Chosen Vessels

Hope y'all had a fabulous 4th of July! God bless each and everyone of you, and God bless America. <33  It's a kid with a chance  It's a rock 'n roll band It's a farmer cuttin' hay It's a big flag flying in the summer wind Over a fallen hero's grave It's a man on the moon And fireflies in June And kids selling lemonade  It's cities and farms, it's open arms, one nation under God It's America  On the days those Twin Towers came down His whole world turned around He told them all,  "Can't play ball, there's a war on now" Marched right in with a few good men And joined the Marines At 19 He's somebody's son  In a hole with a gun  In a foreign land Trying to hold on to his American dreams 19 Yes, I'm a day late. But honestly, can we celebrate America too much? 

Behold.  Its an interesting word, isn't it?  A definition I found reads... "see or observe – a thing or person, especially a remarkable or impressive one..."  To see. To observe. To soak up the presence of something worthy of noting.  The Bible uses the word behold in many places, often to draw attention to something of specific importance. Matthew 1:23, Luke 2:10-11, and 2 Corinthians 5:17 are two of my favorites.  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. ~  Matthew 1:23  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ~  Luke 2:10-11  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all...

As I was reading my Bible on Thursday morning, I came across this passage while looking through Psalms for another Thanksgiving verse. It's a really beautiful chapter so I hope y'all enjoy. :)  O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  When your fa...

Happy Independence Day, friends!!  I wanted to post something good for the today. Something inspiring and patriotic, like a short-story or at least a poem. But unfortunately, I have had no inspiration to write much of anything for the last few weeks. :P  So...y'all are getting some of my favorite patriotic songs and Bible verses. Enjoy... :)  “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” ~ Galatians 5:13 KJV “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."  ~ Psalms 33:12 KJV  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is ...

As you may have already known, my friend Jesseca over at  Whimsical Writings for His Glory  is doing a linkup this weekend in honor of Memorial Day and those who have gave their lives for our country. I knew I wanted to take part as soon as I heard about, but I didn't think far enough ahead at the time.  Unfortunately, all such thoughts got pushed aside while my focus was on other things, and I didn't remember until I saw Jesseca's post.   Hmm...   I thought.   I'll have to do some searching to find someone . Although it wouldn't have been too difficult to find someone eligible, I wanted it to be more personal.  Thursday night while helping with supper, I was telling Mom about the linkup and mentioned that I needed to 'find someone to research'. "Well, you do know that your great-grandfather's brother was killed in WWII, right?"  As you may have already guessed my reply was a bit dramatic. "What?! How did I not know ...

Well, I'm a bit late to jump on board with all the other bloggers posting beautiful poems and such honoring the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in their lives.  Why, you ask? Honestly, I don't know. Other than that I don't feel like I can write a poem that would fulfill everything I would want it to say. So I'm going to go with a simple list of attributes I see in the lovely lady who has raised me.  My Momma...  ...she's truly a godly lady who loves the Lord  ...she's a leader among the ladies at church  ...she's patient, loving, and kind  ...she's my favorite teacher  ...she's my mentor  ...she's my friend  ...she's my example to follow  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  ~ Proverbs 31:30 KJV Love you, Mom!! <3  ~Faith 

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  ~  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV // I'm thankful for the snow of winter and the ability to enjoy it with my family.  // I'm thankful for the warmth and sunshine of spring.  // I'm thankful for tiny flowers growing by the woodshed and dirty hands from planting potatoes.  // I'm thankful for a new room and beautiful bookshelves.  // I'm thankful for time spent at this place – camping and enjoying good times with friends and family.  // I'm thankful for dogs who's ridiculous positions make my day.  // I'm thankful for summer days spent swimming and soaking up the sunshine.  // I'm thankful for the beauty of a thunderstorm.   // I'm thankful for my family and the place we call home.  // I'm thankful for the...

