If you want to know how cute second-grade Lydia is, just read this book report she wrote. She hasn't learned Hannah's "technique" in sending me her papers to proof-read yet. Personally, I like this paper much better than Hannah's. ;)

Negative Nancy?

In past semesters, I never really studied with other people in my class. I would talk to them and try and get to know people, but never really studied with anyone. I still do better on tests when I study alone, but I have been studying with others some too. It has rather annoyed me that every single study session has turned into a "complain about the teacher/work load" session. I'm fine with people expressing how they feel about the subject matter to an extent. When we don't even study but rather just complain the whole time, nothing gets accomplished at all, and it definitely isn't a good attitude to have!

Hannah also was telling me about how a lot of people just seem so depressed at her school. There is just always something negative or wrong going on, so they complain about it.

I'm not one of those "as-long-as-we-think-positive-everything-will-be-ok" type people. But, I am one of those "God-is-in-control-so-don't-worry-or-complain-because-we-get-so-much-better-than-we-deserve-anyway" people.

We deserve nothing yet God chooses to give so many blessings. How can we complain against the faithfulness and provision of the Lord? We should give thanks in all things!

Here is an excerpt from a letter written by John Newton that is a great reminder of the Lord's goodness:

“[One of the marks of Christian Maturity which a believer should seek is] an acquiescence in the Lord’s will founded in a persuasion of His wisdom, holiness, sovereignty and goodness.…So far as we can attain this, we are secure from disappointment. Our own limited views, and shortsighted purposes and desires, may be, and will be, often over-ruled; but then our main and leading desire, that the will of the Lord be done, must be accomplished. How highly does it become us, both as creatures and as sinners, to submit to the appointment of our maker! and how necessary is it to our peace!

2. Pray without ceasing.

3. Pray with an undivided heart.

"It may seem daunting to walk away from the attractions of pop-culture. But when you seek your King with an undivided heart, you will discover that in His presence is the fullness of joy, and in His right hand are pleasures forever more(Ps 16:11)!"

~from Set-Apart Girl magazine

1. Pray specifically and boldly.

"There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed." -Charles Spurgeon

"So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” -Matthew 21:21

(It appears I'm not the only one thinking about prayer! The next few posts will be {Biblical} thoughts on prayer taken from the Set-Apart Girl webzine.)

A little story and BIG Answer to Prayer!

As I shared the other day, I have been praying specifically and waiting expectantly for God's answer. God has promised to answer all of our prayers. It may not be in the way that we want, but His will is perfect and his response to us is far better than what we could ever ask. Well, I was expecting a reply, but I didn't expect that reply to come so soon. Only a week later, I have received the answer to some of my prayers (and it was far better than I imagined it would be!).

As you may know, this month is a month of decisions in my life. I was supposed to begin planning out the rest of my school until graduation (by Oct. 31) and decide about camp next summer (by Oct 14). I knew I had to do an internship (200 hours within the time of a semester), and that pretty much has to be done in a summer (it would be nearly impossible to complete with a full load of school work). I only have one summer (hopefully!) between now and my expected graduation date--so that leaves one option--do the internship next summer. That's fine, but I really wanted to work at camp!

At the end of this summer, I assumed it would be my last. I "retired" from my Head Wrangler position. Even if I was planning to go back to camp I know I'm a little burnt out from being at the barn. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the most fun, most wonderful places at camp, but the job is exhausting, mentally and physically! I felt like I had used all my ideas and energy the past two years. I did talk to our director and told him I would be willing to do another job at camp. Ever since I knew about camp, I KNEW I would NEVER want to be the Head JC (Junior Counselor) Girl. Working with high school girls in that way just wasn't my cup of tea. The last week or two of camp, God changed my heart on the issue. I sort of had the idea and started to want to do that job. After camp ended, there have been several neat opportunities to minister to girls in high school, including leading a Bible Study on Thursday nights. Also since camp ended, knowing about the internship/school thing, I have been trying to let go of camp and come to face the fact that I would probably not be there. This wasn't working out so well. I was praying that God would provide whatever I needed, including clarity and wisdom to make the right decision.

Last Thursday, I met with an academic advisor about the internship. I learned I could do my internship at camp without really changing the role of Head JC Girl at all! This got me so excited, I was so busy thinking up plans and ideas I couldn't pay attention in class for the rest of the day. As soon as I got home, I shared the ideas with my parents. They had already encouraged me to work at camp--even if that added a year to my school--so they liked the idea. The next morning I called Andy, our camp director, and he was good with the idea--told me to pray about it and let him know by October 14. After finalizing and getting the internship approved (they approved it on Saturday--a NO-SCHOOL day!!), I was totally sure that this is what I wanted to do.

