Saturday, April 21, 2012

Live Like That



May everything I say and do point to You, Lord! "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

"We must be the same person in private and in public. Only the Christian worldview gives us the basis for this kind of integrity." ~Chuck Colson

"Loving God - really loving Him - means living out His commands no matter what the cost." ~Chuck Colson

A life well lived for God's glory and His kingdom: Chuck Colson, 10/16/1931-4/21/2012


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Ultimate Blog Party 2012

Ultimate Blog Party 2012
Welcome to my blog! My name is Urailak (aka "LivingforGod" around bloggyworld and "Fruit Bearer" on Facebook). I am a Christ-follower, Bible-believer, daughter & servant of the King of kings, the blessed wife of my beloved Godly husband (for over 20 years), homeschool mom of three precious blessings (18 yo daughter, 13 yo son, and 10 yo son), sister in Christ, and friend to all. I have been blogging since 2006 (previously at homeschoolblogger.com). If you are new here and wonder what this blog is all about, please check out my favorite posts (see the right sidebar). I also have a photo blog and a family/homeschool-related blog.

Currently, I'm hosting three different giveaways:
- Win a copy of A Perfect Pet for Peyton by Rick Osborne and Gary Chapman (4/20)
- Win a certificate redeemable for a copy of Miracle for Jen by Linda Barrick (4/20)
- Win a copy of  The 5 Love Languages of Children by by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell (4/30)

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy your visit !

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

My UBP Story

Ultimate Blog Party 2012
                                            
                                            Join me..join me.
                                            Don’t delay.
                                            The Ultimate Blog Party
                                            Is now underway.
                                            What fun it would be
                                            To enjoy visitors
                                            Without cleaning your house
                                            Or dusting furniture.
                                            You can host a party.
                                            You can visit day or night.

                                            You sure will have a ball.
                                            But that is not all.
                                            Oh, no.
                                            That is not all.
                                            Oh, the places you will go
                                            The people you will meet
                                            Imagine the possibilities
                                            How wonderful…how sweet!
                                           
                                            Now! Now! Have no doubt.

                                            There are prizes galore.
                                            Everyone is a winner.
                                            Go check it out to know more.
                                            While you are here…
                                            Oh, what do you say?
                                            Leave me a comment.
                                            Let me know if you may.
                                            Hope to see you around.
                                            Hope you’ll come back a lot.
                                            Oh, I can’t imagine…
                                            Why not? :)
                                                      
I wrote the above poem (Dr. Suess style) when I joined the Ultimate Blog Party in 2007. I have been a faithful participant ever since. This year will be my 6th year. Faithful...but not "successful" :)! You see? My blog is still not famous or well known. It still doesn't have gazillion followers. Here's the amount of comments I received for each year's UBP post.
2007:8 comments; 2008: 6 comments; 2009: 17 comments; 2010: 20 comments; 2011: 15 comments

Nothing impressive. I'm probably the one to be blamed. I don't have time to visit lots of blogs and leave lots of comments. I am thankful for new visitors via UBP and I do take the time to visit those who have left comments. Several said they would be back but I don't think they have come back yet :). Last year, I even participated through all my three blogs (Living for God, Fruitbearers, and My Father's World). Maybe this year will be different. If not, that's okay. I enjoy the party, anyway. And the reason I blog in the first place is not to become well known or well liked but to draw people to Jesus...to make Him known. Soli Deo Gloria!

Ultimate Blog Party 2012

Friday, April 6, 2012

Friday's Fave Five #68

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week:-

1. I had a wonderful time at the dumpling-making party with some of the international students at a friend's house. I love dumplings :)!

2. Som Thum (Thai papaya salad)...so yummy! It made me a little homesick for Thailand though. I haven't been back since 1992.


3. I had fun playing Monopoly Deal Card Game with my youngest son (10). 

4. I like this quote:

"Ever wonder why there were two crosses next to Christ? Why not six or ten? Ever wonder why Jesus was in the center? Could it be the two crosses on the hill symbolize one of God’s greatest gifts? The gift of choice.
The two criminals were convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Equally close to the same Jesus. But one changed!

You’ve made some bad choices in life, haven’t you? You look back and you say, “If only I could make up for those bad choices." You can!

When one thief on the cross prayed, Jesus loved him enough to save him. When the other mocked, Jesus loved him enough to let him. He allowed him the choice.


He does the same for you!
" ~Max Lucado

5. After 12 years of doing Steps for Life and being inducted into the Steps for Life Hall of Fame for raising over $10,000 for the Pregnancy Resource Centers, Alyssa (my daughter) is passing the baton to her younger brother. I'm so delighted to see their passion to defend the defenseless and save lives! Please follow this link to visit Isaiah Liljequist's personal web page and help him in his efforts to support Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater Portland. Thanks!

Have a blessed Good Friday and Resurrection Day weekend! Christ is risen! Let us rejoice and share this great news with everyone!




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Never Neutral

“No one can remain neutral regarding Jesus’ resurrection.
The claim is too staggering,
the event too earthshaking,
the implications too significant
and the matter too serious.
We must either receive it or reject it as truth for us.
To remain indifferent or undecided is to reject it.” 

~Mark Driscoll
Jesus' resurrection is pivotal! It confirms His claims to deity and guarantees the future bodily resurrection unto eternal life of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Christ is alive; all the founders of other religions are dead. Only Christ Jesus has victory over death, demonstrating that He has power over all things. His resurrection is a provable historical fact.

The above quote reminded me of this quote: "The most powerful thing about the Bible is that it is not neutral---in fact, there is no such position as a "neutral" one. One way or another, we must all contend with its claims. To not make a decision about whether or not it will serve as the authority for your life is, in fact, to decide against it." ~Greg Hall in Already Compromised (co-authored with Ken Ham)

The point is that to not make a decision is the same as to have already made a decision. Once you learn what the Bible says about Who Jesus Christ is, His birth, His life, His ministry, His death and resurrection, you must decide how you will respond. You have a choice to make. Accept Him or reject Him? Your life and eternal destiny depend on your choice. Heaven or Hell? An abundant life with Christ or a hopeless life without Christ? By the way, you cannot just want Jesus to be your Savior but not your Lord. It doesn't work that way. You cannot have one foot in God's kingdom and one foot in the world, either. You're either in or out! You cannot serve two masters.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God in human flesh, came to earth to live a sinless life, died in our place to save us sinners, and conquered death by His resurrection to give us eternal life. He did it all because He loves us so much. What will be your response to His love today? Life is short. Death is certain for everyone. I hope and pray that you will choose Christ now before it's too late. "I'm thinking about it" won't do you any good because it means you decide against surrendering your life to Christ at this moment. There may never be another moment...

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that He was buried,

that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."
1 Corinthians 15:3-8

This post is linked up with In 'Other' Words @Writing Canvas, Faith-Filled Friday @Beholding Glory, Spiritual Sundays, Sharing His Beauty @The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates with God at The Wellspring, and "Hear It, Use It" @Graceful.

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