2013 Bible Reading

What have each of you been reading in God's Word lately?
Do any of you have a plan for doing a specific Bible Reading schedule this new year? I would to be able to keep each other accountable this next year.
Are there any specific books of the Bible you hope to dig deeper into this next year? Or any specific topics you are looking into?
I will be starting reading through the Bible again from the beginning. I love trying to read each book in one setting to get the context of the book. I am hoping to look into reading about how God has worked and shown Himself faithful throughout history. I hope then to write a brief summary on each book of the Bible and post in on this blog. (please remind me if you do not see a new post regularly!) :-)  I also plan to get back to journaling about what I have been reading and learning from God's Word. I am planning on memorizing the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians this year as well.
My prayer for each of you is that this next year you will develop a deeper relationship with the Lord and learn to love and serve Him more and more this coming year!  The Lord be with all of you, my dear sisters in Christ!

The Weaver's Skillful Hand

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me,

I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride

forget He sees the upper but I the under side.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,

shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver's skillful hand,

as threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

 By: Corrie ten Boom

Often times in our life it may seem like everything is all messed up. Nothing is going according to our plans. Yet God sees the bigger picture. He has a beautiful plan for our lives. Have you ever seen the back of a cross-stitched item? It looks like a mess of tangled threads of all sorts of colors all out of place. Yet, flip the fabric over and you will see some beautiful handiwork. Often times our lives are like that here on earth. Nothing seems to make sense. Everything seems wrong. Yet God is working everything out. He sees the end result. So do be become discouraged when everything seems to be wrong or confused in your life. Rely upon your Savior! Submit to His plan! He has the best for you in store! (in the heavenly sense). This poem has been a great encouragement to me lately. I was reminded of it after someone shared it at church today.

I put this text to music here. I just wanted to share this will all of you!
May the Lord bless you this day!

Jeremiah Study at Church

Recently, at church we have been studying the book of Jeremiah. It is such a blessing to dig deeper into some of the Old Testament books of the Bible. I would like to share with you some of the things the Lord has been teaching me through this study.

Here are the topics we are studying. (today we heard sermon #9)

1. God's plan to choose a people to glorify Himself
2. Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants
3. Israel's demand for a king
4. The break up of the kingdom of Israel
5. The failure of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
6. The failure of the Southern Kingdom (Judah)
7. Jeremiah as a person
8. God's case against Judah
9. God's sentence and verdict against Judah
10. Misplaced trust
11. Unfaithful shepherds and lying prophets
12. God's promise to restore His people
13. A new Covenant
14. The nation rejects Jeremiah and God rejects the nation
15. Babylon - historical and spiritual
16. A terrible judgment and a ray of hope in Babylon

Some of the main themes spoken about so far are:
faith vs. fear
true worship vs. idolatry
faithfulness vs. rebellion
God's covenants with man (Abramhamic, Mosaic, New Covenant)

I would encourage each of you to read through the book of Jeremiah. There is so much wisdom about following after God's way rather than worshiping what is false out of fear.
I pray each of you are following the Lord and His ways faithfully!

Answers to "Little" Prayers

God answers our prayers in the most wonderful ways! Don't you find it amazing to see all the "little" prayers you prayed (and maybe forgot about), how later the Lord answers them way beyond what you could imagine? Isn't that just like our God to care about all our needs, small and large. I wanted to share some "small" answers to prayer that I thought might encourage all of you.

Once, many years ago, when I had been leading a Bright Lights group for only a little while, I was given the chance to be the piano player (since our previous pianist was not able to help that year). I was very nervous about this and did not think I was doing well at all. I had considered even quitting playing piano since I was "not doing very well" with playing for others. This that very next day one of the girls in my group send my a card and mentioned how she loved Bright Lights and her favorite part was singing around the piano. A little encouragement changed my day!
This last week I had prayed that if I was doing what God was calling me to do that He would show me in just a little way how He was using me to share the love of Christ with others and draw them to Himself. I was not sure if I was really doing what He was calling me to or just doing what I wanted to be doing. Less than a week after this prayer (which no one else knew about), one of my dear friends who has been involved in my Bright Lights group since the beginning shared how she came to know the Lord.

I am not saying these to lift myself up to to glorify the Lord and to show forth His faithfulness, especially in the "little" things. May He show Himself powerful in your life as well. Remember to give all the glory to the Lord!
How has God shown Himself faithful in your life recently?
Please share in the comments below!

