You’ve gotta watch this clip of Gianna Jessen

Here’s her bio taken from her site

Gianna Jessen’s Biography

Gianna is a Christian. Her life was given to her by the grace of God. She shouldn’t be walking, but more miraculous still; she should not even be alive. Gianna’s biological mother was 17 when she had a saline abortion in her third trimester. Many Americans don’t realize it is legal to have an abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. After being burned alive for approximately 18 hours in the womb from the saline solution, Gianna was delivered alive in a Los Angeles County abortion clinic. Her medical records state, “born during saline abortion”…this is what caused her Cerebral
Palsey.

(Thanks Sarah, for sharing this with me)

I understand that these notes aren’t actual blog worthy posts; I’m just trying to get back into the hang of posting anything at all. Real stuff will come I promise. . . besides I don’t think any of you are there anymore anyway.

Nehemiah 7:73-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12

Still no time to write and discuss here are just a few of my quick notes:

In Nehemiah 8 :When Ezra read the law to the people and they understood they began to mourn and weep. Nehemiah told them to “not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” They were then instructed to go out “to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. ”

Nehemiah 9 is very powerful as Israel confesses their sin then stand and bless the Lord.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,” the whole selection from Psalms it great, I would copy the whole thing and put it here had I not already linked to it.

Kaleb and Charleigh are starting the One Year Bible reading plan today as well. They will be reading Jan 1 today.

Currently I’m reading on the “read your Bible in a year plan”. This generally doesn’t work out for me because more often than not I end up cross referencing something and ending up in an entirely different part of the Bible. Now that I’ve got DSL though I’m having my current plan zapped to me daily and I’ll read straight through it once then pull out my “real Bible” (real meaning printed on paper and not digital) and dig in a little deeper.

If you want to jump in and read along you can click on over to the One Year Bible and choose your version and click on today’s day.

Today we read Ezra 7-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30

It’s back. . .even if for my own use. We used to post here what we were reading in our Bible study each day and then discus it. Today I won’t be going into any great interpretation or discussion I’m just trying to get back in the habit of posting again. I figure if I post a verse or two that stand out to me it will keep me accountable to my study and get my feet back in the water of blogging. It might not be good writing but then again it might. Perhaps if my fingers get back in the hang of typing and my mouse used to clicking we might just have a real blog here again.

1 Corinthians 3:10-16

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in[a] you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Will my work survive or be burnt up?
Look at verse 15:
“But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

Something to think about.

Recently Janae and Julie have both mentioned an interest in finding a Chronological Bible. Last weekend I overheard Michele raving about hers. I did a little searching and found these on
Christianbook.com
I haven’t decided which one I like best and I’m not sure which one Michele has. I’ll ask her then get back to you.

NIV One Year Chronological Bible, softcover By Tyndale House Grasp the flow of Bible history as you journey through God’s Word in a year. The complete NIV text, including books, chapters and verse are rearranged in chronological order, along with maps and transition statements help you understand the Bible better than ever. 10 point type Single-column format Translation and textual notes List of Daily Readings General Timeline Divided Kingdom of Israel Timeline Table of Weights and Measures When the Books Were Written Scripture Index in Canonical Order 2 pages of black & white maps Maps of Paul’s Missionary Journeys 8 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ Softcover

The NIV Daily Bible: In Chronological Order, Softcover By Harvest House Publishers Discover the Bible as the extraordinary epic it is! Spanning events from creation through the apocalypse, this special edition of The Narrated Bible reads like a novel. Weaves Old and New Testaments into one continuous story * Organized into 365 chronological readings * Narrative shaded in gray * Cross-references * Size: 6″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″ * 1713 pages, softcover from Harvest

The One Year Chronological Bible NIV, Hardcover By Tyndale House

A recent comment from Cloe reminded me of our 2006 Bible Smuggling adventure. As I oohed and awhed over how young the kids look I couldn’t help but drag you in to this reminiscent moment with me. We need to do this again. . .
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

This morning before missing the bus we had a grand adventure! Kaleb and Charleigh woke up early and packed 5 Chinese Bibles into 5 little envelopes. They slowly attached little address labels printed in an exciting foreign language. They took turns praying for each package, they prayed the Bibles would quickly make their way to China, they prayed the recipients would be kept safe and would learn of God’s love. Then they prayed for the persecuted Christians of China. Finally they stuffed the Bibles into a larger envelope to send to the re mailing center. We drove down to the mailbox while it was still dark and sent the little Bibles on there way.
Some how the dark made the whole episode a lot more dramatic! The kids were so excited to be “Bible smugglers”!

