Let's Party!

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Urailak (aka "LivingforGod" in the blog world and "Fruit Bearer" on Facebook).  Please make yourself at home. I'm so glad that you're stopping by to visit.  I started blogging in 2006.  My original blog is http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/servingtheKingofkings/ .  Eventually, I added a photo blog, another HSB blog, and this blog which I started in July last year.  One of the reasons I blog is to share God's love with others and point them to Christ who came to earth because of God's love for everyone and who loved them so much that He died on the cross for their sins. God's Word is what I live by and blog by. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) To me, "whatever you do" includes blogging; I blog/write for the glory of God.  Soli Deo Gloria!

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GIVEAWAY:  I would like to give one of my visitors a copy of This Little Prayer of Mine and a set of 5 blank notecards (that I made with one of my photos taken from our property).

TO ENTER: Please leave a comment here and make sure you also leave your email addresss or blog address.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: 1. Read any of my posts (besides this one) and come back to comment about it here.
                                        2. Follow me on Twitter (treasuredbyGod) and tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here letting me know.

~The Ultimate Blog Party will officially start tomorrow. Please go to 5minutesformom to join the party and have a chance to win tons of prizes.  My top three picks besides the grand prize (a Toshiba laptop) would be: USC3--a $50 Target gift card provided by Peggy Gorman, US104--a $50 Vanilla Visa Gift Card provided by Katherine at Shoot Me Now, USC8--a $55 Amazon.com e-gift card provided by Kelly.  My other choices include USC15, USC37, USC39, USC33, US11, US95, US73, US74, US87, USC60, US107, US49, US32, US15, US52, US61, US88, USC25, USC36, US37, US31, US55, USC32, USC44, USC40, US39, US75, USC13, US64, USC12.  I would be thrilled if I win anything :).

The Week in Words #1

"Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8b-10)  We named our homeschool, "Children of Light Christian Academy."  We want our children to live their lives as children of light, bearing the fruit of the light and aiming to please God in all areas, including their learning.

"Day by day, dear Lord, of Thee three things I pray: to see Thee more clearly, to love Thee more dearly, to follow Thee more nearly day by day. Amen." ~ St. Richard of Chichester, 1197-1253
Isn't that a wonderful prayer?  That's my desire for each day, too.

"I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ." "All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book." "Without Christ, not one step; with Him, anywhere!" ~ David Livingstone (Scottish physician, missionary, & explorer)
I love these 3 quotes from David Livingstone.  The first one is a challenge for us to examine how we view our possessions.  They should hold no value or significance to us if they do not help contribute to the kingdom of Christ.  "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." (Philippians 3:8-9a)

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." ~Johann Sebastian Bach (He signed "SDG" at the bottom of his works (musical manuscripts); SDG = Soli Deo Gloria = Glory to God alone.)
I wish all musicians would share the same attitude/view as Bach.  I believe the aim of all that we do and say should be for the glory of God...to please and honor Him.  "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Be thou content to leave thy prayer in His hands, Who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold." ~Charles H. Spurgeon (from Morning and Evening, page164)
This quote reminds me to be content to leave my prayer in God's hands.  I need to let go of my burdens/concerns and rest in knowing that God is in control and that He wants what's best for me.

My Inspiration

What inspires you to blog or write? 

God's love and His Word inspire me to blog/write and are the driving forces of pretty much everything I do.  God's love enables me to love God and love people.  One of the reasons I blog is to share God's love with others and point them to Christ who came to earth because of God's love for everyone and who loved them so much that He died on the cross for their sins.  God's Word is what I live by and blog by.  Often, verses from the Bible pop up in my head and make me think of something relevant and then I share it on my blog hoping to encourage others.  Even if readers do not get anything else from my blog except the knowledge that Jesus loves them and the desire to have relationship with Him, I shall not have blogged in vain.  "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)  To me, "whatever you do" includes blogging; I blog/write for the glory of God.

Whatever You Do

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  Do not cause anyone to stumble." 1 Corinthians 10:31-32a

Whatever we do, we need to do it with the right attitude and the right motive.  In Colossians 3:23-24, we are told to work with all our heart (with enthusiasm) as working for the Lord.  Did you know that the word, "enthusiasm" came from Greek words: en (in, within, to be filled) + theos (God)?  If we are filled with God's Holy Spirit, let it show in "whatever we do".  In 1 Corinthians 10:31-32a, we are told to do everything for God's glory and to not cause anyone to stumble.  We need to examine ourselves.  "Whatever we do"...is it for our own fame and glory...for our own fleshly desire...for our own selfish gains?  Or "whatever we do"...we do to please and honor/glorify God by following the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1b)?  If so, then we won't be causing anyone to stumble, either.  "Whatever you/we do" includes the way we dress, books we read, movies we watch, what we write/blog, songs we listen to/sing, games we play, what we post on Facebook or Twitter, what we do when nobody sees/hears us, etc.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Previous WFW:
- More Blessed

- My Soul Pants for You

- Without Excuse

- Plentiful Harvest

- Brotherly Love

- Fruit Bearer

- More Than Conquerors

- Where Does My Help Come From?

- Jubilant, Joy, and Judge

- Rooted in Love

- Who Daily Bears Our Burdens?

- Reflecting the Lord's Glory

- The Rock Eternal

- His Eye Is On The Sparrow