Sanctity of Human Life

Images. Some grip our attention and inspire warm feelings. Others stir negative emotions. "Immoral." "Pro-Choice." "Liberal." opponent? An enemy? Or a person whose life is sacred? What response is evoked? Annoyance? Disgust? Hatred? Or concern?

Labels. The Sanctity of human life ethic begins with the understanding that all people are made in the image of God. We are commanded to protect and respect them because they bear His image, not because they're innocent or conform to standards. Labels never really apply.

Actions. As we know, the Bible prohibits violence and murder because each human being is a special creation in His image. (1) Old and New Testaments use the same rationale for prohibiting hateful speech: mockery, slander, curses, abuse, etc.(2) Indeed the mouth of one like Christ-who bears His image- is devoid of such offenses. (3) When any human being is harmed physically or verbally, God feels it! (4)

Thought! Proverbs 24 goes further, applying the pro-life principle to our thoughts and feelings. Verses 10-12 are very familiar to pro-life people -Deliver those being led away to death!- but how do we know verses 17-20? They tell us not to celebrate when the enemy falls, or rejoice when he stumbles. Why? The Lord is watching He is displeased. (5)

Heart. Calling myself pro-life neither the kingdom of God nor me anything if regard for the sanctity of human life is not written deeply on my heart. (6) It must be reflected in my relationships with those who love me, and in my responses to those who do not.

Jesus says we should love our enemies and pray for them. (7) How can I pray for the person I hate? Without love, how can I ever expect to persuade anyone to my point of view, or win him/her to Christ?

I want to be pro-life in my thoughts, deeds, and words. What does that look like?

I will not show contempt for fellow image-bearers, but treat them with love, honor, and respect.

I will not seek to resolve conflicts with a "win", but with relationships intact or improved.

I won’t dehumanize (or "demonize") people who advocate abortion, but love them, pray for them, do good to them... without expecting or demanding kindness in return.

1) Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 20:13; Proverbs 3:29-31, 4:14-17, 6:16-19, 22:2. 2) James 3:8-10; Matthew 5:21-22; Proverbs 12:6, 17:4-5. 3) Colossians 3:8-10. 4) Proverbs 14:31. 5) Proverbs 14:20-21. 6) Matthew 15:18-20; Galatians 5:19-24. 7) Luke 6:27-36; Romans 13:8-10.

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

One day I will have my own horse=)
One day my best friend will be a horse

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb

Wait

Waiting for me is really hard. I seem to want to jump at everything and not wait on the Lord for His timing. It has been a struggle for me for quite along time. I decided to look up verses on waiting..

Ruth 3:18 Then said she, "Wait, my daughter, until thou know how the matter turns out: for the man will not be in rest, until he settled it today."

Psalms 25:3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

Psalms 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalms 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

Psalms 37:3-5, 7, 9 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you."

Isaiah 26:8 Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls.

Isaish 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 49:23b And you will know that I am the LORD; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.

Isaiah 64:4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Zephaniah 3:8a"Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD..

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

The Single Hearted Virgins

The Single Hearted Virgin
by Thaysse Costa

I heard Him say, "Be single-hearted, My Bride"
The applause and shame of men despise.
Care not at all what they think and say,
Place thy eyes on Me: I will not delay.
Break at My feet alone thy spikenard jar,
I want thy heart from Me not afar.
Incline to Me thy intimate thoughts;
Embrace the narrow road that is rough -
For My love is far better than wine;
For thou art Mine, and I am thine.
Run to Me despite what thy enemies tell,
I have crushed them under My feet; they all fell.
My blood will cover thee in and out of need,
It will empower thee for multitudes to feed.
Examine My Word to find Me alone,
Each new day let me rule in thy hearts throne.
Be not afraid, I uphold thee in My right hand;
I am the One who will make thee stand.
My grace, love, and peace have already sufficed;
I AM thy Lover, thy LORD; I AM thy Christ.
Deny thy interests, give Me thy life;
I long to make thee a gracious wife.


The single-hearted virgins were bought with a price;
Their affection and interest are for the Risen Christ.
With undivided heart they delight in His name,
To be His and His alone they are not ashamed.
In Adullam's cave they have joined their King;
In being hunted and despised for His sake they rejoice and sing.
There they are made ready for the fight,
Being freshly anointed with the captain's might.
In pain and purging they cleave to the Spirit's Sword;
In the Lord's strength and grace they march forward.
The Lamb's righteousness is their cloak,
And only in the cross they dare to boast.
They become Mary sitting at Jesus' feet,
And following only where the Spirit leads.
With effectual fervent prayers they intercede;
Building up broken walls, standing for the least.
They do not indulge under a chapel's bell,
But spend themselves within an yard from hell.
In the bedrocks of unchangeable truth they stand
Immovable and shielded by the Almighty Hand.
And this is the single-hearted virgins' cry:
"Give the glory due to the Triune GOD on High!"

I Do, Lord!

This subject as been on my mind for quite sometime lately. So I'm going to try my best to put it into words.

When you get married do you say the "I Do's" then go your separate ways never to say a word to each other again? NO! If you love that person you are going to want to be with them! Sometimes this is how we treat God. We ask Jesus into our heart but then after that we don't do anything to cultivate it. Deuteronomy 6:5 says "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all they soul and all thine might." Do we show the one who died for us our love? Not always, I know I'm guilty. We get so caught up in so many different things. We say we love God but do we show it? Do we act it? Lets return to our Bridegroom, He is waiting for us with out stretched arms!

*note the picture is from my friend's GORGEOUS wedding.

Check out her awesome blog: http://smoothstones31.blogspot.com/

Complete in Thee

Such a Beautiful song!! Had to share!

Pictures from my Happy New Year

Me, Bekah, Robert, Melissa, and Lizzie

First time together for along time (Melissa's dad's job moved her to Texas)

The four of us were the bestest of best friends through out high school.. kinda like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants only with out the pants haha! Oh yeah and the shirt isnt exactly me, Bekah got it for me for Christmas saying I would look cute in it and that she was trying to get me out of my "bubble" of clothes lol
Some Things NEVER change =)

Liz trying to annoy the guys with the Mario Cart Wii
Robert beating up on Christian (both have alot of brothers so we were not to worried bout someone getting hurt=)
Some of my favorite kiddos =)
They were playing some card game. Cant remember what it was called.

Mr. Allen got the little girls stuffed toy camels in Iraq for Christmas and they took the hat off them and stuck it on Scout.. poor dog =/

She is soooo thrilled =/