Goals

I know every blogger in the world is exclaiming, "I can't believe 2011 is gone" so I'll join in their cry :)!  This year has flown by but in a good way.  Many new things happened which stretched me to higher heights and closer to my Lord.  

At the end of each year I have a habit of setting goals for the coming year.  These goals vary from exercising more to memorizing certain portions of Scripture.  One of the goals that stays constant every year is a verse for the next year.  It is so neat to look back on the past 12 months and see how the Lord fulfilled the verse given at the beginning of the year.  The verse I had for 2011 was Daniel 12:3, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."  My desire for 2011 was that Jesus Christ would be even greater in my life and that through me people would know Him more!  This is obviously my life's goal but I felt it especially stressed this past year.

The verse I feel the Lord giving me for 2012 is 1 Samuel 12:24 which says, "Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you."  Following graduation in June I will enter a whole new phase of life. I do not anticipate following the normal course of high school graduates instead I desire to serve my Lord while I'm most available to do so.  His love for me requires my life for Him.  More than anything else I desire that my life be used by Jesus this year.

Do you have goals that you set for the new year?  If not, pray and see if this is something the Lord would have you to do.
May we all strive to be used mightily for His Kingdom in the coming year.  I can't wait to see what the Lord will do!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

Obedience

"One word stands out from all others as the key to knowing God, to having his peace and assurance in your heart; it is OBEDIENCE.
To OBEY God's Will was like food to Jesus, refreshing His mind, body and spirit.  'My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent Me.' {John 4:34}
OBEDIENCE to God's Will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight.  It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's Will that brings certainty.
OBEDIENCE IS THE SECRET OF GUIDANCE.  Every Christian should live a God-guided life.  If you are not guided by God you will be guided by something else. 
The Christian that doesn't know this sense of guidance in his life is missing something vital.
Take OBEDIENCE with you into your prayer hour, for you will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice.

"When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we DO HIS GOOD WILL
He abides with us still,
And with all who will TRUST and OBEY" "

Written by Eric Liddell in his book "Prayers for Daily Use"

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

My Mother

As I've gotten older I've realized exactly how much this household needs our wonderful mother to run properly!  Mamma never planned on staying home, homeschooling, or having more than 3 babies but the Lord had other plans (thankfully!).  When she was pregnant with me she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and has since then striven to live every moment of every day serving, loving, and worshiping Him.
 

My beautiful Mamma!

 After she had me she couldn't imagine leaving me in some stranger's hands and thus began her journey of faith.  About 18 months later my sister Kimber was born.  Not too long after that my sister Alexis was born and then finally a little brother, Caleb arrived.  About this time I was ready to attend my first year of school but once again Mamma and Daddy did not feel comfortable leaving me (or my siblings) to be raised by the anti-God public school system.  After much prayer and searching the Scriptures they decided to homeschool.  Once again they stepped out of the normal and into the way God was calling them.

Daddy and Mommy enjoying a time of fun together :)!

  Everyone was sure that Mamma was done having kids- I mean 4 kids under 6 was more than enough for one woman to handle...right?.  But Mommy and Daddy wanted a little playmate for Caleb so Seth entered our family.  Well, by this time people were definitely beginning to wonder about how many children Mom and Dad were aiming for.  But that was just it...they weren't aiming for any certain number.  Every time the youngest child was around 2 or 3 Mamma began to have that God-given urge for another child.  Wondering if they really were off their rocker they once again searched the Scriptures.  The Lord impressed upon their hearts during their study that children were a blessing and that they should accept however many He wanted to give them.  Since then 4 more blessings have joined their growing brood!

Mamma and her youngest child (as of right now :)

  My mother has for years been our loving nurturer, godly teacher, and thrifty chef.  Her tender care when you're sick, her constant self-less serving, and her love of knowledge are all examples to me.  I couldn't ask for a better mother and confidant!

I love you!!

