There is a candle, In every soul.
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold.
And there is a spirit, who brings the fire
Ignites a candle and makes his home.
So Carry your candle.
Run to the darkness
Seek out helpless, the confused and torn
And hold out your candle
For all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world.
Take your candle, and go light your world.
~Go Light Your World by Chris Rice
I love this song, and I love the message behind it. This song is a reminder to us to be witnesses for Christ and to shine on those who are lost.
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. " Matthew 5: 14-16
Im sure many of you are familiar with that verse from summer celebration :). This verse is something we should live by. We should be lights for Christ and spread the news about his wonderful love and grace, to non believers and believers alike. There are so many people who have been wonderful lights in my life, who have shown me God's love and compassion. I'm so thankful to all of my friends and my parents and teachers (the list goes on and on!) who have constantly brought me back to the cross. Thank you all!
Sharing the gospel is not easy. It's really hard. I'm in a situation a lot of you probably don't have to deal with. I have a job, surrounded by non believers and whenever I'm with them I have to think to myself "How can I show them God's love?" Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't. I've told my boss' children Bible stories and whenever they see me they want to hear another. Praise the Lord! Also, I have a younger brother who was adopted from the Philipines. He's a few months younger than me and he's not nessacarily a non Christian. He's growing up in a great Christian enviorment, but he's not getting everything out of it as a normal kid his age could. It's a tough thing to understand, but he's on his way. So even when I'm at home, I have to think about it.
This doesn't just go for people in situations like mine! We should be good examples even when we're in our homes. Most of you have younger siblings or nephews and nieces, maybe even both. Our younger siblings and younger kids we know look up to us to be a good example. We have to let our lights shine so it fills up the entire room, not just the darkest corner. And we need to prevent there from being a dark corner in the room by putting a light there before it can get dark.
I would encourage you all to go over and memorize what you can of 2 Ways to live, which most of us recieved at church a couple weeks ago. Think of people in your neighborhood, your school or job that you can reach out to. Be praying for those people. Be praying that God would help you to be a good example and a light for all of those around you.
Now, Go Light Your World. :)
In His Grace,
~Kye~
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Quick note for girls
Hey. Sorry guys (and by guys I mean you boys!! This post isn't for you.
I just wanted to talk to the girls about the chapter "God, My Heart and Clothes" In CJ's worldliness book. It's such a great chapter that adresses modesty and what's going on inside our hearts that makes us dress the way we do.
I am sure several of you are constantly aware of how you dress. I have to think about it a lot so I can bless my two brothers and my brothers in Christ. This chapter was such a blessing to me in this area, and I'm sure it will help you too. Also, Carolyn Mahaney has a Modest Heart Checklist I think it's called and that is located in the back of the Worldliness book also.
I just wanted to encourage you girls to read that chapter if you haven't already!
A Blessed Girl,
~Kye~
I just wanted to talk to the girls about the chapter "God, My Heart and Clothes" In CJ's worldliness book. It's such a great chapter that adresses modesty and what's going on inside our hearts that makes us dress the way we do.
I am sure several of you are constantly aware of how you dress. I have to think about it a lot so I can bless my two brothers and my brothers in Christ. This chapter was such a blessing to me in this area, and I'm sure it will help you too. Also, Carolyn Mahaney has a Modest Heart Checklist I think it's called and that is located in the back of the Worldliness book also.
I just wanted to encourage you girls to read that chapter if you haven't already!
A Blessed Girl,
~Kye~
Monday, January 19, 2009
Inauguration
As you hopefully know, tomorrow, January 20, 2009, is the day of the Inauguration of the President Elect, Barak Obama. It's a day of people being smashed on the mall as they watch, braving the cold, driving around VA and through MD to get to D.C.
But it's more than that. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Obama's perspective and potential policies, God has given us a command through Paul in his first letter to Timothy: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (I Tim. 2:1-2, ESV) We're not in a monarchy, but I'm sure that Presidents fall into this category.
So, let's do more than toss a party or stare at the TV and watch Mr. Obama take the oath or what-have-you. Let's be active in praying for this man who has the enormous task of leading our nation. Here are a few ideas... pray that:
-Mr. Obama would have wisdom in what to do with the wars in the middle east, even the ones not our own (specifically Israel and Gaza, even though they currently have a cease-fire)
-Mr. Obama would have wisdom in what to do with the current economic problems
-Mr. Obama would be totally and completely safe tomorrow during the ceremonies and throughout his presidency
Don't feel confined to that list!
