A Little Study on Worship

What is worship?  Is it a frame of mind or a flow of emotions?  Below is a little bit of what I found in the Scriptures about worship.  :)

1. Worship is giving praise to the One Who is Worthy!

"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!  For praise from the upright is beautiful."
Psalm 33:1
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 4:11

2. Worship is a form of declaration!

"The Lord lives!  Blessed by my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!."
2 Samuel 22:47
"And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!""
John 20:28

3. Worship is realizing who I am in the presence of a Holy God!

"But I am a worm, and no man;"
Psalm 22:6a
"So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.""
Isaiah 6:5
"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.""
Luke 5:8

Sadly, I think that a large amount of Gods' people in America don't really understand true worship.  Even I'm not sure if I really understand the way God wants to be worshiped.  Far too often we find "entertainment" more appealing.  The question I asked myself today is "do I worship God in the way He desires me to?".  "Why does it matter?" some may ask.  It matters to me because I know that I was created for Him and I want to please Him!  Just like I love my earthly father and desires to please him in my actions/words.  Worship comes in many different forms (music, sacrifice, obedience, our lives, etc.) but they are all equal in purpose- to glorify and honor the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords!

May He find our lives in a constant form of worship!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah   

Life

This life is a race.  It's hard, it's fast, and then it's over.  The Scripture says that our life is "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)  The question I have been asking myself frequently is am I using this life and the time given to me by God, wisely?  If I could look back at the end of my life and see all of my "successes" would they be to the glory of God or for the furtherance of my own personal goals?  No one knows the day or the hour in which they'll be called home.  That is why Paul urged the believers in Colosse to do everything heartily, as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).  I know for me it is hard to remember that verse during the business of every day.  But God is merciful and remembers that I am but dust.  Although He does not lower His standard I am comforted with the knowledge that He is indeed here, walking beside me and assisting me along the way.

I leave us with one last question:  If we knew we only had a year to live would the way we live our lives look different?

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

Waiting

Last Wednesday a kind lady at church came up and gave me a gift bag after service.  She said that she tried to give every high school graduate this devotional book (Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman) and she hoped I would enjoy it.  Later I read the devotional for that day and it brought tears to my eyes.  It just seemed to speak to the place where I am right now in my life.  Below is the poem that was at the end of the devotion.  I hope it blesses one of you today as much as it blessed me!

"I longed to walk along an easy road,
And leave behind the dull routine of home,
Thinking in other fields to serve my God;
But Jesus said, "My time has not yet come."

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,
To be unshackled in the work, and free,
To join with other laborers in their toil;
But Jesus said, "It's not My choice for thee."

I longed to leave the desert, and be led
To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,
that I might win them; but the Master said,
"I have not called you, publish here My name."

I longed to fight the battles of my King,
Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;
But my great Captain had me wait and sing
Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the hard and difficult sphere,
Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,
To feel I had some human helper near,
But Jesus had me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the common daily toil,
Where no one seemed to understand or care;
But Jesus said, "I choose for you this soil,
That you might raise for Me some blossoms rare."

And now I have no longing but to do
At home, or far away, His blessed will,
To work amid the many or the few;
Thus, "choosing not to choose," my heart is still.

Pilgrim's Progress 

What a sweet, convicting reminder!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

Book Review: "It's (not that) Complicated"

I'm sure most of you have heard of Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin's new book, "It's (not that) Complicated".  I wasn't certain if I would like it or not.  Their previous book had been difficult to read (not that the writing was bad but the content was overwhelming, in my opinion) although I did learn a lot.  I was pleasantly surprised by the simple truths and everyday examples given in their newest book.  It is easy to read, easy to understand, and more down to earth.
It's (not that) Complicated tackles the important subjects that every girl needs to have an opinion on.  The Botkin sisters do a very good job of addressing the underlying issues in many relationships in today's society.  The simple truths they share from the Scripture will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at the "tough" relationships.  Instead of always being led by your emotions and allowing your heart to lead you, they challenge you to lead your heart.  While the rest of the world either goes searching for a guy or sits waiting for a guy, you are encouraged to simply follow God.  When your heart is in the right place then your thoughts will be in the right place and then your actions will be right.  They're all linked together.  The biggest thing I took away from this book was that if my relationship with God is right then my relationship with everyone else will be right.  I don't need to follow a list of rules and regulations in order to make sure I "stay pure".  If I am anxious to please, honor, and glorify my King in everything I do (including relationships) then His Spirit will lead me in the ways in which I should walk.
Some of the topics covered in this book are:
~ How to be a better sister to your brothers
~ How important it is that you have a good relationship with your parents
~ How you can prepare to be the wife a godly man would want
~ How to interact and communicate effectively to young men (in all purity)
~ What to do until he comes
And so much more!  One thing I really liked about this book was it's inside tips and explanations from everyday young men.  It really helped me to understand what men think about girls and how they think in general.

