Living a Legacy

I went to a funeral today. Mrs. Hazel Struck was eighty-eight when she passed on, this Thursday. The farewell of her family and friends was beautiful and touching in so many ways. I sat in the crowded sanctuary, gazing on all the lives she had touched in her time on this earth and I couldn't help thinking of what a legacy she'd left herself. She'd touched so many lives.
We've all heard the saying, "Live your life so the preacher won't have to lie at your funeral." This woman did that and so much more. The two pastors that got up to speak couldn't stop singing her praises. She was a woman who lived her life in excellence, constantly radiating the love and grace that Christ offers. One would be hard-pressed to find something bad to say about her. Her heart was for her God and for her family. She prayed for her children and grandchildren constantly.
One life has such a great impact. The way she lived hers had touched so many in that room, who knows how many more it has reached, albeit inadvertantly. Daddy says I've met her before. I don't remember her, but even in death, her story has touched my heart.
I want to leave a legacy like that one day. I pray that my love for God and for people would outshine my many flaws in the end. I hope I have so many children and grandchildren, one day, whose lives have been irrepairably affected by my witness.
Pastor Heath quoted Malachi 3:16-17a when referring to Mrs. Hazel:
16Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 17"They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels.
He reminded us that a woman like her can only be described as a gem. That we can all be made gems when we let Christ changed our hearts and make us beautiful, as a jeweler makes a diamond beautiful by cutting out the impurities.
I pray that the Lord would be so gracious to me, that one day I can be described as God's gem. I want to be so devoted and close to Him that His light shines through me unto the nations. I can't do it without His help and niether could she. It's only by God's grace that we find the hope to be His jewels and leave a legacy of love for generations to come.
Have a blessed day!

Childlike vs. Childish

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
Luke 18:16
There is a difference between being childlike and being childish; and it's pretty substantial. Both of these terms relate to children, but in different ways. In general, we call someone childish when they emulate the negative qualities in a child- throwing temper tantrums or acting immature. When we call someone childlike, it's usually uttered in a much more positive respect. We refer to someone as having a childlike joy, wonder, or faith and we are happy for them in that.
The above verse is referring to that childlike faith, but we must be sure that in our childlikeness, we have not become childish. I hope my faith is never aptly described as childish, but I would consider it a compliment to be told it's childlike.
The hearts of children are a wonder to behold and enjoy, beautiful things that we should cherish far more than we tend to on a day to day basis. They see the products of a living God around them and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there had to be an artist. They take delight in the things we've become accustomed to and take for granted. I can't tell you how many times I've heard my two year-old neice (the beautiful little girl in the picture above), utter the words "Kirssy! Pretty dress!" with a wistful sigh and a smile that melts my heart all over again.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11

How, then, do we keep our faith childlike, rather than childish?

I'll admit it's hard. It's hard to keep the world's persistent cynicism from infiltrating my thought process on a daily basis. It's difficult to hold to Christ's sufficiency when the world barrages you with everything it says you ought to be. And it's scary to stand, like a good friend of mine's six year old, and say "There is too a God in heaven and he's living in my heart!"

But that's exactly what we have to do: Stand!

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20

Here Paul tells us what else to do. Yes, we should be childlike, but now he clearly commands us to refrain from being childish. We have to stand up and grow in our understanding of people and of Christ. What good are we as His ambassadors if we know so little about Him?

Lord, teach me how to make my faith childlike without it being childish. Help me to grow in your wisdom while not dismissing the simpler things about you.

Have a blessed day!

Cooling Down

Things are cooling down over here. Thank the Lord! Summer is in full session and I'm planning on making the best of it. Gradution and senior trip were fan-freaking-tastic and I got so much closer to some people that I didn't know very well before, but I REALL wish I had. :)
Anyway, I'm just letting y'all know that I'm going to work on writing more this summer. I know, I know, empty promises. I'll do my best to follow through and at leas update y'all on what's going on in my life.
Also, I've recently given in and made a Formspring account, so I wanted to give y'all the link. Feel free to ask me questions on there that you have about me. :) Hopefully, some of those will jumpstart my brain and give me things to write about!
The URL is http://www.formspring.me/kirstenerin2010
I look forward to hearing from y'all!
Have a blessed day!

Pics & Links

I'm trying to make up for my lack of writing on here for the past few weeks. It feels like it's been forever and I feel like a jerk. *hangs head shamefully* I know, I know- I need to write more! It's just been pretty crazy this past month and graduation is tomorrow!! After I'm done with Co-op classes and Senior Trip, things should be cooled down and I'll most definitely be posting more often. I've got a few ideas swirling around in my mind, but they're not exactly substantial enough to be put down on paper and take up more than a few lines, yet. However, I'm really hoping to write out a post on why I'm planning to be a Stay-at-Home Daughter and what I believe on the matter. I'm excited.

