The Girls Can Rock

Words to live by

2007-09-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit inseason, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:1-3

"As the deer pants for flowing streams, ao my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Psalm 42:1-2a

"O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great." Psalm 104:24-25

"And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Ill write more.....

2007-08-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

OK well the last few Sundays one of the pastors at my church *Pastor Steve* has been teaching through 1Corinthians and it has been very encouraging to hear! I always love listoning to Pastor steve because i always feel like i have learned somthing and he is very easy to liston to if you know what I mean.

A Few of his points I wanted to share....

1* we don't have wisdom, God does. The only wisdom man has is what God chooses to give them so its really Gods wisdom. So I mean when people say things like I have more wisdom then you so I am a more of a christian that's Not biblical at all cause we don't have wisdom only God. The same with the *gifts* No one had anything God didn't give to them. *but I wont get in to the stuff he said about the *gifts* because well you all know why*

Also God can take it away because it was Him who gave it to you! *that goes for anything...*

well i would write more but i have to get off and for some reason my eyes have been bothering me and i cant really see! lol so ill write more later!

latterz

2007-07-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

I came across this passage a minute ago while looking for another passage and I thought it was really awesome:

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

I just know that it is so true. Because everyone is sinful, but people who are very happy being "worldly" hate the idea that what they do could be wrong or is wrong.

2007-07-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

let not the mighty man boast in his might,

let not the rich man boast in his riches,

but let him who boasts boast in this,

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Prayer

2007-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

one of my friends is having trouble with a very close friend of the family....just is very blinded right now and making foolish decisions and hurting every one around her. So please just pray that God will open He eyes and Bring her back to Him. Also pray for my friends as they deal with this its very hard on them and I can tell they are in alot of pain. So just pray God will give them Wisdom

Evangalizing....

2007-07-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

well as some of you know i have been doing my best to ....tell This family about christ. They are looking for a church and I have been doing by best to get them to come to ours but i dont think the mom will yet. But her doughter is going through some of the stuff i went through sick wise just not as bad so we have become good friends and she is gonna come with us not this week but next. So please pray God will let her Hear and the He will use me to minister to her and her family. I feel like i should be very sure of my self when i talk to them about it and ...I am not...I mean I know what is Right and what I believe.. but its very hard sometimes so please pray for me! but I am so thankful God put this family in my life its kinda a long story but the girl has not had a easy life.

Well if you have any comments of encouragment i would Love to hear them

Faith

I am at CAMP!!!!!

2007-07-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Summer camp is SO much fun.
We sleep all day out in the sun....
And do LOTS and LOTS of........you guessed it.......
DISHES!!!!!!
But it still is a TON of fun. I get to do LOTS of things at camp!
I'm going to make this a short post already, and be done. So I will talk to alla yous later!!!
And we actually don't really sleep outi n the sun all day. Um.....I just needed something that rhymed.......so yeah. But it isfun!

Commit your work to the Lord

2007-07-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3

This verse can be very encouraging when you're working on something difficult, such as schoolwork or a project you may be working on. And this is very true! But it doesn't always apply to hard things...you must commit ALL your work to the Lord, whatever it may be. For example, when I volunteer at the Pregnancy Help Center every week, I usually end up running envelopes through the copier. We have to do thousands of them for the Center's Christmas cards, and they get very tedious to do. Easy, but boring. However, my work doesn't seem so terrible to do when I remember that what I am doing helps in a small way in saving the lives of babies. I know that is glorifying to God, so I work harder at it. If you work at anything with a grumbling heart, that is not glorifying to God, and it is less likely that you will get a lot done.

well, i can't really think of much to say about this right now...please add your own thoughts in the comment box. =)

~Emily

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

2007-06-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here's another song that relates to what we've been talking about recently on here.

Don't Tell Them Jesus Loves Them
by Steve Camp

Oh suffering soul, crying out for love
In a world that seldom cares
See the hungry heart longing to be filled
Much more than our prayers
And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue
And you hear her crying out for help,
"My God, what will we do?"

