Thursday, December 26, 2013

If you are reading this...

Hey y'all,
So, for some reason, I got a crazy amount a pageviews today.. Maybe someone kept refreshing the page. Lol. ;-P
Anyways, if you are reading this, I'd love your feedback on my posts and the blog. I know some people read it. If this blog is encouraging to you, let me know. If you find it interesting, let me know. If you find it odd and weird and all that fun stuff, let me know. I want to know what you guys think of it and why you take the time to read these posts. So, please comment if you don't mind and/or rate the post at the bottom. That would be greatly appreciated. Also, let me know if you have any ideas for me to blog about.
Thanks guys!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas

Christmas is here upon us and already almost done!!
This year, it kind of came upon me in a different way... It still doesn't feel much like Christmas to me.
But... that doesn't mean that I should end this day without really thinking of the real reason that we are celebrating.
We are celebrating Christ who came to earth as a little baby totally dependent on His mother. He grew up being our ultimate example- an example for us to mirror in everything we do. And finally, accomplished His goal- dying for the sins of the world.
The family time, the presents, and the food are nice, but let each and every one of us look to Christ and remember Him and the price He paid to come down here from heaven to this dark, sinful earth. For you. And for me.
Happy Birthday, Jesus. <3

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Sunday Communion

The following poem was written by a friend of mine. 
Enjoy. :) 


A Sunday Communion:

As the offertory music plays,
And I stare blankly down a ways,
A small object grabs my gaze,
It is the cup of His last day.

The cup is empty now,
And it reminds me how,
My Lord and Savior died,
That I might be justified.

The pain that He has born,
To save this sinner torn,
It's more than I can bare,
To think he took my share.

And now, as I stare,
At that cup, sitting there,
Underneath a person's seat,
Empty, tipped over, and discreet,

I think of how He is overlooked,
By sinners who toss aside His book.

A sense of awe comes over me.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

My Testimony

I was born in sunny San Diego on June 26th, 1998 to two Christian parents. Growing up in a Christian family, I always knew about Jesus. My parents made sure I knew all about HIM. I was an independent, stubborn, strong-willed, and a little on the rebellious side kind of kid… Everything had to be my way. So, of course it didn’t go well when I found out that my mom was having another kid. Like, why’d she need another when she had me??? Anyways…. Hannah was born and everything changed.
A few years later, while reading through the book of Acts, Hannah decided that she wanted to get baptized. I also decided to do it too. I knew about Jesus. I knew what He did for me. And I believe at that point I was already saved. But since Hannah was getting baptized I could not and would not let her do that before/without me. So, I was baptized for the wrong reasons. This was all around when I was 7ish.
My life then changed drastically again- we started doing foster care. Victoria, my sister-to-be, stepped into my life. She challenged me. Lots. We fought and fought. But I got what I always wanted- a sister my age… It was hard for me to let someone step into my life and take up even more of my mom’s time. By the time we were done, I had two more amazing sisters. So, now I had three. Obviously God didn’t want me to be the only child. He had bigger plans. These sisters helped to tear down the bad stuff, build up the good stuff, and remold my character into something so much better. Because of them, I have come so much further than I would have if I had stayed the only child.
At this point in time, my parent’s religion was also mine. I finally came to that point where I had to decide to step away from it or make it my own too. I decided to make it my own. I told God that I would never ever not be a Christian. I didn’t want to die and get sent to hell…. so I decided that was the best thing to do. But it was hard. I went through times in my life where I doubted Him. I doubted my faith and even doubted myself as being a real Christian. But God got me through that.. He remained faithful when I was faithless.
I’ve noticed that I suffer from something like depression… I have huge mood swings. I feel fine for a few months. And then I get super grumpy and just plain miserable half the time for another few months. In late March/early April, I took the next big step in a low time in my life. I took the depression to a different level.... worse than ever before...
Right after coming out of one of these really down times, I went to a leadership conference. The theme had a lot to do with discipleship, but the thing that really stuck with me really good was when we sang I Surrender All on the last day. I noticed that I wasn’t ready to surrender all this to the Lord. I wrote on my blog post about the trip: “While we were singing I Surrender All, I started to open my hands in worship (When I worship I sometimes like to show I surrender or thankfulness to the Lord by raising my hands/arms and opening my hands). But then came the fight inside... I wasn't ready to surrender all. No. I was still holding onto my troubles and my hurts. The pain and hate I had been having inside me. I realized I wasn't ready to give it over to God. I wasn't ready to let Him help me. I had been pushing Him away. I didn't really want His help, and in the process I was making decisions that I never should have. I was hurting Him. I was hurting those around me. I was hurting myself. After all that, I know I need to hand it all over. I need to raise my white flag of surrender. I need to give Him my hurts, my insecurities, and all the other junk I've been holding onto.”
After coming home and still knowing I need to fix it, I went outside in tears and just talked to the Lord. I told Him about my life, how I felt, etc. And told Him I wanted to fully surrender to Him.
Something changed in me after that night. But the struggle to surrender everything continuously is still a huge one for me. It will always be. Because I’m stubborn, independent, and strong-willed. And a rebel. But- With God’s strength, I can surrender again and again.