So to tide y'all over until I get my time back, and my inspiration, I'm going to give you some pictures from yesterday along with some links of the reading I've been doing.
By the way, I bought a new camera (in case you hadn't noticed), since my camera died while we were in France in December. Now that I have this new one, y'all can expect pleny more pictures! I'll try not to overwhelm you with them though.
Maybe I can get a 'What I'm Creating' post in next week....

My older sister, Miranda, is in town from Michigan. She came down this week for my graduation. :)

Thoughts about masculine leadership and femininity by Mrs. Anna T at Domestic Felicity reminds us what the true meaning of male headship and a woman's call to be submissive really looks like.

Lyla's getting so big! :) She makes my day with her 2 year-old crazy antics. Doesn't her hair look ridiculously cute when she wears braided pigtails? I'm always braiding her hair when she shows up over here and she's come to like it alot. Val says when she gets dressed in the morning, she points to the back of her head and says "Kirssy." to indicate the desired hairstyle.

That's my girl!

The Charlotte Mason List of Attainments was a really interesting list to read. I was amazed at some of the standards they had for kids way-back-when. I still can't do some of these! I'll definitely keep this for when I homeschool one day, as a reference for my own kids.

Val and Miranda being crazy. My sisters are weird... :)

On Saving Dollars and Sense, Kristie writes about Frugal Homeschooling. She reminds us that we don't have to break the bank to get an education!

Robert, Miranda, and Mitchell likely arguing. :P

I read Sarah Mae's Like a Warm Cup of Coffee frequently, but I especially loved her article on her Top 10 Writing Tips. She gives practical wisdom for any writer!

Therse are the result of Miranda and Mitchell chanting "Cookie! Cookie! Cookie!" every time I came out of my room. *sigh*

Have a blessed day!

This Week

This week has been pretty eventful. Been planning for graduation (this Saturday!!!), had my birthday (I turned 18 on Monday!!!), and we celebrated Mother's Day! :) I got a new phone and bought myself a new camera with the money I've been saving since my camera died in December. And the new one's pink.... so's the cover of my new phone. Yay for girliness!
Anyway, due to all the craziness and stress of this month, I haven't posted nearly at all and I feel bad. So to make it up, I decided to post most of the random pictures I've taken with my camera- just to keep y'all occupied. :D
Enjoy!

Have a blessed day!!

Challenging Femininity: May 2010

Just wanted to let y'all know I'm the Featured Femina for this month's issue of Challenging Feminity over at Feelin' Feminine. The interview was really fun and I'm really thankful to Miss Jocelyn for asking me to do it. :) Go check it out the entire magazine by clicking the button below. If you'd like to go straight to the article, though, click here.

God Gave Me Ketchup Packets

Last year at YFN (Youth for the Nations- a camp my youth group annually attends), many of the messages were focused on the love of God. It seemed to be a theme that He wanted to get through to us that year.
One night in particular, at the end of his message, one of the speakers told us to pray about it- to ask God to remind us of His love for Him.
The end of the service was a fantastic time of worship and Yahweh really revealed Himself to many. However, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed as I hurried alongside the multitudess of teenagers pushing their way out after service. I hadn't had any new revelation of God's love for me. Of course, I knew He loved me. I've experienced His amazing love before, but sometimes we need a reminder, you know? That's what I wanted- a reminder that I'm important to Him and that He loves me.

The next day, I was exhausted by the time lunch came around. After spending a few hours outside playing Nation Games that I didn't enjoy, I had to stand in line for around thirty minutes before I could make it into the cafeteria. Did I mention that everyone was covered in sweat and grass? My nose was ready to hightail it out of there.
When I reached the kitchen, all the good food was gone, as it always is when you're one of the last in line. There were only corndogs left (ones I'm sure were not beef and it's pretty rare that I willingly swallow pork). I grabbed a plate and moved over to the condiment section, fully intent on drowning my corndogs in ketchup to block out the taste. Only problem?: No more ketchup. There wasn't even any mustard, which I don't like, but would've settled for anyway.
The only thing left was mayonnaise. With an annoyed sigh I grabbed a few packets and dropped them onto my tray hoping I would be able to down the combination. Maybe if I held my nose? I followed my friends over to an empty table and we left our trays there with one of the girls while we went back for some drinks.
When I came back, glass filled with Mountain Dew, I was sitting down when I spotted something beside my tray that I was sure I hadn't seen there before.
I reached over and nearly had a heart attack derived from glee when I realized there were four ketchup packets right there, ready for me to indulge in. The moment I picked them up I realized I'd gotten what I'd asked for the night before- a realization of God's love. He had cared enough about my distaste for corndogs with mayonnaise that He had seen fit to give me ketchup packets. I was thrilled.
Now, to some of you, that sounds ridiculous. Ketchup packets? Why would the Creator of the Universe give me ketchup packets? Honestly, I don't know. I guess He knows me well enough to know that was what would get through to me. He knew I would recognize it as a gift from Him. I don't know how they got next to my tray. Maybe they were there when I set my tray there the first time, but I know He was the one who had the person who sat there before me have a few extra and leave them there for someone else.

