Friday Five for 2/8/13

With Valentine's Day on the way, I'm sure we've all got LOVE on the brain. (I know I do!) So, this week, I have for you:

Five Bible Verses About Love

1. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (Luke 6:32 NKJV)

2. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (I John 4:9-11 NKJV)

3. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (Ephesians 2:4, 5 NKJV)

4. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (I John 4:18-21 NKJV)

5. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:9-13 NKJV)

Friday Five for 2/1/13

I recently discovered that Gospel Broadcast Network makes many of it's shows available online through YouTube. Since our cable provider doesn't carry the channel and their app doesn't work very well on iPad (though it is very good on the iPhone), I was very excited to have access to them.

One show I've really been impressed with is Fabric of Family, so today I have for you:

Five Fabric of Family Episodes Available on YouTube

1. Marriage 101

2. Enforcing Discipline in the Home

3. Overcoming Materialism

4. The Grief Process

5. Sexual Addiction

Friday Five for 1/25/13

So, F.A.R. has been on a bit of a hiatus for a few months. I regret having to do that without explanation, but I hope it will suffice that I have been dealing with some things that, I hope, are settling down for now. Please be patient with us and especially with me.

Today's post is from Amy. Thanks for getting us started right, Amy!

-Erica

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5 Scriptures for Comfort  

There are so many people right now, this very moment, who are hurting - they may be sick and dealing with their own illness, they may be dealing with the illness of a loved one, they may be heartbroken and grieving the loss of a loved one or they may be dealing with any number of problems that are out there.  The Bible is full of comforting verses.  I wanted to share 5 that might help you or someone you know today.  May we all look to God and Jesus and the Bible when we need comfort.  

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9  

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.  Psalm 37:24  

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  Nahum 1:7  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Psalm 55:22  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Matthew 11:28

Friday Five for 9/14/12

Today I have for you, five little quote pictures that I found on Pinterest this week. Enjoy!




1. Don't we all just get a little too caught up in "stuff"?







2. LOVE this verse...







3. Always.





4. Move your feet!





5. A reminder for all the wives and mothers...





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five for 8/31/12

Today's Friday Five is from Jennifer! Hooray!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Hannah’s first birthday. My, how time flies. I’ve learned a lot in the past year. I thought I would share a few of those things here for today’s Friday Five.

1. A brownie and a can of Slim-Fast is an appropriate meal. I don’t do that much anymore, but in the first few weeks of having Hannah I was lucky to get to eat at all. Generally whatever was easily accessible was on the menu.

2. It’s not only acceptable, but expected to talk about poop. Seriously, the inspection and discussion of the poop was a surprise to me. Who knew??

3. I now understand why people purchase larger vehicles. I’ll be honest, before Hannah, I really didn’t “get it” when I saw others rush out to buy a mini-van when the first child arrived. How much room can one baby need? Then, I put the car seat, diaper bag and stroller in my CRV and thought, “I need a bigger car.”

4. Sleep is precious. Thankfully our sweet girl began sleeping through the night at twelve weeks old. Just in time for me to go back to work. Those first twelve weeks were rough, though. I still miss those “pre-Hannah” Saturdays when I could sleep until 9:00am if I wanted. However, I wouldn’t trade those days for the sweet sound of my girl waking up around 6:30 every morning.

5. My heart is overflowing. I think I love her more with every passing day. She has brought joy to my life that I didn’t even know I was missing.

As we go into year two with Hannah, I look forward to the life lessons we will learn and the joys, and yes, even the heartaches we will experience on this journey.

Have a great weekend!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five for 8/24/12

This week has been a stressful one for me for a lot of reasons. I hope it hasn't been one for you, but if it has, I thought I'd share...

Five Scriptures for a Peaceful Mind

1. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

2. Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

3. Psalms 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

4. James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5. Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”





- by Erica
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Friday Five for 8/17/12

Today's Friday Five is from Amy! Yay, Amy!

Five simple things to do or say to someone today to make their day:

1) SMILE! Give them a big ole heart felt smile and say hello!!

2) HUG! Give someone a hug today! You never know, that hug may mean the difference between a good and bad day.

3) Say "I'm thinking of you and praying for you." You can give no one a better gift than to bring their name to God.

4) Say "I love you because __________" and fill in the blank with something appropriate for that person.

5) Give someone a compliment. Something simple as "I like your shirt" to "You are my hero". A sincere compliment can make a gloomy day much brighter.


- by Amy
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five for 8/10/12

This week I began teaching the 3rd - 5th grade Class on Wednesday nights. They are so much fun! I have decided to pull several resources together and create my own curriculum focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit. We will spend a month on each one, taking us through most of school year. We will also have a service project each month and I thought I'd share my plans for the first five months so that, if you want, you can put some of them to work with your own family.

Fruit if the Spirit Service Projects, August - December

1. August - "Love"
We'll be talking about different kinds of love: God's love for us, our love for Him and then finishing my showing our love for others. We plan to bake cookies together and then invite the congregation to stay after our Wednesday night service for cookies and milk.

2. September - "Joy"
To spread the joy of God, we are going to spend a Sunday afternoon singing for the residents of a local nursing home.

3. October - "Peace"
This was the toughest one for me to find a project that matched. I have finally decided that we will put together care packages for deployed soldiers who put their lives in harm's way so that we can have peace and freedom.

4. November - "Patience"
To practice patience, I am going to teach the kids to crochet scarves which will then be donated to the homeless.

5. December - "Kindness"
I plan to have our class show kindness by helping them to prepare meals which we will then deliver to some of the sick of our congregation.

And here's a bonus for you, every Wednesday night, my students have the assignment that, after class, they must hug two members of our congregation who are not related to them. You should have seen the smiling faces with all those hugs going around the other night! It was wonderful!


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Friday Five for 8/3/12

Today is my birthday! It is hard to believe that I'm actually 34 years old. Inside I often still feel like a kid. I'm glad I'm not though. I wouldn't want to live through those teenage years again, would you? That was a really tough time for me and I wasn't exactly sticking to the straight and narrow. There are so many things I know now that I wish my 13 year old self had known, or at least known better. In that vein, I thought today's Friday Five should be

Five Scriptures for Children to Memorize

1. John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2. Acts 22:16
And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

3. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

4. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

5. Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five for 7/27/12

This week marked my fifteenth wedding anniversary. Because of that, I've been thing a lot about what I can do to help my husband, so, today I have for you

Five Ways to Pray for Your Husband

1. Pray for his relationship with God.

2. Pray for his ability to be the head of your house.

3. Pray for his relationships with your children.

4. Pray for his success at work.

5. Pray for his continued love for you -- and yours for him.


- by Erica
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Friday Five for 7/20/12

Considering that I've been under the influence of heavy medication for a good part of this week and that it's after 10pm on Friday, today's Five is going to be different. Today, I have Five questions for you. If you can, please take a couple of minutes to answer them, it would mean a lot to me. You can answer in the comments or you can email us, you can be anonymous or not - it's up to you!

1. What would you like to see more of here at Far Above Rubies?
2. What should we not change?
3. What is your favorite Scripture?
4. Are you married? Have children?
5. What do you think is the most pressing issue for Christian wives and mothers today?

So, there it is. Short and sweet and, hopefully, not too difficult.

Also, let me take a minute to thank all of you who wrote me that you are praying with me. It was a huge source of strength for me this week and I hope it helps to know that I am also praying with you.


- by Erica
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Broken Shelves and Broken Spirits Can Be Repaired!

On a recent laundry day, I was placing clean rags on a wire shelf, in the laundry room. Suddenly, I heard the sound of ripping dry wall. Oh yes. The entire seven foot shelf, and its contents, suddenly landed on the floor! The room was littered with muddy shoes, cleaning supplies, a dirty rag basket, and a clean rag bin. As the dust literally settled, I realized that the shelf itself hadn’t broken. The supports had simply ripped out of the wall. I shouldn’t have been surprised…this shelf had required several small repairs in the past. However, the shelf had never actually crash landed, until this very busy day! Phil decided to step it up a notch with this repair, attaching the supports directly to wooden studs in the wall. The original intent for use of the shelf, had been for it to hold a few dirty shoes as we came into the house. As time went by, and we found more uses, we had not strengthened the supports as weight was added. That mistake took its toll! After Phil did a stellar repair, my job was to fill in the old holes, and clean up the debris.

As I was on the floor, looking at the mess, I started laughing out loud, and found that I was actually pleased that the shelf had come down! I had a chance to see behind all the junk we stored there, and realized there were several repairs needed, that had been neglected through the years. I found unfilled holes, a crack in the baseboard, dust on the shelf, dirt on the wall, and a great need for paint, due to scuff marks from the shoes. There were old dry wall anchors that needed to be removed as well. Since we had recently discussed, in class at church, how our faith holds up to stress and trauma in our lives, I couldn't help but smile at the correlation I was seeing.

When crisis comes our way, it can give us an opportunity to see things from a different point of view. When we're down on the floor, at the lowest points in our lives, we can look up, and see from a different vantage point! Sometimes, our own lack of preparation, or lack of attention to problems along the way, can cause a crisis. Other times, things just happen, beyond our control. Sometimes, we patch over things, as we had done for years, rather than actually fixing them. Have you ever done this with problems?
Just ignoring them, hoping they'll go away? There can be a temporary “happiness” when we shove problems aside, without facing them. But, there’s no comparison to the outcome, of finally meeting the problem head on, and finding the best way to handle the situation. As Christians, we can strengthen our lives with very strong supports, such as study and incorporation of the Word in our lives, growing in our prayer lives, developing strong bonds with other Christians, and reaching out to others. We prepare for whatever is thrown onto us. Even if we break, we can be repaired, and lifted back up by our support system! And, while down on the floor, we might see the good that can come from the bad. Romans 8:18, and Romans 8:28, tell us that our present sufferings in no way compare with the glory that will be revealed to us, and that all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Some of that good may never be seen by us, but because our Lord is almighty and faithful, we believe what he has told us, and we can find peace, by leaving it up to him.


- by Becky
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Friday Five for 7/13/12

Today's Five is pretty personal, but, I think it is also pretty universal...

Five Things I'm Praying About Right Now

1. My Brother
My little brother just announced that he is getting married. In October. We're all very happy and love his fiancé, but it is a time of big changes and so I am praying for them.

2. My Daughters
I haven't talked much about my daughters here, but many of you know them. My relationship with my eldest (age 20) is strained, to say the least. She has made and continues to make decisions that I Biblically/personally/maternally cannot support. As for my younger daughter (age 13), she faces significant psychiatric issues that are a major focus of our daily lives.

3. My Mom and Her Family
The loss of my maternal grandmother last month was a huge blow that continues to affect us all in many ways.

4. My Husband
His job is extremely stressful and he is also in the process of applying for promotion. As the sole bread-winner of our house, he feels tremendous pressure. I do not envy being head of the house and I pray for his wisdom and strength daily.

5. Myself
Up to now, I have told very few people about this, but on Tuesday of next week, I will be having surgery. It isn't a huge deal in my mind, but any surgery has risks. For me, the benefits far outweigh those risks. Still, if you find the chance to remember me in your prayers Tuesday morning, I would appreciate it.

So, what's on your prayer list today? Can I/we pray for you about anything in particular?


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Friday Five for 7/6/12

After last week's girl-centric post, I thought I'd make this week's Five a list of resources for boys and/or the parents of boys.

1. Headed To The Office
by Glen Colley
This book talks about raising boys to be leaders in the church and preparing them to, eventually, serve as elders.

2. I Kissed Dating Goodbye
by Joshua Harris
I usually hesitate to post denominationally written books, but I do so love this one. It discusses the young man's effort not to "date", but to purposefully look for a Godly wife in a way that is not self-serving or lustful. (And it is equally good for girls.)

3. Guy Time
Boys cannot have too many male Christian role models. Having them places other than church and home is even better. Help your husband to plan an outing with your son as well as some other Dads and sons (like, maybe bowling). It'll be good for all of them.

4.Kids In Mind
Kids In Mind is website that provides very detailed movie ratings. When your son wants to see the latest comic book adaptation, but you aren't sure just exactly how far PG or PG-13 goes, this is the place to look. Each movie is given a three number rating, 1-10 on Sex/Nudity, Violence/Gore, and Profanity and then they go into detail about why a movie rates high/low in that category and they even document drug/alcohol use, etc. For example, the new Disney/Pixar film Brave scored a 2.4.1. I am a big fan of Kids in Mind and use it regularly, even for movies that my husband and I are going to see without kids.

5. Digger Doug's Underground
What little boy doesn't love dinosaurs? This 18 episode series presents them and other science-y stuff from a Christian/young Earth worldview. It's entertaining and educational. I've learned quite a bit from it myself!

What other books or resources would you suggest for young men and/or their parents?




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Independence Day

Politics is a tricky business. I know some people who are very involved and others who fully abstain. It fascinates me. I guess it comes from my love of American history. But, like I said, it is a tricky business. We don't all agree, even when we have the same goals, and that makes things complicated sometimes.

