tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861434400302484042024-03-13T13:19:16.927-05:00Young Women of VirtueAbigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-69011161526269467502013-08-07T15:56:00.000-05:002013-08-07T15:56:16.288-05:00Want a diamond engagement ring? You may change your mind...Okay, so for all you girls out there that think getting a diamond engagement ring is the greatest thing.. You may just want to reconsider. After reading this I changed my mind, if I do get a ring I want it to be something that represents rarity and purity, instead of a status quo item that isn't even that rare anymore and represents an ideal that has been manufactured by the jewelry companies.<br />
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Please read this link:<br />
<a href="http://americanvision.org/8966/advice-marriage/">http://americanvision.org/8966/advice-marriage/</a><br />
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<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0VH-k3tKV0/UgK0DBZqGII/AAAAAAAAA5U/VZ5BHtKp-_M/s1600/Diamonds+birthstones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0VH-k3tKV0/UgK0DBZqGII/AAAAAAAAA5U/VZ5BHtKp-_M/s400/Diamonds+birthstones.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>
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God bless,</div>
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Abigail Prudence </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-65458031834967290532013-08-01T23:55:00.001-05:002013-08-01T23:55:23.075-05:00Am I Pressing On?This is something that I wrote back in the beginning of the year, after coming back to it and revising and adding to it I would like to actually turn it into a post, so here ya go :)<br />
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Do you ever have that feeling? Of complete conviction of your faults to the point where your in tears over how much you must have grieved God with past sins? I was almost to the point where I had forgotten my savior entirely because of being dragged into sinful life. I started to disdain God, I went through a lot of old diary entries and even though I was doing all this stuff that sounded so fun and exciting I was not happy. Not at all, almost suicidal really. Somehow in that time... I forgot everything that I ever learned about God and reality and put it all aside so I could do what I wanted to do, not thinking of the consequences of my actions at all. It's true that sometimes I was happy and had a good time, you can still be happy but stuck in your sin, for a little while, but it was always followed by deep depression, guilt or anger. I am so happy that God has had his mercy and me and is helping me change. Something happens when you go back to your roots, and remember God as your Savior and Redeemer, it still makes me cry when I think of all the time that I've wasted, when we are in sin it completely consumes us.<br />
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You can try to pray, or have fellowship with God, but you can't feel His awesome presence until you're knees hit the floor and your heart cries out for repentance for the sins you've committed against him. We are either with Him or against Him, there is no middle ground.<br />
<i> I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.(Revelations 3:15-16)</i><br />
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When God spues you out of his mouth that means separation from Him and his blessings and presence. God had left me, I would lie to myself and say that everything I was doing was somehow justifiable. But my faulty logic as to why it's okay for me to continue in my sin doesn't fly in his book, the Bible, which should be everyone's standard for living. I had become so passive and drenched in my thoughts and opinions that I had made up in my own mind that I had forgotten about Christ. You, me, everyone, goes through this, on a daily basis for some even. It is a war<br />
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we fight that is VERY real. And I encourage you to pick up your sword and fight, our enemy is not playing around with this game called Your Life and he will fight to the death to kill you and let you die in your sins. I encourage you to stay strong, read your Bibles, get together with the saints and fellowship. Get on your knees and pray to the Lord, no matter what you've done he's always there listening and will NEVER turn his back on you, if you are a His. He loves you and will take care and comfort you when you are in need if you just come to Him.<br />
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<i>John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:</i><br />
<i>28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.</i><br />
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The question we need to be daily asking ourselves is the following... Am I pressing on??<br />
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<i>I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:14-15)</i><br />
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I hope you take a moment with me and think about this, and how it specifically effects YOU. Not your parents, or your friends or neighbors, but just you and your relationship with The Lord, Jesus Christ. Even if it's something minor that's been ticking at your conscience lately, like being lazy in school, or not being as bold of a witness as you should be, or maybe something major that you've been trying to avoid facing... Go to Him with it, He already knows and is waiting for you to call on Him.<br />
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<i>Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast ALL my sins behind thy back. (Isiah 38:17)</i><br />
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May God bless and keep you, and make his face shine upon you and give you peace in Jesus Name,<br />
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God bless,<br />
Abigail Prudence</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-6380113918490990832013-02-15T15:51:00.000-06:002013-02-15T17:15:20.220-06:00Spring garden planning!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm finally all better, praise God! Cedar season has finally left and my family is better. Here in Texas the weather has gotten better very quickly! I find myself outside pondering and prepping the garden for new plants, spring is my favorite time of year and I always find myself unable to wait for it to get here, I've already planted a fresh planter full of different varieties of strawberry plants, also some German chamomile and an array of different kinds of flowers. I'll post pictures for you once I've taken them. It's wonderful to already see the birds and the butterflies coming back in the garden and watching the things we planted sprout up. I can't wait to have garden fresh tomatoes back! Hopefully we'll have as many as we did last year, we didn't have to buy tomatoes for the rest of the season we had so many! But what I love more than planting the flowers or watching the butterflies flutter around the flowers is just being outside and enjoy the beauty of it all and thinking of how caring and thoughtful our awesome God must have been when he created everything. It's all been done with such intricate functioning beauty that it leaves one speechlessly praising his Name! He created the plants, fruits, seeds and herbs to be our food!<br />
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<b>He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; (Psalms104:14)</b><br />
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And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to YOU it shall be for meat.</div>
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Genesis 1:29 </div>
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To me this is an amazing design. He thought everything through so perfectly and beautifully. A well tended garden is a wonderful place to sit or walk and talk with Him, meditate on and read his Words. I am so thankful God has given me a beautiful garden and a beautiful home. May God bless you all and I hope to write more soon!<br />
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God bless,<br />
Abigail Prudence<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-52726567974090893692013-01-20T19:44:00.000-06:002013-01-20T19:44:34.640-06:00HealingHello blog followers! I know it's been quite a while since I've made a post, with the holidays and all and people getting sick left and right it's been easy to forget about this blog. I ask that you would please pray for healing because myself and the rest of my family has suffering from awful cases of Texas Cedar Fever. If you've ever experienced it you know that it's a awful thing to have to go through. I'm keeping my chin up and praying that it will pass soon. I'm writing another article that I will later post for you guys but it is not yet finished.<br />
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<span style="color: #0e2233; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. (</span><span style="color: #0e2233; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Exodus 23:25)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-5135794081139224722012-08-15T18:17:00.001-05:002012-08-15T18:17:20.349-05:00You Are More ~Song~<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hey everyone, I'm sorry it's been five months since I've made a post, I hope that now that this busy summer is coming to a close that I'll be able to keep up with my blog posts more :) I was listening to K-love this morning and this song spoke to my heart so much and I wanted to share it with you. I hope it speaks to you too!</span></div>
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May God bless you all,<br />
Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-85106273012961103032012-04-27T20:25:00.001-05:002012-10-31T21:44:02.926-05:00The beauty of a gardenHello everyone! So, I know I haven't been posting very often lately, but I've had so many wood working projects, gardening and school projects with my family and work at the local health club on top of that, it's been hard to find the time to sit down and write an article. Over the past month I have been working with my father in the garden building fences, garden boxes and a swing for our back yard. My mother has been teaching me how to grow a garden and I have been learning so much about how to grow healthy organic food for my family. We started most of the plants in our garden from seeds, but some of our tomatoes, peppers and broccoli we bought from H-E-B. We also built and started a flower garden in our front yard, it's been so wonderful to come out in the morning and see dozens of different colored butterflies flutter around the flowers. It reminds me of the butterfly center that dad and I went to when we got to the Father Daughter retreat in Georgia last month. Love you dad ;)<br />
This is the first time that I've ever had experience with a garden and growing my own food. I'm so glad I have a very knowledgeable mother that can teach me how to do it the right way <3 I'm looking forward to making dinner with the food that we've grown from the garden, may God bless this project and let our little plants grow :) We are also trying to grow potatoes in barrels that you'll see in some of the pictures. The white swing dad and I repaired and I had a couple of friends come over and help me paint it white. We are going to put rocks around the fire pit and get more chairs so we can have friends over. I am so grateful for the beautiful place that God has put me in! I look around at the wild flowers, the old blue pick-up truck in the field behind out house. Here are some pictures of the area, its not done yet and I'll post pictures after it's finished too. Hope you like them and thanks for reading my blog :)<br />
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A beautiful book about gardens<br />
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Hibiscus<br />
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Before planting<br />
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Little yellow flowers<br />
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The finished fence from the front<br />
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Color!!!<br />
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A bible verse that I wrote on the gate<br />
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Before we planted our sprouts <br />
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The beautiful landscape that's behind our yard<br />
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Me, Mama and Dixie<br />
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Our beautiful yard!<br />
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So,whats in the barrels? Potatoes :)<br />
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Our little lemon tree<br />
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Flower garden in the front<br />
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Dixie being adorable<br />
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The fence from the back<br />
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Our seeds that have sprouted and are growing!<br />
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A curious deer in the back woods<br />
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Dad working on the gate<br />
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Our beautiful piano in the living room<br />
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The fire pit and the white swing in the background<br />
