This is why!

This is why I'm going camping for the weekend!! See y'all later :) :) :)

Ponderings about Election...

Don't you just *love* how whenever your pondering on something, God just keeps throwing answers and Scriptures in your face again and again?!? Happened to me today!

Lately, I've read some things that have both challenged and made me re-solidify one of my fundamental beliefs, the doctrine of election. I talked to Mom, did some thinking, read a couple Scriptures, and went on my way.

Until today.

During my quiet time today, I came across Romans 9. WHOA!!!!

"And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),  it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 

"What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

"For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh,“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 

"What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?" 

One of the arguments I had heard was that it wouldn't be just for God to create man with a free will and then judge him for sinning. This Scripture so totally answered that for me!!

Who are we to say to God "why did you make man like this"? How arrogant for us to ever try to guess why God does what He does. 

Anyways......that Scripture just helped grow my faith a little today, and I thought I'd share it :) 

'Night all  ♥ ♥ ♥

Ruger

Remember my little tiny Ruger who was born here a year ago?

He grew up!!!!!!! LOVE him and can't wait for one more year so I can start training him. He is a knock out. (side note - he's only about 32" tall!!)

Sooooooo grateful for all our amazing horses ;)

Because it's so true and funny...

Homeschool Convention

And a fun time was had by all!!! Just wrapping up a super fun weekend full of fellowship, encouragement, inspiration, and laughter. Brought home some new reading material, and can't wait to get started!!

Dressing Jessie up as a grenadier just completed the awesomeness :) :) With her being 6'4", the top of that hat's about 7' off the ground!

For Reals?!?

It's slightly upsetting to me, and I don't understand why, but I didn't really enjoy today. There are so many wonderful people who love me...who called or sent me something...but for some reason, I still feel lonely. Everyone gives me compliments and is so encouraging, but I feel like a fake. I can't really put it into words very well.....
~Journal Entry from the end of my 18th birthday...Sep. 6, 2011

There's more to me than meets the eye.....behind the self confident, high talking, Biblical sounding, t's crossed, i's dotted, no-loose-ends girl that claims to be the one who writes this blog, there's actually someone quite different. Read that journal entry. Now, the real person is actually quite shy...or is "afraid" the better word? Afraid of being discovered...afraid of being exposed for who she really is.

Well, she gets to hide no longer. Thanks to quite the series of events in the blogging world, and brought to a head by The Real Challenge, this will be a post with the goal of taking off my mask, and 'fessing up.

Isn't it odd how the things we hate the most in other people are often the things we are most guilty of? This first confession is exactly that for me....and the hardest to confess...thus the reason that it's first. In fact, I've gone back and forth on including it....but here goes. One of the things I hate, despise, loathe is a flirtatious girl. And yet, that is one of my biggest struggles. Lots of my good friends are guys, and I am constantly having to check myself in my encounters with them.

Instead of looking for my worth and value in God's eyes, I feed off the affirmation of others. What others say to me or about me affects me so much. While I say that I don't mind being different or "the country kid", I often cringe when my big mouth says something that causes others to look at me funny....(note to self: whatever you do, do NOT, under any circumstances, say/act/do that again)

It's very hard for me to trust people....especially girls. Oh, I'll be friendly and open and nice, but inside, I have a barricade all ready to pop up at the slightest thing. Kind of an oxymoron, isn't it? I care what others say, but think the worst of them....

I often feel like a complete fake. Totally insufficient and unworthy. One of the biggest examples is my piano....I know my pieces are very difficult and that mastering them takes a lot of work, but whenever anyone tells me, "You're so good!", my automatic reaction is, "Wow...I got them fooled."

I HATE feeling out of control....not knowing what's going to happen.

My faith is so weak. Whenever anything goes wrong, I immediately ask "WHY?" and have a very hard time if I can't come up with a reason to satisfy me. This has been something God's really been doing in the past year....prying my eyes off the reasons and onto trust and faith. 

I'm a miserable coward.....
  afraid of what others think - (I am longing to go delete that first confession)
  afraid of what I don't know
  afraid to step on other's toes
  afraid to be reject or laughed at
  afraid to fail
  afraid I'll never be married
  afraid God doesn't have it all figured out

I despise confrontation or conflict, and will do literally anything to avoid it. Sound like a good thing? Not when it comes to some situations. 
Those times when I keep my mouth shut...and I should have said something. 
When I cover up for someone...and they actually needed to be caught.
When I don't share the Gospel because someone's feathers might be ruffled...and that's exactly what they needed.

I often feel guilty and ashamed of things I shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed of...my Mom's had to say to me before, "Lisa - are you being convicted...or feeling guilty?" Because those are two very, very different things!! 

I know this verse is rather cliche, but it means so much to me. If only I could get to this place of boasting in my weaknesses. 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
2 Cor. 12:9

And this next verse gives me such hope!!!

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. 
Duet 31:8

The Lord goes before me. In everything!! He's with me, He loves me, and won't leave me...ever. No matter what I do! 

Even if this post makes you all realize how horrible I am and you all run in terror, God won't :) :)

So there it is. No edits or deletes. Just the plain ugly truth. I'm a sinner...big one. But loved and saved by a perfect God!!

The Joys Of Arizona!

You can say Hohokam and no one thinks you're making it up. 

You no longer associate rivers or bridges with water. 

You know that a "swamp cooler" is not a happy hour drink. 

You can contemplate a high temperature of 120 degrees as "not all that bad, after all it's a dry heat."

You have learned to expertly maneuver your vehicle under any traffic conditions using only two fingers; a skill usually learned initially in July.

You know that you can make sun tea outside faster than instant tea in your microwave.

You have to run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so that you can use your fireplace.

The water coming from the "cold" tap is hotter than that from the hot" tap.

You can correctly pronounce the following words: "Saguaro", "Tempe", "Gila Bend", "San Xavier del Bac", "Canyon de Chelly", "Mogollon Rim", "Cholla", and "Tlaquepacque", "Ajo".

It's noon on a weekday in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one single person is moving on the streets.

Hot air balloons can't fly because the air outside is hotter than the air inside.

You buy salsa by the gallon.

Your Christmas decorations include a half a yard of sand and 100 paper bags.

You think a red light is merely a suggestion.

All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.

You think someone driving while wearing oven mitts is clever.

Most of the restaurants in your town have the first name "El" or "Los."

You think six tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.

You can say 115 degrees without fainting.

Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer. 

People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70.

The pool can be warmer than you are.

Most people will not drink tap water unless they are under dire conditions.

Monday Night Football starts at 7:00 instead of 9:00

You realize Valley Fever isn't a disco dance.

People with black cars or have black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts.

You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.

Announcements for Fourth of July events never end with "in case of rain..."

You eat hot chilis to cool your mouth off.

You know that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

You know that you can get a sunburn through your car window.

You have to explain to out-of-staters why there is no daylight savings time

When someone asks how far you live from a location, it's always in terms of minutes, not miles.

Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

~A-very-ready-to-move Lisa

Awesome Conversation

Me: "Ya know, guys, I really do want to start an Ewok farm..."

Mom: "I'll go check Craigslist."

LOL

Can you tell what we're watching for school?!?!? :)