Sarah Joy♥

Wow, so it's been a long time since I have posted (again!). Oh my. Well, I have a post about my Mexico trip coming up VERY soon... I promise, it will be up within the next week, maybe even before. But, right now I just wanted to post some pictures of my new cousin! Sarah Joy Parker was born 7 weeks early on May 26th (4 days after my 17th birthday!:)), weighing 3lbs. 12.5oz. She is the cutest little thing, and she is doing really well! I have been to visit her twice, one time being last this past Saturday, and I got to hold her! It was so awesome. She's adorable. Congratulations to Auntie Jenn and Uncle Dan! Well, here are some pictures I took the other day! :)

Sarah Joy the day she was born. :)

 Me getting to hold her for the first time. ♥

 She's so precious:)

 Susanna holding her for the first time. :)

 I don't know why it's sideways, but I don't know how to change it, so, oh well! :P

 Same with this one... She is so alive and alert for only being a week old, and being so small! :)

 Little tiny clothes... so cute! ♥

 The card that I made for Auntie Jenn, Uncle Dan and Sarah.♥

 Nana holding Sarah for the first time. :)

 So tiny.

 This is my Papa's ring next to her wrist... It could probably fit around her wrist, but it wouldn't fit over her hands and fingers. So adorable! :)

*yawn* 

Making funny faces in her sleep. :) 

I want to share real quick the poem that I wrote about Sarah, and then that will be it for tonight! :)

Precious Little Girl:

Sarah Joy Parker came into this world,

On May twenty-sixth, two thousand and twelve.

***

Welcomed by aunts, uncles, cousins and friends,

Grandparents, too, she’ll be loved ‘til the end.

***

Ten tiny fingers, and ten tiny toes,

Two perfect eyes, and a cute little nose.

***

I know she will grow up to be big and tall,

Even though right now, she is still very small.

***

Mommy and Daddy are so very proud,

But their smiles will be bigger on the day she is found.

***

Her name is just perfect for what she means to us,

Sarah means Princess, and Joy means-what else?

***

You were made in God’s image, a perfect one, too,

And I look forward to watching you learn and grow.

***

Sarah, you are fearfully and wonderfully made,

Even from the time when in your Mother’s womb you were laid.

***

And if the day ever comes when you’ll turn ninety-two,

Still, there could never be a more beautiful you!

***

I love you, Sarah, Auntie Jenn, and Uncle Dan!

All three of you are so special to me!

***

~KNP, 5/30/12~

So there ya are! And like I said, I will have the post about my Mexico trip up really soon! :) Have a great week, everyone, I hope you are all doing well! :)

In Christ,
Karissa♥

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Time has passed...

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a long time, and Mexico has come and gone! I could say a lot of stuff about it, but I don't have much time here right now. Hopefully soon I will have some pictures up (or maybe a video/slideshow), and will be able to tell you more about it, but for right now I am just going to say that it was AMAZING! I had a a great time, and I learned a lot, as well. It was so awesome to be able to serve God, and the people down there, alongside back2back for a week. 

I also just wanted to share one picture with you that I took on the plane on the way back. This whole experience (flying there and back) was the first times I (and Susanna) had ever flown. I'll have to say more about that, as well, when I have the time. This picture was taken when we were about to land back in Boston, and looking out the window was just so beautiful, I had to snap a picture or two! :) I am also going to enter this picture in my friend, Hannah's photo contest that she is having! (I'm a day late, but she said I could still enter). Her blog is: www.hannahjoya.blogspot.com Check it out! :)

Here is the picture!

Thanks to all those of you who prayed and thought about Susanna and I as we went on our Missions trip! We really appreciate it, and it means a lot to us. :) Hopefully I will be writing some more on here soon... Stay tuned! :) 

In His Arms,

Karissa Noelle♥

He's Captured My Heart♥

He’s Captured My Heart: <333

I met a man a while back, He’s amazing to say the least.

He’s my favorite person in the world, He’s become my truest friend.

I am head over heels in love with Him, but fall more in love each day.

He’s written me love letters, which I read most every day.

When I talk with Him, He’s different than the rest.

I can pour out my heart to Him, and He never opens His mouth to say a word.

There are sometimes I can’t contain the joy bubbling up in me.

I can’t help but talk about Him, and I perk at the mention of His Name.

