Endless are His Mighty Works

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." ~John 21:25.

How awesome is this verse?! I was reading this verse this morning, and I just thought "I love that!" Jesus has done SO many amazing things, in each persons life, that if we were to write every single thing down, the world would not be able to contain the books! Wow!

I know that if I were to write out every single thing that Jesus has done for me in my life...it could possibly fill a whole set of encyclopedias, and that's just going small. Then you think about that many books times every single person that has ever lived in the world...wow! Just every single breath we take is a blessing from God. Every good thing that happens is a blessing from God. And when we look at the fact that Jesus works ALL things together for good, then even every bad thing is a blessing from God, because it will eventually work out God's perfect plan for our lives, even if we don't see it now.

So, that is just some thoughts for today. I leave you with this challenge. Start making a list of the blessings God has given you just within the last week! If you really think about it, it will make up a decent sized list! May God fill your life with many blessings this week, and open your eyes to see each and every one of them! Stay strong in Jesus!

Because of His blood,
Faith Christine
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

P.S. Something I love about this time of the year in Texas? Bluebonnets!!

All Things Work Together for Good

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28.

This is a verse that Christians have read many times, but do we really, truly believe it? Can God really use everything in our lives to work out his good? I would like to share with you something that happened to me today to show that God really does work ALL things together for His good!

I woke up this morning with great anticipation for the day. I was going to take my US History 2 CLEP test today, and was so excited to be finished with it. I started the day off with a wonderful time in the Word, and talking to God. After getting ready for the day, I spent time doing some last minute studying before I was supposed to leave to go take my test at 1. That is when it all started to change. My parents were going this afternoon to visit a friend of mine in the hospital who had surgery late last night to remove her appendix. I needed to go to my test around the same time. Things did not work out like I had hoped, and I had to wait until my parents got home from the hospital before going to take my test.

Shortly before my parents arrived home, my mother called and informed me that I was not going by myself, but that everyone was going, and they would drop me off at the school. This was the first point of pressure applied to me. Then people were a little slower at getting in the car than I would have liked them to be. Second pressure point. Then after FINALLY leaving, we were not even five minutes from the house, and my Dad called saying that he needed us to turn around and come get something before going to church. Third pressure point. Then I realized what time we were going to be at the school for me to take my test, and what time I would be finished, and that added the fourth pressure point, because I realized it was going to make me VERY late for teaching piano lessons this evening. All this pressure was building up, and I decided that I was just ready to quit. My mom told me that since I was feeling stressed out, maybe I should put off the test 'till the next day. But I was determined to take it today.

Thankfully I have a very encouraging mother who kept me going. I finally decided to cancel piano lessons, and thankfully the mom of my students (also a good friend of mine) was very understanding. She even prayed with me over the phone that my stress would be relieved. I then spent a little while crying which is the best way for me to relieve stress. Then my mom did her best to make me laugh and remove any stress.

When I arrived at the school, I was ready to take my test. As they were setting up the test on the computer for me, I asked them not to put me on computer 10, because I always got cold sitting there. So they put me on computer 1. 1/3 of the way through my test...the computer freezes. I thought, "Oh great, I knew something else wrong had to happen." I then prayed earnestly that God would fix the computer, and unfreeze it. But He didn't. After five minutes of the computer being frozen, I told the test administers that it was frozen. They spent about 30-35 minutes trying to fix the computer, and then they decided to call tech support. Well guess what? Tech support had left five minutes ago! Great...

So, the main lady in charge told me to come back in the morning to take my test, and hopefully they could save my test so I could start where I left off. I left the testing center, went outside, and called my sister-in-law, Sophia, to come pick me up. While I waited, I sat down on a bench to read a book. Across the pavement from me, I saw a young man sitting on a bench with his backpack, waiting for the bus. I instantly felt the Holy Spirit speak to me saying that I should go speak to that young man, and witness to him. At first I argued with the Holy Spirit, "But, this is awkward, God. I'm a girl here by myself, and it's just him. Well, maybe I'll do it." I tried to read, but couldn't read with this voice speaking in my head. So I finally got up, and nonchalantly paced back and forth, working my way to the other side of the pavement. He then got up to look around the corner to see if his bus was coming. As he walked back towards his bench, I said "You waiting for your ride too?" "Yeah, I missed my bus earlier" he said. I then took my Mark Cahill tract One second after you...and handed it to him saying "Well, here's something good for you to read while you're waiting." "Thanks" he said, as he flipped through the booklet. He read the title aloud and then said "What is it about?" "It tells you how you can get to heaven. Do you know how to get to heaven?" I asked. "Well, I think you have to be good, and do good stuff...but there's no hope for me. I have done so many bad things, and I really regret those bad things. I can never be redeemed from that" he said as he lowered his head. "Well, I have good news for you. God sent his only Son Jesus to die on the cross, and his shed blood is what redeems us, and gives us eternal life. We can't do anything to earn heaven. We have to accept the shed blood of Jesus. No matter how bad we are, Jesus' blood can redeem us. If you read that booklet, it will tell you the truth about how you can get to heaven." Just then, I saw Sophia arrive. "My ride is here now, so I have to go." He looked me in the eyes and said, "Thank you very much."

