We, the Body of Christ!

Recently I've been just feeling so blessed, thinking of my family and friends.  I couldn't ask for a better circle of people to help me grow and develop into a woman of God.  My cousin sent me a verse and his comment on it yesterday, and it really got me thinking.
  "Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This is godly friendship. As each person increases in faith in God, they sharpen up the other.  Whenever the iron meets together, they sharpen each other.  So as we, in our friendships, meet together, we will strengthen each other.  However, God must be at the center of each relationship for this to work.  we are only iron so long as our foundation and first love is God.  Thus if friends meet and find that rather than encouraging and pressing each other on, they hinder one another, the foundation is probably offset."

  God makes it clear that it's very important to have a circle of strong believers in which you spend time with. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and should be working hard to keep the focus of life on our Lord.  Keeping one another accountable to acting in a Christ-like way, and encouraging and uplifting each other is so important!!!!  Let us grow together, helping and encouraging one another to grow. We are the body, the Church!

Being the children of Christ, shouldn't we act in a way that is kind and thoughtful?  We should try to make an effort to bless those around us, and not only those who are believers.  Blessing others should be part of our mission in life.  Simple things, such as a smile or a kind word, can make someone's day.  We are to spread the Light!!!  How selfish of us to live our own lives without reaching out to those around us!!! ( I'm as guilty as any in this area.  I don't make enough of an effort to reach to the unbelievers.  It's something I need to continue working on in my life).  We need to set a good example of what Christians are to be.  There are some who give us a bad name, and are very accusing, self-righteous and arrogant.  That is certainly not a Christ-like way to act.  Why would anyone want to become a Christian when they've seen bad examples of who we are?  We should be radiating the joy of the Lord...He has made a way for us to be saved!!!!!  We should leave no room to be negative or complain.  Not only does it steal our joy, but others' as well!!

May we radiate Him and shine His light!!!!

Summer

Having Standards That Glorify God

Recently I have been thinking about how to live my life to glorify God the most.  Something that has stuck out to me as a weakness in many Christians is standards.  We have standards about main things, such as murder, lying and sexual immorality... but what about the "little" things that really are a big deal?  Do we set standards for what we do, what music we listen to, books we read and movies we watch?  Our culture has a very low standard for media, and are we just going to go along with it?  Do you listen to songs with lyrics that you wouldn't actually talk about because it'd be inappropriate?  Are the books you read building your relationship with Christ, and completely glorifying Him?  And, are the movies you watch clean and pure?  Do they distract your gaze from the Lord, or are they honoring to Him?  Are you watching things you would be ashamed to see in real life?  If so, it is most likely not at all a godly choice.

Do you have a standard set for yourself and what you allow yourself to participate in?  Listening, reading and what you view is all actions.  You have a choice, no one is making you.

Everything we do affects us.  Music can be so fun, uplifting and glorifying to God... but, it can also be horrific, or just stupid and has no point.  Most modern music is not edifying at all, and by listening to it we are causing our gaze to be distracted.  I love all different types of music, not only Christian, but I always try to analyze myself and see how I'm being affected.  I have found that if I constantly listen to love songs, for example, I start noticing myself becoming discontent and my joy starts to fade.  My human flesh wants that "love" that I hear about in the songs and it breeds a discontentment in my heart.  I feel empty and unfulfilled, though that "love" can never fulfill me... only God can fill that place.  If I search to be fulfilled from other sources, I will never find it, and can never have complete joy.  When I listen to songs of praise to the Lord, my heart is filled!!  I feel overwhelmed by Christ's love, and my love for Him!  I feel like everything inside me is bubbling up and will overflow!  It is an incredible feeling.
But, I am not saying love songs are bad!  I just know that if they are constantly being played (therefore in my thoughts more), it can be a stumbling block for me if I let my mind wander.

A standard is a mindset.  We choose where we want our standard to be.  Where are we going to draw the line?  I just encourage you to think through EVERYTHING and always be asking yourself, "Is this glorifying to God?"  If you even question it, it probably isn't.

May the Lord draw you near to Him and help you to grow in your faith with each passing day!

What We Believe And How It Can Affect Our Health

When you hear the word "health" you probably immediately think of someone who eats salads and goes running, or something of the sort.  That is what type of picture pops into my mind as well, but there is so much more behind health than what everyone talks about on a daily basis!

So, everyone knows that we should eat well and exercise to have a healthier, better life without so much pain and health problems when we're older...not to mention you want to look good.  But, should that really be your goal in life?  Should you be striving to feel and look good?  I believe that there are much better reasons for living a healthy lifestyle.  
  
First, where did our bodies come from in the first place?  God made them.  He formed each of us in our mothers wombs, designed by His hands for a purpose.  I believe that we should take care of the bodies He gave us, using them to His glory.  I'm not saying that you have to be legalistic about it, never eating a bite of sugar or something unhealthy.  People can get way too caught up in rules, causing that to become our main focus instead of Christ.
In 1 Cor. 3:16-17 Paul expresses the importance of our bodies.

 ^"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

  Do you view your body as a temple of God?

There are so many things that we do daily and don't even think about.  If we lived with this verse in mind, how different would we act?  What does this verse even mean?  Is it talking about eating harmful foods?  Not getting enough rest?  Dressing in a way that draws attention to God's temple in an immoral way?  What about acting in ways that would defile the temple of God?

This is really not a small matter.  The temple of God is a place of worship, and if we defile our temples, we are going against God.  I am not saying that you are defiling the temple if you eat something unhealthy, as it says in Matt. 15:11  "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."

 So, eating something bad for you is not going to defile you, but still I watch what I put into my body since I want to keep my temple healthy and strong, prepared to serve the Lord in any way I can.  But, what you say and do does defile you.  If a girl dresses in something that is immodest and draws attention to her body and causes men to be tempted and stumble, that defiles her temple.  It is using what God made as something good, holy, and beautiful, in an immoral way.

  Another thing, we need to make sure that we have the right mindset when thinking about food.  If we view it as giving ourselves the nutrition we need to live, then we will be less inclined to struggle with eating junk, and overeating.  My point is that many people make food an idol and a source of lust.  That is when it becomes sinful.  It isn't the eating that is wrong, but the mind and how we think.  