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Squash flowers are coming up! :D<br />
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More pretty flowers<br />
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Another view of the garden<br />
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A note from a friend,<br />
<br />
I am extremely excited for when all of Abigail's plants grow up! She does an amazing job and is an excellent gardner when she puts her mind to it. At first she had to do some research for her seeds and garden. I am very proud of her perseverance and how hard she tries to give her plants the love and patience they need. This kind of action goes to show that even if someone is a beginner with something a few things people must remember- be patient with yourself, others, and your project.<br />
<br />
From Amber :)<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Thanks Amber for your kind words and help you've given me in a lot of the projects! It's been fun to have you around <3<br />
<br />
God Bless,<br />
Abigail Prudence<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-71666466573026229102012-04-04T11:11:00.002-05:002012-04-04T11:11:23.355-05:00Father Daughter Retreat PicturesHello everyone! This year I was blessed enough to be able to make it to the father daughter retreat at Callaway Gardens in Georgia with my dad. I got to see my amazing friend Hannah ;) and met a new awesome friend, Miriam! :D :D It was such a blessing to be able to fellowship with friends and my daddy <3 There were a lot of excellent messages, but the one that spoke to me the most was the sermon on the relationship between brothers and sisters. The Botkin girls were the ones to give the speech and they did an excellent job! I didn't realize that I had such a big role in my brothers life, may God give me grace to help and encourage him in his walk with the Lord. :)<br />
Here are just a few of the awesome pictures I was able to take over the weekend.<br />
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Hannah!! My wonderful and whimsical friend <3<br />
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me and daddy at the lake</div>
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Hannah and Mirriam under the Japanese cherry blossoms <3<br />
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Mr. Tucker and Mr. Sitter analyzing the ceiling<br />
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Looks like Narnia to me :)<br />
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Me + glasses, something you don't see too often, lol :)<br />
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The whole gang, going left to right, Mirriam, Hannah, me, Miriha <3<br />
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Pretty Blue Butterfly<br />
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us girls being silly <3<br />
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Miriam, the expert lizard catcher ;) lol<br />
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Me and daddy, I had such a great time with him on this trip <3<br />
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Mariha and myself before she had to go home<br />
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Me and Han<br />
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The beautiful hotel we stayed at for the first night<br />
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puurty flowers<br />
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Best Friends Forever!!!! Love you girls <3<br />
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Dad, with a smile so big it just might fall off :) lol love ya dad<br />
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the beautiful panorama of the lake and gardens<br />
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Hannah and her beautiful smile <3<br />
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And thus concludes my giant collection of pictures, I won't share all 250 of them with you, but these are most of the highlights <3 I had an amazing time, it's hard to believe that it's been 4, saying 4 years since I've seen this girl!! We've talked so much on the phone and over e-mail that I feel like I know her inside and out, and she probably feels the same way about me. At first I thought it would be weird cause it'd been so long since we've seen each other, but we were quickly able to chill and had an amazing time together. I was able to convince her to fix my hair and make up for the high tea, thank you Hannah <3 Also thank you for shipping my army coat back to me! I got it in the mail a few days ago.<br />
Words can't describe how great it was to see you Hannah, to talk with you, to pray with you, and just be with you was amazing, love you girl <3<br />
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God Bless,<br />
Abigail Prudence<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-12510922486837229722012-02-26T20:54:00.002-06:002012-02-26T20:55:16.500-06:00My New Hope Chest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello everyone, I don't have a article for you today, but I did want to tell you about my recent acquisition of a beautiful Hope Chest from my father this last weekend. He surprised me so much! The two of us took a trip down to Grene, Texas this last Saturday and he wanted to stop in an old antique store that we usually visit when we are in the area. I remembered that cedar chest that I always looked at when I was there and wanted to see if it was still for sale, so I went and looked. And to my great dismay there was a sold tag on it, darn it! It was exactly the kind of hope chest I'd always wanted, and now someone else had bought it. Oh well I thought, they'll be other chests out there. But then I looked a little closer at the tag, in little writing there was a note that said,</div>
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So I figured I might as well see who ended up with it and opened the chest, here's what I found:<br />
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I was so surprised!! My dad is amazing :D I love you dad! I got excited and huged him and everyone was watching us but I didn't care I was so happy :) I've already started thinking about how wonderful it will be to carry it into my new home after I get married and open it up and see all kinds of treasures that I've accumulated over the years. Does any one have any good ideas of what I should fill my new treasure chest with?<br />
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And here's a picture of it with the lid down.<br />
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God Bless ya all,<br />
Abigail<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-56280461768380296802012-02-01T23:25:00.001-06:002012-02-02T20:20:04.891-06:00Waking DreamThis is something that I wrote after a pretty vivid dream and thought it was worth taking the time to write down, I hope you enjoy reading this short story.<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Squeak, squeak was the sound my rubber sandals made as
the sand on my feet mixed with the cold salty water of the coming tide of the
sea. Here I stand on the shore, my weight slowly shifting as my feet are moved
under when the sand starts to melt when the water makes contact with it. I
stare over the horizon and through my darkly shaded sun glasses I somehow can’t
see the beauty in front of me, the perfect simplicity of the path I was on. But
as I continued to walk down the beach I began to feel less and less satisfied
with my walk with God. My friends walked with me down the hot sandy beach, and
they seem happy, laughing and enjoying each other’s company as they talked and
debated religion and scripture. But I can’t feel the happiness they do, they
seem so content on this road we were taking, but I had become board with it and
longed for something new and different. I take off my sunglasses and I see the
beautiful ocean and long to go swimming and see all the new and different
things that the waters had to offer. But we had long ago been forbidden to
tread these waters of sin and death and we were warned of the consequences if
we disobeyed. But to me I didn’t see sin and death, I saw beauty, a sparkling
allure that called out to me whispering my name, beckoning me to swim towards
it. As I continued to look over the water I saw a far ways out, what looked to
be a beautiful cave. How exciting it would be to discover its wonders and
secrets. It wouldn’t hurt if I took a quick look and came back, would it? I
looked back down the shore, my companions were now far down the beach from me,
I could probably make it back before they even noticed I had left.<br />
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Step by step
I walked into the sea, the water cooling my body as I submerged deeper and
deeper. Now I’ve gone so far I’m barely able to walk on ocean floor beneath me.
I hear panicked screams from the shore, it’s my friends, and they’d noticed my
absence and located me. None of them jumped in after me to bring me back, they
were all too scared of the consequences for disobeying God’s law. I heard their
yells to me, they plead with me to come back saying, “It’s not worth it! Come
back to your Lord and Savior and ask for forgiveness for straying from the
path!” But somehow the words didn’t register in my mind and my conscience
seemed broken or something. The desire for the pleasure that came with sin was
all I could think of, and I started to swim faster towards the cave. In my mind
I saw a pretty sparkling cove of wonder, but I was blinded, in reality it was a
place of death. The once beautiful day quickly turned bleak. Dark grey storm
clouds formed over the ocean and thunder started to roll, it looked like any
minute it would start to rain. So I swam harder to get to my paradise
destination I thought I was sure to find. Almost to the entrance of the cave, I
look behind me and could no longer see the shore for the fog had gotten very
thick. Excited to finally reach my destination I swam inside, the light was
dimmer than I thought it would be. I swam deeper and deeper into the darkness
of the cave. As I wade through the wet cave I marvel at the sights I saw, sparkling
gems and gold embedded into the rocks around me, but in reality it is one of
the scariest places a person can lay eyes on. The cave was filled with sharp
rocks, skeletons and the smell of death; it is no wonder why we were warned to
stay away from this place. But somehow I find a strong appeal to my hiding
place and I have no desire to leave the alluring beauty that I perceived. But
not long after I went into the large entrance the tide began to come up and the
water started to rise around me, and yet here I float in peace, about to drown
in sin and death with a strange sense of no fear of my coming fate. But there
is a small whisper in my ear telling me to get up and swim to safety as fast as
I can, but the darkness around me keeps me anchored here in danger of the
coming flood that would bring about my death. I can feel the water coming up to
my shoulders and slowly more and more water laps into the cave, I look back at
the once large welcoming entrance, where there is now only a small flicker of
light left at the opening of the cave, the dark waters have almost completely
engulfed all around me. The cave lights up when the lightning
strikes outside, but I don't seem to notice. So here I am, having yet to decide if I drown in pain and
regret, or struggle out of the darkness for another chance at life. I remember
my friends on the shore that warned me not to go into cave of fleshly desires,
but I ignored their wise advice and did as I wished. If I listened I could
still hear their faint cries from the safety of the shore, they are crying,
begging and pleading with me to come back to the safety and comfort of solid
ground that comes with the forgiveness and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. So what am I waiting for? Why do I wait here for someone to rescue me
from the troubles I’ve made for myself? Am I expecting a courageous hero to
swoop me off to safety? Truly I don’t know why I stay here waiting to drown to
death. Now I’ve almost lost the strength and will power to do anything to stop
my fate. But then, as the dark waters continue to rise up to my nose and eyes
and water starts fills my lungs. I struggle for air and as I start to feel
closer and closer to death, I feel a ghostly presence and hear the Devil’s evil
echoing laugh as he sneers saying, “I’ve won! I’ve trapped your soul and corned
you into this cave of sin and death you will never escape from! See you in hell
sucker!” Chills run up my spine as the whole cave shook from the thunder and lightening and I
realize that this was my fate, my punishment for letting myself be lured into
the cave of fleshly desires. The thought of my soul being so close to torment in the flames of hell for all eternity scared me so greatly that I
start to scream and cry out to God for some kind of rescue from what seemed
like certain death. I cried out with the little strength I had left and said, “Oh
God! Forgive me of my sin! Please save me from death and hell!!” As I plead out
to God, I struggle to swim back to the entrance of the cave. It was much harder
trying to get out of the cave than it was getting in. By now the water had
completely filled the cove and there was only a little air left in my lungs. I
continue to swim with all of my might fighting for another breath of air, but I
open my eyes look at my goal ahead of me and realize just how far into the cave
I had waded. I swim up in hope of one last breath of air to help me push forward.
