His Way is Perfect

Have you ever exerted a lot of time and effort into a project to surprise someone special? I usually find much enjoyment in crocheting afghans and baby blankets for gift-giving; however, one afghan in particular came to a point - well over halfway through - where the enjoyment was mixed with obstacles. I was following a mile-a-minute pattern (which means you make multiple strips and then join them together to create a full-size blanket). I had progressed quite smoothly up until I got to the joining rows. I began crocheting the first two strips together, but they wouldn't lie flat like they should have. Instead, much to my dismay, they were very rippled. I pulled out all the joining stitches, then tried joining them more loosely. They still rippled. So I tried a different stitch to join them instead of what the pattern suggests. Yet, when I laid it out, flat is something it was not. I tried another way and another way - those didn't work either. For hours, I tried every joining stitch I could possibly think of. Between attempts I would go back and look at the pattern to see if there was something I missed; I studied the pictures, too. I couldn't find anything. I called my aunt who had taught me most of my crocheting skills; maybe she would have an idea. She, too, suggested different stitches. Sadly, I had already tried them all. Alas! No avail! Nothing seemed to be working. Rather than use the yarn for something else or give up entirely, I decided to set it aside until I felt I could come back and take a fresh look at the pattern and the problem.

I had quite expected months to go by before I would tackle it, so I actually looked at the pattern book much sooner than I thought I would - only a few weeks had passed. I had been organizing and figured it wouldn't hurt to take one last quick glance before filing it with other patterns that aren't currently in use. Anyway, I decided to study the pictures again, then took a even closer second look at the not-so-close "close-up" picture. Indeed, this time something in the picture caught my eye. So I re-read the segment of the instructions which was in question. Sure enough! There was some wordage that could be interpreted two ways (and, apparently, I picked the wrong way). Yet I needed set the afghan aside until I would have the time to undo and redo all of those strips right now to the center section. Almost 6 months later, I finally was able to pick it back up and complete it. While I had it all apart, I decided to also increase the length. I really like how it turned out - and finished with just enough time for it to make the perfect gift for my brother's 19^th birthday.

All the while as I sat there trying to figure out what was wrong, I also thought of God's will for His children. His will for our lives is much different than the crochet pattern I was following, yet I noticed similarities as well. While anyone who uses that pattern will have an afghan much like the one I made, God has a specific plan for each individual. Your life will not be like that of others because He has made you to be special and unique. My crochet pattern came with start-to-finish directions, but God gives us guidance as we go. You see, as long as we follow Him, there is no way for us to mess up because He won't steer us wrong. The Lord doesn't bombard us with things that can be easily misinterpreted, neither will He ever give us more than we can handle at a single moment - He promises that. Better than having beginning-to-end instructions, we have the Bible (the inspired Word of God) to show us the way. Even better than having a picture of a finished afghan for an example, all we need to know is that our lives will look more like Jesus in the end. So one more thing: Just as I liked how the afghan turned out and thought the work of my hands to be beautiful, He will be pleased with us and our lives will be beautiful in His sight when we are obedient to Him and His Word.

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)

The Perfect Valentine

Have you ever noticed there is an acrostic in John 3:16? I didn't until someone showed it to me. And so I would also like to share it with you.

His love for you is even so much more than a just a simple valentine. Why? Because it was a complete offering of Himself when He gave His life for you. There can never and will never be a love that equals His love for us.

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

~I John 4:9-10

Hearing someone say "I love you" is nice, but how much better it is when someone shows you they love you by their actions - it shows they really mean it. The Lord didn't just say "I love you", He showed us by laying down His life for us on the cross. Now that's true love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Divine Love

During this time of year when "love" is in the forefront, I would like to encourage you all to think on the greatest love-gift of all time.  God offers everyone salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  It took His death on the cross to pay the price for our sin and His resurrection from the grave to conquer death.  He willingly did this for you, and He willing did this for me.

Several weeks ago I had the honor of singing a couple of songs at a dear lady's funeral who passed away at the age of 90.  Her countenance had been so bright and joyful, even when her health was far from its best.  Yet as joyful as she was on a daily basis, you could always tell when she was thinking or speaking of her loved ones and her (our) loving Lord because her countenance glowed.  When she asked me over a year ago to sing on the day of her funeral, she spoke of how she wanted the songs to reflect her happiness in going home to be with Jesus, of all that He did for her, and what He can do for anyone who accepts Him as their Lord.  And, truly, the joy she had in her daily life came from Jesus Christ her Lord.  The following is one of the songs she chose.  It's a song that clearly speaks of God's love for all of mankind.

 

 

              He the Pearly Gates Will Open

Love divine, so great and wondrous,

Deep and mighty, pure, sublime!

Coming from the heart of Jesus,

Just the same through tests of time.

He the pearly gates will open,

So that I may enter in;

For He purchased my redemption

And forgave me all my sin.

