Mar. 16, 2008 - God is perfect

     Today officially marks the first day in March 2008.  Wow do these months pass by quickly. I praise God for another day. I am so thankful to Him and for all that He does---for who He is, for health and safety, and just another day to live.
     Oh, I know I have so much more to learn on this journey of life. I know I am not perfect, but sometimes I overwhelm myself in attempts to be close to it. I want to please my Maker, but I am nothing more than dirty rags. I hate my sin, and how I long to be completely free from it when I leave this earth one day. But God is faithful to forgive me. Oh, there is none like Him. I want to please my Maker, I want to do good, but in my selfishness I fail and I fall, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed. I wish I could freely serve the Lord without sin, but I am quickly reminded of my imperfections: not one is righteous, no not one. (Romans 3:10).  I am not perfect! At the same time that does not give a reason to dwell in my sin. God forbid (Romans 6:1-2.)  But with God's help, I can over-come bad habits and selfishness. Only God can change my heart.
       But oh! He is perfect!! God is completely perfect in all of His ways. Have you ever stopped to think that there is no one like God?  Who can compare to our all-powerful God? Studying His attributes in our Bible study has immensely blessed me.
      It's important to understand that one can't fully trust or love someone that they don't really know much about. That is pretty obvious in human relationships, but the same exact thing occurs in our relationship with the Lord. How can we trust Him with all of our hearts and love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength if we don't truly know about Him and who He truly is?
       God's wonderful Word is where we look into the depths of who He is. That is why it is ever so vital to be reading it on a daily basis.
       I've always known some of His attributes, but I've never really studied some of them in depth. It also never occurred to me that they all link together. Have you ever realized what God would be like if He was missing one of His attributes? You can't have one without the other.
      All of God's attributes tie in together. He can't have His love without His mercy. He can't have His faithfulness without His power, and so forth. If God was only holy, He would be constantly pounding us down because of our sin and mercy would be far from reach. If He was only love, He would let us get away with many things. His attributes all work together and all balance out, because He is only completely perfect.
      Here's a simple summery of some of God's attributes that I quickly took from each chapter in our Bible study book from points that I personally really liked...
    

• God is a God of love

• God is a God of mercy

• God is a God of faithfulness

• God is a God of power

• God is a God of wisdom

My personal summary of some of the attributes (or perfections) of God:

Without God's wisdom, He wouldn't know my very best.
Without God's love, He wouldn't desire my very best.
Without God's mercy, He wouldn't give me the very best.
Without God's faithfulness, He wouldn't be trustworthy to continue to give
me the very best.
And without God's power, he wouldn't be capable to do the very best for me.

~~I do not lack anything. God is more than more than enough for me~~

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Mar. 8, 2008 - Ahh nuts

      Ahhh-it's been longer than one month since I've last updated. Nuts :-P    Anyway, just wanted to write a quick note explaining my departure for the moment. On the first of March I sat down at the lap-top to publish a new post, but the lap-top all of the sudden went dead even though it was plugged up (I lost some of my entry, but nothing big). Come to find out that the cord has a short in it. Dad has ordered a new one and should be here soon...So, until then I obviously won't be on the computer. Dad has graciously let me type this entry from his lap-top for the moment. I guess you could say my month long departure from the blog world was an unexpected break;  A good one but  long enough  :-)  I'm ready to begin blogging regularly again.
        Anyhoo, life is good. The family is doing well. God is faithful.
       Thank you everyone for all of the comments. I will be replying soon  :-) 

             God bless,   ~~Brooke

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Jan. 31, 2008 - Resolutions check up; Going to a woman's conference

As this is the last day of January, I been looking back to see how I did according to my new year resolutions (I told you I had a lot, remember?).  I think I am a very goal oriented person. I am always setting goals for myself and things I want to accomplish. While I think that is a good thing, sometimes I can be hard on myself if I don't get done what I meant to get done. Know what I mean? Not all the time: but lots.  Anyway, I know I am going to have to really work on my goals for 2008. I know I won't perfectly complete them, and some will take all year to sculpt. But I gonna keep on trying and do the best I can in the process  ;-)

January has passed by pretty fast. It was a good month.

Holly and I just realized today that we will be leaving for a woman's conference tomorrow. How fast February the 1st crept upon us!!!

