Face paint fun :)

Elaina painted these snakes on Seth while we were babysitting the other day... isn't she a fun sister?

Tomorrow we're leaving for the Creation Museum!!! I'm so excited! I'll post pictures when we get back. Have a wonderful week!

~Marissa

~Sisters~... and a busy week :)

Whew! This week we've been running non-stop! Which is partially why this post is so short. :)

I've been trying to focus on being patient even when things feel overwhelming. This passage was a blessing to me today:

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4

God uses days like these to work on my character!

The JOY of the Lord is my strength! :)

Blessings,
Marissa

Consistant Bible reading

Earlier today I was reading Jenna's post about self-control and daily Bible reading. I was thinking about how many of us have a hard time committing ourselves to reading God's Word each day, and decided to share some things that have helped me.

1) Force yourself to get up early
*Ahem*.... I'm not very good at this one... It's something I'm working on!
It often helps me to think of Psalm 118:24 in the morning when I don't want to get out of bed:

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

2) Don't do anything else until it's done.
I know this can be impossible often, especially if you didn't get up when you wanted to. For example, we do family devotions at 8:30 each morning, and I can't change the time on that or be late because of my own quiet time. Or perhaps I *ahem* got up late and didn't have time to do it before we had to leave for something. So I just try not to do anything that I have any choice over before I do my quiet time. It may be 11:00p.m. by the time I get to it, but it works for me (although I try my very best to get it done in the morning!).

3) Keep a journal
You don't have to write much in it. I write the date, the passage I read, my verse of the day, anything that stood out to me, what I'm memorizing, what I'm personally working on for that day.... etc. Some days when I have less time I don't write much except the date and passage. Even if that's all you do, it keeps you accountable. Since I started doing this last April, I have never yet missed a day of Bible reading, even if it's only a chapter. I don't want to be missing any dates in my notebook! :)

Well, those are the three main things that I use to help make Bible reading a priority. Do you have anything to add to the list?


But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2


To God be the glory!
Marissa

Quote of the week...

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies, and if they perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exhortations, and let no one go there unwarned or unprayed for."
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I finished my blanket!

I'm finally finished! :) Yay! Actually I finished it a couple of weeks ago but I just haven't uploaded the pictures until now... so here they are. :)

Thanks so much, Eden, for doing the knit/crochet along! I had a lot of fun working on this project. :)

Happy 11th Birthday, Elaina!!

Yesterday was our dear sister, Elaina's, birthday! She turned eleven and is growing up so fast!! I am so glad to have such a wonderful sister as her! She has blessed my life in many ways and has brought much joy to our family. God is so good!

Energetic
Loving
Awesome
Interested in others
Nurturing
Amazing

You are an amazing girl, Elaina! My love forever, sweet girl!

In Christ,
Andrea

Just Trust God

Three words. But it's harder than it sounds, isn't it?

I'm gonna keep this short.

God wants us to trust Him. He made you, He knew everything about you before you were born. He made every singe person in your life, every situation is known by Him before it happens. Don't you think He's going to take care of you?

I know it's easy to get frustrated, flustered, worried, concerned, and anxious. It's not worth it. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Luke 12:25) Go to God with every concern, every anxious thought, every worry. Give it to Him, don't worry, trust. Rest in the knowledge that His protective, loving arms are around you. Just trust God.

"If you're worried, pray, and if you've prayed, don't worry."
-Unknown

You Alone Can Rescue

You Alone Can Rescue
by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin

Who O Lord could save themselves,
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea,
Your grace is deeper still.

You alone can rescue,
You alone can save.
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us,
led us out of death.
To You alone belongs the highest praise.

You O Lord have made a way,
The great divide You healed.
For when our hearts were far away,
Your love went further still.
Yes, Your love goes further still.

You alone can rescue,
You alone can save.
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us,
led us out of death.
To You alone belongs the highest praise.

This is such an amazing song about God's saving power over death! All the praise and glory goes to Him!

Have a wonderful Easter remembering Christ's power and love!
~Marissa

Peace challenge report!

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in You.

Another month has gone by! This month Jenna did a challenge on peace.

During a busy month, this was a wonderful way to remember that God is my peace and with His peace in my heart, life is much... better! :)

1 Corinthians 14:33a
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

In a house like ours, life can get pretty hectic sometimes. Often I get frustrated because things feel out of control. As I worked on pursuing the peace of God in my heart, I was able to see more clearly, take a step back and remember that God is in control!

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Another side of peace....

I can think of at least two different definitions for peace.

1) The kind of peace that you need when things feel crazy all around you. God gives us this peace so that even when the world seems to be spinning non-stop, we can still rest in Him.

2) Peace with others. Being a peacemaker in every relationship and situation, especially with our family in Christ.

Psalm 37:37
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.

How do you think God feels when His children don't love each other? Probably much more sad than a human parent feels when siblings aren't getting along.

Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

All the time, you can be a peacemaker! Be the one who brings peace to every situation.

1 Corinthians 7:15b
God has called us to live in peace.

Remember that God wants us to find peace in Him. Memorizing and meditation on some of these verses really helped me this month. Thinking about them when you're not feeling very peaceful actually brings peace to your heart!

Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses
His people with peace.

In Christ,
~Marissa