God bless!
But it's more than that. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Obama's perspective and potential policies, God has given us a command through Paul in his first letter to Timothy: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (I Tim. 2:1-2, ESV) We're not in a monarchy, but I'm sure that Presidents fall into this category.
So, let's do more than toss a party or stare at the TV and watch Mr. Obama take the oath or what-have-you. Let's be active in praying for this man who has the enormous task of leading our nation. Here are a few ideas... pray that:
-Mr. Obama would have wisdom in what to do with the wars in the middle east, even the ones not our own (specifically Israel and Gaza, even though they currently have a cease-fire)
-Mr. Obama would have wisdom in what to do with the current economic problems
-Mr. Obama would be totally and completely safe tomorrow during the ceremonies and throughout his presidency
Don't feel confined to that list!
God bless!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
But I dont FEEL like it
How many of you have had this come out of your mouth, "But I don't FEEL like it."
ME.
To be quite frank, Im sick. And by sick I mean, I'm running a fever and throwing up sick. As as result of this, I have been cranky and unkind. And Im sure you all can relate. When we don't feel good or when we aren't freshly aware of God's blessings- we tend to snap at innocent people and slack off our responsibilities.
I was reading about moodiness in my devotions this week, and I thought I'd share it with you all. I don't know how this relates to you right now, but you might relate to it in the future. This is what the devotion said:
" 'On the broom' is a term I use when referring to my mood. I have days when, for no apparent reaso at all, I feel like calling that broom out of the corner and jumping on for a frenzied ride, terrozing anyone or anything that gets in my path. Including my co-worker, my family, my friends...even unsuspecting strangers. What causes me to get so hurried that I lose control? It's called being empty- poured out with nothing left, not a single drop. We can keep going on nothing but fumes, then at the worst time possible one of those fumes can spark and it rages into a fire...When we're empty and on the broom, we wind up hurting the people we love most. Then comes the conviction and humility of making things right...Here's the point: Stop and get filled up! Don't keep passing by the Word on your nightstand. Dust it off and fill your heart and soul with the spiritual fuel you so desperatly need."
Here are some questions that go along with this:
How often do you fill up your well?
What are your greatest struggles when the negative attitudes of your heart manifest in your actions?
1 Peter 3:8-11 says
" Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding one another, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. Do not do wrong to repay wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, be3cause you yourselves were called to do this so that you might recieve a blessing. The Scripture says, 'A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days. He must not say evil things and he must not tell lies. He must stop doing evil and do good. He must look for peace and work for it.'"
This post on moods can also be related to Dave's post about quiet times. When we're moody, it's because we're not focusing on the cross, we're focusing on ourselves. When I have my quiet time, I'm in a much better mood than when I don't, even if Im sick and throwing up. I'm freshly aware of all the blessings in my life, and that makes me feel peaceful not quarrelsome. So I would encourage you if you haven't read Dave's previous post, read it! You'll probably learn far more from that than you would from me. If you learn anything from me, it's only by God's hand!
In His Grace,
~Kye~
ME.
To be quite frank, Im sick. And by sick I mean, I'm running a fever and throwing up sick. As as result of this, I have been cranky and unkind. And Im sure you all can relate. When we don't feel good or when we aren't freshly aware of God's blessings- we tend to snap at innocent people and slack off our responsibilities.
I was reading about moodiness in my devotions this week, and I thought I'd share it with you all. I don't know how this relates to you right now, but you might relate to it in the future. This is what the devotion said:
" 'On the broom' is a term I use when referring to my mood. I have days when, for no apparent reaso at all, I feel like calling that broom out of the corner and jumping on for a frenzied ride, terrozing anyone or anything that gets in my path. Including my co-worker, my family, my friends...even unsuspecting strangers. What causes me to get so hurried that I lose control? It's called being empty- poured out with nothing left, not a single drop. We can keep going on nothing but fumes, then at the worst time possible one of those fumes can spark and it rages into a fire...When we're empty and on the broom, we wind up hurting the people we love most. Then comes the conviction and humility of making things right...Here's the point: Stop and get filled up! Don't keep passing by the Word on your nightstand. Dust it off and fill your heart and soul with the spiritual fuel you so desperatly need."
Here are some questions that go along with this:
How often do you fill up your well?