This man is so kind, so loving, so sweet,

none other have I met like Him.

Sometimes I wish I could repay, all that He’s done for me.

And even though I never will, I still can’t help but try.

Whenever He wraps me in His arms, I’d have it no other way.

He’s gentle and compassionate, I know He’s the One for me.

I will never ever fall in love, as much as I have with this man.

So no other man should try and compete, cause this man has already won.

He’s my knight in shining armour, He has swept me off my feet.

This man has captured my heart, and that man is Jesus Christ.

~KNP 11/11/11

Blog Maintenance

I'm doing some blog maintenance, so bear with me as I do! I know I haven't posted in a while, so I have some things to post about when I am done! I hope you all are doing well!! :)) Have a great day/week!

In Christ, Karissa││Romans 12♥

P.S. My sister and I leave for Mexico in just 2 1/2 weeks! Wow, I'm getting so excited. Tonight we have a meeting, and two weeks from today will be our last meeting, and we will leave that Saturday really early (our flight leaves Boston at 7:50 in the morning)! I will blog more about it later! Talk to you all soon. :)

Tag, you're it♥

I was tagged by: Christianna (http://livingforchrist95.blogspot.com/) I think this may have been my first tag ever. Thanks, Christianna! :) (sorry it took me so long. When I got it last weekend, I was at a Winter Carnival for the weekend, and I've been sick the past week. I've been working on it, and am finally able to post it!)

First the rules:
1.) You must post these rules (Haha this rule makes me laugh!)

2.) Each person must post eleven things about them on their blog.
3.) Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

Okay, so 11 Things about myself:

1. I.am.in.love. His Name is Jesus Christ. I am a born again Christian, and I am striving to live Set Apart for my King with every breath I take. I’m not perfect, and I sin every day, but I have a perfect and sinless Saviour Who died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, so that I could spend eternity with Him in heaven someday. How could you spell LOVE more clearly than Christ did? YOU COULDN’T! You also can have a relationship with Jesus Christ… Look at the page "God's Gift To You", and then ask me if you have any questions (by comment, or the "Contact Me page!)

2. I have 6 siblings (3 brothers, 3 sisters), I am the second oldest, I am 16 (seventeen in May), I am Home-schooled, I have blonde hair, and blue eyes.

3. This might be weird, but I don’t wear make up. I also don’t really ever plan on wearing make up. These are my thoughts on it: I have decided in my heart that I want to be happy with the way God made me. I do struggle sometimes, thinking oh I’ll just wear a little bit. It won’t hurt. But I know in my heart the reason I would do it. Why? To make myself feel better. In hopes that someone would like me, or I would get someone’s attention. That I would be “prettier”. That isn’t what I want to be focused on. So many girls say that it’s for themselves, or that they aren’t thinking of anyone specific (guys in particular) when they put their make up on. Now, I don’t want to judge, but I’m a girl, I know how girls think, and I almost know for a fact that that is not true. It’s all really a heart issue, and something that girls have to search their own hearts on the matter, but I honestly believe that every girl does it to make themselves feel better about them selves, or so maybe a guy will notice them (like I said, I’m a girl, and I know how girls think). I feel like people wear it, because they are insecure with their “real self”. They wear it so they will feel “confident” in themselves. Why can’t they just be confident in they way God made them? Be confident with who you are in CHRIST. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you, and that’s something I have had to learn and accept as well. It ticks me off when people make fun of other people, call them ugly, fat, say eww, etc. Do you think that’s what God was thinking when He made them? NO! He made them in His Own IMAGE, the image of CHRIST! They are beautiful the way they are, for who they are in Christ. No one person is better than someone else, although some people think they are. (more beautiful than someone else, better looking, etc.) Now, I do want to say, I’m not trying to boast or act like I have never done this, cause I know I have, and I am disappointed in myself for doing that. I read a verse once that really struck me, though. It was Proverbs 17:5 and it said this: Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. I looked up the word “mock” and this is what the definition was:
1: to treat with contempt or ridicule : deride
2: to disappoint the hopes of
3: defy, challenge
4a : to imitate (as a mannerism) closely : mimic
b : to mimic in sport or derision
I also looked up the word “reproach” and this is what is said:
1: an expression of rebuke or disapproval
2: the act or action of reproaching or disapproving
3a : a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
b : discredit, disgrace
4: obsolete : one subjected to censure or scorn
So, basically when people make fun of others, call them ugly, or whatever, they are “disapproving” God, “blaming” Him, “discrediting” Him, and “disgracing” Him. When I read that, I was like wow! I heard someone say one time (about someone at their Church) “She needs a complete make over!” Things like that make me so aggravated! You’re basically saying that God made junk, and underestimating God (which is dumb, cause God is perfect)… He doesn’t make junk! Everyone was created in His image. I used to say, oh well, you know, to wear make up to enhance your natural beauty… That’s okay, maybe. But now, I think why? You don’t need to enhance anything that God has done. You are perfect JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! If God wanted to make you with makeup, He would have! I read something in a book that I’m going through recently that just made me realize even more the time and money people spend on making themselves “look better”. It said this: “I recently read that in an effort to keep up with the distorted images that girls are exposed to, 8-12-year-olds in this country spend more than $40 million a month on beauty products and teenage girls spend another $100 million.” That amazed me! I would way rather spend my money on feeding an orphan, someone who has no clothes, food, house, family to love them, etc. than on making myself feel better. Another reason I have chosen not to wear it, is because I want my future husband to fall in love with who I am in Christ… I want Him to fall in love with my heart, with me. Not for my makeup! Do you know what I mean? I hope this made sense, and again, please don’t think that I am judging others in saying all this, or trying to make anyone feel bad, just things that I have learned, and what I feel Christ is calling me to do. I heard a quote that said “A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear”, and I agree. (Ha, wow, that was kind of uncalled for, but I felt like sharing that, and now I don’t have to do a post on that, like I kind of wanted to… I figured it would be a good time to share my thoughts on that topic.)