My head bangs against the rock ceiling and I press my wet lips to the surface of
the water and take my last deep breath. The current pushes me back under the
tide but I still try to swim towards the entrance, I push with all my might and
swim as hard as I can, but my little strength is not enough to get me to my
goal. My life flashes before my eyes as I feel the water entering my lungs once
again. I guess the Devil was right; I would not be able to save myself from
this peril. Just then, as I started to feel light headed and I could feel my
soul start to leave my body, a strong hand took hold of mine and pulled me out
of the dark cave and to the light on the surface of the ocean. I gasp for air
and look for my savior, but I am alone.<br />
<br />
I look towards the shore, the fog had
cleared and I could see my friends and family crying for joy that I had made it
out alive! They jumped around on shore as they waited for me to swim back to
them, they cheered as I made it back on land. They dark clouds had rolled away
and the sun was shining again. My friends chastise me for leaving in the first
place, but are still overjoyed that I am alive. I told them about the hand that
saved me when there was no hope and I was doomed, but they looked puzzled and
assured me that no one had left the beach and they only person they saw out at
sea was myself. From the shore I look back at the once deceptive alluring cove
that nearly took my life. Now I could see it for what it really was, a shortcut
to hell. I knew that God had spared my life that day and sent an angel to save
me. I questioned why I ever left in the first place and promised myself to never
be so easily led away from the path ever again.<br />
<br />
<br />
Abigail Prudence<br />
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-70530845168461841132012-01-23T19:30:00.001-06:002012-01-29T18:13:19.864-06:00Fathers & Daughters etc.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoeZv5XamIc/Tx7u1cFDsjI/AAAAAAAAAqU/sB8npvs8D8w/s1600/father-daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoeZv5XamIc/Tx7u1cFDsjI/AAAAAAAAAqU/sB8npvs8D8w/s400/father-daughter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
One of the most precious things on this earth is the relationships that a father and daughter can have. If you have a father that loves you and spends time with you, then you are a very lucky girl. The average working father in America spends 19 minutes with his children, and most of that is spent eating dinner with the family. Most of the girls in our country don't know what it means to have a good relationship with there father. A whole lot of teenage girls say they hate their father, maybe this is partially because they are ungrateful and selfish, but maybe the other part of it is that they never had special moments with there father, their dad never took them on little trips or did projects with them. He was so busy trying to provide food, shelter and nice things for his family that he never stopped to think about his little ones growing up into adults. If you are a parent reading this, then you know how fast children grow up. You have to take every opportunity to shape your children into Godly examples for the world. How else do you do this then spending time talking and being with them? You can give them assignments and projects to work on that will help mold their character, but it's not the same as holding there hand and doing it with them. Even little things make a huge impact in a daughter's mind. Like going to the grocery store with just her, or going Christmas shopping for the rest of the family with her and listening to her opinions on what her family will like. There are so many things that a father can do with his daughter. I have been blessed with a father that loves me so much that he would die for me without thinking twice. I know this because he tells me he loves me every single day, we can talk about anything together. He has done so many different things with me to show me he cares, and also because we have a blast together! Here is a little list of some of things he has done with me: Taken me to a coffee shop and we just talk. Taken me to go kayaking together. He has taken me to an endless number of lunches. Bike rides almost every night. Making trails with him through the woods. Taken me bowling. Taken me to museums. One time he took me to a cave in our area and we walked through it together. Also he has taken me to every single tennis tournament I have ever played, we have made so many memories doing that. Also he has taught me tennis, we have spent a lot of time training together. Also on road trips I will usually travel with him and navigate for him. There is no possible way that I could tell you every special thing I have done with my father, the list is almost endless. He means the world to me, I can't imagine a world without him in it. Not only has he done lots of things with me, he has taught me a lot. If God blesses me with a husband half as good as my father I will be a very lucky girl. The reason my father has taken so much time to be with me is because he cares about what is going on in my heart, he listens very carefully and it makes me feel like I can tell him anything in the world. But he doesn't have to take me somewhere and make it out to be a whole day with me. Most of the moments we both cherish the most are the ones where I am just talking with him. Maybe it's driving with him to the grocery store, or doing a chore with him, maybe it's just being around while he works outside in the yard. Little things like getting him a glass of water or lemonade, means a lot to him. Your father loves you so much, he doesn't need to do a special activity to enjoy your presence, just being with him will bring joy to his heart if you are cheerful and happy. But if you have an attitude of hate or despite against your father, he will not want to be around you. When you are bitter or sour about something, it makes it harder for him to like being around you. Our father's will always love us, but when we are mean in spirit it makes everyone else's spirit mean too. The woman has a great role in the household of creating what kind of atmosphere is in the home. We are the mood setters, if we have a spirit of peace and love, it will make it much easier for everyone to get along in peace. Even if your still a younger girl you can still do little things to make the mood pleasant. Doing a chore without being asked or just smiling and being happy can make a huge impact on the people around us. In the world we live in today we are surrounded by darkness, for so many people all they can see is emptiness, let your light shine bright so all will see it, and maybe, if we all do our part, we can change the world for the better.<br />
<br />
I hope you all enjoyed this article, may God bless all of you <3<br />
<br />
Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-44012230576474483662011-12-01T01:02:00.003-06:002011-12-01T01:21:41.633-06:00Winter is here :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPgBNr6cBzc/TtcpMFQVQPI/AAAAAAAAAps/vS4flT8SN_M/s1600/pretty+snow+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPgBNr6cBzc/TtcpMFQVQPI/AAAAAAAAAps/vS4flT8SN_M/s400/pretty+snow+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hello everyone! Well it's been a while since I've made a post here. Sorry it's been so long, I've been busy, but i know that's not an excuse :) This last month I entered and won the NaNoWriMo writing contest that comes around every November. A lot of you homeschooler's probably know what I am referring too. <a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/">http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/</a> Today I have been editing it and making it even better, maybe some day I'll get it published, I'll see someday I guess.<br />
Here in Texas there hasn't been any snow, but it has been getting down in the low 40's! I know for most of you that's not that cold, but for us it's very cold. Besides writing I have been doing a lot of school work and cook two days of the week for my family's dinner, which has been fun! They even let me go shopping for what I need to make, I have been having fun with it. I am excited that Christmas is only 24 days away! I already have my tree put up and the lights on the house outside are on. Well, I should say good bye for now, I'll be back later this month with an article for you all, thank you so much for your patience <3<br />
<br />
God Bless,<br />
Abigail<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-26038187459340144992011-10-15T10:48:00.004-05:002011-10-15T10:53:04.419-05:00The Pastor's SermonThis last week I was able to go to my friend's church :) And while I was there I herd this amazing sermon, I asked the pastor if I could get a copy of it and he gave me a link to the short story he read for a sermon that Sunday. I would like to post the sermon on my blog because I found it very encouraging and hope that you will too :) I know that it is very long, but it is very much worth reading. God bless your reading.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> My Heart, Christ's Home</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>by Robert Boyd Munger<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ededed; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/cross_and_heart.jpg" style="height: 116px; width: 153px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words: "That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph 3:16). Or, as another has translated, "that Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Without question, one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will make the human heart his abode.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our Lord said to his disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23). It was difficult for them to understand what he was saying. How was it possible for him to make his abode with them in this sense?</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is interesting that our Lord used the same word here that he gave them in the first of the 14th chapter of John: "I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am, you may be also." Our Lord was promising his disciples that, just as he was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and would welcome them one day, now it would be possible for them to prepare a place for him in their hearts and he would come and make his abode with them.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">They could not understand this. How could it be?</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then came Pentecost. The Spirit of the living Christ was given to the church and they understood. God did not dwell in Herod's temple in Jerusalem! God did not dwell in a temple made with hands; but now, through the miracle of the outpoured Spirit, God would dwell in human hearts. The body of the believer would be the temple of the living God and the human heart would be the home of Jesus Christ. It is difficult for me to think of a higher privilege than to make for Christ a home in my heart, to welcome, to serve, to please, to fellowship with him there.</span></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/library_rnzt.jpg" style="height: 106px; width: 144px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One evening that I shall never forget, I invited him into my heart. What an entrance he made! It was not a spectacular emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness and he filled the emptiness with his own wonderful loving fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will-- not into eternity!