In Paths of Righteousness

Greetings everybody!!! I hope you all had an awesome week.
I would like to introduce you to Keri Nicole. I found out a little bit about her and we have more in common than she knows! We both like playing the piano, writing, playing Dutch Blitz, and playing volleyball. She has written a book called
 "In Paths of Righteousness" and she is trying to spread the word about her new book, so I am posting about it for her. You can read a synopsis of the book below. I have not read it yet, but I am planning on doing it soon. Wish you the best, Keri! Love Ashley

       

       

David Riley is a typical, hard-working farm boy of the late 1800s, growing up in a Midwest community where religion was a tradition that none dared to challenge. He and his friend Jill set out to explore the “Old Man’s Path,” to uncover the mystery of an old wives’ tale, and it turns into more of an adventure than they bargained for. When they discover long-held secrets in the town of Detweiler, David is determined to find the truth—regardless of the cost.

As he faces opposition in his search for the truth, David also finds a battle waging within.

He and his friends struggle to be kind to Henry, a cruel bully, and his mother, a widow bitter toward God. But as his hatred for Henry grows, so does the darkness in his own heart. With an emptiness that threatens to consume him, David despairs of ever pleasing God. When all prospects of finding peace appear lost, he meets a strange old recluse, thought to be long dead, who offers him both friendship and hope.

David discovers something in common with the mysterious stranger—but what binds them together threatens to tear his family and community apart. Will he have the courage and determination to stand for what is right? Facing rejection in the greatest decision of his life, David must choose which path to follow: a religious tradition to live by or a faith to die for. 

You can read about Keri here and more about her book here. If you would like to order a copy of her book, you can go to her website. 

Now for the saying of the week:

 

Bible verse of the week: Romans 8:28-31

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amongst many brethern. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Isin't that cool?! Verse 28 goes along with the saying of the week!

Song of the week: O To Be Like Thee. This is the second stanza of this song, and in 2 more weeks we will have completed it.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand'ring sinners to find.

O to be like Thee!

O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; 

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. 

Please strive with me to make this your prayer for this week and we could also pray for each other. :) 

Saved by the blood of the crucified One,

Ashley

Grace Conference

Greetings to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have redemption through His blood. 

We had a very very enjoyable weekend. Our family attended a Grace Conference and we were very glad to see our friends, who we haven't seen in a year! We had a very sweet time catching up with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as attending a number of services that were taught by many different men, including Pastor Richard Jordan.

On Saturday evening, the girls sang "I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb" and I played the piano for them. You can click here to listen to the song.  

Here's a picture I took of a lake. The other picture, below, has the saying of the week on it.

I just wanted to mention a couple Bible verses I thought was neat. Last Monday morning (Jan. 12) in my Bible reading, I came across 2 particular verses that stuck out to me. The first one is Psalms 4:3, which says "But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him." That's neat that God sets aside the godly for himself. When I read that verse, I thought of Titus 2:14- "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." It reminds me that we as Christians are supposed to be peculiar, not part of the world. Remember: we are in this world, but not of this world. 

The second verse is Psalms 5:4- "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."  That's a cool verse. God doesn't take part or pleasure in sin and wickedness and evil isin't in Him because He's holy and just, pure and perfect. It's so amazing that Jesus, who can't sin and can't look at sin, died to take all the sins of the whole world upon himself, and His father, God, had to turn His back on His only Son because Jesus had all the sins of everybody on Him. Wow.  O to be like Him, I would be! That is a constant prayer of mine. I think this song "O To Be Like Thee" is fitting for these verses. It can also be the daily prayer of each one of us as we strive to be more like our Saviour. 

Saying of the week: 

The "super-sized" Bible verse of the week: Romans 8:18-27
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same, in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Song of the week: For the next 4 weeks, the song of the week will be 1 stanza from O To Be Like Thee and maybe ya'll can make it your prayer for that week.

                            "O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer, 
                            This is my constant longing and prayer; 
                             Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, 
                                Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. 

                                            O to be like Thee!
                                            O to be like Thee,
                                Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
                         Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
                            Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Have a good and godly week!! 
Washed in the blood of the Lamb,
Ashley

Journey Challenge Part 2

Greetings everyone!

After talking it over with my daddy, I have decided not to continue with the Journey Challenge, and memorizing Isaiah chapter 40. I think Isaiah is a great book and chapter 40 has great christian teachings! For example: God will take care of us, (vs. 11), God is so big, He holds the waters and the heavens in his hands, (vs. 12) God doesn't need counsel, (vs. 14), and God will give strength to the weak (vs. 29-31). God's greatness and power is weaved throughout chapter 40. It has lots of prophecies in it and contains awesome verses. It's just that there are so many other verses to memorize that would greatly benefit me in future witnessing and in other areas. 
My favorite verse in Isaiah chapter 40 that I memorized is:  

I think it's neat to think about God's word lasting forever. Everything is going to fall away and die sometime, but God's word will never die or fall away. 

One of our dear friends invited Sarah and I to do a challenge with her. The challenge is to memorize the whole book of Ephesians, which is one of my favorite books! :)

Saying of the week: 

Bible verse of the week: Romans 8:11-17

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethern, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Song of the week: Abba Father

Father, hold me safe in Your arms;

Father, keep me free from all harm.

I cast my care on You

Just like a child should do--

Trusting, loving all that You are.

