Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Back-to-school= Fun, Tests, and Worrying (that last one isn't Godly, I know)

I realized that I haven't written a post about being back in school, so now here it is.



I'm a sophomore in high-school.

I wake up at 7:30 every day except Saturday. Sometimes on Sunday it's 7:00.

I am in a book group this year, and I love it. We have read Rip van Winkle, and are currently on our last week of Wuthering Heights (I finished it yesterday! Fabulous book. Loved the ending.). Our next book is The Three Musketeers. We meet every Monday from 1-3 to discuss what we've read. It is so fun to hear everyone else's opinions!

At home, I'm taking: Algebra 2, Anatomy/Physiology, American History, Spanish, and maybe Civics (if we can get that started up in the near future).

Last Friday, I took the PLAN test. It was hard work. The math and science tests were extremely difficult for me. I could feel my brain constricting. The clock was ticking and I knew that I could get the right answer, but I didn't have enough time. Because I was rushed through the last two pages of the math test, I would read the problem. Re-read. Re-re-read it. And it wouldn't go in. I had to guess. On at least five of them. Even though I knew how to solve those kinds of problems!!! It was so frustrating. The science test wasn't nearly as bad, but the very end was similar, unfortunately. English and reading were totally fine, at least I think. The test results could always show differently :P.

Oh well. My dad said that I can re-take it if I'm not happy with the score I receive.

Next year, (my Junior year) I will (Lord-willing) apply for PSEO at a nearby Christian university. My score on this test affects whether that will happen or not. We'll see. It's all in God's hands. What will worrying do? Nothing.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"~Luke 12:25

That helps.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

An extremely encouraging word from Spurgeon:

MORNING:

"Accepted in the beloved."
-- Ephesians 1:6



What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God,but the term "acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, shouldbe the objects of divine love! But it is only "in the beloved." Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own experience, at least, that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters, in One who is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, how much happier they would be, and how much more they would honour the Saviour! Rejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the beloved." Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, "There is nothing acceptable here!" But look at Christ, and see if there is not everything acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; but God has cast thy sins behind his back, and thou art accepted in the Righteous One. Thou hast to fight with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already accepted in him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in him who has broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance thy glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art. They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved," and thou art even now accepted in Christ after the same manner.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Down the drain...

Two quarts of homemade ice cream went down the drain this evening. Literally. We had an episode similar (but by no means nearly as severe) to this one. That same pipe leaked or something and the water went through the upstairs flooring and dripped into our kitchen, where our semi-new electric ice cream maker was churning us a batch of vanilla ice cream. And so, that undesired added ingredient (water that has dripped through a floor/ceiling and as a result is murky-brownish in color) caused me to have to wash it down the drain. :( It's enough to provoke one to tears. Well, close to tears, at least. No, I didn't cry, but if I had been in the right mood, I definitely could have mustered up some tears. That's how important ice cream is in our house. :P

Saturday, September 19, 2009

My 50th post!!!!

Yay! My blog has made it to the big "'5' 'O'" I don't know if that makes sense when it's typed out. Oh well. Anyway, Preschool Sunday School starts up tomorrow, so that's really exciting. I'm going to be a small group leader again. The only sad thing about it is that I will really miss all the kids that were in my group last year. I grew to be very attached to them all. Now they're all big and grown up in Kindergarten!

Oh, and a few days ago I got a CD from the library. Very awesome. "The Best of Rocky". I love it! I think that I'm going to make "Eye of the Tiger" or "Burning Heart" my ring tone if I can persuade my techno-savvy bro-in-law to help me upload it. Wouldn't that be cool?

It seems like there was one other thing...hmmm...Oh yes! I'm reading Wuthering Heights right now. Despite it's somewhat "dark" atmosphere, if you will, it is very well written and intriguing. Has anyone else read this?

ROTK, pizza, ice cream, and family.

Yep. That's what my evening looks like. Pretty sweet. I'm excited. My mom and sisters are in Ohio, so it's just my dad, Keith, and me. So, we are going to watch Return of the King, eat homemade pan pizza, and eat homemade ice cream. I guess you already gathered that from the title. Sorry for being redundant. I'm tired.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Would you pray?