It is called the "New Desire's 16th Annual Fabulous Faith Women's Conference" entitled "Time In the Garden."  I went by myself last year and I was very blessed!  I am so glad Holly will be able to come with me this year...

We will be car-pooling with a group of ladies from our previous church we went to. We will leave tomorrow to Alabama and will be coming back Saturday. I am so excited!!  "New Desire" is also the name of their southern gospel group. They sure have some beautiful songs. They sing several songs during the conference, and I bought their CD last year and have listened to it many times, that even though Holly didn't go last year, she about knows all the songs as well  ;-)  So I am excited for her to actually get to see New Desire in person and watch them sing.

So, we won't be back until Saturday. Sorry I don't have time to comment! I will also have to reply to comments when we get back, because there's much to do today.  Holly and I have to go babysitting tonight for a family hosting a class in their home, and there's other things that have to be done before tomorrow.

Keep sharing your photos! I have loved seeing all of your outfits. The ones I got to see today were all darling! I will link all your pages when we get back and plus share our experience of the "fearlessly feminine and female challenge. "

God bless!

~~Brooke~~

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Jan. 29, 2008 - About our Bible study

I briefly mentioned yesterday, and in a past entry, that my mom and I are attending a Bible study at our church. It has been most insightful, informative and life changing. I honestly wouldn't know where to begin to describe all that has been taught and fed spiritually to us. I feel completely blessed and grateful.
     
The course we are taking is entitled, "Quieting a Noisy Soul" by Jim Berg.

It can be worked as either an individual or group study. Obviously, we are doing it as a group study with our church. I like it this way very much because we are able to discuss things and share what the Lord is showing us. I get EVEN MORE out of it this way. It's great.

Every meeting we discuss last week's topic--and then watch a DVD segment. During the week, individually everyone works on Scripture memorization (we have a verse per segment that corresponds with what we are learning. This is another area I highly enjoy...) and we also have homework during the week answering questions out of our study guide. Also, the segment we watch with the group, we are supposed to watch 2-3 more times at home on our own. I know it sounds like a lot--but it is every minute worth it. Our pastor informed us many times that "we will get as much out of the course as we put into it," and that is so true! But I never dread watching the segments again each week. The more I watch it, each and every time I get more out of it and I understand the concepts even better. Oh my: the segments are just filled with information, wisdom, and truth from God's Word. You can't only watch it once!!

I can't even begin to tell you how much this course is blessing my life! And I am not even through with it yet.  I am learning more of God and about God, and I learning how to quiet my soul, and in return I can face life with peace and strength from God because of who He is: and I only desire more of Him. Cause after all, He is more than enough for me.

When the pastor first introduced the course to the church, I was thinking to myself, "I don't really have a noisy soul. Of course I struggle with things like everybody, but no major "noises" I can think of in my life. I don't think that course is for me." And so I decided I wasn't going to sign up or participate.

Well, my mom did, and on the night for the first meeting and 15-30 minutes before Mom was going to leave, I was upstairs finishing up some school work, and I looked out the window and started doing some thinking. Quieting a noisy soul?? Hmmmm. I don't think I have a noisy soul?   I thought. But as I was evaluating myself and thinking, the lightening bulb finally came on.  What am I thinking? I do have a noisy soul!  In my pride, I just couldn't see it. I knew I obviously wasn't perfect, but I couldn't pin-point a certain "noise" in my soul from the description of the course saying that "noise" of the soul is: either guilt, anxiety, anger, despair, and other things. I then remembered several issues in my life I have been struggling with for awhile now. With not must further to do, I was racing down the stairs and I asked Mom if I could come. I then called Mrs. Debbie, the pastor's wife, and asked her if it would be alright if I came to class, even though I hadn't signed up, and she said I could. My mom said that I could borrow her materials, but thankfully, I wasn't too late in joining the class, and not too late to get my own study guide. I kind of hated the fact that I had to join at the last-minute kind of thing--but am I so grateful that I did!!

We started our course in November. It is a 24-week course, so we still have a little ways to go. But I am enjoying every minute of it, and looking back, I am ever so grateful I made that last minute decision that Monday night to join; I am ever convinced it was God's divine will. This study has ever changed my thinking of my Christian walk. It has changed my view of God to what He really is. It has taught me how vital contentment is--how important it is to track our thoughts, etc. and forever etc.!
 