Hey guys! :)  Sorry – this post is going up at a weird time. I should have written it ahead of time (like last week would've been nice), but yesterday it just didn't happen among school, a funeral, fall decorations, and When Calls the Heart (first time ever, folks, and I love it). But without further ado, let's jump right in. ^_^     Do you know what today is? If you read the title of this post, you probably have a pretty good guess.    Up until this past spring, this day – the third Friday of September – wasn't anything special in my mind. But then I came across the story I'm about to share with you,...another story (which I'll mention and link to)...and an article in our local newspaper.    Today is POW/MIA recognition day, the day we fly the POW/MIA flag (I mean, someone does. I don't have personally own one. XP). The one day a year set aside to remember those prisoners of war and missing in action soldier who never came ba...

Hey everyone! I hope you all have a blessed Fourth of July!! :D  Today as millions of Americans attend cookouts and watch fireworks, what are we ultimately celebrating?  Freedom. Independence. Love of country. Pride of being Americans. All good things, right?  But let's remember that we're celebrating our freedom from Great Britain's rule, many years ago. We aren't independent. We are and always will be dependent on God.  “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me . I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing .” -- John 15:4-5 KJV Pray for our country today and always.  May we never forget the sacrifices made for our freedom. May we always remember what this great country was founded on. May God continue to bless America.  God Bless you all! <3  ~Faith Note: t...

Wishing all the fathers a happy and blessed Father's Day!! :) I'm so thankful for the great dad God has blessed me with. Love you, Daddy!! <3  **All quote pictures from Pinterest.** 

Happy Memorial Day! I've wrote a little poem (two, really. They don't really go together ;)) to share with you all. Here it is, and I hope you enjoy. :)  Never forget the price that was paid for our freedom. Yesterday we were singing America, The Beautiful  at church and these words really stuck out to me...  O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!  Who more than self their country loved... That says it all, doesn't it? :')  God, bless the soldier  Who left his homeland for us,  Died to keep us safe.  And hold near the souls  Of those who sacrificed all For our liberty.  Just for our freedom  They willingly gave their lives  On those foreign soils.  Courageously endured,  For the freedom we hold dear.  We owe them greatly.  Today le...

Hey everyone! Hope your having a blessed Lord's day! :D This is just a quick post to say happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there. Moms, you are always loved, always needed, and always appreciated...even if this is the only day we remember to say it aloud. It is in our hearts and on our minds all the year round.  Blessings!  ~Faith

If you follow my other blog,  Stories by Firefly , you may've read some of my feeble attempts at writing poetry. There usually quite bad and, because I can never make the lines rhyme, they're usually written in haiku (a form of Japanese poetry).  Last night I started this poem and I finished it just now. (It's still thirty minutes before I need to get ready for church. Between the sunrise service and worship I've had plenty of time. :P) I hope you enjoy!  For Us  by Firefly  Today is Easter.  What does this day mean to us?  Folks around the world.  What's it symbolize?  How do we recognize it?  This year, again next.  It's not about bunnies,  Or fancy dresses and shoes,  Pastel  colored eggs.  It's about Jesus,  His death and resurrection,  The high price He paid.  Just for us He died.  For us He was crucified.  For us He suffered....

If you do not read my other blog, click  HERE  see what this is all about. :)  It has came to my attention that many of my blogger friends are not familiar with one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem". If you are one of them, this is for you. ;)  When looking up the lyrics to this song online, I realized that they're not  exactly  the same as we sing at church. So below is the words to this song from our church hymnal. ;-)  "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem" Verse one: Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem Shining afar through shadows dim Giving a light for those who long have gone (have gone)  And guiding the wise men on their way Unto the place where Jesus lay Beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on (shine on)  Chorus:  **Oh beautiful star (beautiful, beautiful star) of Bethlehem (star of Bethlehem) Shine upon us until the glory dawn (glory dawn)  Oh Give us thy light to light t...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! :) God bless you all!  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.  2 Corinthians  9:15  KJV In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all he lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.  Psalms 100:1-5 KJV Tomorrow or tonight I'll finish a post of my 'I'm thankful for's. But today I'm just going to enjoy my...