Thanksgiving, Then Christmas

I'm sure all of you know that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas, right? But have you ever noticed that? I mean, have you ever thought about it?

I know they were both set on their appointed dates for important reasons, but have you ever taken into account that Thanksgiving is before Christmas? I'm sure it's more than a ploy to try and tempt children out of their numerous Christmas list items. But as soon as I saw this from a new perspective, I started wondering if it had any significance.

Christmas is after Thanksgiving, but shouldn't it be the other way around? I mean, Christ came down to earth, making it the first ever Christmas day! That's a good reason to be thankful!
Perhaps so, but I think of something else as I ponder this food for thought. What if we are supposed to be thankful before Christ comes? What if we are to thank Him before His blessings, and trust Him to follow through with them? What if we are to give thanks, and have a heart of gratitude without knowing for sure we are going to be rewarded? It's easy to be thankful during Thanksgiving and Christmas (presents, family, and food are in abundance), but what about the rest of the time? And what about the time in between? I think Thanksgiving is a gentle reminder that starts off the holiday season, reminding those to be grateful for what Christ did for us. It points us in the right direction, reminding us that He didn't have to save us. And those days in between Christmas and Thanksgiving should be a time of heart preparation for the greatest blessing of all: Jesus Christ.

So as you get ready for Thanksgiving this week (and enjoy a couple days off from school!), take the time to be truly thankful, and ask God to give you a thankful spirit throughout the year.

Thanks for reading. :)

Princess Catherine ~*~

Reflection

Picture with me, if you will, a beautiful, breath-taking mountain. It stretches high into the sky and is the most beautiful thing you could ever see! Its color is a glorious and clear blue, and the top sparkles in the sunlight.


Down below, at the foot of the mountain, there is a lake. It has been put in that particular spot for a reason: to reflect the mountain and its splendor. However, the lake is more like a swamp, with brown grasses and bare trees growing in it. The water is murky and dirty, and the bit that can be seen through the plant overgrowth has no way of reflecting anything. How can the lake fulfill its purpose? If only there was some way to remove the ugliness from it!



So it is with us and God.


God is like the beautiful mountain. His majesty and wonder are indescribable! He is so glorious and strong.


We are like the lake, meant to reflect His beauty and glory. This, though, is impossible for us to do on our own. We are full of sin, which dirties the water and produces tangled vines and tough grasses. There is no way that Jesus can be reflected in us.


But God, Who is rich in mercy, gives us the opportunity to be redeemed, to accept Him into our hearts and lives. Once we do that, He starts the long process of cutting away the debris and clearing out the water. Bit by bit, we lose our life-dominating sin a little at a time: disobedience, rebellion, mean words, ugly and improper thoughts, evil desires, lusts, jealousy, pride, selfishness, discontentment, and the list continues.

If we let Him, we will, little by little, begin to reflect Him, drawing more attention to our King than ourselves. As He clears the lake, it looks more like the mountain than a lake because the mountain is bigger than the lake and its reflection fills the entire area of water.


Becoming a beautiful, reflecting lake is a lifelong process. The Lord knows the amount of sin that we have in our lives and, in His compassion, deals with that sin little by little, one at a time. But we have to be willing to allow God to deal with us.


That doesn't mean that we will never return to a sin once it has been conquered through Christ. However, because we can approach the Throne of Grace with confidence we can be forgiven of the sin and given the ability to move on.

Is there something that Jesus might be pruning from your life right now? Something that you won't allow Him access to deal with? You can only be transformed into a beautiful lake, a radiant reflection of His glory, if you let Him be in control.


~Princess Gloria

The Storyseekers Part 5: Naomi's Hope

"If I could make just one perfect shot..."
Naomi aimed her arrow slightly to the left, trying to find the perfect position. Pulling back on her bowstring, she wondered why in the world she was talking to herself. Someone might hear and think she was crazy...if they didn't already.
"Naomi!"
barely one half second after she let the arrow go, Naomi heard her mother's voice calling her name. Startled, Naomi realized she should have kept better track of time. Hiding her bow and arrows under a mound of hay, she glanced quickly out the barn window. Judging by the position of the sun, supper was in less than an hour...and Naomi hadn't nearly finished her chores yet. Pushing her "target" (a.k.a.- unused hay bale) back in place, she pushed open the heavy barn door, the latch clicking behind her.

Naomi made it inside just in time, trying to remain unnoticed. Of course, she knew that was too much to hope for. Though she was the youngest, Naomi's eight siblings always knew when she was missing.
"You're always late, Naomi. Where were you this time?"
Closest to Naomi in age, Mariana seemed to find great joy in pointing out the mistakes of others, especially Naomi. Sighing, Naomi looked down at her plate, hoping her sister didn't expect her to answer. Of course, that was also too much to hope for.
"I said, where were you?"
Naomi's oldest sister, Elise, glared at Mariana across the table.
"Leave Naomi alone."

Naomi's favorite time of day was evening, when the sky couldn't seem to decide which color to turn. Walking toward the edge of her family's farm, Naomi came in sight of the one lone tree that marked the farthest corner of the property line. In one terrifying moment, Naomi realized she wasn't alone. Three people, somewhere around her age, were sitting under the tree. Drawing closer, Naomi realized she didn't recognize any of them. The three of them were deep in conversation, and didn't notice her for quite a while. Naomi watched them carefully. The person closest to her was a girl, about fifteen, with green eyes and a long brown braid. The blond-haired, blue-eyed boy next to her had a certain cheerful look to him, almost as if he always smiled. The clothes he wore were made of animal skins, though not animals Naomi was familiar with. The third person was also a boy, with jaggedly cut black hair and a somewhat bitter and angry look. His eyes were also green, though not nearly as bright as the girl's. Whenever he spoke, which wasn't often, he made the girl look angry. Stepping closer, Naomi was finally noticed by the other three when she spoke.
"Who are you?"
The black-haired boy looked up, frowning when he saw her. "I might ask the same of you." he replied shortly. The girl rolled her eyes. "Pay no attention to Dallian. He doesn't trust anyone."
The blond-haired boy smiled. "She's right, he doesn't." He smiled again, although Naomi was almost sure he never stopped smiling.
"What is your name?" She asked, finding him the easiest of the three to talk to.
"Please call me Cheydine. What's your name?"
"I'm Naomi."
Cheydine's eyes lit up. "I like that name." Turning, he introduced the other two. "This is Jayrin, and...well...you've already met Dallian."
Jayrin giggled, quickly hiding it when Dallian glared at her. Naomi was intrigued by all three of them. For the first time, she realized how different they were from the people she was used to seeing.
"You aren't from here...are you?" she asked curiously. This time, Jayrin answered.
"Far from it. I was raised in Stellin," she motioned toward Cheydine "Cheydine is a forestdweller,"
"From the Spearhead Forest." Cheydine interrupted. In the silence that followed, both Cheydine and Jayrin turned to look at Dallian. Dallian just rolled his eyes, completely ignoring his companions. Jayrin sighed in exasperation.
"Dallian is from the Skhi Mountains." she said, looking as though she wished he were there instead of here.
"As if it concerns you." Dallian interjected, glaring at Naomi with eyes that resembled cold, hard, green ice. Naomi backed away a step.
Jayrin rolled her own eyes in Dallian's direction. "Pay him no mind." She said, speaking to Naomi though not looking at her.
Now Naomi had another question. "So, if you come from so far away, why are you here...on our farm?"
Jayrin suddenly looked excited. "You live here?!?!"
Naomi was confused. "Yes. Why?"
Jayrin's answer tumbled out so fast, Naomi could barely understand her. "Melodica said that we would find the fourth Storyseeker on this farm! You must be her! Now that we're all together, we can begin our mission! I knew we would find you! I knew it!"
Now Naomi was really confused. "Wait, wait, wait. Slow down. So...you three are Storyseekers...and you think that I'm one too?"
Jayrin nodded. "Exactly."
Naomi was sure that Jayrin must be mistaken. "My mother used to tell us legends about the days when all Estrellicans followed Shaddi. HE even wrote them a book called...um...the Story of Shaddi, I think. But, Mother said that the book was lost when Estrellica turned away from Shaddi. She said that when the time came, Shaddi would appoint the four Storyseekers to find the Story of Shaddi, and bring Estrellica back to HIM. Mother has been telling those stories for years. Even if the age of the Storyseekers has come--and I'm not entirely sure it has--why in all the world would Shaddi pick me?"
Jayrin smiled gently. "I thought the same thing when Princess Melodica found me. I was sure that she must have made a mistake. It soon became clear, however, that she didn't. I even found out that my parents had always known the truth...but hadn't told me because the time had not yet come."
"I was surprised to find that my parents knew too." Cheydine added. "Shaddi placed me with them for a purpose. HE placed you with your parents too."
It was all too much for Naomi to take in. "So...if Princess Melodica told you all of this, where is she?"
Jayrin nodded toward Naomi's cottage. "Inside. She went to tell your mother that the time has come."
Naomi's mind whirled in a million directions as she spoke. "You're really serious about this, aren't you? But, are you sure I'm the one? I have four sisters and four brothers--all of whom are much more qualified for this position than I am."
"All the same, Shaddi picked you." Everyone whirled around in shock when Dallian spoke, though he didn't seem to notice. "If Shaddi were picking the best Estrellicans for this position...HE never would have picked me. Not in a million years."