So, this has been really long, and I am amazed if you have even made it this far in the post. But I wanted to share every detail with you. If any of my circumstances would have been different, I would not have been there to share the gospel with this needy soul. If I had taken my test early in the day. If my computer had not frozen. If they had fixed my computer, and I was there later. If I had not been so determined to take the test today, instead of relenting to taking it tomorrow. Even if he had not missed his bus earlier! If anything had changed, I would not have been there to speak truth into this young man's life.

After I left, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me and say, "See Faith? Everything I did today was so that you would be here at the right time, and in the right place to speak truth into his life. I am in control, and I work ALL things together for good." Wow! He is SO good to be able to use all these little annoyances, and stressful situations to work out His perfect plan. I am so thankful that He can see the bigger picture.

I know this has been SUPER long, but I pray it has been an encouragement to you. God is going to work everything out for good. You may not see the bigger picture until a week, a month, a year, or ten years from now. You may not even see it in this lifetime. I am so thankful that the Lord let me have a little glimpse today of His bigger picture. It gave me strength and encouragement. Well, God bless your week! Stay strong in Jesus!

Because of His blood,
Faith Christine
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

10 Random Facts About Me

So, I saw this on a couple of blogs, and I thought I'd do it too!
Here are 10 random facts about me:

1. I have never read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boy, Boxcar children, Mandie, or Bobsy Twins. Some of my younger siblings can't believe that I haven't read these, but I've never had an interest in mysteries. I always preferred to read biographies.
2. My eyes change colors. I was born with blue eyes, but as I got older, they started changing to green. Some days they are blue, and then other days they are very green. They change sometimes depending on the color of clothing I am wearing, the mood I am in, or how tired I am feeling. Sometimes my left eye is very blue, and my right eye is very green. Is that not weird? My eyes are green more than blue now.
3. This one is going to sound pretty strange...when I practice the violin, I usually take off my right shoe...and just my right shoe. Not sure why, but it has become an odd habit for me.
4. My ideal of the perfect place to go on a honeymoon would be to go dive-bombing over the Royal Gorge in Colorado.
5. I used to wear glasses, from about age 6-11. Then the eye doctor told me I did not need them anymore.
6. I love dark chocolate, and prefer it to be no less than 70%. Although, I prefer 85%.
7. I have never left the United States, but I would love to travel to Israel, or Taiwan.
8. I do not dislike any food (that I have eaten before) except for liver, and black licorice. Although, I cannot eat ginger, because the taste makes me nauseous.
9. I helped my mom make my first dress when I was six years old, and have been sewing ever since then.
10. Someday, I want to serve in a ministry to high school/college aged people, witnessing to them, and training them in the ways of the Lord. Particularly to teenage girls.

And there are the ten random facts about me! What are 10 random facts about you? Have a wonderful day!! Stay strong in Jesus!

Because of His blood,
Faith Christine
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Journaling -- Video Blog Post

So as I promised, I am posting another video blog! I think I'll be good to get in two a month! Today we are talking about journaling, and the blessing it has been in my life. I hope this will inspire you to start keeping a journal!

(Not sure why the lip-sync is off. Sorry about that.)

As for what else is going on in my life right now, just the usual. Lots of piano practice, violin pracitce, and studying hard for my next CLEP test: US History 1. On top of that, took my siblings on a photoshoot today, so looking forward to editing those pictures, and sharing them with y'all. Well, I pray this post was an inspiration to y'all! Have a great day! Stay strong in Jesus!

Because of His blood,
Faith Christine
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Purity? What is that?

In our world today, purity is something that is becoming rare to find. More and more you hear of girls in their teens getting pregnant, or you hear of people living together before marriage. Even just 60 years ago, this was not something that you did, or of which you could be proud. As time goes on, purity becomes less important to the world, and the world actually promotes impurity through telivision shows such as "16 and pregnant", "Teen Mom", "The Secret life of the American Teenager", "Pregnancy Pact", etc. (Just for the record, I have never seen these shows, but I have read reviews on PluggedIn, and please don't ever consider watching these shows.) Why do we not have shows promoting purity?