 I love you, mommy!  Thank you for your Christ-like example that you exhibit inside and outside of our home.  I don't think people realize what an amazing woman you really are!  I hope to one day be a wife and mother just like you!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

Book Review: Preparing to be a Help Meet

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"And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Genesis 2:18

As soon as this book came out I knew I wanted it!  I had watched as Mommy read and diligently applied Debi Pearl's book "Created to be His Help Meet" and I knew I needed to know more about this seemingly forgotten subject of being a help meet.  On my 16th birthday my younger brother kindly surprised me with my very own copy of "Preparing to be a Help Meet".  Over the next couple of months my mamma and I studied this well-written, sometimes humorous book.  Sprinkled throughout are true stories of how the Creator of the universe orchestrated the amazing love between a man and a woman and how they used it all for His glory.  You will learn about the different types of men and women and how the Lord uses both genders together to portray a fuller picture of Himself.  You will also read of tragedies and learn from the mistakes others have made.  Gently yet firmly, Mrs. Pearl explains some of the things that will either build your marriage up or break it down.  She also warns that the habits you form now will effect your relationship with your man (if the Lord has one for you) in the future.  She urges you to wait, save as much as you can (especially physical and emotional purity), and pray for your future beloved.  You will receive practical and spiritual advice in how to better prepare to be a help meet to the one the Lord gives you.  Personally, this book reaffirmed many convictions and goals I already had.  It also pushed me to study more, prepare more, and pray more for my husband-to-be. 
Please read this.  It will encourage you, it'll challenge you, it'll prepare you to the best help meet you possibly can be for His Glory!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah           

Traditions

"and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God."

Numbers 15:40 

Today I thought I'd share with you some traditions my family has, especially with all the upcoming holidays.  Daddy and Mamma have always tried to teach us to remember what Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Resurrection Sunday are all about.  Unfortunately in this day and age people think that Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy a huge meal, Christmas is the day you receive presents, and Resurrection Sunday is a time to search for easter eggs.  While each of these "traditions" are not bad in themselves we believe it's important to remember why they are here in the first place.

Some friends and some siblings re-enacting the First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Traditions: Every year we are reminded about the Pilgrims and God's Providence to them through the Thanksliving Treasure Box by Family Life.  Easy to understand this resource is excellent for families with young children.  With several colorful paintings and figurines of corn, the Mayflower, the cross, etc. my siblings have no problem sitting still and listening to the short devotional.  Another thing we do is get a piece of Thanksgiving-themed stationary and write down specific things we are thankful for from this past year.  We then store it in a safe place to look back on in the coming years.

Our traditional manger scene

Christmas Traditions: Several years ago my parents decided to switch the traditional Christmas tree for a nativity scene.  Every year the week-end after Thanksgiving, Daddy cuts up a small tree and sets the logs in a semicircle around a straw-floored manger scene.  Daddy handmade a small manger and on Christmas Eve Baby Jesus is placed gently in his straw bed (usually a spare baby doll ;).  About one week before Christmas day the "Wise-men" arrive.  Three gunny sack bags, tied with gold string, suddenly appear around the manger scene.  Inside are the presents which we enjoy opening as a family on Christmas Eve morning (we have our Christmas a day before since we're usually at a grandparents' house on Christmas Day).  About 2 weeks before Christmas we enjoy reading through our Adornaments.  This creative devotional contains the different Scriptural names of Jesus and defines them.  This helps us to remember what, or rather Who, Christmas is all about.

One fancy Resurrection lunch

Resurrection Sunday Traditions: This is the one holiday that isn't the same every year. We've celebrated the Jewish Passover before, enjoyed a fancy Easter lunch, loved on a newborn sibling (only 3 days old), etc.  One thing that is consistent though is our 12 eggs of the Resurrection.  Each one contains some symbol of the last supper, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord.  When the eggs are all passed out we listen intently as daddy explains each symbol and their Biblical meaning.

The whole things with traditions is to remember that Jesus is to be the center of everything!  This is hard to remember especially with the business of the season but it's so important.  The Devil desperately wants us to forget the Scriptural meanings of all these (that's why he uses such tools as Santa, Easter Bunny, and Turkeys) but we must not allow it.  We, the next generation, must strive to never forget the God-whom we serve and the many traditions that were made to ultimately honor and glorify Him!
May you be blessed this Christmas season!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah