Joni and Friends' Dinner

At the end of March (as a special 21st birthday present) my mom planned a special trip for the two of us to travel up to MN to hear Joni Eareckson Tada speak at a dinner. I was so excited to get to hear Joni and her husband, Ken, speak and share their story. The Lord worked out all the details and I had the privilege of being asked to bring my harp to play as background music for a donor reception before hand. If you ever get a chance to hear Joni speak, it is amazing!!
This year, Joni and Ken will be coming to the MN family retreat (the same camp I have volunteered at the past 2 years and will be going back again this year for). If any of you are interested in volunteering at the camp it would be great to have some more friends join!
Below are some photos from the dinner and reception with Joni.

Krista H., Jenny H., Marie

Ken and Joni

Harp at the reception

Lamentations

The book of Lamentations was written by the prophet of Jeremiah. This was his heartfelt cry of sorrow about the sin of his people that they had rejected God as their Savior.
Though not easily seen from our English translation, the first four chapters are written as 4 acrostic poems in the Hebrew language. Each verse (or set of 3 verses, as in chapter 3) start with consecutive 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Amid the sorrow and suffering portrayed within this book, chapter 3 verses 22-26 are like a parenthesis of hope and trust in the Lord. They remind us that God's lovingkindnesses and His faithfulness never cease. Each day He gives us the grace we need. To wait upon the Lord is commended.
The main theme of Lamentations, is a call back to return to the Lord that He may show mercy. This is exemplified in chapter 5 by Jeremiah's prayer for God's mercy upon his people.
This book reminds us that though we have suffering and trials, God will not forget. Sin has consequences, but God is merciful to those whose hearts are humble toward Him and repent of their sin.

Jeremiah

Last year our church finished studying through the book of Jeremiah. Here are some insights I learned from reading and studying this book as well as some favorite verses.

• Jeremiah 1:4-8 God's calling of Jeremiah, though he was young, God enabled him to serve Him faithfully, God also called and set apart Jeremiah for a specific service to God before God formed him and he was born. God has called each one of us for a specific task to advance His kingdom. He enables us to complete those tasks by His strength. 
• Jeremiah was known as the "weeping prophet". He called Israel back to God before the exile to Babylon. He prophesied of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. He preached about repentance and God's judgment that was coming and His mercy that was available if they would repent.
• Jeremiah cared deeply for his people (chapter 9). He desired that they would return to their God.
• Though Israel would go into captivity to Babylon because of their sin, God promised that they would return to their own land (chapter 30). 
• Jeremiah 31 is one of the most well known chapters in the book. God calls His own people, proclaims His love toward His people. The New Covenant that was instituted at Christ's death (remembered by the church as the Lord's Supper) was proclaimed by Jeremiah. About this covenant, God says, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jer 31:33) I think it is wonderful that we are now a part of God's New Covenant as the "Israel of God" (Gal 6:16) and that He has written His law on our hearts that we may obey His law. 
• The book of Jeremiah ends with the fall of Jerusalem and the people and the king being exiled to Babylon.

Isaiah

I just finished reading through the book of Isaiah. There are so many wonderful treasures speaking of our Lord and Savior. There are many verses speaking of God's care for us and His foreknowledge. Amid judgment for the nations, the Lord shows forth His compassion for His people. God's faithfulness is clearly seen. The book of Hebrews quotes Isaiah and Isaiah has numerous passages speaking about the birth of our Lord. My favorite Old Testament books are Deuteronomy, Psalms, Ruth, and Isaiah.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” (Jeremiah 1:4-5a)

For You [O God] created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb. (Isaiah 44:24a)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

As you do not know {how the spirit enters the body being formed} in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One form us both within our mothers? (Job 31:15)

Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who give him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (Exodus 4:11)

Ears that hear and eyes that see – the LORD has made them both. (Proverbs 20:12)

Does He who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see? (Psalm 94:9)

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” (Romans 9:20)

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

[And] God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31a)

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (Psalm 139:14a)

Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! (Isaiah 42:18)

The Lord gives sight to the blind, (Psalm 146:8a)

This is what the LORD says – He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, [you] whom I have chosen.” (Isaiah 44:2)

I will lead the blind by ways that they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come... He will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer and the mute tongue shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:3-6a)

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. (Psalm 18:33)

Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:13)

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:5)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength... But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:25, 27-31)

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the LORD to take it away from me.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. (Psalm 119:18)

When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty. (Jeremiah 15:16)

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure.” (Matthew 11:25-26)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. (Matthew 18:2-5)

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Then Jesus said..., “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:11-14)

Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame... and make them come in, so that My house will be full.” (Luke 14:21b, 23b)

The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10b)

Then Jesus [said], “ Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

And He [Jesus Christ] is the head of the body, the church. (Colossians 1:18a)

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:14)

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable and the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with special honor...  But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:17-27)

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? (Isaiah 14:27a)

I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. (Job 1:21b)

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:18)

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25)

I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:27)

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, (Psalm 10:17)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13-14)

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18)

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)

Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust in You even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God. (Psalm 22:9-10)

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! (John 9:25b)

And I – in righteousness I will see Your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness. (Psalm 17:15)

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD. (Psalm 102:18)

For You have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; You brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise You. (Psalm 71:5-6)

You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. (Psalm 139:5-6)

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds. (Psalm 73:28)

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5)

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12)

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

[For the Lord] has made everything beautiful in {His} time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of Your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone. Since my youth, O God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds. (Psalm 71:14-17)

Verses from NIV 1984

Song of Solomon

The book of the Song of Solomon can be interpreted as a picture of Christ's love for His bride, the Church. In this way we see Christ has a deep love for His people and wants us to draw near to Him in a special way. We should desire to have a intimate friendship with our Lord Jesus Christ. He loves His own so much!!
Another way to look at the book is a picture of what a godly marriage should be. As young ladies we should be praying that God would prepare us to be godly wives and mothers and that He would be raising up our future husband to love Christ wholeheartedly. We should endeavor to remain pure in every way that we may be a picture of Christ's holy bride.

Purpose - part 1

• What is your purpose? 
• What has God called you to be and to do? 
• Who are you in Christ? 
• You are a child of God, but how does that play out in your everyday life? 
• What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? 
• Why do you, as a girl who loves God, do or not do certain things?
• What does being set apart to God mean?
• How (practically) can we be fully dedicated to God?

Please leave a comment with your thoughts on some (or all) of these questions. 
Lord willing, I will be posting about some of these topics in the near future.

Ecclesiastes

When reading through the book of Ecclesiastes, it is best to read all 12 chapters. :) The context is very important in this book. At first glance it may appear that the writer is proclaiming life and all that entails is meaningless. But that is not the case. Rather, that WITHOUT GOD everything would be meaningless.
Ecc 12:13-14 are a good summary of the book. "Now this is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every hidden thing into judgment, whether it is good or evil."
Also the exhortation in Ecc 12:1 to "remember your Creator when you are young" deserves special notice. It is important to live fully dedicated to God in our youth that our witness will glorify Him!!
As you do not know {how the spirit enters the body being formed} in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5) When I read this verse I had not noticed how God intended to keep a mystery the process of how the spirit of a person enters the child in the womb. This is a wonderful verse to support the fact that all life is precious and that life begins at conception.

Proverbs

The book of Proverbs contains much wisdom and insight.
It is composed as a book of instruction from a father to his children. Often the book of Proverbs is read in a month reading the corresponding chapter with the day of the month. One of my favorite chapters in Proverbs is chapter 31, describing the virtuous woman. I desire to be an honorable woman, who fears the Lord above all else and is fully devoted to the Lord. Two key themes of the book of Proverbs are: Wisdom and the Fear/Reverence of the Lord. I desire to be a godly Proverbs 31 daughter. May the Lord give that desire to each one of you that you will seek Him with your whole heart.

Proverbs 31:10-31

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Description of a Worthy Woman

10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

Joni and Friends Family Retreat 2013

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all your prayers and support as I served at the Joni and Friends Family Retreat in MN again this year. You are all such a blessing. The Lord provided an opportunity for me to ride up to camp with a group from near Minneapolis. My church was such a wonderful blessing in providing the financial support needed for the trip again! May the Lord be praised!

The Lord answered many prayers and gave many blessings, including meeting some fellow volunteers from Iowa (whom I hope to get to know better this year), serving again with some wonderful friends, meeting new friends, meeting a new friend who loves composing music and playing piano, spending time sharing a love of Scripture memory with a new friend, spending time with a new camper this year, spending time with harp and piano with my camper from last year during break time, and seeing God work in awesome ways!!, and being able to hear Pastor Kempton Turner’s sermons this year (last year as an elementary worker, we did not get to hear the sermons). I loved hearing the testimonies of how God had worked in the lives of the families and campers. On Sunday, in the young adults small group, many of the campers shared about their faith in Christ and what Jesus meant to them. It was such a beautiful time of testimony to the faithfulness of God!

There were also several challenges as well. :-) It was an unexpected change to work with the young adults instead of the elementary or junior high students, trying the climbing wall this year, and being “compelled” to participate as the “STM target” in the “olympic games cheeto head toss” (that was a very stretching and “interesting” experience) :-).

Last year, the Lord reminded me how special every person is and that it is important to get to know the person for who they are inside not for what they look like or act outwardly. This year the Lord reminded me that I must trust Him fully that His purposes are best, sometimes the best way to serve is to wait on the Lord. I don't have to be “busy” serving, but peaceful, joyful, serving is also commended. It is more important to find the commonalities and to reach out to be a friend.

Thank you all again for your prayers and encouragement. The “happy gram” notes of encouragement that many of you wrote for the campers and families were delivered and much appreciated! Thank you for your willingness to serve as well.

I am excited to see all that God has done! I pray that, if the Lord wills, I will be able to return next year to serve.

Love in Christ,

Marie

Here are some photos from the week :)

Thank you all for the happy grams you wrote!! They were well loved!!

The climbing wall

"Are you sure this is the EASY side?" :)

The Olympic Torch AKA "The Plunger" :-)

My camper, Caylia, and I

Camp 2013 STMs (Short Term Missionary Volunteers)

Camp Group Photo

Prayer Walk

Marie and Cassie

Welcoming Families

Caylia and her mom

Let the Olympic Games Begin!!!

"Toga Dance"

Press On in the Joy and Peace of the Lord

Press On to Know the Lord Jesus Christ

Young Adults Discussion Small Group

Preparing for the "Cheeto Head Toss"

Oreo's Adventures - as told by Caylia :)

Sophie is guiding my hands and playing the harmonic series and chordal structure on the harp. She understands the theory and math behind the sound of the music. What a gift!!