Don't Let Me Waste My Life, Lord

God, every day I live for myself. I do things that please myself, say things that I like, eat what I desire, act how I want. 

I have been growing my roots deep into the things of this world, and my roots for You, Lord, are only wide, they are not deep. My focus is on You but for a moment, before I go on living as I would.

Father, You are the One who gave me this life. You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me so that I may take up the offer to have eternal life with You. And You raised Your Son back to life! What a glorious miracle! What amazing grace and love You have lavished on me! Me, a sinner so undeserving.

Alas! That thought comes and goes just like a wave upon the shore-- there for a moment, then gone.

What is my life? It is but a vapor, and I live my life as I please, but this does not please You, the One I ought to desire to please most.

Give me a passion, Lord! A passion for You, and You alone! Make my desire to be to grow more like You, Father. I want my roots to grow deep and strong in You, not in the things of this world.

Don't let me be shallow in my walk as a Christian. Let the steps I take please You, dear Lord. Give me strength to deny myself and turn away from worldly lusts. Direct my path, and allow me to reflect You and Your righteousness.

Don't let me waste my life, Lord. My life belongs to You.

{Psalm 1}

Break Me, Lord

"Whenever God means to make a man great, He always breaks Him in pieces first."

So break me, Lord. 

No matter how much it hurts. No matter how hard it gets. No matter what happens.

Let my focus ever be on You {Colossians 3:2}.

I will continually look up and praise You more and more {Psalm 71:14}. You alone are my hope and joy. Keep me singing in Your presence. 

Do not let me look back and regret, but teach me to learn from my mistakes. Help me to move on and make the most of the opportunities You give me {Ephesians 5:16-17}.

Open my eyes to anything that may be blinding me to the truth {Psalm 119:18}. 

Make Your desires my desires. Mold me into who You want me to be {Isaiah 64:2}. 

Thank You for the trials You have given me. Thank You for the trials that are to come. Prepare me and strengthen me so that I may endure the hardships {Isaiah 43:2}. 

I will trust You no matter what {Proverbs 3:5-6}. 

Guide my actions, thoughts, words, and my heart {Psalm 25:4-5}.

I will live for You, dear Lord, because I love You most {Luke 10:27}.

Singing of My Savior's Love!

My Song Is Love Unknown

by Samuel Crossman

My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me,

Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.

Oh, who am I, That for my sake

My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

Sometimes they strew His way and His sweet praises sing;

Resounding all the day hosannas to their King.

Then "Crucify" is all their breath,

And for His death they thirst and cry.

Why, what has my Lord done to cause this rage and spite?

He made the lame to run, and gave the blind their sight.

So cruelly dies, so cruelly dies, my Savior dies,

My song of love so cruelly dies.

Here might I stay and sing of Him my soul adores,

Never was love, dear King, never was grief like yours!

This is my friend in whose sweet praise

I all my days could gladly spend.

When We Shall Be Forever With the Lord

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Please keep my family in your prayers as we go through a very difficult time. It gives me joy to know that we shall be with our Lord someday! It will be a sweet and happy reunion with those who have gone before us.

Returns! More Returns!

The results are finally in! Yes, for the cousin character costume party that we had back in May. Do you even remember it? No? Here, read this.

OK, good. Here are the results for the best costume:

 Anna- 0 Votes

"Big" Elsa-0 Votes

Tooth Fairy- 0 Votes

Galadriel - 0 Votes

"Little" Elsa- 1 Vote

 Olaf- 1 Vote

 Cosmo Brown- 1 Vote

 Stabbington Brother #1- 1 Vote

 Stabbington Brother #2- 1 Vote

 Cinderella- 1 Vote

Captain Jack Sparrow- 2 Votes

Rapunzel- 3 Votes

Mary Poppins- 4 Votes

Well, there you have it! Thanks for all your votes! :)

Here We Go Again

Oh, bother! The blasted poll for the character costume party that we had a few weeks ago just won't work! SO... if you want to vote for your favorite costume from this party, then please comment on this post, or this post, or even this post. :)

Sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks!

Alert! Alert!

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calm down, everyone! It's going to be just fine. At least, it will be if you help me fix it.

Here's the problem:

For some very odd reason, the character costume poll on the side of my blog did not work. I cannot see that anyone voted on it at all. Bother! And I know that people did because on the first day it was up and running I could see the results, but now... nope.

So, everyone needs to vote again, please! So sorry for this inconvenience!

Go ahead and vote for one of these costumes, and we'll see if the poll works this time! :)

If it doesn't work for you, please comment and inform me! Thanks!

Costume Birthday Party!!!

My little sister, KT Bugs turned five! She is getting so big! But she is the cutest thing-- no competition there. ;)

Anyway, we had a costume party to celebrate my birthday (read about it here) and KT Bug's birthday with the cousins... it was awesomely glorious! But no one wants to read about it... give me pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK.

But first, let me direct your attention to the right side of the page where there is a poll. Please pick out your favorite costume as you look at the pictures, then scroll back up and vote for it!

Here we go! :)

Em as Anna

Toria as Elsa (big)

KT Bugs also as Elsa (little)

Samwise as Olaf

Elsa and Anna

Our Frozen cast :)

 

B (our cousin-in-law) as Cinderella

Jocie as Rapunzel-- love her hair!!!

Cap. Oblivious as Stabbington Brother #1

Gherkin as Stabbington Brother #2

Stabbington Brothers from Tangled

Rapunzel was afraid of the Stabbington brothers, so Galadriel had to distract her with Mary Poppin's umbrella so we could snap the picture. :)

Doofus as Cosmo Brown

Harry Bob as Captain Jack Sparrow

Kiri as Galadriel

Jessa (me) as Mary Poppins

Cherry as Tooth Fairy

What a swell party we had! I hope you enjoy seeing all the pictures, and don't forget to vote for your favorite costume! :)

Guess Who's 19 Today?

Woo-hoo!

Hello everyone! This is Kiri Liz. I'm Jessa Bri's sister. 

Yes, I'm hacking her blog to wish her a happy birthday. Because that's what sisters do.

We do a lot of wonderful things together. Like dancing...

... even though I usually look like this.

And sharing with each other things that we love. Sometimes too quickly.

We ask stupid questions...

... and make lame jokes...

... and bear our souls and tell the most appalling secrets.

We laugh politely...

... stuff our faces with the foods we love...

... and are sometimes clumsy.

But... I can't say we're perfect sisters, because we don't always get along.

And sometimes we get mad.

But we know no matter what, we'll always be there for each other. 

Even if the other just needs a shoulder to cry on.

Jessa is, I'll admit, a little crazy...

... and spontaneous...

... is a little too excitable...

... and for some odd reason, drops a lot of things.

But, she's got awesome hair...

... is terribly creative...

... and everyone loves her.

So, Happy 19th Birthday, Jessa! Let's break out the confetti...

... find all the things you love...

... and invite important people over...

... because you are a girl worth melting for!

Luv ya, Sis!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Kiri Liz in this post are solely her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Jessa Bri or Freckled Adventures. Neither Jessa Bri nor Freckled Adventures make any representation of the accuracy of any such views and opinions.