Like a dove when hunted, frightened,

As a wounded fawn was I;

Brokenhearted, yet He healed me,

He will heed the sinner’s cry.

He the pearly gates will open,

So that I may enter in;

For He purchased my redemption

And forgave me all my sin.

Love divine, so great and wondrous,

All my sins He then forgave!

I will sing His praise forever,

For His blood, His power to save.

He the pearly gates will open,

So that I may enter in;

For He purchased my redemption

And forgave me all my sin.

In life’s eventide, at twilight,

At His door I’ll knock and wait;

By the precious love of Jesus

I shall enter Heaven’s gate.

He the pearly gates will open,

So that I may enter in;

For He purchased my redemption

And forgave me all my sin.

 

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

~Romans 6:23

Satiated?

Several years ago, while I was observing the world around me, I decided to write my observations down in a poetic style. Though time has passed since then, and though the world has changed, there are some things that stay the same. One thing that remains is the search for something that will satisfy your life - and that is something each and every individual seeks. And with that, there is one Answer that will truly satiate (fully satisfy) that desire for one and all!

The poem:

Satiated?

Upon this earth, I have noticed,
But one common thing among man.
People are always taking.
Taking.
Always trying to get more for themselves.
Enough to satiate their desires.
But when it comes to the one thing
That will truly satisfy their very being
They reject it.
They won’t accept it.
It is cast aside like a worn-out rag.
But it is the only thing
That can satisfy to overflowing
Their wants, desires, and all else they could ever ask for.
It cannot be found in ads or magazines -
It is a gift!
Free.
And yet they refuse
This gift from the one true Giver -
The Giver of all, even life itself.
A gift of love.
Given far beyond what anyone ever has.
A gift so great it could never be matched.
He gave His only Son.
A Son that was born on earth,
Lived a perfect life,
Then gave His life for me.
He paid the penalty for my sin
Through His death.
And gave me life everlasting
Through His resurrection.
This gift is for all.
Yet so many will not receive it.
They reject it -
Even despise it.
But this gift of love still remains.
And the Giver awaits with open arms.
For anyone that will accept His priceless gift.

People search for all sorts of things trying to find something to give them an inner happiness. Is your hope in something temporary? If so, all pleasure is sure to fade and soon enough the search will continue. Or are you trusting in the One that can satiate your soul now and throughout eternity - Jesus Christ? Have you accepted this matchless gift? It's yours if you but ask Him.

 

Who Will Take the Son?

Recently, someone e-mailed a story to me that I recognized to be one of the many that my father told to me as I was growing up (though it has been years since I last heard it). It is said to be a true story; however, even if it isn't, it's a very good picture of God's gift to us. And so I would like to share it with you.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. A few months later, a knock came on the door. A young man stood there with a package in his hand.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not much of an artist, but I painted this portrait of your son, and I would like to present it to you."

The father gingerly opened the package. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh no, sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the picture above his mantle. Every time a guest would come, before he would show him all the famous works of art, he would always take him to the fireplace and show him the picture of his son.

Later when the father died, there was a great auction of all these paintings. Many wealthy people assembled to look at these priceless works. The first painting presented by the auctioneer was the picture of the son. The auctioneer said, "We are going to begin the auction today by selling the picture of the son. Who will take the son? Do I hear a bid? $100? $200?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We are not interested in that painting. We want to see the great masters!"

The auctioneer responded, "Well, this is the one that we have to sell first. Who will give me $100?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

By now people were beginning to fidget a little bit and become agitated. They cried, "Come on, let’s get on with it!"

The auctioneer said, "No, we must sell this painting first. The son! The son! Who will take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

The auctioneer said, "$10? Who will give me $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. "Come on, sell him the painting. Let’s get on with the auction!" they cried.

Finally, the auctioneer said, "$10 going once, $10 twice, the son... sold for $10," and he struck his gavel. Then he laid the gavel down and he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I need to tell you this auction is now over."

The place broke out in pandemonium and they were shouting, "What do you mean the auction is over?"

"I was not allowed to reveal this stipulation until this time," the auctioneer explained. "Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"

Think of the gardener's delight.

The Heavenly Father gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like our story's father, God's desire is still: "My Son, My Son, who will know the worth My Son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes His Son really gets everything - what money cannot buy and what death cannot take away: a personal relationship with Jesus, complete forgiveness, eternal life beginning the moment we believe.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
(I John 5:12)

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (I Corinthians 2:9)

Have you accepted His Son?

Have You Planned Ahead?

Just a few days ago, I wrote of a time for everything. Farther down in the passage of Ecclesiastes 3, it specifically speaks of a time for mourning and a time for death. "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance."

(Ecclesiastes 3:2 & 4)

The death of a loved one is always a sober reminder of how fragile life really is. Dear friends of our family are grieving over the passing of their father/grandfather. It was sudden; it was quick. It was just a moment in time. And now his soul has left this world where time is so important and has entered into a place where time is no more: eternity. My heart goes out to them, weeping with them.