This course has only brought me closer to God. It has made me love and appreciate Him much more. It has only made me want to serve and glorify Him more, and my soul can ever rest just because of who He is.


                                                 I will be sharing more at a later time  ;-)

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Jan. 28, 2008 - Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge Day 1

Monday, day one


What a great day! Holly and I felt so feminine and lovely in our skirts today.  We ran a few errands, and Mom and I attended our Bible study tonight. Of course it's not like we've never worn a skirt before, but it's not very ordinary for us to wear them for a casual outfit. Compared to my blue-jeans, I felt so feminine and like a lady today.  Holly quite enjoyed it too and on the drive home she remarked, "I love skirts!"  Holly really looked gorgeous  ;-)

I am delighted of the responses from others who are going to take a stab at the "challenge" and so excited to see other girls who are participating along with us. Just for a little side note, you don't have to post pictures if you don't want to. It's just an extra thing so you can share with others. The whole point of this though is just to give wearing skirts and rejoicing in your femininity a chance  ;-)


This morning, I was happy to see that Mom had joined us. She looked so beautiful!  Mom always looks so beautiful in a skirt  (she's beautiful in any outfit.)

                         
                                               
                

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.                                  Proverbs 31:30




 

Looking forward to seeing y'all's photos!

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Jan. 26, 2008 - The Feminine Challenge

Fearlessly Feminine and Female


                               
                                      Windflowers by Waterhouse



I love my skirts--and I also love my jeans. But I've always had a special love for my skirts because they make me feel so feminine and lady-like. In the summer I wear lots of skirts (plus my capris.)  I simply adore light, flowing, medium-length skirts. They are absolutely my favorite and are lovely to wear in the summer. But now that it's winter, I haven't hardly worn any skirts except on Sundays because of the cold. On a chilly day, if I have to pick from wearing my jeans and keeping my legs warm, or wearing a flowy skirt, I most times go for the jeans. But I've really missed my skirts! There's something so special about skirts and cute dresses.

I was looking around Christian sites and blogs today, and I came across something I thought was really neat: ladies who wear dresses/skirts regularly who shared on their blog what they wore and did each day with pictures.

This is what they said about it at Ladies Against Feminism:


This section is here to inspire you and encourage you as you seek to dress in a uniquely feminine way every day. The idea for this weekly "journal" came about as LAF fielded questions from women who said it simply wasn't practical or realistic to "go feminine" in our culture or with all the things we have to do at home and in our communities. The photos shared here will demonstrate that it isn't just practical; it is fun and beautiful to dress in a distinctively feminine manner on a daily basis. Lovely garments aren't just for church!

http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/Reader_Favorites_26/Through_the_Week_in_Feminine_Dress1002547.shtml

(I found another place too where young ladies were doing it where they called it, "Winter Week in Feminine Dress.")

LOVE it!

 
These ladies look so beautifully feminine in their dresses and skirts! And yes, you can do almost about anything in them. I think it's a  very neat idea. Some might think it's weird and probably wonder how they'd survive or manage in a skirt all week: but let me tell ya, you can do practically anything in a skirt. Of course, there's particular activities that might make it harder in a dress/skirt, but most ladies will agree that skirts don't limit your abilities to do everyday things.

I think striving to wear all skirts or cute dresses for a solid week would be an awesome challenge.

So, I thought it would be neat, just like these ladies, to try wearing only wearing skirts/dresses. I think it would be interesting to try it for an entire week. No matter what your age: I hope you'll join us!  My sister Holly and I are going to do it this week starting Monday.  I don't know if anyone would like to join us, but if you do, I'm going to start my own "skirt goal/challenge" and start what I am going to call the "Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge," for all you fellow female teens. I hope you'll join us.


The Challenge:  to wear only skirts/dresses for an entire week (7 days.)   Post some pictures on your blog and show us some of your outfits. If you don't have exactly 7 different skirts, that's o.k. Mix and match with your shirts. If you'd like, post every day of your challenge week and show us what you wore like the other ladies in the links above did. (I am hoping to do so.) And be creative!  You can easily be modest and fashionable at the same time.  Being modest and feminine doesn't mean wearing a skirt that covers your toes and a shirt that comes all the way up to your neck, and has dull colors. No! You can be modest, feminine, lovely, beautiful and stylish all at the same time! So, be creative! Throw in some accessories. Put on a hat if you want; Dress up with some jewelry or earrings, fix your hair in a lovely do. Show us how you can look modest and feminine, yet with some added style.