</span></div><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This, of course, is the first step in making the heart Christ's home. He has said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite Christ into your heart and he will surely come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After Christ entered my heart and in the joy of that new-found relationship, I said to him, "Lord, I want this heart of mine to be yours. I want to have you settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to you. Let me show you around and introduce you to the various features of the home that you may be more comfortable and that we may have fuller fellowship together." He was very glad to come, of course, and happier still to be given a place in the heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE LIBRARY</span></b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first room was the study -- the library. Let us call it the study of the mind. Now in my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very thick walls. But it is an important room. In a sense, it is the control room of the house. He entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the pictures on the wall. As I followed his gaze I became uncomfortable. Strangely enough, I had not felt badly about this before, but now that he was there looking at these things I was embarrassed. There were some books there that his eyes were too pure to behold. There was a lot of trash and literature on the table that a Christian had no business reading and as for the pictures on the wall -- the imaginations and thoughts of the mind-- these were shameful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I turned to him and said, "Master, I know that this room needs a radical alteration. Will you help me make it what it ought to be-- to bring every thought into captivity to you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Surely!" he said. "Gladly will I help you. That is one reason I am here. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and seeing which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with scriptures and meditate on them day and night. As for the pictures on the wall, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but here is an aid." He gave me a full sized picture of himself. "Hang this centrally," he said, "on the wall of the mind." I did and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ himself, his purity and power cause impure imaginations to retreat. So he has helped me to bring my thoughts into captivity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">May I suggest to you if you have difficulty in this little room of the mind, that you bring Christ in there. Pack it full with the Word of God, meditate upon it and keep before it ever the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/dining_room_l3qy.jpg" style="height: 96px; width: 124px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE DINING ROOM</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the study we went to the dining room, the room of appetites and desires. Now this was a very large room. I spent a good deal of time in the dining room and much effort in satisfying my wants.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I said to him, "This is a very commodious room and I am quite sure you will be pleased with what we serve here."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He seated himself at the table with me and asked, "What is on the menu for dinner?"</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Well," I said, "my favorite dishes: old bones, corn husks, sour cabbage, leeks, onions and garlic right out of Egypt." There were the things I liked -- worldly fare. I suppose there was nothing radically wrong in any particular item, but it was not the food that should satisfy the life of a real Christian. When the food was placed before him, he said nothing about it. However, I observed that he did not eat it, and I said to him, somewhat disturbed, "Savior, you don't care for the food that is placed before you? What is the trouble?"</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He answered, "I have meat to eat that you know not of. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me." He looked at me again and said, "if you want food that really satisfies you, seek the will of the Father, not your own pleasures, not your own desires, not your own satisfaction. Seek to please me, and that food will satisfy you." And there about the table he gave me a taste of doing God's will. What a flavor! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies. Everything else is dissatisfying in the end.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now if Christ is in your heart, and I trust he is, what kind of food are you serving him and what kind of food are you eating yourself? Are you living for the lust of the flesh and the pride of life-- selfishly? Or are you choosing God's will for your meat and drink?</span></div><br />
</div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/drawing_room.jpg" style="height: 107px; width: 119px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE DRAWING ROOM</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We walked next into the drawing room. This room was rather intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a bookcase, sofa and a quiet atmosphere.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He also seemed pleased with it. He said, "This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet and we can have fellowship together."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, naturally, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I could not think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes apart with Christ in intimate comradeship.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He promised, "I will be here every morning early. Meet with me here and we will start the day together." So, morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and he would take a book of the Bible from the bookcase. He would open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truth. He would make my heart warm as he revealed his love and grace towards me. They were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the dining room the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time together.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I don't know, but I thought I was just too busy to spend time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand; it just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss a day now and then. It was examination time at the university. Then it was some other urgent emergency. I would miss it two days in a row and often more.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing down the steps, eager to be on my way.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As I passed the drawing room, the door was ajar. Looking in I saw a fire in the fireplace and the Lord sitting there. Suddenly in dismay, I thought to myself, "He was my guest. I had invited him into my heart! He had come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting him." I turned and went in. With downcast glance I said, "Blessed Master, forgive me. Have you been here all these mornings?"</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Yes," he said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked his forgiveness and he readily forgave me as he does when we are truly penitent.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He said, "The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at a great cost. I desire your fellowship. Now," he said, "do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!"</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You know, the truth that Christ wants my fellowship, that he loves me, wants me to be with him, wants to be with me and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don't let Christ wait alone in the drawing room of your heart, but every day find some time when, with the Word of God and in prayer, you may fellowship with him.</span></div><br />
</div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/workshop.jpg" style="height: 87px; width: 116px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE WORKSHOP</span></b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before long he asked, "Do you have a workshop in your home?" Down in the basement of the home of my heart I had a workbench and some equipment, but I was not doing much with it. Once in a while I would go down and fuss around with a few little gadgets, but I wasn't producing anything worthwhile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I led him down there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He looked over the workbench and what little talents and skills I had. He said, "This is quite well furnished. What are you producing with your life for the Kingdom of God?" He looked at one or two of the little toys that I had thrown together on the bench and he held one up to me. "Are these little toys all that you are producing in your Christian life?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Well," I said, "Lord, that is the best I can do. I know it isn't much and I really want to do more, but after all, I have no skill or strength."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Would you like to do better?" he asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Certainly," I replied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"All right. Let me have your hands. Now relax in me and let my Spirit work through you. I know you are unskilled and clumsy and awkward, but the Spirit is the Master-worker and if he controls your hands and your heart he will work through you." And so, stepping around behind me and putting his great, strong hands over mine, controlling the tools with his skillful fingers, he began to work through me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There's much more that I must still learn and I am very far from satisfied with the product that is being turned out, but I do know that whatever has been produced for God has been through his strong hand and through the power of his Spirit in me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Do not become discouraged because you cannot do much for God. Your ability is not the fundamental condition. It is he who is controlling your fingers and upon whom you are relying. Give your talents and gifts to God and he will do things with them that will surprise you. </span><br />
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<br />
<br />
</div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/playroom.jpg" style="height: 92px; width: 129px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE RUMPUS ROOM</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I remember the time he inquired about the playroom. I was hoping he would not ask me about that. There were certain associations and friendships, activities and amusements that I wanted to keep for myself. I did not think Christ would enjoy them or approve of them so I evaded the question.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But there came an evening when I was leaving to join some companions -- I was in college at the time -- and as I was about to cross the threshold, he stopped me with a glance. "Are you going out?"</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I answered, "Yes."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Good," he said, "I would like to go with you."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Oh," I replied rather awkwardly. "I don't think, Lord, that you would really want to go with us. Let's go out tomorrow night. Tomorrow night we will go to prayer meeting, but tonight I have another appointment."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He said, "That's all right. Only I thought when I came into your home we were going to do everything together. We were going to be partners. I want you to know that I am willing to go with you."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Well," I said, "we will go some place together tomorrow night."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But that evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt wretched. What kind of friend was I to Christ, when I was deliberately leaving him out of my associations, doing things and going places that I knew very well he would not enjoy? When I returned that evening, there was a light in his room and I went up to talk it over with him. I said, "Lord, I have learned my lesson. I cannot have a good time without you. We will do everything together from now on."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then we went down into the rumpus room of the house and he transformed it. He brought into life real joy, real happiness, real satisfaction, real friendship. Laughter and music have been ringing in the house ever since.<br />
</span></div><br />