LCBC Christmas program 2012

Last week our Church had it Christmas program. I have enjoyed helping with the Children's choir by playing piano and harp. Here are some photos of the performance.

The musicians and page turners

Various photos of the group singing

I hope you enjoyed these photos!

blog pages updated!!!!

I just wanted to let you know that I have been finally updating all the "pages" tabs on my blog.  (after about a year of them being near blank!!!)   So now they actually have something on them rather than "coming soon" :)  

The Baby Bird in my Window Well

Yesterday (a few weeks months ago)  :)  a small baby bird managed to fall into my window well.  It was a sad looking little bird that kept making efforts to try to escape from the tall walls that trapped it.  It would fly at the walls and cry for help never to make it to the top of the window well.

Later I saw its mother come and stand by the edge of the window with a worm in her mouth trying to find a way to reach her baby bird who was stuck in the window well.  The mother's actions of trying to find a way to climb down the wall (which she could not) and the baby crying for help and making feeble efforts to try to fly up (he could only get about half way up before he fell back down into the window well) were saddening.

But isn't that how sometimes we act when we step outside our parent's authority.  We are safe when we listen to our parent's counsel and advice but when we step outside their authority there are dangers and traps we can easily fall into.  Just like the mother bird made crys to her baby and tried to help feed the baby and protect it, she could not when the baby left her protection and decided to find his own way.  In the same way our parents may plead for us to listen to their counsel and advice to "stay under their umbrella of protection" if we reject their authority and protection we are opening ourselves up to the dangers of the world.  How much more safe would the baby bird be if he had stayed with his mother and followed her, yet when he went on his own he fell.

How we sometimes are like this baby bird!  To each young person reading this blog: Stay under your parents' protection.  They truly love you and wants what is best for you!

PS in case you are all wondering the next day my Dad went to get the bird out of the well but it had already flown away. :)

Joni and Friends camp 2012

All ready to travel to camp

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement while I was at the Joni and Friends camp in MN (JAF camp).  It was such a blessing to know I had many friends praying for me back home.  The Lord has worked wonderfully throughout the week of camp and I have learned so much!  :)

Here is a short update of what happened during the week:
Mom, Josie, Kaylee and I drove up to some friends in MN and spent the night there. the next morning I rode the rest of the way to camp with 3 other girls (pictured above) who were mutual friends of the family we were staying with.  And mom, Josie and Kaylee spent the week with these friends of ours in MN.  We arrived at camp around 1pm on Wednesday.  The room was in I shared with 9 other girls plus 1 dog :)  (with one bathroom in our room, that is a story in itself!!) :) (sorry no photos of this one!!)

On Wednesday we spent the entire day in training and classes.  The classes helped us as volunteers to see each of the campers as God sees them and to get to know them for who they really are.  Some parts of the training were very funny, like for dinner we were given a "disability" to act out during dinner.  One of the video clips showed the silliness of not accepting people who we think are different from us (the video tape used some one with glasses vs someone without glasses:)  We all did a prayer walk in small groups of volunteers over the whole camp ground.  We also had a "hand washing" commissioning service for all the STMs (Short Term Missionaries/volunteers).

STM "hand washing" commissioning service

Then in the evening we were told which camper we would be paired up with for the week.  I was paired with a sweet 12 year old girl named Sophie.  She absolutely loves music!  It was such a joy to get to know her and her family (her parents and her younger brother and sister were there as well).  I learned so much about how to look past what may seem like a disability on the outside and to actually get to know and love the person herself.  During the week we ate our meals with the family we were assigned to work with (there we 3-5 other volunteers helping with this specific family).  

In the morning I attended the elementary programing with Sophie.  It was really neat that this year the them for the kids program was on music.  Sophie's sister Lucy was also in the elementary program as well.  The program each day consisted of a short skit then a worship/music time, then arts and craft and games.  At first I thought it would be difficult to get to know Sophie and relate to her since she is nonverbal.  Later on during the week we spent many hours at the piano and harp and singing.  She would play her piano and have me play the piano while she was directing my hands (she has some trouble with small motor skills but she knows what she wants to play).  Even though cannot speak or communicate with words she has amazing abilities in music.  I learned so much just watching her play. (she would have me pick out tunes, do chording, play the harmonic series and many other somewhat advanced musical skills).  It is amazing to see how special each person is if you just take the time to get to know them, learn from them, and listen to them.