For those who already wear skirts everyday:

If you already wear skirts regularly, please participate anyway! This is for all females. Show us how you mix and match your clothes, what type of fabric skirts you like best (blue jean, cotton, etc.), your favorite skirts and outfits, etc.  We'd love to hear about it!


For an extra challenge:

-Venture out in your attempts to be fearlessly feminine!
-Fix your hair a different way each day of the challenge week. Must not be the same in all 7 days (that means 7 different hair-styles). Be creative and try new hair dos  :-)   Take a picture and show us.
-Wear a different pair of earrings if you have pierced ears, each day, or if you don't, a different piece of accessory.
-Show us pictures of daily activities of you in your skirts


The Goal of the challenge:

-Venturing out for one week to be fearlessly feminine in the way you dress
-Experiencing a week of skirts/dresses and comparing it to your regular ways of dress and style
-Evaluating yourself at the end of the week and comparing it to your regular way of dress: how was the experience for you? Any particular stories? Did wearing skirts rather than pants affect the way you felt? The way you felt about yourself? The way you acted? The way you carried yourself? Were you able to go about everyday activity as freely as pants? How did people respond? Were you more respected? Did you feel more like a lady? After the challenge do you desire to keep wearing skirts more regularly, or were you desperate to wear pants again? ETC. 
-Sharing with other girls your outfits and give ideas of mixing and matching
-Showing how beautiful female femininity actually is


So, to recap if you want to do the challenge with us:

-Wear a skirt everyday for 7 days starting at the beginning of the week (I am starting Monday, but you can start whenever)
-Post a picture each day and show us what you wore and if you want to venture out, how you did your hair, and any other creative things you did or accessories you used to be fashionable
-At the end, share with us how it went. Answer some questions from above like: Did wearing skirts than pants affect the way you felt? The way you acted? The way you carried yourself? Share with us about the experience.


Show the world how you can be Fearlessly Feminine and Female!


I hope you'll do it with us! Give it a try! If you do, please link your blog entry so all of us can come see!




Links/Great Reads to further encourage you:

http://danceranna.blogspot.com/2006/02/id-rather-wear-dress.html

Name: Anna Naomi from her link above:

Wearing dresses has also made me feel more feminine and womanly. It helps me act like a young woman, for there are certain things one simply just doesn't do in a dress!


I'm not saying that pants are bad, or that I'll never wear them again. In fact, there are some things that I will wear pants to do, such as when I'm choreographing dances at home. I'm just sharing how moving dresses to the primary part of my wardrobe has changed me, and made me truly feel... like a lovely young woman.


http://fearlesslyfeminine.blogspot.com/2005/10/feminine-doesnt-just-mean-wearing-any.html

From the link above:  Will you give this transforming idea a chance? Put on a pretty feminine dress. If you need to cook don’t take it off, just slip on an apron. You’ll be amazed how much more you’ll want to make the make the world sweet and beautiful, when you embrace another aspect of God's purpose and design in your life.



http://nataliephotography.blogspot.com/2007/02/unexpected-benefit-to-wearing-dresses.html

http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/Reader_Favorites_26/Getting_Used_to_Dresses_649100649.shtml

http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/Femininity_amp_Modesty_16/The_Secret_Garden_14281001428.shtml




Please let me know your thoughts!  I'll be starting Monday: so I will post again then.
God bless.

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Jan. 24, 2008 - The Importance of Standards and Philopsophies

A standard: a rule I make for myself, or a rule a family makes for themself



Our church has been learning and discussing standards, principles and commands on Wednesday nights as of late.

In preparation for last night's study, we teens were required to come up with our own "standards" when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex.  We were not to get mixed up or focused on terms. According to male and female relationships and serious bonds in the future: what are your standards?  What are you planning to do and how are you planning to go about developing that relationship, not based on how you think the world should go about it or based on what everyone else does, but your standards for your own life.

I've always had my own standards, but I've never really broke it down like we did in systematic categories. I think it's very important to do so. 