I highly encourage every young woman to read this book.  It will be challenging, it will be convicting, and hopefully it will be life-changing.
May the Lord bless you all this week!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

"They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep."

Psalm 107:24

I will not be posting my normal weekly post as I will be enjoying the beauty of the ocean with my family!  Every year I am privileged to spend a whole week in an oceanfront beach house with my mom's side of the family.  The total people count, in one house mind you, is thirty-five!  Yep.  Never a boring moment!  May you enjoy the beauty God has you in this week!

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah

P.S.- Just thought I'd share how excited I am to be a big sister once again!!  Can't wait for the new little one in April!!

The fruit of the Spirit is...

I love little ones!  My sister and I had the privilege of teaching a whole group of five and six year-olds at church today.  My lesson was on the first fruit of the spirit- love.  As I sat in my chair facing the youngsters I asked them if any of them knew any of the fruits of the spirit.  Several confident voices rang out.  "An apple" one said.  "No, a pineapple" another exclaimed.  "Well, how about a pear or a strawberry?" several questioned. :)  I then continued to explain to them the fruits of the Spirit.  I read to them the famous story told by Jesus when a young lawyer questioned Him- the story of the good Samaritan.  I outlined the three things the Samaritan did to show love to the wounded man.

1. He carried the man on his own donkey
2. He took him to an inn and took care of him.
3. He paid for his treatment and promised more money when he returned to check up on him.

Now, granted we do not ever generally find wounded people lying on the side of the road :) but there are other ways to show love to family member, friends, and strangers.  Just like an apple or pear have seeds that are spread over the ground, so we should spread the seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. wherever we go.  Do people notice our love after just meeting us?  Is there evidence that the Spirit lives in me?

May I never get so caught up in this busy live that the fruits of Spirit are forgotten!  May we live each day like it's our last and spread the fruits of Spirit constantly!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah   

Health and Medicine: Part 2

Well, hello everyone.  This week I will continue our study on vitamins and herbal remedies.

First we have Zinc.  Zinc is a mineral that you do not need very much of in order for it to be effective.  It not only supports the immune system but also fights acne and other skin problems.  We don't generally take it daily (although many health books recommend you do) but when we're sick we take no more than 50 mg a day.  Some of us avoid it as it seems to upset our stomachs so be careful.  Take it after you've eaten and maybe take it in smaller amounts throughout the day.

The second one on our list is Colloidal Silver.  What??  How can silver be healthy for me?  Colloidal Silver tastes and looks like water with a slight aftertaste.  It actually has very small particles of silver which go throughout your body, latch on to harmful bacterias and such, and dispose of them.   Drink a couple of tablespoons occasionally throughout the day when you're not feeling well.  It is also helpful to squirt it up your nose if you have sinus problems or drop into your ear during earaches.  We have a colloidal silver manufacturing machine (we go though it :) and have found the investment well worth it.  Research it and make the best decision for your family .

The last one I want to talk about today is Vitamin A.  This vitamin also assists the immune system when sick.  Some food sources where vitamin A occurs naturally includes fish liver oil (can anyone say yum...), dark green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits and vegetables, butter, and egg yolks.  When sick feel free to add up to 35,000 mg of vitamin A to your daily diet (by capsule).  It is also fine to take up to 10,000 mg daily (just to keep your immune system fighting).

Thank you, ladies for once again reading this post and taking control of your health so that one day you can direct your family's (Lord willing).
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

P.S. Most the info above I received from "What the Bible says about Healthy Living" by Rex Russell and "Smart Medicine for Healthier Living" by Janet Zand, Allan Spreen, and James LaValle.  And once again I am not a doctor nor are the suggestions above meant to replace his/her recommendations. :)    

Health and Medicine: Part 1

Hello Everyone,


I think it is very important that we, as young ladies preparing to (hopefully) be wives and mothers, should have a good grasp on natural and homeopathic approaches to medicine.  As our family has grown larger and larger mamma has not been as quick to go to the doctor for every little thing, rather she has searched for ways to heal the common sicknesses at home.  Thanks to her research and dedication we've grown up with this mindset: dr's are good (and necessary) for major illness (and we're very thankful for them), but the majority of sicknesses can be easily cured, over time, at home.

The Lord has created our bodies with miraculous immune systems.  I think sometimes we forget exactly how complex the immune system is and how much it does to protect us from foreign invaders.  The more you study this body of ours the more you realize just how complex and incredibly intelligent our Creator is.

Earlier last week about half of our family came down with some cold/flu-like symptoms.  I'd like to share with you some things we did to treat it along with other illnesses.