The Lord taught me during worship time as we were singing "Our God is an Awesome God" as I looked around the room at the campers, STMs, siblings of campers that truly our God is an Awesome God.  He loves and cares for each one of His Children here and looks out for their needs.  He loves them just the way they are and that what we may call a disability is not so in God's eyes.  He made each of us the way He wanted to and has a special plan for each of our lives.  Many of the campers were not just accepting the way God made them but actually rejoicing in the way they were made.  Now isn't that just like our God, to use the ones we think our weak to encourage and teach the one who we think our the stronger ones.  Each one who had a "disability" actually had many other abilities  and talents that they would love to share if we would just take the time to know people for who they are rather than what we think of them when we first meet them. 

Each evening there was a special activity the first night it was a "contractors ball" (the theme for the whole camp this week was based on Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's Workmanship" so everything was construction worker based (with hardhats and orange vests and everything  :) 

Dancing at the "contractors ball"

Everyone was included in all the activities whether they were in wheelchairs, blind, autistic or had any other disability.  Sophie and I spent time together listening to the music and someone gave her maracas shakers to play along with the music.

The next evening we had a talent show.  All campers were included that wished to be.  Sophie and I played Amazing Grace on my harp together.  Ali helped Sophie play glissandi on the harp while I played the melody. Then Lucy and I played What a Friend we have in Jesus on the harp together.  (you can listen to a clip of the song below) 
There were some girls who danced and helped their friends in wheelchairs with the dances, some sang making the best joyful noise unto the Lord that they could, others told jokes by speaking through electronic interpreters (a computer program on an iPod), all the way to a banana eating contest by 2 brothers and many other talents by each camper and/or family.

The last day the evening activity consisted of a special parents dinner and the kids had pizza on the volleyball court and went to a kids carnival at the camp.  Sophie and I spent time singing together (I was the one who did the singing and she made her excited noises :)). It was neat to see her get so excited when I sang about Jesus and the joys of meeting Him one day.  I then realized how much each of these children understand and what a joy they are.  How much each of them can teach us about having faith like a little child and just delighting in the Lord. 





During the week I met so many wonderful friends who were also STMs (Short term missionaries) AKA the volunteers/camp counselors. :)  One of our instructors for the week was Judy Siegle.  She is such an amazing woman.  She personally knows Joni Eareckson Tada and is a quad herself (paralyzed from the neck down).  She was such an encouragement to me during camp and has such an inspiring story.  I had the wonderful blessing of being able to help her around camp most of the week. (she usually has her nieces at camp to help her but this year was the first they were unable to come).  I learned to look out for the needs of those who seem to be weaker (1 Corinthians 12) But that the part of the body of Christ that seem to be weaker are actually indispensable and valuable to the Lord.

Judy Siegle

Leaving on Monday morning was one of the hardest parts of camp.  I came to love the family I was working with and each of the volunteers, staff members, campers, and families at camp.  I am so excited to come back next year to help!!!  I know the dates for next years camp are Aug 14-19th, 2013 and registration begins sometime in January. :)  Anyone else interested in helping?!?  :)

Thank you again for all your prayers, encouragement, and friendship throughout my week at camp.  I pray that you are blessed through these testimonies of God's faithfulness as well.  

Last day of camp

Family Registration

Welcoming the Families

Sophie and I

Ali, Sophie and I

Skits in the Elementary class

Music time

First time playing a harp!!

A precious family photo

Worship service

Dinning Hall

You can see some more photos at these blogs (I will keep updating this as I find them):  Jenny,   Ellie,   Jennie,  

Bright Lights Conference

 A few weeks ago I returned from volunteering at the Bright Lights conferences in Cedar Rapids, IA.  I was so blessed to be able to volunteer with my friends, Annie, Lily, Elizabeth, and Monica.  I wanted to share with you some photos from the week. (All photos, unless otherwise stated were taken by Annie or Elizabeth).

The first few days we helped with the Strong in the Lord conference for girls ages 6-15.  I leading with Grace Mally and Abby.  Our team was the Night Lights ages 10-13.  (sorry, no picture yet)

The "Brownie" skit       See if you can guess who is under the "horses".  :)

Visiting the Mally's Bookstore

Sapphires group

 On Thursday, Grace took several of us out witnessing at a local park.  Monica and I went as partners and were able to hand out some tracts and share the Good News with several people at the park.  Later that day, all the leaders spent the evening having a cook out at another local park.