</div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="472" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/bedroom.jpg" style="height: 92px; width: 114px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE BEDROOM<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One day when we were in my bedroom, he asked me about the picture next to my bed.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“That’s a picture of my girlfriend,” I told him. Although I knew my relationship with my girlfriend was a good one, I felt funny talking with him about it. She and I were struggling with some issues and I didn’t want to discuss them with him. I tried to change the subject.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But Jesus must have known what I was thinking. “You are beginning to question my teaching on sex, aren’t you? That sexual relations are only for those who are joined in the covenant of marriage? You’re feeling that I may be asking something unnatural, if not impossible, for you. You’re afraid my will on this will limit the full enjoyment of life and love. Isn’t that true?”<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes,” I confessed.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Then listen carefully to what I am saying,” he continued. “I forbid adultery and premarital sex, not because sex is bad but because it is good. Beyond the physical ecstasy it is a means of bonding two lives in deepening love. It has the creative power to bring human life into being. Sex is powerful. Used properly, sex has tremendous potential for good. Used improperly, it destroys the good. For this reason, God intends it to be expressed only within the commitment of a loving life partnership. There is far more to love than just sex.”<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">“Let me help you in your relationship with the opposite sex. If you should fail, and feel shame and guilt, know I still love you and will remain with you. Talk to me about it! Acknowledge the wrong! Take steps to avoid it happening again! Rely on my strength to keep you from falling and to lead you into a relationship of love in marriage where two truly become one in me.”<br />
</span></div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/door.jpg" style="height: 109px; width: 122px;" width="800" /> </div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE HALL CLOSET</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is just one more matter that I might share with you. One day I found him waiting for me at the door. There was an arresting look in his eye. He said to me as I entered, "There is a peculiar odor in the house. There is something dead around here. It's upstairs. I think it is in the hall closet." As soon as he said the words, I knew what he was talking about. Yes, there was a small hall closet behind lock and key I had one or two little personal things that I did not want anybody to know about and certainly I did not want Christ to see. I knew they were dead and rotting things. And yet I loved them, and I wanted them so for myself that I was afraid to admit they were there. I went up the stairs with him and as we mounted, the odor became stronger and stronger. He pointed at the door and said, "It's in there! Some dead thing!"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given him access to the library, the dining room, the drawing room, the workshop, the rumpus room, and now he was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said inwardly, "This is too much. I am not going to give him the key."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Well," he said, reading my thoughts, "if you think I am going to stay up here on the second floor with this odor, you are mistaken. I will take my bed out on the back porch. I'm certainly not going to put up with that." And I saw him start down the stairs.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When you have come to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen to you is to sense his fellowship retreating from you. I had to surrender. "I'll give you the key," I said sadly, "but you'll have to open the closet. You'll have to clean it out. I haven't the strength to do it."</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I know," he said. "I know you haven't. Just give me the key. Just authorize me to take care of that closet and I will." So, with trembling fingers I passed the key over to him. He took it from my hand, walked over to the door, opened it, entered it, took out all the putrefying stuff that was rotting there and threw it away. Then he cleansed the closet, painted it, fixed it up, doing it all in a moment's time. Oh, what victory and release to have that dead thing out of my life!</span></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://robbiegrier.com/images/deed.jpg" style="height: 101px; width: 116px;" width="800" /></div></div><div style="display: block;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">TRANSFERRING THE TITLE</span></b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then a thought came to me. I said to myself, "I have been trying to keep this heart of mine clear for Christ. I start on one room and no sooner have I cleaned that then another room is dirty. I begin on the second room and the first room becomes dusty again. I am so tired and weary trying to maintain a clean heart and an obedient life. I just am not up to it!" So I ventured a question: "Lord, is there any chance that you would take over the responsibility of the whole house and operate it for me and with me just as you did that closet? Would you take the responsibility to keep my heart what it ought to be and my life where it ought to be?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I could see his face lighten up as he replied, "Certainly, that is what I came to do. You can not be a victorious Christian in your own strength. That is impossible. Let me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But," he added slowly, "I am not owner of this house. I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed since the property is not mine."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, you have been a guest, and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the Lord." Running as fast as I could to the strong box, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, its situation and condition. Then returning to him, I eagerly signed it over to belong to him alone for time and eternity. "Here," I said, "here it is, all that I am and have forever. Now you run the house. I'll just remain with you as houseboy and friend."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no better way to live the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape and deep peace settles down on the soul. May Christ settle down and be at home in your heart as Lord of all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">May God bless you all and have a wonderful weekend! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abigail Prudence</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-13645399830688736632011-09-21T11:32:00.000-05:002011-09-21T11:32:58.712-05:00Reflections as of LateI am so sorry that it has taken me this long to make another post for you guys. I have been distracted by a lot of things lately. This last weekend was the Texas State Tennis Tournament for my division, San Antonio took 2nd place! Go SA! :D <a href="http://www.sajuniortennis.com/">www.sajuniortennis.com</a><br />
<br />
I have been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting as of late. I am growing so fast, it doesn't feel like I have been sixteen for this long, I want it to last longer! We only have so much time, and whenever our clock runs out, that's it, that's all the time on this earth we will have had. We are all going to die someday, be it cancer, a shot to the head or dying from old age, we can never be certain how we will leave this earth, but right now, if you died in your sleep, are you sure you would go to heaven? Being a Christian isn't about good deeds, it's about honest intention to follow Jesus Christ with all of your heart and completely give your soul up to him and let him make the decisions in your life, and when He guides us, we follow. May God give me grace to abandon all sin in my life, and may He give you grace to do the same.<br />
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Thank you for reading, may God bless you & keep you in Jesus name, Amen<br />
<br />
Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-11331067831540198802011-08-17T18:49:00.001-05:002011-08-18T14:46:53.923-05:00Why is Prayer Such a Fight?Pray. That word appears 306 times in the Bible. Obviously God thinks that it is important that we pray. I used to have a very good prayer life, but after some things happened to me, my prayer life went away completely. Until this morning that is. I got down on my knees, and talked to God, my what a good feeling that was!! It has been so long! Almost a year of being away from God and it felt so good to feel his presence again. I am so happy! When you don't talk to God you feel dead inside, your eyes darken and you change. Don't let that happen to you. Trust me, whatever sin you are in it is just not worth it. Just take the time, there may be other really important things in your life, but prayer is not one of the things that should be pushed aside. I had missed God so much, being able to talk to my Creator again, it is such a relief to my soul. I want to thank my good friend Hannah for exhorting me a LOT to pray, encouraging me and praying with me. It wasn't easy, but I am finally able to talk to God again, not as closely as before, but that will come with time. I pray that God will help any of you that are struggling in your prayer life, and that He will help you get back up on your feet. Prayer is so important, and the devil knows it too. He'll try to distract us with something, literally anything, to keep us from praying. He knows how powerful it is, and when your not praying, it is easier for him to do what he does best, steal, kill and destroy. We need to shield ourselves from sin, when we are in sin it makes us harder to talk to God. And when we aren't praying and crying out to Him, casting our cares and worries before our Savior, it makes it easier for the devil to attack. This is why we must study God's word, pray and even fast if we must to get our spirit strong in the Lord so we can fight off sin when it comes our way.<br />
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May God give you all grace in Jesus name,<br />
<br />
Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-2226546128822489062011-08-01T11:11:00.000-05:002011-08-01T11:11:37.315-05:00I'm going on a Trip! & JOY devotional<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hello everyone, for the next week I will be on vacation visiting a very, very good friend of mine and won't be able to manage my blog as much as normal. I want to apologize for my extreme laziness is posting for you all. I have been extremely busy and haven't been able get the time write something for you all. So I wanted to continue my devotional posts that I was doing at the beginning of the year, this one is from the Joy book again, I hope you all enjoy it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjvWgz4t-T4/TTn5luVi09I/AAAAAAAAAjs/gfpfsrJI90s/s1600/joy+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjvWgz4t-T4/TTn5luVi09I/AAAAAAAAAjs/gfpfsrJI90s/s200/joy+cover.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Joy In Letting Go</span><br />
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Nothing measures up to knowing and living with Jesus. Do we really believe that? We must, because it is what we were created for. That's why nothing else brings lasting satisfaction and joy. If we trust God's Word, we know the truth of this. Why, then, do we strive so hard to find fulfillment elsewhere? It never works-certainly not in any lasting way. Paul knew the secrets to possessing and enjoying the blessings of earthly life is to hold them loosely. Paul held all his blessings loosely because he had found something that mattered even more. He had found life in Christ to surpass the best that this life can offer. That's why he sought to get rid of anything that would hinder or water down a deeper intimacy with his Lord.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> The value we place on Christ can be measured by what we are willing to forego or give up in order to safeguard our relationship with him. It can also be measured by how we react when God takes away something we value. Do we get angry with God? Do we get depressed about it? He removes from us only what he knows will impede our spiritual growth. If we fight against his Providences, inwardly or outwardly, it is an indicator that Christ is not our all. If he were, we would be eager to hunt down and set aside any interference.<br />