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too
Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do
Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Oh, the desperate man
Are we reaching for the souls that are sinking down in sin?
Oh, cry for the child
We've lost our passion for the lost and there are billions left to win
And another forty thousand children starve to death today
Would we risk all we have to see what of them say

Why have we waited so long to show them Jesus lives
To share salvation's song
Why have our hearts become so proud that we fail to see
To love them is to love God
And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue
Hear her crying out for help,
"What will we do?"

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too
Till your heart breaks down from the sorrow and the pain they're going through
With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do
Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too!

This is something we should always think about before we present the gospel of Christ to a lost person. To love them is to love God!!
God bless,
Emily

I AM POSTING! I TOLD YOU I WOULD SOON!

2007-06-22T10:56:00.001-07:00

Ok well Emily posted a few weeks ago about tell friends about God and i came across this song so i thought i would share it with you all! Its by casting crown *haha surprise!* hope its Encouraging........

Father, hear my prayer
I need the perfect words
Words that he will hear
And know they're straight from you
I don't know what to say
I only know it hurt
To see my only friend slowly fade away

So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life
With your fire in my eyes
But that old familiar fear is tearing at my words
What am I so afraid of?

'cause here I go again
Talkin' bout that rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is Not his friend
This might be my only chance to tell him that You love him
But here I go again, Here i go again

Lord, You love him so, You gave Your only Son
if he will just believe; he will never die
But how then will he know what he has never heard
Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life

So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life
With your fire in my eyes
But that old familiar fear is tearing at my words
What am I so afraid of?

'cause here I go again
Talkin' bout that rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is Not his friend
This might be my only chance to tell him that You love him
But here I go again, Here i go again

This might be my last chance to tell him that You love him
You love him, You love him
what am I so afraid of?
You love him,

How then will he know what he has never heard?

I really like that song! i hope it was encouraging!

Your sister in Christ
Faithie

From Beth

2007-06-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

hey, I was reading Hebrews 13 for my devotions and I thought I would write about it, and then I was like, hey Faith said to make a post soooooo, here it is.

ever feel alone?

have you ever felt like there is no-one there, no-one that cares about you? your alone in the world.
it feels like even God has left you. well, I'm here to tell you, I have been there, and it is at times like
that that God is closest. He never leaves you, even if the world forsakes you, HE is always there.
you could never do anything to lose your salvation. and our precious Savior is always there. always.
I know it can feel like your world is crashing down around you, and no-one cares, and no-one is there,
but God is. He knows how you feel. Remember that Jesus was separated from the Father when He was
on the cross, for us. He not only suffered great pain, just for us, but by taking on our sin He was separated
from His Father, I'm sure that never has anyone ever been more alone then Him. He knows how you feel.
He loves you more then anyone, and He will never, never leave you alone.

"...and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age."
Matt 28:20

"...I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Heb 13:5

T-E-N

2007-06-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

hello everyone...i check this blog every day, and nobody seems to want to post...so I guess I'll post again. =)

This is just a cool little thing that Mrs. Hodson mentioned at Audrey's b-day party. She said we oftentimes speak without thinking first, and sometimes we end up saying things we regret later. I'm sure you've heard the expression "count to ten before you speak". This is a little variation of that. You don't have to count all the way to ten, but just think about the word "TEN".

Is what you're about to say...
True
Edifying
Necessary

If it passes those three things, then it's probably something good to mention.

"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." Proverbs 15:28

God bless,
Emily

2007-05-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

No one's been updating recently, so I figured I would go ahead and write a post before I go on vacation. :-D

"Mercy is the pity of God in not giving sinners what they deserve."

I read this amazing quote somewhere (i forgot where) and it just stuck in my head. Isn't God's mercy amazing? We are just wretched sinners and are completely underserving of anything from God. Even if we worked for it all our lives, we still wouldn't be good enough to receive mercy for our souls from God.

