15 Things I'm Thankful For

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought we'd post 15 things we are(Alex, Jessica and I)thankful for.
I am thankful for....
1.Being a Christian
2.Having all my basic needs met, like food, water, shelter and medical care. It so many people don't have these thing.
3. My family.
4. Protection from dangers like suicide bombers and Communism.
5.Being homeschooled!
6. All of my pets.
7. My piano and musical abilities.
8. My sports activities and the ability to do them.
9.My blogs and the great blogs I read.
10.My wonderful friends!
11. My church and church family.
12. Being a quaint, profound and unusual person.
13. My confidence in myself and others.
14. being content
15. The little things that we take for granted.

If you would like to do this, feel free. Just leave a comment with your blog and name on it.

Weekly Bible Verse-Proverbs 9

For the next couple of months(with a break for holidays)something from Proverbs will be the weekly Bible verse. I encourage you to read the weekly Bible verse a couple of times a week to really learn and understand it. If you have a good memory, memorize it.

Proverbs 9 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

My Favorite Bible Chapter

Wives and Husbands
1 In the same way, you wives should yield to your husbands. Then, if some husbands do not obey God's teaching, they will be persuaded to believe without anyone's saying a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live.2 Your husbands will see the pure lives you live with your respect for God.3 It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful.4 No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.5 In this same way the holy women who lived long ago and followed God made themselves beautiful, yielding to their own husbands.6 Sarah obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.
7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers.

Wives and Husbands
1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

My very favorite part is:

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.

Weekly Bible Verse -Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: 4 “ To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. 9 They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. 12 “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.[a] 17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. 22 “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;[b] And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. 32 “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

Must Read Articles

Thorns and Roses: Boyfriends

Elections

Everyone, please pray for the election tomorrow. I don't know for sure who would be the best president, but God does.

Is Halloween Evil?

Attention everyone! Though this is posted by me (Jessica) it was actually Savannah who wrote it. Because she doesn't have enough computer time to post, she writes the articles, and I simply put them on the site for her. So here's what Savannah has to say.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a few days most people will be carving pumpkins and Trick-or-Treating. But for some people, it will be just an average night.
All my friends are Christians, and 60% to 70% celebrate Halloween. The other 40% to 50% don't have anything to do with it. Recently a friend of mine told me that Halloween was Satan's holiday and celebrating it was worshiping Satan. She asked my sister if we celebrate Halloween and she (my sister) said yes.

My answer to the question: 'Is Halloween evil?' In one sentence my answer is... It can be, but it doesn't have to be.

The same friend that said Halloween is Satan's holiday also said that she thinks her neighbors burn cats as an offering to the Devil on Halloween. Now that would be sick, twisted, cruel and evil. Playing pranks on people is as well. Dressing up in over the top costumes such as the Devil, or scary things I find to be evil as well. But, if you avoid Pagan, cruel, and twisted things that are associated with Halloween, I believe you can celebrate Halloween as a Christian.
In my family we carve pumpkins and Trick-or-Treat for Halloween. We dress up in costumes such as princesses, coal miners, cats, surgeons, old men, or scarecrows. For us, Halloween is about having fun and enjoying Fall, not worshiping Satan.

If you are wondering, 'Why celebrate it if it is even associated with being evil?' Here is my answer: Do you celebrate Christmas? I assume you said yes. Christmas can be evil when the focus is taken off Jesus and onto money and presents, but we celebrate it anyway with the focus on Jesus.

Do you celebrate Halloween? Why or why not?

Churches: A need, a pleasure, or a nuisance?

Lately, I've been thinking about going back to church. And that got me started thinking about this; Is church something needed? I mean, do you absolutely have to go to church? Some people think so. I don't think it is, but that's just my opinion. If you want, you can convince yourself that it's mandatory, but truly, it isn't. Otherwise you would have to go when you were sick, out of town, etc. Just as long as you praise God, it doesn't really matter where. Below are some reasons why you absolutely have to go to church every (or nearly every) week.

1. Growing. It is very important to grow spiritually, and church is a great place to do it.
2. God's command. God has told you to go to church, and you're following it.
   

If someone said that it says in the Bible, ask them for proof. I've searched, and can't seem to find anywhere in the Bible that says we have to go to church. There are times it says talks about having fellowship, but that is different. Now here are some reasons why I think it is good to go to church.

1. Fellowship. It's good to know other people who believe the same (or nearly the same) thing as you do. It's both spiritually good and simply nice to talk to others about your beliefs. A bonus: You may become friends with these people.
   
2. Learning. From listening to you pastor/preacher/priest and others talk, you learn more about God and his workings and miracles, how to become a better Christian, and other spiritual things.
3. Encouragement. I think everybody needs some encouragement at times, because everyone has times when their relationship with God is not very good. It helps to hear the words of others encouraging you to go to Him, to rebuild what has crumbled.
4. Fun. Church can be fun, despite what some of you may think. It's fun to learn about Jesus and God, and others who are in the Bible. It's fun to hang out with other people who believe nearly the same things as you. And sometimes a church will put on things that are meant to be fun yet still teach about Him, things like camp; barbecues; even Trick-or-Treating!
   

These are only a few. Perhaps you can think up a few more reasons. Now here are reasons why church is a complete nuisance.

1. Time. Going to church takes time. Time you could be spending doing other things.
   
2. ...............

I truly can't think of any other reasons why it's a nuisance to go to church. And that one reason I have is pretty lame. Can you think up any others? If you can, please tell me in the comments.

So no, I think that no one has to go to church, yet most people should. Church may not be right for some. Others, it may be perfect for. It depends on who you are, but it is important that you have fellowship with others, and most people choose church.

Well, I think that is all for today. I hope I made enough sense that you could at least understand what I mean. Please freely express your thoughts, no matter what they are, in the comments. Thank you!
Jessica

Prayer Requests

Just thought that a prayer request place would be good for the blog so here is how it works, you leave a comment on a prayer request that you have and I will pray for that thing that you put in the comments place. Hope you enjoy the prayer request place.

*Alex*

Skirts are for Girls

I found an interesting post on a blog I read, called 'Skirts are for Girls'. It's about how our culture is contradictory to the idea of girls wearing skirts and dresses. It gave me a lot to ponder. Please read it, and tell me what your thoughts on it are.
Jessica