~ We began taking Echinacea.  Here is a quote from Dr. Daniel B. Mowrey in The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine that explains the use of this herb: "Laboratory studies how that the herb increases the ability of white cells to surround and destroy bacterial and viral invaders in the blood.  It stimulates the lymphatic system to clean up waste material and toxins, and it has definite antimicrobial activity."  Now Echinacea can be toxic if taken too long or overdosed.  We generally only take it if we feel like we're coming down with something or are already ill.

~ We eat tons of garlic!  "It is a powerful antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial herb." Beyond Antibiotics   It is best if you can eat this herb whole but many (including us) just can't stomach it :).  Instead we swallow garlic capsules or add it to soups and stir-fries.  I've read of putting a whole garlic clove in the outside portion of your ear to help ear infections but I've never actually done this.  Let me know if it works ;).

~We immediately increased our intake of Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is not poisonous to humans in large quantities (although it can cause lower tract issues (if you know what I mean :) when taken in excess) and is actually quite helpful in maintaining good health and assisting your immune system during illness.  I generally take 1,000 mg daily in my orange juice (using a vitamin packet called Emergen-C) but when I'm feeling down I take at least another 1,000 mg.

We'll learn about Zinc, Colloidal Silver, and Vitamin A next week in Part 2!

"Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones."

Proverbs 3: 7-8

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah  

P.S.- I am not a doctor and these suggestions are not intended to replace your primary care doctor and or his/her recommendations. :) 

The Trip

"How beautiful upon the mountains 

Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”"

Isaiah 52:7

We're there!

Comments: Wow!  I don't know where to start!  This week has definitely been a week I will forever remember.  My sister and I are already planning on going back next year.  I so appreciate the prayers...I could feel them the whole week!  I had the privilege of working on a huge deck for an elderly man with a whole crew of people I fell in love with!  I can't explain the unity and love we all experienced that week.  You could definitely feel the Holy Spirit all around us and flowing through us.  What a blessing!  I went to Kentucky hoping to bless someone and I returned blessed- only our God could do that!

The beginning of Day 1

The finished product of Day 1

The finished product of Day 2- the floorboards are down!

 The Work: Now, anyone who knows me closely knows I'm not much of a handy woman, especially when it comes to tools and power equipment.  But I can assure you that at the end of this week I felt that I could effectively drill in a screw in my sleep :).  With the help of my sister and a friend we drilled in at least 2,000 screws into this deck.  My sister even tried to drill my finger but thankfully I was too quick :) (but seriously she did drill just a little bit of my thumb...ow!).  Besides the fact that I was able to assist in filling a need for an old man, I also learned skills that may be useful to me in the future.  Maybe my husband and I will build our first house (FYI, I do not have that husband yet and neither does he appear to be anywhere on the horizon...not that I'm waiting or anything ;)).  Maybe he'll be a construction worker.  Maybe I will be able to assist someone else in need.  Who knows; I look forward to learning more skills next year.

The finished product of Day 3: railings, spindles and steps done!  Unfortnately I don't have a picture of Day 4 but we finished the railings on the stairs and put up half of the rafters for the roof.

The Things I learned:  Every morning or evening we would have a devotion led by someone in our group.  I learned so much from their lessons and the discussions afterwards.  Two things that really stood out to me was to be bold in
proclaiming Christ (as we don't know how much time we have left on this earth) and to always be aware of God's grace in our lives.  Without the knowledge of God's grace in our lives we can easily become prideful.  But God's grace does not just fall on special people- it's for everyone.  Understanding that enables us to be bold in proclaiming to lost people their need for the grace of God in their lives.  Another thing I learned was that I must never allow fear to stop me from doing God's will.  Even though I may not feel like I can do, He gives me the strength in due season.

Group devotions and praise time one night.

The verse at that top of this post was one the Lord impressed upon me as we drove through the mountains on the way there.  I felt like that was my whole mission for the week.  Through God's grace it was accomplished.

The homeowner, Mr. Teague and his girlfriend (apparently A.T.V's and lawn mowers were the cars around there :).

Me and a sister-in-Christ, Amber!

To find out more about the ministry we partnered with (Christian Appalachian Project) and how you can be used there click HERE!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah



  

A Journey

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place."

 Elisabeth Elliot

Tomorrow my sister and I leave on a journey.  This is something new, a journey we've never taken, and yet one that I know the Lord is present.  Early in the morning we leave for Kentucky for a couple days of ministering to and serving the people in the Appalachian Mountains.  Would you mind praying for us that we would be used by the Lord to touch lives for His glory this week?  Thanks so much and I hope to have an update for you all late next week!

"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness."

2 Corinthians 9:10 

This is my prayer for this week; that the seeds we sow will grow and become useful to the King.  I pray that many of those I meet this week I will have the privilege of spending eternity with too!

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah