Faith

Hey guys, this is going to be my last post on Picked By Hand for a while, hope you guys enjoy my post on ‘Faith’!! Even though I won’t be posting on here, I am currently, and still will be writing articles for a online Christian magazine call Th!nk, you can follow there blog at https://mythinkmag.wordpress.com/ and you can subscribe to the magazine by sending an email to thinkauthors@gmail.com! I love you guys, enjoy!

“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’”

~Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Now, you may be thinking that moving mountains seems ridiculous and only God can do that. You are, in ways, correct. God can move mountains, but in Matthew he says that if we have faith, if we believe in him, in his power, as small as the smallest seed, we can move mountains. I think when we read this verse we most often think of physical mountains, like Mt. Everest or Mt. Rainer. But these mountains could also be seen as emotional and spiritual mountains. We all have different mountains in our paths. Whether it’s an illness, a family dispute, a relationship, or it could be depression or Satan trying to break you down through a guilty conscience. Now I know you will probably not relate to all of those, but those are only some of the emotional and spiritual mountains that are there trying to block our walk with, and to, God. We sometimes see out mountains and stop, telling God we will take the longer path to him. Not wanting to face the big hurdle that is presenting itself to us. But David says in Psalm 119:105, (KJV), that,

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.”

~Psalm 119:105

He is there to steady us, and even though we trip and fall, and sometimes we get scared of the shadows and tired of the climb and start back tracking. Even though that happens, when we turn around back to God, He is still there with the light, smiling at us, encouraging us. He loves us, just like we need to have faith in our parents, we need to have a stronger, greater faith in God, because whatever happens God will NEVER fail us.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for His compassions never fail.”

~Lamentations 3:22

Announcements!

Hey guys!! I have two announcements, one is exciting, the other one is sad.  I am going to start with the exciting one!!

I am really excited to announce that I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Grace M. AND Monica Hoffman!! This blog award was created to help bloggers connect with other bloggers and to expand their blogs! So thank you Grace and Monica! If you could please thank them by checking out and following their blogs that would be awesome! Grace’s blog is Tizzie’s Tidbits, at https://tizziestidbits.wordpress.com/, and Monica’s blog is Choreographer’s Cuisine, at http://choreographerscuisine.blogspot.ca/.

The rules for this award are: to answer the 11 questions provided by blogger(s). State 11 facts about yourself.  Nominate up to 11 bloggers, and then provide 11 questions for those you nominated.

I am nominating:

1. Sara (https://romans535blog.wordpress.com/
2. Ellie (https://hopeinfull.wordpress.com/)
3. Anika (https://this-journeycalled-life.blogspot.com/)
4. Ainsley (https://ainsleyhope.wordpress.com/)

Since I have had two bloggers nominate me I have 22 questions to answer, I am going to start with Grace’s:

1. When and why did you start blogging?

I recently just started my blog, I posted my first post on July 27^th, 2017.  Coming up to a month!! I started blogging for a couple reasons 1. I wanted to start writing more consistently and 2. I wanted to share God’s wonderful words through my writing.

2. What is your favorite book?

That is really hard, my favorite book would have to be, Kingdom’s Call, which is part of the Kingdom series, which is my favorite series.

3. What genre do you most enjoy writing?

Right now, I don’t have a favorite genre, I am enjoying writing both non-fiction and fiction.

4. What is your favorite Bible story?

I think my favorite Bible story would have to be the Samaritan Woman (which is also known as the woman at the well), but I also enjoy the story of Esther and the Prodigal Son.

5. Do you play any instruments or sports?

I have recently started playing softball, but I have done horseback riding, gymnastics, and ballet.  I do know how to play the piano, though currently I am not taking lessons.  I really would like to learn to play the guitar and the cello.

6. What is your least favorite household chore?

Laundry, despise it. Dishes any day!

7. What is your favorite dessert?

Oh man, Ice cream is always good, so is ice cream cake.  I think I would have to go with cheesecake! But that question is really hard, I mean you can’t really go wrong with dessert ;p

8. What is your favorite Christian movie?

Courageous is good, along with God’s not Dead, but I think my favorite would have to be Soul Surfer (if that counts)

9. What activities do you enjoy doing in your free-time besides blogging/writing?

I like cooking/baking, reading, sleeping, hanging out with my friends, and watching movies with my friends and family. 

10. Who do you specifically want to reach with your writing?

Those who are searching for the Truth, for answers, who are wondering away from the Truth and questioning what they believe.

11. What was your favorite age and why?

I think 14, end of 8^th grade beginning of 9th, because it’s where I have made the closest friends, but being 14 right now is going pretty great! So, it might top my 8^th grade year.

 

Monica’s question’s:

1. Why a blog?

I just thought it would be a really easy way to share the word of God with my peers and to be start writing more consistently

2. What passage of scripture speaks to you most and why?

I think one of the ones that speaks to be the most is Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of God stands forever.” It speaks to me because we like to decorate our house with flowers, and grass when it is green and fluffy looks so comfortable and decorates outside.  But when the flowers that we pick, die, and the grass outside doesn’t get enough water, we throw the flowers out, and we don’t like to lay down in the grass.  We do that in our lives, we have earthly possessions that we enjoy, but once that one thing that we love to do starts

3. If you could go anywhere in the world for a mission’s trip where would it be?

Africa! =)

4. Who is your favorite author?

Chuck Black

5. What’s your favorite color?

Pretty much all the shades of blue.

6. What one of God’s Names speaks to you most?

“I AM”

7. What Disney movie do like most?

Probably Beauty and the Beast, but if it doesn’t have to be animated then National Treasure.

8. What’s your dream vacation?

I don’t know, I am someone who is pretty satisfied with where I am, I don’t think I want to travel that much.  But I think my dream vacation would be just visiting all of my relatives and friends that live far away.

9. What time of day do you enjoy most?

Night time

10. If you were to choose any show to attend what would you pick?

Don’t know if you meant to be a part of or just to watch, but I would love to watch Iron Chef.

11 facts about me:

1. I live on a farm where we raise our own beef, pork, and chicken.
2. I have been homeschooled all my life.
3. I am a middle child.
4. I have a book list that grows faster than I can read the books.
5. I have an autoimmune disease.
6. My favorite animal is a horse.
7. My least ultimate favorite food is spinach!
8.  I am a tomboy.
9. I am a night owl, and I hate getting up early.
10. I love Washington state.
11. I am neither extroverted or introverted, I am in the middle.

 

11 questions for the bloggers I nominated:

1. How long have you been blogging?
2. Who is the person who has inspired you the most?
3. If you could choose would you rather go back and redo something, or see the future?
4. What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you?
5. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?
6. What theme park do you want to go to?
7. Are you introverted or extroverted?
8. Do you have any siblings?
9. In the Bible, where do you find the most encouragement?
10. Ice cream, cake, pudding, or “I’m not a dessert person?”
11. Do you have a secret talent? If so, what is it?

Thank you again to Grace and Monica. Please go check them out and share some love!!

 

The sad news:

I am going to be taking a break from blogging for a few months.  Since school has started for me, my parents thought it would be a good idea for me to focus on that for a few months, and not have to worry about due dates for posts and such.  Don’t worry, I won’t be gone forever, just for a few months! Blessings every single one of you!! You guys, along with God, have been my motivation to post every week, thank you so much!!

 

Delight in the Lord

The phrase “delight in the Lord” is commonly heard in Christian circles, but I have struggled to comprehend its true meaning. I discovered that “Delighting in the Lord” is one of many paths that God has opened to allow us to draw nearer to Him.

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

~Isaiah 61:10

If we delight in the Lord, we will be given gifts of the Spirit and of God. God wants us to be happy; He loves it when we are happy. When we delight in the Lord, we change in the way we live and the way we care. His spirit shines through us.

Since the word “delight” is being used a little bit differently than how we normally use it, let’s procure a clear dictionary definition. The Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary’s definition of “delight” is: 1. To take great pleasure, 2. Something that gives great pleasure. Both of those definitions are valid in defining, “delighting in God”. When we delight in the Lord, He is delighted that His children are living within Him, and we receive delight – a joy – in many ways when we welcome Him into our lives. “Delighting in the Lord” starts by believing in Him, and then fearing God, and celebrating Him.

“Serve the Lord with fear,

and celebrate his rule with trembling.”

~Psalm 2:11

When we delight in God, we are able to bring more glory to Him, and we receive the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. When we delight in the Lord it shows in what we do, how we act, and how people see us. We become a light to the world. The people around us see our joy, our delight, and they wonder how we could acquire such joy. We are then given opportunities to share the glory of God, when we live in Him.