I’ve been saved by God’s grace. Thank You, Jesus.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Friendship

I know I have posted so many posts previously about friendship, but now, I must do it again.

When I was younger, I always had friends. Almost everyone is your friend when you are little. Then you get a little older, kids become less nice; you become more unforgiving; and you get fewer friends. When I was younger, my best friends were mostly guys. I got along better with them. I saw girls as sort of mean. And so, I got along better with the laid back guys. But then..... all of a sudden.... I became older (NO WAY!!!! I actually got older.... I know it's hard to believe.... Anyways!) and it was suddenly awkward to have a guy as your closest friend. It became awkward for both sides. So although I am still friends with him, it isn't the same as it used to be. We sort of drifted apart a little bit. Although, we will always be dear friends. :)
So, after that, I was left at what you might call "friendless". My closest friend and the only person I felt like I could talk to about life with was someone who I always fought with. And then.. I got this longing for a friend.. like a really strong one. Not just like a friend. But a close friend. A very good friend. Someone I could be myself around and be totally open and honest with. And someone who would be able to do the same with me. I know some people call that kind of friend a best friend, but I don't really use the term.
So, along came a girl. And I guess it was probably a "finally!!" moment for me. This was what I wanted and now there was someone it might be possible with. I gave this friend everything. She could know anything and everything she wanted about me. But. Something was not right... it seemed one-sided... It seemed like I cared and showed it.. and she cared but didn't show it. We'd have a problem. I'd try to explain so we could fix it. It never worked. There were times when I was hurt. Very badly hurt. And finally.... after trying and trying and trying and telling myself that I wasn't going to give up...... I decided that I couldn't go on with her being my closest friend. IT wasn't working....
Talk about a first failure... my first real try at a real teenager friendship and it got washed down the gutter.
I know that I wasn't perfect at all in that friendship. I am still learning how to be a better friend. And that time I failed. Now, I had to pick myself up... and try again....
I just don't get it. Why can't there be such a thing as a best friend forever? I mean... I look and hear about that stuff.... and I'm like- FOREVER?!?!? (Well...... sort of...) Just... it's sort of unbelievable. Now, I believe there can be such a thing as a best friend forever... they are just so so so rare.
So, a little advice if you want to have a forever friendship with someone.
1. Keep it healthy.
         Don't let it be one-sided. Keep up your side of the friendship. Don't just gain from the friendship. Give to the friendship.
2. Be faithful.
        Don't leave this person. Don't go find someone else who you think is "better". Like seriously people... If you want a friend forever, You got to be there for them forever.
3. Communicate
       Don't become frustrated, angry, etc. and let it build up in you. Instead, explain what's bothering you to the person. Also, make sure this person knows that you care about them, love them, and appreciate them. Build them up with your words. Don't tear them down.
4. Don't gossip
       Don't gossip about your friend behind their back. That's being unfaithful too. They trust you. Don't do that.
5. Let the Lord be in the center of your friendship
       "And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." -Ecclesiastes 4:12b (NKJV)

Friends can be forever. But you have to treat them like you want them forever. 
Let me know your thoughts on the subject. And let me know if you have any other pieces of advice for keeping a forever friend. :)

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me."
-Unknown

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen

Before you read this post: Please note that I understand there are many different views and opinions on this topic. The following are mine.

So, there is this thing that most people in my generation seem to have forgotten about- a lady and a gentleman. The only reason I haven't forgotten is because I have been blessed with a few guy friends that actually know how to be what I consider a gentlemen.

My definition of a gentleman: A young man/man who is willing to put the wants and needs of a young woman/woman above himself. He doesn't shame, work to offend, or irritate a lady. He works instead to help the lady.

My definition of a lady: A young woman/woman who is willing to allow a gentleman to help assist her. She won't offend a gentleman by insisting that she can do things herself and push aside the hand that was offered for her benefit/help. She will encourage a gentleman's gentlemanliness behavior and not discourage his effort to treat her as he should treat her.

Our society doesn't seem to practice this kind of stuff. I find it surprising when a guy will actually open the door for me or offer to assist me with something. I think that even those boys who are gentlemen are oftentimes discouraged, because when they offer their assistance, a lot of times, the girl won't allow him to assist her. So, ladies, Respect them. Treat them as gentlemen. Respect them in the way that you dress. Don't try to draw attention to yourself through how you dress. That is not a way to show them that you respect them. Allow them to help you with things.

Boys discourage girls from being ladies because they don't treat them with the respect due to them as a female. Females are the more "fragile" type. Sort of like flowers.... pretty but fragile. So, boys, treat them respectfully and gently, but do not look down on them because they are more "fragile" than you boys.

Let me know what your view are in this area. It would be cool to see different opinions/views. :)

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Ah. Finally, I am going to post again... I've been so busy. It's been pretty crazy. There are so many things I haven't been able to do that I have been wanting to do-

  • Have some people I feel led to help over
  • Spend time with friends
  • Blog
  • Write (different than blogging! ;)
  • Bake
  • Read
So yep.... I even made a list of things that I want to do before the end of this year. But I have to have time first.

