So it has really been a long time since my last post! I have been wanting to post for a long time but every time I get back to it I think about how much I have to say. Its this terrible disease I have for a need to have a full update. Haha, I am forcing myself to make this post and I must tell you it really isn't a full update at all, but I hope you enjoy it.
The family is doing great! Life is going on, all of us kids are back in school. Zeb is working on his tests, Jos is still going to community college Rayni and I are back at highschool trying to get caught up in areas the we got behind and Jed, Keziah and Malachi are all working with mom and getting a lot done. Malachi is working on reading and doing really well.
The Latest News (which comes in a list of blessings):
1.) Family The week before Christmas our whole family headed off to Colorado we eventually got there after a little bit of delay from the snow. To sum it all up, it was amazing, fun, and well worth it. We stayed at our Aunt Millie and Uncle Gail's house most of the time and went around visiting everyone. We had some kind of family get together almost every day and it was an awesome time to spend Christmas. At one point when we were about to have dinner we all gathered around to pray and as everyone bowed their head I glanced around and realized what an amazing blessing our extended family is. I've talked, known, and heard of people with broken families sometimes not even talking with each other because of something or other. But here I was standing in a circle of family all bowing our heads to praise God. There were 6 kids in my dads family. From that came twenty-eight grandkids (one of which I am one of them) and so far forty-three great grandkids. A big get-together, amazing fun, and a huge blessing. We got back the 3rd of January and it was nice to be home.
2. Friends My dad had his 50th birthday on Christmas eve of this year. Before we left we had a surprise Birthday Party for him (and yes, it did turn out to be a surprise...he didn't figure it out until after about three different families arrived haha). A lot of people ended up coming and it was pretty cool getting to see everyone. We have had a lot of amazing times and have been blessed by the families the Lord has put in our lives. I was talking with a good friend and talking about some of the fun times we had about 8 years earlier. I wish I could remember everything all of those fun times. We also had a surprise when we came back from Colorado, because someone had fixed our window that had been broken (for 2 years) and we're still not sure who it is.
3. Time As I'm getting older and the years are passing by faster and faster I am more and more realizing the blessing of time. The fact that we have time is a blessing in many ways. Most of them obvious, no time means well...no time. The fact that we have limited time makes us value, treasure, and hopefully use it all the more, along with making us look forward to the time we'll have in heaven. So exciting!!!
All this we have because, well...God gave it to us. How amazing He is. I've been reading some of the Old Testament prophet books. I don't know if you have ever heard someone say that the Old Testament God is a God of hate while the New Testament God is a God of love, but I was struck by how wrong that is. Yes, He disciplined His people, but my parents discipline me. Do I draw the conclusion that because they discipline me they hate me? No, all the more I see the love they have because they are taking the time to train me up in the way I should go...and every time I mess up and realize it, they let me back into their loving arms. God did the exact same thing with His people constantly letting them come back and always loving them. I was getting quite frustrated with the Israelites, why on earth do they keep making the same mistake, and why on earth does God keep letting them? Then I think about it, and have one of those "oh duh" moments and realized how much I do it and how God still puts up with me...not only that but LOVES me. Pretty crazy thought.
Well, its lunch time so I better go. I hope you're year is amazing!
-Hosanna
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Lately....
It seems like a lot has happened. Time seems to fly by as you get older and the more you wish it to slow the faster it goes.
On the 30th was Azariah's birthday and He turned a year old. Its crazy how fast that kid grows. We invited a few neighbors over and gave Azariah his own small cake which he proceeded to have fun with.
On the 30th was Azariah's birthday and He turned a year old. Its crazy how fast that kid grows. We invited a few neighbors over and gave Azariah his own small cake which he proceeded to have fun with.
"What is this??"
"Yum" - First Taste
After a little while he got a little tired of eating it and started playing with the cake instead.
and boy was it fun cleaning him up afterwards (a job that fell to Rayni) but I'm sure he had fun
He had the rest of us laughing while he was eating his cake, (quite the entertainer at a year old). It's been so much fun to see him grow up this last year, and on the third he started walking all by himself. His whole face brights up when he starts to walk/run somewhere by himself, with this huge smile on his face almost hyperventilating from the excitement.
The next day (the first) was Jos' birthday, turning 19.
Jos (for the most part) has been one amazing brother (except, of course, for the times when he loved to tease us to death) he has always been fun to hang around. He seems to love little kids, and almost all of them love him as well. Nothing seems to knock him to much and if you ever need anyone strong to lean on, you can just call him. :) I've always looked up to him as a brother, the way he deals with situations and people not getting angry very often but always strong as a rock. Instead of working half-heartedly he finds the most creative ways to get through things no matter how hard. He is always such a joy to be around, laughing and making others laugh.
I know this is pretty "mushy-gushy" but I love you Jos and I hope you have an awesome year to come, with many lessons and blessings from God, a year of growing and learning for Him.
On the fourth we decided to stay home and had some friends come over for the day, afterwards we went and got a few fireworks to set off. I think Jos and I had the most fun setting them off and battling each other in a popper war (those small fireworks that you throw on the ground and they snap or pop). Afterwards part of us got up on the roof to watch the fireworks around us which was lots of fun. Here are some of the pictures we took while on the roof.
Zeb, Jos, Hosanna, and Rayni
Zeb, Jos, Hosanna, Jed and Rayni
Jed, Jos, Hosanna, and Rayni
Jed, Hosanna, Azariah, and Rayni
Rayni and Azzy
Today mom left for New Zealand, our Grandma is moving houses so mom is going for two weeks to help out and see family. We are sure gonna miss her, and this will by Azariah's first time without mom for this long so he is gonna miss her too.
Anyways, I'm off for now. Hope you all enjoyed the update.
-Hosanna
Friday, June 25, 2010
1 John
I'm really excited some of you decided to do this. And I pray we all get more than we ever imagined out of it, as well as it staying with us for the rest of our lives. I'm hoping to be able to post some of the thoughts and insights that may come as I am memorizing this. I would love to hear what you have gotten out of it as well, either through a comment, post on your blog, email or even a guest post on here. I started memorizing today (well I have to admit I memorized a bit yesterday but I was officially starting today) and got through the first 10 verses. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.
To start let me give you a little bid of information and background on the book of 1 John.
Author: John the son of Zebedee (wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation)
Date Written: Between A.D.85-95
Recipient: To all believers, probably a circular letter.
The recipients of this letter at the time were being confronted with a new form of Gnostic teaching.
The main belief in Gnosticism was that the spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely evil. From this five main messages came
1. The human body, since made of matter, is evil.
2. Salvation is really escape from the body achieved by special knowledge (not by faith).
3. Christs true humanity was denied in two ways a. some said that Christ only seemed to have a body, a view called Docetism and b. others said that the divine Christ joined the man Jesus at baptism and left before he died, a view called Cerinthianism.
4. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly
5. And at times this dualism gave way to no moral standard and with people ignoring any legal restraint. In this view, since matter was evil and not breaking the law, then breaking God's law was of no moral consequence/
Because of this it seems John wrote the letter for two main reasons the first was to expose false teachers (2:26) and the second was to give believers assurance of salvation (5:13). Through those two reasons John covers quite a bit in this book but most of the content in this book is really focused towards what the Christian walk should be like and why.
Now that you've gotten a little bit of an over view
Here are the first ten verses (also the first chapter) of 1 John.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowshipis with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
I love the predicament John puts us in with that last verse. Either we are sinners, or we are calling Jesus a liar and in that refusing Him and what He said. We are sinners, but verse 7 and 9 sums it up, if we walk in the light there is way out for us. Walking in the light, John says it later in a different way "if we confess our sins" walking in the light means the we are out in the open for all to see, we are accepting that we are what we are and in this case we are asking for a new body and new life in Christ. One aspect of this that struck me was the fact that walking in the light is not just a quick step out then back in so we can say we did it, but a continual journey.
For me that means I should be continually accepting that I'm not perfect but instead a sinner, someone who has done something and been something that crossed Gods standard of holiness and I can neither fix it, nor hide from it, but instead say yes to the person who loves me and cries out for me to accept Him and let Him cover over me and conquer it and create me anew.
Am I striving in my life to walk in the light, am I on that journey? Are you?
What are your thoughts? I would love comments on what you are thinking.
-Hosanna
To start let me give you a little bid of information and background on the book of 1 John.
Author: John the son of Zebedee (wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation)
Date Written: Between A.D.85-95
Recipient: To all believers, probably a circular letter.
The recipients of this letter at the time were being confronted with a new form of Gnostic teaching.
The main belief in Gnosticism was that the spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely evil. From this five main messages came
1. The human body, since made of matter, is evil.
2. Salvation is really escape from the body achieved by special knowledge (not by faith).
3. Christs true humanity was denied in two ways a. some said that Christ only seemed to have a body, a view called Docetism and b. others said that the divine Christ joined the man Jesus at baptism and left before he died, a view called Cerinthianism.
4. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly
5. And at times this dualism gave way to no moral standard and with people ignoring any legal restraint. In this view, since matter was evil and not breaking the law, then breaking God's law was of no moral consequence/
Because of this it seems John wrote the letter for two main reasons the first was to expose false teachers (2:26) and the second was to give believers assurance of salvation (5:13). Through those two reasons John covers quite a bit in this book but most of the content in this book is really focused towards what the Christian walk should be like and why.
Now that you've gotten a little bit of an over view
Here are the first ten verses (also the first chapter) of 1 John.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowshipis with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
I love the predicament John puts us in with that last verse. Either we are sinners, or we are calling Jesus a liar and in that refusing Him and what He said. We are sinners, but verse 7 and 9 sums it up, if we walk in the light there is way out for us. Walking in the light, John says it later in a different way "if we confess our sins" walking in the light means the we are out in the open for all to see, we are accepting that we are what we are and in this case we are asking for a new body and new life in Christ. One aspect of this that struck me was the fact that walking in the light is not just a quick step out then back in so we can say we did it, but a continual journey.
For me that means I should be continually accepting that I'm not perfect but instead a sinner, someone who has done something and been something that crossed Gods standard of holiness and I can neither fix it, nor hide from it, but instead say yes to the person who loves me and cries out for me to accept Him and let Him cover over me and conquer it and create me anew.
Am I striving in my life to walk in the light, am I on that journey? Are you?
What are your thoughts? I would love comments on what you are thinking.
-Hosanna
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Why the Challenge?
Earlier I made a challenge to anyone reading this blog, I'm really excited that some people have taken it up and are doing it with me. When my dad came home today he asked me why the challenge and memorizing so like I said earlier I'm going to explain, and maybe it will convince you to do it (if you haven't decided to yet).
The very first reason has been a lesson I have been learning just recently. One of my biggest prayers in my life is that my relationship with God would grow larger, stronger, and deeper everyday, and that my desire for Him and to serve Him would be my one and only. A little while ago I was going through a rough time in my walk with God and just cried out to Him, "God, why can't my relationship just stay firm all the time? Why do I go through these rough spots? Why can't I just figure it out?" There were definitely a few different lessons I learned that night, and one in particular has kept coming back. Last night I was flipping through my bible, trying to find a spot to read. I finally decided on first John and started going there when I stopped for a second and read a verse. I couldn't find it again after I had flipped past it but as I read it I was hit with the fact that if we don't seek, we won't find. In the past I've found when my relationship was strongest with God I was spending a lot of time with Him, constantly trying to put Him first. But when I stopped or slowed down it all began to slowly fall apart. So my first reason for doing this is to simply put God first and seek Him.
The Second reason was simply God's command "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" (Deut. 11:18). Know them inside and out. Why???? Because God knew that it would be able to help us in day to day life.
The third is that it is there to teach me, and gives me a hope. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
The fourth comes with Psalms 19:7-8, put simply tt revives the soul, gives wisdom, brings joy to the heart, is radiant and gives light to the eyes. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalms 19:7-8
In this world there is so much sin, a lot of it hard to detect and so comes the fifth reason. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
The six came when I was talking with a cousin when I went to Colorado. We were talking about purity and came up with an analogy of a glass or container. You fill it with bad stuff, and there isn't much if any room for the good stuff. I the same way you fill it with good thoughts and motives there is no room for the bad thoughts and motives. "...whatever is true, whatever noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Phil. 4:8). Memorizing 1 John fills your heart with more content that is true, noble, right and pure.
The seventh is simply put in 1st Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. There is so much amazing content in the bible, I only wish I could retain it all. Sadly I can't but I can at least get part of it, in memorization. Then it will always be with me, and when anyone asks I'll have those words hidden in my heart.
I could go on for quite a bit longer, but I'll stop boring you and give you the last few quickly. I've always wanted to memorize a book of the bible, and since I'm not in Awana over the summer and not doing any other scripture memorization this is one way I can do it. It should be lots of fun, a good challenge, and an awesome time. I pray I'll learn lots and be able to get many lessons from this. If you aren't able to do it, but are doing some other memorization or something similar I would love to hear it and you can still be included you can even just read 1 John and learn from it while we are memorizing it. I would love to hear that you are doing, just leave a comment or email me!
