2 Timothy 3:23-26 (NKJV)
23) But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25) in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Paul is instructing Timothy and the surrounding churches in 2 Timothy. This small book of the Bible was the last that he wrote. I greatly appreciate all the doctrine and instruction our Lord Jesus spoke through Paul.
These verses instruct Christians on how to act when it comes to disputes and arguments.
In verse twenty-three we are told to, "avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife." I find it very hard to not give in to pointless arguments and disputes. Something in my human nature craves a good debate. Sometimes I just need to vent my anger. I try my best to keep the peace and not have an argumentative spirit, but sometimes I slip up. As a Christian, I try to slip up less and less as I grow in the Lord. God is not pleased when I argue. It does not get me anywhere. A loving and quiet attitude in the face of opposition is what changes people's hearts. God knows that, and He desires that I impart His peace onto others. I know that these disputes generate strife; so why do I continue in them?
"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient," A Christian is a servant of the Lord. God desires that we not quarrel but be gentle towards all. Each time I quarrel with my Dad I feel guilty. My rebellious attitude toward him should reap repentance...and fast!! I should always be gentle with my family; but stress, anxiety, and selfishness always causes me to have outbursts. These outbursts, which go right into the category of foolish and ignorant disputes, are the number one thing I am working on now. Because I wear the Christian woman's headship veiling, getting rid of these "outbursts" has become crucial to my walk with the Lord. By causing strife with my Dad, I am stepping out of my headship order. I am denying whom God has set over me and rejecting a gentle attitude. God also desires that we be able to teach. All Christians should be ready and able to teach others about the ways of Christ. Sunday school teachers and pastors are not the only ones responsible for teaching!! In order to be able to teach, we must submerge ourselves in Christ-likeness. This means studying and memorizing His Word daily, "praying without ceasing", and crucifying our flesh and sins. What we learn on our journey with the Lord is what we must pass on to others for encouragement and teaching. Lastly, in verse twenty-four we are told to be patient. Patience plays a very important role in avoiding disputes. Without patience we are eager to make OUR point and prove WE are right.
James 1: 3-4 (KJV)
3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
Disputes try our faith. If we are patient and avoid disputes, our faith will grow to be perfect and entire.
"...in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth," Here we see that there is a right way to respond to opposition. We must always remain humble. The moment pride rears its ugly head we become unfit to pass on any of God's truth. We must put down our own agenda so that His plan can unfold. There are times when we are called to correct those in opposition. We are to administer correction while praying that God will make the other's heart repentant. This is not to prove ourselves right, but to have the other come unto the knowledge of the truth. I often feel as though Christians are not speaking up enough to other's about sin and the need for repentance. However, I am always reminded that there is a time and a place for correction, but we, first, must have the right attitude.
"...and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." When we easily fall into arguments and foolish disputes we are literally being taken captive by Satan. Satan's will is that we begrudge others and lose fellowship with one another. He does not want us to care for others, but, rather, he desires that we love only ourselves. Satan promotes a "me" attitude. He wants Christians to get so wrapped up in themselves and their own opinion that they are no longer usable by God. This is why it is so important that we humble ourselves and avoid conflict. If we are quiet, patient and gentle, Satan can not easily use us to harm the faith of others.
Philippians 2: 13-14 (NKJV)
13) ....for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14) Do all things without complaining and disputing,
I desire to bring God pleasure. For that reason, I pray that He will work to rid me of complaining and disputing.
Nov 2, 2009
Oct 6, 2009
~ A Plain Girl in a Fancy World ~
I have one Amish/Mennonite dress. I don't plan on dressing like the plain people, but the headcovering is something I wear everday now :)
Oct 4, 2009
The Man in the White Sunglasses
Sharing Christ with someone that God has sent our way is more worthwhile and uplifting than any other thing we might strive to do in life.
I have come to know that being able to reveal the truth about Jesus Christ to someone...minister to and disciple them....is far more fulfilling than any secular degree I could earn. I've gotten a taste of what God can give us. It is so sweet, and it is all that I desire. Touching lives is what I have been called to do. I can feel it with every heartbeat that God allows me to have.
This past friday I went to Apple Hill with some good friends of mine. Our last stop was a candy shop which is well-known for its fudge. After my friends purchased their fudge a man approached me.
