Change of plans...

I realized Wednesday night that I can't really do this study and be fully accurate.  I will do it eventually when I am positive of my information though...

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do again...  But I will post personal things until I think of something.

Sorry guys!

-Emily

Where did Scripture come from/Who wrote the Bible?

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

We’ll start with looking at the word “all”.  All means “the whole quantity”.  So when it says all scripture, it means every word.  Inspiration of God, according to my King James Study Bible, means “God-breathed”.  God breathed the words of Scripture through the men that wrote the Bible.  

Something that our Sunday School teacher asked us was, “Did God inspire every single word, or did they just kind of write what they felt sort of thing?”  He wanted us to convince him of our answer, so back to the Bible we go.

The next phrase in 2 Timothy 3:16 is, “...[Scripture] is profitable for doctrine...”  If the Scripture is profitable for doctrine, that means it tells us what to believe.  Profitable is to be of service or advantage.  So we have the advantage of knowing what to believe.  Now, if the men who wrote the Bible just wrote about what they thought would save me, should I believe them?  Now if God inspired each and every word of the Bible, that is more comforting, knowing that God was the author of the Bible.

So we have covered the beginning of 2 Timothy 3:16, tomorrow we will finish the verse and look into verse 17 as well.

Thanks for reading!

-Emily

Resources : 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profit[2]

Introduction

We are first going to start off with how I decided to have this study theme.  A few weeks ago in youth group, our leader asked a few questions about the Holy Spirit.  We had to write our answers on a 3x5 card and hand it in for him to review.  He made the point that as Christians, we don't really know what we ought to.  We don't know our doctrine like we should.  We are to have an answer to any question someone (believer or non-believer) asks us.  If we don't have the answer we are to research it through the Bible and come up with an answer.  

He used the example of how my Uncle is a mechanic.  He said, "If I would go to his garage and ask him about something that I believe needs fixed on my car, and he doesn't know what it is, do you think I would want him working on my car?"  Same goes with us.  If we are labeled 'Christian', yet we don't know answers to basic questions, are people going to think we are real?

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Our Sunday School teacher asked us this question.  "Where did the Bible come from/who wrote the Bible?"  He wanted to know who wrote it, how they knew what to write, and all of that.  Well, Sunday he put us on the spot and asked us to answer the question.  I looked up 2 Timothy 3:16 which says, "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God..."  He asked me to explain it, and in the end he said I had a pretty decent answer.  

Through all of these questions about doctrine, I thought I should brush up on my knowledge and actually learn what I needed to know.  I had been praying that the Lord would show me how to use my blog, or what study I should do.  

I will be starting off with 2 Timothy 3:16 tomorrow.  I'm going to do my best with Greek language and meanings of words.  At the end of each post I will have a Resources section where I will post resources that I used to find my information.

I hope you all enjoy the study, and if you have any questions, just ask, and please leave comments so I know someone other than myself is benefitting from this study.

Thanks for reading!

-Emily

Memorial Day

Before I start my study, I thought I would post some pictures and tell you a little bit about my Memorial Day.My mom, brother, and I went to the Memorial Day service at the courthouse today with another family from our Church.  It was very good.  I thought there would be more people, but I would say around 200 or so people where there maybe.  More probably, I'm not good at rounding based on just seeing.  They had a few different things for the service, and then the parade.

 Here are some pictures...  

Somerset Band

Jesse, Chester Blank, and Levi

We met this man at the end.  His name is Chester Blank, he is 97 years old and he served on the USS Block Island.  The ship was torpedoed by Germany in 1944 on the Atlantic Ocean.  There were many people on the ship ( I can't remember the total ) but only 6 men died out of many.  He got around very well for 97 I thought!

Thank you Soldiers!

I think I figured it out.

Hey everyone! 