"And you're sure that all of your children are here?" Melodica again searched the eyes of each of the eight teenagers in front of her. Elise, Thomas, Peter, Rachela, Ethan, Josiah, Reina, and Mariana. There had to be one missing! All the ancient Storyseeker legends pointed to the fourth Storyseeker living at this exact location. Still, Melodica was sure that none of the eight in front of her were who she was looking for. Melodica turned toward Mrs. Archer, hoping against hope that she might actually have nine children instead of eight. Before her mother could answer, however, Mariana interrupted.
"Mother," she said, her voice dripping with an artificial sweetness. "Shouldn't Naomi be here?"
Mrs. Archer only smiled at Mariana's words.
"Yes." she said, looking at Melodica. "Please, Your Highness, come with me."

Once safely out of the earshot of her other children, Naomi's mother revealed the truth to Princess Melodica.
"The girl of whom you speak was placed under the care of my husband and I fourteen years ago by Shaddi Himself. Her name is Naomi. I would have told you earlier, but it is a secret which I did not yet wish to reveal in the presence of my biological children."
Melodica understood. "Where is she?"
Mrs. Archer nodded toward the door. "Outside. Come, I will show you."

"Alright, Commander. If we are ever going to make any progress on this mission, you will have to cooperate." General Sebel's eyes flashed as she spoke. "And when I say cooperate, I do not mean that you take charge of this mission. I mean for you to realize that I am in charge!"
Commander Kylin shrank back. "Yes, General."
Sebel turned to address the small group of dark warriors who accompanied them. "King Lucien gave us one week to follow Princess Melodica and make sure she found the last two Storyseekers. Our time is running short, and I have had enough foolishness from the lot of you!"
"When will we be able to go back to camp?" one warrior complained. General Sebel fixed him with her sharp grey eyes, looking as though she could spit fire.
"We will return when you fools stop complaining and begin following orders!"

Pronunciation Guide:
Naomi: nay-o-me
Elise: el-ees
Rachela: ra-shell-uh
Reina: rain-a
Mariana: mari-ahnah

The Storyseekers: Dallian

Melodica had always known the Skhi mountains were tall, but not nearly this tall. It looked as if it would take someone weeks just to make it to the top! She was glad she only had to go part way. This journey, though necessary, had turned out much more difficult than it initially appeared to be. First she had to find Jayrin, then she had to convince Jayrin's parents to let their daughter go, and now she had to search some obscure mountain village. Knowing Lucien could attack any time, she tried to climb faster. It appeared, however, that she was getting nowhere quickly.

Hours later, Melodica finally found herself standing at the edge of a tiny village. Why in the world would one of the Storyseekers be placed here? she wondered, glancing around her. The village was...not quite what Melodica was used to seeing around Stellin. The houses were simple mud huts; surrounded by piles of sticks and branches. Drawing closer, Melodica realized that all the branches were barbed with dangerously large thorns. Shivering, she realized that the villagers must be trying to protect themselves from the Alunsian. If I lived around that monster, I would want to protect myself to. Melodica thought fearfully. Then, trying to push aside her anxious thoughts, she remembered the reason she was here. All she had to do was find one boy, and then she could leave.

