The night before Jesus came..

I got this from a friend. Very touching.

"Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head

It was Jesus!  Returning just like He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;

When He said, “It’s not here my head hung in shame

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound

While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;

I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight

Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There’s only one life and when comes the last call

We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!"

Do you know where you're going when Jesus comes?

Much Love,

TessieB

Chicken and Mashed Potato's.

This is probably gonna get a little boring because I again want to tell you all about dinner tonight! Maybe next time I will wait a few days and do more than one dinner in one blog post.
      But I didn't only make dinner tonight, noo!  I made breakfast and lunch too!  That's quite alota meals from someone who doesn't like to cook.  I would say I'm definitely warming up to it :)
      Today for breakfast I made eggs for myself.  Simple, scrambled eggs.  Everyone knows how to make that, right?  Yes.  But, instead of grating the chunk of cheese, I put already grated cheese on it.  Which never turns out well.   Never again. If you are ever wondering whether to use already grated cheese that comes in a packet or to  grate cheese to put it on your eggs, grate the cheese yourself!! It just tastes better.  Alot better.
      For lunch mom asked me to make her a quesadilla.  So I made two. One for her, one for me.  I asked my brother Andrew for tips since he is the best quesadilla maker ever!  They didn't quite turn out how I wanted them to.  I think I used too much cheese (if that's even possible!).

     All day I'd kinda been wondering what we'd have for dinner.  Mom was too busy all day to get groceries and so was I.  But mom stopped by the store on her way home from bible study and grabbed a Ready-made chicken.  The chicken is all cooked and ready to eat, all you have to do is cut it up!  Of course mashed potato's go best with chicken so mom had me make homemade mashed potato's! (Instead of the ready-in-a-minute kind of mashed potato's.)  What I did was peel the potato's (which I'm painfully slow at) and chop 'em up and put them in a pot that has water in it. (I was also so very painfully slow at chopping up the potato's) Once that's done you just put it on the stove and let it boil for about 15-20 min. While that was going I got some french styled green beans in a can and dumped the contents of that can in a small pot.  Actually I used two cans. I also let that boil for a bit.  Once that potato's were done I drained them and put them back in the pot.  Then added milk butter and garlic salt and mashed it up with our potato masher! It doesn't really matter how much milk and butter you add, just as long as it's enough. No need to measure. Then I got some garlic cloves, crushed them up and put them in a little pan that had melted butter in it.  Let them cook for a little then put it in the mashed potato's. You can also cut up the garlic cloves, cook them and put them in.  (I think I will do that next time)
The mashed potato's were ready.
When the green beans were done boiling I drained them and put them back in the pot. Then, (surprise!) I added an egg.  Yes an egg.  You kinda just stir it around until the egg looks cooked.  Then its ready!
       Tonight's dinner wasn't as simple as last night's but it was oh so good! :)  Mom says garlic goes with everything.  She is right. I put a little garlic salt on the green beans and it tasted better!

MmmMmmm :]

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

I made dinner tonight

I've decided to start making dinners in order to learn how to cook!  I had a whole week all planned out what I wanted to do. They were interesting dishes that would require some work.  But I didn't totally plan ahead.  I was planning on going shopping today to get food for tonight. But that didn't work out. I was kinda bummed.  But I looked at what we had and decided I'd try my hand at making spaghetti.
         Now spaghetti isn't at all that hard to make. Especially if you don't make your own sauce. Then its a piece of cake!  All you have to do is boil some water, then put the spaghetti noodles in and cook it for about 20 min. I just use Prego sauce instead of making it homemade.  Homemade is good, but I love the way Prego sauce tastes!
         I looked around to see what else we had that could go with spaghetti and I found some zucchini! So I peeled the zucchini cut it up and put it in a pan to steam it. Steamed zucchini with garlic salt is really good :)
         I tried to think of something that would be cool and make the dinner taste better. But I realized I love just simple spaghetti with Prego sauce and Parmesan cheese. There's nothing like it!  It's so good I always have seconds. (which I hardly ever do!)  Thats one thing I love about Italian food! Its so simple and sooooooo good! Sometimes its not always so simple.  But you can make a variety of things with just a few simple ingredients.

I wonder what I will make tomorrow night?
Life is always an adventure! Never forget that :)

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

I can't bow low enough!

We have had some bizarre weather here lately.. Monday broke the record in LA. Hit 113! The previous record was 112.  I've been told that it got so hot the official thermometer broke!  What?!
Today it looks like it might rain! I hope it does.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day!

I took these pictures yesterday.  The top two are from in front of my house, and the bottom two are from the beach!

Me and my sister and a friend walked a mile from where we were at the beach to the pier.  It was soo beautiful! As we were walking enjoying the beauty, this song came into my head;

"I'm walking through the bright white gates
Breathing in and out your grace

All around me melodies rise

That echo with the joy inside

So I start to sing
But I can't sing loud enoughI can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God
I can't sing loud enough
I can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God
With a thunder roll and a brilliant light
Your glory boasts and the heavens shine
The saints and angels stand in awe
Captured by the beauty of it all
So I fall to my knees
But I can't bow low enough

I can't bow low enough
At the vision of You my God
I can't bow low enough 

I can't bow low enough

At the vision of You my God
I can't hold it all inside
I'm reaching for the One who brought me out of death and into life
But I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
Oh I'm reaching for You my God
I'm reaching for You
I'm reaching for You
                                            I'm reaching for You my God"


That song is called Cielo and its by Phil Wickham!