But that's the beauty of it! That's what mercy is! If we worked for it, it wouldn't be mercy any more. Mercy is the pity of God in not giving sinners what they deserve. That concept is totally incomprehensible to our finite human minds. Why would a being so holy and just as God have mercy on us? Because He is God! Even though we constantly sin against His holy name, Christ died to satisfy God the Father's wrath for our sins so that fallen men might have the hope of receiving mercy from our great God. Isn't it amazing how He always loves and forgives His children and when they don't deserve it? And the best part is is that His mercy is everlasting! God will never change, so we can never be afraid cry out to Him and plead His mercy when we need it most. Glory be to God!!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He love us, even when we were dead in our tresspasses, made us alive together with Christ." Ephesians 2:4-5

~Soli Deo Gloria~
Emily

please pray

2007-05-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

there is Family I am close to at my church.
THe "mom" of the family found out she was going ot have another Baby she had a son 8 months ago. OF cours they werre happy but were scard because she has lost a few babys...
well the found out the day b4 mothers day that she lost the baby

so Please pray for them! they need it.

your sister in Christ

Faith

just so we are clear

2007-05-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ok i want every one who is reading this to know that this blog was made to be a encourage one another!!!!! so don't comment on this blog if you are just going to be rude we are all friends here and friends encourage each other not bring them down. You know who you are that is who i am talking about. I felt this post was important i hope it does not upset any one. But this Blog is to honor God and to encourage one another

I love you sisters and brothers in Christ.

your sister in Christ,

Faith

boldness

2007-05-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus calls all believers to be a witness for Him, and we can all trust in Him to give us the strength and boldness it requires for us to do that. Well, boldness is something I lack. Verbally giving the gospel to someone comes to me as something that's not easy. I know it should, and I have a great desire to share the good news and hope the Jesus Christ offers to the lost! But when an opportunity comes for me to do that, I just can't bring myself to say anything. I pray for the Lord to grant me boldness for His sake every day, just like the Christians in Acts 4 prayed for. I know I have to be patient, and I haven't gotten many opportunities to verbally give the gospel to someone, but I truly do want to advance Christ's kingdom in the world. When it comes to giving the gospel to someone through and e-mail or letter, it's soo simple! I love doing that. I'm just not sure why I can't readily speak the gospel to someone. How about you guys? Have you gotten any opportunities to witness to people? Were you nervous, or was it pretty easy?

~Emily

another allusion

2007-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here's another allegorical story that describes salvation. This one is my favorites and I heard it in a sermon by Steve Camp at a youth camp I went to. (I'm writing this from memory, so a couple of the details may be off, but the main point is still the same.)

Well, Steve Camp was on a cruise ship one time, and he got up in the middle of the night because he was hungry. He ran into another man on the ship and somehow they got into the topic of salvation. The man said he was told one time that salvation is like this:

"You (the unbeliever) fall overboard off of a ship and are struggling frantically to swim in the raging waters. But then Jesus shows up on the ship and tosses you a life preserver. You hold on and Jesus pulls you to safety."

Is this what salvation is really like? No! It's faith plus works. You trust in Jesus to rescue you from the waters (sin), but you're doing your part by holding on to the life preserver. Mr. Camp replied back with his own allegorical story.

"You fall overboard off of a ship and are struggling frantically to swim in the raging waters. You can't keep your head above the icy current so you go under.

Your body goes numb because the water is so cold, therefore, you cannot thrash around any longer.

You continue to sink breathlessly in the black abyss surrounding you.

You eventually go unconscious.

As you continue to descend, sharks take nips out of you.

Your dead body then hits the ocean floor.

The creatures living in the bottom of the ocean pick what is left off of your lifeless bones.

Then a strong underwater current comes and sweeps your bones away to the four corners of the earth.

But THEN, Jesus finds you out, reaches out His powerful, healing hand and gives you a new body.

He breathes fresh, new life into your lungs and makes you a new creature in Him.

THAT is salvation."

Isn't that amazing? We were once completely dead in our sins. We were not good enough to save ourselves! It is Christ and Christ alone who was able and willing to save us. What a wonderful Savior we have!!!!

God bless,

Emily

Hey everyone......

2007-04-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Nothing much is new here, just trying to get rid of all my babies :( Anyone want one? lol. I found out that we won't be wearing our pretty costumes for the TAFA showcase. The company that made them is really behind on orders or something so we wouldn't get them until after the showcase :'( Our teacher has replacements coming in but I don't think they're very pretty, I need to look at them again though. And we're never gonna use that company again since they were so stressful. But everything is in God's hands and I guess he didn't want us to have pretty costumes, lol.