What are your greatest struggles when the negative attitudes of your heart manifest in your actions?
1 Peter 3:8-11 says
" Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding one another, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. Do not do wrong to repay wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, be3cause you yourselves were called to do this so that you might recieve a blessing. The Scripture says, 'A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days. He must not say evil things and he must not tell lies. He must stop doing evil and do good. He must look for peace and work for it.'"
This post on moods can also be related to Dave's post about quiet times. When we're moody, it's because we're not focusing on the cross, we're focusing on ourselves. When I have my quiet time, I'm in a much better mood than when I don't, even if Im sick and throwing up. I'm freshly aware of all the blessings in my life, and that makes me feel peaceful not quarrelsome. So I would encourage you if you haven't read Dave's previous post, read it! You'll probably learn far more from that than you would from me. If you learn anything from me, it's only by God's hand!
In His Grace,
~Kye~
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Quiet Times
Hey all!
How is everyone doing with their quiet times? If your like me, you aren't doing too well. I'm sure a lot of you are having them nice and consistent, but I thought I'd put this up so that those who are struggling know that they're not alone. If you are like me, school is really heavy on your shoulders, and trying to get up early in the morning to go to class is hard enough, without a half hour or more added for a quiet time. If you are like me, you are passionate about God, but on school days, school tends to take priority. Well we could do the ol' "oh man, we stink. we need to get back into doing that" thing, and go to bed all passionate and ready. But when the alarm clock starts to ring, and you feel you could sleep another century, that passion starts to wear a wee bit thin.
So what can we do? Well we can pray. I know that's what everyone says about everything, but that's because it works. We can ask others for prayer, and we can just stop worrying about school and just do our quiet times. Not in a rushed way, but really trying to concentrate on God. It says in Mathew 6:33 "Seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This means if we do what God wants, then he will provide for what we need. We just need to trust in God. Remember, I'm talking to myself as well, so I'd like to get some of the prayer I hope this will stimulate. :) Thanks for listening!
~Dave
How is everyone doing with their quiet times? If your like me, you aren't doing too well. I'm sure a lot of you are having them nice and consistent, but I thought I'd put this up so that those who are struggling know that they're not alone. If you are like me, school is really heavy on your shoulders, and trying to get up early in the morning to go to class is hard enough, without a half hour or more added for a quiet time. If you are like me, you are passionate about God, but on school days, school tends to take priority. Well we could do the ol' "oh man, we stink. we need to get back into doing that" thing, and go to bed all passionate and ready. But when the alarm clock starts to ring, and you feel you could sleep another century, that passion starts to wear a wee bit thin.
So what can we do? Well we can pray. I know that's what everyone says about everything, but that's because it works. We can ask others for prayer, and we can just stop worrying about school and just do our quiet times. Not in a rushed way, but really trying to concentrate on God. It says in Mathew 6:33 "Seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This means if we do what God wants, then he will provide for what we need. We just need to trust in God. Remember, I'm talking to myself as well, so I'd like to get some of the prayer I hope this will stimulate. :) Thanks for listening!
~Dave
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pick A Little Talk A Lot
So we were taking a car drive home from Coop and we were on our way to a Chinese Restaurant not far from my house. I was telling my Mom and siblings about something seemingly hilarious to me in excruciating detail. I was going on and on, when my mom finally said:
"Okay! Kylie, haven't you said enough?" She asked looking at me from the front seat.
"But I'm not done yet! Then Daniel said..."
The car stopped. "I'll be right back. I'm going to get the Chinese food." So Mom got out of the car with my little sister Kiera. Leaving me with my two brothers. I continued on talking.
Then Mom came back with Kiera and a bag of Chinese food.
"Fortune Cookie anyone?" Kiera asked with a handful of chinese fortune cookies. I took one from her hand and continued on with my story.
I broke open the fortune cookie and stopped talking. I read outloud my fortune. " Your words are meaningless."
Instantly everyone in the car started laughing. My mom was laughing for several minutes after we drove away.
I was kidding of course. That's not what my fortune really said. Everyone was basically ignoring everything I said and when I said my words are meaningless, they found that hysterical. There's a lesson to be learned from this story.
I talk way too much. Haha. Most of friends can tell you I love talking.
