Faith---the assurance of things unseen

I was recently ridiculed for stating some things I believe in. Publicly, if comments on another's facebook status can be called publicly. And while it hurt, and caused no small amount of soul searching, I feel like I have come out on the other side victorious.

Because I know the truth and I am not ashamed of it.

The truth that my God is a God of Love, Justice and Grace.

The truth that before sin entered the world, everything was different.

And even the truth that the words spoken written to me were said out of a hurting and confused heart, from someone refusing to let God be God and because of that, I can forgive and pray for the speaker.

.....I just read the "Articles of Faith" from the Mormon community. There's a lot I agree with in there, some stuff I don't. But it got me thinking....what are my articles of faith? What is inherent to my spiritual life? What are the things I believe in absolutely, without a doubt?

1) I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, a Trinity, three in one.

2) I believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Holy one. Man and God together. That He was crucified for the sins of all and that on the 3rd day He rose from the grave, and is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father. I believe if we confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts that Jesus is the Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that there is no other way to God but through Him, that we will be saved.

3) I believe that God created the earth in 6 days, rested on the 7th and that everything was good and right and perfect.

4) I believe that sin entered the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience, that death and brokenness and separation from God came with it and that only through Jesus can we return to the relationship with God that He desires to have with us. That through Jesus comes everlasting life.

5) I believe that the Bible is God's message of hope and redemption and instructions for proper living. I also believe it holds examples of how sin has changed humans and the world from perfection to brokenness and is a warning to us lest we wander from the Lord. I believe the Bible is the key God has given us to better understand the past, present and the future.

6) I believe that Jesus' commandment to take the gospel to all the earth should be the goal of every Christian in one way or another.

7) I believe that Jesus will return some day and restore what once was. That there will be a new heaven and a new earth and God will reign over all.

8) I believe that God gave us instructions to rule over the earth and everything on it, and that He meant us to steward the earth and take care of it.

9) I believe that the highest commandment God gave us is to Love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

...there is assuredly more, but I think that is a pretty good list to start with.

Daisy....errrr....Clover Chain

We had fun playing in the sunshine at my parents house yesterday. I made a chain of white clover. It was fun, I haven't made a flower chain in years!
Technically, I made it for David, and he's the one wearing it in this collage, but the rest of us took turns with it too!

fun times + Picmonkey

We've been having some fun times lately. My mom sent me info for another online photo editor, since Picnik is no more, and they recently added the ability to make collages! I am such a happy camper right now! Picmonkey is alot of fun....and free to boot! So, I tried out the collage options and made these pictures of some of our fun times.....

This first one is from when we went to my parents to house sit in April. We had a ton of fun. This is just a little smattering:

And this set is from a trip to the park a couple weeks ago:

I have more pictures to share from more recent things, but haven't got them on the computer yet. Soon.....