Thursday, January 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Ann(ie...just so you know who you are Ann...:P) !



Ann Facts (random; no particular order)
*she is 19 today! :D
*she has a huge heart and is exceptionally giving
*she is outspoken about her faith and love for Jesus
* she has an absolutely sunshiney (I think I created a word there) personality
*she is a wonderful auntie to her 14 nephews and nieces
*she is the youngest of five children
*she has a notable talent to play piano by ear, crochet, cook and sing (she's just notably talented...period! )
*she loves the ocean (at least in Florida thanks to the Wierzchowski's)
*one of her favorite colors is "Florida ocean" blue ;)
*she has a beagle named Daisy*she is a faithful, loving and honest friend*she loves to laugh (I love to laugh with her and Kristie. They are the best laughers ever. You just feel better when you laugh and can they get you going.)

Ann, I love you more than words cans say. You are such an encouragement and blessing to be around; you spread the love and joy of Christ all around you. I rejoice in your commitment to the Lord. You are a daughter of Zion; a gem in Christ's crown. You are your parents crowning glory and a testimony of God's faithfulness in your baptism. May each day bring you closer to Christ and to a greater understanding of His word and will as you press on in the race of the Christian faith (Eph. 3:14).
1 Peter 1 is one of the most encouraging chapters in Scripture, in my opinion. Sorry the text is weird.
Happy 19th Birthday, Nell...I love you!

1 Peter 1:2-25




Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.


Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,


Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:


That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.


Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:


Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.


Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.


Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:


But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;


Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.


And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:


Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;


But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:


Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,


Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.


Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:


Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.


For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:


But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.