Just seventeen words...

This is exactly the right thing to say when someone thinks you're crazy for being a single young woman..

When they wonder why you don't reach for every boy that walks by...

Gods plan for your future is going to be better than what you imagine...if you just trust him..

I know I do...and I can't wait to find out what he has been planning all along...

Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award!

I have recently been awarded the Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award, but not just by one person. I've been doubly blessed. The two who awarded me were Naomi Lee and Sara-Jayne. You gals are awesome! 

I've never recieved a blog award and two in one day was just an unexpected blessing!

Rules:

Put a link to who gave you the award

Post the award to your blog

Answer the questions

Choose 5 blogs to receive the award

Let them know you've awarded them

Questions: 

1. If you could have a "flower pen name", what would it be?

Well, thats a great question..haha. I think I'd love to be called a Lily (from the botanic name Lilium). I have always loves lilies. They have a fragrant smell and are tall, reaching for the heavens. Since they have two sets of three petals, it represents the trinity virtues (Love, Faith, and Hope). The Lily also represents purity, innocence, and piety. 

2. What is your favourite (we spell ‘favourite’ different in Australia) ever Bible verse and why?

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I love this verse because it assures me that God is always with me and will help us in times of trouble. 

3. What are the blogs that inspire you most?

I am inspired by lots of blogs. I have only been blogging for about three years, but I follow a lot of blogs. There is a list on the side panel of my favorites. 

4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?

hmmm..I don't really know. I have always wanted to visit England, but not London. I want to tour the English countryside  with the various castles, estates, and manors. Germany would be nice too, since that's where all my grandparents originally came from. 

5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.

I grew up in a christian home, loved by everyone around me. Every year of my life I've been going to Pilgrim Camp in upstate NY. I was saved when I was In the cottage, at the age of 5. I knelt before the altar and asked God into my heart. I knew God loved me and existed and all, but I knew I needed something more. So, at the age of thirteen I was baptised and that night while singing "I surrender All" I found it: a peace which I had never known. It flooded my soul. My baptismal verse was Isaiah 41:10 (what a coincidence) and before I fell asleep that night I prayed it and memorized it. My savior has been so good to me my whole life. I have had ups and downs in my journey, but he still loves me just as much as always. With his help I'd like to become more like a lily among thorns for him, my fragrance helping draw others to him.  

5 blogs to receive this award from me:

1.  Britt (an amazing girl..who helped me update my new blog design)

2. Laura (the first blog I ever followed..and she is a great friend)

3. Bethany and Johanna (a beautiful blog all around..with great book reviews..)

4. Hallie (a very honest blog by a daughter of the King)

5. Laura (a true princess (in mud boots), heir of the infinite King)

[Grace left a comment below that she doesn't do blog awards anymore so I will give award #5 to another blog owner. Thank you Grace for being honest. I still LOVE your blog. :)]

Opals..a Perfect Imperfection

Opals are my favorite stone because on the outside you see rainbow colors that change with the angle of light. Inside the opal there are many scratches and dents that make up many surfaces that reflect the light, therefore they are imperfect but beautiful.  They are very similar to humans.  We all have the bad in us, the sins and the bad qualities.  None of us are perfect.  God made us so we could shine light to others through our difficulties. All those dents make us who God wants us to be and we should always look up to God with happiness. So, like everyone says (or should say), your beauty reflects from the inside out. So, let us shine forth!

About Me! (a photo linkup)

I play the violin and I like listening to music...

Love the smell of Lilacs...

I'm a twin...

There are hundreds of languages, but a smile speaks them all..

I love Golden Retrievers..

I'm Unique!

Waiting..for how long?

Waiting..it can be so hard for us humans. 

Waiting for the wonderful smelling cookies to be done, waiting to get out of school classes, waiting for the bus to come, waiting for the paint to dry, waiting for the clothes to dry. 

But, waiting sometimes gets hard (and boring), so sometimes we stop waiting.....and things get messy. 

The cookies come out of the oven under-baked or the clothes get easily wrinkled or we miss the end of class and don't get the homework assignment or we get paint all over our fingers. 

When I was 15 years old I made a promise to wait for something. But, this wasn't something that took ten minutes or even an hour...it could take years. The thought of having to wait that long, at that time, seemed impossible. 

I'm sitting here today still waiting. It hasn't been an easy wait at all, but I've gotten used to the idea that God will end the wait when he feels I'm ready. 

Curious about what I'm waiting for? My Knight (in shining armor)! 

I write him letters most nights and I pray for him throughout the day and I still wear the ring I got almost 5 years ago to remind me of what I'm waiting for. The moment I tell him those magical words on the altar and then sucumb to his long-awaited love. What a glorious day that will be!

Sometimes I tell God that it's too hard to wait any longer, but he always gives me the strenght to wait even more. 

So, for all of you. while you are waiting, just remember that God can help you continue in patience. 

Hebrews 6:15 : "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."

Please comment below on something hard to wait for!

Hide Your Love Away..

I don't know your name yet

I've never even seen your face

I'm looking with my eyes wide open

'Til I find you in the right time and place

Hide your love away and wait for me, wait for me

I will do the same; so wait for me, wait for me

There will come a day when I will finally say

Staring in your eyes, I've waited my whole life

For this night

Every day you're prayed for

And I'm dreaming of you every night

Wherever you are right now

You're already the love of my life

So hide your love away and wait for me, wait for me

I will do the same; so wait for me, wait for me

There will come a day when I will finally say

Staring in your eyes,

 I've waited my whole life

For this night

I'm holding on for you; my heart belongs to you

You're everything that I adore,

whoa oh I'm holding on for you; my heart belongs to you

Darling your love is spoken for

So hide you love away and wait for me, wait for me

I will do the same; wait for me, wait for me

With every breath you take, wait for me, wait for me

I will do the same; so wait for me, oh, wait for me

There will come a day when finally I'll say

Staring in your eyes,

I've waited my whole life

Staring in your eyes,

I've waited my whole life

For this night

~ Hide Your Love Away

2013 Single By Anthem Lights

Numerous blessings from God's Grace...

This morning I read a quote that sparked my interest for this post. It was said by C.H. Spurgeon:

"Visit many books, but live in the bible."

One of the most recent books I've been visiting is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is actually my second time reading this book. I love the style of writing, short and sweet, but to the point. The way Ann writes creates images in my mind, that I'll always have there forever. 

The greatest image she creates is the image of God's Grace. 

Even through all the troubling times and struggles in our life God is always there. He doesn't run out of grace either, its infinite and for the taking. We don't even have to do anything to earn it, except to repent of our sins and give our lives to Christ, wholly surrendered. We don't have anything to show for it.

So, in this book Ann gives us numerous examples of Gods gifts that he gives us, which show us his grace. Things like; daughters and sons, food, sunshine, rain, comfort, music, cows, and even chairs. 

We should be thankful for everything he provides. Therefore, let us not worry about anything. 

Ann Voskamp writes a blog post everyday on her blog, which I knew about even before this book was written; http://www.aholyexperience.com/.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9).