In the past, I have had to make decisions about camp, and other things, and just trust God that He would work it all out. I've never really had such clarity in decision making before. After two months of struggling a lot with the issue, God provided for me to go back to camp, do a new job that I have become very passionate about, AND fulfill my internship responsibilities, getting school credit. This decision has brought so much excitement into my life! I felt like I was walking on air all of Saturday and even a little now--a week later! Learning a new job will be a challenge, but I can't wait for it! I can see how God has been preparing me even during camp last summer, and since then for what will, Lord willing, come next summer! God is good and delights to give good gifts to His children. This gift is being received with great joy!

Not much time for blogging right now...But here are some pictures from my cousin's wedding. Lydia was the cutest flower girl ever!

Background Music

So, music is pretty cool. I often have it playing in the background while I work or type or do whatever...Here is what I often listen to....

Songs for worship:

"Beautiful" by Phil Wickham

"Worthy is the Lamb" by Hillsong

"How Great is our God" by Chris Tomlin

"How Marvelous" by Chris Tomlin

Songs for driving:

"While I'm Waiting" by John Waller

"I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin

Songs for writing and painting (and all the other artsy things I do):

Anything Michael Buble

Anything Jack Johnson

Songs for running:

"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" by Marvin Gaye (haha, I don't know why I like this song)

"You are Loved" by Josh Groban

"How Can I Keep from Singing" by Chris Tomlin

EXPECT

“…but the people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32).

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16b)

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b)

“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)

“Everything you ask in prayer, believing you shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

“Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:24)

I am praying. I am praying very specifically. God will answer my prayers. It may not be in the way I want, but he will answer. I am praying with faith that the will of God will be accomplished. PLUS....God delights to give good gifts to His children! I'm praying for "rain" and carrying my umbrella!

We will never outgrow the faithfulness of God: “the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children”(Ps. 103:17).

Feels like Home

"...complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." -Philippians 2:2

For the past three weekends I have had the opportunity to spend time with some of my favorite people in the world--camp friends. It is so nice just to sit and talk and catch up on life with them. These people get me. We have been through a lot, over the course of the past two summers, with each other. I am really thankful for the time of fellowship with them recently. I love how I haven't seen some of them since camp ended but we can just pick up where we left off, like we were never apart. I feel totally myself and at ease with these people. What do we talk about when we are together? The better question is....What do we NOT talk about? Everything from the dumbest little stories or reliving camp memories to checking in on one another's spiritual life. I love them a lot. Being with them feels like going home after a long time away.

A little poetry for ya....

The Road Not Taken

By: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The Scandal of Gendercide — War on Baby Girls

BY AL MOHLER

The reality has been known for years now, though the Western media have generally resisted any direct coverage of the horror. That changed this week when The Economist published its stunning cover story — “Gendercide — What Happened to 100 Million Baby Girls?”

In many nations of the world, there is an all-out war on baby girls. In 1990, economist Amartya Sen estimated that 100 million baby girls were missing — sacrificed by parents who desired a son. Two decades later, multiple millions of missing baby girls must be added to that total, victims of abortion, infanticide, or fatal neglect.

The murder of girls is especially common in China and northern India, where a preference for sons produces a situation that is nothing less than critical for baby girls. In these regions, there are 120 baby boys born for every 100 baby girls. As The Economist explains, “Nature dictates that slightly more males are born than females to offset boys’ greater susceptibility to infant disease. But nothing on this scale.”

In its lead editorial, the magazine gets right to the essential point: “It is no exaggeration to call this gendercide. Women are missing in their millions–aborted, killed, neglected to death.”

In its detailed and extensive investigative report, the magazine opens its article with chilling force. A baby girl is born in China’s Shandong province. Chinese writer Xinran Xue, present for the birth, then hears a man’s voice respond to the sight of the newborn baby girl. “Useless thing,” he cried in disappointment. The witness then heard a plop in the slops pail. “To my absolute horror, I saw a tiny foot poking out of the pail. The midwife must have dropped that tiny baby alive into the slops pail!” When she tried to intervene she was restrained by police. An older woman simply explained to her, “Doing a baby girl is not a big thing around here.”

The number of dead and missing baby girls is astounding.....READ the rest of the article HERE.

INSIDE-OUT Youth Student Conference. Come!

I'm back!!! After a busy summer away, and a month of settling back in to home and school and all that good stuff I'm going to try and return to blogging!