4. This might be weird as well, but it’s something about me… I don’t have Facebook. Read more about why I don’t in the "About" page. (I will say that my Mom has a Facebook, and I go on sometimes and see what people post, sometimes comment, and look at pictures, etc.)

5. I want to have 100 children when I grow up! Haha, okay, maybe not that many, but I’m open to however many God has for me, and I’m not going to prevent myself from having kids. Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. I also would like to adopt, if God has that in my future!♥

6. I had 13 stitches in my neck when I was little… It happened in a Salvation Army, and after it happened, the lady at the register told my Mom that she should “watch her kids more carefully.” (or something like that).

7. I LOVE music! As long as it is worshipful and bringing glory to my King. I love singing along, as well, even if I’m not that good of a singer!♥

8. I feel like God may be calling me to work with Orphans someday. I’m still not 100% sure, so we’ll see what God has for me in the future. I have actually daydreamed of building an orphanage, where hundreds of kids a day, could come and sleep, eat, take a shower, get clothes, and just be loved by those who care for them!♥ (we’ll see what happens with that, but I know anything is possible with God! Luke 18:27, Mark 10:27, and Matthew 19:26)

9. My siblings call me Kris : ) I think maybe a couple of my friends have called me that before, too, but it‘s mainly my siblings.

10. I live in New England (Leominster, Massachusetts♥). It’s weird, cause unless your blog says where you live, you never really actually know where the person who’s blog you’re reading lives (they sometimes give little hints, but I sometimes get curious as to where all my blog readers live).

11. I love meeting new people! I have loved having a blog, and getting to meet new people through this little world! Thank you, my followers, for reading my blog when you have the chance!

Now to answer Christianna's questions:

1. What is something that you dream of doing someday? I dream of doing whatever God calls me to do, whatever that may be. :)

2. Have you ever been on a missions trip? Where did you (or would you like to) go? No, I have not, but I am going on one in April (to Mexico) with my Sister… I can’t wait! You can read about it: here.

3. What is your favorite kind of pet? Dogs :)

4. How do you normally do your hair? I almost always have it pulled back in a ponytail, with a headband.

5. What is your favorite hobby? I have a lot, but I’ll name the ones that I can think of. :) Reading, Drawing, Swimming, Being with friends and family, Holding little babies, Volleyball, Soccer, Listening to music, Blogging, Photography, Unicycling, Roller Blading, Playing the Piano and Violin, Learning the guitar, Making cards for friends and family, texting, chatting, going to Alton Bay, doing tricks on the trampoline, Running, Riding bikes, Snow-boarding, Encourage people, Write in my journal, and Singing.