So, to whoever is reading this, can you please pray for me? I've been super stressed lately and have two big tests coming up that I must prepare for. 

Let me know if there is anything you need prayer for too!

Thanks! :)

Blessings,
Bekah Grace

Friday, November 8, 2013

The Beautiful Night Sky :)

I don't believe I have shared these before on this blog. A man took my camera and hooked it up to his telescope. This is what we got.





Technology makes it so much easier to see these beautiful creations of God. My favorite has to be the last one. Seeing the rings on Saturn was so cool for me. :)
Hope you enjoyed these. :D

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Memories....

It has almost been a year since my grandma passed away. My grandma was a dear friend of mine. My mom believes she was in the right place with the Lord and that we will again see her in heaven. How wonderful will that be! I still don't feel like I really said goodbye to my dear grandma... which was and still is a hard thing. Since she had had a huge surgery in her mouth, she couldn't really talk very well. She mostly wrote notes. I remember the last thing that she tried to do when I was around her was to help my mom. It was so sweet. She wrote a note out after trying to explain what she wanted. A few nights before she died, I took my keyboard over there and I played (well, at least I tried to play) and sang with the rest of my family. My grandma loved hymns especially In the Garden. That was the last time I saw my grandma. I would have loved to just sit down and talk to her, but her condition didn't make it very easy or very possible.
I love you, my dear grandma. I am glad that you are now free of pain. <3


Monday, October 28, 2013

Quietly Leading From a Place of Rest

  Catalina was so beautiful and wonderful!!
To start off this post, here are some photos:

View from the mountain during the sunrise


On the way to Catalina (you can see Long Beach in the first two pictures and Avalon on Catalina Island in the third picture)


Here is the mountain with the cross.. I took the first three pictures in this post from up there

The camp!

The beach at the camp with its dock

Devotions!

I stumbled across this fellow while on the way to somewhere... ;)

Me teaching impromptu

Bible Study Time

 S'mores by the fire on the beach!


This was the "skeleton" boat (at least that's what I call it..). It was sort of creepy looking and was sitting offshore a little bit... probably just some innocent fishermen ;) You can see the Long Beach shoreline in the background.

So, as you can see, it was beautiful there. There is something about being in the middle of God's beautiful creation that makes you feel so much closer to Him. Do you ever feel that way? Plus, at Catalina, there is no wifi or cell service. You have a pay phone there and that's about it when you are camping there. So, that makes you free from those kinds of distractions which can be super awesome (Although... I'll admit... I like my phone service and my wifi [a little too much :P]... but I will also admit that it can be a huge distraction having those things available/within reach 24/7..).
So:
What did I learn about myself? I learned that I have trouble sitting quietly and listening for the Lord's voice.
What did I learn about others? As one of the other leaders said, I got to see how amazing everyone was. Fellowship with friends/other believers is such a blessing.
What did I learn about the Lord? His creation again reminded me how amazing He is.

While I was sitting and spending time with the Lord, I recorded things in the journal they gave me. Here is some of what I did/learned:
I-
Remembered my past:
I am a sinner in need of a Savior, I've made choices that have hurt myself and others etc.
Thought about who God is:
God is ever-present. Even though you can't see Him, He's there. He created all of creation. When you look at creation, you see His fingerprints in it. Words can't describe how amazing and awesome He is.
Remembered God's promises:
God has promised to never leave us, to share in our troubles, to be a help whenever needed, to be a faithful and constant friend, and so many other things. And He promises to fulfill His promises.
And I-
Made my requests known before God:
I wrote a prayer for here. It was me telling God how I was feeling. And at that moment, it wasn't the best. It was a prayer full of hurt I guess you could say. And also of apology to the Lord for my unfaithfulness to Him.
And then. It happened again- I knew I needed to again Surrender my all/my life to the Lord.

  • My futuristic dreams
  • My relationships/friendships
  • My attitude
  • My unforgiveness
  • My strong-will
  • My "secret" sins
  • My sadness
  • My depression
  • My hurt
My..... everything....
And I told God to give me time. And God told me no. He wanted me to surrender right then.
And inside I heard the song I Surrender All.
I then later went on to reading through my notes from the retreat. The ones that really stuck out to me were the following:
Trust Him to heal your broken heart
Faith will move my physical, mental, and Spiritual mountains
And I prayed.
God, move my mountains. I know You can do it. I need you to help care my burden. Actually, I need to give my burdens to you through surrender and then I need to take Jesus' yoke on me. Please be my Savior again. I love you, Lord Jesus. (I just noticed that my grammar and writing didn't make 100% sense... but they were from my personal notes and God doesn't/didn't care.. Lol.)
I then went through the list of things I needed to surrender and said that I was giving it to HIM. And I asked God to help me continually to be in full surrender.
"I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all."
I believed that all took place in two quiet times with the Lord in that one day. It was so awesome.
I also had a few good applications from my devotions. One being- Am I willing to leave everything behind, do as I am called, and go? Is my life in full surrender to the Lord?
God also seemed to speak to me about my self-worth. And I also felt as if He was trying to show me something about one of my friendships.
And then another beautiful thing I found that I wrote in here from my quiet time with the Lord. I wrote- Breathe in, Breathe out.. You are loved treasure cared for... You're not alone.