Proverbs 10:19 says, "When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
I'd say that's the main point of this post. Talking too much can be very bad. There have been many times when a friend would say, "Umm Kylie are you sure you should say what you're about to say?" or "Remember to think before you speak."
Thinking before I speak is the biggest thing. Will what I'm about to say benefit those I'm around? Could this hurt someone's feelings? Could this shed bad light on me or others?
is it Thoughful?
is it Helpful?
is it Important?
is it Nessacary?
is it Kind?
When I don't have a reason for speaking, I'm normally speaking to get peoples attention or to turn the conversation around so I can be the main focus. That's just selfish, prideful and just wrong! All conversation that we have should be GOD glorifying not Kylie glorifying.
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18
I want to have a tongue of the wise, not a person who speaks reckless words. I was convicted of this sin in the past, and by God's grace I have been doing better in this area. Please keep me in your prayers. And I'm sorry if I've ever said any sort of reckless speech around you or to you. I'm sorry for doing it period, and I'm glad I have a Loving God whose already forgiven me, and I'm thankful for my loving friends that forgive without reservations. :)
And also, I would like to encourage you, that if one of your friends or equaintences says something questionable in any way; don't be afraid to confront them about it. Our job as friends is to help our friends grow in wisdom.
An extremely blessed girl,
~Kylie
"Okay! Kylie, haven't you said enough?" She asked looking at me from the front seat.
"But I'm not done yet! Then Daniel said..."
The car stopped. "I'll be right back. I'm going to get the Chinese food." So Mom got out of the car with my little sister Kiera. Leaving me with my two brothers. I continued on talking.
Then Mom came back with Kiera and a bag of Chinese food.
"Fortune Cookie anyone?" Kiera asked with a handful of chinese fortune cookies. I took one from her hand and continued on with my story.
I broke open the fortune cookie and stopped talking. I read outloud my fortune. " Your words are meaningless."
Instantly everyone in the car started laughing. My mom was laughing for several minutes after we drove away.
I was kidding of course. That's not what my fortune really said. Everyone was basically ignoring everything I said and when I said my words are meaningless, they found that hysterical. There's a lesson to be learned from this story.
I talk way too much. Haha. Most of friends can tell you I love talking.
Proverbs 10:19 says, "When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
I'd say that's the main point of this post. Talking too much can be very bad. There have been many times when a friend would say, "Umm Kylie are you sure you should say what you're about to say?" or "Remember to think before you speak."
Thinking before I speak is the biggest thing. Will what I'm about to say benefit those I'm around? Could this hurt someone's feelings? Could this shed bad light on me or others?
is it Thoughful?
is it Helpful?
is it Important?
is it Nessacary?
is it Kind?
When I don't have a reason for speaking, I'm normally speaking to get peoples attention or to turn the conversation around so I can be the main focus. That's just selfish, prideful and just wrong! All conversation that we have should be GOD glorifying not Kylie glorifying.
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18
I want to have a tongue of the wise, not a person who speaks reckless words. I was convicted of this sin in the past, and by God's grace I have been doing better in this area. Please keep me in your prayers. And I'm sorry if I've ever said any sort of reckless speech around you or to you. I'm sorry for doing it period, and I'm glad I have a Loving God whose already forgiven me, and I'm thankful for my loving friends that forgive without reservations. :)
And also, I would like to encourage you, that if one of your friends or equaintences says something questionable in any way; don't be afraid to confront them about it. Our job as friends is to help our friends grow in wisdom.
An extremely blessed girl,
~Kylie
Friday, January 2, 2009
Friends
The word friend is a very important word. It means someone who cares about you. It means someone who makes you laugh, and laughs at your stupidest joke (sometimes, haha). It means someone who cares about your problems, who comforts and prays for you when your problems are too much. It means someone to share times with, good and bad. It means someone who encourages you and builds you up, even if it means bringing correction and incite to you. This word has become especially important to me this year. I have so many Godly, wonderful, patient friends, a lot more than I deserve, and i have been taking them for granted. I am a proud, ignorant, stupid, self righteous person. And I am surrounded by so many cool people. And when I say cool, I mean Godly, friendly people. And I just want to say thanks to all of you. And I want to promise and ask for your prayer, cause I know you guys give it willingly, that I will grow in those areas I mentioned and that I would be a better friend. And I encourage you to go to a friend and share how they've blessed you this year. Thanks for rocking.
Jesus is awesome,
~Dave
Jesus is awesome,
~Dave
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