For all the things that can and do go wrong in this country, I believe we are supremely blessed to live here. None of us has ever known a time when we couldn't worship the Lord openly, when we couldn't say what we wanted to say. The very fact that this blog exists is due to our freedoms. There are plenty of other countries that would shut us down.

I am thankful today, and every day, for that freedom and for all those who serve our country. Today I will be praying for them - the firefighters and police officers, the military, even the politicians - and I hope you will join me.

God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above.


Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NKJV)





- by Erica
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Friday Five for 6/29/12

Summer is here and I've been thinking about things to occupy some of the free time my daughter and I will have. We don't have as much as some since we aren't taking the summer off from school, but we have plenty just the same and I want to make the most of it.

Teen/pre-teen girls today get so many mixed messages - or just blatantly BAD messages - about who they are supposed to be and how they should dress and act. The best solution I have for that is quality time with their mother, father and/or other Godly women and men who can set an example. So, today's Friday Five is:

Five Things You Can Do With/For Your Daughter This Summer

1. Take her to lunch/tea.
Let her lead the conversation. Dress up a little if she's interested in that sort of thing. Really listen. The more you know about where her thought process is, the better prepared you can be for whatever comes your way. I read something the other day - listening to the small, every day things your child tells you, sets them up to be able to come to you later with the big things.

2. Send her to Bible camp.
Apologetics Press has a great one in Alabama. There's another one at Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. I am sure there are many more that have escaped my memory. Sometimes young people in the church feel alone and different from the other kids they know. Here they have the chance to meet new children and adults who share their beliefs.

3. Get her reading.
Here's a mini-five (within the Friday Five) of books you could read with your daughter. They might just strengthen her faith and yours!
A. Everyday Princess: Daughter of the King by Sheila K. butt
B. Gifts: Girls in Fellowship and Team Study by Hannah Colley (now Giselbach)
C. God's Girls - Secrets of Leadership for Young Women by Teresa Hampton
D. Real Life Lessons for Teens by Randy Simmons
E. Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty by Dannah Gresh


4. Take her to area-wide church events aimed at girls and women.
Take her with you to that Ladies' Day you have planned or, better yet, find a Girl's Day near you. Every year, my daughter and I attend the one at Woodson Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville. We love it. She and I have both learned many wonderful things from them and she enjoys being with the large number of girls her age who are focused on God and I enjoy being with all the moms who are in the same child-raising place that I am.

5. Plan a Daddy-Daughter Date
Her father is the standard by which she will judge future suitors. If he can show her how a gentleman treats a lady, she'll be far less likely to settle for less.


This is, by no means, an exhaustive list. Just one mom's opinion. Granted many of you have girls who have not yet reached this age or maybe you are raising only boys, or maybe your kids are grown. Either way, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your best tips for raising Godly youngsters or young men (by email or through the comments section below) and, if I get enough of them, they may be featured in a future Friday Five.




-by Erica
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

To Be Honest

To Be Honest (or TBH for short) or Truth Is..….Have you played this game on facebook yet? Apparently it’s a popular status game that (seems to me) younger folks are doing. I think you know what I’m talking about but just in case not, here’s how I think it goes. They put To Be Honest or Truth Is as their status and if you click ‘like’ then they go to your facebook wall and post something truth or honest about you. Or something like that. I may have it totally wrong, but basically it gets people sharing their true and honest thoughts about others. I’m going to play this game with you guys right here right now and you don’t even have to click ‘like’.


Truth Is – I play the comparison game and it’s not fun. I don’t even realize I’m playing it sometimes, but then eventually I realize that’s what I’m doing. For example, right now lots of people are going on summer vacations. I hear about it all on facebook and to be honest I am happy for them. Truth is though I just wish I could go on one too.


I hear about people building a house or remodeling their house and truth is sometimes I wish I could too. Don’t get me wrong, I love my house. To be honest though there are some things I would like to change and for different reasons (financial mostly) just can’t do it right now.


Truth is when I see other kids eating anything and everything, I just wish that mine would do so too without having all his texture/sensitivity issues.


To be honest – it makes me feel terrible when I see how organized and clean and clutter free other people’s homes look. I posted something on facebook the other night about stuffitis. I don’t like it. It’s a terrible condition. I’m trying to clean my 6 year olds room and let me tell you, I have to do it little by little, step by step. I’m talking baby steps. I literally got dizzy in there the other night working.


