Sunday Bible Verse

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.

I Timothy 3:16

Trusting God's Plan

Let me talk to you about God's grand plan. Quick disclaimer! I am not here to tell you your future or mine. And I am not pretending, nor do I believe that I know God's mind or thoughts. But I know what the Bible says, and what God has shown me through my own life experiences. That being said I want to start my story a little over 3 years ago.

I felt this calling, of sorts, in my unplanned quiet time with God. I had been trying to figure out how to be silent before God while also trying to figure out what to do with my life. I had been out of high school almost a year and I still didn’t know what to do. So there I was, not prepared for a revelation, but I just kind of had a random daydream of sorts. It didn't feel like a normal, personally made up dream either. I felt like God was telling me something about what He wanted from me in my life. Thoughts, random thoughts, some I had never had before, popped into my head.

One of these thoughts was about going into children’s ministry. I prayed about it and talked to my parents about it. I really felt like that would be my life long career that I had been searching for. My family wanted me to go to college and get a career. But I didn’t want to waste my time in school changing majors till I found what I liked. So, I just floated about, trying to figure out a career before pursuing it. When I had this random idea I thought I could get a degree in children's ministry. My parents thought it was a good idea to talk to my university pastor at church. So I did.

He told me that I needed to be praying about it. I told him I had. He said that there really wasn’t a degree for something like that, “especially since you really won’t be teaching kids Hebrew” and such. Then he said to research what it takes to go into such a ministry and get experience in the field, to get a feel for it, to see if it was something I really wanted to do. He told me to volunteer for different children's events at church like Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

After taking his advice I realized I didn’t need a degree for children's ministry, and that it wouldn't work as a life sustaining career. However, I did discover that I loved it! Even though it was back to the drawing board on finding my career, I discovered that I liked doing this. I loved the children and helping them know just a little bit more about Jesus.

At the time, though, I didn’t understand what the deal was. Did I misunderstand God? Was it just my own thoughts? Why am I working with kids a few times a year, as a worker, right now? This wasn’t exactly what I thought God had told me to do. I thought for sure it was something like learning how to oversee a children’s ministry, and in the next five years, or so, be in charge of a ministry. And what about the other things God showed me that day?

It’s been a little over 3 years, now. Since that time I have volunteered at 4 VBS events, 1 Parents' Day Out, and worked a semester in a Mothers of Preschoolers group. After last week's VBS I realized I am following God's calling for my life right now. It wasn't a call to go to college to go into children’s ministry. It was a call to minister to children now! And I realized that it is a good feeling to follow God’s plans. Just as I have been learning with college and God’s timing. Unfortunately, these are not things I learned quickly or easily. This is just me learning this now after years of struggle. But, I want to encourage you to keep strong in your faith in God. Don’t give up on Him because He will never give up on you!

I still have many questions, and that initself will never end. But I trust God. That’s enough.

If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus I encourage you to talk with someone who does. It will be the best decision you could ever make.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

Elizabeth :)
Jesus Loves you! <3

Sunday Bible Verse

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Luke 10:27

Sunday Bible Verse

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23‭-‬24

Sunday Bible Verse

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
I Peter 5:6‭-‬7

Happy Declaration of Independence Day!

It’s July 3rd! Tomorrow is July 4th! Independence Day in America. But is July 4^th really the day the United States of America became free from British rule? That’s what I’m going to talk about today. ;)

Let me take you to before the Battles of Lexington and Concord. You know about how tempers flared between the colonists and the English. Did you know that many attempts were made by the colonies to reconcile with the mother land? Parliament, and ultimately the king, would not heed the complaints and concerns if the colonists. Even after the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in April of 1775, the Second Continental Congress attempted once more to make peace with the king.

Over a year later, after reconciliation failed, the colonies decided it was time to separate from England and become their own nation. This is when the Declaration of Independence was drafted, Thomas Jefferson being the greatest contributor. There are a great many stories surrounding this document, but those are for another time. On July 2^nd the Second Continental Congress unanimously (save for one abstention) voted in favor of the document. John Adams thought it was time to celebrate. But congress was not happy with everything in the document. For the next two days congress edited the document. Cutting and adding and re-wording. Then, on July 4^th the Declaration of independence was officially adopted. The signatures were not made on the document until it was re-written on fresh parchment in a clear hand. A majority of the 56 signatures were written as late as August of the same year.

July 4^th is known as Independence Day because the colonies officially declared they wanted to, and were going to, separate from England. However, the war continued. King George III wouldn’t consent so easily. It wasn’t until September 28, 1781 that George Washington won the siege of Yorktown with the British army surrendering. But even then, the war continued in less major battles fought throughout the colonies, mainly in the frontier of the time. The Treaty of Paris, which was a document declaring the war over, and the U.S.A a sovereign country was drafted in November of 1782, signed September 3, 1783, and went in effect May 12, 1784. Right there are two other dates you could consider our Independence Day.

But I guess it’s just easier to stick with July 4^th. After all, the day has been celebrated since 1777! The Declaration of Independence gave the Continental Army a boost in morale, letting them know just what they were fighting for. If you have never read the full document for yourself, you should! It has been published over and over again on the internet for you to read. When you do read it, you get a better understanding about the original heart of the American people. The war was about more than just taxes!

Have a fantastic Declaration of Independence Day!

Elizabeth :)

Jesus Loves you! <3

Sunday Bible Verse

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29