Many children ran through the muddy streets; barefoot and dressed in rags. Watching them play, Melodica wondered how she would find the one person she was searching for. She knew his name, of course, but that didn't give her much to go on.
"Who are you?"
Startled, Melodica spun around. The boy standing behind her must have been at least fifteen years of age, though Melodica couldn't tell for sure. She wondered how long he had been there without her noticing.

"I said, 'who are you'." he repeated, irritation in his voice. Jolted back to reality, Melodica answered without thinking.
"I'm Princess Melodica." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Melodica realized that she probably shouldn't have said that. The teenage boy backed away a step.
"Then what are you doing here?" the sound of his voice told Melodica he wanted her to leave, but she couldn't turn back now."I'm looking for someone." She answered quickly. "Please, could you tell me your name?"
"It's Dallian." he replied simply.
Melodica's heart jumped. He had to be the one she was looking for! "Who are your parents?" Melodica was so excited to have found the second Storyseeker, she didn't even think about what his reply might be.
"I don't have any parents." He turned toward the other children playing in the street. "Most of us don't...but why do you care?"

"I said I was looking for someone. You are that person."
Dallian took a step back. "I'm who?"
Melodica tried to hide her elation and answer seriously.
"The second Storyseeker."

"What took you so long?" Jayrin had been left at the bottom of the mountain for quite a while, and her irritation spilled over with every word. Without waiting for an answer, she looked past Melodica to the boy behind her.
"Who is this?"
The boy's green eyes narrowed. "I have a name."
Sure he did, but what did Jayrin care? He was just some poor mountain villager. "Alright then, what is it?"
The boy pushed his black hair out of his eyes, annoyance clearly etched across his face. "I'm called Dallian."
Well, his name was alright, but Jayrin couldn't say the same for Dallian himself. She made no effort to introduce herself, but Dallian noticed immediately.
"It's only fair that you tell me your name. Even if it is some fancy city name."
Jayrin was shocked. "How did you know I was from the city?"
"You can always tell city people from everyone else. They're more arrogant."
Anger stabbed Jayrin's insides. "I'm not arrogant!"
Dallian looked just as angry. "Are to. So are you going to tell me your name or not?"
Though she didn't want to answer, Jayrin knew Melodica was watching her. Rolling her eyes, she tossed an answer in Dallian's direction. "Whatever. I'm Jayrin. I'm from Stellin."
"What are you doing here, then?" Dallian's question shot out like an arrow.
"I'm a Storyseeker."
Dallian sighed in frustration. "Perfect. Not only do I have to spend who-knows-how-long searching for some book, now I have to do it with you."
At that point, Melodica stepped in. "That is enough! You are both Storyseekers, and you both need to get along. Now we have to go. We still have two more Storyseekers left to find."

"She's found two of them, Sire." General Sebell felt as pleased as King Lucien seemed to be. "She only has two left to find."
Lucien nodded. "Perfect, perfect. Estrellica is on the verge of total domination! Are the troops prepared, General?"
"We are ready to attack any day, Your Highness."
"Excellent. We know have only to wait for that foolish princess to send those four children right into our trap."
General Sebell smirked. "She is doing just as we wish, Sire."
"Yes." Lucien waved a hand toward the tent entrance. "General, I want you to alert the army. Tell them to be on the lookout for the four Storyseekers. They should be unsupervised and easy prey. Set invisible guards along the roads to alert me of their intentions. You are dismissed."
Black cape swooshing against the floor, Sebell rose. "As you wish, Sire." Turning to leave, she suddenly stopped. "Sire, won't Eyris be watching the Storyseekers? What do we do if we run into her?"
Lucien appeared unconcerned. "We will deal with her easily."


Pronunciation guide:
Dallian: dall-ee-in
Skhi Mountains: Sky Mountains
Eyris: air-is
Alunsian: aloon-see-on

There's Still Time. . .

. . . but not for long!