Trust

As humans we need to be able to trust. Trust our parents that they are going to provide for us. Trust our friends that they won’t share our deep secrets. But most importantly, we need to trust God. Through thick and thin God is with us, he hasn’t made a mistake.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

~Jeremiah 29:11

In the end, no matter what happens, God’s will, will be done, and knowing that and believing that will help us get through the difficult parts of our lives. Trust has to start somewhere. You need to trust people, if you don’t, you will put yourself in a bubble- not willing to share or experience anything. Even though trust is important, it is a very fragile thing. It just takes one secret to pop out, or one word to be spoken by a friend. An action, or in some cases no action at all, before you are reeling back your trust. Limiting others access to you, and limiting yourself to the world.

Parents need to be able to trust their children that they will obey their authority, and we need to be able to be able to trust our parents that they are going to make the right discussions. The only being that doesn’t need to trust anybody is God, if He needed to trust us to prosper, He wouldn’t be as powerful and glorified, and he wouldn’t be perfect. There is a quote that says,

“God is good all the time,

and all the time, God is good.”

~Pastor Dave (from “God’s not Dead”)

We need to be able to trust that God isn’t going to forget us in our misery, our hurt, and in our suffering. One mistake that I think as Christians we all make is that when things are going well and it’s “perfect” we, most often than not, don’t turn to God and thank Him and ask Him to bless us and to keep us safe, and trust Him with the future.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways submit to Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Why the Suffering?

This week we have a special guest…*drum roll*…Sara Willoughby!! She has graciously agreed to write a post for my blog this week. As a welcome gift, please go check out her own personal blog at: https://romans535blog.wordpress.com/. I hope you find as much encouragement from her post as I did!

ANSWERING THE ‘WHY’ QUESTIONS.

Why is there sickness?

Why am I (or the person I love) sick?

Why now?

Why?!

So many questions! Thankfully, there are answers. We may not be able to see everything that is going on, or fully understand it, but God hasn’t left us groping blindly in the dark. After all, His Word is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet, right? Let’s get to it, then.

Why would God, if He loves us, give us suffering or pain?

About a year ago, I was pondering these questions, and I finally came to a realization. God has given us the trials He has because He loves us. You see, I’ve been constantly sick for over two years now. It’s been a really rough ride. But however cliche this sounds, God has a plan in it. He does in your life as well.

Take Joseph in the Bible for example. He went from son, to slave, to favored, to prisoner, to ruler. When we read the story in the Bible, we can see how God was putting him in the perfect place to use him save multitudes of people from starvation, including what would be all of Israel. But can you imagine how Joseph would feel in the middle of all that? He couldn’t see any of that. He was forced to trust in God even when his own brothers sold him.  Even when he spent years sitting in prison, wrongly accused, God had a plan. We see the same thing in the lives of Moses (40 years in the desert, really?); and of David. He spent years on the run from King Saul, living in caves. Of course, he didn’t know when it would end either, or how God was going to accomplish what He’s promised.

So, why are there trials?

Because He loves us. Because God is more concerned about our faith than our comfort. Yes, this has been the hardest season of my life, but it has also been the one in which I have grown the most. God has taught me so much I would never have learned otherwise. He has sustained me. He has taught me to rely on Him, and to have compassion for others.

Often people think that once we are saved, life should be easy. Life should be good. We should be blessed. Right? But the truth is, God has never promised us the protective bubble we think we should have. Yes He is our protector, but He is also a just God, and we live in a fallen world. He can’t just sweep the consequence that comes from humanity’s sin under the carpet! He hasn’t promised us a joyride of life. No, He has actually promised us the opposite:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

~John 16:33 (NIV)

God isn’t sitting up in Heaven, cackling and rubbing His hands together at our struggles. He won’t waste any of our tears. He loves His children! We have to choose to trust and believe that God knows what He is doing, and that He has a plan. That He is using our trials to prepare us for the future. To train us. To bring us closer to Him.

Let me offer you some hope: This will end. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know it seems impossible. I know it seems so far away. I know. But it is true. God promises that when we are in Him there is relief, whether it is here or in Heaven. We will live in complete health and freedom in Heaven. Hold on to that, as I have! God still loves you. He has a plan in this. He is with you. There is an end to the suffering.

 

“’He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away.”

~Revelations 21:4 (NIV)

 

Responsibility

As humans and as Christians, we hold a lot of responsibilities. As we all have discovered, it’s really easy to promise something and not follow through. I have done that a lot with my faith. Promising I would, for example, read my Bible more, or be more obedient to my parents. To be more respectful to my parents, or to be more inclusive etc. and I always, after a little bit, seem to stop reading my Bible, going back to being disrespectful to my parents and leaving some of my friends out. When we, as sinners, accept Jesus, we are accepting what can seem like too many responsibilities, but that is not what God thinks. He knows it is hard, but He also knows what we are capable of and what He is capable of– Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Him! As my mom says , “God help me be willing, to be willing,”. We need to trust God with our life and our responsibilities. We need to remind ourselves that God will never give us more than we can handle.