Coming up with your own standards is very important. We need to know what we believe and how we want to come about in and with certain situations. Whatever our standards, it's vital that they align with Scripture. But they're also important because obviously not every issue is not directly addressed in the Bible.  Like should a couple kiss or hold hands in a romantic relationship? Obviously, there's not a verse in the Bible that states whether it's o.k. or not. That's why you develop your own standards and beliefs. 

Here's questions we used to get us started and on track with developing and coming up with our standards on opposite sex relationships:

Whom should I date?
When should I date?
Why should I date?
Where should I go on a date?
What should I do on a date?
What should I allow on a date?
How late should I stay out?
Should I double date or single date?


Whether you are more inclined to courtship is not the point. Don't let the word "date" throw you off. Basically, how do you plan to go about in a relationship with the opposite sex.
Relationship terms can be confusing when it comes to detailed standards. Even if you lean towards one side more than the other, still, everyone goes about it differently and in their own way in each definition. Everyone has their own story.

We had a good and interesting discussion last night. Not that we all agree, nor are we supposed to. But that's the joy of standards. They are your own beliefs.  One couple could lightly kiss each other in pure motives without any temptation but another may decide to not even go there to be shielding from any temptation and focus on other things in their relationship instead of the physical aspect. You see, there's not one right answer in certain subjects!

I encourage you to come up with your own standards. Most people just do what everyone else is doing. But what are your beliefs? What does the Bible say about it? Are they pleasing and glorifying to God? Even if you do already have some basic beliefs I would encourage you to detail it and break it down, and even back it up with Scripture. Just saying "I am going to date," or "I am going to court" or whatever leaves a big gap. Well, if you're dating, when will you date? Are you going to get your parents involved? If courting, what places do you think are appropriate to go together? Is it o.k. to be alone together? Things like that.  But be careful not to get too wrapped up in the terms, or it might even be best not to mention them. Basically, start from scratch and write down what you believe for yourself.

Not just in relationships, developing your standards and philosophies are important for all issues of life.  What are you standards in the way you dress? The movies you watch? The music you listen to?

Having your own philosophies and principles are important even for the future when your evaluating a potential life partner one day. Does his or her philosophies and standards match up with your own?  If couples would compare their beliefs before marriage, I think they would escape a lot of heart-ache in the future. Simple, but important things as your standards of  the TV shows you watch, how you plan to raise up children, how you plan to educate your children: the lists are endless. So many times a couple gets married and it finally clicks that their beliefs don't match. Not good. So many times I've read of a wife that said, "I wanted to have lots of children, but once I was married I realized he didn't like kids..."

So.....I greatly encourage you to write down your own philosophies and standards. Make sure it agrees with the Bible and honors the Lord.  Also, it would be great and ideal to do it with your parents and to get their thoughts about certain issues. As you will find, it really makes you think, and it can be fun!


Oh, on a side note and in the mentioning of "kissing," you should read this article. It is entitled "What is in a Kiss?" and I found it very thought provoking.   

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Jan. 22, 2008 - Walking in a Winter Wonderland

This weekend we received more snow!  The last time I posted when we had snow, that night it rained and melted most of what we had away.....But this weekend we
got a bunch of it! It fell Saturday, and there's still some on the ground today....

Saturday morning, the forecast predicted snow for sometime during the day, so Mom and Dad asked Holly and I first thing in the morning if we'd run to Wal-Mart and pick up some snow gloves for the kids, since they don't have any (we never get snow, remember?) and of course we don't want their little hands to freeze.

When we were exiting Wally World, snow was already falling, much earlier than we had excepted!

And it kept snowing and snowing, and sticking, until it covered every inch of the ground. It was very lovely indeed:


































Deer tracks




We all enjoyed the snow. Not only its beauty, but we had a good time all of us four sisters. We got on teams (Brooke & Autumn VS. Holly and Amber) racing on the sleds,  playing soccer in the snow, and having a snow ball fight.

During the afternoon, the whole family jumped into the Hummer and we just went free riding. It seems like we received more snow that most places around us....After riding around, we went to eat supper at a Mexican restaurant near our home.


The next day, the snow had mostly melted and what remained was stiff and no longer stuck to anything. This as far as we got in our snow-man:


Since the snow didn't stick, we weren't able to cover up the straw with fresh snow like we were able to do to the bottom half.

So, he ended up just looking like this:


Amber and I joked that he looks hairy. He does look it, aye?

Come on, sing with me:  "Har-ry the snow-man was a very ugly soul...."  lol