I'm certainly not saying that if you live a healthy lifestyle you won't ever get sick or have health problems... because, that's not reality.  Also, when we deal with times when our bodies are sick, God is not punishing us for something.  Sickness is a part of our fallen world. 

All we can do is live the best we can to God's glory! 

So, how we think and what we believe can greatly affect how we view health.  

One other aspect of health is your mental state.  If you live a life filled with lots of stress and confusion, and you have let bitterness build up, you can get very sick physically.  Your body can't handle the burden you put on it.  By trusting God with everything in your life you can eliminate so much of the tension in your life, knowing that God can handle everything and He is in control.  Then, by living in peace and love you can forgive others and not hold things against them, refusing to let the wall of bitterness build up inside you. 

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

If you live like this, loving the Lord first and other's second, we would live life so differently!  If we Love the lord with all our hearts, our souls and minds, we will live to please Him in everything.  If we love Him, we will love our neighbor.  We will refuse to let anger come between us, knowing it is not loving God to be angry or annoyed with someone.  Besides, are we so good and wonderful that we have any right to judge someone else, or think ourselves better?  No.  We are sinful human beings and nothing separates us from the rest of this sinful world except for the merciful saving grace of our Lord.... and that changes EVERYTHING!  He has taken away our heart of stone and put a heart of flesh in it's place (A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26).  

  We should be in a state of complete and utter humility, knowing that we are absolutely nothing without Christ.  There is no room to boast, unless we are boasting in Him ("That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Cor. 1:31).

So, in conclusion, we should live our lives for the purpose of glorifying God ("Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31)

and have joy in all things, knowing that we are becoming the men and women that God has created us to be - perfect in Him, by His power.  Live each moment taking in all He has made,  giving thanks to Him in everything!  Each day is a step forward in our journey towards eternity with Christ!!! 

In Christ Alone,

Summer

Soon! :)

Well, life is certainly not slowing down in the least!  My high hopes of frequent blog posts just isn't an easy thing to accomplish.
I do have a lot to write about, and will try to put together a post in the next week.

God has been gracious, as always, and is constantly molding me to be the woman He created me to be.  I'm so thankful for all He does for me!

Blessings!
Summer

Who Is Your God?

Who is your God? 

 I could also ask, "What is your god?", but that has an entirely different meaning. I'm asking, WHO is your God. Is He someone you pray to before most meals, think about at church on Sunday and cry to in times of trouble? Or is he the all-powerful, awesome God that surpasses everything in this world? One who's name sends a shiver of excitement through you, and nothing can contain the awe you have when you speak of Him?

 This is not a little question. The God I know is not to be compared with anything, or anyone. It makes me almost sick when I realize how we completely act like God is just another "interest" on Facebook and His name one we put a heart around and wear on a t-shirt. Do you really love Him, and are you truly living for the sole purpose of glorifying Him?

 His majesty is so far above us, and what our simple minds could ever comprehend. We try to understand Him and His ways, but continue to fail. We should be striving daily to seek His face and desire nothing but His will for our lives, knowing it is best. Worry should not be a part of our life. Ever. Instead, we should have faith and trust in place of worry and fright, bringing peace and rest to our lives, as we bask in His light and revel in His eternal glory. He has given us a hope; one that cannot be broken.

We read A passage in Ezekiel 36 today in church, and it is absolutely incredible what the Lord has done!  Here is a portion that portrays the power of God,  "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." Ezekiel 36:24-28

 Do you see a theme there? Did you notice that "I will" or a form of it was used ten times?! This is only a section of the chapter! He continues to say what He will do. Do you see the power that is shown? Or do you fail to see? Not only has he made e entire universe, and is the center of all life, but He given us "a heart to know, (Jeremiah. 24:7 "And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.") and a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:").

He also promises in Psalm 37:4 that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart.  Something that I've found is when I seek Him more, I desire Him more.  I also receive peace and joy when I am living for Him and stop longing for what this earth offers.

Just some things I've been thinking on. :)

I praise my God Almighty, for He is greater than anything!

Family Relationships and Love Languages

Last night I was talking to a friend and it got me thinking over the past few years, and all my relationships in my family. I have four brothers and two sisters. Sadly, I was not the most wonderful older sister, especially to one of my brothers. It caused so much hurt and resentment in our lives because of it. I wasn't careful about how I spoke to others, or how they felt when I said things. I've always loved to tease people, but it wasn't always a good thing. I didn't know when not to, and in what ways could cause hurt feelings.  Sometimes I didn't care if it did, and that was where my problem really was.

Several years ago I realized how much pain I had caused my brother, and all those around me. It was very hard for me to admit that I had been wrong all those years, and not been thoughtful in any way. My pride wanted to just say that it was my brother's fault, and he had taken my teasing the wrong way. So, I started really working on repairing the damage I had done to our friendship and gaining his trust. I also had to keep myself from ever falling back into the way I had previously acted toward him.

During the time of healing I read a book called "The Five Love Languages". As I studied my family and what their love languages were I found that my brother's love language was words of affirmation. It all made sense then. By teasing him I had been tearing him down with the words I spoke. Even by calling him my little brother, or immature, crushed him. It helped me to also know how to best build him up. Giving him a hug, while still nice, wasn't the same as telling him how much I loved him, praising him, and how I respected him. I started working on sharing things with him and saying how I knew I could trust him. As time went on I started gaining his trust. Of course I had to really try to seek God also, needing His strength to fight against my bad habits.

There were things about the book I didn't agree with, but I found it to be very helpful to just know the five love languages and look for how I could best serve my family, and bless them. It is not enough to speak your love language or the one that comes easiest. I needed to study each person in my family and find out what makes them feel loved individually.

I am so thankful for each of my siblings, and feel that I have wonderful friendships with each of them!  God has really worked on me and shown me many areas that needed to be worked on...and some that still need a lot of work!  But I am so glad that my family relationships have been repaired, and we all just have so much fun! :)  Forgiveness is such an amazing gift.  Christ has set the example of forgiveness for us.  We need to always set aside any quarrels and resentment we may have held for others and learn to forgive and begin again.  I pray that the Lord will continue to work in my life and make me the woman He has made me to be...using my weaknesses to produce a stronger character through it.

