How Precious to Me Are Your Thoughts...

This picture is from last summer when we got to go to a Worship Leader's conference in Colorado Springs, CO. I just really like it and thought I'd put it on here.

Whenever I think of the mountains, I picture God creating. Was he giddy and joyful as he made those beautiful peaks? When creating the bubbling brooks, did the creativity flow cheerfully from within His majestic Being? Or was he a quiet Creator, One of whom some painters remind me, musing with intensity upon His face? Was he pensive as he forsaw the fall of man, tragedy, destruction and sin? Did His heart leap with joy at the thought of His children worshipping at His feet in His glorious City? When he shapes me, does he see a mountain coming into form, or a brook meeting a river, maybe a crown upon Creation, likened unto His first daughter, Eve? When I pled for forgiveness and cleansing and grace, was His heart moved just as it was when Adam, the embodiment of His strength and masculinity, his prized possession, took his first step?

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:13-17 NIV

What a beautiful, loving, artistic, and strong LORD we serve!

Blessings,
Dana Cherie <3

Okay, so it's probably my fault that nothing has been posted on here in forever and so I sincerely apologize! Maybe the time that elapsed since then will aid in making my post of more quality than my previous quirky story of getting pulled over. Much has happened since then! I know have a driver's license so the road just got a little bit more dangerous... :)

But alas, I digress.

I recently ran across a in interesting quiz that will really help you discern where you stand in relation to God's standards. Titled, "Are you a fool?" it is definitely worthwhile. Here is the link:



Wisdom and truth is so important in God's eyes so it ought to be so in our own. I would challenge to seek God's truth for your life and be very careful not to derive your standards and beliefs merely from you surroundings, your friends, your workplace, or sometimes even other Christians, for they too can be misleading. Our only source of absolute truth is in Christ and His Word so make it a goal to search the scriptures!

Agradecido de Dios,

Mary :)

Hungry?

Hey there! It has been quite awhile. Sorry!

A LOT has happened since my last post-even since Mary's last post.
I have learned quite a lot. God used really wierd ways to show me how I was idolizing certain people in my life. He also used equally curious ways to break me of it. He has lit a fire under me and I cannot stop thinking about him. I only hope that I will not fall once again into the mire of complacency. I pray every day that God's passion would lead my life. Most of the time I feel I have failed, but I am learning to be more patient and forgiving...even to myself. That's not to say I still don't have attitude, motivation, or fear problems. I do, but I can feel God's presence in my life...reminding me of things I do and slowly helping me to change. :)

I was reading this week in Matthew 21, in the parable of the wedding banquet. It and other things made me feel like God was shouting it in my ear to want God. To be hungry for God. Read the story. When the father says

"Friend where are your wedding clothes?"

in verse 12, it really behooves you to get right with God. Put on the righteousness of Christ so that God won't kick you out on judgment day. Work out your salvation so that you will be able to give an answer when God looks at your record and needs to see Christ's blood covering you. Get the passion of God in your heart. Serve someone this week. Tell someone about God. You will understand what the passion/love of God is like. Luke 19:10


I love y'all! Have a great weekend! :D

P.S Here's a joke. It took me a second to understand, but it is pretty funny. :) LOL

"A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible.
Then one day she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

P.S.
I got pulled over too!!! FIrst time, but I didn't get a ticket!!! :D

It was my worst nightmare...

I did what anyone else would do...I tried not to panic!

I silently pulled over.

It was one of those things that I had discussed numerous times in church during Sunday school when we would discuss our fears. I just hoped it would never happen...but it did.

So, here's what happened.

I was driving home from church (I wasn't speeding and I wasn't breaking any other law, or so I thought...) when it happened. Much to my horror, I saw a police car -head lights flashing, siren blaring, (well, it wasn't really blaring) and he was directly behind me. That meant, of all things, I was about to live the very thing I most dreaded. I didn't know if I was going to survive!

I pulled over and he inquired if I knew why I had been caught (maybe he didn't say it quite like that). Well, my mother had hinted earlier (only after I had been caught) that I had forgotten to turn my headlights on. I must admit, though, since I knew I wasn't speeding, and it had been made most clear that if I had, I would pay, I was much more relieved and intrigued to see what would actually happen. I answered the representative of firm government justice that I had just been made aware of the fact that I had forgotten to turn my lights on. He seemed forgiving. However, he said that was just one of the reasons I had been pulled over.

Much to my relief, he went on to say that our license plates were expired. Now it was my mother's turn to faint. After waking her up with smelling salts, I told her that I was so relieved that I wasn't going to have to be the one to pay this ticket. :)

We most anxiously awaited the verdict.

Actually, since our license plates had only been expired for 3 days and my mother most persuadingly assured him that we would remedy the situation instantaneously, we received grace. There was no ticket for either me or my parents to pay. I think I drove away more relieved than her. :)

Okay, that was my experience. Honestly, though, I don't like being pulled over. I more afraid of that than dying, actually. It is interesting though how when someone realizes they've been caught, they dread what can happen. What would happen if everyone realized how God deals with things when we get caught. The fear of the Lord is good because it can help us to do what is right. Just like you know you rather not pay the $100+ ticket for speeding.

Well, moving on to a more lighter subject...

My favorite colors are pink, turquoise, lime, and black. They make for some sweet color combinations!