As you know, I wear the Christian woman's headship veiling. That was the twenty-fourth day since I had decided to start covering my head.
The man asked me, "Do you wear that on your head because you are a Mormon?"
I told him that I am definately not Mormon, but that I am actually a Baptist who has recently decided to wear one according to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11.
As we left the shop the man followed me outside, and he preceded to ask me the meaning behind the covering.
He expressed that he was very unsure about God, and he figured maybe he would finally find out the truth after he died.
With confidance and gladness of heart I said, "Actually, you need to make the decision while you are alive. Once you die it is too late, and you will go to either Heaven or Hell."
He was not at all offended but rather fascinated.
He also said that he wasn't sure that religious matters aren't just a bunch of nonsense and stories. He asked how I am so certain about what I believe.
I told him that it is all about faith. Looking back I wish I had time to explain what faith is.
He said, "I think you're the only woman in America who believes that!"
He did not say it in a negative sense, but was awed by what I was telling him.
I said, "I hope I'm not the only one! but I think I'm the only girl in California wearing a head covering."
He laughed and agreed.
I gave him a tract I had with me on the covering. I also gave him one I love called "Others May, but I Cannot". I told him that tract was where I am in my walk with the Lord.
He said, "I can't wait to read about where you are!"
I also gave him a couple others on "Eternity" and "Where Will You Be Five Minutes After You Die?"
He asked for a way to contact me so I gave him my email.
He has yet to email me, but I am praying mostly that those tracts spoke to him. If God gives me opportunity to speak with him again, then I will be eager to share many more wonderful things about the comfort God gives a person in this wretched world.
That was the first time in my life that I had ever really witnessed to a complete stranger. I was so excited to see a non-Christian as excited to hear as I was to share. If I hadn't been wearing my covering that man probably would not have spoken to me.
A great thing about wearing a covering is that non-Christians who really want to know more about God (like that man) are able to recognize me as someone who believes something. Instead of approaching people who most likely will reject what I have to say, the covering can draw in those that do want to hear what I have to say and believe. Of course, my Heavenly Father is the one drawing people. The covering is only a small tool. It helps me to stand out for the right reasons
~:~ I will sing to the Lord, for He well-knows my desires. I have been set apart strongly. I am awaiting my tasks. I am awaiting wonderful opportunities. I am letting Jesus plan my future, and it gives me a great hope ~:~
I have come to know that being able to reveal the truth about Jesus Christ to someone...minister to and disciple them....is far more fulfilling than any secular degree I could earn. I've gotten a taste of what God can give us. It is so sweet, and it is all that I desire. Touching lives is what I have been called to do. I can feel it with every heartbeat that God allows me to have.
This past friday I went to Apple Hill with some good friends of mine. Our last stop was a candy shop which is well-known for its fudge. After my friends purchased their fudge a man approached me.
As you know, I wear the Christian woman's headship veiling. That was the twenty-fourth day since I had decided to start covering my head.
The man asked me, "Do you wear that on your head because you are a Mormon?"
I told him that I am definately not Mormon, but that I am actually a Baptist who has recently decided to wear one according to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11.
As we left the shop the man followed me outside, and he preceded to ask me the meaning behind the covering.
He expressed that he was very unsure about God, and he figured maybe he would finally find out the truth after he died.
With confidance and gladness of heart I said, "Actually, you need to make the decision while you are alive. Once you die it is too late, and you will go to either Heaven or Hell."
He was not at all offended but rather fascinated.
He also said that he wasn't sure that religious matters aren't just a bunch of nonsense and stories. He asked how I am so certain about what I believe.
I told him that it is all about faith. Looking back I wish I had time to explain what faith is.
He said, "I think you're the only woman in America who believes that!"
He did not say it in a negative sense, but was awed by what I was telling him.
I said, "I hope I'm not the only one! but I think I'm the only girl in California wearing a head covering."
He laughed and agreed.
I gave him a tract I had with me on the covering. I also gave him one I love called "Others May, but I Cannot". I told him that tract was where I am in my walk with the Lord.
He said, "I can't wait to read about where you are!"
I also gave him a couple others on "Eternity" and "Where Will You Be Five Minutes After You Die?"
He asked for a way to contact me so I gave him my email.
He has yet to email me, but I am praying mostly that those tracts spoke to him. If God gives me opportunity to speak with him again, then I will be eager to share many more wonderful things about the comfort God gives a person in this wretched world.
That was the first time in my life that I had ever really witnessed to a complete stranger. I was so excited to see a non-Christian as excited to hear as I was to share. If I hadn't been wearing my covering that man probably would not have spoken to me.
A great thing about wearing a covering is that non-Christians who really want to know more about God (like that man) are able to recognize me as someone who believes something. Instead of approaching people who most likely will reject what I have to say, the covering can draw in those that do want to hear what I have to say and believe. Of course, my Heavenly Father is the one drawing people. The covering is only a small tool. It helps me to stand out for the right reasons
~:~ I will sing to the Lord, for He well-knows my desires. I have been set apart strongly. I am awaiting my tasks. I am awaiting wonderful opportunities. I am letting Jesus plan my future, and it gives me a great hope ~:~
Sep 17, 2009
Further Blessings
Hello Friends!
I'm continually blessed to be able to share my personal "adventures" with you all. Tonight I am writing a bit further on the headcovering.
I am still waiting for the ones I ordered to come. I am getting very eager!!
I have become aware of three more reasons why I am glad to wear the covering.
Firstly, wearing a covering has brought me into a new level of accountability. Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't put a Christian sticker on my car because my driving would give people a bad impression of Christians"? To me the covering on my head is similar to that Christian fish etc. that might be on my car. It makes me want to be more like Christ in the way I act towards others, just as a symbol on my car would make me want to be a more patient, respectful driver.
Secondly, I am finding some people can be very quick to judge the covering as an extension of legalism and an "I'm better than you" sort of thing. I've heard that if I wear it people will think I am judging them for not wearing it. NO!! That is not true. Wearing the covering has made me more aware of judgmental spirits, and I am now more determined not to judge others unrightly as they might do to me.
Thirdly, as I study more about the covering, read articles on the subject, and talk to people about it, I am getting a much better understanding; and I am being inspired to write more about it. The blessing I find is when another sister in Christ who also wears the covering is encouraged by what I write. Those sisters are so few and they need reassurance!
Jesus is good!! and to anyone who thinks being a Christian is boring...no WAY!! The straight and narrow road can be so much fun!! Sure it has its many hardships (I can testify to that!) but there are such sweet times as well :)
I'm continually blessed to be able to share my personal "adventures" with you all. Tonight I am writing a bit further on the headcovering.
I am still waiting for the ones I ordered to come. I am getting very eager!!
I have become aware of three more reasons why I am glad to wear the covering.
Firstly, wearing a covering has brought me into a new level of accountability. Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't put a Christian sticker on my car because my driving would give people a bad impression of Christians"? To me the covering on my head is similar to that Christian fish etc. that might be on my car. It makes me want to be more like Christ in the way I act towards others, just as a symbol on my car would make me want to be a more patient, respectful driver.
Secondly, I am finding some people can be very quick to judge the covering as an extension of legalism and an "I'm better than you" sort of thing. I've heard that if I wear it people will think I am judging them for not wearing it. NO!! That is not true. Wearing the covering has made me more aware of judgmental spirits, and I am now more determined not to judge others unrightly as they might do to me.
Thirdly, as I study more about the covering, read articles on the subject, and talk to people about it, I am getting a much better understanding; and I am being inspired to write more about it. The blessing I find is when another sister in Christ who also wears the covering is encouraged by what I write. Those sisters are so few and they need reassurance!
Jesus is good!! and to anyone who thinks being a Christian is boring...no WAY!! The straight and narrow road can be so much fun!! Sure it has its many hardships (I can testify to that!) but there are such sweet times as well :)
Sep 14, 2009
Choosing to be Covered ~ Crucifying the Flesh
This may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, but I feel as though God is telling me I should start wearing a woman's veiling(also known as a prayer covering). If you would like to know where the command to wear one is in the Bible, see 1 Corinthians 11 : 1 -16. As many of you know the prayer covering is mainly worn by Amish, Mennonite, plain Quakers, and a few other religious groups. Many of you also know that I have a keen appreciation and interest in these plain groups. I want you all to know that I am NOT choosing to wear the covering because I like plain people. I am choosing to wear one because God has called me to do it. He has spoken to me through a few different avenues concerning this.
I suppose it's been about a week now that I have been giving this a lot of thought. I have spoken with my parents quite a bit, and I have prayed and requested God's approval and assurance that this is what He wants. Many of you may believe that the covering is no longer necessary for women to wear, but God has still told me He wants me to wear one. I feel it is the right thing to do. I want to ask that you pray for me that I am not discouraged by the Devil or by the World to stop wearing one. I will be the only person I know who wears one, but I really want to follow the Lord on this.
I listened to a sermon called "The Doctrine of Headship" by Ross Ulrich. I got this sermon free through Charity Ministries. I also got a free book through them called "...let her be veiled." It is an in depth study on 1 Cor. 11 : 1 - 16 by Tom Shank. Even though the sermon was by a conservative Mennonite preacher, I still agreed with it. I also have agreed with everything in the book that I have read so far. I highly recommend it if you are interested in learning more about this issue.
Last week I had a revelation that made me VERY excited. That day I was praying, pondering, and picking apart every aspect of the covering, and what would happen if I started wearing one. I was starting to become very confused and frustrated. I thought, "If this is what God wants for Christians to do, then why do hardly any do it anymore?!" That night before bed I decided to read a chapter of "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. This book is great for those of you who struggle with thoughts of worry, doubt, depression, confusion, anger, and condemnation. A few of those have been strongholds in my life, and that is why I bought the book. Anyways, the chapter I opened up to that night was chapter ten, "A Confused Mind". I loved that chapter - it was so good! - but two paragraphs on the second page were greatly significant to me. They read:
A simple way to say it is, reasoning occurs when a person tries to figure out the "why" behind something (I was trying to figure out the "why" behind the covering). Reasoning causes the mind to revolve around and around a situation, issue, or event attempting to understand all its intricate component parts (My mind was definately revolving around and around this issue!) We are reasoning when we dissect a statement or teaching to see if it is logical, and disregard it if it is not (I was dissecting the teaching of the veiling in hopes of disregarding it or not).
Satan frequently steals the will of God from us due to reasoning. The Lord may direct us to do a certain thing (like me wearing the covering), but if it does not make sense (and it doesn't to most of the world) - if it is not logical - we may be tempted to disregard it (and I came close to calling myself "crazy" and forgetting about it). What God leads a person to do does not always make logical sense to his(or her) mind. His spirit may affirm it (which mine did) and his mind reject it (mine wanted to), especially if it would be out of the ordinary(need I say more? ;) ) or unpleasant (it would be when my relatives begin to think me foolish) or if it would require personal sacrifice or discomfort ( yes, it would be a sacrifice to cover my hair, and a discomfort when my friends pick on me).
Wow! That just blew me away! That's just one way in which God has spoken to me. It was like He was saying, "Stop reasoning and just trust ME!" My Dad and Mom fully support me in this, and for that I am blessed. I have been wearing some kerchiefs on my head this week, but I have ordered an official "cap" covering that should, I hope, come in a week. Let me tell you the significant reasons why I am choosing to wear the covering apart from the obvious which is to obey God:
1) To show that I am subject to man which is one reason scripture gives.
2) To cover my "glory" which is my hair in order to give the glory to God.
3) 1 Cor. 11 : 10 says, "For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels". The Bible says that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against ........the rulers of the darkness of this world"Eph. 6:12 . Angels and demons are not all-knowing. They cannot read our minds or see into our hearts. The covering is a way of letting the angels know, "I wish to be under God's protection," and telling the demons, "I AM under God's protection, so keep away from me!" I think that is very cool!
4) I think it is a great opportunity to be a witness. When people come up to me and ask why I wear it, I will be able to share my faith with them.
5) I feel as though the Lord's return is very soon, and I desire to be set apart, holy, and pleasing to God in these last days. See Romans 12 : 1-2
If you go to www.biblicalresearchreports.com they have articles on...
"Is the Covering for Today?"
"Myths about the Headcovering"
"The Christian Woman's Headcovering:
The Style and How Much Should it Cover?"
and more!
I hope you enjoyed the beginning of my story in regards to the covering. I would hope that you will pray for and support me rather than judge, and that you would examine your heart and be open to what God might want to tell you :) I am very grateful that God has chosen to reveal this to me. I don't know why He has. This is not a normal thing for a Californian to do ;) All I know, is I choose to listen to God. Today Christians are trying too hard to "fit in" with the world in order to reach it for Christ. We are called to share the gospel, but we are not called to "fit in" to do so. Jesus did not fit in. People were very offended by what he had to say.
John 15 : 18 - 20 NKJV
Jesus said,
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
My heart is receptive to Jesus Christ. He is my Father, my Friend, my Savior, and the One who makes my decisions for me. If people end up hating me because I wear the covering, it will not change my mind. Jesus said the world will hate His own. I am called to share the Good News with people. God does not expect me to please non-Christians in order to witness to them. If I have to compromise what the Bible says to do in order to reach others, than I am no longer right with the Lord. We need to have a balance. We shouldn't "shove our Christianity down people's throats", but we should not dress, act, speak, and appear in a way to "please" them.
1 John 2 : 15 NKJV
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
May God strengthen and secure you, and bring you to completion!
~ Kara LeAnn
I suppose it's been about a week now that I have been giving this a lot of thought. I have spoken with my parents quite a bit, and I have prayed and requested God's approval and assurance that this is what He wants. Many of you may believe that the covering is no longer necessary for women to wear, but God has still told me He wants me to wear one. I feel it is the right thing to do. I want to ask that you pray for me that I am not discouraged by the Devil or by the World to stop wearing one. I will be the only person I know who wears one, but I really want to follow the Lord on this.
I listened to a sermon called "The Doctrine of Headship" by Ross Ulrich. I got this sermon free through Charity Ministries. I also got a free book through them called "...let her be veiled." It is an in depth study on 1 Cor. 11 : 1 - 16 by Tom Shank. Even though the sermon was by a conservative Mennonite preacher, I still agreed with it. I also have agreed with everything in the book that I have read so far. I highly recommend it if you are interested in learning more about this issue.
Last week I had a revelation that made me VERY excited. That day I was praying, pondering, and picking apart every aspect of the covering, and what would happen if I started wearing one. I was starting to become very confused and frustrated. I thought, "If this is what God wants for Christians to do, then why do hardly any do it anymore?!" That night before bed I decided to read a chapter of "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. This book is great for those of you who struggle with thoughts of worry, doubt, depression, confusion, anger, and condemnation. A few of those have been strongholds in my life, and that is why I bought the book. Anyways, the chapter I opened up to that night was chapter ten, "A Confused Mind". I loved that chapter - it was so good! - but two paragraphs on the second page were greatly significant to me. They read:
A simple way to say it is, reasoning occurs when a person tries to figure out the "why" behind something (I was trying to figure out the "why" behind the covering). Reasoning causes the mind to revolve around and around a situation, issue, or event attempting to understand all its intricate component parts (My mind was definately revolving around and around this issue!) We are reasoning when we dissect a statement or teaching to see if it is logical, and disregard it if it is not (I was dissecting the teaching of the veiling in hopes of disregarding it or not).
Satan frequently steals the will of God from us due to reasoning. The Lord may direct us to do a certain thing (like me wearing the covering), but if it does not make sense (and it doesn't to most of the world) - if it is not logical - we may be tempted to disregard it (and I came close to calling myself "crazy" and forgetting about it). What God leads a person to do does not always make logical sense to his(or her) mind. His spirit may affirm it (which mine did) and his mind reject it (mine wanted to), especially if it would be out of the ordinary(need I say more? ;) ) or unpleasant (it would be when my relatives begin to think me foolish) or if it would require personal sacrifice or discomfort ( yes, it would be a sacrifice to cover my hair, and a discomfort when my friends pick on me).
Wow! That just blew me away! That's just one way in which God has spoken to me. It was like He was saying, "Stop reasoning and just trust ME!" My Dad and Mom fully support me in this, and for that I am blessed. I have been wearing some kerchiefs on my head this week, but I have ordered an official "cap" covering that should, I hope, come in a week. Let me tell you the significant reasons why I am choosing to wear the covering apart from the obvious which is to obey God:
1) To show that I am subject to man which is one reason scripture gives.
2) To cover my "glory" which is my hair in order to give the glory to God.
3) 1 Cor. 11 : 10 says, "For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels". The Bible says that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against ........the rulers of the darkness of this world"Eph. 6:12 . Angels and demons are not all-knowing. They cannot read our minds or see into our hearts. The covering is a way of letting the angels know, "I wish to be under God's protection," and telling the demons, "I AM under God's protection, so keep away from me!" I think that is very cool!