6. What is your favorite article of clothing (hoodies, PJ pants, skirts, etc)? Either hoodies/sweatshirts, or shirts. (OH, and shoes, if that counts. Haha).

7. Do you play any instruments? If so, how long have you played? I play the piano and violin… I have played piano since I was about 7 (so about 10 years), and the violin I started when I was about 10 (so 7 years).

8. What are 5 words that you would like to describe you? Faithful, Servant, Kind, Happy (or Joyful), and Loving (or Sweet)

9. Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors? It depends. Probably more likely to be outdoors, though. :)

10. What is/was your favorite topic in school? Ummm, if I HAD to pick one, I would probably say Math.

11. Who do you talk to most on a daily basis? My Siblings or my Mom : )

And here are 11 questions for those I tag! (I used some of the same ones, cause I liked them)! :)

1. What is your favorite Bible Verse?

2. What do you want to do when you grow up?

3. What are 3 words that you think best describe you?

4. What is your favorite song as of right now?

5. What book/books are you currently reading?

6. What do you want to work harder at?

7. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

8. Who inspires you the most (it can be someone from the Bibile, someone historic, or non-historic), and why?

9. What is your favorite article of clothing (hoodies, PJ pants, skirts, etc)?

10. When/Why did you first start your blog, and how far have you come with it?

11. Have you ever been on a missions trip? Where did you (or would you like to) go?

So, that's it! I hope you enjoyed!♥

And, for the people I am going to tag:

Raquel at: God's Daughter (http://god-sdaughter.blogspot.com/)

Melanie at: Forever His Servant (http://foreverhisservant.blogspot.com/)

Emily at: A Life Worthy Of The Lord (http://emilygrace-blog.blogspot.com)

(Sorry, I still can't figure out how to make the blog title link right to the blog by clicking on it.)

Missions Trip To Mexico!

This is the questionnaire that I turned in for the trip to Mexico in April with my youth group! :)

Questionnaire:

What does it mean to be a Christian?
You believe in your heart that Jesus is God’s Son, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, so that you could live with Him in heaven someday, and rose again the third day. You are also a new creature when you become a Christian, old things are passed away, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are crucified with Christ, it is not you who now lives, but Christ living in you; the life you now live in the flesh, you live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved you, and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20).

Explain why you would like to go to Mexico and work with orphans?
Last year in 2010, I felt like God was telling me that what I was to do in my life had something to do with sharing the Gospel. I heard message after message about how we were to share our faith, and my “verse of the year” was Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” God was stirring something in my heart. A while later, I watched a video on YouTube called “Depraved Indifference” by Eric Ludy about orphans, and it broke my heart for them, and made me cry. Since then, my love for them has grown, and still is, and in the past couple months I’ve been thinking, that maybe is something God wants me to do-work with orphans. When I saw the MVBC youth group was going on a Missions trip to Mexico, to work with orphans nonetheless, I started to get really excited, and had a desire to go. But then I thought I shouldn’t get my hopes up, because with my family situation, and the money-it might not work out. But, I have been thinking, if God wants me to go, He will provide a way and the money, and so I must trust Him. One night a couple weeks ago, I was crying, and talking to God, saying “God, I don’t know how I would do it, but I know I can trust You. Is this something You want me to do?” I looked over just then, and saw a plaque that was my sister’s that said, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (~Psalm 37:4) I knew that was His answer to my question. This is a desire of my heart, and I know in order for Him to grant me my desire, I must delight myself in Himself, and trust Him with all me heart. =)

What area in your walk with Christ would you like to grow more in?
Prayer! (1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”) This is something I really struggle with, and I know I need to pray more (and more often). I pray that God would teach me to pray, and help me to take time out of my day to spend time with Him in prayer. I also want to grow more in Bible Study-digging deeper into God’ Word, and discovering new truths, etc., and being more bold about sharing my faith with other people/passing out tracks. =)

Do you have consistent personal time with God?

Yes.

