Last Wednesday, as I was getting to leave for house sitting for the night I took a glance at my mom. She was doing Beth Moore's devotions. My eyes caught the name Daniel. Daniel...had been long my favorite name and book of the bible. I always wondered why? What was about Daniel that I loved? Mom and I fell into a conversation about the men of the bible and how God used them.
I did not relate to Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elisha, as well as I did Daniel and David. To be sure I learned much from the other men, please do not mistake that I am passing them by. No...simply Daniel and David have longest held my attention.
As I talked with mom I made an astonishing discovery. Was it perhaps I relate to Daniel because of his faith? Daniel had FULL confidence in God. If Daniel had full confidence in God, he must have known grace. Because with faith there must be grace. Daniel's relationship with God I believe was a foundation of faith, grace, and love. How else could he have stood up to Nebrazzarah; willing to risk everything, but his relationship with his Father? I began to think of Daniel a grace filled man because of his faith.
My equation may be wrong. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you experience love. From love come faith, and faith grows into grace. You can not have one with out the other.
David...the second king of Israel...a man after God's own heart. As usual I am always amazed, at the thought of God calling David a righteous man and a man after his heart. How awesome, how great that is. Just IMAGINE! David, who had faults just like me was called a righteous man.
What I have learned from David is...you will mess up and you will fail. BUT... when you find where your mistakes lie...turn to God. You can't fix your mistakes on your own...it's IMPOSSIBLE, however, He understood that with God that he can overcome his weaknesses. David wanted God's heart, he yearned for it.
Despite David's short comings...God gave him one of the best gifts. The Messiah would come from the line of David. David...knew what he wanted and He recieved God's heart.
I can't express what I am trying to say...my writing is probably all in shambles. But I hope that you get what I am trying to say. Daniel, who understood faith was a man filled with grace. David...longed and yearned for God's heart. God loved him in return though he was not perfect.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
My Mom
Soft, Bright blue eyes twinkle in mirth and joy. Her curly brown hair gleams almost reddish brown in the sun. Her 'average' height of 5"4' barely an inch taller than her baby daughter, made her perfect to play games of all sort. Her lips part with laughter.
Even if I wanted to...I could not photograph my mom's beauty. A sound recorder would not do justice to her laughter. No stories can contain her goodness and love she has for me...for her family.
When I was younger...I vowed I'd take a picture that paints her inner beauty. So I did. Eagerly, I set to capture my mom. I painted her face, made her hair curly brown. Her eyes seemed to glisten in laughter. Excitedly, I made her a frame as well as a 10 year old could. Glittered covered every square inche of the frame in making. When I gave it to her... I waited breathlessly to see what she thought.
She smiled broadly and hugged me. I ran off to play. When I came back, she had hung it in the laundry room. She explained to me...that way when I do laundry I can always see it. Every time we opened the doors...I'd see my picture right there. Boy...I was proud of the picture.
Then one day...I noticed. I had forgotten her nose. My mom would not let me remove the picture although her nose was indeed missing. She loved it...for it was my first attempt of painting her.
Once more I tried to make something to describe her. For Christmas...I made a book of poems for her. I search for hours and hours...trying to write and find poems which could describe her. I wrote each poem down carefully and drew pictures to illustrate the poem. Delightfully, I pictured her face as she opened the present. She cried in happiness and read through the book over courses of days. Treasuring each poem and drawings I did. When I got older in my teen years, I read through the book. There was so many mistakes and the drawing...of a little girl. But as I read through I remembered how I wanted everything to be perfect for my mom.
This year....my mom was sick for close to three months. My dad had to work and Chris was working and doing college. Dearest Kate was in college an hour and a half way. I tended to my mom, clean the house, did shopping, prepared meals, a basic Secretary, hostess for life group, and started my first semester of collage. When I finally went to bed, I was dead tired. I murmured to myself...How on earth does mom do it?
She raised my best friend and sister along with me to be godly girls with a passion for Christ. Every chores...she taught us to do our best. If we lost it...we paid for it....we wanted it...we paid for it. She encouraged us in our walk with God. And let us know...no matter what we could always come to her....even if we sometimes/rarely disagreed on whatever topic we need advice on. She's not perfect...but she's my mom.
My mom has taught me so much, more than I can ever dream. What she has helped taught me the most is value, commitment, balance, understand responsibilites, and love. I only hope that I can help raise my kids along with my husband for God as well as my mom did.
Like I said before....no picture can capture my mom's beauty. No sound recorder can capture my mom's laugh. No story would be big enough to tell of her love and goodness.
Even if I wanted to...I could not photograph my mom's beauty. A sound recorder would not do justice to her laughter. No stories can contain her goodness and love she has for me...for her family.
When I was younger...I vowed I'd take a picture that paints her inner beauty. So I did. Eagerly, I set to capture my mom. I painted her face, made her hair curly brown. Her eyes seemed to glisten in laughter. Excitedly, I made her a frame as well as a 10 year old could. Glittered covered every square inche of the frame in making. When I gave it to her... I waited breathlessly to see what she thought.
She smiled broadly and hugged me. I ran off to play. When I came back, she had hung it in the laundry room. She explained to me...that way when I do laundry I can always see it. Every time we opened the doors...I'd see my picture right there. Boy...I was proud of the picture.
Then one day...I noticed. I had forgotten her nose. My mom would not let me remove the picture although her nose was indeed missing. She loved it...for it was my first attempt of painting her.
Once more I tried to make something to describe her. For Christmas...I made a book of poems for her. I search for hours and hours...trying to write and find poems which could describe her. I wrote each poem down carefully and drew pictures to illustrate the poem. Delightfully, I pictured her face as she opened the present. She cried in happiness and read through the book over courses of days. Treasuring each poem and drawings I did. When I got older in my teen years, I read through the book. There was so many mistakes and the drawing...of a little girl. But as I read through I remembered how I wanted everything to be perfect for my mom.
This year....my mom was sick for close to three months. My dad had to work and Chris was working and doing college. Dearest Kate was in college an hour and a half way. I tended to my mom, clean the house, did shopping, prepared meals, a basic Secretary, hostess for life group, and started my first semester of collage. When I finally went to bed, I was dead tired. I murmured to myself...How on earth does mom do it?
She raised my best friend and sister along with me to be godly girls with a passion for Christ. Every chores...she taught us to do our best. If we lost it...we paid for it....we wanted it...we paid for it. She encouraged us in our walk with God. And let us know...no matter what we could always come to her....even if we sometimes/rarely disagreed on whatever topic we need advice on. She's not perfect...but she's my mom.
My mom has taught me so much, more than I can ever dream. What she has helped taught me the most is value, commitment, balance, understand responsibilites, and love. I only hope that I can help raise my kids along with my husband for God as well as my mom did.
Like I said before....no picture can capture my mom's beauty. No sound recorder can capture my mom's laugh. No story would be big enough to tell of her love and goodness.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
April
The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy april grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet, the back yards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree-
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me
Sara Teasdale
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy april grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet, the back yards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree-
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me
Sara Teasdale
Monday, April 13, 2009
Spring
Spring...a time of refreshing. Spring...a time for new things. Spring...a time for fulfilment.
It always seems at the end of winter, spring is around the corner. Filled with excitement, we watch day after day for the coming of spring. Eagerly, we await for the smell of flowers, sunny cool days, and walks in the blooming gardens. A purpose seems to fill the air that gives rest and refreshment to our weary souls. Wintery days have passed....the waiting has ended.
I can't help, but think of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in moments like this. To me...He is spring. He's always here and yet always around the corner. How I long for His coming. He seems like spring, when the burdens of this world has left me empty and dried. He give me anew strength carry out the tasks, He has for me. Like a flower, He tenderly tend me...preparing me for days ahead such as the harsh, cold winters. Through all troubles, He's there making me stronger through Him. Through all joy, He's there teaching me how to live in Him.
I long to touch Him, see Him, smell Him, and take long walks in His gardens. He reminds me of His love, and holds me so I can stand. Unlike spring, Jesus is in my heard all year around. But there are seasons, (Winter/summer)when it is time for me be tested, and (spring/autum)a time for me to be rested.
It always seems at the end of winter, spring is around the corner. Filled with excitement, we watch day after day for the coming of spring. Eagerly, we await for the smell of flowers, sunny cool days, and walks in the blooming gardens. A purpose seems to fill the air that gives rest and refreshment to our weary souls. Wintery days have passed....the waiting has ended.
I can't help, but think of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in moments like this. To me...He is spring. He's always here and yet always around the corner. How I long for His coming. He seems like spring, when the burdens of this world has left me empty and dried. He give me anew strength carry out the tasks, He has for me. Like a flower, He tenderly tend me...preparing me for days ahead such as the harsh, cold winters. Through all troubles, He's there making me stronger through Him. Through all joy, He's there teaching me how to live in Him.
I long to touch Him, see Him, smell Him, and take long walks in His gardens. He reminds me of His love, and holds me so I can stand. Unlike spring, Jesus is in my heard all year around. But there are seasons, (Winter/summer)when it is time for me be tested, and (spring/autum)a time for me to be rested.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Graduation Speech
My dear friends,
I wanted to share my graduation speech with you. Looking back on the speech, I realized how important it was to me. It applied then, and it certainly does apply for the most part to my life now. Please, allow me to share something special. Here it is exaclty how it was written.
Good evening! My name is Christina Damron and I have been given a great privilege of speaking with you. On behalf of all the graduates, I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, teachers, families, friends, and special guests who have done much to make this evening possible. Many of you have inspired us, and we are grateful you are here to celebrate this unforgettable occasion with us. Thank you all!
To the graduates of 2008, Congratulations! We have achieved a great deal. Not only have we made it through high school, but we have laid the building blocks of who we are to become. Now, we stand on the threshold of a new horizon in our life story. A chapter is closing, but another is beginning that we enter not as chil dren, but as adults. I believe the years to come will be incredible ones.