I could go on and on with examples. I’ll mention one more. Truth is – I wish I could write a lovely article like others that I read. But then I think, wait a minute. I’m writing one right now. Calling it ‘lovely’ may be stretching it, but it’s an article. I didn’t even plan to write anything tonight but came across some verses in I John that started the little wheels in my mind turning just a bit. I will share these verses here and maybe you will see where I’m trying to go with this.


In I John 15-17, the Bible states “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”


It simply states do not love the world. How much clearer can that be? Or the things of the world. I am not on vacation right now, but I live a vacation every day compared to so many folks. I have food, a house, a job, a car, a family, air conditioning, and on and on I could go. And it’s not like I’ve never been on one or will never go on one again. I’ve just been playing the comparison game. I may not live in a big ole house or mansion, but I have a mansion OUT OF THIS WORLD prepared for me in heaven. My child has some food issues, but he’s tall and growing and healthy. My house will never be like what you see in Better Homes & Gardens or those lovely magazines that make me feel so inadequate, but I have a house, a roof over my head. I have a family who helps me LIVE in my house. Living is dirty sometimes. It’s all about perspective. I’ve got to quit comparing myself to others. I need to be more thankful for my blessings each day.


I told my husband earlier tonight (when I needed the laptop from him) that I wanted to jot some thoughts down for an article, but that I wouldn’t write the whole thing. And here I am, finishing the whole article in one sitting. Now if I could just do that with my housekeeping tasks. Oh well, to be honest, the world is passing away and it won’t matter in the end anyway.








- by Amy
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Walking on Water

Over the past three months, I’ve felt as if I was living in a somewhat milder, but just as shocking, “Kardashian-style” reality show. For weeks, I have weathered spiritual storms. It’s as if I’m drowning in one tragedy (okay, I’m being a bit dramatic…maybe a better word to use for “tragedy” is “disappointment”) to only catch my breath just in time to endure the next dunk. If my life were a TV show, I’d have a captured audience eager to TiVo the next week’s episode!

Through my trials, I had grown spiritually weak…desperately weak. I didn’t want to pray and I was avoiding my Bible or reading it reluctantly inadvertently blocking any of God’s Word from penetrating my soggy situations. Self-pity took over and for weeks I was covering my pillow with showers of tears. I was honestly feeling hopeless, but never wanting to admit it to myself (let alone anyone else).

I was battling with a prodigal teenager, failed employment attempts, and sobering financial strain--more crashing waves of “disappointments” than I thought my little mind could bear. But God had a plan.

Like many Christians, I had quickly forgotten that trials come to make us stronger.

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (The Message)

After weeks of receiving encouraging notes, emails, and prayers from loving friends and family, I woke up one morning with a smile on my face! God is still good. I realized that in order to get through these damp circumstances in life, I had to implement a new strategy. I began to ask God to “Fix me.” We will never be rid of problems as long as we walk this earth, but we can certainly change our attitudes towards them. I gained newfound peace knowing that God was working on me in His time, not mine.

Dealing with my current struggles remind me so much of the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water. Although the disciples were afraid when they first saw Jesus walking across that lake, they quickly gained strength when the Savior told them, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) I imagine Jesus saying those exact words to me, “Kenya, take courage…”

Like Peter, I’m afraid at times letting distractions weaken my faith and cause me to sink in the murky waters of life that beat upon my feet. What a blessing it is to cry, “Lord, save me!” (again and again)

He hasn’t failed me yet.

Although I’m still currently in my storms, I’m slowly learning to “sing in the rain” knowing that it is all working for my good. You’d be surprised what a good cry can wash away. I’m no longer afraid to get a little wet.







By Kenya
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five for 6/22/12

I often have little snippets of things that I'd like to share with you, but then can't work them up into anything substantial, so they just sit, half-written and semi-forgotten on my computer. This is a bad habit I've fallen into and hope to remedy with a new addition for Far Above Rubies - the Friday Five. Sometimes it will be five little thoughts that don't warrant a full post on their own, sometimes Bible verses around a particular theme, sometimes quotes that got me thinking and sometimes, I expect, it will be completely random. Without further ado, I present our first Friday Five.

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Today's Friday Five consists of quotes I've read or heard recently that got me thinking. I hope they do the same for you.

1. "Once you've felt the sun on your face, the moon will never do."
That is what being a child of God is to me: the sun on my face. He shines down on me and blesses me. I don't know how anyone could settle for less.