Jesus will return to earth and it could be at anytime, whether next minute, tomorrow, or in 50 years. We have to be ready. As I write this post I am assuming that you readers are Christians. While that may not be true I just wanted you all to know where I am coming from, because this assumption will affect this post.

As Christians, we must be ready to leave the earth and go to heaven. We can't waste our time while important work is left to be done. What kind of work? Laboring in a harvest field.

A WHAT?????

Yes, you heard me right; perhaps a look at a Scripture would be helpful.

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"---Matthew 9:37-38, NIV

This is an allegory(a representation of one thing by another). When Jesus speaks of "the harvest" he is talking about all the people in the world who do not know him. "The workers" are Christians who tell those people about Jesus.

As Christians, we are called to be telling others about Jesus and His wonderful gift of salvation. How can we go about doing that? Well, in each of our lives there are most likely two camps of people to share Christ with: (1)those we know(or know of) and (2)those whom we've never seen, met, talked to, or heard about.


How can we minister to the first group?

~Pray for them. Prayer, or talking with God, is powerful. Although God knows our hearts and what or who we are burdened for, He loves to hear us talk to Him. He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. Even if you don't see immediate results in the life of the person you're praying for, don't give up; sometimes it takes years for something to happen, but do not be discouraged. Keep praying.

~Invite them to something. This one depends on the situation. You may be praying for someone who lives far away, or someone you have no contact with anymore. However, you might be praying for a neighbor or someone who goes to your school or who does a certain activity with you. If so you may be able to invite them to an event at your church. It doesn't necessarily need to be Sunday School or church service; maybe it's a sports league at your church, or Vacation Bible School. How about a get-together/potluck your church is hosting? Depending on the person it doesn't have to be at church. Once my siblings and I hosted a game night with some friends and invited a neighbor. We didn't say anything about God; we were just building a relationship. Sometimes just starting as friends is best.

~You might send them cards(or emails, or the like). I share my birthday with someone whose salvation I'm praying for, so for the past couple of years I've sent them a birthday card, just a simple note. It's basically the only contact I have with this person, which makes the cards more important. And it's really not that hard. The note doesn't have to be long; just let them know that you're thinking of them.



What about the second group? Those whom you don't know at all?

~Show them through your actions. You may never talk to people, but they can watch you and see what you do, like what your attitudes are, how you treat your parents, siblings, and others, what you say, how you act, etc. As the old saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words."

~Pray for them. Believe it or not, you can pray for them. Occasionally I see someone and start praying for them, even though I don't know them! You may not ever think of them again, and that's nothing to feel guilty about; God doesn't expect you to, but who knows? One prayer could be an amazing thing!

~You could ask them straight out! This may partly depend on your personality. I know someone who asks people directly whether or not they know Jesus. For me personally, this is not the way I prefer to witness to others. However, God may be calling to that or maybe that works well for you.



Some of these things are definitely harder than others, but sharing Christ is extremely important! It really is a matter of life and death--for eternity! In some cases there's not anything to do except pray; in others it might be good to invite them to something. Ask God to show you what to do and when the time is right. Maybe you need to simply pray for someone now but later will be called to have more contact with them. I don't know. Just follow what God says; His timing is perfect.




From one harvest laborer to another,



~Princess Gloria




"'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'"---Acts 1:8, NIV


P.S. If you have any questions or would like to share a way you witness, or even share a testimony, please feel free to leave comments.

Am I Waiting For Someone That Isn't Real?

Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The clock in the waiting room kept up the steady beat of ticking and tocking throughout the day. Rachel coughed loudly, but remembered in time to keep her arm over her mouth. Why did she have to get sick too? Frustrated, she sat hunched in the doctor's waiting room, drumming her fingers on the hard, cherry-colored wood that was the armrest of her chair. She twined her fingers into her shoulder-length brown hair, curling the locks around her shaking hands. Why was she always so cold but still sweating? A shiver coursed though her body.
I hope the doctor helps me! Rachel thought with anxiousness. Without giving me a shot!
It wasn't like she was going to die or anything, it was just that she didn't want her other family members to get sick too. But if she was sick enough to have to get a shot.....Rachel slumped in her chair again. Why couldn't the doctor make her better without giving her a shot? Sometimes things didn't make sense to the seven year old girl. Sighing, she drummed her fingers faster, the noise drowning out the doomed sounding ticking and tocking of the clock. Suddenly, the waiting room door burst open and a nurse burst into the room.
"Rachel? The doctor will see you now." She called to the girl.
Rachel's mother followed behind her daughter, gently nudging Rachel onward with her eyes.
The nurse led them into a room with one of those soft sitting tables and a chair for Rachel's mother. The nurse turned to Rachel's mom and said politely "The doctor will be in with you shortly." and then closed the door.