Abba, Father,

I rest in You;

You're always faithful,

You're always true.

Abba, Father,

You are my song

Though clouds are dark,

Though night is long.

I cry to you,

Abba, Father.

Father, help me lean on You more

Through each valley, through every storm.

Help me when I can't see

Your will is best for me;

Love me, hold me sheltered & warm.

Abba, Father,

I rest in You;

You're always faithful,

You're always true.

Abba, Father,

You are my song

Though clouds are dark,

Though night is long.

I cry to you,

Abba, Father.

Father, mold me, make me like new.

Guide my footsteps, keep my heart true--

So that the world may see

Your likeness lives in me.

Break me, shape me, make me like You.

Abba, Father,

I rest in You;

You're always faithful,

You're always true.

Abba, Father,

You are my song

Though clouds are dark,

Though night is long.

I cry to you,

Abba, Father.

Click here to listen to Patch the Pirate sing this song.

Have a good and godly week!                                                                           

Walking with the King,                                                                                   

Ashley                                                                                      

Journey Challenge

Greetings!!!!
Well, time for another post. I was trying to think about something I could write  that has happened, and I thought "why don't I write about the Journey Challenge?" The Journey Challenge is a challenge that Living the Journey does every January. This January, the challenge is to memorize a verse every day of Isaiah chapter 40. Today is the fourth day, so we are memorizing Isaiah 40 verse 4. Sarah and Anna Robinson has accepted the challenge along with yours truly, and I am very excited about memorizing the whole chapter! Every day, one of the Journey Leaders posts about the verse that we are memorizing that day. You can click here to read the post for day 1, here for post 2, here for post 3, and here for today's post: 4. You can click here to read more about the challenge. So, I hope you will pray for us as we memorize this passage. Please pray that we will finish memorizing it and not give up! Believe me! It's easy to skip a verse for a day, and then the next day skip a verse. Pretty soon, you're behind on memorizing! And it takes me a very long time to memorize things! So, if you're like me, and you have a hard time memorizing things, I found something that helps me, and I hope it will help you. I find it very helpful if I say the verse over and over in my head until I go to sleep. The next morning, when I wake up, I say the verse without looking at it, and I find it is stuck in my head!! Today's memory verse is Isaiah 40:4 "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain."  So, if you're interested in joining this awesome challenge, please leave a comment below and tell me!!!! You can click here if you wish to sign up to receive the emails that one of the Journey Leaders writes every day. For a little extra motivation, Living the Journey will send a prize to anyone who completes this challenge by February 1st. The challengers have to say it to their parents, guardian or some other responsible person. Have them (your parents or guardian) email Living the Journey by February 5th to let them know you've completed the challenge! You can find their email here.

Okay, and now for some pictures from my walk last week.

Saying of the week:
 

Bible verse of the week: Romans 8:5-10
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Song of the week: Christ Liveth in Me.
"Once far from God and dead in sin, 
No light my heart could see;
But in God's Word the light I found,
Now Christ liveth in me. 

Christ liveth in me,
Christ liveth in me;
Oh! What a salvation this,
That Christ liveth in me.

As rays of light from yonder sun,
The flow'rs of earth set free,
So life and light and love come forth
From Christ living in me.

Christ liveth in me,
Christ liveth in me;
Oh! What a salvation this,
That Christ liveth in me.

As lives the flow'r within the seed,
As in the cone the tree,
So, praise the Christ of truth and grace, 
His Spirit dwelleth in me.

Christ liveth in me, 
Christ liveth in me;
Oh! What a salvation this,
That Christ liveth in me.

With longing all my heart is filled,
That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell
That Christ liveth in me.

Christ liveth in me,
Christ liveth in me;
Oh! What a salvation this,
That Christ liveth in me.

Have a Christ-centered week everyone!
In Him alone,
Ashley

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!! I can't believe it's already 2015! Time just flew by! I apologize for the extreme lateness of this post. We had a really busy week!
One of the highlights from this week was the Chubby Bunny Challenge that Sarah and Deborah did with me. This is how you do the Chubby Bunny Challenge. One person puts a marshmallow in their mouth and says "Chubby bunny." The next person does the same thing. The goal is to see how many marshmallows you can fit into your mouth and still say "chubby bunny." We video-chatted with Anna, who is a fellow blogger/best pen pal/lover of writing and lover of skittles. This is her blog: Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary.  She did the challenge with her sister. Thank you girls for doing it with us! We had alot of fun!

It's that time of year again when people make new year's resolutions, and I am going to attempt to make a few myself. My resolutions are to:
* Exercise more*
*Read the Bible through with Sarah*
*Finish writing one of my books*
*Learn to crochet hats, gloves, purses, etc...*
*And I would like to obtain at least 1 piano student*

The Saying of the week: Or should I say the saying of the year? I think this will be the saying of the week/saying of the year, because it is so good.
 

The Bible verse of the week: Romans 8:1-4 
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The Song of the week will be the last stanza and chorus of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." I picked the last verse because we don't have to fear the law or condemnation anymore, because we are safe in the everlasting arms of the One who redeemed us.
"What have I to dread,
what have I to fear, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms? 
I have blessed peace
with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, 
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms."

Well, I hope ya'll have a fantastic rest of the week! 
Have you ever tried the Chubby Bunny Challenge?
Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? Leave a comment below because I would love to hear them!