       

              

                    Psalm 150

Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

   praise him in his mighty heavens

Praise him for his acts of power;

   praise him for his surpassing greatness

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet;

   praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with the tambourine and dancing,

   praise him with the strings and flute,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

   praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

Amen!

Thanks for reading!

 Much Love,

TessieB

A Rhapsody in Blueishness....

Mmmmm... Music =)

Music is one of my favorite things on earth!  It's just so wonderful.

In case you didn't know, I've been learning Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.
I'm gonna give you a little history about the Rhapsody;
I know I already told you that he wrote it in 3 weeks, but I didn't tell you why.  In 1923 Paul Whiteman asked George to compose "something" for his epoch-making concert of symphonic jazz at Aeolian Hall on Lincoln's Birthday 1924.  (not sure what all those words mean..) Gershwin, at the moment, was against it and had almost forgotten about it if it was not for the shock of reading in the New York Herald-Tribune early 1924 that he was busy on a symphony for the much heralded Whiteman concert.  Here was a challenge which could only be answered by "doing something about it."  The symphony idea was definitely out.  He decided to aim what he wrote at a misconception regarding the inflexibility of jazz rhythms. He worked the composition out in his mind and in three weeks (3!!) turned out the Rhapsody in Blue.  The famous Whiteman concert which gave the Rhapsody to the world is now a matter of history. The concert itself proved conclusively that genius and artistry existed and flourished in Tin Pan Alley. (whatever that means) The Rhapsody proved to be the cornerstone of what has now become a type of music thoroughly divorced from European influence and formalism, and magnificently American. So far as Gershwin was concerned, the Rhapsody merely proved his point- jazz was not confined to strict rhythm!

I got all that from a forward at the front of my brothers Rhapsody in Blue sheet music.  What a song!  If you have not heard it, look it up on YouTube or something!

So I have semi-thoroughly learned pages 1-the middle of page 5.  Although I can play up to page nine, I haven't sat down to work on those parts as much.  And I have skipped ahead to page 22 to learn a really fun, yet challenging part of the song :)  The song is kind of exhausting though.  When I finish learning it, I don't know if I will be able to play it all the way through.  Playing piano songs to their fullest puts alot of strain on my back.  I guess I will just have to pray to God to give me strength when I play.
I love playing piano!  I love being able to do something I love! God is awesome :)

Well, that's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

What are you waiting for?

There are a number of things going through my head right now.  But my next topic is as follows;  Movies!  And how they impact you :)

Now I'm not even close to being an expert on this subject, but I have a few thoughts about it.
I bet you didn't know that movies influence the way you think about life.  Even if you did know I bet you didn't know that they influence YOU.   They really do influence you.   In more than one way.   For starters, they aren't real life.  A lot of stuff that happens in movies don't happen in real life.  "Well duhh! Everyone knows that!"  Do they really?  Do girls really know that guys aren't gonna love them the way the movies say they should?  Do guys really know that true beauty is on the inside, not the outside, of a girl?
I bet you didn't know that in movie's, the world view of the writers, or directors, or whoever makes the movie, has an impact on you?  It really does.

Take for instance, Jurassic Park.  Now I've never seen that movie, and I don't plan on ever seeing that movie, but I was at a conference and they were talking about movies at one point and we were showed a clip of this movie.  In the movie clip, these people found a Velociraptor fossil that was still in the ground using special equipment.  The main guy was talking about it and stuff when a little boy from the crowd says, "That doesn't look scary."  Now, the guy went over to the boy and started explaining how the Velociraptor attacks and kills his prey.   He tells a very convincing story.  Now if you weren't really thinking about it and was just watching the movie for fun, you probably wouldn't realize that in actuality we have no idea how they attack and kill their prey.  Most of what the guy said about them is from assumptions.  He has no evidence.  But you might be thinking that that is how they really are.  Now I don't think you would defend their point of view but you would probably be convinced that that is how they really are. I know I tend to think that.  Who knows, they could be vegetarians!

Another aspect of movies I want to talk about is what movies we watch.
What keeps you from watching certain movies?  And what makes you think its okay to watch others?  These are important questions.  You should ask yourself next time you watch a movie, Why am I watching this movie? What makes it okay to watch?   Now I'm not saying you shouldn't watch movies, because I love to watch movies!  But I want you to think about something.  What if Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was sitting next to you...watching the movies you watch with you?  Would you be uncomfortable?  If you knew Jesus was seeing what movie you are seeing, would it make you think twice about seeing it?   What makes certain movies okay to watch?  Just cuz they have nothing 'bad' in them?  Oh, there's not that much cursing.  Oh, there aren't really any inappropriate scenes...  Why do we tolerate that kind of stuff?   Well, everyone else says its okay.   Well, my friends thought it was a good movies.  Well, its just a little cussing.  Not that bad.
What kind of excuses are those?!
Think about it!  It's important to think about.  Movies influence you whether you know it or not!  For the better or worse.
What a bummer that is for me though, because I love movies!  I've seen soo many movies. Weird one's, silly one's, good one's, bad one's (as in not good quality).  My family watches movies a lot. We own a lot of movies, we go out to see movies.  We rent movie's from netflix.

But why?  Why do we feel the need to be entertained all the time?   Being entertained is not something we should look for in life.  Our life, YOUR life, should not be about having a good time and being entertained.   Our life should be about Glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through all we do!  How do we do that though?  It's hard.  Very hard.  Especially when all your friends aren't really into that kind of thing.  Its easy just to go with the flow, not giving God that much thought.   How can we not give Him much thought?!  He CREATED US!  He Made us!!!  He made YOU!   When you think about how a mother loves her children, its special, because they are hers!  She birthed them!  Imagine how God loves you!  He created you!  He knew and loved you since before there was time!   That should AMAZE you! If you are indeed a child of God you should be AMAZED that God loves you!  The most incredible thing about the fact that God loved Jacob and hated Esau is not that He hated Esau, but that He love Jacob!  Do you deserve God's love?  Think about it.  I know I don't!  I fail Him every second of the day!  Yet he died and took my sins away so I could go to Heaven to be with Him!   He deserves my everything!  Yet do I give Him my everything?  Why don't I? Because of my flesh.  I have been corrupted since birth.  It's human nature that I don't love God they way He loves me.  That's what makes the Christian life so hard!  We are called to love God, and give Him glory, but our flesh tells us that God is our enemy.   That God is not doing a good job. That God doesn't deserve out praise!   How I hate my flesh!   We need to kill our sinful nature!  We need to kill it right now!  It's taking away God's glory from Him.  We need to pray to God to take away our sin!

What are you waiting for?!

Thanks for reading :)

Much Love,
TessieB <3

"I know that my Redeemer lives!" Job 19:25

So I do know why I blog.   Because I love it :)
Yesterday my new glasses came in.  I like them alot. Even though I don't exactly need to wear them all the time, I think I will :)  I love being able to see things that are far away.   Sight is a gift.  A blessing.  Don't take it for granted.  Please! :)

So I need your help, I want to buy a nice camera, but I have noooo idea what kind to get!  Do you have a nice camera? If so what kind and what do you like about it?  haha  What kind should I get?!

What do you think of my new blog layout? or backround...or...whatever...  haha I rather like it :)

Feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB <3

Ummmm yes :)

So the other day I was thinking about how my brother is over 18 (which makes him an adult) but he's still a teenager!  So what does that make him?  Nothing other than a Teenadultager :)  (Teen-adult-ager) 

CHEA this past weekend was pretty awesome!  If you don't know what is it, its a Christian Home Educators Association thingy.  This years teen convention was WorldView Academy!  It was really cool.  I've been told by friends that I should go to worldview, but I never really wanted to.  Now I do :)  The only thing is, its kinda expensive... So we'll see :)

Sometimes I dunno why I even bother blogging.  Like now. I don't know why I'm doing this.  Maybe its just to get my thoughts out...? *shrugs*  I'd be nice if people read this, but I don't think many do. haha :)

I don't really have much to say and that's why this blog is so scattered and random...

So about that song I started learning on piano...  So far I've got 2 down, 27 more pages to go!  Phew!  :)   That's alot.  But I will finish it!.... eventually :)

Ummmm yes.

Thanks for reading!  Means alot :)  Cuz not many are willing to read my boring blog :P

Much Love,

TessieB

Rhapsody In Blue

So I decided that I'm going to attempt to learn to play Rhapsody In Blue on the piano.  Its a 29 page song with 11 key changes throughout the whole thing.  Written by George Gershwin who wrote it in 3 weeks. wow.  Its going to take me months to learn!   But, I figure if i'm going to learn Heroic Polonaise in A flat by Chopin (which is my favorite piano piece annndd its extremely insanely hard.), that I should learn Rhapsody In Blue first.  
I thought it would be kinda fun to blog about my experience learning this difficult piece.  Sooo here I go! :P
So far I have played the whole first page through a couple times.  It's not tooo bad.  It's going to take me a while to learn.  ..... Fun! :)
I can't wait to finish it and amaze the whole wide world with my awesome skizzles. :)
yeaaaahhhh..

Much Love,
TessieB

Why Superman is my favorite super hero...

I picked Superman as my favorite super hero.   For many reasons.   But before I state the reasons, I wanted to let you know that all that I know of superman is based on Superman Returns.   Great movie!  Highly recommend it!  I've never seen any of the other movies.. or read the comics... So here goes...

My favorite thing about him is his Christ-likeness.   The whole entire movie, his whole self, reminds me of my Savior Jesus Christ and the Gospel!  The world does need a Savior. 
Lois Lane seems to think, or has convinced herself, that she doesn't need a savior.  She comes to found out that she actually does. 
My favorite scene is when Lois sees Superman for the first time since he's returned and he takes her way up in the sky and asks her; "What do you hear?"
She says, "I hear nothing"
"I hear everything." He tells her, "You wrote that the world doesn't need a Savior, but every day I hear people crying for one."

It's true, everyone does cry out for a Savior whether they know it or not.   They all need Him.

I had planned on saying a bunch about Superman and the movie, but none of that seems important right now.  The only important thing is my Savior.   Clark Kent/Superman reminds me of my Savior and the worlds need of a Savior.  
It's just something to think about.

Sorry for this superlame post,
Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

An uh-may-zing invention

I know I said my next post would be on my favorite super hero... but I haven't had the time lately, so I thought I'd make a quick post on another subject...

For all those people reading this who need glasses to see.... I want you (if at all possible) to go for a whole day not using glasses (unless of course you need to for school, driving, etc.).  
Why? 
Because I want you to think about how you're life would be if you can't see. 
Why? 
Because! Most people who have had to wear glasses for a long period of time take them for granted and/or are annoyed that they have to wear glasses. 

I personally think glasses are the most amazing invention.  I just recently found out I need to wear glasses to see.   When I put them on its like; "WOAH!!! I can seee!"  :)  Most amazing thing ever!

