The Spring Rose Garden

Oh y'know... around O_O

I'm so frustrated I can't even tell you ... but I'm cool right?  One good thing is I'm pregnant!!  :)  I'm happy and excited about it but also worried about not having everything ready and also if the baby is not in my tube :(  my mom's last pregnancy was like that and..well that's why I don't have any younger siblings.  Besides that... Luke still doesn't have a job (PLEASE PRAY!!!)  I have morning sickness which isn't fun AT ALL...and I can't figure out what to eat most of the time...I'm not so sure I like our apartment and already am thinking of when we move next...still no living room furniture (well a table and entertainment cabinet but that's it)....and well I have a problem with selling Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze.  Some of you might remember that I'm trying my very best to get this book out but I've had very few supporters, even among the people who said they WOULD support me (buying it or advertising).  You know who you are.  It's difficult starting out but I still believe that God has a purpose for these stories. That's why one of my priorities right now is to find a way to distribute these books for free! You heard me - FREE. Now this might just be to start out but right now I really just want to get Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze into the hands of kids, youth, and young adults.

This is a huge cause! This story may help change some kids lives, give them hope and/or most importantly help them to see Christ. But how do I get these books in large quanities? Lulu.com is the organization currently creating the book format but even I, the author, must purchase each book (at prices I don't really like). So I considered having people donate money for distributing the books - perhaps even sending a certain percentage of the donation to a Christian organization? Do you have any ideas for me? Would you donate if I had an easy online way for you to do so?

Suggestions are really needed, please reply here, send me a note or email me.

Hey find out the latest info about my book Beautiful Sun, books I’m reading (like what actually happened at the end of Violet Eyes, I just posted it!) and other cool things at the Beautiful Sun website at http://beausunnews.blogspot.com

I know I'm plugging it a lot but I haven't had many visitors...no buyers yet!  Please support me with comments, advise, purchases or links!!

A friend of mine posted this recently:
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember:

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

 

Also I just wanted to let everyone know that it's the end of December when we will no long have home access to the net.  Pleae pray for us financially - also that Beautiful Sun Boy Craze sells! I have a new site/blog for it at beausunnews.blogspot.com and the online store at www.lulu.com/4God

Hey I wanted to alert everyone that scarletwriter is back and open for business :P  If you have me friended please watch for posts and tell your friends to add me that like to read, write, or are under 20!  If you haven't friended my writing journal please do.  I promise to keep it interesting ^__^

Please help me market Beautiful Sun by sending people to scarletwriter

Hey I'm reading through the gospel of Matthew and I stumbled upon this verse in ch.10:

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

That doesn't fit.  Isn't there like 2 other places in the NT that says that before the Lord comes back we will reach every nation or area or people... all the world basically?  I thought one of those 2 other times was also from Jesus.  Could someone explain?  If you don't know the other verses I can look them up too.

Thanks in advance.

I know some of you regularly pray for people so I decided to go ahead and post the prayer requests I got this week for the prayer group email that I do. 

Current Requests:
*Don K. is in the hospital.  He had to have his toe removed and recently
his opposite leg was amputated.  Please pray for him and his wife's emotional state.

*Ronnie to make a right decision concerning getting married

*Starr is having sleeping problems again, please pray that God
protects her, gives her peaceful rest and draws her close to Him

*Andy's mom for godly direction concerning her marriage and
understanding God's purpose for marriage & wives

*Ritha's son, Thomas is in prison, pray for safety and growth in the Lord

*Luke's co-worker David to have a closer relationship with God

*Jalana's husband Paul for salvation

Jesus says that (v.3-11) things may look horrible from a world viewpoint but He hasn't forgotten us.  He loves us and by the Holy Spirit comforts us; that we need to see the end results, the goal, the TRUE Life.  He says to not let things overtake or overwhelm you (v. 13-16) because then how can you show others the way?  If you lose the saltiness (the TASTE and see that the Lord is good in Ps 34), if that happens how will others ever taste or see??

I do have a lot to say on the subject but I'm too sleepy to organize my thoughts at the moment.  BUT I have found a few sites for help if you are one that would like to be modest (esp. you ladies) as God has noted that we should be.


http://www.boundless.org/2000/features/a0000413.html
http://www.allaboutgod.com/modesty.htm
http://www.modestyzone.net/
http://blogs.modestlyyours.net/

I've had the hardest time finding a one-piece swimsuit!  I know summer is ending but it's not too late.  Here's some sites: 
www.modestycounts.com
http://www.athleta.com/
http://www.shadeclothing.com/product/Products.aspx
www.wholesomewear.com 
http://www.newport-news.com/  click on the swim shop.

for bigger women I heard some are at Blair.com
http://www.decentexposures.com/swim.shtml

Grace.

Remember the scripture, Romans 6:1-2, 15, where Paul warns us about using the cross as an excuse for sinning and acting like the world.
The whole point of Grace is that God is Holy, Pure, and Glorious, and we are unworthy, sinful, self-centered people. We are ALL going to Hell. But you say "Wait lady, you don't know the whole story. We're not all going to hell, we deserve it but we have been redeemed." Redeemed? You mean our debt of being eternally sinful, evil creatures BY NATURE or natural birth, has been covered, erased, PAID IN FULL by the blood of our God. Jesus the Son. So in short, God gave us grace.