How many days a week?
7

Explain what you are doing in your devotions and what is the most recent thing God has taught you?
I read a chapter of Proverbs each day, read the “Daily Bread,” and I have been working on reading through the Bible this past year. The past couple months though, I feel like I’ve gotten into the habit of just reading my Bible because I “have to” cause if I didn’t, I would feel bad, and feel like I was a bad person or something. In 2012 I am going to read through the Bible again, and try to change that. I don’t want reading my Bible to be a “habit,” or something I “have to do”. I want it to be something I can’t live without-my daily times with my Jesus,-and something where I draw my strength from-something I couldn’t get through my day without doing. God has been teaching me that I need to always have a good attitude and be joyful no matter what I am going through or struggling with at the time. Just because I’m going through a trial right now, doesn’t justify my bad attitude or give me the right to not be joyful. God says: “Rejoice evermore.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16) “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” (Psalm 35:9) “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10c) [I also included these couple verses James 1:27, James 2:1-9, Exodus 22:22-24, Proverbs 14:31, Psalm 41:1]

Now my sister and I are going to Mexico in April!! We will be going down to Monterrey, MX April 21st-27th (yup, that's over Susanna's birthday =)), and we will be partnering with back2back (our youth Pastor's brother works with that ministry), and will be ministering in different orphanages, working with orphans, helping with any projects that they may need done, being with the children, sharing God's love, etc. We are so excited and can't wait! We sent out a bunch of letters trying to raise prayer as well as financial support, and we are trusting that God will provide, and work out all the details. Right now, Landon (our youth pastor) is trying to find tickets, at a good price, and he's having a hard time finding them... it's getting harder each day. I would appreciate any prayers for us as we participate in this amazing opportunity that the Lord has given us, and we pray that we will learn and grow through this what God would have us to! :) We are reading as a group a book called "not a fan." and it's been really good so far. We get together every two weeks (Monday night), and discuss the book, pray, read the Bible, etc. We have had two meetings so far, and they have been really good, and very encouraging to me!! Well, that's about it for now, and I will keep you updated as we go along!! :)

Have a great weekend! <333

Sister In Christ,

Karissa││Romans 12

Bank on It: Growing Your Faith

I got a book called “Dare to be Rare” by: Kathleen Whitten (for girls :) ) for Christmas. My sister had read it, and said it was good, so I asked for it, and got it! :) Anyways, I am on chapter 15 now. A couple days ago, I read a chapter, and thought I was really good, and I wanted to share it with you (all the chapters are good, but this one had stuck out to me.) Now, I can’t figure out which one it was (chapters 13 or 14). I should know, since it stuck out to me, but since they are both really good, I am just going to share both of them with you (one now and one a next time I come to blog). :)

~
Bank on It: Growing Your Faith (Chapter 13)

Once there was a very young boy who had a few coins. He was so excited about his new treasure that he didn’t want to lose even one of them, so he decided to make a little bank to put them in.
Day after day he tried different ways to build a little bank around his coins. First, he tried molding clay around his coins, but that only made a mess. Next, he tried weaving reeds around his coin, but the reeds ended up in knots, and his coins ended up on the floor.
Finally, he put the coins on a small piece of plywood and built a miniature wooden bank around them. It was wonderful o have a little bank, and his coins fit perfectly.
But it wasn’t long before his grandparents gave him more coins, and the boy’s bank became to small. Being an industrious little boy, he opened his miniature bank, took out the coins, placed them on a bigger piece of plywood, then built a bigger bank. Afterward, he grinned proudly at his newer, bigger bank and thought to surely I was the perfect size.
But over the next several weeks, the boy found two coins on the sidewalk and won six coins playing marbles with his friends. Then his mom and dad gave him even more coins-and even some paper money-on his birthday. He bills, the boy soon discovered, wouldn’t fit through the small slot of his new wooden bank.
The boy was happy to have more coins and new crisp bills. But once again, his little treasure wouldn’t all fit in his bank, and he was tired of building new banks.
Being a wise little boy, he decided to ask his father for help. His father had just the answer. The father gave the boy a big, beautiful bank of his very own. The youngster then put all his money in the new big bank: one hundred coins of various sizes and shapes and ten whole dollars. And although he had lots of room left over, the boy knew the bank that his father gave to him could get fuller and fuller without running out of room.

A parable by me: “Don’t build your own bank to fit your coins.”

The little boy is us.

The father is God.

The coins are our faith.

The bank is the Word of God.
Don’t build your own bank to fit your coins.
Spiritual growth will be frustrating if you have to rebuild your bank-the way you understand God’s Word-every time your coins increase-your faith in God enlarges. Your Father has given you the greatest bank there is-the Bible. Put your faith-your coins-in it. Your few coins-your small faith-may swim around in that big bank at first, but if you’re seeking more coins-a bigger, stronger faith-they’ll increase with plenty of room for growth.