Now I'm not trying to be mean or anything but we should be soooo extremely thankful for such an invention that enables us to see and live our life's like normal people!  God is sooo extremely good to us!  I mean, wow!  We look through glass and we can see!!  UH-MAY-ZING!
Praise the Lord! haha :)

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

Please answer! :) EDITED

I have a question that I want you to answer if you're reading this.

Who is your favorite superhero?
EDIT- And why is he/she your favorite?

My next blog will be on my favorite superhero, and why he is my favorite!

Please answer!

Much Love,
TessieB

Random thoughts

I think it's about time I did another post.  As a warning in advance, this is gonna be a random post!  to. the. max.

A lot of things been going on.   Been feeling pretty much useless lately.  Ya know, like the Relient K "More than Useless" song?  
You know what amazes me though?!  God still loves worthless me!  I find that so amazing.  I say, "Why?  Why did You choose me? How could You love me?"  Isn't that amazing? We are sooo totally worthless and yet He still can love us!
"And while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
OH MY GOSH.  He. Died. For. US!  For worthless sinners!
He truly is amazing and worthy of our praise and honor!

Today I went on a rant and was checking out people's blog's.  People I don't know in person.  But! They seem like really cool people and their blogs were really encouraging to me!  Thank the Lord for Brothers and Sisters in Christ! :)

Yesterday I went and got some books.  But not just any books....music books!!  I've needed some new stuff to play.   If you don't know who Edvard Grieg is, you should go find out. Cuz I really love his music.

On another note, have you ever heard of the "Kingdom Series"?? It's a book series.  It's reaaaaaaalllllyyy good :)   It's basically a parallel of the Bible, just a little different.  It really is good.  I encourage you to look it up.  The books are short, so it shouldn't take too long to read if you're a decently fast reader.

One more thing.  This quote keeps popping into my head. I dunno where I heard it from or who said it, But it might encourage you in times of trial or doubt;

"Anything this side of Hell is grace" 
....or something like that.

In other words, if you're not in Hell right now, God is being soooo very gracious and kind to you.  We all deserve to put into Hell this very moment.
What a great God we have!

Sorry for my scattered post.  My thoughts are kinda scattered at the moment.
But thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

Just a little thought..

Am I the only person who thinks, when they hear the word "God", of someone far away and unconnected with me?

I don't always think that.  Well, let me rephrase that. I usually don't think that way.  Sometimes though. 
But, God the Father, God my Father!, that is something different entirely.   The other day as we were singing worship in church the lyrics to one of the songs said something about our Father.  And the thought really hit me.   He is my Father!  He loves me and takes care of me.   I don't deserve it.

It just gave me a different perspective of Him.  Ya know?  I had never really thought of it that way.

Don't you just love those moments?  When God opens your eyes to something in a way totally new to you?  :)  He is the best :)

Another thing I wanted to say. I would like you to pray for a couple friends of mine who are going through extreme pain.   The other day I had a little glimpse of what they are going through. It's not cool. They have baaaaaaaad head pain.   Not exactly headaches.  It's worse.  So you if you could pray for them I would really appreciate it :)

Live your life for God's glory!
Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

Questions...

I have recently realized that when I'm in alot of pain because of my back, I tend to get really grouchy and cranky.  I wonder why that is....

Usually when I ask questions on my blog I have some sort of answer for it....  This time I don't.  What are your thoughts? Are you having the same issues?  It's always nice to know that you're not alone in these kind of issues....

Another thing.. It's normal to get headaches right?  I have headaches a decent amount of the time...  Not toooo much though.  Just every once in a while...  That's normal right?  (just wanted to be sure)

I have other things I'd like to talk about but I don't have time right now unfortunately..

Please post a comment if you're reading this.  I'd really like to know your thoughts. And I'd like to know if you are having any kind of pain for I can pray so you  :)
Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

P.S. I thought you might enjoy this quote from my sister;
 "Being normal is weird and being weird is normal"
:)

How dare you....

Writers block?  What the heck is that? 

I dunno.  I've never had it :)

---------------

How can I complain? What right have I to complain?  haha! Imagine!  If one of our rights as Americans were the right to complain..   How weird would that be? 

But seriously.

What right do we, mere created beings, have to complain against a perfect God?!??  When you complain, you are acting like the Israelites, who, despite God delivering them from slavery and being SOOOO insanely good to them, complained and sinned against God! 

*GASPETH!*  How dare they!

But!  YOU (yes you!) do the exact same thing!  God is showing you mercy and grace undeserved and you complain and spit in His perfect face!

Every time you complain out loud, or in your head, you are complaining to God, who keeps you and sustains you.  Who gave you life!  Who is perfectly Holy!   It ought to make you feel sick thinking back on how you treat Him.  This post right now is meant to make you feel sick and terrible and repentive.   I hope I'm succeeding....

We complain alot!  We are soo blessed!  And we complain anyways. 
I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I have a right to complain.  Because of my pain and how long I've had it.  I feel that I have a right to complain.  

WRONG!
WRONG!
ALLLL WRONG!

I have no right whatsoever to complain!  I am sooo blessed!  Even though I may feel a little pain, its nothing compared to what Jesus suffered on the cross.   Let me say that again.  Whatever pain you feel, its nothing!!! compared to what Jesus suffered on the cross!!!  He was not only in physical pain, but He suffered the wrath of God!!  I can't even imagine.  I bet you can't either.  If you can....there is something wrong......

