My grammy and I :D

So Joel and I drove up to Maryland Wednesday night and stayed with my Grammy. And as I write this, we are in an Apple store at the mall buying my grammy a Mac computer. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to blog so I convinced my grammy to take a picture with me. :D

Caitlin graduates. We take pictures. Not normal ones, cuz that would be boring... Enjoy :D

Character Development

my goal:

"God's work is ever characterized by calmness and dignity." -Selected Messages

however:

"The Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements requires men who are more than weaklings.

"Some have no firmness of character. Their plans and purposes have no definite form and consistency. They are of but little practical use in the world. This weakness, indecision, and inefficiency should be overcome. There is in true Christian character an indomitableness that cannot be molded or subdued by adverse circumstances. We must have moral backbone, an integrity that cannot be flattered, bribed, or terrified.

"God has given us ability, to think and to act, and it is by acting with carefulness, looking to Him for wisdom that you will become capable of bearing burdens. Stand in your God-given personality. Be no other person's shadow. Expect that the Lord will work in and by and through you.

"The same spirit and principles that one brings into the daily labor will be brought into the whole life. Those who desire a fixed amount to do and a fixed salary, and who wish to prove an exact fit without the trouble of adaptation or training, are not the ones whom God calls to work in His cause. Those who study how to give as little as possible of their physical, mental, and moral power are not the workers upon whom He can pour out abundant blessings. Their example is contagious. Self-interest is the ruling motive. Those who need to be watched and who work only as every duty is specified to them, are not the ones who will be pronounced good and faithful. Workers are needed who manifest energy, integrity, diligence, those who are willing to do anything that needs to be done." -Ministry of Healing

Grammy's Ragamuffin Bible

My Grammy says that everyone should have a ragamuffin Bible; one that they can mark up and make their own. She says, "If you must, or if you have to preach a sermon or do something official, get another Bible, plain and black, and take that to church and have it be your grown-up Bible. But when you're alone with God, pull out your ragamuffin Bible. I'm tellin' you, you'll never be the same!"

Back when I was a Western child, it was only a rare and EXTREMELY special occasion that I got to see Grammy and Grampy, who lived way out East in Maryland. But whenever I did get to see them, it was always with great excitement. Sabbath's were my favorite because my Grammy's purse was always full of unique sabbath toys that none of the other children at church had. And tucked away were her Sabbath "cough-drops" (which were actually butterscotch or creme savers) to occupy our mouths with something other than talking.

But my FAVORITE thing of all was my Grammy's Bible. It was well-loved and falling apart, but I was intrigued by the treasures I would find within its pages. Genesis 1 had stickers of bugs, animals, and birds. Exodus 8 was surrounded by bright green frogs and little black flies. Tucked away midst the pages about the sanctuary was a piece of linen like the fabric that the priest's wore. A few pages later was a braided cord in gold, blue, purple, and scarlet liked the colors used in the sanctuary. Jonah's story was graced with a humongous fish, which curved around the edge of the words. There was an endless amount of treasures just waiting for my eager eyes to search them out. I was always looking for the newest additions and fondly tracing my favorites that had been there ever since I could remember. It was in my Grammy's Bible that I was drawn to the Word of God for the first time. It became something more then just a book that I was told was special. It became a Book that would change my life.

As I grew older, and stickers lost my interest, I learned to find new ways to make the Bible come alive. I learned to dig deeper, past the surface stories, to what lay below. I learned to enjoy prophecy and I became fascinated with word studies and discovering the hidden truths behind every verse.

But every once in a while, I'll visit my Grammy again and take another look at her ragamuffin Bible. And I am reminded of why I first fell in love with God's word. It's fresh and alive! It's captivating! No wonder the little children flocked around Jesus. The secret to it's power lies in it's simplicity. The Bible says we must have faith like a child.

When I was a child, I believed. I knew that the stickers, while just colors on a page, represented real stories and real lives effected by God. Now, in my college life filled with analytical thinking and dissection, I want that simple belief of my childhood back. I want to be still and KNOW that He is God! I want to not only be certain that He will answer my prayers, but ACT on that belief!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives on little child like this in My name receives Me." -Matthew 18:1-5