I have to be getting to bed, but I just wanted to ask you all to pray for a Native American outreach conference that my church is putting on. I'm part of the prayer team, so I just thought that I would ask you to pray. Pray for the speakers, that they would have clarity of thought and that they would remain in good health. Pray for the people attending the conference, that the Lord would stoke a fire in them to reach the Native American people. And pray that this verse would be true for all of the Native American peoples:

Revelation 5:9 "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,'"

Thanks so much. The Lord is working mightily. Goodnight!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

New title

I decided to change the title of my blog from "the world of katie michelle" to "In love with Jesus". I may fool around with the wording, but that's the gist of what I want to say. What do you think? Maybe you need some background information. Here. I'll explain...

As most of you know, I'm really excited to/really want to get married, have kids, homeschool them, and be a homemaker. Several months ago, I was feeling discontent with my life as it was (school, teenagers, etc.) which is funny because I actually really enjoy school. I just wanted something else. To be grown-up and married.

As I was only 14 then, it was pretty ridiculous in the world's eyes, and in my own. I knew that marriage was something many years away, so why was I discontent with my wonderful life? A life that so many other teenagers probably wish they had?

Then, one Sunday at church, we sang the song, "We Will Dance". It's about Heaven and the marriage of Christ and His bride, the Church. Right then I knew that I could be satisfied with the life of a 14-year-old girl. I no longer felt that I would be discontent until I was married, because I am--right now--the bride of Christ! I began to focus on how much He loves me and how He came and died for me--filthy sinful wretch that I am--and how He chose me. I don't know why. I certainly don't deserve His incredible, devoted love. But He loves me. He chose me. I'm His bride. O the bliss of this glorious thought (to borrow the words of Horatio G. Spafford :)! He took my eyes off of myself and fixed them onto Him. And, He allowed me to have my "brideom" (I had no other idea how to say that :p).

This is going to sound a little silly, but bear with me here. Okay. While we were singing that song (We Will Dance) I started to picture the hag/witch from the Disney "Sleeping Beauty". Yep, the one with the warts and the fingernails and the apple. Can you guess who that was in my mind? Me. And then, I saw Jesus--of course, He was the handsome prince. He then turned me (the witch lady) into His "strong, pure, spotless bride!"

So yes, that is kind of silly, but I think that it is a pretty good allegory--at least the Lord has allowed it to be for me. As a teenage girl, I have to fight the sin of vanity--always wanting to look good and have people's approval. But to God, without Christ's righteousness, I am infinitely more unbearable and unsightly than that witch from Sleeping Beauty. So why did He send His Son, Jesus, to die for me in order for me to be his bride? For His glory. But why wasn't His Son repulsed at the sight of me? How could He love me? I have yet to solve those mysteries.

Anyway, I think that it is helpful for me to picture myself as an ugly, shriveled up, wicked woman. That's what I am. But Christ's blood paid my ransom and set me free. Now, I have His righteousness before the throne of His father (Now also MY Father...another whole post!). And...

I will not fear Your (God's) judgment
For me no wrath I dread
For it was spent on Jesus (my bridegroom!)
Poured out upon His head
When Satan’s accusations
Make my poor heart afraid
I hear my King declaring
“Father, that debt is paid!”
~Jesus My Only Hope

WOOHOO! I get goosebumps whenever I sing that last line--I picture Jesus with His arm around my shoulders, declaring my freedom. :)

There are so many hymns and songs going through my head right now that always cause me to see a similar scene by reminding me of the Gospel. I just love Him so much. I am His. Forever.

Okay. Now I've had my gush. :)

p.s. What are some of your favorite "Gospel" songs?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Happy Birthday, Scotty!

[Music playing] "1-2-3-4! Happy happy birthday, from all of us to you! We wish it was our birthday, so we could party too! Hey! Happy happy birthday, hope all your dreams come true! We wish it was our birthday, so we could party too!" ~The Emperor's New Groove.

Anyway, have a very happy birthday Scott! You're getting so old! Well, not really, but you have a wife and a house and have graduated and everything...you are just pretty far in life for so young a guy. Congratulations!

I love you and really, really hope to see you soon! I have SO MUCH FUN when we're together. You make me laugh so hard. :D Thank you for being such a great role model for me. You have taught me a lot. Like being a hard worker, serving others, and loving the Lord. I love you big bro!

<3,
kate