made memorable by the coming of any new experience into the life--a new hope, a new friendship, a new joy, and a new success. It is not even touched with sorrow, and made to stand out with the memory of loss or struggle. It is only a plain, common day--with just the same old wearisome routine--of tasks and duties and happenings, which have come so often before.

Yet it is the every-day, which is really the best measure and the test of noble living. Anybody can do well on special occasions. Anybody can be good--on Sundays. Anybody can be bright and cheerful--in exhilarating society. Anybody can be sweet--amid gentle influences. Anybody can make an isolated self-denial--for some conspicuous object; or do a generous deed--under the impulse of some unusual emotion. Anybody can do a heroic thing--once or twice in a lifetime. These are beautiful things. They shine like lofty peaks above life's plains.

But the ordinary attainment of the common days--is a truer index of the life--a truer measure of its character and value--than are the most striking and brilliant things of its exalted moments. It requires more strength to be faithful in the ninety-nine commonplace duties, when no one is looking on, when there is no special motive to stir the soul to its best effort--than it does in the one duty, which by its unusual importance, or by its conspicuousness, arouses enthusiasm for its own doing. It is a great deal easier to be brave in one stern conflict which calls for heroism, in which large interests are involved--than to be brave in the thousand little struggles of the common days--for which it seems scarcely worth while to put on the armor. It is very much less a task to be good-natured under one great provocation, in the presence of others--than it is to keep sweet temper month after month of ordinary days, amid the frictions, strife's, petty annoyances, and cares of home-life.

Thus it is, that one's every-day life is a surer revealer of noble character--than one's public acts. There are men who are magnificent when they appear on great occasions--wise, eloquent, masterly--but who are almost utterly unendurable in their fretfulness, unreasonableness, irascibility, and all manner of selfish disagreeableness, in the privacy of their own homes--to those whom they ought to show all of love's gentleness and sweetness! There are women, too, who shine with wondrous brilliancy in society, sparkling in conversation, winning in manner, always the center of admiring groups, resistless in their charms--but who, in their every-day life, in the presence of only their own households--are the dullest and most wearisome of mortals! No doubt in these cases--the common every-day, unflattering as it is--is a truer expression of the inner life--than the hour or two of greatness or graciousness, in the blaze of the public.

On the other hand, there are men who are never heard of on the street, whose names never appear in the newspapers, who do no great conspicuous things, whose lives have no glittering peaks towering high--and yet the level plain of their years--is rich in its beauty and its fruitfulness of love. Likewise, there are women who are the idols of no drawing-rooms, who attract no throngs of admirers around them by resistless charms--but who, in their own quiet sheltered world--do their daily tasks with faithfulness, move in ways of humble duty and quiet cheerfulness, and pour out their heart's pure love, like fragrance, on all around them. Who will say that the uneventful and un-praised every-day of these humble ones--is not radiant in God's sight, though they leave no memorial--but only a world made a little better by their lives?

It is in the every-day of life, that nearly all the world's best work is done. The tall mountain peaks lift their glittering crests into the clouds, and win attention and admiration; but it is in the great valleys and broad plains, that the harvests grow and the fruits ripen--on which the millions of earth feed their hunger. Likewise, it is not from the few conspicuous deeds of life, that the blessings chiefly come, which make the world, better, sweeter, happier--but from the countless humble services of the every-days, the little faithfulnesses which fill long years. By the simple beauty of their own humble lives, by their quiet deeds of self-sacrifice, by the songs of their cheerful faith, and by the ministries of their helpful hands--they make one little spot of this sad earth, brighter and happier!


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Compliments of Grace Gems!

A treasury of ageless sovereign grace devotional writings

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Ps. 191:1, 2



What does it mean when it is said that the heavens declare the glory of God? The heavens declare that God is perfect. The heavens manifest His wisdom, power, and His intelligent end. The heavens are manifesting the glory of God in the sense that they reveal what God is and what He can do.

