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!

~

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)! :)

Amazing!

Lord I wanna be like a glow stick: bend me and break me until your light shines through me. -Hannah Thomas

Something I read for school today....

When most Europeans in 1492 looked at the Atlantic Ocean, they saw a barrier. When Christopher Columbus looked at the Atlantic, he saw an oppurtunity. Columbus knew that sailing across it would be a challenge, but he envisioned sailing west as the answer that many Europeans were looking for to the problem of how to get to Asia more easily. Everybody saw the same ocean, but the difference was in how they saw it. Columbus' vision opened a new world for the Europeans and for world history. Although it was not what anyone in Europe expected (including Columbus), great blessings came from the world that was discovered.

When God was preparing to lead the Israelites into the land He had promised to give them, He had the people send twelve spies into Canaan to find out all they could about the land. Ten of the spies thought it was an insurmountable problem, while two believer that they could conquer the land with God's help. All of the spies saw the same land, but the difference was in how they saw it. The ten looked at Canaan through eyes of fear and doubt, while the two saw with eyes of faith. How these ancient explorers saw the land before them affected the history of their people from that time forward.

Let's take a look at this story in the Bible. :)

~Numbers 13-14

Chapter 13

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Chapter 14

The People Rebel against the LORD

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

God's Punishment on Israel

And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned. And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

Lessons from the story of the spies:

The majority is not always right. Five-sixths of the spies and almost all of the Israelites were convinced that they could not conquer the Promised Land, but they were wrong. What is favored by the majority and what appears to be popular is no basis for living and making decisions. People (including you and I) can be easily influenced by an idea that appears to offer short-term reward or by a persuasive speaker who has a hidden agenda. We have to live by what is right in God's eyes, regardless of how popular that is, at any given moment.

We become what we fear. The Israelites were afraid that they could not conquer Canaan and would die in the wilderness. Because of their faithlessness, that is exactly what happened to them. They did not conquer Canaan and they dies in the wilderness. If we fear failure, we are more likely to fail by simply trying to avoid failure. If we fear what people think, we will become captive to the opinions of others. If we fear God, on the other hand, we will treat Him with respect and will become more like Him. Fear (except for the fear of God) is no motive to live by.

Look at your world through the eyes of faith. Anyone can make excuses and can see roadblocks and reasons why something cannot happen. The person who trusts God sees what is possible and looks beyond the problems to the solution. The eyes of doubt and fear focus on what is seen, which often includes difficulties. The eyes that see as God wants us to see focus on the unseen: the unseen and powerful God and the goal that God can help us accomplish.

The explorers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries caught a vision for what was possible, despite the risks, and changed the world. Joshua and Caleb caught the vision of what God promised, despite the difficulties, and entered into the Promised Land. As you explore the life that God gives you, look beyond the difficulties and potential roadblocks and see what God can accomplish through you.

P.S. We finally got some snow the other night! In the end of October when we had that big snowstorm and lost our power for 4 days, I thought it was going to be a long winter. The past couple weeks, I had begun to think and wonder if Winter would ever come. It finally did! :) Have a great night, and a wonderful weekend! :)

In Him, Karissa││Romans 12