Garden 2012

Yesterday I marveled at God's beautiful creation as my feet sank into the soft soil, mud, cool from the afternoon shade, making it's way between my toes, the earth damp from a recent Spring rain and a breeze blowing wisps of hair around my face. There were clouds that helped protect me from the sun's hot rays. Such a beautiful day to be working with living plants - some to be saved, others removed.

My plants are all either growing very well, or ending their season. My lettuce and spinach are going to seed from my Spring planting, the Swiss Chard is growing beautifully, so is the kale, and I picked the first of my peas two days ago! :)oh, I love their fresh, crisp texture and mildly sweet flavor!

I have other things growing in my summer garden now. I have planted four types of winter squash (delicatata, butternut, buttercup and spaghetti), zucchini, yellow squash, green beans (a pole variety), cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, pumpkins, okra, peppers and tomatoes, along with a variety of herbs.
I am just getting so excited for all the wonderful garden produce!

Daddy's picking up some straw for me to lay down between rows today. It should help with weed control, insulation and runoff since my garden is on a slight incline.

I am trellising my cucumbers for the first time this year, in hopes of less insect problems and easier harvesting. I've wanted to do it in past years, but hadn't gotten around to actually doing it. I will be posting pictures as my garden grows. Right now there isn't much to look at besides the peas.

Well, there's my first 2012 summer garden update! :)
I'm going to go enjoy this lovely day!!

The Purpose

What is the purpose of living?
Well, if you're a Christian the obvious response would probably be something like, "For God", or "To live to glorify God".  Well, okay.  If that's the reason, why aren't you really living to glorify Him?  Why are you "too busy" to spend time in His word but get on Facebook, email, or any other pleasurable activity.  How can there be so much emptiness in life if you have Christ to fill it?
There is so much missing to the "normal" Christian.  What is it?
Well, why are there so many conversations concerning other people, your most recent "crush", food, weight loss, what other people (and you) look like, movies, sports and anything *besides* the Lord.  I'm not saying all of that is bad (though some of it is not edifying to God), but that we don't have a healthy balance.  Who do you know that just radiates with Christ?  Someone who talks about their faith openly and passionately.  Hardly anyone.  Personally, I would want to be with a person like that *all* the time!  Someone who has a joyful perspective on life.  I fall short in this area all the time.  If you're thinking "Well, I don't have that much to talk about besides those things", then find more! Sink deep into the heart of God and you won't ever run out of things to talk about!  There's so much to learn and study.  Why are we so hesitant to talk about it, and even read the Bible?  I just find it so sad!  Why are we so caught up in the things of this world?  What does it matter if one person is more attractive or athletic than another?  What is attractive anyway?  There's so much more to beauty or being handsome!!!  Sometimes I just get so fed up with all the things people do to try to "improve" themselves to impress others.  They're way more focused on what they (and their friends) look like on the outside, than what is on the inside. 
 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, " Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

That doesn't mean that we have to dress dumpy or not cute.  We just need to not be focused on the outward person.  I find that the beauty that a person has within is so powerful that you can't hide it by a less-attractive outside.  That inner person radiates out with the joy of the Lord.  Who wouldn't want to be around a person like that?  So full of the Lord that they can't hide it!  That's what I want to grow to be like.  I have a few friends who have an inner beauty that cannot be compared to any outward beauty!  They are precious jewels, and I am so thankful to have them!!! :)  

 How can we show Christ to others?  There are ways, even if we don't say it in plain words.  I think that we can start by loving one another.  In John 13:35 it says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  

Love.  Are you showing love to those around you?  I encourage you not to ever speak in an unkind way about anyone.  Be considerate.  If you wouldn't say something to someone to their face, how about you not say it at all.  Don't say something that you wouldn't want said about you.
Here's one of my favorite verses.
1 Cor. 10:31 " Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"
 Wow.  Everything.  Pretty powerful isn't it?  
This should be our life goal.  There aren't any exceptions.  It's pretty black and white.
Lets try to be that hidden person of the heart, that is *not* corruptible.  We should strive to please God.  He made us, and chose to be His people.  Let's start trying to live in a way pleasing to the Lord!  Let's show the world what that inner person looks like!  Let's start acting like the children of the Most High!  We are brothers and sisters, striving to live a life that is pleasing to our Maker.

Love in Christ,
Summer

"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" Psalm 37:4

The year of 2011 has been the year of the most spiritual growth for me in my entire life, and the month of December has been the best month I've ever known.  What is the reason you ask?  There's a simple reason.  I spent the most time with the Lord during the month of December than I ever have before.  I didn't really have any interest in spending time in God's word when I was younger.  I was more interested in other things.  God has really been pulling me closer to Him in this past year.  I decided to set a challenge for myself in December.  I truly wanted to grow to be more godly, and to know my Savior better, and like a friend, the best way is to spend more time with Him.  So, my goal was to read the Bible twice a day (morning and evening) for the whole month.  I also knew that it is probably the busiest month of my year.  I thought that the challenge would be good for me.  During the Christmas season I wouldn't get caught up in all the activity, it would help me stay focused on Christ.  I will say that I missed two evenings in the middle of the month.  I forgot.  No, I can't say I went a whole month reading the Bible twice a day, but I think it's good, as I hope you read this knowing that I don't write it in pride and I'm  not here to brag, but to share how much I grew in this past month, and to encourage others to seek God more, and to reap the blessings that come when you do.  I'm so far from where I want to be, being the sinner I am,  but that's all the more reason to seek God.  I'm so thankful for wonderful people in my life who have encouraged to seek God more.  They may not have even known it.  God uses all different people in many ways.  He definitely has a plan for each life, created for a purpose.  I've never felt closer to God.  I feel a sense of joy, peace and contentment that I haven't really felt before.  I didn't know what it was like until now.  I realized that this is kind of what everyone wants, but they don't go about trying to get it the right way.  They seek happiness from relationships, friendships, food, alcolhol, drugs, money, stuff, etc.... There are so many distractions in this world, all holding empty promises.  We try something thinking, "maybe this will make me happier!", or, "now I'll be happy!"  but we soon feel the loss of something great. Matt 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."If we seek empty promises, we get emptiness, if we seek the will of God and His holiness, we will gain the blessings from God.  I just had no idea how much change could happen in myself in a short month.  All I can say is it wasn't me.  I just started seeking to know Him more, and delighting myself in Him, and he is bringing me blessings and joy.  Of course life is tough sometimes, but I've found that I have more strength to get through those moments, or days.  The thing that I've found to be the most uplifting and unburdensome thing to do is just sing praises to God, whether it's in my heart, or out loud.  I LOVE reading (or singing) psalms!  They make my heart soar in thankfulness.  I did the challenge for a month, to see what it'd be like.  I'm now starting on my second month, ready to keep up the challenge.  I find myself going through the day, looking forward to the next time I'll spend time with God.  I don't set a time limit on myself, I just do what I can.  I soak in the Word, and spend time in prayer.  Nothing has been so peaceful or brought such contentment.  I look forward to seeing what the next year brings.  I praise the Lord for his undying grace and mercy towards me!