--

Think about This:

That sounds great, you’re probably thinking. But how do you choose the Word of God as your bank?

1. Acknowledge that you don’t have to yet have faith in something for it to be true.
2. Believe your Heavenly Father.

You don’t have to have faith yet for everything in the Bible. Just read Scriptures with an open mind and heart. Each time you open your Bible to read the Word of God, say this to yourself: “The Bible says it, so it’s true whether I understand it or no, whether I’ve seen it or not, and whether I have complete faith in it now or not.”

--

Once, a young woman confided in me that she had created a safe “box” for God to live. Whenever she read Scripture that she didn’t understand, or that didn’t fit in the box she created for God, she was upset and confused.
This was one of her situations. She understood that God was always loving and that He is love (1 John 4:16). So how could a loving God ever send someone to hell?
First of all, she had to let God live in His Word (the Bible) instead of her box. In doing so, He can be and do all that the Word says-even when she didn’t understand it all.
Then I explained to her that love is always a choice. God created people to love Him and have a relationship with Him. He would not be a truly loving God if He hadn’t given us the choice to love Him or not love Him. Love is love only if it is a choice.
God didn’t want robots forced to live Him. He wanted sons and daughters who would really love Him from their hearts only because they chose to do so. In allowing choices, God took a huge risk-after all, people were now free to reject Him.

--

Think about This:

God is love and everything good is God-sunshine, friends, hugs, great times, special animals, the love between all people, and even our very existence. So separation from God, by our choice, would mean separation forever from all that is good and all that is love-everything that brings joy, peace, and happiness.

And because God honors our choices, if we reject Him and choose to be separated from Him on this earth, then God will honor that choice of separation for eternity. And that would be Hell.
There will always be things in the Bible that you’ll have to work through. There will even be things that you never fully grasp or understand on this earth.

--

So put your few coins-he faith you have today in the Word of God-the best bank ever- and two great things will happen:

1. Your faith will increase. You can count on it.
2. You will find that the Word of God is true. You can bank on it.

--

Pray:

Lord, I have acknowledged I don’t have to have faith ye in something for it to be true. I choose today to believe Your Word is true, even if I may not completely have faith in all of it yet. As I trust and seek You, I desire for my faith to grow so that I can experience all of Your blessings and have abundant life. Amen.

--

Believe:

“Through Him [Jesus Christ] you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith [coins] and hope are in God [the bank]” ( Peter 1:21).

--

For Journaling and Reflection:

1. Have you ever felt that something you read in he Bible didn’t match up with what you understood about God and Jesus at the time? Think about that experience. Has the way you understand the Bible changed since that time? In your journal, write about how your new way of understanding has helped you.
2. The story of the little boy’s bank is a kind of parable-a story that can give us a deeper perspective of our growing faith. What experience has God used in your life to grow your faith (for example, being nervous in a new setting, or resolving a conflict with a close friend)? Try using your experience to write a parable about how faith grows and how God reveals more and more to you as your faith increases.
3. Do you have to completely believe or understand something in order for it to be true? When was the last time you put your faith in something you didn’t completely understand (air travel, electricity, music downloads)?

~~

I finished my journal a couple days ago!! Yay, I get to start a fresh new one! I’m pretty excited about that!! I love going back and reading how I have matured, and grown in my relationship with Christ, and I can’t wait to see where this one takes me in my journey with my Saviour. I’m looking forward to writing in it… hopefully tonight! :) Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it wasn’t too long!

~

I.love.my.Jesus! <3

~

Have a great night everyone!

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Resting in Him, Karissa : )

(The second one from the top is the journal I just finished. It has a picture of an Eagle in flight, and quotes Isaiah 40:31, which I'm sure you all know, but it says: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.) :)

P.S. I am sad, cause picnik is going to be going away soon! That is what I use to edit my pictures! :'( (including the one above^) Oh well! I will just have to find another editing program! :) Until it goes away (in April) we get to use premium for free! So, that's the excited news! :)

One more thing before I go! (sorry guys!!) :P This is a song that my aunt sent me, and I liked it, and thought that I would share it with you all! I hope you enjoy it (and never underestimate me Jesus)! :)