The doctor came in, gave Rachel her medicine, and told her she'd be fine in a couple days or so.


Even though all these other thoughts ran though Rachel's mind, she never once thought "Oh, maybe there isn't really a doctor in the room! What if I'll be sick forever and ever?!" That would be ridiculous to assume that, right?

If they went to a doctor's office, you would expect to see a doctor, right?

The mother never would have given the girl a false hope that a doctor could have made her better if she knew that there was no doctor. That would be almost cruel, wouldn't it?

Here's another story that is also the same thing:

They said they'd come. They said it a million times! Okay, not a million, but pretty close! Okay, Okay, not pretty close to a million, but they said they'd come! But why are they late? There wasn't a clock in the room, so Jessica didn't know what time it was, and she once again wished she had brought her watch to keep track of time. She grabbed another blue string that served as a decoration and stuffed it up by the unmoving ceiling fan, making the room look more party-ready. Samuel will come before they do if they don't hurry up! Jessica thought with a tad of annoyance at her friends. Suddenly, she heard a knock at her front door and rushed to it with hope in her heart. Yes! There were Peter, Matty, and Gretchen, all standing at the door! Jessica's friends had agreed to assist her in decorating and celebrating Samuel's 16th birthday, and now they were here! After giving Matty and Gretchen hugs and Peter a handshake, Jessica and her pals started preparing for Samuel's party. Other people would come soon, but Jessica had wanted her best friends to help her with preparing for Samuel's party. After all, how often do people turn 16? Peter blew up the balloon, Matty decorated the tables in the dinning room, basement, and living room. Gretchen busied herself preparing the food and drinks for the guests, while Jessica herself worked on the birthday cake. She had been saving it for him, and had even protected it from her sugar-hungry brothers. With the help of her friends, Samuel's party was all prepared and the guests started arriving. When Samuel walked in the door, he had no idea that he was going to have a surprise birthday party! And the cake Jessica had made was especially delicious.

Jessica never doubted that Samuel would come, and even though she had to save the cake a few times, she kept it perfect for just the right moment. And no one ever said "Because you are keeping it a secret from him, he won't come! You saved the cake for nothing!" NO! That would be ridiculous, to say the least. Remember that list of requirements we talked about? (If not, click here) That is what we are looking for in our Prince Charming or Knight.

But does that person really exist?
All the examples are just allegories, but what about the "real deal"?

Here are 3 reasons why I believe that my Prince (who fits all my "need" standards) is real:

1. I See Evidence in the Bible

The whole story of Ruth and Boaz is a beautiful one. Naomi, her husband, and her two sons lived in Bethlehem, but because of a famine, they went to Moab. Then Naomi's husband died, and so did her two sons. The famine in Bethlehem was gone, and so Naomi decided to return to her hometown. Her two daughter-in-laws, Orpah and Ruth, can stay in Moab or go with Naomi to Bethlehem. Orpah decides to stay, but Ruth, in honor of her dead husband and for Naomi, stays with her mother-in-law. Because woman couldn't own land, Ruth had to go and gather grain from other people's fields, so Ruth went to gather grain from a field owned by a man named Boaz. It turns out that they are related because Boaz was related to Ruth's late husband, and so, as was custom, Boaz took Ruth as his wife. He didn't have to because another relative had a right to marry Ruth first, but he didn't want to lose his inheritance so he refused to help Ruth. Boaz, like a gallant knight, came to Ruth's rescue and treated her kindly. Did you know that Ruth and Boaz are in Jesus' family tree (see Matthew 1:5), and Ruth is one of four woman mentioned in the family tree? Cool, hu? Gallant men are out there!

But wait, this is in Bible times, so does it apply to today?
I still think it does, and here's reason number 2:

2. I See Evidence Today

What? You mean today?! In the 21st century? Ha! You're joking, right?
Nope! Not at all!
Leslie and Eric Ludy both lived "set apart" lives. They didn't joke about dating. That kind of relationship means a lot to them and they took it seriously. Leslie waited for her Prince Charming to come but didn't let that hinder her from serving the LORD. Eric followed (and still does) the LORD and didn't try to gain the attention of girls. His focus was (and is) on God. God honored that in both of them, and brought them together. Now, 15 years and 4 children later, they are still happily married and sharing their testimony with others to encourage them (see http://www.setapartlife.com/Our_Story.html for more information)! They even write songs together, including "Faithfully" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZzrmGoixME)! Cool, hu?

3. I See A Want For It

Nobody wants to marry someone they hate or think is less than the requirements, right? People want to be loved; it's how we are created! People want someone to talk to; it's how we are "wired" (if I may use the term). People don't want to spend the rest of their lives with someone that is not respectful, mean, and just all around discouraging. People want someone that is the perfect person for them, that's why they created dating websites like eHarmony, Match, and Chemistry, right? They wouldn't have created those websites if they knew that no one would use them! They saw a "need" (it was really a want, not a need), and they met it with those websites. People want people who love, respect, and cherish them, but they rarely wait for that person to come in God's timing. Instead, they try to take things into their own hands, and that might work out, for some, but it would had been 1,000 times better if God had done it and not them. What is more special, a relationship that was planned by a computer company that you don't even know much about or a relationship that was planned by the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God who created you, knows everything about you, and knows your thoughts before you even think of them? The answer should be blindingly obvious. And guess what! HE knows everything about everyone in the whole world, past, present, and future! So HE knows who would be the "perfect match" for you!

So, are you "Waiting for someone that isn't real?" NO!!! God has a story for you, and, like Mr. and Mrs. Ludy say "Give the pen to HIM!" Don't try to write the story yourself, but trust in the all knowing, all powerful, and all loving God!!!!

Keep waiting faithfully!

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB) "Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

Wait for the LORD and HIS timing; you won't be disappointed! :)

Princess Catherine ~*~

The Garden With A White Rose

The Garden With A White Rose

By Princess Catherine WhiteRose

In the Garden,

Here I stand,

Wishful-pickers must watch where they put their hand,

For I have thorns that prick,

The careless ones who try to pick.

Some might walk by and say

"All white? How plain!"

But it's a symbol of my purity,

So I won't be ashamed.

So here I am,

A white rose,

Here I stand waiting,

And I'll just prick the passers by who purity they're hating.

Stand Up, Stand Out

Do you feel like you need to fit in or you will be thought of as (or called) "weird" or "strange"?

Do you feel like you are going "against the flow", or is fitting in the most important to you?

Are you afraid of sticking up for what you believe in?

Many of you will say "no" to most of the questions, but is it really true?
Would you decide to go and greet the new person at school (or Sunday school), even though your friends or acquaintances think that new person is weird or strange?
Would you rather fit in or decide not to go to that movie (even though you want to see it) because you know it just doesn't have any redeeming qualities and doesn't agree with what you believe?
Are you afraid to stand up for your faith, even if it is defending it against one of your friends?

Deep down, you more than likely will say "yes" to one of these questions. Good. You've realized it.
But now what?


When the title read "Standing Out" it didn't mean starting a new fashion of hair-dos.. I (Catherine) meant you should stand out in a way that will not fade when the next or hair-do (or anything else) comes along. I mean standing out like a bright light in darkness. I mean standing out as a white rose in a valley of thorns. I mean living a pure life in thought, in speech, and in choices.
So how can I do that?

Before I answer that question, let me talk (or should I say "type"?) about "Stand(ing) Up". That means defending what you believe in. Defending your family members from the hurtful words your peers are saying (peers just means "friends" or "companions").

But how can I defend my faith?
NOTE: I am a Christian, so these answers will be directed at my beliefs.