Good news, I believe I have found something to study on and post.  I have been praying a little about what the Lord wants me to do with my blog, and I believe He has given me the answer.  Your Wednesday night youth group leader has been telling us how we don't know our own doctrine very well.  We are to be ready at all times to answer a question that someone asks us.  If we don't know ourselves, it looks like we don't care.

So I am going to do a study on where we got the Bible, and then go through each member of the Trinity and Their characteristics.  

I'm hopefully going to start tomorrow with this since my school is done and room is clean.

Hope you all enjoy it!!

-Emily

Making Progress!!

Well, I am almost done cleaning my room.  I have a few things to go through yet, but it is practically clean!  I am soo excited!  Now I just need to keep it this way all summer!  

I'm going to start working on my blog either this evening or maybe tomorrow night.  I need to get my extra links up and really figure out where I'm going to go with it!  

Thanks for being patient!  

While you are waiting for me, check out my friend Molly's blog!

-Emily

Really slacking...

So I haven't posted everyday...  Uhm, I have such a hard time with this!!!  I am working on cleaning my room, and it is coming along.  The bookshelf is pretty much done, under my bed is clean, my desks are organized and at the same time holding piles of things that need to go places, my vanity is all clean, and now I just need to clean the closet and finish up my 'in progress' projects... 

Here's a picture of a flower I took yesterday.  I love these.

Not sure yet...

I haven't decided where I'm going to go with my blog.  It's actually a pretty hard decision for me.  I just don't know how I want to use it.  For now I will be posting just random things about what's going on in life.  I'm accepting to ideas for where to go with this!

Keep checking every day, I'll figure it out soon!

-Emily

Finally Back!

Hey everyone!!!

I am finally done with school!!!  I'm totally finished with high school!  I am now waiting on my diploma, which I should get in a week or two.  My graduation is coming up in June and I'll be sure to post pictures when that time comes.  I am currently working on cleaning my room and I'll try and put some pictures up of flowers in a couple days!  

I haven't totally decided what I'm going to blog on yet in the following days, but I'll leave that up to the Lord giving me ideas.  

Well, I best get back to cleaning my room!!  

I'll be posting daily again!

-Emily

Time for an update

It has been over a month since I have posted, and I hadn't posted regularly before that.

I will not be updating much now either, I'm working on getting school done.  I did want to let you all know that I got accepted to BJU!  So I will be going in the fall for sure!  I am so excited and can not wait! 

After I am done with school, hopefully before May, I will be posting on here regularly.  

-Emily

Update/Wedding Pictures

Hey everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I've been busy and in a little rut as well.  Pray for me if you think about it.  I have been working, and doing school, and just took on a babysitting job.  I'm also trying to get my photography career going.

Here are a few pictures from the wedding.  I'd post more, but my internet is stupid...and sorry they are not in the order I want them....I dislike this thing.

Weekend...

Well, I'm struggling with ideas for posting guys!  I need ideas!

I am going to be leaving tomorrow after work sometime to go to our cabin with my family and my cousins.  I'll be home on Sunday, but have plans for the evening, so I most likely won't be posting again until Monday...

That gives you guys 4 days to post ideas for blog posts!  Any questions you want me to answer about anything Biblical or personal, or whatever you want.  I'll be looking forward to seeing responses...

-Emily

Whoops...

Well, I know, I haven't posted in the last few days.  I've been kind of busy getting my last class finished up, working, and we had that special speaker this week, which we SHOULD be going to Church tonight as well to hear him one last time.  [Depends on this weather we're having...]

I met with a friend last night and she helped me a bit with ACT math stuff.  It was a good refresher, and it was nice getting out of the house and not having to work.

I'm kind of low on ideas of things to post, so if any of you have ideas, let me know!

-Emily

Financial Speaker

Yesterday at Church we had a financial advisor from South Carolina at our Church.  His messages were VERY good!  He talked more on how we are to be in Christ, and that how after we give everything to God, then we can continue to figure out what to do in these hard economical times.

