Joni And Friends Family Retreat ~ 2018

Via Google

I haven't shared about Camp this year yet, so I think I'll do that now.

   First off, our theme verse was Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."

   An amazing verse for an amazing week. Where to even begin? Every year it gets better and better. I have no way to describe the love and joy of Camp. The words simply do not exist. I had a camper this year, a new experience for me. But she was so sweet, and I miss her a lot. I miss all of Camp.

   I think I'll share bits and pieces from my prayer journal entries that week. Y'all will learn more from that than anything else. Here goes.

July 22, 2018

I praise You because You have prepared miracles for this week. I rejoice in You because You have chosen everyday people to be Your tools for them. I bow before You because You have called me to be a part of this.

Later,

We are ending our day. Things are quiet all across Camp.... I am at peace. Thank You. 

July 23, 2018

Thank You for the time I spent with [my camper] yesterday evening. Thank You for her smile.

Later,

Bless all who are part of this specialness, Father. Bless them to the farthest star You've made.

July 24, 2018

Thank You for the joy of this day, of this night.... My heart has no room left, I think. Maybe it does, but only because of You. Thank You, thank You, thank You.

July 25, 2018

This moment's quiet is breathtaking. Camp is still half-asleep, and the sky is still pink-edged. There is no where I would rather be than this place You've put me for a week. Nowhere.

   Tomorrow is the last day. Tears already have to be swallowed. I don't want to leave. This place is too special. Thank You for bringing me here again.

P.S. A full heart is heavy.

Shouldn't have done this post! Shouldn't have done this post! Dang it! As if I didn't miss Camp enough already.

RhoXie out before I cry on the keyboard.

Same Song, Second Book

Via Google

So I thought I would be publishing The Kingdom of Fire and Ice the end of this summer. But I'm not...

   And I've been here before. It's not fun, especially because it's for pretty much the same reason. I'm personally not ready and neither is my writing.

   But I choose to seek God. I hold Jeremiah 29: 11-13 close. I choose to trust He knows what He's doing. I want to move forward. I choose to wait.

   Lord, help me trust You more. In all of this, let me rest in You.

RhoXie

God of Details

via Google

I love it when what I think of as a dry passage in the Bible comes to life

   Recently, I started studying the book of Matthew. It started, of course, with Jesus' genealogy, and I was tempted to skip it. But something, the Holy Spirit I believe, told me not to.

    At first, it was just a list of fathers and sons, many with names I couldn't pronounce. But then I came to verse sixteen.

"Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah."

~ Matthew 1:16

And it just kind of hit me that God had specifically picked a descendant of David to be Jesus' earthly father, and He didn't have to.  Mary was also a descendant of David, so that fulfilled the prophecy.

   But God knew the Jews traced family lines through the fathers, so He provided an earthly father, a descendant of David. It was just a detail, but God took care of it.

   While I was still marveling over that, the Holy Spirit spoke again and reminded me that I am also His child (Gal. 3:26). The same level of care He gave to Jesus, He gives to me. He shows the same level of interest in all His children's lives, in all their details. And not just the good ones. He cares about the bad ones too.

   And because He cares about them, we shouldn't be afraid to let Him handle them. Remember, before anyone, even Mary, knew Jesus was to be born, God took care of the details.

RhoXie

Second Best No Longer

I have four older siblings. I'm the third girl. There's very little I do that someone else hasn't already done. Almost nothing I do, say, and think is new. The result?

   I often feel I have to prove myself.

   Growing up, I always felt that my older siblings were better. That I was second best. So I retreated from them and hid in my imagination.

   Now, please don't hear that my siblings are horrible or that my parents don't love me. Because that's not true. My siblings are great people who put up with a lot from me, and my parents love just as much as they do the four who came first.

   That's not the point. No, the point is I had insecurities about my value and didn't know what to do with them. So I listened to Satan's whisperings, and instead of telling my parents, I tried to deal with them my own way.

   This is still my gut reaction to many things. I hide. I may not dress up as a princess and fight dragons anymore, but I'm not above burying my problems with books and writing.

   But you know what I'm learning? Satan's wrong. I don't have to hide, and I don't have to prove myself. God values and loves me.

 "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

~ Romans 5:8 

   

   That's how much God values us. To Him, we are worth Jesus' life. We never have to hide from Him, and we're never second best in His eyes. And that's more than enough.

1 Cor. 13:4-8 ~ The Way of Love

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away, as for tongues; they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.[...]

The True Christmas

For unto us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his

shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and

of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his

kingdom,

to establish it and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this forth and

forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do

this.

~Isaiah 9:6-7

For he grew up before him like a young

plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we

should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire

him.