Have I told you about Voice of the Martyr’s program Bibles Unbound? I guess I haven’t yet. We first learned about the great program last year from who else but GentleWhisper.

Want to start smuggling Bibles but don’t have the resources for a trip to China? Here’s your chance:
With Bibles Unbound, you mail New Testaments into restricted countries.

“The cost is only $30.00 per month for each pack of five Bible mailings and includes everything you need to participate in the program.”

“In cooperation with UPS and the international re-mail system, The Voice of the Martyrs is able to mail Bibles directly into many restricted nations using non-U.S. postage. And because the New Testaments are mailed individually and anonymously, issues of “illegal” distribution and citizens of the restricted nation having contact with the West are avoided.”

The kids have been wanting to do this ever since Amy first told us about it, they were so excited to finally take part. Click on over and learn more about how you can help smuggle Bibles.

Originally posted March 1, 2005

Looking into the eyes of my newborn baby, my heart leaped with joy. So precious. So small.

You know; when they are so cute you just want to cover them with a thousand kisses. Ooooh they are so cute! You can’t help but squeeze them and shower them with love.

You here a faint cry from the other room, you rush in and pick up your prize, your joy. As you pull the child close to your heart, the crying stops. Only you can calm this child so quickly so completely. In the embrace of your love there is safety and comfort.

As you cherish each smile, each blink, the love overflows you are enraptured and you begin to sing a sweet love song to your child. Though you’d never sing in front of anyone before you find yourself doing so now. How precious this child is to you, how very very precious.

This is how the Father delights in his children:

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephania 3:17

I’ve had to take Charleigh’s Testimony down for a while. After many an email I re-read what I wrote so long ago and realized I had been much too brief and left a lot of details out. This was the cause of a few misunderstandings, which was never my intention. When I quickly wrote the post on Charleigh’s healing it was meant for the close friends and family that were at that time reading my meager blog. Since then much traffic has been directed here. In light of the new readers I’ve taken the 3 posts down until I have time to properly sit down and fill in the gaps. If you are looking for her story or some of the comments please let me know.

Meanwhile here is a link to the audio of Kurt and my testimony of Charleigh’s healing. Up till now I’ve kept from linking to it because. . .well. . . I’m self conscious. I finally decided if I was taking Charleigh’s written story down for now I better at least post the audio.

Download Charleigh’s Story

note: thanks to our extremely slow dial-up I’m unable to check and make sure the above link works. If it doesn’t please let me know.

Sue fowarded me an email containing Heather’s testimony of what happened in the Union University tornado. I did some research and found more about her story on the Baptist Press News. This is a must read!

Union student’s reflections: ‘My experience in the tornado’
By Heather Martin
Feb 14, 2008
Baptist Press News

In August of 2005 having struggled with years of chronic fatigue and pain I wrote this short and desperate declaration, sent it out to cyberspace and forgot about it. Until this morning. I just remembered it, I just remembered that it was only a few weeks later the answers came and my health and life were restored. Thanks God.

It matters not if I know the name of my illness, for I know the name of my Healer.

Whether doctors diagnose or gurus propose, my faith remains firm. Worried no more of insurance companies or PPO’s my God is my “provider”.

I will rise up and I will stand strong. My hands, my feet, my lungs will work and I will carry on.

This ache in my head will subside, too long has Satan lied. I am not weak, I am not sick. For I am a child of God and my King has already paid the price. I rise up, highly blessed, full of energy and purpose.