But the heavens are not designed to reveal the love of God, the grace of God, nor the righteousness of God. That is where Christians come into the picture. We are designed to show "the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ." (Eph. 2:7)


-Dr. John Walvoord, The Thessalonian Epistles p.112

Week at the Wilds

My sister Holly and I recently returned from a Christian teen camp called the Wilds and what an amazing time we had! We had a blast and were able to participate in many games and activities and meet some great Christians. The main highlight though, was definitely the things the Lord taught us. The Lord is so faithful to teach His children! I will have to share some things some time. :-)



O Jesus, I have promised
To love you to the end;
Please be forever near me,
My master and my friend;
I shall not be troubled
If you are by my side,
And I'll follow you always
If you will be my guide.

Adapted from a hymn by John Ernest Bode

A Whole Heart For God

One day at camp last month, I laid in my bunk-bed in the middle of the night wide awake. Light from the hall-way trickled into the bedroom through a half-shut door and it was keeping me up, so I got up to shut it when I heard sobbing in the girl's bathroom. I gently opened the curtain to see a friend from my room sitting on the bathroom floor with a roll of tissue in her hand and a pile of used ones next to her. I sat down beside her and there we talked for a very long time...

This particular girl had told me earlier in the week that she had been going through some really tough times in her life, starting last year. She's still struggling with many hard things, but she told me that the trails she has been through so far has only made her stronger.

I listened to her and tried all I could to comfort her. Our conversation led to what God had been teaching in our lives and then about God Himself and what a great God we serve.

Something I will never forget is what this girl told me. She told me that she didn't want to be the "average Christian," and that she had fully surrendured her life to God and would live for Him no matter what. She said that before camp she had made God a promise and commitment that she was willing to do whatever it took to give Him the glory, even if that meant suffering for Him. She told me that even if she had to be crushed by other people, forsaken, abused, put down, no matter what, she would do whatever it took to make the Lord famous. She would do it for Him so He could be exalted.

This girl has a fire burning for the Lord within her that is not hidden. She inspired me so much and only made my fire within me burn the brighter for the Lord! What a blessing to meet a young lady who wants to live for God without reservations!

Making the Lord famous, is what she kept telling me was her purpose, her promise, her goal for the Lord.

A song by Rush of Fools reminds me of this girl's ambition. It is entitled "Fame." The chorus says:

I raise my hands

Just as I am

I'm letting go

Of false control

I lift my voice

I have no choice

My life is yours

Use me for your fame

I'm letting go; My life is Yours; Use me for your fame. God is so perfect and holy. Full of love for His people. He deserves all of us. Not half. Everything.

One of the main messages at camp was having a full heart for God. Not an empty or half-hearted one, but one without set backs. God wants all of us! He doesn't want us to be cold or warm in our Christian faith: He wants us to be on fire! Lukewarmness is not an option. Remember the verse in Revelation?

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I
would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of
my mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16

This girl from camp really inspired me. I have heard about young people on fire for the Lord, but I've never met one like this particular girl. Especially one like her who was willing to suffer for God who had a desire to do whatever it took to give glory to HIM.

It makes me look at my own life: how much have I given and am giving to the Lord? Would I be willing to suffer for Him?

The Bible is clear that if we are His child, we will suffer for Him. There's no hiding that fact.

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Philippians 1:29

For unto it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

But shouldn't this be a privilege? Look what He did for us!

The conversation I had with this particular girl sitting on the bathroom floor for an hour or so started with tears and ended with smiles and laughter. Talking with her about her commitment to the Lord and about God Himself, and how good He is, really blessed my heart and hers as well. Living for God is her greatest joy. Oh, if only every Christian, including myself, had such a deep desire to live for God with their whole hearts and without holding anything back!

I strongly encourage you to look at your own life as I look at mine. Would you still be faithful to God through suffering or persecution? Is there anything you are holding back from God? We're not truly living for God until we give Him everything. We were made for Him and Christ has given His life for us---what excuse do we have? We not only should surrender all but we should desire to do it because of what He has done for us! God deserves every ounce of us. Strive to give Him your full heart. Life is not about us. It's about HIM.

Desire to live for God without reservations.

Hiking with Jeremy D.

For updates, we arrived back home Friday. Thanks for anyone who prayed. Please continue to remember our aunt, uncle, the girl's mother and other family members in this hard time...

Holly and I went hiking with Jeremy Saturday. It was really pretty and we had a great walk.








We chose a rather hard, I guess, trail that contained lots of hills. Jeremy told us that his grandma did it once, so we kept saying that if she could do it, we could do it. Jeremy must have one awesome grandma because it was a little tough!