He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted

with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their

faces

he was despised, and we esteemed

him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our

transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that

brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed.

~Isaiah 53:2-5

Merry Christmas!

RhoXie

Wait on Him

I believe that I shall look upon the the

goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take

courage;

wait for the LORD!

~Psalm 27:13-14

   I have needed these verses over the weekend. First, the situation with our house is still iffy, second, I lost the typing program I use for my book, and third, we're not sure where we'll be next. So yeah, it was rough.

   I don't see God's goodness very clearly right now, but I chose to believe it's there. I believe and wait.

   Though it's difficult at times, I know God's timing is best. My belief in that makes me strong against these struggles.

   I have courage that God will bring my family through this. I admit I want it to be over, but I'm willing to wait on Him.

~

   Please grant me grace about posting as we move. On the plus side though, y'all can now subscribe by email so y'all never miss a post.

Psalm 150 ~ Let everything praise the LORD

   So why is this post over five hours late? Because my family went camping with Morgan's family. We had a blast! I came home a little tired, a little sore, and very happy. Right now I seriously feel only one thing. The psalm below.

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent

greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and

dance;

praise him with strings and pipes!

Praise him with loud clashing

cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise

the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

The Joy of the Lord

   I spent most of this past week at camp in Dayton, Tennessee. But it wasn't your regular camp. What my sister Miranda and I were doing was volunteering at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat. 

  This camp, one of many across the country and beyond, is for families that have members with special needs. The Short Term Missionaries either are assigned to a camper with special needs, a camper's sibling, or to help with a program. My sister had a camper, and I helped with the Children's Program.

   The theme for the week was Nehemiah 8:10:

For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

My part in the Children's Program was to teach the Theme Song (The Joy of the Lord by Rend Collective) and hand motions to go with it. My friend Emalyn also taught them with me.  Then on Wednesday, all the kids performed it on stage for their parents and the STMs. Every last one of them did great, and I was so proud of them!

   I came back Thursday, having made good friends and good memories. I reached home tired and ready for home cooking. I slept close to twenty hours by Saturday afternoon. But I would go back tomorrow if I could. Why?

   Because I found such joy in my service to others. Supernatural joy. The joy of the Lord  that gave me strength to serve all around me. I'm not living that well here at home, I admit, but I want to. Because such joy is too amazing for only once a year!

The Compassion of the LORD ~ Isaiah Fifty-five

Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money on that

which is not bread,

and your labor for that does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is

good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an

everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

Behold, I made him a witness to the

peoples,

a leader and commander for the

peoples.

Behold, you shall call a nation that you

do not know,

and a nation that did not know you

shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, and of

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his

thoughts;

let him return to the LORD, that he

may have compassion on him.

and to our God, for he will

abundantly pardon.

For my thoughts are not your

thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

declares the LORD,

For as the heavens are higher than the

earth,

so are my ways higher than your

ways and my thoughts than your

thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come

down from heaven

and do not return there but water

the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread

to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from

my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I

purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for

which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy

and be lead forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap

their hands.

Instead of the thorns shall come up the

cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up

the myrtle;

and it shall make a name for the LORD,

an everlasting sign that shall not be

cut off.

Moving Peace

   This past Wednesday I had a small foretaste of what is about to come.

   Moving.

   Wednesday I only moved rooms. Soon I'll move houses. I've accepted it. I've told myself that it will be an experience I can use for my writing. But when I'm alone, I must admit that a part of me shudders at the thought.

   Everything packed up and carted off. My life in upheaval. Leaving behind all I've known for almost eight years.

You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the LORD forever,

for the LORD GOD is an everlasting

rock.

~ Isaiah 26: 3-4

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.                                                                                    ~ Jeremiah 29: 11

   My parents believe moving is God's will, His plan, for our family. I trust them, and I choose to trust God in this. Everything will work out for the best. I have peace about this. It's not perfect peace yet, but God and I are working on that. 

~

   On a side note, the sign-up form for my book reveal isn't working. If y'all would be so kind, please leave a comment with all the required information. I promise that all comments of that type will not be published. And Faye, if you would be so nice as to do another post on your blog about this in case someone from your readers did sign-up, I would be most grateful. 

Resting and Renewing

   The past weekend was very busy for my family. We had a homeschool conference, and my choir's concert was Friday night. So by Saturday night, we were all exhausted.

   We didn't go to church Sunday morning. Instead, we stayed home and rested. We talked over what we'd learned and enjoyed Second Breakfast (long story). But it was the rest that we enjoyed the most.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy, and I will give you rest.                                                                       ~ Matthew 11:28

   Just as the Sabbath is our physical rest, Jesus wants to be our spiritual rest. We need Him to give us rest, or or else our spirits will become weak. But He willingly renews our strength when we rest in Him.

