Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
God has done great things for us today. May we glorify Him with every ounce that is within us.
Work is starting to pick back up over here in St Robert Mo. Been doing alot of traveling (work related). Been having and going to Bible studies. So far I'v been doing good.
Well, I guess it is really not summer anymore, so maybe it is time for another post. I guess one reason I have not been on pleonast very much this summer is because I have been so very blessed with wonderful opportunities during the last couple months.
I was able to spend some time with my family this summer! The family shared in witnessing my older brother get married to a wonderful girl and my now beloved sister. My youngest brother committed his life to the Lord and has been an encouraging part of our family. I met so many people all over the Midwest from FC camps and learned so much from these campers and counselors. There were things this summer that were not so wonderful as these, but when I look at my summer in this way, I am so thankful for the work the God has had in my life and the lives of those around me.
It has now been a little over a week since I moved into our apartment in Bowling Green. God has not withheld these bountiful blessings from us still. With Daphnee, Mindy, and Fiona, we are excited for this year. I am working at a family-owned small business sandwich shop called Linzie's. I just worked Mon-Fri and have really enjoyed it so far. It keeps me busy and I hope to be able to build good relationships with the other employees.
Well, my heart is in Florida today as so many are moving in and getting ready for a great year at FC. I hope that everyone really takes advantage of a great opportunity to serve each other and grow. It was a good reminder as I went to an FC camp or two that some of these kids wait all year for that one week when they can all be together. I realized that I used to be one of those kids, but I have been continually blessed to live that way for the last two years.
I hope this update will mean that I am able to keep in touch with some of you better. Don't hesitate to call or let me know how things are going.
Karen! We miss you already! We got to see Amanda and Kevin Wednesday night. Sure wish I could look over and see you sitting there! We hope that your year will be blessed! Let us know how you are doing!
Even when you get to be my age you still miss FC and all the fun and friendships there. So glad you made the most of your time and have so much fun in BG. We'll be excited to hear all about how you like it. Where is Eric and his new wife going to be?
Welcome to Bowling Green. I saw you in Bible class yesterday morning, but I couldn't find you after church to give you a hug and say hi. If you are back at Lost River find me - I want to see you.
After three weeks at home, my family is out of school as well. It is so good to have them around during the day. I did get to substitute teach for mom one day. It was weird to step in her shoes for a while.
I am working at a daycare a couple days here and there. My first day was a lot of fun. I played baseball, football, and soccer with four and five year old boys, and we would have played other sports if I would have let them. It was so cute. They decided that we would pick numbers to see what team would go first, but they didn't quite understand the concept and so they decided at random. I quickly realized that we were making up the rules as we went and any fence could randomly become the right goal.
I have decided that this is the summer of a little of this and that. I am not really sure what I am doing in the near future, but I am enjoying being home.
Favorite things:
Young children
Weeding the garden with my mom (getting dirty)
My soon to be Sister-in-law
The little things that bring a smile to your face
That is what is new with me...I hope your summer is going well. Tell me about it. I would love to hear from you.
I just got back from Colorado Springs for a visit with my family. It was a perfect vacation. Nobody got their feelings hurt too bad and the drama was kept to a minimum ;)
Karen? I have missed you. We speak of you often. Greet your folks for Ruth and I. Everytime I meet a quality young man I tell them about a wonderful young lady we know. I don't know if they migrate your way or not, or if you are mad at me for sending mooney eyed suitors your way. Give your brothers a noogie for me.
Long walks with my roommate
Crazy parties in my room
Stairwell singings
Kids at FCA- playing games and doing our hair :/
Having cousins come visit me
Watching youtube Disney songs...in other languages
Scribble Scramble
Dr. Northcutt's opportunities to preach
Having clay all over your fingers in art class
Getting ready for chapel after aerobics...like I need to do right now!
Have a wonderful day for it is a blessing from God.
Hi, Karen! Thanks for the sweet card we received in the mail. :) I hope things are going well for you. We're busy finishing up school and moving boys around. Even Mark has to move out of his office! Love to you and yours. I wish I could have said goodbye to your mom on graduation night. I had my hands full with the four grandparents -and didn't get to visit with others as much as I'd hoped. Tell your mom "hi" and I really LIKED her!! :)
yes, graduation does feel SO good!! ah sorry this comment is so late karen, but i miss you a lot! yes, Lord willing, i will be going to FC in the fall :) i'm so excited! will you still be there? will you be in nebraska at all this summer?
Thanks for helping me look at this issue. I understand that it is a controversial topic with many different issues and opinions. It is nice to be able to discuss things as brethren to draw closer to Him and being faithful to His will. Please consider these things with an open heart. If anyone has any other helpful considerations, please continue to give your considerations for us all to look at.
thanks for raising the question. it's encouraging to see thoughtful people, especially our age, view things through such a spiritual lens. never stop reevaluating; even if you decide you're doing things god's way, you'll understand why better each time.
Amen, Ben. And yes, thanks for bringing it up... Matt Gregory and I had in interesting discussion on this last semester. I think I'll just try to bring it up next time I see you.
Karen, Always ask questions. Don't ever accept ideas what others accept. Always research out things. You will see what i am talking about. and yes this question does let people see what others think. Got any more questions? LOL
I would say that God does bless this country, despite the wickedness in it:
but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45 ASV emphasis added)
I was so glad that I could meet you and I will definitely take you up on your offer. I know that FC has its ups and downs, and I know it is not perfect, but yet it is a place that I know I need to be. And even though it has its problems the majority of it is great and I know I can gain a wonderful experience by being there.
i just looked at your post, but i guess i'll answer now.
i stopped saying the pledge while i was at FC. i know a lot of people wouldn't agree with my reasoning, but i guess basically because i cannot and will not support everything this country stands for, i will not pledge myself to it because i want to only ever pledge myself to something i have confidence in doing God's will. i will pray for my leaders and desire the bets for us as a country, but i would do that for any other country too if i lived there. just because i was born here doesn't mean i'm bound to this country alone. i am a citizen of another country ultimately. i have already pledged myself to a homeland.
Sirtorin, You're wrong, God hates and curses nation that are in sin, all throughout the scripture it talks about this. Don't believe the lie that God blesses this nation even in its wickedness.
^We are still here. We still have many freedoms that most people do not have. We still live. And there are many many MANY other blessings that we (as a nation) have, even though this nation is deeply in sin. Nations most definitely do get God's indignation poured out on them, but there are still blessings too. You just may need to look for them because they seem so common place.
Recall the conversation that God had with Abraham concerning Sodom in Genesis that culminated with "What if 10 are found righteous?" in Gen 18:32. Also, was Israel a perfect picture of morality and obedience throughout their history? Even the Caananites were spared for a time because "Their iniquity was not yet full." That being said, God is not mocked. We, as a country, will reap what we have sown. There will be a day of accountability where God weighs the scales and decides our fate as a nation. However, let us remember Nineveh and realize that there is always hope for our nation if we repent. I think those of us that have not had a chance to visit another country are at a disadvantage when it comes to appreciation of our country. We enjoy blessings that some only dream of. When I think of the Pledge, I think of "The Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God." That is what I support. Not Bill Clinton and his immoral behavior, but the Republic that was founded upon freedom that was based on Biblical principles. I would encourage people to review the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to remember the principles therein.
yeah definitely... sometimes its kind of hard to talk about it because there are a lot of people around or something. but if you want to call and talk or anything my number is 205-706-4531
