'Tis nice

I like it that I can see the snow swirling on the road when it's dark because it means that I'm alive.
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I like it that my coat has one special button that is only special if you look real close because it means that I have a special surprise just for me every time I wear it.
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I like it that the weather is getting colder and I can feel it in my fingers and toes, because it means that my blood is pumping.
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I like it that there are people in my life who are not afraid to tell me when I'm wrong and to show me the right way because it means I am loved.
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I like it that I can ask people questions and I receive answers, not derision and scorn, because it means other people have been where I am.
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I like it that my swing is still up, even though it's snowing, because it means I can still use it when I am bundled up in a coat, and scarf, and mitts.
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I like it that God pushes me in big ways and small ways, because it means He is there.
.
I like it that I can talk to people and they listen to me because it means that they care.
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I like it that food is good for you, because it tastes so good.
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I like it that tea can really hit the spot when I'm in a foul mood because it means I'm about to feel happier.
.

I like it that people can tease me because it means that they know me.

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I like it that playing piano makes me happy, because it makes piano worth playing.

it's right there

Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man;

they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them

and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, "How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?"
This is what the wicked are like—

always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;

in vain have I washed my hands in innocence

All day long I have been plagued;

I have been punished every morning.
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"

I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,

it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God;

then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground;

you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors!
As a dream when one awakes,

so when you arise, O Lord,

you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

.

.

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It's all right here, why can't I believe it?

hard to answer

Is God your refuge?
.
Do you lean on Him for all things?
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Do you think God could fail you?
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What does it mean for you to have God as your refuge?
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Do you pray to Him?

rather interesting

time is what keeps things from happening all at once

Ephesians 3:16-19

read it

HOLY LICK BATMAN

You have no idea how happy the snow made me.

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It looks so beautiful and soft. And inviting.

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It just begs you to come outside and lie in it, like a blanket. To bury yourself in it and then, laughing, to pick yourself up and brush yourself off. Then, look down at it, and smile. And then, you'll start to walk towards your house, and you'll look back and you'll see the imprint of your body in the snow. And then, you'll smile again and start running to your house. And you'll take off your coat and boots and mitts and hat and you'll hang them up to dry. You'll get some hot chocolate from your mom, your cold fingers will rub against her warm ones and you'll get a tingle down your spine. Then she'll wrap you in a blanket and you'll place yourself by the fire. But soon, you'll remove the blanket and you'll let the fire warm the back of your sweater. And when the sweater gets really hot, you'll lie on the ground, on your back and feel the heat, and it will hurt, but it will be the nicest hurt in the world.

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that's what I think of when I see the snow

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.

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(and yes, Carol-Lee, I am a cheater)

home visits and cookies

Lots to think about.

Lots of work done.

Lots of work left to do.

i think i need a heart to heart with God. real bad.

Romans 12:9-21

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Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
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Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
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Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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This is what some people (especially one) have been trying to explain to me. The fact that we are brothers, the fact that we are told to help one another on our journeys. We are called to support one another, we are called to mourn with those who mourn, rejoice with those who rejoice. We are told to see one another's needs and to do something about them. JESUS CHRIST is our example. HE is our older brother, the one we look up to, the one we all want to be like because HE is so amazing. JESUS CHRIST is our prime example, HE GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR US. How many of us would give our lives for our irrational younger brothers and sisters, or even the older ones who constantly mock you for going to math club? But this is what HE did. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US. SINNERS! HE sees what we have done, HE knows everything about us. And HE LOVES US. HE knows all of our failures, all of our faults, all of our "deep, dark secrets" (to use a horribly cliched line). HE knows all of that, and yet, HE gave HIS life for us. And we can't even look at the people around us, even the ones we profess to love, and say, "Yes, I love that person and I would do anything for him." We can't say that, because we KNOW it's not true. We KNOW that we would fail.

But,

GOD

.

DOES

.

NOT

.

FAIL

home

Daniel is home.

Thank you, God, for bringing Dan home, for keeping him safe.
Thank you, God, for prayers.

tomorrow

Tomorrow is "the surgery".

We'll see how it goes.

Bible Study

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

.

Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

.

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

.

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be Your name

.

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

.

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

.

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

.

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GOD, thank you for Bible study.

101%

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If:
*H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K*
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:
*K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E*
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:
*A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E*
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
*L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D*
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

singing and dancing

Oh wow, happening too fast. I don't really know what to think.

But, when it's finished, I'm pretty sure I'll be happy. And, I'll be singing and dancing.

I have learned

pondering aloud brings about some very interesting converstions.

Jesus Christ fully paid for all my sins

Michael, prince of Israel

Our sermon today, was on Daniel 10, and it's about a Man in white linen who comes to answer Daniel's prayer but is resisted by the prince of Persia for 21 days. Michael, who is the prince of Israel, comes to help the Man in white linen and the Man comes to Daniel to give him a message.
In this text, there is a reference to the "prince of Persia" who is a demon, assigned to the king of Persia to lead him astray. We are given an example of Satan's cunning, his overpowering desire to seize anyone he can. He sends demons to each power and position of authority and tempts them, pollutes them. But, we also see reference to a prince of Israel, Michael, an angel. (Michael is also mentioned in Revelation, he is leading the attacks against the dragon.) Michael was assigned by GOD to Israel and he works to protect Israel from the evil princes.

I think that it's really neat that Satan works in this way, but GOD counters it in much the same way. Satan assigns a demon to each person to act in his stead in leading us astray, but GOD, GOD gives each of us an angel, an angel to help keep us on the right track, and to help us realize when we haven't been on the right track, to help us realize when we've done wrong, ut to help us right it as well.

I think it's neat, we really do have guardian angels.

too many things to do

it's coming

This is my favourite line in all unpublished literature....

Snow! Snow! I love snow! You bet your bow! I love snow!

Can you tell I'm excited for snow?

Winter is the greatest time of year. (in my opinion)

Indeed

Cheese should and must be eaten with crackers in order for it to be enjoyed in its fullest.

I had thought of something profound, but it has recently escaped me.

However, fear not, for I am determined to design another intuitive statement.

river, fountain, ocean

I got peace like a river. I got peace like a river. I got peace like a river in my soul.

I got joy like a fountain. I got joy like a fountain. I got joy like a fountain in my soul.

I got love like an ocean. I got love like an ocean. I got love like an ocean in my soul.

I realized today that a lot of the time, I don't have peace, joy or love in my soul.

And, maybe I should.

I wish I was more of a giver, a giver of the peace, joy and love that should be in my soul.

I think I want to improve on this.

I got peace, joy, love like a river, fountain, ocean. I got peace, joy love, in my soul.

(insert sigh of GREAT happiness)

Oh wow!

Carol-Lee is teaching me piano and I love it!

Especially since she's awesome and I love her SO much.


Seriously.

BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW!

so excited.

ho man.

hardcore.

Wow, been a while

Wow, as I said, it's been a while.

WHOOPS

I kind of forgot about this. The whole blogging mentality. Yep, definitely lost it. Now I gotta re-instate myself in the blogging world. Gotta start blogging again.

This could actually be fun. haha