So, that is a little bit from my trip. If you want to know more, ask me, and I might be willing to share a little more. ;)
Blessings!!
Behold. Quietly wait on the Lord!
                                             

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Quietly Wait On the Lord...

Waiting on God. Quietly waiting on the Lord.
That was the theme of the women's retreat I went to. The women that went were so amazing. I didn't feel like I was being judged. If you want to be loved on, our women retreats are an awesome place for that. They love on you. No matter who you are, where you've been, etc. They'll love you for who you are. They were also so open about themselves. So trusting. It was so amazing. And such an amazing time of fellowship with my fellow sisters in Christ.
The one session that was the most touching to me was the second session. They were all good, but the second one was the most powerful. The speaker asked questions like-
What are we waiting for to meet our needs? Friends? Parents? Siblings? Etc.
What are we waiting for? Change? Someone? Circumstances? Yourself (If only I'd.... get rid of this in me, etc.)? Etc.
Where do we wait? Retreats? Somewhere? Anywhere? Etc.
How do you/we wait? On your knees? After you've given up?

Who reading this is waiting for something from the Lord?
What are you waiting for? Rest? Etc.
Do you feel like you can't do anything right?
Are you going through the motions? Is your load too heavy? Do you feel alone? Do you doubt God's existence, His reality? Do you even sometimes doubt that you are even a Christian? Do you have moments of depression? Feeling like you are a failure? Are you secretly struggling with inner battles?
Be Still. Rest. Wait. Cease the striving.
What does waiting mean? It means to rest, delay, or postpone, be still (cease striving), wait expectantly (wait to see what God is going to do).
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God is FAITHFUL. He is faithful to complete the work He began in you so very long ago as it says in His word. His mercy never comes to an end as it again says in His word.
Invite Christ to dine with you- our lives need to be a gift of hospitality to God. Welcome Him in. He is knocking. Turn over your thoughts, feelings, etc. to God. Welcome the Spirit of the living God in.
Let go of your desire for esteem, what others think, etc. God does not intend for us to suffer alone. So let Him bear your burden for you. Allow others to care for and support you in your time of need - Be interdependent.
The Lord is your strength and impenetrable shield. Trust and rely on Him, lean on Him confidently. Lean on Him and your heart will rejoice.
Behold, be still.

(Most of that came right off my notes from the session.) That stuff was pretty touching/etc. to me. And I hope it was encouraging/touching/helpful to you.

I realized that I was looking for someone to fill the emptiness I felt in my life. But. Friendship is not going to fill that spot. I noticed that it is a "God-shaped hole". Only God can fill it. I need to stop trying to find people to fill it and just let God be the one to fill it. After all, He's the only One who's going to fit in that hole. Right?! ;) But seriously. It's true. Isn't it? How many of you have looked to others to fill that longing you have inside of you instead of first looking to God? He's what you are longing for, isn't He? Invite Him in. Don't go looking for something to fill you when it's not going to truly fill you. You will always be longing. At least till you find out that God is who you are/were truly looking and longing for. Behold. Be still. Wait quietly on the Lord.

Now for some pictures! The retreat was so very well done! I had to take lots of pictures... so here are a few of them. :)

Breakfast! Yummm! They had fruit, yogurt, homemade granola, etc. :)

The view was amazing!

I went hiking with my sister. It was fun. :) I got to have some one on one time with her. That doesn't happen too often.
 Having fun. ;)
 Me by the cross after the hike with my sissy
 We made dolls for Operation Christmas Child (the one on the left is the first [and only] one I ever made..)
 Wild turkeys!
 The conference room. They had soooo many goodies in there!!

They even had Bible verses in the conference room (lots and lots of them) :)
 My sister doing a silly pose. ;) She's pretty awesome just by the way.
Wellllllll. I hope this post was encouraging/helpful/etc. And I hope it was worth your time reading. Especially if you made it all the way down to here.
FYI- I will be posting about Catalina soon. :)
Blessings!
-Bekah Grace

Friday, October 18, 2013

October Activities Updates Coming Soon!! ;)

JOB by AIM San Diego

Here is a rough draft of the song we are doing in the mime group.. We have worked on it a bit since then. Lol.


The Beginning of a New Season of Life

Hello all!
So, just recently (a couple months ago), I had a birthday. (Oh, no! She actually had a birthday! Is that even possible?!...) Okay, so no duh, I had a birthday cause everyone else has them too.
Last night, I had to "say goodbye" to a very very dear friend. I hope we continue to remain good friends and grow closer, but it still hurt/hurts to know that I will no longer be a mime with her and won't be able to hang out with her nearly as much.
Today, I am starting CollegePrep. (Scary!!!) I will be studying for CLEP tests to earn college credit. I am hoping it will be wonderful, but I'm not sure exactly what I'm getting myself into. ;)
Next week, I will start 10th grade.... oh no! ;)
I love and hate change. It's weird. I always want it, but when I have it, I hate it.
(That's a lot of change for one homeschooler. ;) Why do people always make jokes about homeschoolers?! Give us a break! Ok... random rabbit trail.)

So....... I wrote most of that quite a while ago, but I never published it..
Since then, I have almost completed three CollegePrep classes which really only equal one elective. I have done critical thinking, speed reading, and am finishing up Dynamic Memory. I am also studying for a CLEP test- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature.
And then 10th grade..... Well, I'm about 1/4 done with 10th grade I would say. It still isn't as hard as I remember 8th grade being. Lol. We had *so* many classes in 8th grade... it was plain craZee. ;) I don't seem to like Algebra 2 as much as I normally like math. I also have a class called Living My Purpose. It helps the students taking it decide what they want to do with their lives for the Lord, etc. I'm taking Civil War history which will count as my last year of history in high school... Except... I like history. So, I wish it was more like my last year of something else (maybe math? But then I need to like math..). ;) Biology is interesting. I have been using a microscope which is totally new to me (homeschooler! ;) And! I'm taking Drivers Ed. The first day in class though, they scared the students by playing this video about teens and driving or something. SCARY! But I think I'm almost over it now. Lol.
Oh, and, saying "good bye" to a friend of mine... well, it was really hard. Like I never expected it to be *that* hard. But it was. But thankfully, it doesn't hurt as much now. :) And. I've been able to see her and hang out with her a little still. And that means a lot to me. More than she probably knows.
Also, since my birthday was in June.. I will be able to legally get my learners permit for driving the day after Christmas. Although, the DMV will probably be closed that day. Lol. I've always wanted to be grown up... and then one day I stopped and thought about growing up... soon, I won't ever be able to be a kid again... So I better enjoy it while I have it, right?!
Wellllllllll... Maybe this is a pointless (maybe even confusing) post. Maybe nobody wanted to know allllll that stuff. Lol. But here is in.... in case anybody wanted to know. ;)
Change is hard. But sometimes change is good. Don't forget that...

Thursday, October 10, 2013

October Activities

So. I am going to Catalina on Sunday! (Super excited! Although a little sad that not as many people are going this year. But oh well.) I will be gone till Wednesday.This trip has turned into a leadership conference type of thing. So, I am going with the AIM leadership team, some family, and a friend. We are all going to be driving up together and then taking a boat across the water (cause sadly, my car can't drive over/in water ;) That would be so convenient though!). I am hoping to take lots of pics and will be posting on here to tell you guys about- what I learned, show some pictures, and what we did (something like that at least). So be looking for that if you care to hear (well, I guess you probably won't be "hearing" about it..... more like  reading about it.. anyways...).
I am also going to a women's retreat this weekend. I was so disappointed that I would be missing the retreat this year, but then somehow it actually worked out. I am also planning on posting about that. Last year God showed/taught me a few things, and I hope that I will learn somethin' this year too. :)
So yep! 
Have a great rest of your week and God bless. :)
-Bekah Grace

Sunday, October 6, 2013

College!! Well, kind of.. ;)

A few months ago, I started a college credit program (or whatever you want to call it) called CollegePrep. It has been an interesting experience. It is there to prepare you for college. This can be so helpful. They equip you with tools to better your critical thinking skills, your memory skills, and even your speed reading skills. I am already learning though that college is going to be tough. I'm going to have to manage a schedule, deal with stress, and find time for assignments, etc. Smart thing to be able to handle that stuff, right?! Thought so... So, this has been a good experience for me. And I'm glad I am doing it because it is going to be a stretching/growing experience for me. So there ya have it!

Friday, October 4, 2013

Update?

Whoever takes the time to read all these posts... ;) Hello!!
I love blogging.... I don't know why, but I really enjoy it. And I've missed blogging. So, I am going to try to blog more often then I have been.. The problem is finding something to blog about. Lol. If that wasn't the problem.. I might blog sooooo much that everyone would be scared to come and read on here cause... yeah...
Anyways! There ya have it! I decided that for this post that I would just add a "quote" that I came up with the other day.. so enjoy!
"The truest friends of all are those of whom you consider a fellow sibling. You've seen the worst of each other, you still love one another, and you are always there to help the other up when they fall." ~Bekah Grace
That's all for now! So, be looking for a post from me (if you even care about reading them). And.... If you have something for me to blog about... Comment and let me know. And we'll see if I can blog about it. K?
Bye!!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

I used to love to blog.. and now I'm failing at finding stuff to post about... any ideas? Hopefullllllly, I will think of something soon.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

A Reason

Jesus has given us... A reason to hope again. A reason to love again. A reason to trust again. Jesus is the Reason. Jesus is the reason why we can hope. The reason why we can love one another as He loved us. His love for us is the reason why can we can trust HIM fully.

Transparency

Transparency. Light.
I was thinking about what a person of full transparency would look like, and I thought it would look like light. A person full of light where no darkness or sin can hide. I believe Christians should be known for their transparency- their openness- to others. A Christian should be a person who isn't afraid to let others know that they too struggle and have faults. A person who doesn't lie about who they are or they aren't. Are you that kind of person? If so, continue to be so. If not, why aren't you? How can you be more so without feeling like you are going to be hurt or broken?

Monday, August 12, 2013

The rain will come...

The rain will come, but when it comes, will you be ready? Will you be ready to cling close to your Savior? He will help you get through the storms of  life.
Will you be clinging to your Savior whenever the storms of life come your way? Think about it.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

As Christians we need to be like molding clay - ready to be shaped and formed by Christ. Are you ready to be shaped and formed into the vessel Christ has planned for you?

Monday, June 17, 2013

During those dry times......

All you do is give. Give and give. Give encouragement. Give advice. Etc. Not taking any encouragement or  advice back in. And now, you are dry. You are empty. You are running out of stuff to give out. It's one of those dry seasons. So empty. So dry.
This is sort of how I've been feeling lately. I've been so busy and so tired. And I feel as if I am becoming dry inside. Yeah, people do give me encouragement and advice; it just does not seem like it happens that often. And after running this way for a while, I'm running out of energy. I haven't been in the Word as much as I should be. I noticed this morning that that was a lot of the problem. I should be drinking in nourishment from God's Word. And that's what I'm not doing.
So, advice for you guys. If you ever feel like this, talk it out with your Father. And then, get in the Word. Drink in it's life giving advice and encouragement.
God bless! And be filled! ;) 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Only God Knows


So what?!? I stink at poetry. 
This was in memory of a young man my family had prayed for for about 6 years. Riley finally lost his fight with cancer, and I wrote this in his memory. And now, I can say this is for my grandma too. 

ONLY GOD KNOWS

Someone I cared for went to be with the Lord last night.
Why He decided to take him, I don't know.
Only God knows.
He is now in God's arms, at home and free of pain.
Where God's light shines bright,
And I know I shall see him again.
One day soon.

                                                                                                  - Bekah G.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

The Struggle to Surrender

Surrender.
Never.
Right?
Well, it shouldn't be that way. At least not between your Maker and you. It should be more like:
Give Me your heart.
Yes, Lord, I surrender my whole heart, my whole soul, and all my strengths and failures over to You. Please do whatever You want through me and use me to bring glory and honor to You alone.
But is it really that easy?
No, probably not.
You see, Surrendering doesn't come naturally. We were born with a nature that was totally against God. To put that part of us to death and allow God to make us His children is a constant fight.
When you want to surrender, you can't just choose to surrender the easier things. You need to fully surrender to your Savior.
Imagine this picture..  God reaching out. Reaching out to hold your heart. Reaching out to grab your heart. And then all of a sudden, you rip it away from Him. Leaving Him there with His hand outstretched waiting for you to give it to Him - waiting for you to fully Surrender your heart to Him.
The other night, God showed me an area I need to surrender to Him. I didn't want to. And then, God gave me a picture sort of like the one I just described.
You see, God wants each and everyone of our hearts. And He doesn't just want part of our heart. He wants the whole thing. About a week before God gave me that picture, I had told God that I wanted to surrender to Him, I just didn't know exactly what that meant. So, lately He has been showing me a lot of areas that need surrender. My friendships. My unforgiveness. My bitterness. Etc.
So, search yourself. Are there any areas in your heart that you need to surrender over to the Lord? If so, talk to Him about them. He is waiting for you to fully surrender.
And no, it won't be easy.
But yes, it will be worth it. :)

Friday, May 17, 2013

Talking Behind A Back ;)

So, I am what you may call a missionary in the home. Or at least I should be.
My family has hosted exchange students since before I was born. In the last few years, we began to host more. This year, we have been blessed with two students staying with us. I love our students. And they have taught me important things. 
One thing I have really felt convicted about lately is talking bad about people behind their backs. When you live with people, you see their good and bad and they see yours.
Lately, God has shown me that talking behind people's backs is not okay. (I knew that stuff before, but this was more of a conviction.)
Talking bad behind someone's back turns you against them and builds up walls between you and them.
So, don't talk bad behind someone's back. Don't gossip. Etc. Instead, use words that will be encouraging and build them up. :) 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Gift of Friendship


“To have a friend be a friend” (Anonymous).  Friendship is such a gift. God has blessed His people with small gifts, and friends are among the greatest of those. Some people take friendship lightly, but friendship is not a thing to be taken lightly.  To become a better friend, a person should know the definition of friendship.  This person should then understand why friendship is important. And then last of all, they need to apply their knowledge to become better friends.   Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a person can be given as long as they take the meaning, understand why it is importantriendship, and put all that into action.
Friendship is the bond between two people.  It is a deeper relationship than an acquaintance.   “A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift, a friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift, a friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace and makes the world we live in a better and happier place” (Anonymous).  In the Bible, there is the great example of friendship from David and Jonathan.  They loved each other more than they loved themselves. Samuel 18:1 says, “And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”  They had a bond that was unbreakable. Even when Jonathan’s dad, Saul, turned against David, Jonathan remained just as close to David.   Their friendship lasted till the end.
A friendship is not to be taken lightly.  It isn’t an opportunity; it’s a gift.  “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival” (C.S. Lewis).  Friends make people happy.  Companions help make life worth living.  Also, when a person makes a friend and is a true friend to that person, they can be a great encouragement to the companion and help these friends through the trials and troubles of everyday life.  If a friend is struggling, a true friend will patiently help them through those.  Faithful friends are very valuable.  Not turning on their friends, just as David and Jonathan didn’t turn on each other during the hard times, these people will become treasures worth more than rubies.  
Applying the qualities of friendship is necessary for a successful friendship.  Loving a friend even when they scrape up, faithfully sticking by one’s friends and being truthful in a friendship can make all the difference.  If a person treats a companion lovingly, faithfully, and how God would want them to be treated, this friend will be extremely blessed and uplifted.  Gossiping is not acceptable in a friendship. It builds up walls and tears down a friendship.  A self-controlled friendship will blossom because if words are used with self-control, kind words will overpower the angry, unkind words. Forgiving friends and forgetting what they have done wrong will help that friend feel loved and not feel judged.  Good friends encourage their friends in the Lord, pray for them, and build those friends up.
Friendship will be most successful if friends understand the definition of friendship, understand why friendship is necessary, and put that knowledge into practice.  Friendship is a bond between two people in unity. Friendship is necessary to make life more enjoyable. If the qualities are put into practice, a friendship will be a great, loving bond. “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life. Beginning with the seed of trust, nurtured with laughter and tears, growing into loyalty and love” (Anonymous). 

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Leadership Conference

Hey ya'll!
So......... This past week, I got to go to Missouri and Kansas! I went to Kansas to visit some family and then my mom and I drove to Missouri for a leadership conference. I feel so blessed for the opportunity I had to go and fellowship with other young leaders/believers and learn to better serve my team as a leader.
The conference was called "What Time Is It?" Maybe it was time for us to search our hearts. Maybe it was time to make some change in the way we lived. Etc.
Another thing we seemed to focus on was Discipleship. This was a really awesome thing for me because just recently I felt a calling on my heart to disciple the youth on AIM. I even had a discussion on how to do so with our Assistant Director. While I was there, I felt like the calling was growing even deeper. I felt like I had more of a heart for it.
We also had a time of Communion at the end. While we were singing I Surrender All, I started to open my hands in worship (When I worship I sometimes like to show I surrender or thankfulness to the Lord by raising my hands/arms and opening my hands). But then came the fight inside... I wasn't ready to surrender all. No. I was still holding onto my troubles and my hurts. The pain and hate I had been having inside me. I realized I wasn't ready to give it over to God. I wasn't ready to let Him help me. I had been pushing Him away. I didn't really want His help, and in the process I was making decisions that I never should have. I was hurting Him. I was hurting those around me. I was hurting myself.
After all that, I know I need to hand it all over. I need to raise my white flag of surrender. I need to give Him my hurts, my insecurities, and all the other junk I've been holding onto.
I would really appreciate your prayers as I work to be able to fully surrender everything to my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Another thing that I really enjoyed doing during my time there was look at the standards of excellence in AIM based on 1 Timothy 4:12.
Love.
Faith.
Purity.
Speech.
Life.
Our team discussed how we modeled those excellently. We also discussed what we needed to make better and how.
This also led into more discipleship stuff. Like how to disciple the kids in these areas.
This was probably one of the biggest highlights for me of the whole weekend.
I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to go to the conference. It was a good experience for me and a blessing. :)
Thanks for reading.

Mathew 16:24-27 (New King James Version)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Dealing with Disappointment

If you are human, you've been disappointed before and probably quite a few times, I know I have.. :(
But is disappointment really a bad thing? Does God allow us to be disappointed sometimes for our own benefits?
I remember a time where we were supposed to do something with our neighbor, and it didn't work out. And then I thought, well, God had a reason why we didn't go. Maybe one of us could have gotten hurt or something.
God has a reason for EVERYTHING. Good or bad.
So, when you are disappointed, remember that whatever caused your disappointment really had a God-sized plan behind it.
Some Verses -
Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

My Passion: Saving the Children



Another paper I wrote...... Enjoy.
My Passion: Saving the Children
I am passionate about many things, but one passion that really got a hold of my heart is fighting modern-day child slavery, both physically and spiritually, and child abuse. Slavery still exists today, taking many shapes and disguises. Child abuse is a sad, cruel crime which needs to be fought. My passion is to help abused, enslaved physically, and enslaved spiritually children.
Child abuse is wicked. There is nothing good about it. Innocent children should not be treated like animals. I want to help children suffering from abuse. I have a passion to help them, and it is a burning passion. Child abuse must be stopped.
Next, I want to rescue children in bondage. Slavery is also bad and even today it exists and is worse than it was years ago when people were more aware of it. I want to make people aware of it, this would probably help the problem the most. I want to boycott certain products to prove a point. I have also started a couple petitions towards companies who buy products produced by children in slavery. Fighting modern-day slavery is very important to me.
Lastly, I want to free the many children who are lost in spiritual darkness. This case is so sad. Children will grow up and influence people, companies, and even countries. It would be so much better if they were spiritually strong. Their choices would be better. Our country and world would have people full of good morals. Rescuing children from growing up without the Lord will help raise up a generation strong Christians who are living to serve the Lord in all that they do. This is very important.
Helping abused children and children who are enslaved physically and enslaved are things I am very passionate about. Child abuse needs to stop because children should be able to live in their homes feeling safe, not living in fear. Because child slavery is wrong, something needs to be done to stop it. By helping children living in spiritual darkness, I can help raise up a nation that loves the Lord. I pray God will raise up people who will help me in my fight to help these kids suffering from these issues.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The God-Given Passion


My far-from-perfect 5 paragraph essay for writing class... Enjoy.

The God-Given Passion
Doctors are highly respected in society because of the years of hard work they have put into reaching the state of knowledge they have today.  This knowledge can be used to help others and even save lives.  Physicians have also been trained to know what to do in emergency situations.  When I grow up, I want to become a general practitioner.  I believe this is a God-given passion.  As a doctor, I can reach others for Christ, help others with their health, and understand how God created the human body and the way it actually functions.
Reaching others for Christ is a big goal in my life.  I am hoping to be a missionary, using medical skills to lead people to Christ.  When someone offers help with physical issues to others, they can be opening a door to help heal their spiritual illnesses.  Thus, giving them the opportunity to know and be a witness for Him.  Being a doctor could help open the door for me to share Christ to those who desperately need Him.
My next reason for wanting to become a doctor is to be able to just physically help others.  So many people suffer and even die from the lack of proper medical care.  I want to help prolong lives, and I want to help allow people to live a full life for Christ by giving them longer to do so. Helping someone physically would give me great joy by allowing me to see them healthy and happy again.
Lastly, I want to understand how God created humans and how the body actually functions.  God has given us such complex body systems. Learning about these systems would help me better understand how they all work and how I can help others keep their bodies healthy.  Keeping our bodies healthy is important because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Having a healthy body would enable us to serve Christ more fully.  I am passionate about being a general practitioner when I grow up, because I can use these skills to reach others for Him, help others physically, and better learn how the body functions.  Doctoring could help bridge the gap from the patient to Christ.  Helping others with their physical needs could help them live long fulfilling lives for Christ, and enable them to take action in keeping their bodies healthy and fit for Christ’s sake.  Becoming a doctor is something that may be hard to do, but if an individual loves helping others with their health and wants something to help build the bridge to Christ, becoming a doctor is something they might want to consider.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Two Different Kinds of Friendships

I've noticed there are different kind of friendships which happen because of the different kind of people who make them. (Hope that that makes sense!!)
Have you noticed that some people tend to make friends very fast, and others take way longer to develop a friendship with someone?
The first kind seem to have an easy time making friends. Maybe people see them as a cool person who is talented (they probably are!!), and maybe they kind of seem to sparkle. These friendships might be light, fun, and not really long-lasting, but they can also be long, deep, and fun friendships.
The second may seem to be kind of dull and not very fun. These are the kind of people who will probably take longer to build friendships with others, but they aren't really as dull and "unfun" as they seem. They are probably more of the deep kind, and they will stick with their friends no matter what.
Make any sense? I think that both kinds have pros and cons. ;)
So, whether you are the first or second person, it doesn't matter, just be careful with your friends and remain  faithful to your friends because "one who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure".  God has given you a treasure when He has given you a friend. Cherish them.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Best Friends Forever

So, I used to always think BFFs were really cool (I still do, but......).
I was never allowed to have a "Bff" though, and now after growing up a little (I hope ;) I can see some of the reasons.
Have you ever noticed how exclusive the name is? Like normally you hear of a person having one BF and then the others will feel like they can't be good friends with them because of this person.
And I haven't actually heard of BFFs really and truly being BFs forever. Like will they really be "forever"?
It's sad that friends can't be as close forever, but they do have changes and life, and sadly, some issues where your friendship will always be different.
So, a few thoughts:
1. The only perfect and BFF that will remain forever is Christ. He wants to have that position in your life.
2. Be careful that you don't hurt others by only having one BFF. I don't think it is wrong to have a very close friend and not have another like them. Things just might work that way. But try not to be exclusive.
3. Be a good friend despite differences and issues. Remain loyal/faithful. It will be worth in the end if you have really found a good friend.
4. Remember good/close friends are treasures.
And that's all I have to say about that for the moment.
Have a blessed day!!!!
Blessings,
Bekah

Christian Youth Of Action

If you aren't checking in on CYOA's(Christian Youth Of Action's) blog, here's a little update on what they've been up to.
 Btw- CYOA is a Christian-youth founded group that raises money to help reach a lost world for Christ.
They recently finished raising money for a water buffalo(this water buffalo will be given to a needy family by a church where hopefully they will become interested in learning more about Christ)!! They did two movie night fundraisers one of them being a  "dinner-and-a-movie" night where the youth showed Fireproof and had a served spaghetti dinner!
Their next goal is to sponsor a missionary for a year and to buy a barnyard bundle consisting of a cow, a pig, and other animals. Altogether, this will cost them a little over a $1,000. From the last fundraisers, they have enough money left over to already sponsor the missionary!
Please pray for this team of youth that are on fire for the Lord. Please pray for the leaders and the team members as they grow in their roles. Please also pray for the families who will be affected by their work. Thanks!!
To see their blog and learn more about them and what they've been up to, click the link below.
http://christianyouthofactionblog.blogspot.com/