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." John 15:16I pray that He draws each one of you closer to Him with each passing day, drawing you into the center of His will.  May you be filled to overflowing with His love, sharing it with everyone you are around.

"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will know God because they know you."

- Unknown

I hope you all have a blessed year in 2012!!!

Love to you all in Christ,

Summer

Some more great quotes!!!

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something I can do."
- Helen Keller


"There is nothing to fear, but fear itself."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt


"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will know God because they know you."
- Unknown


"The spaces between your fingers were created so that another's could fill them."
- Unknown


"You'll never know that all you need is Jesus until Jesus is all you have."
- Adrian Rogers


"Image lasts but a moment, character for a lifetime."
- Unknown


"Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; you are raising a human being."
- Kittie Franz


"Always vote for principle though you may vote alone and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
- John Quincy Adams


"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
- Corrie Ten Boom


"If you can't do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly."
- Unknown


"A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
-Theodore Roosevelt


"Duty is ours.  Results belong to God.  Do your duty in all things.  You can not do more, you should never wish to do less."
- Unknown


"A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though they know that you are slightly cracked." ;)
- Unknown


"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried."
- G. K. Chesterton


"A lady is a woman who causes a man to behave like a gentleman."
- Russell Lynes


"I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The train is rushing forward, the iwnd in my face, and I know that I'll come flying into sunshine!"
-Rob Tull


"When you give half of your heart to a boy and half of your heart to God, it is a very dangerous thing, because nobody is satisfied.  A boy has half of something he wants all of, and God has only half of something that He deserves all of.. and at the end... you're left with nothing."
- Unknown


"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man must seek Him to find her!"
- Unknown


"The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christina does make me a different kind of woman!"
- Elisabeth Elliot


"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage"
- Unknown


"Knowledge puffs up - Love builds up"
- Unknown

An interesting thought

You know, if you feed a baby healthy food it will grow stronger.... and it won't take very long for it to become bigger.  They grow very fast!  They still can get sick, but they will be better prepared.  But, if you feed a baby insufficiently, whether it's not enough milk or nutrients it will become weaker.  It can get sick easier and that can cause many problems in the future for it.
Christians are like that, too.  If we are fed from God's word, getting fellowship with other believers, praying, and just seeking the Lord with all our hearts, we will grow in godliness.  If we say we are Christians but we don't do anything to strengthen ourselves in Christ, what ground do we have to stand on?  Not much, if anything.  We will be weak spiritually.  It could cause us to fall into sins of the world easier than someone who has prepared for temptation, and is ready to stand up against it.  I want to be strong in the faith, never losing sight of the goal....the goal of becoming closer to my Lord!
This song, "To Know You" by Casting Crowns.  So powerful.... and perfect for what I'm trying to say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxFsxugWkwQ
I thought of it after I had written this post.  Amazing song!!!!

Well, that has just been on my mind recently and I wanted to share it. :)

Psalm 139

Mom and I were having our Bible time together outside on this lovely day, and we read this chapter together before beginning our separate time with God.

Psalm 139

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 ² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
       
 ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
       
 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
       
 ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
       
 ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
         Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
         Your enemies take Your name in vain.^[c]
 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
         And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 ²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
         I count them my enemies.
       
 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.




It's SO amazing.  Truly.... God's love for us is indescribable.  It amazes me that He, who knows EVERYTHING about me - even things I don't know about myself - loves me more than anyone else could!  Wow.... why do we look for fulfillment in humans when we have more love than we can ever comprehend already?!?!  
The song "Beautiful" by MercyMe is a wonderful reminder of this to me!  I've been listening to it lately and it just speaks to me so powerfully!!!!
Here is a link to it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hth7GzAoXos
He thinks we're beautiful.  That's all that matters.  It's our hearts that makes us beautiful (guys, you, too!  Not the "girly" beautiful.... just beautiful in who you are, and who God made you to be.  It's the kind of word that describes something I can't describe.)

Just thought I'd share that.

Love Never Fails

God sure has been teaching me a lot lately!!!

Just recently He has been teaching me about love.  His kind of love.  Our family is going through 1 Corinthians 13, and we're going to memorize it.  It's such a wonderful chapter.  So important!!!!!!!!!  Also, at church on Sunday the sermon was on love.  It was pretty amazing!  So, it's all got me thinking about love and what it REALLY means to love someone.  I've heard the quote a lot, "Love is not a feeling, love is a choice".  I believe that you can be "in love" and it's a feeling, but you can't love someone unconditionally with just feelings.  We are all sinners, and it's not even in our power to just love someone like that easily.  We have to pray, and ask God to give us HIS love for others.

At church Mr. Unruh was talking about "loving the people you have a hard time loving".  If you are having a hard time loving someone, then you should try all the more to love them.  You should not avoid them, or slander about them, and their sins.  We have no right to judge anybody!!!!!!!!!  We're all so sinful!  It may be harder for us to get along with someone because they struggle with something we don't, and because it's not our struggle, it somehow seems worse.