2. "We live in a world of sin, just as a boat is surrounded by water. The trouble comes when the water gets in the boat."
I may not have the wording of this one just right - it's from the sermon I heard Sunday, but it was just such a perfect illustration that I had to share it. Everyone can picture being safe and dry in a boat and they can also picture that boat being pulled down and sinking by the weight of water brought on board.

3. "The Bible is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions."
How true! I think we could also substitute "prayer" in there, too.

4. "Live in such a way that, if someone should speak badly of you, no one would believe it."
I want this painted on the ceiling above my bed so that it is the first thing I see in the morning as a reminder of who God wants me to be.

5. "People are made to be loved and things are made to be used. The confusion in this world is that people are used and things are loved."
I don't have anything more to add to this. How much better would the world be if we just all remembered this?


- by Erica
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

God is Gracious - Hannah's Story, Part 5

For Part One of this post, please click here; for Part Two, click here, for Part Three click here, and, finally, for part Four, click here.



We were running on pure adrenaline at this point. We were beyond tired but so ready to see this perfect girl that God had blessed us with so unexpectedly.

Tim had not yet held her so he was the first to get to his hands on her. Then grandma and aunt had to get in some time. We loved on her until we were so exhausted we had to attempt to get some rest. I think we finally attempted to go to sleep about 6:00am. At this point, we’d been awake for more than 24 hours and were still in shock!!

Everyone kept asking, “What is her name?” We had no idea. We hadn’t exactly had time to come up with a name. We had discussed a few names in the days prior to her birth, but we thought we had three more weeks. While we were in the waiting room right after she was born we were actually flipping through the magazines there, hoping the perfect name would jump out at us. My mom and sister made some suggestions as well. When we finally got settled into the room we made a list of about five names that we liked. We had settled on Rosemary for her middle name. My first name is Mary, after my mom and her grandmother. Tim’s grandmother’s name was Rosie. We combined the two in order to incorporate both families in her name. The first name came down to two names that we liked. Tim chose Hannah. Since then we’ve learned that Hannah means, “God is gracious.” Perfect.

The next day we hit the ground running with the attorney’s office and the social worker. Thankfully, although our attorney was out of town, his assistant began the long legal process. The agency began the process of updating our home study. We had a mountain of paperwork to fill out and we were quite stressed about the entire process. Our greatest fear was that this sweet girl would have to go into foster care during this process. Thankfully, that was not the case.

After another night in the hospital we finally got the word that we were being released. Because we still didn’t have legal custody of Hannah, we all, meaning the three of us and Hannah’s biological mother, had to walk out of the hospital together. Sharon had kept us up to date on how the mom was doing and I’d gone to her room down the hall and spoken with her a couple of times. She hadn’t seen Hannah since the birth, though so we were a little nervous. However, it worked out perfectly. She looked at Hannah one last time and I took her and Sharon back home while Tim took Hannah to our house.

We got home on Saturday and Tim’s parents, his niece and her husband and son all came to visit. The grandparents couldn’t get enough of her. She was already being spoiled!!

The next few weeks passed through a haze of legal stuff. We went to court for the mom’s official surrender of her rights. We had to deal with some issues with the biological father. We had things to complete for the home study as well as visits with our social worker. All of those details, while significant to us and stressful as we were going through them, are really way too much to include here.

My purpose for sharing this story is to share a little bit of my joy with you and to impress upon you the power of prayer.

On February 13th, we went to court one last time to finalize our adoption. We had been through a whirlwind of activity in the previous 6 months. This was the moment we had waited for and it was a precious moment.

For so many years I prayed that God would bless Tim and me with a child. I’m not surprised that he answered that prayer because God is faithful. I am, however, overwhelmed with thanksgiving and gratitude that I can’t even express in words, that He answered our prayers with this sweet natured girl. Isn’t God wonderful??

What I thought was a “No” was actually a “Wait.” I don’t claim to understand all the hows and whys, but what I do understand is that we serve an awesome God. He loves us and if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart.

He has given us the sweetest blessing and we will forever be humbled by that fact. We can’t wait for Hannah to be old enough to understand her story and how God worked in our lives to bring us all together.

I look forward to sharing more about sweet Hannah here in the future.

If you’ve reached this point in this story, I appreciate your patience in reading it all. I love telling it. It’s a perfect opportunity for me to honor and glorify God.

What has God done in your life? Are you sharing that with others? Are you taking the opportunity to talk about Him through the things He’s done for you?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~~Jeremiah 29:11

-by Jennifer
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad