Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Best Of...
This is all for you Jon...so enjoy, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an awesome brother, brother-in-law and uncle!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Love Letters
A couple of weeks ago, I asked my daughters to write a love letter to God. I told them it could be anything...to write whatever they wanted to say to Him. So I sent them to different rooms with a notebook and pen. I wanted it to be from their heart and in their own words.
I thought with Valentine's Day being tomorrow, this would be a great time to post these! Since "Love comes from God", maybe we all need to sit down and write our own love letter to Him. Not a bad idea, huh? I hope you enjoy reading what my girls had to say. I know I did.
Things that stood out to me: "I love you so much my heart will explode!"; "You are my faithful God"; "I promise to read my Bible and devotions"...she does in fact read her devotional book we got her for Christmas every morning (mostly) before school. It's awesome to know that Macayla knows that our God is FAITHFUL!
Things that stood out to me: "XOXOXOXO"...when Rachel was smaller, she would come up to me, wrap herself tightly around me, grab my face, and kiss me on the lips over and over and over to the point I couldn't keep up with all of her kisses and then I would just start laughing! (She still does kiss me, but she's toned it down a bit! :) She's very open about saying "I love you" and one way she shows it is by her great big hugs and kisses! I see her love for God in this too. I also think it's sweet that she knows God and Jesus as her FRIEND!
"Faithful Friend"...we can go to God with anything. He's faithful and He's our friend. And you won't find a more faithful friend than Him. What is it that you want to express to God in your love letter?
"...love comes from God." I John 4:7
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Guarantees
I guarantee you that the name given to me at birth was Jennifer Dawn Stuckey. I guarantee that my name now is...ready for this...STILL Jennifer Dawn, but has changed to Bycroft.
I guarantee you I was born in Brazil.....Indiana that is.
I guarantee you that my birthday is April 4th. (Just send money...thanks for asking!)
I guarantee you that my biological parents are Larry and Pat Stuckey. (I hope so anyway...I'm gonna be "jacked up" if I find out differently!)
I guarantee I have 2 brothers...Jeff and Jon. And I claim them. ("That's nice, get out.")
I guarantee you that I have black hair and brown eyes.
I guarantee you that I have a birth mark on the right side of my face. (I used to hate it, but God put it there, so I'm fine with it now!)
I guarantee you that I have freckles.
I guarantee you that I've been in 26 states. (And yes, mom, I've been to Utah!)
I guarantee you that Corrie ten Boom is no longer living. (Well, in my world she was. Just ask Greg Comp...he knows all about it.)
I guarantee you that I coach and play tennis.
I guarantee you that I take A LOT of pictures...call to make an appointment today!
I guarantee you that I'm hilarious! (And no, it doesn't depend on who you ask!)
I guarantee you that I graduated from high school in 1990...for real, I did.
I guarantee you that I attended 3 colleges, yes 3, and graduated.....from ONE!
I guarantee you that I am married to the BEST man.....for me. His name is Matt...you can read about him here.
I guarantee you that I have the 2 most beautiful daughters in the entire world...Macayla and Rachel. (Don't argue with me on this one...you'll lose.)
I guarantee you that today, we live in Iola...correction, GAS, KS.
I guarantee you that I have the best friends ever! (For anyone that doesn't know them, well, that's just too bad for you, because they really are great!)
I guarantee you that yesterday, it was sunny and warm outside.
I guarantee you that it is raining...right now anyway.
I guarantee it was 11:14...a minute ago. Right now, it's 11:15. I can't guarantee I will make it to 11:16.
It's 11:16 now...I guarantee I made it.
There's a lot of things I can "guarantee" you about. Yet, there's a lot of things I can't. There's a lot of things that I just don't know about. And that can be frustrating and scary at times...the unknown. I just gave you a list of things that I can guarantee...by proof or just by talking to my family and friends. There's one more "guarantee" I haven't shared with you yet, and it's the most important.