Love,
~Audrey~

Signing

2007-04-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well no one has up dated in a while so here it goes

I am studing to be a sign interpiter

for details check out my blog

Love ya!

oh and i Invited Kaytlinn and Audrey to join

somethin' awesome

2007-04-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Well, if any of you read my blog, then you should know that I went to a concert last night. The main performer was Jeremy Casella...a folk-ish Christian singer/songwriter from Nashville. He has truly amazing talent with a guitar and he sings beautifully. At the concert, I think he talked more than he sang, but I didn't mind because he's hilarious and tells stories really well. Anyways, here's something that he said that really struck me as interesting.

It seems people think that when they become a Christian, Jesus is going to (allegorically) "come in" to their heart and improve it; make it better. For example, he might move the furniture around, paint the walls a different color, replace the curtains, and stuff like that. However, salvation is not like that at all! Jesus comes in with a wrecking ball and destroys the entire place! He must tear down the walls and destroy everything that we built. He must build his own eternal kingdom in the place of our sinful one. In other words, He makes us an ENTIRELY new person! He doesn't just improve our old life...he makes us die to our old life and gives us a brand new one!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

~Emily

P.S. check out Jeremy Casella's blog! Go see his wife Kirstin's blog too...you just gotta see their new adorable baby boy. =D

CLEARITY

2007-04-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

OK, I just want to make sure that we're all on the same page here. Communication is key! (I'm pretty sure that's off of a movie.) I like our discussions. It's wonderful to talk about GOD, and it helps us get to know one another. But I think sometimes I can come off almost argumentative at times. I'm not trying to cause any strife. I just like to share my opinion. I want people to tell me if they have a problem with something I say because I could be wrong, and I tend to think that everyone else feels the same way. If I do something that bothers you, please tell me. I don't like to offend or annoy people. And I really don't want my opinions to hinder a friendship. We can still be friends even if we don't agree on all the same biblical truths. (It's actually very difficult to find people that agree with you on every little thing right down to a tee.) That's part of being a Christian. Coming together, uniting as one body under Christ. We should be able to live in harmony with one another despite any disagreements we may have. And I always want to know your opinion regardless of what it is. I like knowing where people are coming from.

Well, I hope I've accuratly communicated my feelings. (I'll read over it in a couple of days to make sure that I have. I usually do that just to make sure.)

Much love in Christ,

Repaying evil for evil

2007-04-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was participating in a Walk-a-thon to help raise money for a Pregnancy Help Center that I volunteer at. Lots of kids were walking as well, and the adult who was watching us was my church deacon, Mr. Dunlap. He was playing a game with the kids, asking them Bible questions and stuff. Somehow, the subject of doing something mean back to a person who did something mean to you came up. Mr. Dunlap thinks that it's okay to be mean back to a person if they did something mean to you (for example, if someone pulls your hair, then it's okay to pull their hair back). He says that it teaches them a lesson, because if they feel how bad it hurts, they won't do it anymore. I mentioned the Bible verse where it says to "turn the other cheek", but he said that that particular verse was talking about persecution for the sake of Christ. I left it at that, but when I got home and looked up the verse, it didn't seem to me that it was talking about persecution for the sake of Christ.

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withold your tunic either." Luke 6:27-29 (ESV)

It seems to be speaking simply of loving your enemies, and commanding us not to act wrongly against someone just because they acted wrongly against you. Do you agree? I used to do mean things to my sister if she did mean things to me. But now, I realize that it is against the commands of the Bible so I do my best to love and act kindly to her, even if she acts wrongly against me. There are better ways of teaching kids not to be mean other than being mean back to them.

Here's another verse I'll end with:

"See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV)

~Emily

2007-04-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

World Headquarters staff members of CEF, Neil and Rita Wockenfuss are in need of prayer. Before arriving in Haiti to teach a support raising seminar, Rita had been ill. Upon arriving, Rita became very weak and ill. They began to work diligently to fly her out of Haiti to a hospital in Miami. After some problems, they arrived in Miami at the hospital. The medical staff quickly began to work on determining the cause of the illness. It was determined that Rita has pneumonia and acute leukemia. Rita is very weak, on oxygen and unable to get out of bed. They hope to be able to return home to Missouri once Rita has stabilized. A tentative date has been set for Monday. Neil and Rita were unable to bring their suitcases from Haiti and they are hoping to salvage their plane ticket to use to come home. Please take a minute now to stop and pray for Neil and Rita. Thank you for adding them to your prayer list.