-Hosanna
The very first reason has been a lesson I have been learning just recently. One of my biggest prayers in my life is that my relationship with God would grow larger, stronger, and deeper everyday, and that my desire for Him and to serve Him would be my one and only. A little while ago I was going through a rough time in my walk with God and just cried out to Him, "God, why can't my relationship just stay firm all the time? Why do I go through these rough spots? Why can't I just figure it out?" There were definitely a few different lessons I learned that night, and one in particular has kept coming back. Last night I was flipping through my bible, trying to find a spot to read. I finally decided on first John and started going there when I stopped for a second and read a verse. I couldn't find it again after I had flipped past it but as I read it I was hit with the fact that if we don't seek, we won't find. In the past I've found when my relationship was strongest with God I was spending a lot of time with Him, constantly trying to put Him first. But when I stopped or slowed down it all began to slowly fall apart. So my first reason for doing this is to simply put God first and seek Him.
The Second reason was simply God's command "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" (Deut. 11:18). Know them inside and out. Why???? Because God knew that it would be able to help us in day to day life.
The third is that it is there to teach me, and gives me a hope. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
The fourth comes with Psalms 19:7-8, put simply tt revives the soul, gives wisdom, brings joy to the heart, is radiant and gives light to the eyes. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalms 19:7-8
In this world there is so much sin, a lot of it hard to detect and so comes the fifth reason. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
The six came when I was talking with a cousin when I went to Colorado. We were talking about purity and came up with an analogy of a glass or container. You fill it with bad stuff, and there isn't much if any room for the good stuff. I the same way you fill it with good thoughts and motives there is no room for the bad thoughts and motives. "...whatever is true, whatever noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Phil. 4:8). Memorizing 1 John fills your heart with more content that is true, noble, right and pure.
The seventh is simply put in 1st Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. There is so much amazing content in the bible, I only wish I could retain it all. Sadly I can't but I can at least get part of it, in memorization. Then it will always be with me, and when anyone asks I'll have those words hidden in my heart.
I could go on for quite a bit longer, but I'll stop boring you and give you the last few quickly. I've always wanted to memorize a book of the bible, and since I'm not in Awana over the summer and not doing any other scripture memorization this is one way I can do it. It should be lots of fun, a good challenge, and an awesome time. I pray I'll learn lots and be able to get many lessons from this. If you aren't able to do it, but are doing some other memorization or something similar I would love to hear it and you can still be included you can even just read 1 John and learn from it while we are memorizing it. I would love to hear that you are doing, just leave a comment or email me!
-Hosanna
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Azariah, and other news :)
Well, this little boy (Azariah) does two main things... here are some pics to illustrate those two things!
1. He can't crawl, but he sure can (especially in front of the Camera)....well...you can see
and
2. He polished this banana (his second) in just under 2 min!
Yep, that sums it all up! The little dude is getting bigger and bigger (wonder why right??). The rest of us are busy with school and speech and debate. The regional speech and debate tournament is coming up next week (14th-17th), so we are all getting ready for it.
It was such a lovely day today (we ate outside on the picnic table) and enjoyed some rare Washington sun. Anyway, I better be off!
-Hosanna
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Zeb is Home, Mom's Birthday, and a few other things.....
Well, Zeb got back safe and sound last night. He got a cold somewhere in between, which means he fit right in with the rest of us and the cold that has been running around our house. We are trying to decide if we are happy he came back or not. :) Just joking, I think we are all glad...kinda... haha.
Not much is happening around here, and yet...everything is happening. Most everyone is working on school as well as the little things that go on in life. Rayni, Dad, Zeb and I are leaving tomorrow for an Idaho tournament. I'll give you the update when we get back.
Not much is happening around here, and yet...everything is happening. Most everyone is working on school as well as the little things that go on in life. Rayni, Dad, Zeb and I are leaving tomorrow for an Idaho tournament. I'll give you the update when we get back.
Well, I saved the best for last, this is late, but Mom's birthday was about a week and a half ago, on March 7th. And I just wanted to say something real quickly. Mom is one amazing, awesome, .....hard to describe in one post...woman. I love her sooo much and she is the best mom I (or my family) could ever have. She encourages, she gives advice, she is an awesome role model, especially in her marriage, she is quick to forgive, and to ask forgiveness...which to me is one of the hardest things for humans to do...she somehow keeps an eye on all of us kids, schools us, encourages us, she's beautiful inside and out, and well...there are just soooo many things about her that is amazing. If I ever become a wife and mother, I definitely want to be like mom. Thanks mom for everything! I love you!See you all later.
-Hosanna
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