I wanted to tell you. I did. I truly did.

Poppy, I knew the day we were at the hospital, I knew it was the last, I was hoping you would stay a little longer, so I could get courage to say goodbye, but... I didnt. I feel so guilty for not. The scariest words. It scared me to the very core. I knew God was there, and I knew it was time for you to go home. I miss you, that's all I can say.


Love Sydney

A post I have been working on...

This is a post I've been working on for a very long time... Keep in mind this is still a work in progress, it is not finished yet.

-----


Flaws. We all have them. Some of us feel bad when they look into the mirror, expecting to see endless beauty...but instead, you don't. All you see is that one side of your cheek that has less blush, showing your asymmetric freckles, or a birthmark that you try so desperately to hide, or maybe you scrub your face with all the strength you have just to clean one pimple that you think stands out... You dream of being beautiful. But, guess what? You already are. You may not think so, but you are.


Let me tell you a story. A story of the creator of the world, and the brave Prince, who came back for His children.. Now, sit down and get comfy, for this story is not too long, not too short, but just right.

You will not be bored by this story. Nor will you want to skip a few chapters to find the ending.


And, before I start, let me tell you, the ending is nothing short of incredible. I don't want to spoil it for you, but somehow, I feel like I need to...the Prince came to save us. And what does saving us mean? He took the price, like when the stranger behind at the drive thru pays for your meals. But even more amazing. Because you see,


He died to take the penalty of YOUR sins, of MY sins, of EVERYONE ON THE WHOLE PLANETS sins.


He did it not because He wanted to look cool, not because He was forced, it's because He LOVED YOU.


(John 3:16, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.) Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you His Name.


His name is Jesus, Emmanuel, King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Savior, Messiah.


First, let's start off with the creation of the world, the ground we live on, the stars that twinkle in the sky, the birds that fly so gracefully and freely, and the spinning planets, and all the galaxies, the creatures that swim, fly, and walk on the ground...are you ready to hear this story? I hope so, because it will be the best one you've ever heard.


------


That's all I have written so far, actually, there's more, but I'm still editing the rest. ;)

Faith is a tightrope on a foggy day.

Faith is like walking on a tightrope on a foggy day. You can't see the end, only what's right in front of you. All you can hear are the shouts below you, trying to trick you, saying there is another way to the end. Or do you hear the ones yelling out, "You'll never make it!"? 

Jesus is walking on a tightrope parallel to yours, don't you hear Him? He's saying "Trust Me, don't listen to those people down below. Trust Me" But sometimes you can't hear Him, all you can hear are the shouts that insult you, ones telling you that your wrong, that there's another way. But they are wrong. 

Don't let them distract you from Jesus, no matter how hard it is. There is no other way to Heaven, except through Him, the Redeemer. If you trust Him, you'll make it, He promises all those who believe in Him in their hearts, will get eternal life. Isn't that simply a wonderful promise? If you believe in Him, while walking on the tightrope, you will receive the best gift of all. 

Living life with Jesus in Heaven. Forever.






"Faith is not knowing what the future holds, it's about knowing Who holds the future in His Hands." 

-Unknown

He is your life guard.

Jesus is your lifeguard. He's the person who will run out and save you. 

He will fight the currents until He reaches you, and when He gets to you.

He will take you through the tough currents to the shore, because you aren't strong enough without Him. He will take you to the shore and heal you.

He will love you, even though you were frustrated and scared during the currents. He will love you in the calm and will love you in the storm. 

Even when you've had enough, and just want to give up and float off into the open sea. Trust Him. He will take you through the currents, the sharks, the waves. He will hold your hand the whole way. You do not have to be afraid.

---------

Matthew 14:25-31 NIV

25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Why I keep running...

Before we adopted my little sister, I never prayed for a perfectly obedient little girl who would listen to everything you said, I prayed for simply a little sister. That's it. One I could help teach right from wrong. One that would say my name and call me to play. One I could love and hug. 

I got what I wanted, and got just what I needed. She literally appeared on our doorstep, and I will never be able to thank God enough for that. I love her more than my mind can comprehend. Even though she irritates me sometimes, I love her. She's my little sister, but more so, she's my friend. My best friend. 

When she came, we didn't know if she would talk. There was no greater fear I had, that my little sister would never say my name. I prayed whenever I got the chance just for the slightest word. All she knew was sounds, and she expected us to understand, when we didn't frustration overtook her. She would scream and cry.

We slowly starting teaching her words and she slowly learned. At least it felt like it was slow. You don't know the joy that came into my heart when she first said "sissy." Now she says "I love you, sissy." And those are the sweetest words I have ever heard.

Some words are hard to understand, but she knows what she's talking about and she will show us. Even though she gets so angry when we don't understand her, she loves us, and you can tell. The way she smiles when you do something silly, the way she asks why your "eyes sad" when your crying, the way she kisses YOUR boo boos, the way she dances with you, and plays with you, and hugs you, and kisses you.

Sometimes I need to remind myself that even when she screams out my name in anger when I don't understand, I still need to smile that she can actually say my name. And that is why I keep running. Even when I feel like I'm about to fall apart.


--------------------------


Praise the lord ! Praise the lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! (Psalms 148:1-4 NLT)

You could be anywhere,

You could be anywhere...Yet, you are close to God wherever you go, whether your sitting in a restaurant, coffee shop, that new clothing store with those gorgeous shoes you've been eyeing, or maybe your just walking on the street, He is there, and He won't leave. When you run into trials along the way, trust Him, have faith, and keep walking. Maybe it's the voice in your head repeating the words said to you so long ago, "your not beautiful. You don't deserve to live happily."


Focus on God, and ask Him to bring you through, it's okay to ask Him to hold your hand through the dark places, it's okay to ask for help in the scariness, whether its silently praying, or shouting out, "Help me, Jesus!"

He will come and comfort you. No matter what your going through. In His Name alone, there is power, and He hears you, He will never turn His back, He will never ignore you. Your prayers are heard, and answered if it is His Will. You will be okay. He promises.

------------------


Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25 ESV

Three words that can crush, and three words that can uplift.

Those three words...


"I hate you."


Those words we dread to hear.


The ones that break our hearts in half.



Those three words...


I love you.


Those words that we wait each and every day for, the ones we hope will come.


The ones that mend.






If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13

God's Creation

He modeled every bird's wing,

He molded every brain,

He shaped our bodies,

He is the creator of the whole universe.

He made the planets spin,

He made every raindrop,

He made the smallest of creatures,

He made the largest of creatures,

He. Made. Everything.

----------

"And on the 7th day, God rested."

Memory Verse news!!! + SOME OTHER MISCELLANEOUS NEWs

OKAY. First off...


MEMORY VERSE NEWS STARTS HERE:

I will refresh the memory verse page tomorrow (aka Sunday) with a brand new verse!!!

SHORTEST MEMORY VERSE NEWS ENDS HERE.

SOME OTHER MISCELLANEOUS NEWS STARTS HERE:

Before you ask, no, I didn’t spell miscellaneous, I looked it up and copied and pasted. (I can’t spell)

ANYWAY.

I am going to add a cool new poll feature to this blog to ask general questions!!!

And 2 new pages! (1 for my new book, and the other for encouraging song of the month! none of the songs will be mine unless said so, and the book I am writing, do not steal any of the words. ANY.)

ANYWAY! 

I hope you look forward to the new pages, and poll feature! (I’m gonna add everything tomorrow!!! So, check here tomorrow!)


-------------



“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. Matthew 24:36