God loves us far more than we can imagine- and sometimes he shows it to us in the little things, like ketchup packets. So keep your eyes peeled for how He's revealing his love for you today.

Being Joyful in the Mundane

Here's an excerpt from Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald that I found particularly encouraging. This is for the married and unmarried alike, such an inspiration to be joyful in the tasks that seem boring in life:

"We can all be Mary, even if we don't have an hour to sit down for 'quiet time.' It's all in our attitude toward the things that need to be done and the people we are serving. If we view our husbands, families, and guests as so many leeches crying, 'Give, give!' then we are not going to develop a godly joy as we serve them. If we resent the fact that our husbands sit down to read with the children while we are preparing supper, we are being harpies, just like Martha. Choose the better part. Be Mary in the kitchen. Sing praises while you sweep up those never-ending crumbs. Whistle hyms while you wipe down the bathroom.  Meditate on Scripture while you are folding the third pile of laundry.
"I feel so greatly blessed to have been brought up in a home where our father urged excellence in our work as a way of glorifying God and where my mother joyfully tackled the tasks that lay before her. Whether organizing cabinets, planning school projects, upholstering furniture, planting a garden, or welcoming strangers, Mom always made every job seem like an adventure. When we complained, she just sang louder or turned up the music so we could march around in time as we did our chores. As a result, my parents' home was fragrant with the aroma of servant-hearted, life-giving hospitality.
"And let me just say it again: it wasn't because we had beautiful furniture, just-right curtains, or spotless rooms. It was because Christ was Lord of that house, and our job was to serve Him without being bitter or acting put-upon. Be a Mary! When the laundry piles rise up in rebellion, the children don't do their chores right, or the kitchen sink never seems to quite empty itself, rejoice! Choose the better part, crank up the music, and lay down your life."

--pgs 152&153
--The Mary and Martha mentioned in the passage are from Luke 10:38-41.

((For more from Jennie Chancey, Stacy McDonald, and other women like them, check out Ladies Against Feminism for some fantastic reads!))

Spirit of Fear

One of Lyla's (my niece, that beautiful little girl in the picture :) newest things is saying "Kirssy, I scared!". Of course, depending on whom she's adressing, the name changes- but you catch my drift.
On Resurrection Sunday, she'd said it at least a handful of times. Whether it was something on Nemo that was a little scary or she just couldn't find Pa, those words would come tumbling out of her lips.
Well, one of those times, she came running toward me, "Kirssy, I scared!" she called, eyes wide.
"Come here, Lyla." Valerie (her mom) said from where she was standing near me. She took Lyla's face in her hands and made sure Lyla was looking at her. "Lyla, what does Mommy tell you when you're scared? God doesn't give us a spirit of fear. So when you're scared, you say, 'Jesus,'"
"Jesus," Lyla repeated.
"Help."
"Help."
"Me."
"Me."
"Alright. I love you." Val finished. Lyla went bounding off to whatever her two and a half year old brain had decided was next on her list of things to do.

That scene was just so touching to me- seeing how Val and Robert are already teaching this sweet girl God's truths in ways she can understand. It's so simple. We are so blessed to have a God who responds to that simple call of "Jesus, help me!" when we need Him most.
It never ceases to amaze me!

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Have a blessed day!

The April Challenge: Day 6

One day left of The Challenge! Today was Co-op, the homeschool group where my brother and I take a couple of classes and the place that's putting on my graduation. Guess what- I'm not going to Co-op on our last day! Our last day is May 21st, but graduation is on May 15th. So I talked to my teachers and asked if we were doing anything important that day, because I really wasn't going to come to class AFTER graduation. Thankfully, the only class we'd actually have an exam in said she'd put it online for me, because she totally understood my growing case of senioritis.
Only one more month until my birthday and graduation! Praise the Lord!
Here's today's Challenge outfit:

Shirt- says "The best is yet to come". Got it at YFN a few years ago for about $10ish.
Skirt-$3 at Helping Hands

Behind me is my prom dress for this year! I borrowed it from my assistant youth pastor's wife. :D I have to fix it up some by sewing most of the slit in the back closed andd figuring out how to cover up skin exposed in the back, but I love it!

Hair- I tried a rope braid in the back. It was all frizzy when I got home, so I tried redoing it and it doesn't look as good as it did at first. :( But I'll figure it out eventually. The flower clip in the back of my hair is from Mexico, my friend bought it for me.

After this picture was taken, I pulled it into a french braid, though, so that's why my hair is braided in the mirror. :P

Have a blessed day!