He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he

increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall

exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall

renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like

eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:29-31

Friend of Sinners

   Jesus, friend of sinners. We've all heard this, and it's true. Jesus, friend of sinners. It has become cliche. Jesus, friend of sinners. But that's not all He was.
   Jesus was a sin-bearer. Due to the cross, He lost His perfection. He lived completely, totally without a single sin. Yet He willingly bore sin on that cross, and He did it for you, for me.
   More than that, Jesus took it a step further. He bore sin itself.

For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.                                                                                           ~ 2 Corinthians 5: 21

    Jesus bore the cult prostitute's sin. He carried the homosexual's. He bore the serial killer's and the terrorist of 9-11's as well. He took the adulterer's, the addict's, the abuser's, and the abortionist's. He carried the sin of the thief on the other cross. He bore all of that sin. He took something He had never known for us.

   Why?

   Because He loved us. He wanted to heal us. He wanted to restore us. Because that is what a friend does. Jesus, friend of sinners. 

Cooper and the Holy Spirit

   This is Cooper. (Actually, it's Cooper and my younger brother Kendal,  but that's beside the point.)

   Cooper has two great desires. The first one is to be  loved by us, his people, and the second is to protect us from all danger. He is willing to bring us joy and comfort when we need it. He is willing to both warn and guard us. He loves to give joy but stands firm in danger.

   The Holy Spirit is similar. He prompts us to praise and worship God, thus giving us joy. He wants us to love Him because that is what is best for us. When sin - danger - draws near, He warns us. He guards us in time f trouble. These are His two great desires, for us to love Him and to protect us.

   If I listen to Cooper, I know when someone is coming. If I listen to the Holy Spirit, I know when sin is tempting. I don't do it perfectly. Sometimes I tell Him to hush like I do to Cooper and sin in doing so. I grieve Him. (See Eph. 4:30.)  But I try to listen to Him more everyday.

   Do you? As Easter comes closer, we should all ask this question. Do I truly try to listen to the Holy Spirit?  Or do I tell Him to hush like He is just a noisy dog?

And I'm Back! Plus Some Changes and a Post

   Wow, I really didn't expect to be back this soon! Lucky us, huh? Sometimes I don't even post this often. ;) Ha ha!  Okay, first those changes. Y'all may notice I'm posting under another name. This is actually my pen name that I write under. It's still me, guys. (Shout out to Morgan Elizabeth Huneke for advising this! Click here to visit her site.) Also welcome to my first couple of post series. For Braids, I'll now be doing a Lord of the Rings/Hobbit series. I'll also be doing a series of Books posts on classic books. These will range from children's to young adult. Now for that post.

Place of Refuge, Place of Worship

   Words are my place of refuge. I retreat to them in times of trouble. This has been my practice for many years, first using books and now using my writing. It helps to be able to remove myself from whatever the situation is. I draw away, step into a different life, and leave my pain behind.

   Words are a gift straight from God Himself. (see Genesis 1:3) Their greatest purpose is to praise and communicate with Him. There are many ways to do this. We can simply give direct praise or praise Him to someone. The form I most often choose is to write something that honors Him.

   To do this, I must turn my place of refuge into my place of worship. I must let God into the place I keep everyone out of. I have to let down my walls. It was hard, but I don't regret it.
   God has shown me much. The stories I now write are from Him, and they're so much better than anything I could write. Letting Him in was the best thing I ever did to improve my writing.
   But now I challenge you. What is your place of refuge? Is there a way to make it a place of worship? If there is, do not be afraid. Yes, letting God in changes everything, but I promise you won't regret it.

P.S. The flash drive with my book on it has gone missing. If y'all will pray that I'll find it quickly, That would be amajing! (Yes, amajing is a word. It's like amazing but more so.)

Pray; Seek; Focus

   Okay, picture this: I'm downstairs at the coffee table, working on research notes for my next book. Two feet from me, Sawyer and Carter are on the Xbox. I enjoy the game they're playing, LEGO Marvel, and don't focus on my notes. I'm distracted.
   My notes were more important than their video game. I'd need them soon, but I'd never need the game. In the same way, Christians can become distracted from what we need, God, and become more interested in things we'll never need. It's a very common, God has a very simple solution. Pray.
   Pray and ask God for help, then seek to focus on Him. Seek Him. If you do, the things of this world will quickly fade away. 
   Focusing on Him is a battle to be fought daily. Prayer is our weapon, and God is our shield These two will never fail. With them, we can on Him.
   Pray; seek; focus.