Equally do you remember the 1st and 4th commandments (no other gods before Me, even those that are portrayed as if He! and Don't take the name of the Lord in vain)? Or what about the words of Jesus warning us about people saying "He is here" or there. Do not go! What about all the passages showing God's righteousness and justice in showing judgment? Y'know one day God's coming back to judge the whole world so those without GRACE, received when you receive Christ as your Savior, will be sentenced to Hell. No, "oh it's ok". No "I feel bad for them". No, "I can't just let them drown". The chance is now, the way is Jesus, the consequence will be hell and no act of kindness on their parts will ever be enough to quench the wrath of God.

Now you say "I know I know all this. Get to your point?" My point is, non-believers, unbelievers DON'T know all this. Even more sad, you may be one of the few Christians that know all of this and live knowing it's true. Comment after comment I've found online on a certain movie out right now says that more than half of the Christians out there do not KNOW or maybe it's that they just don't care about the above.

Can I give you some facts that you shouldn't forget (if you call yourself a Christ-follower):

• *The Lord Almighty is a sacred, HOLY Being. According to the Bible, He's so Holy that cannot view Him fully, face-to-face. We are to reverence Him.
• *We were bought at a very high-price. We should act like it.  Yes we should be hard to please and therefore shouldn't get pleasure from worldly sinful things, but only from the perfection of God and things that are like Him.
  
• *We are called to reach the WORLD for Christ - that means explaining to them things like SIN, JUDGMENT, GRACE, HOLINESS. That is the barebones of the Gospel. But you can't reach the world if you don't know what those 4 words mean. And you can't reach them if you are supporting/engaging in things that downplay those 4.
• *Don't forget who the REAL Jesus Christ is - Don't let others pass out twisted scripture and give you a one (or two) card God. If it's not the totality of God, it's "ANOTHER" God, "ANOTHER" Jesus. Perhaps one that you'd like more, giving you more flexibility to do what you want. That's just another form of idolatry.
• *Comedy, Romance, Sport or Video Game - what is the moral lessons being taught? It's all serious - it all can lead astray. Yes God has a sense of humor, but He told us that the devil is out there constantly seeking any foothold he can get. Is a cheap laugh more important than the truth of God?
• *If you aren't the Christian in their life, a non-believer or seeker ONLY has the media and friends/family to go to for an understanding of God, Christ, and Christianity. Does God want us to support things that only keep others opposed, mislead, or confused?
• *We are in the world but not to be OF the World

WATCH WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING.

So did anyone take the challenge? What parts of the Bible are you reading lately? What has God revealed to you this week?

Yay, I've finished my self-challenge to read consistently (daily) the book of Mark. I made this challenge about a month ago while we were visiting my mom in Cleveland .. actually I may have made it on the plane on the way back here.

I'm thankful to You Lord for helping me to KEEP steady at it.

It's so easy to get lazy and not do something but having someone (God in this case) as an accountability partner really does make a difference. I guess everything comes down to who you are doing it for. Who ARE you doing things for? Yourself, family, friends...maybe you are radical and live for God! And why are you doing those things? As I established last time it really really needs to be for God. Everything for Who He is and for What He's doing.

I challenge you to look at your life and really think who are you living for? Why? And what will that get you in the end?

I want to read all of John next. I really want to see Jesus, know God and understand the positions of the Trinity. I learned many new insights in reading Mark. Maybe I'll make a list of them for you all. What are you currently reading in the Word? Have you ever self-challenged yourself in His Word? Maybe you should right now - it'll definitely get your head back on right. Tell me, maybe we can be accountable to each other. But if not, I don't care, I'm still going with or without you.

I was reading Clarke Commentary on Mark 12:41-44 about the woman who gave 2 mites (less than a penny). How Jesus was sitting there observing it all. I thought the comments were noteworthy and are here for you to read and hold to:

1. Christ observes all men and all things: all our actions are before his eyes, what we do in public and what we do in private are equally known unto him.

2. He observes the state and situation we are in: his eye was upon the abundance of the rich who had given much; and he was well acquainted with the poverty and desolate state of the widow who had given her all, though that was but little in itself. What an awful thought for the rich! "God sees every penny I possess, and constantly observes how I lay it out." What a comfortable thought for the poor and desolate! The eye of the most merciful and bountiful Jesus continually beholds my poverty and distress, and will cause them to work for my good.

3. Christ sees all the motives which lead men to perform their respective actions; and the different motives which lead them to perform the same action: he knows whether they act through vanity, self-love, interest, ambition, hypocrisy, or whether through love, charity, zeal for his glory, and a hearty desire to please him.

4. He observes the circumstances which accompany our actions; whether we act with care or negligence, with a ready mind or with reluctance.

5. He observes the judgment which we form of that which we do in his name; whether we esteem ourselves more on account of what we have done, speak of it to others, dwell on our labours, sufferings, expenses, success, &c., or whether we humble ourselves because we have done so little good, and even that little in so imperfect a way.

x-posted

Why can't I post there. It says I'm not logged in, but then if I log in on the comment screen it says invalid. I even tried Anonymous and it says invalid!! >_+

Anyway hub if you see this I just wanted to say Amen about God being our Father!

btw, for those who care, I'm home sick today @_@ I hate feeling lousy