I have a verse though, for those of you who are suffering..

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
"3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

I hope this helps.

Much Love,
TessieB

Does your life bring glory to God?

I have so so much to say.  And so so little time to say it.

First off....  Does anyone even read this?  probably not... I don't blame you!  This is a rather boring and weird blog.  If you are reading this.... your loss.  I'm thinking this is gonna be rather long and....not well put together! :)

Secondly...I saw Alice in Wonderland again!   It was hard for me to catch the moral because I forget to look for it.  I don't have much insight in that area... It seemed to be..(and I could be totally off) Don't shy away from duty and don't conform to be who people think you should be.   I'm not sure.  But thinking on it, that might be what they're trying to say.   I don't know...

Okay!  Now on to what I really want to talk about!

You ready for this??


Wait for it..

Wait for it...

Wait for ittttttttt!

Ungodliness!  Yeah!  You read that right!  Ungodliness!

What the heck kind of topic is that??   Ohhh... just one that I read about today.  In bible study.   Made me want to cry... I underlined a lot of parts in the book "Respectable Sins" that I wanted to share.

Here is what Jerry Bridges says about ungodliness - "Ungodliness may be defined as living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God's will, or of God's glory, or of one's dependence on God"

Woah!  Ungodliness doesn't just mean you aren't like God.  It means that you ignore God and all He does for you!    This should shock you.  It shocked me.  But wait! There's more;

"Now, the sad fact is that many of us who are believers tend to live our daily lives with little or no thought of God. We may read our Bibles and pray for a few minutes at the beginning of each day, but then we go out into the day's activities and basically live as though God doesn't exist. We seldom think of our dependence on God or our responsibility to Him. We might go for hours with no thought of God at all. In that sense, we are hardly different from our nice, decent, but unbelieving neighbor. God is not at all in his thoughts and is seldom in ours." (Emphases added)

Now, throughout my whole post there is something you must never forget.  That's the gospel.  Jesus went on that cross, suffered God's holy, just and awesome wrath for these very sins I'm talking about.  And nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor ANY powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in ALL creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
(Emphases added)

Okay, back to what Jerry Bridges had to say about this;
"We seldom think of our accountability to God and our responsibility to live according to His moral will as revealed to us in Scripture.  It's not that we are living obviously sinful lives; it's just that we seldom think about the will of God and, for the most part, are content to avoid obvious sins."

Later on, he is talking about 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says; "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
"The 'all' of that sentence includes every activity of our days. We are not only to eat to the glory of God, we are to drive to the glory of God, we are to shop to the glory of God, and we are to engage in our social relationships to the glory of God. Everything we do is to be done to the glory of God.  That is the mark of a godly person."

Wow, I am sooooo ungodly!  I totally don't do that!  Wish I did! 
Well, how do we do all these things to the glory of God?  One thing I think helps is thinking, "Is God being glorified by me doing this?" or "Does this bring glory to God?"
Here is something the writer of this book does that helps him; "So I pray prospectively over the day before me, asking that the Holy Spirit will so direct my thoughts, words, and actions that they will be pleasing to God."
Good advice right?  Now only if we could follow it!

Here is what he says is a mark of ungodliness; "A person may be moral and upright, or even busy in Christian service, yet have little or no desire to develop an intimate relationship with God....The question we should honestly and humbly ask is, How ungodly am I? How much of my life do I live without any regard for God? How much of my daily activities do I go through without any reference to God?"

Good questions!  Think about that for a minute.  Re-read it if you have to.  The answer is probably a lot.  I know mine was. 
I have just a couple more things I want to quote from him, so bear with me!

"Sins of the tongue, such as gossip, sarcasm, and other unkind words to or about another person, cannot thrive in an awareness that God hears every word we speak."

In other words, if we are aware that God hears every word we speak, then we shouldn't be gossiping or saying unkind things to or about other people.

I just wanted to point out one more thing Jerry Bridges says; "I could not help but contrast our anemic desire for godliness with the attitude of young men in our city who recently camped out all night in the snow and cold at the entrance to a local electronics store. They wanted to be sure they would be able to buy one of a limited supply of a new video game system. One young man arrived at 9:30 Saturday morning to wait for the doors to open at 8 a.m. Sunday.  Would any of us have that kind of zeal for godliness?"

Now that's pretty insane.  We should have that kind of zeal for godliness!  But why don't we?  Probably because we don't think about it, and other things get in the way.  Not. Cool.

But, as I said earlier, Jesus died for these sins!  Our part is to grow in godliness and give glory to God with our every waking moment.

Thats all for now!

Thanks for reading this superlongsuperboring post :)

Much Love,
TessieB

Wandering in Wonderland

I'm trying to collect my thoughts on this subject.  Where to start?  Maybe the book? 

I've read the books before.  Didn't like them at all.  It was just so weird.  It didn't make any sense.  It was too weird.  So, as a result, I kinda didn't want to see the movie.  When the previews came out, it looked kinda dark and weird and I didn't want to see it.  I didn't think I would ever see it.  But as time went by I started wanting to.  It looked really cool.  I had heard though that it wasn't that good.  It was good, but not...ya know, great.   Wasn't looking forward to seeing it in 3D.  I hate 3D.  It usually bothers me the whole time I'm watching the movie. It just doesn't do anything for me. 

But, Oh. Man.  What a movie! 

I love movies that are semi realistic, but isn't the same as our world.  Like City of Ember.  I don't know if any of you have read the book or seen the movie, but it's basically the same world we live in, but they are totally different.  So cool.   Not like sci-fi.  I don't really like sci-fi at all...

It just takes you into another land!  A wonderful land :)

I think this has to be Tim Burtons best movie ever.  All of the characters are awesome, the acting, the designs, the layout, the story, the visual effects!  All in all it was a well done movie!  And the 3D was Uh-may-zing!  You gotta see it in 3D if you're going to.

Now, I don't really know what the moral of the story is.  I will have to take a closer look at that when I see it again, and let you know what I thought of it. :)
There was a little too much fighting for my taste.  I don't like any fighting, but that's just me.  :)
It was a good movie.  Can't wait to see it again!

Thanks for reading!
And

Much love,
TessieB

This is short..

Do you have certain people in your life who you spent alot of time with and then they were suddenly, without warning, taken away?   One day your hanging out, having fun, the next, they are just gone without a trace.   Its awful.  Do you ever randomly just think about them? And how different your life would be if they were still in it?  Then you are swept off your feet with this wave of sorrow and grief.  You miss them so much.  But there's nothing you can do.  I hate those moments when I think of them.  I want to cry out, "Why Lord?!"  But, I have to remind myself that He is in control. He totally knows what He is doing.  Isn't that comforting? I thought so.

Saddened, but with
Much Love,
TessieB

Jesus Messiah ♫

How many times our kind deeds forgotten, and how often our sins are what we are remember by.

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him."
Psalm 32-1-2~

Praise God for our Wonderful Savior!

"He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all"  ♫

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_B4VCwhb8Y


Much Love,
TessieB

Basically...

Don't you just hate those days when you have nothing to say?  You want to say something, but absolutely nothing comes to mind. 
Its just one of those days for me.

We'll since I can't think of an interesting topic to talk about I'll just tell you what's been going on.

You: Hey! How's it going? What've you been up to?
Me: School.... >.>

School?  Seriously? That's it?! 
Pa-the-tic.

Why can't I think of anything else to say?!  Probably because there is sooo much going on that I can't remember all that's going on... so the only thing I can actually think of to say is; school. 
Such a boring topic!  Who would want to talk about school?   hehe. I would.

My younger sister Anna comes and starts reading over my shoulder.  I told her not to read my conversations.  She says its a blog.    She thinks I'm really weird.

Anyways. What was I saying? Oh yes.   Another reason why I only say that school is what I've been doing is because whats up with me is a whole story.  Actually it's more like a novel...  a long one.  And seriously... who wants to know all about whats going on in my pathetic life?  The only person I can think of is my hero :)
I hope you can all guess who that is because I'm not telling you. :P

School school school....  its where you learn and grow!  Except... that doesn't happen often in our society anymore.  It's really sad.  People do school not to learn, but just to get it done.  I know I do that.  Again, pa-the-tic. Only with God's grace can we be anything different.

"You are a sad, strange little man" - name that quote!

Thanks for reading this weird post! :)

Much Love,
TessiB

Youth and Bible Study- and my limited view on this subject

Youth and Bible Study.  Those two things don't exactly go well together.  I'm not talking about Bible studies. I'm talking about actually studying the Bible!  We often (by we I mean I fyi) tend to just read our Bible's to get it over with for the day.  When do we actually read our Bible to learn something new about God??   Today for the first time probably ever I read my Bible to look for certain things and to learn!  I don't really remember much of what I read, but it was enjoyable!

Another thing about Youth and Bible Study.. (it's more like our lack of Bible study!)  I think it's rather funny that all us teens have our strong opinions on theological issues but in reality... We don't know anything!  Really. What do we know about all these issues?!   We don't really know.  I mean, some of us might know a couple things we are talking about. The few of us who actually go and look up in the Bible what God says about these things, know something. 

Well, if we don't know anything, why don't we look it up? Hmm, good question! (haha ;P)  Let's think about it. We, have opinions on things we really know nothing about and couldn't back it up with scripture.. Why is that?  My thought is that we have a little too much trust and faith in everything our superiors say.  I'm not saying having any faith or trust in them is wrong, I'm just saying we don't really take the time to check if what they are saying is true.  Well, why should we?  Why wouldn't they be telling the truth? 
No one is perfect.  So, also, no one's thoughts or opinions are perfect, thus what they tell us is not always perfectly true.  How are we to know if what they say is what is true?  Simple.  Look it up! In your Bible! The handy-dandy book that God gave us to talk to us!  What do you know?!
I apologize for my blunt opinions. It just meant to get you (whoever you are) thinking.  I want to encourage you not to just believe whatever you hear, but to look stuff up!  I'm not saying I do that, because I don't really.. but I should!  I think I'm mostly preaching to myself here.  But I also want you to think about these things.  Think about how important it is. 
One thing that got me thinking about this was a verse in the Bible I read the other day.  It's;
Acts 17:11
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Emphases added)
Now I'm pretty sure Paul wouldn't get upset with them examining the Scriptures to see if what he says was true!  I thought this was a neat passage

I really encourage you to read your Bible- no, not read dig, through your Bible to see what He has to say!

Well, that's all for now! 
Sorry for my abrupt start and finish on this topic but that's all I have to say for now
Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

I dont have anything to say....

I been rather busy lately.  During my busyness I think of stuff I could write about in my blog.  And of course as soon as I get on my blog....I forget... 
I could talk about what I've been reading but that's a boring topic that I've posted on here too many times.

Now I remember,  I was going to talk about me.  Or....at least one thing about me.