Thinking............

2007-04-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Do we like this better? idk if i do........................

Me 2

2007-04-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have shard more with yall then most the ppl i know............feel honord LOL i though i would post a song i wrote

I AM NOT ALONE
BY FAITH ELIZABETH BROWN
6 MAY 2006

Why He chose me I’ll never know,
What is this thing He’s trying to show.
Will I ever guess, will I past the test.
Another tear falls from my eyes,
I try so hard not to cry.
They say again and again it’s not my
fault, but some times it feels like it is all.
Why is this happening to me?
Lord help me understand these things,
I can’t do this on my own, so help me
Remember I’m not alone and some day
You will bring me home.
It doesn’t make sense to me at all,
But I know you are in control.
Every day I pray and ask;
Why is this happening to me?
Lord help me understand these things,
I can’t do this on my own, so help me
Remember I am not alone and some day
You will bring me home.

Me!

2007-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there yall!

I know we were soppost to post other things....but i felt like i would post about when I learned more about God.

I will Say i was saved at 10 and babtised at 10, i started praying "God please wash away my sins and if it be your will please save me and change my hreat" when i was about 8 i wanna say. I prayed every day too. I loved God and ask Him to save me like i sadi every day. I remember on day sitting on my moms bed doing school with her (i was about 9) and she ask what was wrong or something and i just started to cry...i said i ask God to save me but its like He does not hear because I am so eveil aspecaily to my brothers. My Mom said God does hear you, and it does not mean when God saves you, you will be perfect. But when you sin you must ask God to forgive you.

I talk to my mom and Dad about everything! so of my friends think i am weird lol. But i am thankfull i can talk to them about anything and everthing. Some day i just went to talk to them and i said that i wanted to get babtised we talked about it and they said on Sunday we will go talk to the pasrtors well long story short i ended up going to talk to one by my self....kinda scary lol and a few months latter i got babtised on Mothers day infact! i dont really no what else to say because i really font remeber much of it. I just think about what i have learnd so thats why i wanted to share something else....

I have been sick for about 2 years. I went from not being able to walk to not being able to were shirts. Its been hard "i have suffernd and gone through more pain then some ppl feel there holes lives" that was something a friend said about me. But I would not change it because i know that God wanted me to be sick and He has a plan why He has put me through this. I have have been through so much diapointment i cant take it any more. there have been days where i just cry but then I remember that Jesus died to save me and i deserve much much worse. I may never know why GOd chose me for this but I am glad for it because i have learn so much about him through this. I have met so many ppl because of it. I appreiceate live more do you ever say Thank you God for letting me lay down? becuse there were months i could not lay down becaue of my back. i dont say that to make you feel dorry for me but think about everything God blesses us with and thank him! I am So lucky comperd to some though because with my sufferings God brout me closer to Him. I love Him more then ever and I am sad some times I cry, but God is good and you know what he has a reason for EVERYTHING HE DOES! and we should give thanks that we know Him and feel sorry for those who dont "cough cough bethy is good at that " I dont know if yall have ever read joni but it is a AWESOME BOOK i encourage you all to read!

well i will talk to yall latter and i hope i dont sound to....prechy but i just wanted to share with you what i have learnd through what i am living right now and i what i see as i am getting better,....................

Emily's testimony

2007-04-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

Beth and Faith have already read this, but here it is again, for those of you who haven't read it and for Beth and Faith to re-read. Sorry it's so incredibly long. :-]

