Friday, December 13, 2013

It's a No-brainer...



   Serving the Lord. It's just something that I know KNOW He's called me to do... and if you're not sure if he's called you to do the same, you might want to check yourself. With summer slowly approaching, I know The Lord wants me to dedicate mine to furthering the Gospel and serving in His name. But the tough part is what to do? I have a few choices on the shelf and while I pray and ponder, I remember that whatever it is, wherever He leads me, will be what is 100% best for the Both of us. I also am slightly worried about college and cost, but The Lord will lead me through, I just need to trust Him! On the other hand, I need to be applying and searching out places!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What's Been on My Heart



                    Often I forget my Savior,

                    Who's done so much for me

                    His mercies are continual

                    The cost is always free.

                    But I am now dead to any sin.

                    Shall I continue any longer therein?

                   

                    When we were baptized into Jesus Christ

                    We were baptized into His death,

                    But because he already paid the price
            
                    No longer do we face God's wrath.

                    By the glory of the Father

                   We now walk in newness of life.

                    I now lift my voice and praise forever

                    I'm no longer slave to sin and strife.


                    Because I have put off my old sinful self

                    The renewal must now come

                    Putting on the new man

                    Created after God's perfect One.

                    So use me now, I pray Lord

                    I have a willing mind

                    That I may continually serve

                    In your presence forever. Signed,

                    Your (trying to be humble) servant, Dinah

                   

                    

                   

                   

Saturday, September 21, 2013



                                                                  The Ills of Young Dating
(This is an essay I wrote for school awhile ago, and it's not in proper format and I lost my footnotes... but you get the idea. I've been gone all summer and that would explain why I've ignored this thing.)



   Our society really seems to push young relationships. This is sadly just another area of our morals that seems to be crumbling. Entertainment pushes it. Peers push it. Something else I’ve noticed is that it’s seeping into the Christian community as well. Girls my age and younger who claim to know Christ are turning from His will to follow after their own desires, especially when it comes to "dating". Why are they in the wrong?



   The Bible has never taken adultery lightly. Proverbs 7 is just one passage that speaks of an adulteress who flatters with her words and body language. (Surely and sadly, many young girls have mastered the art of this very thing.) The adulteress’ house is referred to as "the way to hell; going down to the chambers of death. " But maybe I should explain why this adulteress applies to those in relationships today: simply put, he’s not your husband!



   I will expand somewhat on this idea: while it is possible for one to meet her life’s mate at the ripe old age of say, 14, is marriage truly on her mind? I can tell you from personal experience that it most certainly is not. How flighty and erratic we are in our adolescent years! It’s the experience of being in love that excites us. Even if one thinks she should be with this special someone forever (like marriage), that soon is no longer the case. She matures and/or gets to know the person better. If she ever did have the notion of marriage, it’s gone now. She changes her mind.



   A lot of the problem seems to be that these young people do not quite have their priorities straight. What many people don’t seem to understand is that the love of Christ is never changing, never failing, all fulfilling. Instead, they trade in Christ’s love for the deprecated love (and lusts) of this world. If one thinks this world has anything going for it, they would do well to read Ecclesiastes. The son of David comes to the realization that the mirth and pleasure this world has to offer is all vanity.



   I also think of Paul’s religious status before the Lord changed him. He writes to the Philippians about how he had it all as one of the highest qualified Jews of his time. He was famous. He had a fairly easy life. But his qualification, his social status, his Pharasitical upbringing was thrown out the window to serve Christ. It’s even believed that the position he was in before required him to be married. It’s possible that his wife rejected him when he converted. He turned away from all these things to claim Christ and his righteousness; because that’s the only way we can truly know Him.



   We also all know the story of Samuel, but let’s look a little deeper into the story. Hannah would bear a son, and because the Lord had given her this son, she would "sacrifice him to the Lord all the days of his life." Samuel would be given unto the Lord. His mother surely instilled this idea in him, or he wouldn’t have become such a servant to the Lord.



   Could we not purpose in our own hearts to follow the examples of Solomon, Paul, and Samuel and his mother? If we surrendered our life to the Lord, and worked on strengthening our relationship with Him, we would no longer desire a relationship with sweaty, pimply teen-aged boys, would we? Let it be noted that even if they aren’t repulsive to us, the Lord can certainly give us the strength to resist responding in a lustful approach.



   In closing, I could quote to you verse after verse about God’s great love for his children, sinners, and how His love is ultimately the remedy. But instead, I’ll leave you with this passage: "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." Surrender to His plan for you, and He will do great and mighty things through you.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Peace... with a side of joy!

  Okay, so it's been a very, VERY long time since I've posted. Like for real, man. BUT, the good thing is, I have learned so much since then! So what I'd like to touch on today is something I've been thinking about lately, and that is the peace of God! ...Which happens to kind of match with this holiday season. ;)

  So anyways, for Bible quizzing at my church this year, we're studying the book of Proverbs. My first thought, of course, was "NOOOOO! Do you know how many different topics that area covers!?" But I'm actually enjoying it (of course)! This month we're studying the 3rd chapter... which kind of covers the results of getting wisdom and understanding (a whole seperate blog post) and the cons of not seeking after it! But the first few verses really mean something to me!

  "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man."

  I especially tend to focus on the fact that the Lord will give you peace, because that's something that I've been needing a dose of lately! All I have to do is not forget His law, and keep His commandments... I know, I know, easier said than done, right? Well yeah, but serving the Lord isn't always supposed to be easy!  "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:" Acts 20:19 See? That was Paul, by the way. :) "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Phil. 2:3 This is true peace... serving the Lord is the only way I can get to it!

 And another thing... Christ came to the Earth to give us peace, true peace, and joy! That's something I constantly found myself forgetting this season! I Thess. 2:19

        

        

        

        

        

     


        

        
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

At least my Bible's not dusty...

 My poor blog has been covered in dust for a while now and for that, I apologize! A lot of things are happening in my life, and I thought I would briefly share!

 I have a job, praise The Lord! :) This is wonderful news because without one, I woudn't be able to pay for driver's training... which I am currently in. :) Yes, that can get a little dry, but it has to be done! Anyways.

 I am currently reading an awesome book by R.A. Torrey (if the name sounds familiar, think Moody Bible Institute) called The Christian Worker. And I absolutely love it! It daily encourages me to win souls for Christ, and Torrey teaches how to teach the gospel to the unsaved in such a different, more... I don't know, effective way! So it's definitely a huge blessing to me! It also gives me more of a desire to dive into God's word. It's funny, because just when I think I can't savor reading my bible any more, it gets even better!

 I went to camp CoBeAc this summer! I didn't think I was going to, but God provided a last minute, well, VERY last minute chance, so I took it! :) And was it ever an encouragement! I'm so happy I was able to go!

 Other things to do, but I'll try to write again ASAP!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Checkin' in...

YAY! I have a computer for a day! So, the first thing I decided to do, is blog!

 Lots of things have happened since I last post, but I won't make you read all of them! Well, except one maybe... I went to Cedar Point with My youth group and it was so amazing! If you haven't been, you NEED to go! My favorite was definitely the maverick! :) Okay.

 I am now a mediocre runner! I recently visited a friend in Ohio and we ran a lot, every day, and it's been sticking, even in this heat! I can now run about two miles without totally dying! HAHA! Slowly working my way up, my goal is 5 miles! :)

 Okay, I atually have to go! :( Write more ASAP!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Another thought

 If you are one of the 4 people that read my blog, I'm terribly sorry about the delay on another blog post. My computer once again has failed me! :'(  So, I'm stuck here at the library on a timed computer, with a really good idea for a blog post but my clock is ticking, so let me just get this out: It is so super important for me personally, and I believe any christian to memorize bible verses. I think scripture memory is a necessity in one's walk with God. At my new church we go to bible quizzes with about half a dozen other churches and quiz on a certain chapter in the bible. This has been a wonderful oppotunity for me to get some memorization going! (The wording may sound a little weird on the next sentence, but I have no other way to explain it.) The more I read and memorize, the more I can relate  to everyday circumstances, and find a way to get through them... If you haven't experienced this already, let me tell you, it's like a breath of fresh air! It makes my christian walk that much eaiser! Gotta run! I have 5 more minutes!