He was a very good speaker!  I took lots of notes.  I thought about posting them on here, but I believe I should have his permission.  So I don't think I'm going to.

Today he has a full schedule of financial counseling sessions, and then an evening service.  Tomorrow he has sessions all day, in which one of them my mom and I are attending.  And Wednesday he is having more sessions, and a final wrap up message.

I'm very excited to get advice from someone who is in love with God, and can bring everything back to Him even in the economical hard times.

One thing I do want to mention that he was talking about is why America is failing.  We are failing because America as a whole has turned their backs on God.  We have abandoned Him, therefore He has waited long enough for us to change, so He is going to start letting go of us, as He already has.  

Well, I am kind of in a little rut of posting topics.  I plan on having something a little better tomorrow.

-Emily

Title

A few weeks back, someone emailed me about my blog.  She asked whether I meant for the "HIM" to be "h" or if it was to be "H".  I told her that it was to be "h" because I am posting here until I find the one and all of that.

But, I have been thinking recently, I am often times so wrapped up in dwelling on "him" rather than I am on "Him!"  So just for clarification, that is why I have changed it from "h" to "H."

Continue to enjoy reading!  

Also, if you have any ideas on a post, or a question you would like me to answer, just post a comment anytime and let me know!

-Emily

P.S. -  Sorry this post is so late.  I'm thinking Fridays are going to be later in the day because I work 8-3.

Almost there...Keep going!

So I am almost finished with my first semester of my senior year.  Senior year.  I have one last class to finish and one last VC of Italian tonight.  Then my first semester is over and I'm closer to my goal.  Graduating.  

When I was say....  6 or 7 and on, I just wanted to be done with school.  It wasn't my stronghold, I didn't have a lot of friends, and I struggled in some of my classes.  As I look back over the years it's amazing what I have learned, the friends I've had, and no longer speak to.  It reminds me of the verse in Ecclesiastes.  "Life is but a vapor."  That doesn't mean that it is empty and pointless, but it is very short.  

As I look on to my final semester ever of high school, I realize that it's almost over, I have to become an adult.  I don't think it is possible to understand the bittersweet feeling until this moment.  Last year when a few people I knew were graduating they were saying how it's such a weird feeling.  I kind of understood, because I was going into my last year after summer.  But I'm beginning to see what they meant.  

I need to start becoming and adult, understanding life, understanding other people, so I can be prepared for graduating.  After I graduate, that's it.  I have to know what I'm aiming at.  My ultimate goal as to be growing in Christlikeness, but I need to know what else I'm getting myself into.  I'm planning on going to college, I want to get married, and have children some day.  I'm at the time that all this is coming.  I dreamed about it my whole life, and it's right in front of me.

Such a bittersweet feeling.

-Emily

Exercise: Physical vs. Spiritual

Today marks the 2 week mark of myself getting up at 5:45-6am and exercising!  Out of all that time I relaxed only one of those days (thanks to achy body from helping Dan & Jen move in).

I was flipping through my blog ideas book and found this verse.  I thought it would be appropriate for today.

1 Timothy 4:8 says, "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

When I look at that verse I don't always understand it right away.  So today I looked at the notes for the verse.  It had a paraphrased version of the verse that kind of made it click in my mind.

It says, "For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness, the result of spiritual exercise, has unlimited value, since it brings blessings for both now and eternity."

I think that paraphrase sums the verse up pretty well.  Physical exercise, as valuable as it is for the here and now, will not last in eternity.  But spiritual exercise, such as reading your Bible, studying Scriptures, memorizing Scriptures, praying, attending Church services, learning from others, and multiple other exercises, are valuable now and will still last through eternity!

As I am trying to stay fit and healthy, this verse is a great reminder to keep up my Spiritual fitness as well!

-Emily

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day is upon us.  I thought I would share an email that I got before the elections.  I know that the President-Elect has been picked, and will become president today, but these truths still remain.

