Wonderfully Made

In moments when you are convinced that insurmountable things are wrong with you and you desire to escape yourself, I hope you find comfort in knowing that GOD purposefully made us unperfect, moreover and most importantly he made us wonderfully. Let not words or actions of men cloud your understanding that you are loved beyond measure; for if God does not love in such a manner he would have created us not.

PSALMS 139:1-18
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Father, I pray for those who are lost within themselves to know our Lord Christ, for he is our Savior and without fail leads us lovingly and graciously unto thee.

Praise Lord God and Lord Jesus Christ

Praise our Lord God, our Father, for life and sending his beloved son unto earth to save us from our sinful nature. Praise Lord Christ for his purity, which none other possess; for he is the greatest man to ever walk upon this good earth.

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your holidays with joy, peace and love.

The New Testament OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR Jesus Christ
St. Matthew 6:1-15
TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and thy glory, for ever. Amen

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Faithful Seperate From The Foolish

PROVERBS 20:1-13
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgement scattereth away all evil with his eyes. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Throughout much of my life I have been foolish. I have squandered time, ruined good opportunities and been selfish beyond necessity. God provides us with a wealth of experience from which we understand his almighty power and know his graciousness and love. At times it can be devastating and painful to realize that without God’s mercy and love we are nothing short of an abomination.

There have been times in my life when it seems as though the whole world revolves around me, and as I go about day-to-day details I am filled with grace and can do no wrong. Then the inevitable occurs: as I think too highly of myself I begin tripping over my faults. During which time, I pray unto Lord God, our Father and Lord Christ, our Savior, for rescuing. They never fail us. They know everything about us (inside and out), and our Father achieves his desired result by creating within our lives impacting and lasting experiences.

As our faith grows we grow closer unto God and Christ. As we remain within their loving embrace, we dare not separate ourselves through the acts of sin that provide temporary gratification; for we know the discomfort of affliction through trials and tribulations. When we drift off the path of righteousness and Lord God or Lord Jesus sets us straight we humbly accept our punishment; for we know the pleasure and comfort of their love outweighs all. The love of our Father is victorious indeed!

I pray unto our Father for all with goodness in their hearts to possess the hearing ear, and the seeing eye; for there is none other as great as Lord God’s and Lord Christ’s love.

What I Know About Discipline

What do I know about discipline? I know that there are six definitions of discipline in the dictionary I use:

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from such training.
3. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

Fair enough! I would have had difficulty describing discipline any other way. Nevertheless, with all the excesses readily available to us it is far too easy to accept discipline as a notion, not a requirement for our very survival.

JOB 36:5-12
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Discipline doesn't require shunning life. It doesn't mean avoiding day-to-day details. It doesn't cause us to become boring. Think of discipline as insight: a deeper understanding of rules, expectations, and desired results.

Throughout my life I've been ever willing to experience new things. I have: rode an African Elephant; been a passenger in a helicopter on a flight over the Pacific Ocean and closely watched a pod of Humpback Whales during their migration; stood on the very edge of a high and windy sea cliff and peered into the eyes of a playful baby Whale; hiked into a remote Redwood Forest late at night to see Fireflies; walked around a Tropical Rainforest and smelled exotic flowers and splashed in waterfalls; been only a few feet from a wild Mountain Lion; been chased into my home by a feisty Black Bear; laid outside in freezing cold weather to watch the transforming lights of the Aurora Borealis; gazed up into the vast sky for hours watching a Meteor Shower; rode my bike to the top of a high Mountain to see an incredible Sunset; skydived; rode on a rare/classic motorcycle; driven sports cars too fast; and taken countless risks that have resulted in amazing life experiences.

God planted a seed within me that seeks out adventure. It's easy for me to daydream about some new and exciting thing to do. However, my thoughts can be impulsive and disheveled, which has caused me much confusion and stress. Not long ago I began to pray unto Lord God, our Father, for mental discipline. Clearly God did create me, for he knows me better than I know myself. Not only did he provide me with mental discipline, he also provided me with physical discipline. Now, when my mind races around like a whirlwind I ask Lord God and Lord Christ to provide me with help and guidance. After which, I experience peace and lasting calmness within. Even more, my body is returning to good physical condition. I have more stamina than ever and regularly attend a local gym. Also, I remain active outside among God's glorious nature.

I have returned to being a vegetarian. I no longer crave salty or sweet things. I don't drink coffee or alcohol. I drink plenty of water. I am experiencing the benefits of stretching/yoga: no more sore muscles, back pain, and/or neck tension. I sleep soundly. I require fewer hours of sleep and feel fully rested. I am mindful of my speech and actions. I willingly obey laws (no more driving warp speed). I am charitable. I'm not nearly as wasteful as I used to be. I am reading the Holy Bible sequentially and never skip over a difficult chapter or verse; I read every word, which requires discipline indeed. Simply put, I am within God's grace. He continues to bless me abundantly, for I know our Lord Christ, and I am filled with love, joy, peace and pleasant comforts.