Question of the week for Dana:
What 3 characteristics will you look for in a future husband?

I personally would only consider someone who has a deep relationship with God, who has integrity, and puts God first in everything. That should about cover it! Of course, if I should expect that for someone else, I should expect no less of myself.

Well, the hour is growing late, I must sign off.

Have a wonderful week, live life to the fullest, and serve someone else.

Yours truly, Mary Liz :-)

P.S. TBQ regionals was amazing this week! If you've never done quiz, you are so missing out! I totally encourage you to try it!

Time Flies, Except This Week

SIGH>this week plus last week felt like a month. So much happened. I have made two...yes, two bad decisions as to when to have my cheat day (I wasted it on walmart cake...:( ) Random fact: There is a strange and annoying mooing soung coming from outside. There aren't any fields around, so I am really confused. This week has been characterized by failure and exhaustion. I was listening to a song I had never heard before by Relient K today that said "Failure is a blessing in disguise." I am really glad that my faith in God doesn't depend on me getting it right. Jesus makes me right with God. He puts the band-aid on when I make a booboo. Thank you Lord. I have made many flops of decisions and will indefinitely make more. The thing is, we learn from those things. I am learning new things everyday. I praise God because I truly felt like this week couldn't get any more confusing or exhausting. Even through that craziness...my God is still faithful. He is still working for our good, and will always find ways for us to prosper, to be blessed, and have victory in every situation of our lives.

Hebrews 12:4-13

Thanks Mary, for posting last week. I love you, mi amiga!

I have heard a kinda funny joke.

Q: What do ninjas drink?
-
--
---
--
-
A: Waaaaataaaaaaaaaaa!!

:D

Random fact: Pregnant goldfish are called twits. It's true.

New question of the week:
Q: What are your favorite colors?

Mine are: Pink, green, purple, yellow, orange, blue, red, orange, and oh I forgot...teal!

Love, Dana <3

At last!

Once again I find myself apologizing for the vast amount of time that has accumulated since my last post. So readers, I'm sorry!

That taken care of... Lots of things have been happening lately. Of course my life is extremely busy (I don't know why but I always like to see how much I can handle! Can anyone relate?). Two things I have drawn from it though: I should enjoy life and the blessings and every moment that God has mercifully given and yet if I get too busy I can miss the things God might spontaneously have me do. Maybe we should all honestly ask this question: "Am I too busy that if God asked me to stop and spend time (my valuable time!) telling someone how much God has done in my life and how much he loves them that I would tell him I just can't?" Busyness is a very good thing; God says over and over in the Bible that we are to be industrious and responsible with our time. But being too busy that we can't take time out to invest in relationships (one of the most important things!), or tell others about God's love, or even worse- neglect to spend time with God, than something terrible will happen to us. We will miss out on some of the most important things in life: relationships, friendships, and opportunities to grow.

Okay so some of the things that have happend lately are Fine Arts (we're going to Nationals in Orlando, oh yeah!), Teen Bible Quiz (we're going to Regionals for that!), music, and just friends and family stuff. I am really blessed to have a full and andventurous life! :-)

Question of the week for Dana (and for any others who care to comment!):
What's the best joke you have ever heard?

Quote of the week:
"Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right" -Henry Ford

If you all are lucky, I will figure out how to attach a video clip to my next post (that is, after I figure out how!).

Until later, Hasta la Vista!
-Mary

A Battle Won

Hi...it's Dana! It has sure been awhile and I have lots to say!! :D

This weekend was such a battle. I felt like God and Satan were warring over my soul. I felt so miserable and tired of fighting the Devil that this morning I just came to God and was desperate. I opened my Bible and God showed me the perfect verse that changed my morning.

Ps. 55:16-18,22,23b "But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me... Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall... But as for me I trust in you."

I love how God knew exactly what I needed to hear...before I even asked or began to look for a verse.

but then, as we know, the Devil don;t wanna lose the fight, so he started up again...convinced me to have a bad attitude. For me, when I get a bad attitude, it ruins me. I get in such a rut, that I feel guilty getting out of it, and it takes a ton of work to get me out of it, so I, being in a bad mood, know I need to rejoice or something, don't because I don't feel like fighting. But you know what Christ came in today and took me out of my bad attitude. I think I cried 5 or 6 times today. It has been a battle, but my God always causes me to triumph in His Name.
God is so amazing.

My friend Jake got saved last week at church and he has been saved by the blood of my Lord Jesus. It has been a pleasure to experience the change that happens to a person. IT IS So EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who gets to go to nationals in fine arts???????
-Mary, piano
-Chelsey, vocal solo
-Allison and Dana, small vocal ensemble
-Dana, vocal solo

Yeehaw and congrats to ya'll from other churches if you read this.

Polar coordinates are coool.

Tips for the week:
1: Love is only love when it's toward someone who is unreachable or someone you think doesn't deserve it.
2: Philippians 2:3-5, 4:4-9
3: Don't be afraid to talk to waitresses or waiters about Jesus or leave notes on the table
4: Use your gifts and talents outside the church
5: Show love to your family
6: Pray for others because the enemy is ALWAYS doing his job.(to try to steal your blessings/joy/the best God has for you/your salvation, to kill you(spiritually), to destroy you)

Have a wonderful week,
Dana