I have found out over the years that I love to talk!  I love to talk.  That's mostly why I started this.  I can talk about anything I like without being interupted or rejected.  Sure I guess I could be rejected but then I would never know! :) 
I love just telling random things that happen to me to anyone who will listen...  But my problem is, there aren't many people are willing to listen that I want to tell.  What. A. Bummer. 
Thats another reason why I started this :)
There's not much else to say on this topic unfortunately.

On another note, food sounds very yummy so I will go get some!  Its about lunch time but I'm going to have breakfast :)  Yesterday I had breakfast twice! It was ooo so yummy :) :)

Much Love,
TessieB

Cinder Ella Enchanted

So yesterday I read the whole of Ella Enchanted.  I'm sure most of you are fimaliar with that movie.  I know I am.   I loved the book!  Couldn't put it down!  Thats why I read the whole thing. You see, normally, I don't read whole books in one day.  Because then I don't remember it as well.  But this one I couldn't stop reading and I had to see the end.  You might be asking, 'Well if you've seen the movie don't you know the ending??'  I know the movie's ending.  But, as I found out soon after starting it, the movie is waaaaaaayyyyyyyy different than the book!  So much so that I didn't know exactly how it would end!  Again I love the book.  Why on earth would anyone want to change the story of a good book when they make it into a movie??  Did the screen writers even read the book?!?!?!  Why do people do that?  Could it be that they want to make it better??  How on earth is it possible to make a really good story even better?  I'm sure most people would agree with me when I say that books are always better than the movies.  Why is that? Because the stupid screen writers think they can make it better by changing up the story a bunch.  Not. Cool.   Now, there is something I must tell you.  Its that I love watching movies! Even if the story is corrupted.  But I have begun to like books more than I have ever liked movies.  For the simple reason that they are always better, and the book explains so much more!  Books are my friends.  I look forward to spending evenings lost in their pages.  They take me to faraway places :) Its really enjoyable :)

Thats all for now

Much Love,
TessieB

Godliness and Sin

Ahhh how nice it is to speak my mind and not be interrupted.

Well it has been a couple of days since I've been able to post my thoughts.  So naturally I have plenty! Except at this moment I can't remember all that I was going to say.  I'm sure it will come back to me.

I have been reading a lot of good books lately.  Not exactly novels or whatnot.  More like bible study books.  I'm really excited that I get to do these bible studies, though at times the reading can be a little overwhelming I'm learning lots!

This week kinda has felt like new years. I guess because I started school and started some bible studies!  Feels like I'm starting afresh.  A most wonderful feeling!  I was reading a book called "The practice of Godliness" by Jerry Bridges, which my youth group is going through.  And I really like this part of it. He was quoting William Law and he says;
" 'Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted to God. He therefore is the devout [godly] man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life, parts of piety [godliness], by doing everything in the name of God, under such rules as are conformable to his Glory.' "
This is sort of a new thought to me.  Not entirely new because I've heard it a thousand times, but this time it really hit me that this is what I should be doing! 

As it says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether than, you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." (emphasis added)

This is what I needed to do!  It means when I talk to my siblings about anything, do it for His Glory. When I eat breakfast, do it for His Glory. When I check my email(!), do it for his glory!  So far I'm not doing a great job of it.  In fact I'm failing miserably!  But does that mean God is not as good to me? In the words of Paul, "May it never be!" God's love and goodness is just as good as if I was doing a perfect job of it.  I find that amazing!  Don't you?

Later that day (yesterday) I went to a woman's bible study that is going over "Respectable Sins" again by Jerry Bridges.  What we read hit me pretty hard. 
At one part he was talking about the Christians being called Saints by Paul.  He was talking about the U.S. Air Force Academy, how they train kids, set apart, kids to be officers in the Air Force.  The word Saint means "one who is separated unto God".  In relation to what Jerry was saying about the Air Force cadets he said;
"In a way similar to a young person entering the Air Force Academy, every new believer has been set apart by God, separated unto God to be transformed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. In this sense, every believer is a saint - a person separated from his old sinful way of life and set apart by God to increasingly glorify God as his life is transformed"
I thought that was a really cool idea!

Another part that really hit me was this;
"We often indulge in what I call the 'respectable' or even 'acceptable' sins without any sense of sin. Our gossip or unkind words about a brother or sister in Christ roll easily off our tongues with any awareness of wrongdoing. We harbor hurts over wrongs long past without any effort to forgive as God has forgiven us (this one hit me especially hard, since I tend to do that).  We look down our religious noses at 'sinners' in society without any sense of a humble 'there but for the grace of God go I' Spirit." 
Ouch.  We all tend to do that as Christians.

Another part says;
"Sin is sin. Even those sins that I call 'the acceptable sins of the saints' -  those we tolerate in our lives - are serious in God's eyes. Our religious pride, our critical attitudes, our unkind speech about other, our impatience and anger, even our anxiety; all of these are serious in the sight of God."

Lots to think about there!  How sinful we are!

In essence I am enjoying this book.  And I hopefully we will be more Christlike at the end of it.  That is my goal. To be like Him!!

I could keep going on, and on, and on.  There are other things I'd like to talk about, but I think I shall be done for today!
Thanks for reading!

Much Love,
TessieB

To paint, or not to paint?! That is the question! (I'm thinking yes...)

There are so many things I was going to address you about.  But I thought none of them proper to be displaying in such a place as a public blog.
You're going to have to excuse my manner of talking.  For I have just read Pride and Prejudice in three days time.  And I'm afraid for the present moment that their way of talking has quite rubbed off on me. So please accept my apologies on the matter.

