Thankfulness from Hosea?!

This coming week is Thanksgiving and I thought I'd post something a bit early...

This morning I read Hosea 11 (one of my favorite chapters, from my favorite book of the bible). God has raised and taken care of Israel, yet they do not turn back to him. His holiness compels him to stay far from sin, but his compassion compels him to show love and mercy. He calls the Israelite's back to him and again shows them forgiveness. Love and Mercy win! 

God does the same for us. He forgives and forgets, throws our sins into the Sea of Forgetfulness. He doesn't hold grudges, like us. He controls his anger, his anger doesn't control him. We truly do have a wonderful God. It's beyond my understanding sometimes how he can forgive us, time after time. But, that is the power of UNFAILING LOVE being shown by our heavenly father. 

This year I'm thankful for Gods love toward me. 

I'm thankful that he forgives me and then forgets my past sins. 

Any "Amen's"?

God's Not Dead!

I can't wait to see this movie!

Never take them for granted..

One of my friends lives about 850 miles away (depending on which route you take) near Chicago, IL. We have become pretty good friends regardless of how faraway we live from each other. On google+ I have made quite a few friends like that. They all go to church regularly and post encouraging thoughts..and sometimes funny things too. 

Wondering why I said that??

I was looking at some posts that I've read lately. One of them (a quote) caught my attention: 

"Never take someone for granted.

Hold every person close to your heart

because you might wake up one day

and realize that you've lost a diamond

while you were too busy collecting stones...

I admit that indeed I have taken people for granted, more times than I'd like to admit. I think we all do, and thats the saddest part. We just assume that when we wake up our family and friends are still going to be alive, or even if they're going to still be our friends. So, when I read this I questioned myself a lot. I wondered what life would be like without the people I care about most. It wasn't a very nice picture. One of the students in my philosophy class this last semester  told us how she had lost her whole immediate family in a fire at their house. She had just assumed that at 11:00pm, when she came home after a long day at college/work that they'd be there, but they weren't. It happened two years ago and she told us how hard it had to been to stop blaming herself. I couldn't imagine the despair and grief she must have suffered, but it could happen to any of us. 

So keep those diamonds safe even though they may have hard edges, 

because you don't want to lose them while looking for smooth, appealing stones. 

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. :)]

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).

What are YOU thankful for?

  I'm so thankful for everything I have; my family, my friends (far and near, new and old), my house (that still has some branches of a tree on it), wonderful food, God's word, and sooo much more. The thing I am most thankful for is for my Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is so merciful and faithful. I'm thankful for his infinite and unfailing love, and his grace. He is always there for me, to guide and protect me. You can leave a comment and tell me something that you're thankful for...

Hurricane Sandy..a true show of God's power!

     Long Island was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. There wasn't much rain, but the wind alone caused a devastating amount of damage. I am so thankful that my immediate family only lost power for two days, but compared to others that was nothing. Our neighbors tree fell on his house and their was definitely structral damage. Trees still litter the streets along with downed telephone poles. Others lost all their belonging due to flood waters over 5 feet high. The sewers were flooded and are finally working again. Over 500,000 still don't have power, including some street lights. The newest problem is that gas stations are running out of gas, nd for the stations that still have, there are lines that go for miles. I never in my life dreamed of seeing such a sad sight. The local news is so devestating, that I can't watch it without sheading tears for some of the people. God showed his power during this storm and he's showing it in the cleanup efforts. Please keep praying, it will be a few weeks or even a few months, till eveything goes back to normal around here. (If you'd like to hear more stories or how the relief is going you can contact me at lilywhite4myking@gmail.com)

France - 10 day vacation

Today at 6:20pm EST the plane will lift off from America and a few hours later will land in France. A group of 41 people (college aged and professors) will be on that plane.
Me and my sister will be part of that group.
I've never been to Europe before, so I'm really excited. I am so thankful that God allowed me and my sister to have a chance to go overseas. This is a pleasure trip that we are taking with the Honors freshman at Molloy
College.
Your prayers would be appreciated: Thank you!
(I will take pictures and maybe post a few on this blog when I get back)