I guarantee you that I love Jesus, and am a Christ--follower. I made that decision years ago, and everyday, I do my best to continue that relationship with Him...(tho' I fail so many times!) This morning as I was reading my Bible, I came across a verse that I've read before, but for some reason, I paused on it this time. It's a verse out of Ephesians. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory." (1:13-14)
I don't know about you, but that's reassuring and comforting to me! In this world, where there are so many uncertainties and "well, I can't guarantee it"...this is absolutely one thing that we, as Christians and possessors of the Holy Spirit, can guarantee. My present salvation is guaranteed, and my inheritance (Heaven) is something that I can look forward to! So in your days of the "no guarantees", just remember this verse. That's something that you can count on...I guarantee it!
Oh yeah, one more thing...
I guarantee you that this is my social security #...
(Are you crazy?? I'm not that stupid...I went to 3 colleges, remember?? :)
I guarantee you I was born in Brazil.....Indiana that is.
I guarantee you that my birthday is April 4th. (Just send money...thanks for asking!)
I guarantee you that my biological parents are Larry and Pat Stuckey. (I hope so anyway...I'm gonna be "jacked up" if I find out differently!)
I guarantee I have 2 brothers...Jeff and Jon. And I claim them. ("That's nice, get out.")
I guarantee you that I have black hair and brown eyes.
I guarantee you that I have a birth mark on the right side of my face. (I used to hate it, but God put it there, so I'm fine with it now!)
I guarantee you that I have freckles.
I guarantee you that I've been in 26 states. (And yes, mom, I've been to Utah!)
I guarantee you that Corrie ten Boom is no longer living. (Well, in my world she was. Just ask Greg Comp...he knows all about it.)
I guarantee you that I coach and play tennis.
I guarantee you that I take A LOT of pictures...call to make an appointment today!
I guarantee you that I'm hilarious! (And no, it doesn't depend on who you ask!)
I guarantee you that I graduated from high school in 1990...for real, I did.
I guarantee you that I attended 3 colleges, yes 3, and graduated.....from ONE!
I guarantee you that I am married to the BEST man.....for me. His name is Matt...you can read about him here.
I guarantee you that I have the 2 most beautiful daughters in the entire world...Macayla and Rachel. (Don't argue with me on this one...you'll lose.)
I guarantee you that today, we live in Iola...correction, GAS, KS.
I guarantee you that I have the best friends ever! (For anyone that doesn't know them, well, that's just too bad for you, because they really are great!)
I guarantee you that yesterday, it was sunny and warm outside.
I guarantee you that it is raining...right now anyway.
I guarantee it was 11:14...a minute ago. Right now, it's 11:15. I can't guarantee I will make it to 11:16.
It's 11:16 now...I guarantee I made it.
There's a lot of things I can "guarantee" you about. Yet, there's a lot of things I can't. There's a lot of things that I just don't know about. And that can be frustrating and scary at times...the unknown. I just gave you a list of things that I can guarantee...by proof or just by talking to my family and friends. There's one more "guarantee" I haven't shared with you yet, and it's the most important.
I guarantee you that I love Jesus, and am a Christ--follower. I made that decision years ago, and everyday, I do my best to continue that relationship with Him...(tho' I fail so many times!) This morning as I was reading my Bible, I came across a verse that I've read before, but for some reason, I paused on it this time. It's a verse out of Ephesians. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory." (1:13-14)
I don't know about you, but that's reassuring and comforting to me! In this world, where there are so many uncertainties and "well, I can't guarantee it"...this is absolutely one thing that we, as Christians and possessors of the Holy Spirit, can guarantee. My present salvation is guaranteed, and my inheritance (Heaven) is something that I can look forward to! So in your days of the "no guarantees", just remember this verse. That's something that you can count on...I guarantee it!
Oh yeah, one more thing...
I guarantee you that this is my social security #...
(Are you crazy?? I'm not that stupid...I went to 3 colleges, remember?? :)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
February 4, 2007
For me, it was:
Date: August 31, 1981
What: Gave my heart and my life to Jesus Christ
Where: First Christian Church in Brazil, Indiana
Who: Glen Liston was the minister and friend that baptized me
I still remember that day. It was a great day! Now as a parent myself, I know just how proud my parents were of me, making the most important decision to accept Jesus on my own, to realize that I'm a sinner in need of His forgiveness, and to do my best to live my life so that it's pleasing to God.