1. Study it!
The more you know about Christianity, the more you will be prepared when someone challenges you about it!
2. Talk to GOD!
Talk to The King of Kings and ask Him to help you in your situation. Ask Him to give you the right words and the courage to stand up to the person (or persons).
3. Memorize Scripture!
Remember in the post "How Do I Get A Pure Heart?" how I talked about the 3 reasons (there are more, I just named the main reasons) memorizing scripture is so important? Here is a forth reason, it helps you defend Bible Believing Religions!


So, here are just some ways to defend your faith! If you have any others, please leave a comment! :)


But how can I stand out from the rest of the crowd who think purity is un-attainable and/or unless?


1. Stand Up for What You Believe
Most people now a days fit in and crumble from the "ocean's waves" that take the form of peer pressure or back down when challenged about their beliefs. DON'T. This is different and you are sure to get people wondering why you are not backing down for what you believe. This will be a good witnessing tool AND, you may have people that believe the same things you do stand up beside you. They just needed a "push" to help them. You are the rallying point and many you are strong! But if they don't come to you at first or in public, that's OK. They know you are there and you won't crumble! :)


2. Live What You Believe
If is said I hated chocolate, but right after that (or the next day) I walk in to the kitchen and grab a Hersheys chocolate bar, would you believe that I didn't like chocolate? No! My words might have said one thing, but my actions implied another, right? If you have read Princess Izori's post about Actions Speak Louder than Words, you know what I am talking about (if you haven't read that post, I would suggest it! It's good! :) People won't think you are authentic, you're real and you really, believe what you are saying. If you say "Don't watch impure movies!" but then go and see one yourself, that's not setting an example.
Some people call themselves Christians, but their is no change in your life. Remember how I said that Jesus comes in and cleans your heart? Well, if those people that say they are Christians but don't have any change in their life, don't you think something is wrong?
Here is a great song that illustrates what I'm talking (typing) about:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sqo8gue0s4&feature=related


Hope it helps you!


3. Have GOD Guide You Every Step of the Way


Before you say something, pray. Before you do something, pray. When you get scared, pray. When you are happy, pray. Pray, pray, pray, pray! This is a GREAT WAY for God to help you!!!! I know people get kinda scared or tensed up sometimes when they hear the word "pray" or "prayer", but all prayer means is talking to God. Don't be scared of the word!
When you build relationships with your friends, you have to talk to them, right? Same with Him.
To know Him more, you must talk to Him, and the way we do that is by praying!


So how can I pray?


This is a question frequently asked, but the answer is quite simple! Just talk to Him! It doesn't have to be out loud (He can hear your thoughts!), it doesn't have to be eloquent, it just has to be from your heart! You don't have to say things in a specific order, just talk to Him like you would talk to anyone else on earth (that you like ;). When I talk (pray) to Him, I am comforted, secure, loved, encouraged, filled with peace, and my problem(s) don't seem so big anymore.
I mean, God is bigger than any of my problems, your problems, and all the problems in the whole world put together!




Keep Blooming and Stand Up!


Princess Catherine

Sandcastles

It's been a rather long time since I (Izori) wrote! One week I was at the beach, now I'm an assistant teacher in VBS, and well, I have a busy life.

While at the beach, my brother and I always build at least one sandcastle. When we build one close to the ocean, a wave always comes and catches it, and no matter how many barriers and moats we put around it, it's always claimed by the sea sooner or later.

On the other hand, when we try building our sandcastle far away from the ocean, the waves can't get it. Our castle stays safe, and we don't have to worry about it being broken down by the waves.

The sandcastle is a lot like your heart. If you stay away from temptation, you will stay pure, and no waves will break your walls. However, if you put yourselves in temptations way (like listening to music you know is impure, or agreeing to at least sit outside a theater that's showing a movie with impure content) you will get broken down by the waves. Even if you say, "Oh, I can just cover my eyes at the bad parts, and only watch the good parts," or in more allegorical context, "I can just build a few more barriers and then the ocean can't touch me!" your purity will still be damaged!

There is always a way out of temptation. One of the most common is: don't agree to get near it in the first place.

In Christ,

Princess Izori