Our everyday mission, whether our mission field is our school, China, or our home, is to spread God’s love with everyone! It is a huge responsibility and it takes a whole lot of patience and love, that we can obtain only through God. That’s why with this kind of mission we can not do it by ourselves, and the glorious news is that we don’t have too!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

~Joshua 1:9

Family

Hello! So today I decided I would write about something that is very dear to my heart; my family. I can assure you I haven’t always loved my family exactly the way I do now. Yet, as I grow up I have learned that my family is here for a reason. God gave me the mother and father I have cause He knew I needed them. But we don’t just have one kind of family–and I don’t mean we have nice families and some of us have mean ones. Not like that at all. I mean we have our “Physical Family”, which is our mom, dad, and any siblings;but God has also allowed us to be apart of His “Spiritual Family”.

 

PHYSICAL FAMILY

Families can be a crazy, confusing thing, at least for me. I love my brother but sometimes, after I have promised myself to control my anger I turn around and he has done something that makes me really angry the next. A lot of the time we take our family for granted, I think a lot of us, me included, sometimes care for our friends more than we care about our family. It says in the Bible that God created us for family.

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.

I will make a helper suitable for him.’”

Genesis 2:18

God sees that man is lonely and sees that we need others, companions. He then continues to bring Adam creatures to find a companion for him. Though Adam likes them all and names them, God wasn’t satisfied that they were suitable helpers for him. He told Adam to sleep and he created a female.

“…but for Adam no suitable helper was found.

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping,

he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man,

and her brought her to the man.”

Genesis 2:19-22

 

SPIRITUAL FAMILY

We are able to be apart of His family because of Jesus, and what he did. When Jesus died on the cross, He gave up his perfect life for our dented and torn souls, He created a path for us so that we could have eternal life. Along with eternal life, after He rose from the grave, He ascended to Heaven to make way for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within us. The Holy Spirit now allows us to grow closer to God, our Father, then ever before.

We are united through Christ. Not just with Christ, but we also are brothers and sisters through Christ. I have many friends that I am so close to that I call them my “sisters in Christ”. We are family, I know that if I am struggling that I can go to them, just like I can go to my Physical family.

“Now all who believed were together and had all things in common,

and sold their possessions and goods,

and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

Acts 2:44-45

Why do Christians believe?

My first blog post!! I am so excited to share my love of Christ with you all! Today I thought I would answer a question that I have asked myself a lot.

“Why are you a Christian?”

I have also asked myself, “How would you explain why you believe to an unbeliever?”

Well, as a kid I believed because my parents told me that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, and I still believe that. Now, as I have grown up, I have been able to discover things about God on a different level then when I was a kid. I knew God had died on the cross, but I now understand the suffering that Jesus went through and it makes my heart ache at the thought that someone would do that for me, simply out of love.

I believe because it’s true.

I believe because it brings me hope when I have nothing.

“What are the effects of choosing to follow God?”

Although I have received many blessings from knowing Jesus, the following things have helped me the most:

1. Comfort
2. Forgiveness
3. Love

 

COMFORT

Recently I have been struggling with some health issues, and along this journey I’ve asked the question “Why me?” I still don’t know the answer to that, but every time I have cried out to God, He has been there to comfort me. He has been there when I don’t want to talk to a friend or family member. Paul says in 2 Corinthians that God is the “God of all comfort”. He also says that God comforts us so that we may comfort others.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I have been blessed to know God, but God doesn’t want me to just stop there. He wants me to share His compassion, His comfort, and His love with others.

 

FORGIVENESS and LOVE

God has forgiven and loved me, and now has blessed me with the ability to forgive and to love. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. He went through so much pain and so much sorrow because of His love for me. I know I don’t deserve God’s love or forgiveness but He gives it freely.

We are called to submit to Christ’s will in our lives, and to serve him in return for eternal life. We all have been placed in the perfect places to practice both loving and forgiving-our homes. Whether you have siblings, your parents are divorced, or you are an only child, God has planned these things for you so that you can practice his ways. I personally know how hard it can be to love my family, but through the will of God I have, slowly but surely, learned to appreciate my family for who they are, and for who God wants them to be.

I hope this helps you discover why you are a Christian! I would love to know why you are a Christian and how you came to know Christ. Tell me in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!