Two years ago today, our oldest daughter Macayla, made that important decision herself. Of course, once she started asking more questions about it, we talked to her for a couple of months. She understood what it meant and she was ready. There were 2 questions that Macayla had to answer, by herself and in her own words, and give to Matt and me prior to this day.
This was the first one... "Reasons why I want to be baptized and know that I am ready":
(Macayla's words, age 7...spelling unchanged.)
"I want to go to heven with you. be cuss heven is ware Jesus is and I want to see Jesus. Sins ar bad and I do not like to do sins be cuss thae ar bad thangs to do."
2nd question... "What Jesus did for me":
(Again, her words)
"he dide on the cross for me so that some day I cood go to heven."
I was excited for 2 main reasons that day: 1) The obvious...Macayla's decision to follow Jesus and to be baptized; and 2) Her daddy got the privilege of baptizing her. Talk about an emotional day...but all in a good way! 33 miles sings a song called, "Stand Amazed". Here's the chorus of their song...
"When all the lights go down and the world is quiet/No one is around/I wanna be the same man that'll serve you then/Like I serve you now/That my convictions never change/Oh let my need for you remain/As real as the moment I was saved/So I will always stand amazed."
The part that really sticks out for me is this... "Oh let my need for you remain, as real as the moment I was saved". That really should be our daily prayer. If you have been baptized into Jesus Christ, think back to that day. Naturally, it's a very emotional and moving day. But it's so much more than that. Following Jesus, putting your whole trust in Him, is a choice...not just an emotion whether you "feel" like it or not. A choice. It's up to us to stay committed to that...every single day. I have August 31, 1981 to look back on, Macayla has February 4th, 2007 as her most important day.
"May my need for You still remain, God, just as real as that moment that I was saved. Amen."
Notice the tear on Matt's face...
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:38
Date: August 31, 1981
What: Gave my heart and my life to Jesus Christ
Where: First Christian Church in Brazil, Indiana
Who: Glen Liston was the minister and friend that baptized me
I still remember that day. It was a great day! Now as a parent myself, I know just how proud my parents were of me, making the most important decision to accept Jesus on my own, to realize that I'm a sinner in need of His forgiveness, and to do my best to live my life so that it's pleasing to God.
Two years ago today, our oldest daughter Macayla, made that important decision herself. Of course, once she started asking more questions about it, we talked to her for a couple of months. She understood what it meant and she was ready. There were 2 questions that Macayla had to answer, by herself and in her own words, and give to Matt and me prior to this day.
This was the first one... "Reasons why I want to be baptized and know that I am ready":
(Macayla's words, age 7...spelling unchanged.)
"I want to go to heven with you. be cuss heven is ware Jesus is and I want to see Jesus. Sins ar bad and I do not like to do sins be cuss thae ar bad thangs to do."
2nd question... "What Jesus did for me":
(Again, her words)
"he dide on the cross for me so that some day I cood go to heven."
I was excited for 2 main reasons that day: 1) The obvious...Macayla's decision to follow Jesus and to be baptized; and 2) Her daddy got the privilege of baptizing her. Talk about an emotional day...but all in a good way! 33 miles sings a song called, "Stand Amazed". Here's the chorus of their song...
"When all the lights go down and the world is quiet/No one is around/I wanna be the same man that'll serve you then/Like I serve you now/That my convictions never change/Oh let my need for you remain/As real as the moment I was saved/So I will always stand amazed."
The part that really sticks out for me is this... "Oh let my need for you remain, as real as the moment I was saved". That really should be our daily prayer. If you have been baptized into Jesus Christ, think back to that day. Naturally, it's a very emotional and moving day. But it's so much more than that. Following Jesus, putting your whole trust in Him, is a choice...not just an emotion whether you "feel" like it or not. A choice. It's up to us to stay committed to that...every single day. I have August 31, 1981 to look back on, Macayla has February 4th, 2007 as her most important day.
"May my need for You still remain, God, just as real as that moment that I was saved. Amen."
Notice the tear on Matt's face...
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:38
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