That's cute! I have the world's smallest seashell at home. You'll have to remind me to show it to you some time. of course I don't have proof that it's the world's smallest, but everytime I unwrap it from its safe-keeping, I'm always amazed at how small it really is!
Yup, pretty small! You could press it in a book and save it... and then years from now you'll open some random book, and a miniature leaf will fall out. And you'll remember a beautiful fall in Pennsylvania!
Breaking News: The thursday night session at Annandale is canceled - instead there's going to be some sort of potluck something. The 3 Friday morning sessions are still on. I won't be going to the potluck, I will be attending the 3 Friday sessions. I don't know if that affects your plans or not. Lacking another Thursday evening plan, if you (and Kramer?) would enjoy it, we could check out something in DC Friday evening, sightsee or whatever. It's been a while since I've been down there.
Did you go? did you see anything? Franz missed a buck. more than once. Bill's gun didn't shoot straight ;) Franz & Hunter are at it again. They should be back soon since it's dark. and cold.
Prayer is something that I have recently been growing in and trying to make in more of a daily priority. When should one pray? Just when we need or want something? Yes we can pray when are in need (Matthew 7:7). When we need strength, pray; when we need help, pray; and when we need a spiritual lift up, pray. The only thing is that we can’t expect us to always get what we want or need at that exact moment. It may come when God wills. We must be patient and trust on the Lord.
My biggest question is do you pray when everything is going great and you are spiritually growing rapidly? My answer, you should be. I have been noticing in my own life that when I am growing and I have a reason to rejoice, I should be giving thanks to God. He has created us, blessed us, and given us everything we need. Why not give thanks for your good times.
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Last night we had a pretty good storm come blowing through our area. I was laying all snug in my bed as the lighting and thunder was going crazy out my window. I then begin to think of how great God is and how little I am. It opened my eyes even more to who I really am. I thank God that I can be called a child of God and serve Him. Thinking of all this, I would encourage you to read Job 38-39. It truly shows of the power of our God. It humbles me.
I really like lying in bed listening to thunder storms. Oddly enough, it makes me feel safe - that God is great and powerful and awesome and He is taking care of me.
Good point. I sometimes seem to pray more when things are going well. I sometimes forget to pray when I am having trouble. It seems odd. Perhaps I get too wrapped up in myself and forget about God in those times. That is very bad. Prayer is so important in times good and bad.
Beautiful post! This gave me a boost, thanks :) Such good points! Prayer is so important and such a beautiful blessing, yet something that can be taken for granted or totally ignored. Thank you for this reminder!
Oh yes I loved that storm! I didn't sleep much at all. I kept waking up watching and listening to the storm and praying. Storms are such a beautiful thing! Have a blessed day!
You know what else? I think the times I feel like I'm doing best (spiritually) are the days and weeks when I'm purposefully and actively seeking to pray on a continual basis. Reminds me of Paul's promise in Phil 4 -- that the peace of God will guard us when we're praying with thanksgiving, bringing our requests to God.
I agree and I think that is why. I think being trained (raised up) to solve my own problems and not knowing about God, made me more likely to "cling" to my troubles - not share them - including with God. Thanks for the post Kyle.
youre so right, kyle! there is no substitute for prayer- no matter how hard we try or pretend. hope all is well! please tell miss ladonna i say hello and i think of her often!
It's still doing quite well! Things will kinda drop off the map in a few weeks. but for the moment, we are keeping busy. It's good to hear from you! I hope that things are going well! Have a good day!
hi kyle!! i have been SO good. i got a new teaching job at a different school and i really love it. im sl glad that laura is worshipping here in washington. how are YOU doing? and how is your aunt ladonna? i would love to come up and visit sometime in the near future and see everyone from gettysburg. lord willing, it will happen soon. have a great great day!
Father of mercies, day by day
My love to thee grows more and more;
Thy gifts are strewn along the way
Like sands upon the great seashore,
Like sands upon the great seashore...
hi kyle! thanks for setting this up for me! i'm finally on! and this song is hands down my favorite. seek ye first is my second! i also heard a new song at a singing recently- something like as high as the seraphim? if anyone knows it- please let me know!! have a good day!
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Just a few things that I try to think of and desire as I spiritually grow. For those of you that have chosen to obey God are hopefully doing the same. What do you do each day to make sure that you are doing what's right?
Thanks for posting this, Kyle. I think that the biggest thing for me is to pray before I get out of bed. It starts the day off with the right mindset and helps me to think "this day is for God" rather than "this day is for Emma." I definitely don't always accomplish that, but praying definitely helps. :)
Thanks for posing this question. One thing that I have started to do is read my bible daily. As I read, I usually come across verses that have some sort of personal application to me. Once I find these verses, I will write them down on a 3X5 card and post them all over my room in places that I will see them. The entire back of my bedroom door is filled with verses that I have accumulated through my reading. I think that this is the best way I have found to apply Deut. 6:4-9 where it talks about where and when we should be thinking about God -- all the time. I am getting ready to start posting verses around our house now. That should be fun. I hope that this helps you in your quest to grow closer to Him! Have a blessed day!
Lately I have been absolutely lousy at reading my Bible every day. I'm going to make a new effort to read starting right now. Thanks for the encouragement!
One thing that has really helped me is to have a specific time (general, as in before I go to bed) and place to read and pray. Another thing that helps is that I pray for help to glorify Him in whatever I do that day.
Beautiful post Kyle! It really helps me to pray and read my bible everyday. I'm working on getting better at that and doing it more each day. Also through out the day I try to think about the ways God has blessed me and everything He has done for me.
I have not been able to read my bible daily, but I have been doing a weekly bible study. Everyday this week I have been praying every morning. This morning I prayed for almost 30 minutes. It was refreshing.
One thing I have been meaning to do is put up verses around the house of things I need to be reminded of daily. It's too easy to forget your true focus in the humdrum of daily life, so having it right there to see al the time should help remding me. :) Btw, cool picture. You guys should make a cd just to use that shot on the cover. :)
Hey, I keep forgetting that you called and left a message last Sunday. Sorry. I try to go to bed around 11, so you can call as late as 10. When's too late for you?