I know a couple people who I feel are very hard to love.  It's not very often I feel that way.  I used to be way more prone to not liking people when I was younger.  I am a very critical thinker, and very analytical.  I let it be used in a way to see other's faults instead of virtues.  It was very hard to overcome that tendency.  Now, with God's help I have completely changed!  I still have many sins, but God has given me a love for others that I never had before.  I was a very selfish little girl.  I can't believe how I used to think of others.  Now, one of my biggest pet peeves of others is gossiping.  I can't stand it when anyone is speaking bad about anyone else!!!  Even if I agree, it really makes me upset.  Probably because I struggled with slandering others, and know how bad it feels to judge someone, also what's even worse is when you judge them prematurely and then later realize that it wasn't true, or learned to love them so much in spite of their problems.  It made me feel so guilty to have thought things about others.

I want to try really hard to reach out to the unlovely and people who are harder for me to love.  They may need it more than other people who I find easy to love.  

Also, the people I have a hard time loving right now I don't even know well.  They're hardened, and just not nice!  Who knows what their lives are like?  I see so many people at Branson Landing who I know need to be loved.  They may look all cocky, or seem prideful, but sometimes I can see a longing underneath.  A sensitive heart that has been broken many times.  They're hurting.  They're afraid of this world and don't know how to live a joyful life.  They're losing hope and don't have Christ's saving grace.  It's so sad!  It makes me want to just reach out to them and share that I know someone who can, and WILL take away all their pain, their past.  It's so hard to see them just walking along not knowing the peace I have each day.  They don't know the purpose for their lives.  They long for love, think they've found it, realize that the person isn't perfect and breakup, or get divorced.  It's awful.  They don't realize that no person can satisfy that longing for love.  Only our precious Savior can.  Romance isn't enough.  Oh that they only knew!!!!  So much hurt and pain...and for what?
We, as humans, are so quick to give up.  You make a friend, become "best friends" and then decide that you aren't as much alike as you thought and one most likely will find a new "best friend".  We're all looking for fulfillment.  We want to feel special.  I'm as guilty in this.  I've never actually had a best friend.  I didn't want to be dropped by a friend.  I have some very, very special friends who I love very much, but not just one, besides Laura (my amazing sister).  I'm not saying that having a best friend is bad.  I just have seen some dear friends get very hurt after being "best friends" with someone, just to have them find another "best friend" and forget you in their excitement about the new friend.  It's pretty hard to go through that!  I think having good, steady friends is the best!  I love my true friends.  The ones I can trust completely to not "drop" me for someone else and not even care about me anymore.
  Have you ever just been walking somewhere and see someone who just doesn't have a smile on their face?  Instead of just looking away and thinking they must be having a bad day, I try to smile at them and see how they react.  Sometimes they just look away and move on, but other times it's SO satisfying!  Their face brightens up and you see that your smile made their day.  Just the simple act of love.  Showing someone the joy of Christ.  It always makes me feel so wonderful!!!  I look around for someone else who I can smile at! :) It's so much fun!  That's showing love, I think.
I just think it's so important.  It's the second greatest commandment anyway, after we should love the Lord our God!!!  That's pretty huge!!!  People treat it as way less important.
How much time do we show love to others?  I bet that if we decided to look around us in search of ways to love others our lives would change drastically!  We may think we love people already, but what if we looked for ways to show Christ's love?  What would happen?  How many people would be blessed and see God through us?  That would be an amazing testimony to others!  It would maybe become infectious and you might notice others acting different around you too, because they see how you're acting!
Personally I want to try it!!!  Yes, it would be hard.... I would have a very hard time with my family members.  It's one thing to love at different moments, but it's one thing to make it your goal to love at ALL times.
Who wants to join me? =)

Here's an amazing song by Brandon Heath called, "Love Never Fails". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQy-aP_Koo
Here's also another song by him called "Give Me Your Eyes".  It also really correlated with what I was saying!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY&feature=related

Contentment

Okay, I've been thinking a lot about contentment lately, and about what it really means to be content with in life.  Not just being content with the "big" things.  That's not everything.  Being content in EVERY area of my life, even the "little" things that don't really matter.  Sure, it's easy to say that I'm content.  I'm content with where I live, that I'm homeschooled, the family God put me in, etc...  Here are some examples of things that could be "little" things: "I wish my hair was curly/straight!", "I wish I was taller.", "why couldn't God have made me shorter?!", "It's not fair that he/she's more athletic than me!", "why wasn't I built stronger?", "My nose is too big." "I'm unattractive." "I don't like the way I'm built"..... Those are just some examples of what people say about how they LOOK!  What is that saying to God?  It's telling Him that you don't like how he made you.  You're complaining to Him, saying He didn't do a good enough job on you.  Hello!  He made you!!!!!!!!!  You can't even be content with how you look?  How will you ever learn to be content with the rest of your life if you can't get past your looks!  God has a reason for everything.  I've thought some of these things myself, that's why I'm convicted of this.  It's all about you!  You aren't content with who you are because you don't think you measure up to the world's standards.  Well, maybe you don't.  So what?  Who are you trying to please?  Man, or God?  It shouldn't matter what the world thinks of you.  If God didn't make you naturally athletic you can do a few things about it; try to become more athletic by practicing, find an activity that you can do, and enjoy doing, try your best when you're in a group of people who are doing an athletic activity (and don't get embarrassed, people who really matter aren't going to judge you for messing up when you're trying your best) forget athletic activities, or you can just pout and make excuses.  I'm not a naturally athletic person. I don't really care enough to put tons of time into it.  I would rather pursue other interests.  I am exercising though, because I want to be in shape.  Each morning I ride a stationary bike for 30-45 minutes.  Riding a stationary bike can get quite uninteresting.  Even after about five minutes I start getting bored.  That's NOT good if you wan't to keep exercising.  You can quit, find another activity you enjoy more, find someone to exercise with so you can talk, or what I did was I bought an ipod.  So now I can listen to my favorite music while I ride.  It helps SO much!  Listening to energizing music is really good, too.  I love to listen to Josh Groban and Classical music, but not while I'm exercising.  That kind of music I save for when I want to relax, or just hanging out.
Back to contentment..... sorry.  I can tend to get sidetracked.  My point is that we should really examine ourselves.  Our hearts.  What's really deep inside.  Do we say things before we think about what we're saying?  I know that I do.  Discontentment is no fun!  It makes me feel terrible inside!
One thing I have a hard time being content about is my situation as far as animals/living on a farm go.  I LOVE having animals.  I had them for years as a girl, but then when we moved, I didn't realize the importance of them to me.  Since we moved six years ago I haven't been able to have any animals besides pets (dogs, cats and bunnies).  Some of you may not understand how I can love animals so much.  But, I do.  It's who I am.  Being around a farm and animals gives me a feeling like no other!!!!  I'm serious!  I feel at home on a horses back, and around a farm and farm animals.  It becomes a source of discontentment, and can steal my joy if I let it.  I just need to put my perspective right and know that God is in control, and He has a plan for my life, and my desires.  I'm SO thankful that I get to start having good gardens this year!  That definitely helps, even though it doesn't stop my dreaming.  I also have friends who own horses and are more than happy for me to ride with them if I get the time, so that's a definite blessing!!!!  I LOVE to ride!!!  Maybe someday I'll be able to get a horse.  Just now, I need to "bloom where I'm planted". =)

"Good Christian" Books Tempting You To Struggle? Who's In Control? Who am I?

The past couple weeks I started a series of Christian books.  They're fiction, based on characters from Bible times.  I thought, "These should be really good, they're about Jesus' life, and people during that time!"  So, I just started the fourth book.  I was sitting last night thinking.  I was feeling very discontent with my life.  I felt terrible. I couldn't understand how I felt so terrible.  I started thinking about the books.  I asked myself "though those books are Christian, and about Christ, are they drawing my heart TOWARD God?"  The answer was no.  Second question; "are they making me discontented with my life?"  Yes.  Why?  They weren't "romance novels" or even love stories.  But, they did have romance in them.  Not too much, but that little bit affected me.  I'm a girl.  Girls naturally are drawn to love and romance.  Right now, in this stage of my life, I am trying to keep my heart pure, and focus on God and my relationship with Him.  By reading books that have Him in them, but are still drawing my heart toward a desire that shouldn't be there, is not good.  I couldn't believe how much difference it made by just reading those books.  I realized that I wasn't focusing on God like I had before, and thinking too much about my future, and longing for something I can't have right now.  Also, it made me realize that I think of love and romance in a bad light.  I shouldn't think of it as something that will fulfill my desires by having someone to love me so much.  Only God can do that.  Fiction can give the impression that things, and people can give you what you want and make you happy.  Well, happiness is from happenings.  What I really want to have is real JOY!!!!  Joy is not based on happenings.  It's a contentment in every circumstance.  It's putting Jesus first (J), Others second (O) and You last (Y).  That spells JOY!  It is unconditional.  Not conditional, from your conditions.  Joy I find, is very hard to have.  So much can destroy it.  We need to strive to have it in our hearts, and live each day, every moment with that in us.  This is not just for girls.  Guys may not have the same struggles with wanting love, but they have other struggles.  They also need to keep their eyes on the Lord, and not get carried away by the little things in this world that aren't even "bad".
This just really stood out to me, and I felt called to write about it.  It's humbling to me, because I don't want others to know I struggle.  I don't want to look like the sinner I am.  Lust was my problem.  I didn't even know it.  Yes, girls struggle with it, too.  Love.  Love is so good, so right, so pure, so godly.  But, love can also be a stumbling block.  Something we actually put as an idol for ourselves.  I don't want that.  Know what?  That love that is hurtful to us isn't really love!  It's just our picture of love.  It's infatuation.  Real love isn't a feeling, it's a choice.  It's not easy to really love someone.  We have to go through trials, and really knowing someone enough to see their worst faults to really love them.  Yes, I believe I love people I know, but that's not the same kind of love.  The love we need to strive to have is the kind God shows us in His Word, and in our everyday lives.  It's also "tough love".  How many of us really know, and have REAL love????  I know that I have a long way to go to really know what it is, and to fully put it into practice in every area of my life.  I'm working on seeing the good in everyone and not judging them, but it can be very hard, especially when I'm around other people who start talking bad about someone else.  It's hard to speak up and ask them to stop.....and it's VERY easy to join in.  It's so sad!  We need to cry out to the Lord, our Savior.  He's our only hope!!!!!!!  Hope.  Such a wonderful word.  Probably one of my favorite things to hear.  We always have hope.  HE is hope.  He can put joy in our hearts.  We just need to ask Him.  He's ready to mold us and to make us more like Him.  More than ready.  He LONGS to hear our cry for help.  We need to realize how worthless we are withOUT Him.  We're nothing by ourselves.  We can't do anything for ourselves.  We're worthless.  But, with Him as our guide we can do great things!  Because, it's not us.  It's HIM working through us.  We just always need to acknowledge that, and make sure other know it, too.  NEVER take credit for what He does!  He is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

Well....I don't really know how that all came out.... It certainly wasn't planned.... by me.  But, I know who must have planned it...... =D

Love to you all!

In HIM,
Summer

What is modesty for? Who are we as women of God?

This is such an important subject!  You should listen/watch this!!!!!!  Want the truth?  Here it is from a guy sharing his own struggles.  It's all true.  Don't use the excuse of you don't have time.  It's not very long, but it could change who you are.  Please, all of you girls out there, listen to what he has to say, and start putting it into action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n-NWbd3pis
  I want everyone to know that I am a Christian and love the Lord, through dressing, and even acting modestly, we can show the world what women are supposed to be like.  We're not competing with the men, trying to be one of them.  We were created special and for a different purpose.  I find that men act differently around me when I dress modestly, wear a skirt/dress, etc...  I've even had at least one man thank me for wearing a skirt.  He said that you don't see it very often, and it's true.  It feels so good to be feminine.  I just LOVE being a girl!  I can still have fun, not be legalistic, and be modest all at once.  Yes I wear jeans and shorts, but I choose them thinking about other people.  Dressing immodestly is selfish.  It's true.  That's all it is.  If you dress immodestly, you're proving that you don't care about your brothers in Christ.  You want to draw attention to yourself, and don't care if people struggle.  You don't think about it that way, but that's what it is.
I'm just trying to encourage you young women (or older, both young, and older men struggle, so both young and older women should dress modestly.  Don't make other men, married or not, struggle with lust because of you!) to stand up to a challenge.  It will change who you are.
To you girls who are trying to serve God in all ways, including modesty, good for you!!!  I'm proud of you!!!  You will reap the benefits in the end!!!....and I find that it comes before the end!!!! :)  You may feel self-conscious because you stand out, but you can get over it.  You will also be looked up to, and respected for your convictions.

God has blessed me with the BEST big brother!

I just wanted to share with you how God works miracles!!!!!......and he truly loves us so very much!
 Since I was very little I have always wanted a big brother; I knew that the only way I'd ever be able to have one was for us to adopt, so I started praying for a big brother. I kept praying through the years, as nothing happened. As the years went by I knew that there was a very little chance that we would adopt a young man.    I kept praying.
I was thirteen, adopting a guy older than me wasn't going to happen.
Still praying.
Then. There. Was. Rob. :)
 Rob went to the church we were attending at the time. We were moving, and announced in church that we would like help if anyone wanted to. Rob came with another man from church. We had previously seen him at church, but had never met him before. We met him, and learned that he worked with some guys doing computer work, etc..., Dad wanted Laura, Christian and me (mainly Laura) to learn Photoshop, so he asked Rob if he would come and teach us once a week, and have dinner. He started teaching us, and we immediately loved him!  He comes from another like-minded family, with eight children. Photoshop lessons didn't last very long. We ended up just spending time playing games, talking, and socializing.  He would also come down to Branson Landing on Saturdays and watch us play music..... we also met up at Silver Dollar City a couple times, and had a blast!!! :)
 We all looked forward to the night each week he would come. His passion for the Lord really stood out to me. He taught me many thing during that time....things that he didn't even know he taught me. Mom decided to "adopt" him. :) We started calling him our adopted big brother.....and eventually (not too long afterward) shortened to, big brother. No "adopted" in there. He really became like a big brother to us. I was always afraid that someday, when he moved he would just leave our lives and we would never see him again. Well, I was wrong.  A couple years ago he moved.  He kept coming, but the visits became farther apart....then his car broke. Riding a bicycle a distance that was normally 45 minutes in a car wasn't going to happen. I thought the end of our knowing him was coming. Then, he moved even farther away....still riding his bike. We saw him a few times, but it was hard to find the time to drive an hour, pick him up, then drop him off again after his visit. I was amazed that he kept staying in touch. I thanked God over and over. I didn't want my big brother to leave. Then he got a car. His visits weren't every week like they had started out as, but he kept coming when he had some time. Life just keeps getting busier, and there's always plenty of work. But, I'm just so thankful for Rob!!! He never forgot us!
 I enjoy the time we get with him SO much!!! He is one of the most influential people in my life. There couldn't be anyone more like a big brother than him!! He's seen me upset, ecstatic, sad and hurting, joyful and content. It's pretty amazing to see how God has worked. He brought Rob into our lives at just the right time. He answered my prayer, even though I'd been told it was impossible. NOTHING is impossible with GOD!!!!!!! I want my children someday to know Rob as their "Uncle Rob"!!!! =) That's what he is!!!!! Thank you, God, for sending Rob into our lives, and thank you Rob for being such a special part of our lives!!!!!!
We love you!!!! <3

More Garden Info.....

Well, I do believe that I'm doing better at posting on my blog.... hopefully at least some of you are interested in gardening....but if not, oh well, I'll write this out for my own future use. :)

I'm actually not going to have a lasagna garden.  I've been reading about an even better way.  I guess I could kind of do it, but that's not my whole plan.  I've been reading the book, "All New Square Foot Gardening".  A really amazing book!!!  It has really been inspiring me!!!!  It's truly a must-read for gardeners, I think.  It gives you another way to garden.  More effective, simple, and it's a new thought to a lot of us who've grown up on planing our gardens in a row, fighting the weeds for all we're worth, or just letting them take over.  This method makes it so that you have minimal (if any) weeds, lots of produce, in less space. 
I highly reccommend the book.  I'm renting it from my library.
I'll be posting pictures of my gardening adventures soon!

Tomorrow, the plan is to get the wood to build eight 4x4 boxes, and get old cow manure for a rich form of nutrients for my plants.  This week I want to plant, lettuce (a lot), raddishes, spinach (lots of it....I LOVE spinach!!!!!), swiss chard, and any other spring vegetables I have seeds for that I can't remember at the moment.  I have my tomatoes, tomatillos, and bell/jalapeno peppers I planted inside last month, and I just started my thyme and oregano inside.  In a week or so, I'm planning to start my eccinacea, marigolds and basil inside.  The tomatoes, tomatillos and peppers are looking so healthy and strong!  It's my first time starting any plants inside.  So far it's been very successful! I just transplanted them into bigger containers because they were falling over because they were geting so big!!! :)  They look quite happy now, and I'll post pictures of them sometime, too.

I'm still going to try companion planting.  It will work so well with this method, too!  It's so cool!  The guy that wrote the book has been doing square foot gardening for over 10 years, and has had tons of success.  Also, what's really neat is that he's totally into saving money and finding the least expensive way to do everything.  He's very passionate about enjoying the gardening experience.  He explains that it doesn't have to be as hard as everyone makes it. 
I know two families who've done it now, though not in raised beds, and both have been successful! :) 


Fact about Summer (me): I DO NOT like weeding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anything to have less weeds is a plus for me!!!!!  Also, I would like to work at a great camp I've worked at for the past three years, and if I have to weed all the time I either have to choose to give up camp, or give up weeding the garden, and let it get overrun.  I don't want to have to choose.  I want to get rid of all of those nasty weeds!  If that is taken care of, I can ask one of my brothers to water for me and then I can go without worrying about what my garden will look like when I get back.
So, that's pretty much been my main focus on choosing a method of gardening, but, with this method comes other great benefits that make so much sense. 

Well, that's probably enough for now.... I'll have more info for you soon I'm guessing....  And pictures for sure! =)

I would love to hear about your gardens and how you grow your fresh produce!.....and about preserving garden produce.  It will be my first year in that as well! :) 

What has worked for you? 
What has not?
What would you do again?
What would you advise against?

Friends for (and from) a lifetime!!!

I just wanted to post this picture of my amazing friends (and a couple siblings). We have been friends since babyhood, and I am just so thankful for them, and wanted to say so! God has blessed me with these awesome friendships!!!!  We have always been so close that we consider ourselves almost cousins!!!! :) There's almost nothing better than real, close friends who can love and serve God together, helping and challenging eachother to be godly young men and women; seeking to follow our Lord with everything!!!!

I love you guys!!!!

What started my passion for health? The answer.

God.  Yes, He's the reason for everything.  He turns everything into good....and I am an example of His plans that can seem very hard to understand.
But, there are other things that have happened through my life that have really affected how I think about health, farming, growing organic food, etc...  Here is my story.

As a little girl I was known to my family as the "animal lover".  I was going to grow up and be a vet.... I have changed my mind over the years.... =D  I just loved any kind of animal, bug, anything that could be my pet.  I would dig for hours in my grandma and pap pap's  back yard in the rocks for snails.  I would let them slime all over me. :-p  I got heartbroken when Andrew, a little toddler at the time, stepped on one accidentally and crushed it.  It was my little friend. 

We lived on a farm.  21 acres of wonderful land I would run and explore all over!!!  I LOVED it!  We had chickens, ducks, goats, a pony, plenty of cats, a few dogs and my bunny I got when I turned four.  We moved there right after I turned six.  I got into plenty of trouble, such as riding the goats and the like.  It was a blast! :)  We had a u-pick blueberry patch/farm; around 300 bushes.  It was so fun in the summer when our friends would come to pick blueberries.  I just LOVE fresh blueberries..... and friends to pick with was a bonus!  We also had a wonderful 1/4 acre of asparagus.  Such blessings.  I wish I had really known what I had when we lived there.  I took it all for granted.
 We also had a creek running through our woods, and Christian and I would sometimes go down to fish.... and we actually caught a fish once that I remember! ;)

I have VERY fond memories of riding our pony, Smokey, all over our land!!!  I was the only one who knew how to saddle him, and he was quite stubborn and wouldn't obey almost anyone.  I had to pretty much train him again because it had been so long since he had been ridden.  He was about twenty-five.  I loved him and enjoyed those hours on his back! :)

I have always been a farm girl and love the outdoors!  I've dreamed of living on a farm again.  I hope I will be able to again someday.

Okay, so, I love animals, love the country, love my family and love God!  

I moved from the farm when I was eleven or twelve.  We had to give our animals away except the dogs, cats and my bunny, Tiny Ears (Tiny).

Around the time that we moved I started having some health issues.  We didn't really realize it but now, looking back, I can see.  Years of not understanding why I felt the way I did followed.

About two years ago we were experimenting with my health and took out a lot of different foods.  I was eating a lot of fresh food.  Immediately I saw and felt a difference.  My joints felt better, the bloating went down, I felt less tired among a number of other things.  I few weeks after that I went to a friend's birthday party.  I ate what I thought I should, except I had a *tiny* amount of dessert (a little piece of brownie w/ less than a scoop of ice cream).  It made me feel bad for a couple weeks!  After that, we knew that something I had been eating wasn't agreeing with me.  Since then it has been a huge process, and still is.  One thing I have found to help me feel good is juice fasting.  For my birthday I got a Champion Juicer, and I LOVE it!!!!  It does such a good job, and as a bonus, if you put a certain piece on it, and push frozen fruit through, it makes the fruit like soft serve ice cream!  It's been such a blessing!!!
Having these health issues have really caused me to have a passion for eating healthy.  Our culture's eating is so corrupt!  All the genetically modified foods, growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and animals fed these things.....not good!  I keep hearing about more people who have digestive issues, and there is a huge rise of food intolerances.  I wonder why?  Did we always have these food sensitivities?  I don't think so.  Teddy and Nathan have both had dairy problems, but Teddy has outgrown his.  I'm hoping it won't be too many years before Nathan will do the same.
There are so many thing to be thankful for, and I am *so* blessed!  Lots of people tell me they're so sorry for me, etc..., but I don't want them to be.  I would appreciate prayer, and I do hope that my body is healed someday, but God has done some wonderful things through this, and I don't want to wallow in self-pity.  It has encouraged me to study health, and I have actually had the opportunity to be able to help some people because I have had these problems.  Yes, it's true I don't eat very many different foods, and yes, it is hard for me.  But, God is always with me and helping me to see the good in my circumstances.  It has helped me find myself.  I *love* the homesteading lifestyle.  Growing organic food from the garden, and raising grass fed animals, getting fresh, raw milk from a cow, raise healthy chickens for eggs and meat, canning the produce from the gardens, cooking healthy and making other good choices.  I don't want my children (someday) to struggle with their health as I have.  I hope that by making good choices in what they eat they will have healthy bodies.
I have been very blessed in some very wonderful friendships that have helped me so much....not to mention the support of my family.  They have just been so patient with me.  I love them all dearly!
A few nights ago I was lying in bed just thinking about my health issues...sometimes I lack the faith that I may one day be healed and that is a fault.  But, God spoke to me.  I didn't hear His voice clear, but it was a voice inside my heart.  He told me that even if I wasn't healed on earth, someday, when I die, He is going to take all of it away, and I will have a new body, free of any discomfort.  I will be whole in Him!  It just made me cry.  I had never thought of that before.  I knew that we would all have new bodies etc..., but it had never fully hit me that He would free me! :)  It was a joyous thought!  I know that it will really help me in the future when I am feeling discouraged.

So far my year has been a *wonderful* one!  Some big things have happened and are going to happen!  Big things, and just changes that seem little, but are bigger than you could imagine, in myself.  I turned seventeen in December, had a wonderful dance for my birthday party in January, am really doing well in school this year, which is very important since it's almost the end of my junior year, I've been very blessed in some amazing friendships, God has been working in my heart and pulling me further into His love and protection, I am understanding some things that I have struggled with, I am excitedly planning and working on my gardens for this year (a huge passion of mine) and have loved it!, am just learning so much as I study (a couple of my favorite sources are, The Encyclopedia of Country Living,  All New Square Foot Gardening and Nourishing Traditions, wonderful books filled with great knowledge!) and my relationships in my family are building into great friendships I didn't used to have.

So, I hope that through this you have seen how great God is, and how He has a plan for EVERYTHING!!!  Seriously.  The things that seem so terrible occur because they're part of a great and wonderful plan.  Only He knows what it is, but we can know that all is done because He loves us.