For a moment, let us reflect on our theme verse I Timothy 4:12. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” As the next generation, we hold in our hands great power. It does not matter that we are young. If we are humble and willing, God will use us despite our age, difficulties, and our past. To quote my sister, Kate, “Let us do with excellence what we do best and not be afraid to let our voice be heard in following God’s call. It is worth being heard and it is needed. We CAN make a difference.”
I Timothy 4:12 reminds us how to set an example for others. First, how we speak and conduct ourselves reflects who we are and what is inside our hearts. Matthew 12:34 says “…for the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Likewise, Ephesians 4:29 instructs us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Furthermore, if we want to make an impact, we must act with maturity. In Wings of Silver, an unknown author expresses maturity as “… to be able to stick to a job until it is finished; to be able to bear an injustice without wanting to get even; to be able to carry money without spending it, and to do one’s duty without being supervised.”
Next, we can set an example through love, faith, and purity. Let us show love by staying faithful, and show faithfulness by remaining pure. Ephesians 3:16-18 encourages us to look to Christ as our source.
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long, and how high and deep, is the love of Christ.”
Class of 2008, let us remember and live our theme verse, I Timothy 4:12. With this final thought, let us be blessed with a quote from an unknown author “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you…May you be content knowing that you are a child of God…Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”
I wanted to share my graduation speech with you. Looking back on the speech, I realized how important it was to me. It applied then, and it certainly does apply for the most part to my life now. Please, allow me to share something special. Here it is exaclty how it was written.
Good evening! My name is Christina Damron and I have been given a great privilege of speaking with you. On behalf of all the graduates, I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, teachers, families, friends, and special guests who have done much to make this evening possible. Many of you have inspired us, and we are grateful you are here to celebrate this unforgettable occasion with us. Thank you all!
To the graduates of 2008, Congratulations! We have achieved a great deal. Not only have we made it through high school, but we have laid the building blocks of who we are to become. Now, we stand on the threshold of a new horizon in our life story. A chapter is closing, but another is beginning that we enter not as chil dren, but as adults. I believe the years to come will be incredible ones.
For a moment, let us reflect on our theme verse I Timothy 4:12. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” As the next generation, we hold in our hands great power. It does not matter that we are young. If we are humble and willing, God will use us despite our age, difficulties, and our past. To quote my sister, Kate, “Let us do with excellence what we do best and not be afraid to let our voice be heard in following God’s call. It is worth being heard and it is needed. We CAN make a difference.”
I Timothy 4:12 reminds us how to set an example for others. First, how we speak and conduct ourselves reflects who we are and what is inside our hearts. Matthew 12:34 says “…for the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Likewise, Ephesians 4:29 instructs us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Furthermore, if we want to make an impact, we must act with maturity. In Wings of Silver, an unknown author expresses maturity as “… to be able to stick to a job until it is finished; to be able to bear an injustice without wanting to get even; to be able to carry money without spending it, and to do one’s duty without being supervised.”
Next, we can set an example through love, faith, and purity. Let us show love by staying faithful, and show faithfulness by remaining pure. Ephesians 3:16-18 encourages us to look to Christ as our source.
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long, and how high and deep, is the love of Christ.”
Class of 2008, let us remember and live our theme verse, I Timothy 4:12. With this final thought, let us be blessed with a quote from an unknown author “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you…May you be content knowing that you are a child of God…Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”
Friday, February 27, 2009
Psalms 116:3-7
The cords of death entangled me.
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble
and sorrow
Then I called on the name of the LORD
"O Lord, save me!"
The LORD is gracious is gracious and righteous
our God is full of compassion
The LORD protects the
simplehearted
when I was in great need,
He saved me.
Be at rest once more,
O my soul,
for the LORD has been good
to you.
I think the last 3 verses are worth repeating. Just think on the those words! Surely, surely if they are written in the bible, they HAVE to be true! He's not talking about 'others', He's talking to YOU! Believe, and grab hold of these words.
The Lord is gracious and
rightesous;
Our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the
simplehearted;
when I was in great need,
He saved me.
Be at REST once mmore, O my souls
for the LORD has been good
to you.
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble
and sorrow
Then I called on the name of the LORD
"O Lord, save me!"
The LORD is gracious is gracious and righteous
our God is full of compassion
The LORD protects the
simplehearted
when I was in great need,
He saved me.
Be at rest once more,
O my soul,
for the LORD has been good
to you.
I think the last 3 verses are worth repeating. Just think on the those words! Surely, surely if they are written in the bible, they HAVE to be true! He's not talking about 'others', He's talking to YOU! Believe, and grab hold of these words.
The Lord is gracious and
rightesous;
Our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the
simplehearted;
when I was in great need,
He saved me.
Be at REST once mmore, O my souls
for the LORD has been good
to you.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wisdom from a dear, wise lady
We learned that we are not defined by our successes or our failures. And in all of that, we learned that God's pursuit of our hearts was relentless...and beautiful. ~ Lesa Reid
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