I'm sure most - if not all - of us know what it's like to let go of someone we love. It's not easy. It hurts. And we miss them terribly!

Thinking on what my friends are going through has brought back so much of what I was feeling when my grandfather died. We were very, very close. And, because I know what they are going through, I ache for my friends all the more.

In the world's eyes, I am yet still young. But it occurred to me that the older you become the more death that is around you. As a child, the death of a friend or relative was a rare thing. But as I have gotten older, so have those around me. Death... it's a sure thing. We will all die someday. Whether it's sooner or later, it's going to happen. We do not know the day nor the hour, but one day our "turn" will come. Oh, I know that some people think they won't - they say they're too stubborn or tough - but that doesn't change the fact that it will happen. Whether it's something we accept or not, we can't stop it, and there's no getting around it or past it.

I enjoy observing people, but it is with sadness that I do so at times such as this. I have noticed within my circle of fellow believers there are only 3 different responses when a loved one dies: 1) a confident hope of God's promise of heaven, 2) an uncertainty of what is yet to come, or 3) utter grief and despair. When someone dies who knows the Lord as their Saviour, born-again Christians know for sure that they will be together again, and, though they sorrow, can praise the Lord that the loved one is no more experiencing the pain and trials of this earth. But when someone dies trusting in good works or religious traditions, there is uncertainty. You see, religion - mine, yours, or anybody's - is like a well; a well that, when you get to it, you discover that it's dry. That's why Jesus referred to Himself as the Living Water. Believers can only hope (the wishful hope, not the confident hope) that the loved one turned to Jesus Christ during their last hours. The third response is complete hopelessness and grief as their loved one lived until the very end as if there is no God of the Bible. And those who know the Truth grieve because they know that the soul is lost forever.

As clearly as believers have these 3 responses, people who do not know the Truth can only try to comfort themselves by using phrases like "they're in heaven" and reach for anything the possibly can to still have a link to their loved one. Yet in reality, they don't feel the comfort those words should bring because in order to have that blessed peace of assurance we must receive Christ as Saviour.

Have you ever thought on what will happen to you after you die? There is life after death (in heaven), and, conversely, death after death (in hell). Do you know where you will go? Will you live forever after you die, or will you die the second death by burning forever in hell? It's something you don't have to wonder about; you need to be certain.

We plan for all sorts of things in life: for education, for leisure, for work, for retirement, for marriage, for family, for daily necessities, for future needs, for vacations, and on and on, but not everyone has planned for eternity. If you haven't, why wait? Death comes in an instant, and ofttimes accidents and other tragedies happen without any warning. There is no better time than right now to prepare for the moment our life on earth ends and eternity begins.

You never know when your life will end... Will you be ready when it does?

A Time for Everything

What better time to start a blog than at the start of a new year? I'm not exactly new to the blogosphere world, so if you're interested in reading previous entries, they can be found here. And, though, I have found it to be time to switch my main blog over to a different blogging community, I will still keep updating my old one as well. (However, it will only be a mirror of what I have here.)

Now, a bit of an introduction.

My name is Natilee.

My interests are very broad, ranging from mathematics & sciences to literatures & linguistics, from sports & recreations to history & genealogies, and just about everything in-between & around. Though I am not currently continuing my education in any sort of classroom setting, I do enjoy "studying" and furthering knowledge on my own time.

Speaking of time, now is a good time to mention what exactly it is that fills my days - and I must say my days are quite full. In short, baby sitting and care giving fill my time, but it really is much more than that. I'm the eldest child in my family of 7 - dad & mom, 2 brothers (ages 18 & 2), a sister (age 5), and my grandmother. My grandmother has Alzheimer's Disease which has caused her to lose the ability to do even many of life's simpler tasks, and now it has been almost 6 years of caring for her and her many needs. My mom homeschools my 2 siblings of age, so I spend some of my day assistant teaching as well.

I usually can manage to find some time during the day to put toward things less work related and more leisurely. During those moments, I enjoy reading and writing, monkeying with computers (repair, and a bit of java script and html), photography, sports (golf being my favorite), and games that require skills and/or strategies (i.e. chess).

I'd say that's enough about me for the time being. And in conclusion, I shall take just a few moments so as to give a brief explanation of my views and goals of the blog and to dedicate this and all future entries.

To me, this blog isn't just a place to put the everyday happenings in my life. Why not? Because 10-20 years from now, when I reflect upon my life, almost everything will seem so trivial. Then to what shall I devote this small spot? Something that will hold it's importance throughout the ages. Therefore, I am dedicating this as a tribute to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How? By sharing a verse or two from the Scriptures that has come to have special, deep meaning to me as I read His Word, or by sharing how He has been working in my life through using the circumstances that have come my way.

And I hope, though we may have never met, that the personal lessons I have learned may help you through life's troubles and trials, too.

May you all have a blessed new year!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

~Ecclesiastes 3:1