One thing I did think that I could talk about in here was paint!
Yes, you read it right, paint.
Why paint?  Well, because my sister found it to her liking to start painting a rather small structure that will be added to our small Christmas village collection upon her completion.  And I, when she was not at it, took up the pleasure of playing with her paints, and painted a rather interesting little cloud. 
I have always thought that it would suit me to try painting.  I thought I should like it very much.
I don't think I will be fortunate enough to learn the art, but I think it would be rather interesting! 
This is all the thought I have on the matter.
I apologize again for my awkward manner of talking.
I flatter myself I did a rather good job of talking something like they do in the book. :)

My sincerest wishes,
TessieB

Sense and Sensitivity

Sense? Sensitivity? I'm pretty sure I have neither.

Some of you who know me pretty well will probably be saying to yourself, 'but Tess is pretty sensitive.'
True. When it comes to my own feelings.. But when it comes to the feelings of other? I am ashamed to say I'm not.
I'm afraid I don't have the sense enough to be sensitive.
One thing that keeps coming to mind is Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.. She say's to Mr. Darcy something along these lines that I keep thinking of;
"And your selfish distain for the feelings of others"
Ooo.. that’s harsh. True, but harsh....
Am I like that? Unfortunately I must admit I am..

I have been overlooking others feelings and putting mine up as more important.  And for that I am sorry.
I know I am forgiven because of my Perfect Savior. :) And that makes me happy :)

Do we have sense enough to see things like this and do something about it?  I hope so.  But usually we don't.  What a bummer that is.  Simple things like praying and reading your bible really do help!
We have an awesome God :)

Much Love,
TessieB

In the book of Matthew...

Last night, (or was it the night before? I can't remember) I was listening to the bible on tape as I do every night. I fall asleep to it. I'm listening to the beginning of Matthew at the moment. And I was just listening to all that was going on with Jesus. In Matthew 14, it tells us about when Jesus walked on water. In verse 33 they are amazed and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God!"

A thought struck me.... What would it be like to be before the face of God on earth, worshiping Him?

I think I would be very shy in front of Jesus on earth if I had lived then. My God and the Messiah!! Before my very eyes!! How amazing that would be!
It’s hard for me to imagine being in the presence of Jesus. But I can't wait to be. :)

J. Vernon McGee says, "Someday, when in the presence of our Savior, we will thank Him for every burden, every trial, and every heartache."

That will be the most amazing day ever!

Goodbye for now!

Much Love,
TessieB

Love vs. Hate

So I was reading the blogs that some of my friends have, which are quite long and profound, and I got discouraged thinking that my blog could never be like that. Simple because I have nothing to say that is very profound. So I decided that this blog will not be like the other peoples blogs that are long and interesting. My blog will be short and boring. haha. I just thought I'd warn you for those of you unfortunate enough to be reading this.

I have many thoughts about many things. One thing that I can't stop thinking about is a book I read recently called The People of Sparks - the 2nd Book of Ember. It was a really good book, full of conflict and second guessing. How do I know this is the right thing? they would ask themselves. But it's not the conflict that interested me the most, it was the outcome.. and what they figured out in the end to be the solution.

And what is the solution? you might ask.

The solution in this book for all their conflicts is simply; Love.

As it says in Matthew 5:44 - "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

That seemed to be the theme for the whole book. I liked that very much. There is one part I really like... when the main girl character in the book finds out that she should love instead of hate. That love is far more powerful than hate.

In this part of the book the main girl character, Lina, is talking to another, older and wiser, girl, Maddy about this city that was destroyed because of hate and fear. Group A (as she calls it) would hurt group B, and then group B would get back at group A, etc, until there was nothing left.

"Can't it be stopped?" Lina asked

"Maybe it can be stopped at the beginning," Maddy said. "If someone sees what's happening and is brave enough to reverse the direction."

"How do you do that?" - Lina

"You'd do something good, or at least you'd keep yourself from doing something bad." - Maddy

"But how could you? When people have been mean to you, why would you want to be good to them?" - Lina

"You wouldn't want to, that's what makes it hard. You do it anyway. Being good is hard. Much harder than being bad." - Maddy

I can't stop thinking about this... And the part at the end when Lina overcomes her fear and anger to help the people she is angry with. I thought it had a very good moral.

Love no matter what.

I'd be thinking about this, and then I'd go and be impatient with my siblings.
That is not love.

What is love?

Well, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 it says;

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

As you probably know... we cannot love like that. Ever.

But? How come we are required? And how can we accomplish something we cannot do?

We are required because our Holy God has high standards.

And we cannot accomplish this. That's why Jesus did :)

So this post turned out to be longer than I thought.

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

TessieB

This blog

So I have decided to start a blog.

Just for the mere pleasure of writing down my aimless thoughts about random things.
Not that anyone will even read this, its just nice to be able to write down my thoughts. I'm going to have fun with this :)

My first thoughts are about coughing. Why coughing? Because that is what has been taking up much of my time lately. Fun!? I think not.
Coughing does many things for me... to name a few it; makes me light headed, helps me to breath when my throat feels half closed, gets all that gross stuff out of my chest, burns my throat, and makes me feel week.

As you can see coughing isn't a total waste of time, in fact it can be very helpful! But most of the time it is not.
What a bummer..

So this is the end of my first random post.
I hope you liked it :)

Much love,
TessieB