4) I think it is a great opportunity to be a witness. When people come up to me and ask why I wear it, I will be able to share my faith with them.
5) I feel as though the Lord's return is very soon, and I desire to be set apart, holy, and pleasing to God in these last days. See Romans 12 : 1-2
If you go to www.biblicalresearchreports.com they have articles on...
"Is the Covering for Today?"
"Myths about the Headcovering"
"The Christian Woman's Headcovering:
The Style and How Much Should it Cover?"
and more!
I hope you enjoyed the beginning of my story in regards to the covering. I would hope that you will pray for and support me rather than judge, and that you would examine your heart and be open to what God might want to tell you :) I am very grateful that God has chosen to reveal this to me. I don't know why He has. This is not a normal thing for a Californian to do ;) All I know, is I choose to listen to God. Today Christians are trying too hard to "fit in" with the world in order to reach it for Christ. We are called to share the gospel, but we are not called to "fit in" to do so. Jesus did not fit in. People were very offended by what he had to say.
John 15 : 18 - 20 NKJV
Jesus said,
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
My heart is receptive to Jesus Christ. He is my Father, my Friend, my Savior, and the One who makes my decisions for me. If people end up hating me because I wear the covering, it will not change my mind. Jesus said the world will hate His own. I am called to share the Good News with people. God does not expect me to please non-Christians in order to witness to them. If I have to compromise what the Bible says to do in order to reach others, than I am no longer right with the Lord. We need to have a balance. We shouldn't "shove our Christianity down people's throats", but we should not dress, act, speak, and appear in a way to "please" them.
1 John 2 : 15 NKJV
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
May God strengthen and secure you, and bring you to completion!
~ Kara LeAnn
Sep 4, 2009
Guti Sacha Nemma Zeit
Friends!
The title of my post today is a Pennsylvania Dutch phrase which means, "Good things take time". Not only do good things often take their sweet time in coming, but they usually require the trying of patience and the steadiness of prayer. I am writing to share two ways in which God has blessed me in one day! Both of these things I have had to wait for and pray about.
Firstly, this morning I finished taking the GED. Over the coarse of my homeschooling, I have had a small worry that my lack of a diploma would hinder my succeeding after highschool. A silly notion, I know, but it still concerned me. A couple months after graduating I signed up to take the General Education Development test in order to get a diploma. The process of taking the test went so well for me. I wasn't worried or nervous about taking the test. God had me firmly assurred that all my years of dedicated study would let me breeze through the tests. I thoroughly enjoyed both test days. It was the first time I had ever taken tests (besides dmv) that were graded by someone other than me or my parents. To me it was like a game. I enjoyed it so much. I scored very well on the first half, and the rest of my scores will come in a few days. For many years I felt like I would somehow be inadequate because I was the one who kept my own grades. However, God had an easy alternative planned for me, and I will soon get my official diploma and will be able to feel some real closure =)
My second blessing has me super excited! As many of you know, I have wanted to take piano lessons for as long as I can remember. My mother used to play piano in church, and my family always told me I had long fingers perfect for the piano :) Sadly, I just never got someone to teach me. Finally, over the last year, I began diligently teaching myself. I bought books of sheet music and have had a blast working up in difficulty on my own. One of my friends takes lessons, and she told me I could use her teacher. It was through an academy and recitals were twice a year. The thought of playing in front of a group of strangers was enough to keep me away, and I continued to play in the comfort of my home. I have been praying that God would send me a private teacher. The next year would be the ideal time because I need stuff to do before I decide to go to college. It was a precious prayer answered when my Nona(grandma) called me, and said she had found me a teacher! The teacher is a Christian woman who's mother went to my church for many years. She lives out in Linden only a few minutes from my Nona. Her family lived in Sacramento, but after her mother passed they moved into the house that was left behind. Nona ran into her at the grocery store and after a while of talking the lady said, "The one thing I really miss from where I used to live, was my piano students. I am teaching a little girl, but I really would love to have more young people to teach." Nona said, "Oh! You have no idea how glad I am to hear that! I've been praying for a piano teacher for Kara for so long!" The lady said she would love to teach me, and I plan to call her this week!!! Just as I am finishing up my tests and going into Fall with few things to do, one of my greatest wishes has been granted! God allowed my Nona to run into this woman at the perfect time, and I am claiming this as a direct gift from Him!