I pray unto our Father for Lord Christ to find and save all those who struggle within various areas of life: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, etc.; that they may know such love, joy and peace as I do.

Lasting Joy

I recently had a conversation with some people, during which it was impressed upon me that my new found Christian joy is certain to be short lived. I was grateful for the conversation as it provided me opportunity to discuss what I’ve come to learn, and to spent time with others that may have needed some kind attention and reassurance; moreover it merely solidified the truth: I am able to experience lasting JOY, for I know GOD is fair and just and HE has freed my soul.

PSALMS 11:1-7
IN the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in the holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness: his countenance doth behold the upright.

I often pray unto our Father for a good mind, heart and soul; that I remain obedient and loving toward our Savior, Lord Christ, who guides us along our path of righteousness, for great glory unto Lord God. And I pray for the salvation of those with goodness in their hearts that are lost and do not yet know the joy and peace that awaits them.

PSALMS 51:10-13
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

In Memory Of Angelica

ECCLESIASTES 1:4-9
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they retun again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is now new thing under the sun.

Although no words can express the deep sorrow I've experienced upon the passing of my 15 year old sister Angelica, I am uplifted to know that I get to cherish our time for as long as I live. We had countless fun times spent at the ocean and parks. Together we'd fly kites, blow bubbles, splash in mud puddles, go camping, and swim in lakes and rivers. You could not keep us inside on a sunny day.

My sweet little sister was as innocent and kind hearted as they come. It is clear to me now that her pain and suffering during life made her much stronger and more wise than anyone realized. The following is a poem written by Angelica a short while before she departed from this life. I know God's love was within her for there is resounding truth throughout her poem:

Title: TRUTH

Where there is Life & Order, there is Death & Chaos; only to bring Rebirth & Peace.

No person will ever fully understand the human mind & nature. Like, why a mother or father will end their child’s life, rape them, or beat them. With human beings, each one has a different way of thinking & a different view on life and of how things are.

We can not be perfect, for we have different traits that make us different from each other, making us “Imperfect” and unique.

Some people have a strong belief in Fate & Destiny. Fate & Destiny do not control us, they guide us. One’s Fate & Destiny are not set in stone. If someone has the will, strength, & a stronger belief in themselves they can make their own Destiny & change their Fate.

With every being that dies, another is born.

People are different in many ways, for either they are trying to hide from the world & fear it, or they are trying to hide their true selves from the world & fear what others think about them. Also, they are too blind, cruel, over self confident, or jealous of others who embrace what is sent to them and who are more wise, understanding, & caring, that they try to break that person’s heart, soul, and mind so that they can feel better about themselves.
Angelica

Angelica was never taught the word of God, but she was an obedient child of God and he worked through her to touch many lives. God gave us Angelica for a short while, but during her time here on earth many great things did happened, and in memory of her great things continue to happen. ...Thank you God for such glorious blessings as Lord Christ, Heaven, Angelica and Earth.

I pray for all those with goodness in their heart to understand the magnitude of their blessings.

Greetings Christian Friends and Family!

Have you ever been afraid of a darkness that burrows deep into your heart and corrupts your whole life? Have you ever been hurt deeply and hated the world for it? Have you ever known that being selfish is easier than being selfless? …I cannot conceive of being any worse a human being than I have been and will forever be. However, the difference between me before and me now is that I know I have been saved and I am loved beyond measure.

When I resided far away from God and Jesus Christ I always fell short; I longed for more and more; my happiness was fleeting; I was lonely regardless whose company I kept; and worst of all I was falling apart (in rather a nightmarish kind of way). Clearly, I didn’t like myself.

At this very moment, I am light years apart from the woman I was less than a year ago. I would never have imagined being anything less than Heather: an adventurous young woman; ever ready for what excitement lies beyond the horizon; possessed with high ambition and aspirations; strong professional and interpersonal skills; and a multifaceted personality, which could at times impress the best. I truly had no idea my life was accelerating out of control.

I have come to understand that our Lord God does work in mysterious and wondrous ways. Unfortunately it took going through hellfire and begging for a shred of my life before I came to realize his mighty power; He giveth life and can taketh away life. And, as in my case, he sent our Savior, Lord Christ to save my life.

As mentioned, I would never have thought I’d be professing my Christianity, let alone sharing my devotion to our Savior, Lord Christ over a blog. Truthfully, while growing up, I had an aversion to religion, partly due to witnessing much hypocrisy among religious people, and because I’m quite ignorant. In my immediate family The Bible was a dusty old book that we simply didn’t have the time or patience to invest in.

If you are taking the time to read through my blog I gather that you may have had some similar life experiences. I’d love to learn more about you, as I have come to realize the importance of sharing our divine experiences with one another. My heart has been filled with so much love, and as “my cup runneth over” I pray love flow your way. Amen!

PSALMS 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.