Top 10 Predictions

1.  The Bible will still have the answers we need.

2.  Prayer will still work.

3.  The Holy Spirit will still move.

4.  God will still enjoy the praises of His people.

5.  There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6.  There will still be singing to the glory of god.

7.  God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8.  There will still be room at the cross.

9.  Jesus will still love you.

10.  Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

These are things to continue to remember after this day is over and we have a new president.

Proverbs 21:1 - "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it withersoever He will."

We need to remember that know matter what happens, no matter what our political views are, the Lord is still in control!  He can change a heart however He wills.  Look at Pharaoh, the Lord continued to harden his heart, but when the time was right He softened it long enough to let the people go.  The only thing that keeps me at ease and peace about Mr.Obama becoming president is that the Lord is STILL in control, and He will never let us down.  

A few site you might like to check out...

Inauguration  - A site with some fun inauguration facts and other informational things.

Change - President-Elect Obama's agenda, there is also a place where you can state your thoughts and values.

Have a great day!  And remember that the Lord is in control of the future!

-Emily

Recipe - Tiramisu

Original recipe found at Kraftfoods.com.

I altered it, so here is my version of it...

What you need: 

13x9-inch dish

1 package of Lady Fingers (I didn't use the whole package)

1 cup of coffee

1 tbsp. of sugar

2 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup of sugar

2 cups of Cool Whip

your choice of amount of unsweetened cocoa powder

To make it:

Start a pot of coffee, enough to make one cup.  

While coffee is going, put the softened cream cheese in a bowl and mix with hand mixer until creamy.  Add 1/2 cup of sugar and mix again.

Stir/fold whipped topping in with cream cheese and sugar.

Coffee should be about done, take one cup and add 1 tablespoon of sugar to coffee and stir.

Layer bottom of dish with Lady Fingers.  

Brush on 1/2 of the coffee.  You will brush it over each lady finger more than once.  

When you finish with the 1/2 cup of coffee, take a little less than 1/2 of the whipped mixture and spread on Lady Fingers.  Add another layer of Lady Fingers, and repeat above steps.  After you have the top layer of whipped mixture, add cocoa on the top to give it some color.

Put in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

I have made 2 dishes already.  I made the full dish Friday that was refrigerated over night, I also made one yesterday that was refrigerated for a little over 4 hours.  It was a big hit on Saturday when I was helping some friends move.  

A Week of Thanksgiving - Day 7

You can find and print this out at Revive Our Hearts.

Day 7 -

As you have been focusing on thankfulness, have you found some people, items, or circumstances for which it is hard to be thankful?

Dr. Helen Roseveare, long-time missionary doctor in the Congo, told of a point in her life when she was shamefully mistreated at the hands of rebel soldiers.  She described the painful struggle that took place in her heart, as she sought to make some sense out of the humiliation and physical suffering she had undergone.  Then she told of the release and peace that came when she sensed God asking here, "Helen, are you willing to give me thanks for that which I may never give you the privilege of understand?"

Make a list of past or present circumstances, events, trials, or relationships for which you may never have given thanks.  Then, as an expression of faith and an exercise of obedience, say, "Lord, I choose to give You thanks for ____ and ____, which You may never give me the privilege of understanding."  In so doing, you will be acknowledging that God is the "Blessed Controller" of everything that touches your life, and that you trust Him and His sovereign choices for your life.

Difficult things for which God wants me to give thanks:

There are many things that I could say here, but most of these things are private, that few people know.  I am not going to share anything, but if you feel the Lord pushing you to comment and tell about something that is hard to be thankful for, go ahead.

Now that you've spend a week focusing on gratitude, we'd like to challenge you to make a lifetime habit of giving thanks.  In fact, you'll discover that the whole world looks different, when you learn to see it through eyes of thankfulness!

You can find and print this out at Revive Our Hearts.

Thank you for joining me this week in "A Week of Thanksgiving," I hope you enjoyed it!

-Emily