On Friday and Saturday, we concluded our time at the conference by helping with the Radiant Purity conference for girls aged 12 and up.  I had the Sapphires team with Bekah May for girls ages 15-16.  It was fun to have my sister Kaylee on my team for this conference!

Thank you all for praying for me as I helped out at these conferences.  God answered so many prayers in such amazing ways!  I am so grateful for all that the Lord has taught me.

Following Christ Wholeheartedly

I have been reading a new book series called "the Knights of Arrethtrae" with my sisters.  It is an amazing allegory similar to Pilgrim's Progress.  It has been so inspiring to remember (through a fun allegorical story) our mission as Christians in this world.
The current book we are reading deals with the subject of Christian apathy within the church.  How sobering to realize that often this apathetic lifestyle is the attitude of the believers.  Do we truly take seriously the mission our Prince (Jesus Christ) has called us to? Are we willing to give up everything to follow Him?  Or are we living a "comfortable" christian life, just following the crowd (even if "the crowd" is not the world but others in the church)?  Are we content just to participate in "churchy" things? Or are we willing to truly take up our cross and follow Christ no matter what the cost?  Do we really treasure and memorize and study the Word of God? Or do we just expect it will always be there and never really get around to learning for God's Word?
The more I read this book I see how it relates to our life in Christ.  I pray that each of us will take up the call to follow Christ seriously and live wholeheartedly for Him.  May each of us take up the call to live valiantly for the Lord and to be set apart to do His will.  And may we always remember "the King (God the Father) reigns, and His Son (Jesus Christ)!!

Scriptorim 2012

Our family just returned from a trip to MO for the annual Scriptorium.  This was our first year attending and it was absolutely an amazing experience!!
It was such a blessing to hear God's Word being recited by so many people and to meet many like-minded believers that have a heart for Scripture memorization.  When you go to Scriptorium you can recite as few as 1 chapter or as much as you would like to sign up for.  There is also great times of fellowship, Bible games, and music shared throughout the week. We are looking forward to next year with much enthusiasm.  (I pray that next year they will be able to host the week long conference and present the whole New Testament).  :)  The website for the Scriptorium is www.recitescripture.org  I hope you can come next year!!

Do any of you have any personal memory goals this year?  I would love to hear about them!  Please post a comment on this blog.  I will be working on finished 2 Corinthians.
BTW if any of you are looking for a great Scripture memory site I would highly recommend MemVerse.com .  I absolutely love this site, especially for review of verses.

Happy Birthday Kaylee

 Happy 15th Birthday Kaylee!

Happy Birthday Kaylee!
You are such a wonderful sister!
I am so blessed to know you and to call you my dear sister.

I can hardly believe you are 15 years old already!  It just seems as though it was just a short while ago I first met you and called you my little sister.  I have loved watching you grow into the beautiful young lady you have become.  I love you Kaylee!!!

Here are 15 fun facts about Kaylee:  (not in any particular order)  :)
1. She has a great sense of humor
2. Her favorite color is bright orange
3. She absolutely loves holding babies and little children
4. Her joy is contagious
5. She plays the flute beautifully
6. She is a great photographer and is trying to save up to buy her own camera one of these days :)
7. Her name means "crowned"
8. She is an wonderful artist and storyteller
9. She has an amazing memory (one she memorized over 20 verses for the Bible Bee in about a half an hour!)
10. She has inspired me to be more consistent will my Bible reading (I don't think she missed a single day in the last month!)

Kaylee in Haiti

11. Her new favorite book series is "The Knights of Arrethtrae" (introduced to us by some wonderful friends from church, Annie and Lily and Sarah)
12. She saves every single letter and card she receives (sometimes even the envelopes!)
13. She can make some amazing stir-fry dinners
14. She is one of the best younger sisters a girl could ask for
15. She loves the Lord Jesus Christ dearly!

Kaylee in 2005

Sisters forever!!!

  

 Please stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday!!!

Summer events

I am looking forward to attending several conferences this year.

Soon we will be heading to the Scriptorium in MO.  It is a place to share memorized Scripture and to listen to God's Word being recited.  This will be the first time I have attended this event.  I am also excited to get "reacquainted" with some of the girls I met at the Bible Bee nationals the last few years. 

Once of my favorite conferences I will be at this summer is the Bright Lights conferences hosted by the Mally Family.  I (and some of my friends) will be helping at the Cedar Rapids conferences.  Once of my dear friends, Monica, has been helping me with Bright Lights groups for a few years now and I am excited to help at the conferences with her.  Several other of my "new" friends from church will be helping as well (Annie, Elizabeth, and Lily)   After I get back I will post some photos from the trip.

Another opportunity I will have this summer is to volunteer for a Joni and Friends Family Camp.  I have been accepted as a STM (short term missionary, kind of like a camp counselor) at the Joni and Friends family camp for special needs children and families in northern MN.  Please pray for my time volunteering at the retreat that God would work mightily.  You can read about this ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada here.

Bible Bee Greetings and Advice

All Bible Bee participants and others who love to memorize God's Word please look at this post here.  It is a short letter I wrote about Scripture memory, and especially about the Bible Bee for all who are currently participating in it.
Below is a copy of this letter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greetings and Advice from a Bible Bee Almuni :)

As I look on this year of BB I am excited yet somewhat sad.  This is my first year of not officially participating the Bible Bee.  :(  But... I know that all the verses I learned over the past three years and all the books we studied (Genesis, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Matthew, Acts, Romans, Colossians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter) will remain forever.  And all the study habits we all learned and shared with each other will last a lifetime.  As each of you are endeavoring to continue to study God's Word through another year of Bible Bee I would like to share with all of you some things I have learned along the way.

First, always remember the purpose of why you are memorizing and studying the Word.  That is to develop a closer relationship with your Savior.  Never forget that or get caught up is all the practicing, reciting and memorizing that you for get the purpose, "...to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (see if you can find where this verse is from)  :)

Second, meditate on God's Word.  Don't let your knowledge become just head knowledge about the Scriptures, really "know" God's Word and make it a part of your life, make it heart knowledge.

Third, memorize 2 Timothy in its entirety so that you can recite it to others.  (this is something I wish I had done with the study books in the past).  Even if the locals are as far as you get you will be able to share that book of the Bible with those you know.

Fourth, remember that if you diligently study and seek the Lord through this summer, no matter where you place in the scoring, you have won in the sight of God.  There are no losers in the Scripture memory except those who do not start.  Even if you only memorize 1 passage that is still 1 more passage you did not have before you started!

Fifth, include your family in the studying process and share what you have learned with your family and friends.  Include your siblings as much as possible (even if they are not actually participating in the Bible Bee)

Sixth, use what you have learned as a conversation starter to share the Gospel with unbelievers.  (the Bible Bee T-shirts are a great starter)  :)  Also, ask friends to help listen to your verses and share with them what God has taught you through His Word.

Seventh, always keep a humble attitude.  This may be one of the hardest things in the entire Bible Bee.  It is God who has given us His Word, He is the one who gave us the ability to memorize it, He is the one who gives us life.  He is the one who is to receive the glory!  Remember "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Eighth, remember that the most important thing is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Back in 2009 at the Nationals, the Harris brothers gave a sobering warning, "You can participate in the Bible Bee, memorize all the verses and the entire study book, you can even win first place at nationals but it would all be in vain if in the end you did not have personal relationship with the Lord"
This is my prayer of each of you, that you may know Christ, that you may walk in obedience to His commands, that you delight in His Word and in His Law, that the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart may be pleasing in His sight, that others may see the light of Christ in your life, and that you delight with your whole heart in obeying the Savior and following His commands!

Your sister in Christ,
Marie

4th of July Conference

I just got back from an amazing conference with our church, Lake Country Bible Chapel and several of the other chapels in Iowa.   I absolutely loved the speaker, Dr. Steve Price and his messages about the life of David a Man After God's Own Heart.  It was so inspiring to listen to God's Word being expounded in such an interesting way (think about the story of David and Goliath being acted out on stage by one person with a great sense of humor) :)
I was so blessed be be able to play piano and harp at the conference.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the conference was on Saturday night there was a baptism and after each person was baptized the entire group (over a hundred people) started singing a hymn of praise to the Lord.  I loved how the sound echoed off the walls in the swimming pool room.  It was one of the most beautiful baptisms I have ever seen.
I loved getting to spend more time talking to some dear friends from church (April, Annie, Elizabeth, Lily, Rebekah and so many others) and getting into long discussions about God's Word and sharing what the Lord has done in each of our lives and to share Scripture memory with each other.

God's Greater Plan

I love seeing how God's plans are so much greater than our expectations.  Do you ever look back and say "so that is why such and such happened"?  God has been teaching me this more and more.  It seems as if prayers I had given up to God thinking that the answer He was giving was "no" turns out that it was just a "wait a little while and see what I will do".  God's purposes are greater than what we can imagine.  It is amazing to think that God would care about the minute details of our lives when He crated the entire world.  Yet He does care about every aspect of our lives.  Though I do not see the whole picture on this side of heaven, I am ever grateful to see the little glimpses the Lord give us as we follow Him.

Way of the Master

 The girls Bible Study at our church, Lake Country Bible Chapel, has been studying how to share the Gospel using the Way of the Master method.  Below is a summary of what we have learned.  




How would you answer one of the most important questions in life?
What Did Jesus Do?       Are You a Good Person? Find out here!!!

W: Would you consider yourself to be a good person?

D: Do you think you’ve kept the Ten Commandments? (Exodus 20:1-17)
     - Have you ever told a lie? What does that make you?
     - Have you ever stolen something (even something really small)? What does that make you?
     - Have you ever hated anyone? In the Bible Jesus says that hating is like committing murder in our heart.
So basically, God sees hating like murdering. He knows not only our sinful actions, but our bad thoughts too.  Or even taking the name of the Lord in vain, dishonoring parents, or coveting are sins.

J: (Judgment) So if God were to judge you by the Ten Commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?
      - All of us would be guilty by God's perfect standards

D: (Destiny) Would you go to heaven or hell?
      - since we are all guilty we will all have to pay the penalty - eternal death

But God has provided a way of escape.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the penalty for our sins.

C: (cross) Jesus died in our place on the cross for our sins, died, and rose from the dead.
R: (repentance) Confess and forsake all sin.
A: (and)
F: (faith) We have to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation.
T: (truth) The Bible is the only truth. Make sure you are right with God today, because we never know when we’re doing to die.

If you are interested in this witnessing method called the Way of the Master please visit: www.livingwaters.com

If you have any questions please comment on my post.  I would love to hear from you.  

Book of Treasure

How often when we read the Book, 
Do we forget to take a look? 
For Truth within the cover there, 
Or words of Wisdom, pure and fair. 

The Bible is God’s Word so pure, 
It is divine, rooted and sure. 
Trusting in others is absurd. 
The Book of Treasure is God’s Word. 

The key to unlock this Treasure: 
His Word in our hearts with pleasure. 
Searching for Wisdom so we find, 
Jewels so rare, His Word divine. 

The Bible is God’s Word so pure. 
It is divine, rooted and sure. 
Trusting in others is absurd. 
The Book of Treasure is God’s Word. 

So take a look within God’s Book, 
Digging for a much deeper look, 
Seeking the Lord with all your heart. 
His Word has treasure to impart. 

The Bible is God’s Word so pure. 
It is divine, rooted and sure. 
Trusting in others is absurd. 
The Book of Treasure is God’s Word. 

                                By Marie Morris



Here is a poem I composed about Bible reading and studying.  It also applies to Scripture memory.  I pray that each of you may learn to love the Word of God greatly through our time with the Bible Bee.  The Bible is a Book full of treasures that God desires us to explore.  By reading and studying and memorizing His word we are able to know Him better.  This is my prayer for all of you, that you will gain treasure from His word abundantly.

The Resurrection Season

Bright, brilliant blossoms bud and bloom,

Amid the deepest, darkest gloom,

His tomb, so dark and cold and gray,

Like winter in a cold cocoon.

His tomb so dark and cold and gray,

Surreal silence on springtime day,

Our King sleeps still; hope lies slain,

By friend disowned, denied, betrayed.

Our King sleeps still; hope lies slain;

On Easter morn, no more constrained.

Arise! dark shadows shrink away.

The King forevermore shall reign!

Arise! dark shadows shrink away,

Bright, brilliant flowers join the lay,

“All praise to Christ, the Risen King”,

Proclaiming joy in springtime day.

“All praise to Christ, the Risen King”

Break forth in joyous music; Sing!

“Love once was slain, no more to die”

Death trampled; ‘lasting life He brings.

“Love once was slain, no more to die”

Love bursting forth; O hope, arise!

One day we’ll meet Him in the skies.

Redeemed are we by God Most High!

by Marie Morris

                                  

It is amazing to think about Christ's resurrection! It is not just something to remember on Easter. The resurrection is fundamental to our faith (1 Corinthians 15). It is not just something you celebrate once or twice a year. Daily we need to remember what Christ has done for us. Remember, He is risen!

John 17

 Christ's Easter Prayer

John 17  

 ¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:    “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
    ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.    ¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
    ²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³ I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.    ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
   ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)