Yesterday, I read this article. It was so encouraging for me as a young lady who is striving to be pure, and to completely save myself for my husband, to see young men who appreciated and encouraged girls to stay pure, because they were staying pure for them. I encourage you young ladies to go and read this article, and allow it to be an encouragement to you to keep your purity.

After reading this article, I started to think to myself, what exactly is purity? Of course there is the obvious, such as sexual purity, but I personally believe there is a lot more entailed with purity. So if you are interested in how I define purity, and the things I do to keep myself completely pure for my future husband, continue reading.

Purity Defined

Modesty
I don't know if a lot of you girls think about this one as remaining pure, but I certainly do. If we dress in such a way that causes men to lust after us, I believe in some ways, we have let go of purity. Jesus says that lusting after a woman in your heart is the same as committing adultery with her. So if we dress in such a way that causes a man to lust after us, then in God's eyes, it's the same as committing adultery. Have you ever thought about that? So ladies, dress in such a way as to save your body completely for your husband. Ask the men in your family if something you are wearing causes a wrong thought to spring in their head.
Here are a few pointers:

1. Don't show any cleavage please!
2. If you are wearing a skirt, please make sure it covers your knees when sitting down. You have no idea how easily someone can see up your skirt, even if you are careful.
3. If you are wearing pants, please wear pants that are loose fitted, and do not show every outline of your body.
4. Even if you are wearing a top with a modest neckline, make sure it is not tight and clingy to your skin.

If you have to ask yourself the question "Is this too tight, too short, or too low?" then it probably is. I am not saying that we all need to go around in potato sacks. There are ways to dress modestly and stylish at the same time. I know many girls that do so, as well as my sisters and myself. I am not saying to hide your beauty. In fact, dressing modestly adds extra beauty to you. I promise you that if you dress modestly, some day your husband will greatly thank you for saving yourself for him by dressing that way.

Physical Contact
Now, I know everyone is going to feel different about this issue than I am, but I am addressing this because this is something I personally have felt convicted to do to help save myself for my husband. For me, I have no physical contact with young men. I know a lot of girls who give hugs to their guy friends, but I do not. I want to save my body completely for my husband, and to me that means having no physical contact with other young men. After talking to my dad on the subject, I know the kind of thoughts that could go through a young man's mind when you give him a hug, and those are not some thoughts that I want to cause. Talk to your dad about the subject, and pray about what God would have you to do. If you end up in several relationships (which I hope you will not after reading the next paragraph), this will help to lessen pain and attachment when you leave that relationship. But as for me, and my sisters, we avoid physical contact. For me, this also means not having any physical contact with the man I am in a relationship with, until the marriage altar. My first hand-hold will be at the altar. My first kiss will be at the altar. I intend to save the first of everything for my husband. This goes for you too, guys. Help out us young women by avoiding physical contact with us. Don't initiate those hugs. If we are trying to avoid physical contact, we need your help by you avoiding it also.

Dating vs. Courtship
Another way I am saving myself for my husband is by not dating. In my family, we believe in courtship, which to us means not entering into a relationship until God has brought the person into our life with whom we are going to spend the rest of our life. Some people play the dating game, thinking "Oh, if I do not like this person, I can dump them and find someone else". Ask yourself these questions. How will your future spouse feel about you having relationships with other people before them? How would you feel if the person you married had a lot of other relationships before you? Please, wait on God's timing to bring the right person into your life before ever entering into a relationship.

Purity of heart
This is the main thing, and should really come first before anything else. We can not have pure actions if we do not have a pure heart. This means completely giving yourself over to Christ, and keeping your focus on Him. When you keep your focus completely on Him, and make Him the love of your life, everything else will follow. I plead with you to set your focus on Christ, do everything to please Him, and then God will eventually bring along the right kind of person into your life. Because the right person will be looking for someone who is totally in love with Christ. If you want Christ to be first in your life, then you want someone who also wants you to have Christ first in your life, and has Christ first in their life.

This post ended up being a lot longer than I wanted, but this is something that has been weighing on my heart, and I wanted to share it with you all. Please think about what I said, and I encourage you young ladies to save yourselves for your husbands completely, in the ways I have described, and put your focus on Christ. Young men, I encourage you to be doing the same. Set your eyes upon Christ. Make Him first in your life. Keep yourselves pure for your future wife. God will bless that, and will bring along the right person into your life in the right time.

God's blessing upon you all as you strive for purity, and strive to live for Jesus Christ. Because life is all about Him! Stay strong in Jesus!

Because of His blood,
Faith Christine
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10