Written October 2, 2006

I have spent all my life going to church and living in a home where I get told the gospel a lot. My parents consistently taught me the good news of Jesus Christ, and did what they could to try to turn me to Christ. When I was really little (about 4-7), I had no interest whatsoever in Christ or His good news. I was very hard-hearted and did not want to read the scriptures or hear about God, and even dreaded church, Bible studies, and Family Worship because I thought they were boring! When I was in the ages from 8-14, I had a fluctuating interest in God. Sometimes I would have no interest. But then there were other times when the Lord convicted me and I would really want to study his scriptures and learn more about Him. Sometimes I would even cry at night because I wanted to become a Christian so bad, but didn't quite understand how to become one, and didn't understand why Jesus had to die. I did go to my Dad a couple of times when I was 8 or 9, to talk to him about salvation, but I really didn't have a deep-down desire to glorify God in my life. All I wanted was to be rescued from Hell because I knew I was going there if I wasn‘t a Christian. I was afraid of death and/or Christ's judgment, whichever came first. But eventually, those convictions would go away and I would continue to live in sin. Sadly, when I was 10-14, I became too shy to talk to my dad about salvation. But I still had an on-and-off interest in God (unfortunately, more off than on).

The turning point for me was the Youth Camp (SBFYC) that I attended this summer. Those few days were so full of learning about God! I attended four sermons/seminars a day, and it all just built up. On the very last night, at the end of the last sermon of the whole camp, the speaker (Steve Camp) presented a call to Christ. All of Steve Camp's sermons were very convicting and God really used Steve Camp's words to open my eyes to see my great need for Christ. Right then and there, the Holy Spirit penetrated my heart and I cried and poured out my heart to God for the first time in true faith. By His grace alone, I accepted Him as Lord of my life. The Lord opened my blind eyes and caused me to see that I was a wretched sinner, deserving of God's wrath and judgment. But right then, I realized for the first time why Jesus had to die! God poured out the wrath that was meant for my sins on Jesus! He shed His perfect, precious blood so that I might receive the hope of eternal salvation! Christ's perfect obedience and love for sinners made Him the perfect sacrifice. I also had an urging to glorify God in every single thing I did because he was so worthy of it! I realized that my Holy Savior was so great I just could not comprehend it and I wanted to be a servant to Him for the rest of my life.

At this point, it may sound odd, but I didn't know I was saved right then. (But looking back now, I believe that it was at that time.) I knew something was changed in my life, but I didn't know it was true salvation. After the service that night, I couldn't get my mind off of it, but was too shy to talk to my camp leader about it. For several weeks after camp, the Lord caused me to think about Him constantly. Since I didn't know I was saved at the time, I wanted to be become a Christian so bad; I had a much stronger feeling than I had ever had before! I studied the scriptures for guidance, prayed increasingly, and looked forward to Sundays so that I could worship God and learn more about Him. However, I just knew that I had to talk to somebody. Sadly, I was too shy to go to my parents, so I decided to write my Christian friend Bethany a long e-mail. I told her how I wasn't sure of my salvation and asked her for help. She listened well and gave me Bible verses and some encouraging words:
"The Bible says that you are saved by faith (Galatians 2:16). So if you have faith in God and really believe that Christ died for your sins on the cross, then you are saved. But if you're still not sure, today is the day of salvation!"
When I read that, that's when it hit me. I realized something major that I had been missing! When someone is saved, they are saved by faith alone! It is not a feeling. Before, I had always thought that when someone was saved, they felt all "enlightened" and felt completely changed and were all perfect. I was so wrong! Salvation is by faith alone! It's not a feeling; it's a belief in the redeeming blood of Christ alone and nothing of my own doing. Once I realized that, I was so joyful, thankful, and excited! I was a new creature in Christ!

In that same e-mail, Bethany encouraged me to tell my parents about what I told her. I knew that I had to, but I didn't know how or when. (This was about the middle of August this year.) So I decided that writing my parents a letter would be the easiest way. Once I finally got the letter done (it took me a few tries), I gave it to my mom one night and once they read it, my mom said they would like to talk to me. When I went in there, I didn't say a word, but I just broke into tears of joy on my mom's shoulder, then my dad's, then we talked for a little bit.

In conclusion, I now realize that I am now a born-again believer. I have been striving with the help of the Holy Spirit to bring God glory in everything because I am unable to do any good on my own. I am so weak, yet I am trusting in God to give me strenth to do whatever he calls me to do in the short time I have on this earth. I want to advance His kingdom and I am looking forward to spending eternity with my Heavenly Father. I also have a new-found love and interest for the Bible and have been studying His Word more diligently and I pray and confess my sins daily. I praise God every day for rescuing me from His wrath and judgment and taking me as His own child!

Soli Deo Gloria! (To God alone be the glory!)

For Christ's sake,
Emily

i guess i will

2007-03-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

wellp, i guess i'll go first.

as some of you know, i was saved at 4. i don't really remember exactly what happened, but i know i was playing on the flour and mom was practicing for awanna and part of it was if someone wanted to ask Jesus into their hearts to raise their hand, and, i did. :D

this year is my 12 birthday in Christ! Last year i was given the AWESOME privilege of leading a young man to God AND helping my sister in Christ realize her salvation. God has been revealing Himself to me in a big way this year, i wont go into details, cuz i know some of you wont agree, but it's just awesome. One thing i will say is that He has called me to missions in a big way, speshally inner city. I'm not sure what He want's me to DO about that yet, cuz i'm not aloud to go on mission trip or anything, so i guess all i can do right now is pray.

share testimonies

2007-03-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

hey, sorry I'm posting so much, but Faith asked for an idea to talk about, and I thought we could all post our testimonies. I just love reading people's testimonies, even if I don't know them. It's amazing to see how God works in people's hearts in different ways. I won't go first, because I've written the past 3 posts (and my testimony is really long), so whoever would like to go first, feel free.

~Emily

my idea

2007-03-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

I was thinking that instead of random, individual posts, we could use this blog as a place for discussion about various things, as well as encouraging each other, building one another up, and helping each other grow in grace as sisters in Christ. Faith started this blog, so it's up to her, but (if it doesn't sound too cheesy) I just thought it would be cool and helpful to do something like this.

tell me what you think...
~Emily

3rd blog?

2007-03-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!!

Now I have THREE blogs I post on! How am I going to keep track? wow...

anyways, thanks so much for inviting me to post on here, Faith! Blogs are tons of fun...

I gotta go now...sorry so short...I'll post more later!

Your sister in Christ,
Emily

the unexplainable

2007-03-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

hey hey! guess what, the IS no explanation for me! muahahahaha! i'm just to weird.

you'll just have to stick around to find out what i'm like. ;P

I'm Me.

2007-03-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

Since I don't know some of the people on here, and others I don't know well, I thought I should give meself a bit of an intro. (Thanks for the idea, Emily! :p)

I'm 16; I live in WA (close to Vancouver); I was saved when I was 11 and baptized when I was 13; and most people call me things like "different" and "blonde". I like guns (especially SHOTGUNS!), knives, blowing things up, and many other "boy" activites. I like riding motorbikes, four and three wheelers, and horses. (And I love to drive! I got my permit two weeks ago, and I haven't even killed anyone yet. YUSSSSSS!) Boys have NEVER had cooties; pineapple DOES belong on pizza; and they're called FLIP FLOPS not thongs.

A good description of me: One day I was lying on my bed in my cute PJ's and leopard print slippers eating chocolate and reading Shakespeare. (The only author I enjoy more is GOD.)

And now it's time for bed, but I shall blog you gorgeous darlings again soon.

I AM FIRST!!!!

2007-03-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yay! i am first! well just so you know..... Caitlin and Sunny are from my Home school group TAFA and all the other girls i Email, IM, and are just my friends i have met through other people. I hope you all have fun with this blog! Well any who i am doing better today! i also Have some very very good news My bro is going to get babtized! I am SO happy PRAISE GOD! Ballet was good this week but really painful and i dont think i did very well cause my back was hurting really bad but we finished our dance and it is pretty easy. So I am just trusting that God will give me strength and i am Happy this is the first week i did not do my best in ballet. So I am getting better just not fast enough to suit me lol. But please keep praying! Love ya,

TTYL

Your sis in christ
Faith

Here is a song....

HOPE
By Faith Brown
11/5/06

Right now I’m all alone,
And nothing clear is being shown,
How am I supposed to feel?
How am I supposed to deal?
Is the idea of getting better real?
But I must keep hope in Jesus Christ,
After all, for me, His life He sacrificed,
The love He shows is clear enough for me,
Although I can not see He has a plan for me.
Some day I will be with Him
He will for give all my sin,
That’s the hope I keep in my heart,
That Him and I will never part.
He will give me strength to get through,
When I just don’t know what to do,
I remember that one thing I can do is all things through Christ who strengthens me.