Psalm 37 : 4 KJV
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
The title of my post today is a Pennsylvania Dutch phrase which means, "Good things take time". Not only do good things often take their sweet time in coming, but they usually require the trying of patience and the steadiness of prayer. I am writing to share two ways in which God has blessed me in one day! Both of these things I have had to wait for and pray about.
Firstly, this morning I finished taking the GED. Over the coarse of my homeschooling, I have had a small worry that my lack of a diploma would hinder my succeeding after highschool. A silly notion, I know, but it still concerned me. A couple months after graduating I signed up to take the General Education Development test in order to get a diploma. The process of taking the test went so well for me. I wasn't worried or nervous about taking the test. God had me firmly assurred that all my years of dedicated study would let me breeze through the tests. I thoroughly enjoyed both test days. It was the first time I had ever taken tests (besides dmv) that were graded by someone other than me or my parents. To me it was like a game. I enjoyed it so much. I scored very well on the first half, and the rest of my scores will come in a few days. For many years I felt like I would somehow be inadequate because I was the one who kept my own grades. However, God had an easy alternative planned for me, and I will soon get my official diploma and will be able to feel some real closure =)
My second blessing has me super excited! As many of you know, I have wanted to take piano lessons for as long as I can remember. My mother used to play piano in church, and my family always told me I had long fingers perfect for the piano :) Sadly, I just never got someone to teach me. Finally, over the last year, I began diligently teaching myself. I bought books of sheet music and have had a blast working up in difficulty on my own. One of my friends takes lessons, and she told me I could use her teacher. It was through an academy and recitals were twice a year. The thought of playing in front of a group of strangers was enough to keep me away, and I continued to play in the comfort of my home. I have been praying that God would send me a private teacher. The next year would be the ideal time because I need stuff to do before I decide to go to college. It was a precious prayer answered when my Nona(grandma) called me, and said she had found me a teacher! The teacher is a Christian woman who's mother went to my church for many years. She lives out in Linden only a few minutes from my Nona. Her family lived in Sacramento, but after her mother passed they moved into the house that was left behind. Nona ran into her at the grocery store and after a while of talking the lady said, "The one thing I really miss from where I used to live, was my piano students. I am teaching a little girl, but I really would love to have more young people to teach." Nona said, "Oh! You have no idea how glad I am to hear that! I've been praying for a piano teacher for Kara for so long!" The lady said she would love to teach me, and I plan to call her this week!!! Just as I am finishing up my tests and going into Fall with few things to do, one of my greatest wishes has been granted! God allowed my Nona to run into this woman at the perfect time, and I am claiming this as a direct gift from Him!
Psalm 37 : 4 KJV
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Sep 3, 2009
My Life part 1
About a month ago I started writing a fiction book. It was going to be about a college-aged girl who lives in Monterey. I planned to entwine many aspects of my own life into the story. For example, the girl was going to have a severely ill mother whom she would take care of and devote much time to. After writing the first couple paragraphs I read it to my dad. He was very touched by how well it described my own life. He told me that I should not waste time writing fiction, but, instead, write about my life exactly the way it is. I am eager to post these two paragraphs to see what you all think. I had to go through it just now and get rid of the parts that were fiction. I have titled it "My Life part 1" because this is only a glimpse of my life. I hope to write further about my life and struggles, but plan to do so only as the Lord inspires me :)
I've always felt like I was one of the very few people given a parent who is severely ill. People tell me that there are so many out there who suffer just as greatly, but my case seems to stand out. At least to me. My mother was diagnosed with Mulitiple Sclerosis around the age of twenty-eight, which was shortly after my birth. By the time I was about three she was in a wheelchair. By about age twelve she was confined to bed with only rare car trips with my dad. Now I am eighteen years old and my mother never leaves her bed, can hardly move any muscles, and has difficulty speaking clearly. She is the most gorgeous woman I have ever known. I've seen many pictures of her as a young woman: absolutely stunning. She had long, wavy dark hair and brown eyes open with innocence. She could take anyone's breath away. It's a mystery of the Lord's that her life as she knew it was taken away at such an early age. Multiple
Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacts itself and causes damage leading to loss of sight, movement, coordination, and even memory. It doesn't help that my mom got the worst case possible. Instead of having acute attacks of m.s. she has the "chronic proggresive" form of the disease. Once the disease begins, it just grows worse and worse and the person has no relief from the symptoms. I've only ever known my mother as a very ill person. The disease has accelerated gradually throughout my life. I guess I'm like a frog in a pot of boiling water. The pot heats up gradually so the frog doesn't notice when it is boiling. My mom has slowly fallen apart so I haven't been "shocked by the heat" so to speak. It's a part of my life I am used to. However, that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt me on a regular basis to see her that way.
Growing up was a good time for me. My life was comfortable, and my parents were the most important people in the world to me. I have no siblings so all my love and affection went straight to the two who raised me. My dad kept me home to help with my mom, and I received an excellent education in my bedroom. While other kids went to school and played with other boys and girls, I stayed home and worked hard with my homeschooling. I went through the "bord years" as I like to call them. I don't know about the school kids, but that grumpy monster of bordom liked to drop by every once in awhile from the time I was twelve to about sixteen. I think young kids dispel bordom with their imagination, and young adults dispel it with adventure and passion, but that time in between can often be trying for some. I graduated highschool at eighteen. I had spent a couple years worrying what I would do once I graduated. Grown-ups would always ask me what I planned to do once I graduated, and I was embarrassed if I didn't have a good answer. I came to the conclusion that it should be politically incorrect to ask a young person what they plan to do after highschool. However, by the time I actually graduated I had become quite comfortable with waiting on the Lord, and was no longer pressured by what others might expect of me. I plan to go to our community college next year, and see what adventures God will send my way. I would like to marry and be a housewife, but the Lord has yet to send anyone my way. God must be my portion, and I will continue to be patient for that "special someone. Even if God never sends along a man to love me, I will continue to love Him unconditionally <3
I've always felt like I was one of the very few people given a parent who is severely ill. People tell me that there are so many out there who suffer just as greatly, but my case seems to stand out. At least to me. My mother was diagnosed with Mulitiple Sclerosis around the age of twenty-eight, which was shortly after my birth. By the time I was about three she was in a wheelchair. By about age twelve she was confined to bed with only rare car trips with my dad. Now I am eighteen years old and my mother never leaves her bed, can hardly move any muscles, and has difficulty speaking clearly. She is the most gorgeous woman I have ever known. I've seen many pictures of her as a young woman: absolutely stunning. She had long, wavy dark hair and brown eyes open with innocence. She could take anyone's breath away. It's a mystery of the Lord's that her life as she knew it was taken away at such an early age. Multiple
Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacts itself and causes damage leading to loss of sight, movement, coordination, and even memory. It doesn't help that my mom got the worst case possible. Instead of having acute attacks of m.s. she has the "chronic proggresive" form of the disease. Once the disease begins, it just grows worse and worse and the person has no relief from the symptoms. I've only ever known my mother as a very ill person. The disease has accelerated gradually throughout my life. I guess I'm like a frog in a pot of boiling water. The pot heats up gradually so the frog doesn't notice when it is boiling. My mom has slowly fallen apart so I haven't been "shocked by the heat" so to speak. It's a part of my life I am used to. However, that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt me on a regular basis to see her that way.
Growing up was a good time for me. My life was comfortable, and my parents were the most important people in the world to me. I have no siblings so all my love and affection went straight to the two who raised me. My dad kept me home to help with my mom, and I received an excellent education in my bedroom. While other kids went to school and played with other boys and girls, I stayed home and worked hard with my homeschooling. I went through the "bord years" as I like to call them. I don't know about the school kids, but that grumpy monster of bordom liked to drop by every once in awhile from the time I was twelve to about sixteen. I think young kids dispel bordom with their imagination, and young adults dispel it with adventure and passion, but that time in between can often be trying for some. I graduated highschool at eighteen. I had spent a couple years worrying what I would do once I graduated. Grown-ups would always ask me what I planned to do once I graduated, and I was embarrassed if I didn't have a good answer. I came to the conclusion that it should be politically incorrect to ask a young person what they plan to do after highschool. However, by the time I actually graduated I had become quite comfortable with waiting on the Lord, and was no longer pressured by what others might expect of me. I plan to go to our community college next year, and see what adventures God will send my way. I would like to marry and be a housewife, but the Lord has yet to send anyone my way. God must be my portion, and I will continue to be patient for that "special someone. Even if God never sends along a man to love me, I will continue to love Him unconditionally <3
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