Paul gave up prestige, power, authority, friends, the comforts of prosperity, and eventually his very own life. Is there something in our lives that we know is a spiritual hindrance but have been unwilling to lose for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ is better? For some, it might be a relationship. For others, it might be a particular calling, or a home, or an education. F or still other it might be good health. Whatever it is, letting go of it will lead to joy.<br />
Many of us are familiar with the now-famous words penned by missionary Jim Elliot months before he was martyred for his faith: "he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep what he cannot lose." Jim knew what Paul did and what we can too - those who leave precious things to follow Christ have no regrets.<br />
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Written by Lydia Brownback. From the Godly Woman Adornment Devotional Collection.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-38029749990405325172011-07-05T11:16:00.000-05:002011-07-05T11:16:30.367-05:00Happy fourth of July!Hi everybody! Happy Fourth of July! I had a great day last night, lots of family, friends and fun :) It was wonderful, we went over to my grandparents place and had all kinds of contests, the ping-pong I got to organize, it was fun :) normally we have fireworks on the fourth of July, but not this year :( We had a city wide ban on it because of the severe drought, oh well. I guess we'll just wait till New Years. But even with the absence of fireworks, it was still awesome. It was fun to play ping-pong again, it's been about a year or so since I've played. I hope I get to play more often. Thank God for the freedom to play ping-pong in a somewhat free nation, Praise God for the few freedoms that we still have, and please protect the ones that we still have, in Jesus Name :) <br />
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It would be great if you could pray for my little Jack Russell terrier puppy Dixie, we are going to take her in today to get her fixed, it's a surgery so I am praying that all will go smoothly :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0vCPN0zmqM/ThM4seEonKI/AAAAAAAAAoA/t-DhwLFkaZc/s1600/February+woods+photos+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0vCPN0zmqM/ThM4seEonKI/AAAAAAAAAoA/t-DhwLFkaZc/s320/February+woods+photos+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Love you all, and God Bless!<br />
Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-84822017574028814942011-06-04T22:44:00.003-05:002011-06-15T22:28:25.538-05:00Forgiveness ArticleBack safe and sound, the only thing scared is my conscience. When I look down at this ring on my hand I go back to the day my father got down on one knee and gave it to me and made me swear to wait for my husband and to be pure. Now every time I look down I see a broken promise. This blog was started 2 years ago to inspire girls to keep the faith, stay pure. I had a moment of weakness and fell into temptation. I pray God will forgive me for my awful example to you, and anyone else that knows that I am follower of Jesus Christ. I have stumbled and am now getting back on my feet as it were. Please take a moment and pray that God will give me grace to get back on the path of the straight and narrow. I know it has been a long time since I have written a scripture inspired article, but I wanted to write one now about forgiveness, thank you all for your patience in waiting for me to write new articles for this blog. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaOTJu1Q6Zk/Ter4GNviXSI/AAAAAAAAAmY/DULGfFKVfpo/s1600/the%2Bglorious%2Bcross%2Bof%2Bjesus%2Bchrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaOTJu1Q6Zk/Ter4GNviXSI/AAAAAAAAAmY/DULGfFKVfpo/s320/the%2Bglorious%2Bcross%2Bof%2Bjesus%2Bchrist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Sin is something that every person that has ever walked on this planet has experienced, it's what makes us human, and God who He is. Jesus Christ was the only One to ever stay completely absent from sin his entire life. A perfect example. When he died on the cross and let out his last words saying 'It is done' it was done for the sin of every person in every nation for the rest of time on this earth. Thank God that we no longer have to sacrifice lambs to cleanse us of our sins, because of Jesus's sacrifice, we have a direct line to God's ear by opening our mouth and praying, he see's all and hears all anyways, and he listens when we pray. When we pour out our sinful life before him and ask for his forgiveness and to give us a clean start, he will wipe out sins away and cast them as far as from the east is from the west, it is washed away for ever!! PRAISE THE LORD! What an amazing love that he has for us! This is the gospel, to every lost soul that has many sins that may seem unforgivable, Jesus Christ has given his blood and can take our stained and dirt covered clothes and turn them into shining white robes! Get down on your knees and plead out your sins to God, He WILL forgive every one of them, and cleanse your spirit and give you a fresh start. Praise God.<br />
Sometimes we spend too much time focused on our own realm of life, our concerns and our trails. We easily forget that we are in a world of lost sinners, and without someone pointing the way to salvation, they will die in there sins and burn in hell for eternity. I urge you all, remember those that are lost, stay strong in the faith and represent our Lord and Savior as a shining example, and every time you get the chance to talk to anyone, be it the girl at the gas station, or the person at the checkout in the grocery store, or anyone you meet, tell them that Jesus Christ came to cleanse sin, give them a gospel track. At first you might be a little embarrassed, but the more you fall in love with Jesus and his Words the easier it will be! For years I watched my father tell almost everyone he meet about Jesus Christ, and hopefully someday I will be as experienced as he is at sharing the gospel. Jesus Christ is coming! Are you ready? <b><i>Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. </i>(Matthew 24:35-41)</b><br />
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May God bless you all and give you grace today in Jesus's Name, Amen.<br />
<br />
Abigail Prudence<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-23891846453937588732011-04-10T22:16:00.000-05:002011-04-10T22:36:47.037-05:00College article to mull over while I'm gone :)Hey everyone! I thought I would repost this for you all, since I will be gone for a while. God Bless you All!<br />
<strong>What's Wrong With Going to College?</strong><br />
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This is going to be pretty long, but just hang in their with me.<br />
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<strong>There are a lot of young girls </strong>who think that the first thing that should come to your mind after you finish your basic education at high school is to run off to college. Let me start this report by saying, this is not true. The primary reasons behind this misconception are: <br />
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1, most parents think their daughter needs a good job that earns good money, and to do so, she needs to have a proper education, which cannot be gained by home schooling or other means. <br />
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2, Most people think that if you don’t attend a college you will never get a job and are therefore an outcast in some societies. First, we have to ask ourselves the question, why do I have to be this great person, have a career and be successful in the eyes of our modern culture? Let’s see what God has to say about the matter. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5) Let’s examine this verse; my usual question when I read just about any verse in the Bible is, what is God trying to say? The first thing I do when I have this question is go to my father and asked him what it means, after I know what it means I can write reports about what I have learned as I am doing so now. In this verse God is saying, first of all, that the older women needs to be in good behavior, not drunk with much wine, not gossipers (false accusers) and that they are knowledgeable about good biblical principles. The next thing He says is that the older, more learned women should teach the younger women. He wants the younger women of each generation to know how to: love their future husband, love their children, have good manners, be fully capable of taking of care of every aspect of home living, and to be willing to obey their own husband so the word of God will not be blasphemed.<br />
Let’s take this verse one-step at a time. <br />
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1, the older women are to know godly principals and are to teach the younger women these topics. <br />
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2, He wants young girls to be sober, meaning to be in a clear state of mind, not drunk or under the influence of any other mood altering substances.<br />
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3, the next thing He says to young girls is that they are to love their husbands. To love a husband the way God wants us to, does not require the training that millions of young girls get from the following: dating, free sex, and being away from your father for very long periods of time, all of which are freely available at almost every college. To properly love a husband, you must train yourself, by serving your father in helping him accomplish his goals for most of your youth, as a young woman in your father’s home. It’s amazing how many different skills that can be acquired just by helping your father in every way you can.<br />
The first book of the bible tells us that it is “not good” for man to be alone. He needs a helper. In fact he was designed by God to need a wife & helpmeet. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. That was Eve’s job, to help Adam. Since it is clear that men need a helper, wouldn’t it make sense that they have the most capable & skilled helper possible? So, it makes since that Eve would be very capable and skilled. I think we can all agree on that. But what was she supposed to do with these skills? She was supposed to pour all of her skills, talent and beauty into Adam. She was there for him. So, you have to ask yourself, are you going to run off to college to gain skills and knowledge that are going to be used to help another man in his vision, or are you going to train yourself in helping your father accomplish his vision while you are still at home? It’s a choice that every girl will face after finishing their high school education. If you do chose to stay at home helping your family, you will be criticized for it, people expect you to run to college, they don’t expect you to care about your father’s vision. But as a Christian girl that wants to make a difference, you might think that you will accomplish more by gaining a college education. But is that really true? Are you really fulfilling God’s plan for your life by going to college? God created a woman to never leave her father’s protection until the day that she marries; do you think that being away from him in a none Christian atmosphere for months on end is being under his protection? And how can you learn to be his servant and helper if he is far away? All of these questions you will face, so think about it now, and start helping your father now, rather than later. A few sentences ago, we mentioned the topic of “God’s plan for your life”. Let’s call that “God’s Will” for your life.<br />
The following passage, in Paul’s first epistle to Timothy, clearly spells out “God’s will” for younger women: “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 1Timothy 5:14<br />
So, it seems quite clear that it’s God’s plan for young women to marry and raise children. And the bible even tells us what kind of children, in Malachi 2:15, he explains that one of the primary reasons that he created the husband and wife union was for them to have righteous, faithful Christian, God-fearing children. This desire of Gods is further amplified by the Prophet Isaiah, when he states: And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13<br />
