Thankful, #6

     I am thankful for people who "push" you to serve God... you know, push in a good way. I guess what I really mean is those who encourage you to walk with Him. The ones you know are praying for you, even if they haven't told you they are. The ones who sacrifice their time, desires, money - and so much more - to help give you a solid foundation.The ones who always, always, always point you to Christ. Who tell you to look up. Where would I be without those people? Certainly not even near as close to my Savior as I am now.

     

     "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" 

     ~ Hebrews 10:24

     "Wherefore seeing we also are compasses about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

  

In Christ alone, 

Thankful, #4

     Hello, again! Sorry I didn't write over the weekend... went to a conference with my youth group. We had an awesome time :D.
   
     So, today, I am thankful for those who have gone on before: soldiers and martyrs. It is because of the soldier's sacrifices that we have freedoms today. Some have given their time and their safety to defend us... some have given so much more.
     Martyrs... while they have not purchased our freedom. But they remind us that our lives are not our own. They remind us to look to Christ, to trust in Him alone. They point us to Him.
     Sacrifice is important. Soldiers demonstrate this. Martyrs demonstrate this. Christ demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. We should never take this for granted.


     "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
     ~ John 15:13

     "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
     ~ Hebrews 11:33-40

     "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
     ~ Hebrews 12:1


In Christ alone,