10 years ago today...

...I felt the Lord calling me to be a missionary.  I learned to trust Him then as a thirteen year old girl with my uncertain future and I am still learning to trust Him with it now!  The plans that I made as a girl were not always the plans that the Lord had for me, but in everything, His will is perfect and His plan is good.  I don't know exactly what the future holds for me, but I know that when God begins a work in a person, he will complete it (Philippians 1:6).  My Lord has been preparing me for the past ten years and I can't wait to see what the next ten hold!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thought of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Not Many Wise, Not Many Mighty, Not Many Noble

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption - that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord". "

-1 Corinthians 1:26-31

I have always loved the above verse.  
It amazes me that God, in all His righteousness and goodness and holiness, would use people like me in His kingdom work.  Even in our foolishness, God is working.  Even in our weakness, He is moving.  Even in our base lives, He is transforming.

As Matthew Henry states in his commentary:

"Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were chosen for the work of the ministry.  God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace.  Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the gospel.  Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the world.  But God seeth not as man seeth.  He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, men of mean birth, of low rank, of no liberal education to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church.    
His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor His ways as our ways. 
He is a better judge than we what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of His glory."

Singleness?

Hi everyone, remember me.  Oh yes, I'm still alive, just been really busy lately!  It's kidding season here on the farm so our feet have hit the floor running since December!  By kidding season, I mean baby goat kidding season, ...not joking around season, ...okay, you get it!

I have been reading a series of blog post which I thought some of you might find interesting.  You can read them for yourself over at Anna's blog HERE or you can click the links I've provided below. The following posts are about singleness and the thrills and joys therein!  Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

A Purpose for Everything

"EVERY experience God gives us,

EVERY person He puts in our lives,

is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."

~Corrie tenBoom

Something To Think About

“If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today,

 He would never have been crucified.”

--Leonard Ravenhill

A Wonderful Website

I recently found this lovely website....the Time-Warp Wife.  Okay, I know that it says the "Time-Warp WIFE" but I have found several of her posts to be quite helpful for family relationships in general, not to mention, some good information to store away for the day that I will hopefully be a wife and mother.

Another good one I've been reading recently is Club 31 Women which is a blog set up for women in all walks of life.  I have really been loving this one!  Some of her posts make you laugh, some make you think, and some challenge you.

So head on over and take a look at these two sites.  I think you'll be really glad you did!

Life After Homeschool

I get asked this question all the time....

"What do you do in all your spare time?"

My answer is always....

"What spare time?" 

( A laugh also accompanies it!)

Seriously, though, several young adults are graduating from Homeschool Highschool with no idea of what to do next, especially the young ladies, who, like myself, feel called to stay in the home under Dad's authority and learn to be keepers of the home.  Soooo...young ladies, this post is for you!

What Do I Do After Graduation?

Young ladies, life does not stop after you graduate.  As a matter of fact, that is actually when REAL LIFE starts.  Okay, okay, it starts with conception, but you know what I mean.  And you want to be let in a another secret....learning doesn't stop once you graduate either.  Or at least, it shouldn't.  When I graduated I had a list of things that I wanted to learn, but had never had the time to do so when I was in school.  My Mom's favorite saying is "You never stop learning" and it has proved to be quite true.

I've Got Plenty of Time!

For most of us, we will one day get married and have a family of our own and we aren't going to have the time to learn things like we do now.  Imagine being a young mother, with a crying baby on your hands, and a two year old you are trying to potty train, and trying to learn herbal remedies to keep your family healthy all at the same time!  It can be done, but why not learn now, while you have plenty of time!  So rent a book from the library, watch some YouTube videos, ask some professionals, take a few lessons and get learning.  

What About College?

Several girls think that since they don't have anything to do once graduated, they should continue on to college to get a degree in...a degree in...well...in something!  Why???  Now I'm not knocking college, because for some people it's right.  But for others, who only wish to get married and have a family some day, why waste money on a college degree when the only real reason you would be going is to have something to do while still at home!  Why not just find something to fulfill your time while still home.  Why not serve your family, since that is what you will be doing once you are married.  Now, I do know of some girls who live near a college and take some courses on something they are interested in.  Or sign up for an online college that is usually half the cost of a regular college in order to learn a skill that they have been wanting to learn, and that is okay too.  But if you have no idea how you are going to use a Business Administrators License in running the home, then why go for it in the first place?

How About Ministering?
Well, I'm so glad you asked! What about volunteering your time to help others?  There are several things out there that you could do to help minister to others, such as volunteer at your local pregnancy care center, make meals for a new, young mother, help clean house for a elderly church lady, write letters to the Christians prisoners in foreign countries,...the possibilities are endless!


Studying The Word
Right now is a wonderful time to dig deeper into God's word.  Anytime is a good time to dig deeper, but right now you have the extra time to be able to do so!  Spend time with God each day, reading, praying and simply listening to Him.

"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'"        -Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."              -Proverbs 3:5-6

Things To Learn

In case you can't find your thinking cap today here are a few ideas to help get you started, but there are several things that you could take up and learn:

-Play an instrument

-Calligraphy

-Painting

-Writing

-Practice schooling your siblings

-Cooking

-Baking

-Teaching an instrument

-Photography

-Herbal remedies

-Gardening

-Flower arrangements

-Simple repair work

-Soap making

-Sewing

-Preparing and getting the family groceries

-Foreign language

-and many, many more things!

So start now, don't waste your single years!  Start learning new things, developing new skills, and most important of all, deepening your relationship with your Lord and Savior!