So, how are these children going to “get godly”? How are they going to be “taught of the Lord”? Whose lap will they sit on, to hear about the powerful miracles of Jesus, and who will read them the sweet little edifying stories, on their way to bed? And who will be there to protect them from the evil bombardments of this present world and it’s media? Who will help nourish their little, growing bodies with nutritious home cooked food, and not the processed garbage that most youth pour into their systems like a river. The answer is YOU! And who will mend their torn clothes, when they fall down while riding their bikes? YOU. So, you can see that it’s going take some training to be ready for this “helpmeet” job. Who will be there, throughout their little girls lives, to show THEM what a Christian mother “looks like”, and how to honor your husband, and how to cheerfully clean a bathroom, or do dishes, or iron clothes, or all the nuances of planting, nourishing and harvesting a garden, so that they will be able to have affordable fresh veggies for their husband in the years to come. The list goes on and on – but you can see, again that the mothering part of this helpmeet job is huge. So, as we get back to the point of this article, Will college help you get ready for this? Do they offer Christian Mothering 101, and 202 and 303? As we get back to our list in Titus chapter 2, of what the older women are to teach the younger women.<br />
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4, Love your children, that’s the next thing on the list. Love is something that is never ending; if you are one of God’s children he will love you forever (unless you fall into sin & do not repent, but that’s another topic.) Anyways, what I am trying to say is this, God said children, he didn’t say no children or child. He also says in other sections of the bible that children are a blessing from God to the wife and husband, Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. God wants us to have a very positive outlook on children and not try to get rid of them or to only have one and then say I’m done with this. God will give some women 10 children, while others only 1 or 2. The number doesn’t matter, just embrace whatever number of children God gives you. Unfortunately what a lot of young girls have done is get an abortion, which is murder. God created woman to have children, we should embrace this gift with open arms. <br />
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5, Here it tells women to be discreet. In other words God wants us girls to be decent, you know, not wild and untamed like so many college age girls are these days. And one of main reasons girls are like this is because they are around other girls that are very bad influences, and it will rub off badly on you and before you know it you are a child of the world and no longer a child of God. <br />
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6, Chaste, usually when this word is used the Bible it means that we are supposed to be chaste in conversation & dress. Meaning that we watch what we say and are slow to speak. Not a blabbermouth or into the latest gossip about so & so, or a showgirl in clothing. I will cover the topic of modesty in another section. Basically God wants young girls to watch what we say and when we do speak, it needs to be intelligent and well founded. <br />
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7, <strong>Keepers at home</strong>. What do you think college is doing for your homemaking skills and learning practical things that you will need everyday when you are married? Our society thinks that if you don’t have the proper education (which can only be gained at a college) you won’t be going anywhere in this world. I try to remind myself quickly that we just have to live in this world, not be a part of it. God’s original rule was that the girl would be protected by a man all her life. When a girl goes out from under her father’s protection, usually around the age of 17, 18 or 19, bad things almost always happen. Also, these are the tender years when character really develops in a young woman and she makes the transition between girl and woman. The environment you are in when this takes place will dramatically influence your behavior & beliefs for the rest of your life! This is not the time to be out with girls that have been trained by the ways of the devil and this world all their life and young men who may be physically attractive, but ultimately extremely dangerous to a young girl. Also in this stage of a girl’s life her hormones are going bonkers, and being around good-looking guys that are not interested in God is, well, not recommended. <br />
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8, one of the last sections of this verse tells us girls to be good. Think about that for a minute. What does good mean? To be in good obedience to your parents, good modest apparel, good attitude, and if possible not lose your innocence which is almost impossible when attending a college. Now, God did tell us that we aren’t perfect, Jesus was the perfect One, but he also said, “Be ye thou perfect,” We are going to fall and have temptations, but the stronger we are in Christ and character the less likely this will happen. Correct me if I’m wrong, but what kind of things will you be learning at college? If you are a Christian you are going to be constantly trying to walk the Jesus walk and learn and study things that will glorify Him. Do you think that the public school and even the Christian school systems really has your best interest in mind? Isn’t it interesting that they make sure that they tell us everything we need to know about sex, evolution and finding yourself. But if you look at what college has to offer and on the one side, and then you look at what skills you can gain by being in your father’s house helping him in his endeavors and learning real things that you will need after marriage. Does a young woman need a Business Degree, what do you think that’s for? To run off to work every morning and serve another man, not your husband, in his business endeavors. Also if a girl works she’s carrying the double curse. In the beginning, after the woman fell for Satan’s lie and ate the apple because she wanted to be like God, He gave Adam the curse of bearing the work load and providing for the family, and the curse he gave to the woman was bearing children. If a woman runs off to work she does not only have to bear children, take care of them and her husband, she also has to provide for the family by going to work in a environment, most of the time does not have the Christian based atmosphere in mind. It all goes back to what your personal goal is. If you want to be a ‘career woman’ or have a ‘ministry’ you are without a doubt carrying the double curse. God’s plan for young women is a beautiful, extraordinary thing but so many of us have decided that we don’t really need to train to be a wife and mother, and who really cares of you can’t cook that well, or sew, or take care of children etc. Every single one of these things you will face when you are married. As a young woman you need to study the bible, find out what God says to train on with your father and mother and practice these things. <br />
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Now, earlier I mentioned I was going to <strong>talk about modesty</strong>. This is a very important topic, the way a girl dresses says a lot about what kind of woman she is. If a young girl wears a tank top and short shorts, what kind of message do you think she is trying to send? Either she thinks that it’s just fashion, or she wants to get attention from guys, which (or should I say witch) is mostly the case. God says the way women dresses will mess with a guy’s head, and if you are responsible for some of that sin that he commits, you will carry some sin also. Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. It is a very dangerous thing to play with the way you dress. Unfortunately, a lot of girls don’t view it from this vantage point and are carrying a lot of sexual sin around. Even just the little things will make a guy think, when you wear a shirt and your bra sticks out of the corner, sometimes that triggers a reaction in a man’s mind. We really have to watch the way we dress, it is extremely important. What I’m trying to say is this, when you are getting ready in the morning to represent yourself to the world, think about choosing that long skirt and blouse, instead of that cute skin tight T-shirt and that pair of skinny blue jeans. Just think about it, do you feel differently depending on how you dress? I know I do. I feel more beautiful when I do chose that long skirt, instead of those tight blue jeans that don’t really fit anymore but you wear them anyways. You know what I’m talking about, choose the latter. Don’t be another slut, there are plenty of those, instead stand out and make people think, “she looks like a beautiful young lady” instead of, “wow, she’s hot” at some point you have to make the decision. It’s your choice, how do you want to be perceived by the world?<br />
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<strong>God Bless Texas, Prudence</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-12245732030437211602011-04-03T18:47:00.003-05:002011-04-03T18:49:39.021-05:00Computer break :)Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been posting many articles, we have been so busy with the move and all :) My family has decided that we are taking a month to two month break on all computer activities, so I won't be here to answer questions, or write articles, for that amount of time. When I am on again, I will definitely let you all know! :D <br /><br />God Bless,<br />Abigail<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-91265731727233104962011-03-13T14:57:00.005-05:002011-03-13T16:43:25.588-05:00Finally back home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV55wEXNyR8/TX06aYp4BBI/AAAAAAAAAlE/cA4HIm-R-9U/s1600/1940%2527s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV55wEXNyR8/TX06aYp4BBI/AAAAAAAAAlE/cA4HIm-R-9U/s200/1940%2527s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583683337978381330" /></a>Hi everyone, thank you so much for waiting for me to move. My family and I had a safe trip back to Texas and we all like the house. So, now that I am set up, I will try to work on an article for you all. In the mean time I have been reading a book that we unpacked recently. It's called, 1940's, and it is mostly a picture book of footage taken from WWII, it is very fascinating. The full title of the book is called the Hulton Getty Picture Collection 1940's. Seeing so many images of war makes you think about how blessed we are to not be in a war. Out of 600,000 Jews captured, only 60,000 of them survived through the war, that's 90% dead. Millions and millions of people died all over the world for the freedom of others. Thank God for the freedoms that we sill have. Let's try not to forget the sacrifices that all those soldiers made for us and our nation. :) <br /><br />May God Bless and keep you all,<br />Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-51202281343716766392011-02-27T00:34:00.001-06:002011-02-27T13:26:10.588-06:00tagHigh heels or Boots? Depends on where I am going, I like both!<br />What time did you get up this morning? around 9<br />What was the last movie you saw at the cinema? Iron Man 2<br />What is your name? Abigail<br />What is you favorite TV show? <br />What do you usually have for breakfast? cereal or eggs & potatoes. <br />What is your middle name? Prudence<br />What food do you dislike? Fish<br />What is your favorite CD at the moment? Classic Sinatra 1953-1960<br />Favorite clothing? anything that is bright turquoise blue<br />Anywhere in the world on vacation? Australia<br />Are you an organized person? Yes<br />Where will you retire to? If I live that long by God's grace, somewhere nice with my husband.<br />What was your most recent memorable birthday? 13<br />What are you going to do after you finish this? Go to sleep <br />What is your Birthstone? Garnet<br />Person you expect to publish this first? I don't know<br />When is your birthday? January<br />Are you a morning person or a night person? Both<br />What is your shoe size? 9/half or 10<br />Do you own any pets? yes, 4<br />Any news you would like to share? I parted my hair to the side recently<br />When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up? owner of a bakery<br />What is your favorite flower? White rose<br />What is a day on the calender you are looking forward to? September 1<br />If you were a crayon what color would you be? bright blue<br />How is the weather right now? cold and wet<br />Last person you spoke to on the phone? Dad<br />Favorite drink? Rootbeer or sweet ice tea with lemon<br />Favorite Restaurant? <br />Hair color? Brown<br />What was your favorite toy as a child? don't remember <br />Summer or Winter? Summer<br />Choclate or vanilla? Chocolate <br />Coffee or Tea? both, but mostly tea <br />Wish you were still young? I'm only 16! :D<br />Do you want your friends to publish this? Sure<br />When was the last time you cried? A few days ago<br />What is under your bed? Nothing, my bed contacts the floor<br />What did you do last night? sleep, dream, ect.