Thanksgiving Thursdays

I am starting a new weekly tradition.  Yesterday, I realized how close Thanksgiving was to being upon us. Three weeks from today to be exact. So, to keep me in the right frame of mind all year through I will post one thing I'm thankful for each Thursday and a Scripture on thanksgiving or rejoicing.

I would love it if you would like to join me by either commenting and telling one thing you are thankful for that day or starting Thanksgiving Thrusdays on your own blog. Either way we want to cultivate a thankful heart all year round. May we make it a lifestyle and not just a holiday!

Without further ado: Today I am thankful for: The harvest of fall, God's provioions for us in and through all things!

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanskgiving." Psalm 69:30

So what are you thankful for today?  Let me know!

Because of Grace,
Maiden Princess

Today…

Outside my window…the stars are twinkling (sorry this is late)

I am thinking…that I can’t wait for the day my brother comes back to the LORD

I am thankful for…all my wonderful family and a list of things too long to post! J

I am wearing…pajamas.  LOL. They consist of Old Navy cotton pink, brown, and white plaid pj pants with a dark blue short-sleeve t-shirt

I am reading…The Mayflower Adventure by Coleen L. Reece and the Bible

I am creating…A devotional for young women about inner beauty

One of my favorite things…babies

For education this week…learning to be more diligent

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning …cooking and learning to submit more fully

A spiritual lesson I’m learning…to trust in God through all things because He is implicitly faithful!

A godly character trait I plan to work on…contentment and thankfulness

Scripture I am memorizing…”But as for me, I will hope continually, and I will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long; for I do not know the sum of them.” Psalm 71:14-15

I am praying for…my brother to come to know the LORD as his personal Savior and for many other people.

For the rest of the week…I will be striving to rest in God’s faithfulness and have joy in the midst of all things!

What’s Been Up With Me Lately

       Life has been, well, life!  I have had ups and downs this week. Tears and triumphs were also mixed in. The stuff with my brother has been weighing heavily upon my heart, and although I will not pretend it has not been painful (very painful and traumatic) the LORD has been with me, strengthening me, each step of the way. Without Him I would never make it. He is, and always will be, so good to me!

          The book has been coming slowly.  I have actually only written one “day” so far since I told you about the whole thing.  It was very hard for me think about writing without getting nervous. I knew I just needed to let go of the worry and doubt and let God work through me, so that is what I did yesterday afternoon.  I had a really good devotional time with the LORD in the morning, in which I repented of doubting the LORD and His strength, then, that afternoon I was finally able to write something. It is so much easier for me to write when it’s just a blog post, but when it comes to thinking it might be in a book, whew! That scares me. It definitely is moving slower than I had hoped but hey, this is the LORD’s book, not mine! We’re going by His timing, and again, not mine! J  I guess I’ll just have to wait on Him. (It seems like everything in my life right now includes waiting on Him. Although, I guess that is the best place to be! J)

          I just finished the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. It was very good and I would recommend it for a challenging, deep, read about God. He covered topics like the presence of God, what is true worship, getting to know the LORD personally and challenging your perception of what pursuing God means.  Suffice it say, it was very good!  I would encourage you to read it. Some parts were a bit deep for me, but I loved it none the less.  Although, I do not agree with all his doctrinal views, it was a very encouraging and deeply challenging book!

          Well, I’d like to write more but cooking and cleaning await me.  Alas, there seems to be so little time in the day!  May you all be blessed today, despite the rain!

Love in Him,
Maiden Princess

The Book

        Dear Friends,

I have told you in the past that the LORD has laid it on my heart to write a book about inner beauty. In fact, not just a book, a devotional.  You may have noticed that I have not been writing many spiritually challenging posts as of late. Not only is this because I did not have time to write them, but also because I feel the time has come to really press in to working on the book. Because of this I may only be posting once or twice a week.  I am not sure what I’ll be able to handle for writing but time will tell soon enough. I will keep up with the quote of the week and we shall see where we go from there. I do not wish to abandon my blog, in fact, I love my blog. However, until I know where I stand with time and my book, I cannot say how much I shall be able to invest here.

I would very much appreciate your prayers as I enter this new stage of life. I feel that the LORD has specifically called me to this at this very time. I am being sensitive to His leading and I do not wish to jump ahead or make the book into what I think it should be. I am a bit worried about getting it published and the amount of money that will cost. However, the LORD has asked me to put all my trust in Him and He will cause it to work out the way He wants it to. Please pray for me as I journey on this new path. I get nervous knowing that I’m writing for the book and sort of clam up instead of just letting the writing flow. Please pray that I would not be nervous but just let my heart flow out in my writings, instead of making sure they are “correct”.

Thank you all for being such wonderfully supportive friends. I hope to spend as much time still here as I am able.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,

Maiden Princess

“God can’t give us happiness and peace apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” ~ C.S. Lewis

I thought this quote was really good. It reminds me that when I take my eyes off of Him I am empty. I will not find satisfaction in anything or anyone else. There will not be feelings of completeness or contentment unless I look to Him and follow His plan for my life.

Don’t let the cares and jam-packed schedules of this week pull you away from your intent gaze on the Father. Look to Him, for apart from Him we are nothing!

Standing Strong As He Holds Me,

Maiden Princess

"The space between yesterday and today is filled with acceptance, forgiveness, and remembering to laugh." ~ Unknown

Relax, let go, just enjoy life. For if God is for us, who can stand against us? People in China are being persecuted and tortured for just believing in Jesus Christ as Savior, and you think you've got problems? How differently I would live if I remembered always how good the LORD has been to me......................

Because of Grace,

Maiden Princess

Think about it………

 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of (to) those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Wow! That is a very powerful verse that is still completely applicable today. There are 5 ways in which we are to be an example to other believers. In our speech---if our speech was the standard for everyone, then how would the world be talking? In our conduct---how do we conduct ourselves in public or at home? Is there any difference? What if the world took our lead and followed our conduct, would it be a better place? In love---do you have the overflowing love of Christ abounding in you?  Is it unselfish  or dependant on the circumstances? In faith---do you have your own faith? Is it real? Is it living? Is it active? In purity---are we allowing ourselves to be stained by this sinful, wicked culture we live in or constantly being purified by gazing intently on the face of our LORD? We all are examples whether we want to be or not. The question remains, what kind of examples will we be?  Let no one look down on your youthfulness!  Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we can’t be shining examples for the LORD! Let’s go change our world!

Because of Grace,

Maiden Princess

Instructions: Put your favorite music player on shuffle and fill in the names of the songs in the order they show up. Sometimes they fit really well, others not so much.


1.) my last words will be: East to West (Casting Crowns)

2.) my first child's full name will be: No Reason to Hide (Hillsong United) WOW! That’s crazy!

3.) what makes me happy: Just One Of Those Days (33 Miles) LOL, not really J

4.) my grandparents...: We the Redeemed (Hillsong United)

5.) next time I'm in front of a crowd I'll yell: Beautiful You (by Jonny Diaz)

6.) at my wedding everyone will shout: Unpredictable (Francesca Batistelli)

7.) my friends call me: When I Get Where I’m Going (33 Miles) LOL

8.) happiness means: I Will Believe (Mainstay)

9.) in bed I yell: One Life To Love (33 Miles)

10.) the theme of my next English paper will be: Priestly Blessing (John Waller)

11.) if I were on a sitcom it'd be called: Solution (Hillsong United) LOL TOO FUNNY

12.) what I'd yell in a car accident: My Beloved (Kari Jobe)

13.) while breaking up with someone, it’s good to say: Love is Here (Tenth Avenue North) Yeah, like that makes a lot of sense!

14.) a good pick up line is: Blue Sky (Francesca Batistelli)

15.) if I saw a ghost I'd scream: Already (Rush of Fools)

16.) in a kung fu movie I'd say: Jesus Hurry (Rush of Fools) LOL Hysterical

17.) when I graduated I yelled: House of God (John Waller) Weird!

18.) while shocked I tend to say: Glory (Casting Crowns)

19.) my first book will be called: His Glory Appears (Hillsong United) Hmmm…I might be able to get into that!

20.) on the side of the White House I'll spray paint: Somewhere in the Middle (by Casting Crowns)

21.) after amnesia the first thing I'll say is: Love Enough (Hillsong United)

22.) upon discovering the meaning of life I'll cry out: What Could Be Better (33 Miles)

23.) a good name for a food product is: Enough (Chris Tomlin) Heehee!

24.) in a birthday card it’s nice to write: First Love (Jeremy Horn) LOL Maybe not!

25.) in a eulogy always say: Made to Love (WOW Mix I think it’s Toby Mac)

26.) when confronted by gypsies just say: You Are For Me (Kari Jobe)

27.) as a cartoon character my catch phrase is: Aware (Salvador)

28.) to call my dog I yell: Perfect People (Natalie Grant)

29.) as I fall down the stairs I cry: The Best Man (33 Miles) WOW! Crazy

30.) as I enter a party I say: Forever (Hillsong United)

31.) on a banner I'd like to write: Hosanna (Hillsong United)

32.) the opening words of my inaugural speech are: Revelation Song (Kari Jobe) LOL

33.) a good name for a game show is: I Will Exalt You (Hillsong United)

34.) as I finish this survey I sigh: Faith is Living (John Waller)

Well, there we go. All finished! Now, I tag whoever wants to do this one. It was funny and also sorta weird!  Comment me and let me know if you do it :D

Because of Grace,

Maiden Princess

 I was tagged by Hannehej (www.homeschoolblogger.com/mycameraandi ) and thought this was a neat and unusual one. I really liked it. I hope you do too. J   I tag TMP/PickleHead  (@ www.beit--simchah.xanga.com/weblog ) and Mardi (@ www.iamadaughteroftheking.blogspot.com)  and CAGonzalez (Carissa) (@ www.homeschoolblogger.com/CubanPrincess )

In Spring: The chill of the winter gradually dies off and little flowers begin to appear.  It is a time I enjoy just being alive. I love to go on walks down our little gravel road and just breathe in the air and watch life, once again life beginning for another year. The little green leaves emerging from their tightly wrapped buds beginning to grow.  The lazy blue clouds floating aimlessly around the light blue sky, and the cold breeze with just a hint of the promise that summer will come soon. I love the smells of spring and the look of freshly tilled damp soil.  I love spring because it’s a time of awakening. I just feel alive inside! 

In Summer: I love summer because it means gardening!  It means afternoons spent at the lake with family and friends. It means outdoor picnics and steaks on the barbeque. It means friends have no school and a few sleepovers. It means camping and campfires and smelling like smoke! It means suntans and airy skirts and filp-flops for the order of the day. It means lemonade and sun tea and fresh produce. It means laying on the grass looking up at the clouds and thinking about how much God loves me. I love summer because in so many ways, I see God’s love evident around me, and I have time to write about it! J

In Fall: The leaves begin to turn vibrant colors. The temperature takes a turn for long-sleeves and I’m ready for a change in my wardrobe. *lol* The smells of woodstoves burning, apples sitting in bushel baskets in the back room, making applesauce, harvesting the produce of the garden and canning it. It is a time for pumpkin pie and cornstalks and apple cider. It is the season of the fall feasts. It is a time to build our sukkah and decorate it. A time to rejoice that one day the LORD will dwell among us.  It is a time to rejoice in the work that the LORD has done in our hearts over the past year. It is a time to rejoice in the harvest, not only in the physical world but also in the Spiritual. To rejoice in the harvest of fruit the LORD has brought forth in our souls. Fall is the season to rejoice.  Fall is my favorite season.

In Winter: I love winter because of snowflakes and snowdrifts and cold whipping winds. I love winter because it is cold and I have to wear layers and snuggle under blankets. I love winter because I change to flannel sheets. I love winter because of the quietness and whiteness. I love winter because of the stark background for the birds and berries. I love winter because of the ice that forms on the trees and branches.  I love winter because of long walks through the woods watching colorful birds flit back and forth and branches heavy laden with snow. The crackle of hard packed snow under your feet, making snow angels and snowballs. I love winter because of long nights playing games over hot cups of cocoa with friends. I love winter because it is such a quiet time where the handprints of God are very evident in the nature that surrounds us.

Rules of the tag

1. Tag at least three people after your post.

2. Post back to the blog that tagged you.

3. Post the rules of the tag and please don’t post the things you least like about the seasons, but what you like best

Resting In His Shalom,

Maiden Princess