<br />What are you afraid of? Great White sharks <br />Salty or Sweet? both, <br />Best Quality you have? not sure,<br />Favorite day of the week? Wednesday or Saturday <br />What friend will you tag? Sarah Grace<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-88050292105075656332011-02-26T14:17:00.010-06:002011-02-26T14:41:17.181-06:00Once Again, I'm Moving!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YcWR8vEbiDQ/TWllMiVgHRI/AAAAAAAAAk0/ur9_cMnCihs/s1600/we%2Bare%2Bmoving.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YcWR8vEbiDQ/TWllMiVgHRI/AAAAAAAAAk0/ur9_cMnCihs/s200/we%2Bare%2Bmoving.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578100879524896018" /></a>Hello everyone! Thank you to all my readers of my blog, I love seeing how many hits my articles get and I LOVE your comments, thank you so much for following my blog. I wanted to tell you all that it might be a while till I write my next article, right now I am in the process of moving once again. This is the fourth move I've made, this time I am going back to Texas again. Texas is my hometown, but right now I am in Missouri, and I will be back in San Antonio in 5 days. Thank you all for reading my writing and posts, I love you all and I can't wait to write another article for you!<br /><br />May God bless and keep you all!<br />Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-31652089733236831732011-02-09T16:17:00.007-06:002011-02-09T17:20:16.426-06:00Contentment ~ Could it be Sin?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TVMUMTzrecI/AAAAAAAAAkU/FBFVyfxta80/s1600/contentment%2Bcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TVMUMTzrecI/AAAAAAAAAkU/FBFVyfxta80/s200/contentment%2Bcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571819365695453634" /></a>So, this is the last of the 4 books in the Godly Woman's Adornment set. Contentment, so far I really like this book, just like all of the other books, a lot of wonderful words of encouragement, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Contentment ~ Could it be Sin?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">J</span>oshua knew better, of course. He knew that God had brought the Israelites into the Promise Land to bless them, not to destroy them. But he was frustrated because they had just lost what should have been an easy-to-win battle against the Amorites. What was God doing? <br /> We find ourselves in similar situations from time to time, and when we do, we, too, are baffled about what God is up to. We are careful to follow God's ways, and we believe his promises, and yet our circumstances are just not working out. In the midst of his discouragement, Joshua wished he had never taken his preceding steps of risky faith. How much easier life was before! In the moment he forgets that trust in God's faithfulness and his joy in the Promised Land are obliterated by one defeat.<br /> Our contentment evaporates just as quickly when things go wrong in our lives. We begin to think back on an easier time, a time that, while perhaps not perfect, held a lot less pressure.<br /> For Joshua, the Promised Land was surely much nicer than the wilderness, but at least in the wilderness someone else-Moses-had been in charge. now Joshua was leading the Israelites, and the weight of the Amorite defeat fell squarely on his shoulders. but God had a reason for the defeat, and rather than allowing Joshua to wallow in misery, he answered his cry. "Get up!" the Lord said. "why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned.... There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you" Joshua 7:10, 13). Unbeknownst to Joshua, an Israelite named Achan had failed to follow God's express orders to destroy all the treasures, the "devoted things," taken from their enemies in battle. Achan kept back a little of these riches for himself, and his secretive act was what had brought great trouble on the entire Israelite army.<br /> Could our present trial be the result of sin? If so, we won't have to look far to find it. We don't have to engage in endless speculation about what our sin might be; God is always willing to show us our sin. Sometimes, though, we refuse to see it, or we minimize it. "Well, I am still struggling to give up that bad habit, but it's such a little thing. How could that have anything to do with my difficulty?" But God does not ask us to connect all the dots. He just asks us to be obedient. If there is a connection, God will make it, just like he did with Joshua. Maybe there is a connection between our unrepentant sin and our difficulty, and maybe not. The point isn't to figure out if there is a connection and then to obey-it is simply to obey. We cannot rightly ask for or expect to be restored to a place of peace and to see God's blessings on our lives if we are treating sin lightly.<br /> Are you finding your circumstances frustrating right now? If so, God has a good reason. Perhaps it is his way of getting you to deal with your sin. Rather than turning back to an easier time in your life, turn to God and examine your heart. he will gladly show you sin that you may be harboring. He showed Joshua, and Joshua purged out the wrong with no delay. Afterward victory against the Amorites came easily.<br /><br />God Bless you all,<br />Abigail Prudence<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-37963358428713370232011-01-30T11:58:00.006-06:002011-02-27T13:37:52.264-06:00Trust Devotion ~ The What-If Woman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TUYJ6hBAb0I/AAAAAAAAAkA/8d4KhuYWy64/s1600/trust%2Bcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TUYJ6hBAb0I/AAAAAAAAAkA/8d4KhuYWy64/s200/trust%2Bcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568148890189852482" /></a><br />This is a chapter from the next devotion book, Trust. It is one of the three books written by Lydia Brownback in the Godly Woman's Adornment series.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The <span style="font-style:italic;">What-If</span> Woman</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">M</span>any of us are <span style="font-style:italic;">what-if</span> women. What-if women spend a good deal of energy and time worrying not only about what might happen and about what they should say and do, but also about what others think about what they say and do. <br /> "What if I lose my job in the upcoming round of lay-offs?"<br /> "What if I can't conceive?"<br /> "I just can't get to the part next week. What if Sally never invites me again?"<br /> Such worry about what may happen is fruitless. Think about it: our hovering over a situation cannot actually prevent the thing we are worried about from happening. The what-ifs can begin the moment we wake up and often last right on through the day. But God doesn't want us to be what-if women. What-iffing not only zaps our energy, it also indicates a lack of trust in God's wise and loving control over our affairs. He who cares to number every hair on our heads-something not even the vainest of us bothers to do - cares much more about our trusting him with the upkeep of our homes, our health, our mobility, and our relationships with other people. Since he not only cares about these things but is also able to do something about them, he wants us to leave the ordering to him.<br /> When we trust God to run our lives, we find that we are free to enjoy him and other people-free to live and love, because He is taking care of things. We are designed to glorify God and enjoy him, not to spend our energies worrying about the details of daily life or fearing the pain of major crises. He will always supply what he knows we really need for every circumstance we face. Freedom from fear comes from believing that. It comes also from opening our hearts to embrace God's supply, even if his supply differs from what we think we need.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86143440030248404.post-54126593452286573082011-01-24T16:34:00.011-06:002011-01-25T14:45:31.005-06:00Purity Devotion ~ A Pure Heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TT3-xbtsmpI/AAAAAAAAAj4/qGdQW5yBrWI/s1600/purity%2Bcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Sfu55OcMLwk/TT3-xbtsmpI/AAAAAAAAAj4/qGdQW5yBrWI/s200/purity%2Bcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565884839706270354" /></a> Here it is! My first purity devotion post. I will be rotating through the four different books every few days :) Thank you all for supporting these devotion posts. Enjoy! <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">W</span>e don't hear the word purity much today except in descriptions of cleaning agents and snow covered landscapes. We do hear the word spoken more frequently in the Christian community, but usually only as it applies to sexual purity. We have lost sight of all it means to be pure as God intended. So what does it mean? Purity is much more than moral behavior. Purity is first and foremost a matter of the heart. To be pure is to be single-minded. It is to have a single goal, a single focus, and a single purpose for ourselves and our lives. That is biblical purity, and from it springs moral behavior - the good we do with our bodies. At its core, purity is having a heart for the Lord that isn't watered down or polluted by lesser things. <br /> The apostle James wrote, <span style="font-style:italic;">Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.</span> (James 4:8) According to James, a double-minded woman spends her passion going after what this world offers. In contrast, Jesus describes a very different sort of passion: <span style="font-style:italic;">Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.</span> (Matthew 22:37-38). Elsewhere Jesus attaches a promise to purity: <span style="font-<br />style:italic;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God</span> Matthew 5:8). To see God is to know the joy of living in close relationship with him. To see him is also to enjoy Spirit-filled, biblically guided direction and guidance for all of life. A woman who is pure in this way realizes an ever-increasing ability to rightly apply God's Word to the little day-to-day things.<br /> Putting Christ first i the essence of purity. That is why Jesus words in the beatitude, <span style="font-style:italic;">"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,"</span> are the starting point for any woman who is serious about being pure But the beatitude is not only our starting point; it is also the place to end. Jesus' words form a basis for the kind of purity that will endure for a lifetime. Viewing purity from a biblical perspective takes our understanding of what it means to be pure beyond mere outward conduct to a whole new level - a deeper level. And if we approach purity as Jesus describes it, we will discover that our battle to be pure in body, as well as in mind and spirit, comes much more easily.<br /> We women struggle, often with little success, to master particular sins - outward displays of impurity. Perhaps that's because we have been trying to clean up our act while failing to see the impurity of our heart. What are we to do? We can't clean our own heart. besides, the extent of its dirt and sin is beyond our comprehension. A heart is made pure as Christ washes and cleans it. I once heard someone pray, "Lord wash my heart." That's a good prayer. But becoming pure in heart doesn't end with prayer. It comes as we lean on grace. It comes as we acknowledge our utter inability to become pure women and our need for Christ to make us clean and to purify us through and through. Putting Christ first takes care of everything else. <br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />God bless you all, and may the Lord give you grace as you try to put him first :) <br />Abigail Prudence<br />~~~~~~~~~<div class="blogger-post-footer">Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman
that feareth the LORD,she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30)</div>Abigail Pruencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800046676445361447noreply@blogger.com3